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EXHIBIT 1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AMONG
HADCO CORPORATION
HADCO ACQUISITION CORP. II
AND
CONTINENTAL CIRCUITS CORP.
DATED FEBRUARY 16, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER..............................................................................................1
1.1 The Offer.............................................................................1
1.2 Offer Documents.......................................................................3
1.3 Company Actions.......................................................................4
1.4 Directors.............................................................................5
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER..............................................................................................6
2.1 The Merger ...........................................................................6
2.2 Closing...............................................................................6
2.3 Effective Time of the Merger..........................................................6
2.4 Effects of the Merger.................................................................6
ARTICLE III
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF
THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES..................................................7
3.1 Effect on Capital Stock...............................................................7
(a) Capital Stock of Sub.................................................7
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and
Parent-Owned Stock...................................................7
3.2 Conversion of Securities..............................................................7
3.3 Payment for Shares....................................................................8
(a) Paying Agent.........................................................8
(b) Payment Procedures...................................................8
(c) Termination of Payment Fund; Interest................................9
(d) No Liability.........................................................9
(e) Withholding Rights ..................................................9
3.4 Stock Transfer Books..................................................................10
3.5 Stock Options.........................................................................10
3.6 Dissenting Shares.....................................................................10
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..........................................................................11
4.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company.........................................11
(a) Organization, Standing and Power.....................................11
(b) Capital Structure....................................................11
(c) Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals.....................12
(d) SEC Documents........................................................14
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(e) Information Supplied.................................................14
(f) Compliance with Applicable Laws......................................15
(g) Litigation...........................................................15
(h) Taxes................................................................15
(i) Pension And Benefit Plans; ERISA.....................................17
(j) Absence of Certain Changes or Events.................................19
(k) No Undisclosed Material Liabilities..................................19
(l) Vote Required........................................................19
(m) Labor Matters........................................................20
(n) Intangible Property..................................................20
(o) Environmental Matters................................................21
(p) Real Property........................................................23
(q) Insurance............................................................24
(r) Board Recommendation.................................................24
(s) Material Contracts...................................................25
(t) Related Party Transactions...........................................25
(u) Indebtedness.........................................................26
(v) Liens................................................................26
(w) Opinion of Financial Advisor.........................................26
4.2 Representations, Warranties, and Covenants of Parent and Sub..........................26
(a) Organization, Standing and Power.....................................26
(b) Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals.....................26
(c) Information Supplied.................................................27
(d) Board Recommendation.................................................28
(e) Financing............................................................28
(f) Interim Operations of Sub............................................28
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS...............................................................28
5.1 Covenants of the Company..............................................................28
(a) Ordinary Course......................................................28
(b) Dividends; Changes in Stock..........................................28
(c) Issuance of Securities...............................................28
(d) Governing Documents..................................................29
(e) No Solicitation......................................................29
(f) No Acquisitions......................................................30
(g) No Dispositions......................................................30
(h) SEC Filings..........................................................31
(i) No Dissolution, Etc..................................................31
(j) Other Actions........................................................31
(k) Certain Employee Matters.............................................31
(l) Indebtedness; Agreements.............................................31
(m) Accounting...........................................................32
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(n) Capital Expenditures.................................................32
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS...................................................................................32
6.1 Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Company Stockholders
Meeting; Merger without a Company Stockholders Meeting................................32
6.2 Access to Information.................................................................33
6.3 Legal Conditions to Merger............................................................33
6.4 Fees and Expenses.....................................................................33
6.5 Brokers or Finders....................................................................34
6.6 Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance...................................34
6.7 Reasonable Efforts....................................................................36
6.8 Conduct of Business of Sub............................................................36
6.9 Publicity.............................................................................36
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT....................................................................................36
7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger............................36
(a) Stockholder Approval.................................................36
(b) HSR Act..............................................................36
(c) No Injunctions or Restraints.........................................37
7.2 Conditions of Obligations of Parent and Sub...........................................37
(a) Payment for Shares...................................................37
(b) Representations and Warranties.......................................37
(c) Performance of Obligations of the Company............................37
(d) Consents, etc........................................................37
(e) No Material Adverse Change...........................................37
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT...............................................................................38
8.1 Termination...........................................................................38
8.2 Effect of Termination.................................................................39
8.3 Amendment.............................................................................39
8.4 Extension; Waiver.....................................................................39
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................39
9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.............................39
9.2 Notices...............................................................................39
9.3 Interpretation........................................................................41
9.4 Counterparts..........................................................................41
9.5 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries; Rights of
Ownership.............................................................................41
9.6 Governing Law.........................................................................41
9.7 No Remedy in Certain Circumstances....................................................41
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9.8 Assignment............................................................................42
9.9 Obligations of Sub....................................................................42
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Glossary of Defined Terms
Defined Terms Defined in Section
90% Tender Condition 1.1(c)
Acquisition Proposal 5.1(e)(ii)
Additional SEC Contracts 4.1(s)
Agreement preamble
Benefit Plans 4.1(i)(i)(A)
Board Percentage 1.4(a)
Cash Merger 1.1(c)
CERCLA 4.1(o)(i)(B)
Certificate of Merger 2.3
Certificates 3.3(b)
Closing 2.2
Closing Date 2.2
Code 3.3(e)
Company preamble
Company Common Stock preamble
Company Intangible Property 4.1(n)(i)
Company Intangible Property Licenses 4.1(n)(iii)
Company Litigation 4.1(g)
Company Order 4.1(g)
Company Permits 4.1(f)
Company SEC Documents 4.1(d)
Company Stockholder Approval 4.1(c)(iv)
Company Voting Debt 4.1(b)
Confidentiality Agreement 6.2
Constituent Corporations 2.1
Continuing Director 1.4(b)
Control 3.2(a)
Designated Person 6.4(c)
DGCL 2.1
Dissenting Shares 3.6
Effective Time 2.3
Employee Arrangements 4.1(i)(i)(B)
Environmental Costs and Liabilities 4.1(o)(i)(A)
Environmental Law 4.1(o)(i)(B)
Exchange Act 1.1(a)
Fairness Opinion 4.1(w)
GAAP 4.1(d)
Governmental Entity 4.1(c)(iv)
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Hazardous Material 4.1(o)(i)(C)
HSR Act 4.1(c)(iv)
Indebtedness 4.1(u)
Indemnified Parties 6.6
Indemnified Liabilities 6.6
Injunction 7.1(c)
Laws 4.1(c)(iii)
Majority Tender Condition 1.1(c)
Material Adverse Effect 4.1(a)
Material Contracts 4.1(s)
Material Employment Contracts 4.1(s)
Merger 2.1
Merger Consideration 3.2(a)
OSHA 4.1(o)(i)(B)
Offer 1.1(a)
Offer Consideration 1.1(a)
Offer Documents 1.2
Option Consideration 3.5(a)
Options 3.5(a)
Parent preamble
Paying Agent 3.3(a)
Payment Fund 3.3(a)
Preferred Stock 4.1(b)
Permitted Investments 3.3(a)
Proxy Statement 4.1(c)(iv)
Proxy Trigger Date 6.1(a)
Real Property 4.1(p)(i)
Real Property Leases 4.1(p)(ii)
Release 4.1(o)(i)(D)
Remedial Action 4.1(o)(i)(E)
Representatives 5.1(e)
SEC 1.1(b)
SEC Contracts 4.1(s)
Schedule 14D-1 1.2
Schedule 14D-9 1.3
Securities Act 4.1(d)
Shares preamble
Stock Option Plans 3.5(a)
Stock Purchase Plan 3.5(b)
Stockholders Agreement preamble
Sub preamble
Subsidiary 3.2(a)
Superior Proposal 5.1(e)(i)
Surviving Corporation 2.1
Termination Fee 6.4(b)
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Trigger Event 6.4(b)
Violation 4.1(c)(iii)
WARN 4.1(m)(v)
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF Merger, dated as of February 16, 1998 (this
"Agreement"), is made and entered into by Hadco Corporation, a Massachusetts
corporation ("Parent"), Hadco Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation and a
direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and Continental Circuits
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the
Company have unanimously approved the acquisition of the Company by Parent, by
means of the merger of Sub with and into the Company, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Agreement;
WHEREAS, to effectuate the acquisition, Parent and the Company each
desire that Sub commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding
shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company ("Shares" or
"Company Common Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement and the Offer Documents (as defined in Section 1.2), and the
Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously approved such tender offer and
agreed to recommend to its stockholders that they accept the tender offer and
tender their Company Common Stock pursuant thereto;
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Parent and Sub entering into this
Agreement (i) certain beneficial and record holders of the Company Common Stock
are entering into an agreement (the "Stockholders Agreement") providing for the
tender of their Shares pursuant to the Offer (as defined in Section 1.1) and
certain other matters with respect to their Shares and (ii) the Company has
approved the execution and delivery of the Stockholders Agreement by the parties
thereto; and
WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Offer and the Merger (as defined in Section 2.1) and also to prescribe various
conditions to consummation thereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
1.1 The Offer.
(a) Provided that none of the events set forth in Exhibit A
hereto shall have occurred and be continuing, as promptly as practicable (but in
any event not later than five
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business days after the public announcement of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement), Sub shall commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), an offer to
purchase (the "Offer") all outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock at a
price of $23.90 per share, net to the seller in cash (the "Offer
Consideration"). The obligations of Parent and Sub to commence the Offer,
consummate the Offer, accept for payment and pay for shares of Company Common
Stock validly tendered in the Offer and not withdrawn shall be subject only to
those conditions set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
(b) Parent and Sub expressly reserve the right to amend or
modify the terms of the Offer, except that, without the prior written consent of
the Company, Sub shall not (and Parent shall not cause Sub to) (i) decrease the
Offer Consideration or change the form of consideration therefor or decrease the
number of Shares sought pursuant to the Offer, (ii) change, in any material
respect, the conditions to the Offer, (iii) impose additional material
conditions to the Offer, (iv) waive the condition (sometimes called the "90%
Tender Condition") that there shall be validly tendered and not withdrawn prior
to the time the Offer expires a number of shares of Company Common Stock which
constitutes at least 90% of the Shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis on
the date of purchase ("on a fully-diluted basis" having the following meaning,
as of any date: the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding,
together with Shares which the Company may be required to issue pursuant to
obligations outstanding at that date under stock option, stock purchase or
similar benefit plans, or otherwise); provided that Sub shall have the right, at
its option and without the Company's consent, to modify such condition to reduce
the minimum number of shares of Company Common Stock being sought to a number of
Shares that constitutes at least a majority of the Shares outstanding on a
fully-diluted basis on the date of purchase (the condition as so modified,
sometimes called the "Majority Tender Condition"), (v) extend the expiration
date of the Offer (except that Sub may extend the expiration date of the Offer
(a) as required by law, (b) for up to ten (10) business days after the initial
expiration date or for longer periods (not to exceed 90 calendar days from the
date of commencement of the Offer) in the event that any condition to the Offer
is not satisfied, or (c) for one or more times for an aggregate period of up to
15 days (not to exceed 90 calendar days from the date of commencement for any
reason other than those specified in the immediately preceding clause (a) or
clause (b))), or (vi) amend any term of the Offer in any manner materially
adverse to holders of shares of Company Common Stock; provided, however, that,
except as set forth above, Sub may waive any other condition to the Offer in its
sole discretion and, provided further, that the Offer may be extended in
connection with an increase in the consideration to be paid pursuant to the
Offer so as to comply with applicable rules and regulations of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Assuming the prior satisfaction
or waiver of the conditions to the Offer, Sub shall accept for payment, and pay
for, in accordance with the terms of the Offer, all shares of Company Common
Stock validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer as soon as
practicable after the expiration date thereof. The initial expiration date of
the Offer shall be twenty business days from the commencement; further provided,
however, that Sub shall extend the expiration date of the Offer for up to 30
additional days in the event and to the extent that the events in both clauses
(i) and (ii) below have occurred: (i) the conditions to the Offer are not
satisfied solely because the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act have
not expired or been terminated;
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and (ii) the Company has made the required filing described in Section
4.1(c)(iv)(A) within 10 days of the date hereof.
(c) Parent, Sub and the Company agree that if the Majority
Tender Condition and all of the conditions to the Offer other than the 90%
Tender Condition shall have been satisfied as of the expiration date of the
Offer (as such expiration date may have been extended in accordance with Section
1.1(b)), then Parent and Sub shall either (i) waive the 90% Tender Condition and
substitute the Majority Tender Condition or (ii) terminate the Offer and require
the Company to solicit the approval of its stockholders for a cash merger (the
"Cash Merger") of the Company with Sub in accordance with Article II hereof, and
a Cash Merger shall be governed by the other provisions of this Agreement
relating to a Merger, Effective Time, Proxy Statement, Merger Consideration,
Closing Date and like terms, all of which shall apply to a Cash Merger, and in
such case each issued and outstanding share of the Company Common Stock, options
to acquire shares of Company Common Stock and shares of the capital stock of Sub
will be treated in accordance with Article III hereof. If pursuant to the
provisions of clause (ii) of the preceding sentence Parent and Sub elect to
terminate the Offer and pursue the Cash Merger, the Company and Parent shall
promptly undertake the actions contemplated by Section 6.1 hereof as if Sub had
accepted for payment and paid for Shares in the Offer, the obligations of Parent
and Sub to effect the Cash Merger shall be subject to Section 8 and to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth on Exhibit A hereto and the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall continue to have the obligations in Section 5 and 6 and
to be subject to the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 in respect of
the Cash Merger.
1.2 Offer Documents. As soon as practicable on the date of
commencement of the Offer, Parent and Sub shall file or cause to be filed with
the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 (the "Schedule 14D-1") with
respect to the Offer which shall contain the offer to purchase and related
letter of transmittal and other ancillary Offer documents and instruments
pursuant to which the Offer will be made (collectively with any supplements or
amendments thereto, the "Offer Documents") and shall contain (or shall be
amended in a timely manner to contain) all information which is required to be
included therein in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder and any other applicable law, and shall conform in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and any other
applicable law; provided, however, that no agreement or representation hereby is
made or shall be made by Parent or Sub with respect to information supplied by
the Company expressly for inclusion in, or with respect to Company information
derived from the Company's public SEC filings that is included or incorporated
by reference in, the Offer Documents. Parent, Sub and the Company each agree
promptly to correct any information provided by them for use in the Offer
Documents if and to the extent that it shall have become false or misleading in
any material respect and Sub further agrees to take all lawful action necessary
to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed promptly with the SEC
and to be disseminated to holders of Company Common Stock, in each case as and
to the extent required by applicable law. In conducting the Offer, Parent and
Sub shall comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange
Act and any other applicable law. The Company and its counsel shall be given a
reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Offer Documents and any
amendments thereto prior to the filing thereof with the SEC.
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1.3 Company Actions. The Company hereby consents to the Offer and
represents that (a) its Board of Directors (at a meeting duly called and held)
has unanimously (i) determined that each of this Agreement, the Offer and the
Merger are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company,
(ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Stockholders Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, and a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors of the Company voting for such approval were
and are Continuing Directors (as defined in and for purposes of Section 11(b) of
the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation), and (iii) after
considering its fiduciary duties under applicable law upon the advice of
counsel, resolved to recommend acceptance of the Offer, approval and adoption of
this Agreement and approval of the Merger by the holders of Company Common
Stock, and (b) X.X. Xxxxxxx & Sons, Inc. ("Xxxxxxx") has delivered to the Board
of Directors of the Company its written opinion that the Offer Consideration to
be received by the holders of Company Common Stock in the Offer and in the
Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. The Board of
Directors of the Company shall not withdraw, modify or amend its approval or
recommendation of the Offer, this Agreement, the Stockholders Agreement or the
Merger unless the Board of Directors of the Company shall conclude in good faith
upon the advice of counsel that such action is required under applicable law for
the discharge of such Board's fiduciary duties. The Company hereby consents to
the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the recommendation referred to in this
Section 1.3. The Company hereby agrees to file with the SEC simultaneously with
the filing by Parent and Sub of the Schedule 14D-1, a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with all
amendments and supplements thereto, the "Schedule 14D-9") containing such
recommendations of the Board of Directors of the Company in favor of the Offer
and the Merger and otherwise complying with Rule 14d-9 under the Exchange Act.
The Schedule 14D-9 shall comply in all material respects with the Exchange Act
and any other applicable law and shall contain (or shall be amended in a timely
manner to contain) all information which is required to be included therein in
accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and
any other applicable law. The Company, Parent and Sub each agree promptly to
correct any information provided by them for use in the Schedule 14D-9 if and to
the extent that it shall have become false or misleading in any material respect
and the Company further agrees to take all lawful action necessary to cause the
Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed promptly with the SEC and
disseminated to the holders of Company Common Stock, in each case as and to the
extent required by applicable law. Parent, Sub and their counsel shall be given
a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Schedule 14D-9 and any
amendments thereto prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. In connection with
the Offer, the Company shall promptly furnish, or cause its transfer agent to
furnish, Parent with mailing labels, security position listings and all
available listings or computer files containing the names and addresses of the
record holders of the Company Common Stock as of the latest practicable date and
shall furnish, or cause its transfer agent to furnish, Parent with such
information and assistance (including updated lists of stockholders, mailing
labels and lists of security positions) as Parent or its agents may reasonably
request in communicating the Offer to the record and beneficial holders of
Company Common Stock. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, and except
for such actions as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any
other documents necessary to consummate the Offer
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and the Merger, Parent and Sub and each of their affiliates, associates,
partners, employees, agents and advisors shall hold in confidence the
information contained in such labels and lists, shall use such information only
in connection with the Offer and the Merger, and, if this Agreement is
terminated, in accordance with its terms, shall deliver promptly to the Company
all copies of such information then in their possession or under their control.
1.4 Directors.
(a) Promptly upon the purchase pursuant to the Offer by
Parent or any of its subsidiaries of such number of shares of Company Common
Stock as represents at least 50.1% of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock (on a fully diluted basis), and from time to time thereafter, Parent shall
be entitled to designate such number of directors, rounded up to the next whole
number as will give Parent, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act, representation on the Board of Directors of the Company equal to
the product of (x) the number of directors on the Board of Directors of the
Company (giving effect to any increase in the number of directors pursuant to
this Section 1.4) and (y) the percentage that such number of Shares so purchased
bears to the aggregate number of Shares outstanding (but not more than 75%)
(such number being, the "Board Percentage"), and the Company shall, upon request
by Parent, promptly use its best efforts to satisfy the Board Percentage by (i)
increasing the size of the Board of Directors of the Company or (ii) using its
best efforts to secure the resignations of such number of directors as is
necessary to enable Parent's designees to be elected to the Board of Directors
of the Company and shall cause Parent's designees promptly to be so elected;
provided that, in no event prior to the Effective Time shall the number of
Continuing Directors, as defined in Section 1.4(b) below, on the Board of
Directors be less than one. At the request of Parent, the Company shall take, at
the Company's expense, all lawful action necessary to effect any such election,
including, without limitation, mailing to its stockholders the information
required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated
thereunder, unless such information has previously been provided to the
Company's stockholders in the Schedule 14D-9.
(b) Following the election or appointment of Parent's
designees pursuant to this Section 1.4 and prior to the Effective Time (as
defined in Section 2.3) of the Merger, any (i) amendment or termination of this
Agreement, (ii) extension for the performance or waiver of the obligations or
other acts of Parent or Sub, (iii) action which might affect the accuracy of the
representations and warranties under Article IV, or (iv) waiver of the Company's
rights hereunder shall require the concurrence of a majority of directors of the
Company then in office who are "Continuing Directors". The term "Continuing
Director" shall mean (i) each member of the Board of Directors of the Company on
the date hereof who is a "disinterested director," as such term is used in
Arizona Revised statutes Section 10-2741 and (ii) any successor to any
Continuing Director that was recommended to succeed such Continuing Director by
a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board of Directors, but shall
not mean any designee of Parent pursuant to this Section 1.4 or any successor to
such designee.
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ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporate
Law, as amended (the "DGCL"), Sub shall be merged (the "Merger") with and into
the Company at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate
existence of Sub shall cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving
corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Sub and the Company
are sometimes hereinafter referred to as "Constituent Corporations" and, as the
context requires, the Company is sometimes hereinafter referred to as the
"Surviving Corporation"), and shall continue under the name Hadco Phoenix, Inc.
2.2 Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and
the transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to
Section 8.1, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place at 10:00
a.m., New York time, as soon as practicable following satisfaction or waiver of
the conditions set forth in Article VII (the "Closing Date"), at the offices of
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, LLP, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, unless
another date, time or place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.
2.3 Effective Time of the Merger. Subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, the parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by
filing a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware, as provided in the DGCL, as soon as
practicable on or after the Closing Date. The Merger shall become effective upon
such filing or at such time thereafter as is provided in the Certificate of
Merger (the "Effective Time").
2.4 Effects of the Merger.
(a) The Merger shall have the effects as set forth in the
applicable provisions of the DGCL.
(b) The directors of Sub and the officers of the Company
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective
Time, be the initial directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation until
their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until
their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
(c) The Certificate of Incorporation of Sub in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with the DGCL, except that the
name shall be changed to Hadco Phoenix, Inc.
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(d) The Bylaws of Sub in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
amended as provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the
Bylaws.
ARTICLE III
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF
THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
3.1 Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of
Company Common Stock or the holder of any capital stock of Sub:
(a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each share of the capital stock
of Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Stock.
Each share of Company Common Stock and all other shares of capital stock of the
Company that are owned by the Company and all shares of Company Common Stock and
other shares of capital stock of the Company owned by Parent or Sub shall be
canceled and retired and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be
delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.
3.2 Conversion of Securities. At the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of Sub, the Company or the holders
of any of the shares thereof:
(a) subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.2,
each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (excluding shares owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Company or any Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or by Parent, Sub or
any other Subsidiary of Parent and Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section
3.6)) shall be converted into the right to receive the Offer Consideration,
payable to the holder thereof, without any interest thereon, less any required
withholding taxes (the "Merger Consideration"), upon surrender and exchange of
the Certificates (as defined in Section 3.3). As used in this Agreement the word
"Subsidiary", with respect to any party, means any corporation, partnership,
joint venture or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated
which is, directly or indirectly, controlled by such party. For the purposes of
this definition, "control" means the possession of the power to direct or cause
the direction of management and policies of such corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other organization, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
(b) All such shares of Company Common Stock, when
converted as provided in Section 3.2(a), no longer shall be outstanding and
shall automatically be canceled and retired and
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shall cease to exist, and each Certificate previously evidencing Shares shall
thereafter represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration. The
holders of Certificates previously evidencing Shares outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to the
Company Common Stock except as otherwise provided herein or by law and, upon the
surrender of Certificates in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3,
shall only represent the right to receive for their Shares, the Merger
Consideration, without any interest thereon.
3.3 Payment for Shares.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Sub shall
appoint a United States bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the
Company to act as paying agent (the "Paying Agent") for the payment of the
Merger Consideration, and Sub shall deposit or shall cause to be deposited with
the Paying Agent in a separate fund established for the benefit of the holders
of shares of Company Common Stock, for payment in accordance with this Article
III, through the Paying Agent (the "Payment Fund"), immediately available funds
in amounts necessary to make the payments pursuant to Section 3.2(a) and this
Section 3.3 to such holders (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or Parent, Sub or any other Subsidiary of Parent, or holders of
Dissenting Shares). The Paying Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable
instructions, pay the Merger Consideration out of the Payment Fund.
The Paying Agent shall invest portions of the Payment Fund as
Parent directs in obligations of or guaranteed by the United States of America,
in commercial paper obligations receiving the highest investment grade rating
from both Xxxxx'x Investors Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Ratings
Service, or in certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or banker's
acceptances of commercial banks with capital exceeding $1,000,000,000
(collectively, "Permitted Investments"); provided, however, that the maturities
of Permitted Investments shall be such as to permit the Paying Agent to make
prompt payment to former holders of Company Common Stock entitled thereto as
contemplated by this Section. Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall cause
the Payment Fund to be promptly replenished to the extent of any losses incurred
as a result of Permitted Investments. All earnings on Permitted Investments
shall be paid to the Surviving Corporation. If for any reason (including losses)
the Payment Fund is inadequate to pay the amounts to which holders of shares of
Company Common Stock shall be entitled under this Section 3.3, Parent and the
Surviving Corporation shall in any event be liable for payment thereof. The
Payment Fund shall not be used for any purpose except as expressly provided in
this Agreement.
(b) Payment Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable
after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall instruct the Paying
Agent to mail to each holder of record (other than the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company or Parent, Sub or any other Subsidiary of Parent) of a
Certificate or Certificates which, immediately prior to the Effective Time,
evidenced outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the "Certificates"), (i) a
form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be
effected, and risk of loss and title to the
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Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the
Paying Agent, and shall be in such form and have such other provisions,
including all required information regarding dissenters' rights, as the
Surviving Corporation reasonably may specify) and (ii) instructions for use in
effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for payment therefor.
Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent together
with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and such other customary
documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such
Certificate shall be paid in cash an amount equal to the product of (x) the
number of shares of Company Common Stock represented by such Certificate and (y)
the Merger Consideration, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be
canceled. Absolutely no interest shall be paid or accrued on the Merger
Consideration payable upon the surrender of any Certificate. If payment is to be
made to a person other than the person in whose name the surrendered Certificate
is registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer
and that the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other
taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the registered
holder of the surrendered Certificate or established to the satisfaction of the
Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until
surrendered in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.3(b), each
Certificate (other than Certificates representing Shares owned by Parent or any
subsidiary of Parent or held in the treasury of the Company) shall represent for
all purposes only the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
(c) Termination of Payment Fund; Interest. Any portion of
the Payment Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common
Stock for 180 days after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving
Corporation, upon demand, and any holders of Company Common Stock who have not
theretofore complied with this Article III and the instructions set forth in the
letter of transmittal mailed to such holder after the Effective Time shall
thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment of the Merger
Consideration to which they are entitled. All interest accrued in respect of the
Payment Fund shall inure to the benefit of and be paid to the Surviving
Corporation.
(d) No Liability. Neither Parent nor the Surviving
Corporation shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock for
any cash from the Payment Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(e) Withholding Rights. The Surviving Corporation shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock such
amounts as the Surviving Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with
respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To
the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation, such
withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having
been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock in respect of
which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation.
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3.4 Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock
transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further
registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock thereafter on the
records of the Company. On or after the Effective Time, any certificates
presented to the Paying Agent or Parent for any reason shall be converted into
the Merger Consideration.
3.5 Stock Options. (a) At the earlier of (i) the Effective Time or
(ii) immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer (provided that the
settlement of the options below, when taken together with Shares tendered
immediately prior to such expiration, meets the 90% Tender Condition), each
holder of a then outstanding option to purchase Shares under the Company's 1987
Stock Option Plan and 1996 Stock Option Plan (collectively, the "Stock Option
Plans"), whether or not then exercisable (the "Options"), shall, in settlement
thereof, receive for each Share subject to such Option an amount (subject to any
applicable withholding tax) in cash equal to the difference between the Offer
Consideration and the per Share exercise price of such Option to the extent such
difference is a positive number (such amount being hereinafter referred to as,
the "Option Consideration"); provided, however, that with respect to any person
subject to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, any such amount shall be paid as
soon as practicable after the first date payment can be made without liability
to such person under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Upon receipt of the
Option Consideration, the Option shall be canceled. The surrender of an Option
to the Company in exchange for the Option Consideration shall be deemed a
release of any and all rights the holder had or may have had in respect of such
Option. Prior to the expiration of the Offer, the Company shall obtain all
necessary written consents or releases from holders of Options under the Stock
Option Plans and take all such other lawful action as may be necessary to give
effect to the transactions contemplated by this Section 3.5. To the extent that
Parent is satisfied in its sole good faith discretion that the settlement of
Options will result in satisfaction of the 90% Tender Condition on the
expiration of the Offer and that all other conditions to the Offer have been
met, Parent will loan up to $13,000,000 for that purpose.
(b) The Company shall terminate the Company Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan") as of the Effective Time pursuant to
Article IX thereof and shall refund all payroll deductions for the current
Quarterly Investment Period (as defined in the Stock Purchase Plan). All Stock
Option Plans shall also terminate as of the Effective Time and the provisions in
any other plan, program or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of
any other interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary thereof shall be canceled as of the Effective Time. The Company shall
take all action necessary to ensure that following the Effective Time no
participant in the Stock Purchase Plan, any Stock Option Plan or other plans,
programs or arrangements shall have any right thereunder to acquire equity
securities of the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof
and to terminate all such plans.
3.6 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock that are
outstanding immediately prior to the
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Effective Time and which are held by stockholders who shall have not voted in
favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who shall have demanded
properly in writing appraisal for such shares in accordance with Section 262 of
the DGCL (collectively, the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into or
represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration. Such stockholders
instead shall be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of such
shares of Company Common Stock held by them in accordance with the provisions of
such Section 262, except that all Dissenting Shares held by stockholders who
shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or lost
their rights to appraisal of such shares of Company Common Stock under such
Section 262 shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into and to have
become exchangeable, as of the Effective Time, for the right to receive, without
any interest thereon, the Merger Consideration upon surrender in the manner
provided in Section 3.3, of the Certificate or Certificates that, immediately
prior to the Effective Time, evidenced such shares of Company Common Stock.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to Parent and Sub that, except as set forth in the
schedules described in this Article IV (it being understood that any disclosed
matter, the import of which is fairly described on one schedule, shall be deemed
to be effective disclosure on all schedules for which its application is
reasonably apparent from such description).
(a) Organization, Standing and Power. Each of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation,
has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as now being conducted, and is duly qualified and
in good standing to conduct business in each jurisdiction in which the business
it is conducting, or the operation, ownership or leasing of its properties,
makes such qualification necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the
failure so to qualify could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the
aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) with respect to
the Company. The Company has heretofore made available to Parent complete and
correct copies of its and its Subsidiaries' respective Certificates of
Incorporation and Bylaws. All Subsidiaries of the Company and their respective
jurisdictions of incorporation or organization are identified on Schedule
4.1(a). As used in this Agreement: a "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, with
respect to any party, the result of one or more events, changes or effects
which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on
the business, operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or
prospects of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) Capital Structure. As of the date hereof, the
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 20,000,000 Shares and
1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value ("Preferred Stock"). At the
close of business on the date of this Agreement: (i) 7,290,343 Shares
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were issued and outstanding; (ii) no shares of Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding; (iii) 1,750,000 Shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to the
Stock Option Plans of which 989,200 Shares are subject to outstanding Options;
(iv) 200,000 Shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Plan; (v) except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(b) and except for the issuance of
Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Options, there are no employment,
executive termination or similar agreements providing for the issuance of
Shares; (vi) no Shares were held by the Company; and (vii) no bonds, debentures,
notes or other instruments or evidence of indebtedness having the right to vote
(or convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, securities having the
right to vote) on any matters on which the Company stockholders may vote
("Company Voting Debt") were issued or outstanding. All outstanding Shares are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to preemptive
or other similar rights. No Shares are owned by any Subsidiary of the Company.
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(b), all outstanding shares of capital stock
of the Subsidiaries of the Company are owned by the Company or a direct or
indirect Subsidiary (other than shares of Subsidiaries held by nominees for
which the Company maintains beneficial ownership) of the Company, free and clear
of all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims and options of any nature. Except as
set forth in this Section 4.1(b) and except for changes resulting from the
exercise of Options or as contemplated by this Agreement, from and after the
date hereof there will be outstanding: (i) no shares of capital stock, Company
Voting Debt or other voting securities of the Company; (ii) no securities of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company convertible into, or exchangeable or
exercisable for, shares of capital stock, Company Voting Debt or other voting
securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; and (iii) no
options, warrants, calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or
agreements to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or
by which it is bound, in any case obligating the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company to issue, deliver, sell, purchase, redeem or acquire, or cause to be
issued, delivered, sold, purchased, redeemed or acquired, additional shares of
capital stock or any Company Voting Debt or other voting securities of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or obligating the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such option,
warrant, call, right, commitment or agreement. Set forth on Schedule 4.1(b) is a
list of all outstanding options, warrants and rights to purchase shares of
Company Common Stock and the exercise prices relating thereto. Except for the
Stockholders Agreement, there are not as of the date hereof and there will not
be at the Effective Time any stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other
agreements or understandings to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound relating to the voting of any shares of the capital stock of the Company
which will limit in any way the solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of the
Company from, or the casting of votes by, the stockholders of the Company with
respect to the Merger. There are no restrictions on the Company to vote the
stock of any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals
(i) The restrictions of Section 203(a) of the
DGCL do not and will not apply to the Company or the transactions contemplated
in or by this Agreement or the Stockholders Agreement.
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(ii) The Company has all requisite corporate
power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to the Company
Stockholder Approval (as defined in Section 4.1(c)(iv)), to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been (A) duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company,
subject, if required with respect to consummation of the Merger, to the Company
Stockholder Approval and (B) approved by a committee of "disinterested
directors" within the meaning of Section 10-2741 of the Arizona Revised
Statutes. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company
voting for the approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby were and are Continuing Directors (as defined in and for
purposes of Section 11(b) of the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and, subject, if required with respect to consummation of the Merger, to
the Company Stockholder Approval, and assuming that this Agreement constitutes
the valid and binding agreement of Parent and Sub, constitutes a valid and
binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms
except that the enforcement hereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally and (b) general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity).
(iii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company will
not conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or without
notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration (including pursuant to any put right) of any
obligation or the loss of a material benefit under, or the creation of a lien,
pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on assets or property, or right
of first refusal with respect to any asset or property (any such conflict,
violation, default, right of termination, cancellation or acceleration, loss,
creation or right of first refusal, a "Violation"), pursuant to any provision of
the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or, except as to which requisite waivers or consents have been
obtained and, except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(c)(iii) hereto and assuming
the consents, approvals, authorizations or permits and filings or notifications
referred to in paragraph (iv) of this Section 4.1(c) are duly and timely
obtained or made and, if required, the Company Stockholder Approval has been
obtained, result in any Violation except for Violations that, individually or in
the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company of (A) any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, deed
of trust, indenture, lease, Benefit Plan (as defined in Section 4.1(i)(i)),
Company Permit (as defined in Section 4.1(f)), or any other material agreement,
obligation, instrument, concession, franchise, or license, or (B) any judgment,
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets
(collectively, "Laws").
(iv) No consent, approval, order or authorization
of, or registration, declaration or filing with, notice to, or permit from any
court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or
instrumentality, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental Entity"),
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is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or
the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, except
for: (A) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by the Company
under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
"HSR Act"), and the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period
thereunder; (B) the filing with the SEC of (x) a proxy statement (if required by
applicable law) in definitive form relating to a meeting of the holders of
Company Common Stock to approve the Merger (such proxy statement as amended or
supplemented from time to time being hereinafter referred to as the "Proxy
Statement"), (y) the Schedule 14D-9 in connection with the Offer, and (z) such
reports under and such other compliance with the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder as may be required in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby; (C) the filing of the Certificate of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (D) such filings
and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities, "blue sky"
or takeover laws; and (E) the approval of this Agreement and the Merger by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares ("Company Stockholder
Approval").
(d) SEC Documents. The Company has made available to
Parent a true and complete copy of each report, schedule, registration statement
and definitive proxy statement filed by the Company with the SEC prior to the
date of this Agreement (the "Company SEC Documents"), which are all the
documents (other than preliminary material) that the Company was required to
file with the SEC since such date. As of their respective dates, the Company SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act,
as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder
applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company SEC Documents
contained, as of their respective dates, any untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in
the Company SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on
a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto or, in the case of the unaudited statements, as permitted by
Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC) and fairly present in accordance with
applicable requirements of GAAP (subject, in the case of the unaudited
statements, to normal, recurring adjustments, which will not be material, either
individually or in the aggregate) the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the
consolidated results of operations and the consolidated cash flows of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein.
(e) Information Supplied. None of the information
supplied or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in (i) any of the Offer Documents will, at the time the Offer
Documents are first published, sent or given to holders of Company Common Stock,
and at any time they are amended or supplemented, contain any untrue statement
of a
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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 are made, not misleading, and (ii) the Proxy Statement will, on the
date it is first mailed to the holders of the Company Common Stock or at the
time of the Company Stockholder Approval, not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. If at any time prior to
the expiration date of the Offer or the Effective Time any event with respect to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to other information
supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Offer Documents or the Proxy
Statement, shall occur which is required to be described in an amendment of, or
a supplement to, the Offer Documents or the Proxy Statement, as the case may be,
such event shall be so described, and such amendment or supplement shall be
promptly filed with the SEC and, as required by law, disseminated to the
stockholders of the Company. The Proxy Statement, insofar as it relates to the
Company or its Subsidiaries or other information supplied by the Company for
inclusion therein will comply as to form, in all material respects, with the
provisions of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
(f) Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Company and its
Subsidiaries hold all material permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders,
franchises and approvals of all Governmental Entities necessary to enable them
to conduct their respective businesses (the "Company Permits"), and the Company
and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with the terms of the Company
Permits. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, the businesses of the
Company and its Subsidiaries are not being conducted in material violation of
any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity. As of the date of
this Agreement, no investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with
respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(g) Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents and on Schedule 4.1(g) attached hereto (i) there is no suit, action or
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company ("Company Litigation"),
and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have no knowledge of any facts which
are reasonably likely to give rise to any Company Litigation which in the case
of (i) or (ii) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to the Company, nor is there any material judgment, decree, injunction,
rule or order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company ("Company Order").
(h) Taxes.
(i) All Tax Returns required to be filed by or
with respect to the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been duly and
timely filed, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all
material respects. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has duly and timely
paid (or there has been paid on its behalf) all Taxes that are due, or claimed
or
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asserted by any taxing authority to be due, from or with respect to it. With
respect to any period for which Taxes are not yet due with respect to the
Company or any Subsidiary, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has made due
and sufficient current accruals for such Taxes in accordance with GAAP in the
most recent financial statements contained in the Company SEC Documents. The
Company and each of its Subsidiaries has made (or there has been made on its
behalf) all required estimated Tax payments sufficient to avoid any underpayment
penalties. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all
Taxes required by all applicable laws to be withheld or paid in connection with
any amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor or
other third party.
(ii) There are no outstanding agreements,
waivers, or arrangements extending the statutory period of limitation applicable
to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment of, Taxes due
from or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any taxable
period. No audit or other proceeding by any court, governmental or regulatory
authority, or similar person is pending or threatened in regard to any Taxes due
from or with respect to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any Tax Return
filed by or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary. No assessment of
Taxes is proposed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
assets.
(iii) No election under Section 338 of the Code
has been made or filed by or with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. No consent to the application of Section 341(f)(2) of the Code (or
any predecessor provision) has been made or filed by or with respect to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets. None of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries has agreed to make any adjustment pursuant to Section
481(a) of the Code (or any predecessor provision) by reason of any change in any
accounting method, and there is no application pending with any taxing authority
requesting permission for any changes in any accounting method of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. None of the assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is or will be required to be treated as being owned by any person
(other than the Company or its Subsidiaries) pursuant to the provisions of
Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and in effect
immediately before the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
(iv) None of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to, is bound by, or has any obligation under, any Tax
sharing agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar contract.
(v) There is no contract, agreement, plan or
arrangement covering any person that, individually or collectively, could give
rise to the payment of any amount that would not be deductible by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries by reason of Section 162(m) or 280G of the Code.
(vi) Schedule 4.1(h) accurately sets forth (i)
the amount of all deferred intercompany gains for purposes of Treasury
Regulation section 1.1502-13 (including any
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predecessor regulation) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries; and
(ii) the amount of any excess loss account with respect to the stock of each of
the Subsidiaries for purposes of Treasury Regulation section 1.1502-19
(including any predecessor regulation).
(vii) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended. "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies, or
other similar assessments or liabilities, including without limitation (a)
income, gross receipts, ad valorem, premium, excise, real property, personal
property, sales, use, transfer, withholding, employment, payroll, and franchise
taxes imposed by the United States of America, or by any state, local, or
foreign government, or any subdivision, agency, or other similar person of the
United States or any such government; and (b) any interest, fines, penalties,
assessments, or additions to taxes resulting from, attributable to, or incurred
in connection with any Tax or any contest, dispute, or refund thereof. "Tax
Returns" shall mean any report, return, or statement required to be supplied to
a taxing authority in connection with Taxes.
(i) Pension And Benefit Plans; ERISA.
(i) Schedule 4.1(i)(i) sets forth a complete and
correct list of:
(A) all "employee benefit plans", as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
maintains or has any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise ("Benefit
Plans"); and
(B) all employment or consulting
agreements, bonus or other incentive compensation, deferred compensation, salary
continuation during any absence from active employment for disability or other
reasons, severance, sick days, stock award, stock option, stock purchase,
tuition assistance, club membership, employee discount, employee loan, or
vacation pay agreements, policies or arrangements which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries maintains or has any obligation or liability (contingent or
otherwise) with respect to any current or former officer, director or employee
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the "Employee Arrangements").
(ii) With respect to each Benefit Plan and
Employee Arrangement, a complete and correct copy of each of the following
documents (if applicable) has been provided to Parent: (A) the most recent plan
and related trust documents, and all amendments thereto; (B) the most recent
summary plan description, and all related summaries of material modifications
thereto; (C) the most recent Form 5500 (including schedules and attachments);
(D) the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter; (E) the most
recent actuarial reports (including for purposes of Financial Accounting
Standards Board report no. 87, 106 and 112) and (F) each written employment,
consulting or individual severance or other compensation agreement, and all
amendments thereto.
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(iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not
during the preceding six years had any obligation or liability (contingent or
otherwise) with respect to a Benefit Plan which is described in Section 3(37),
4(b)(4), 4063 or 4064 of ERISA. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not
incurred nor reasonably expect to incur any liability under Title IV of ERISA
arising in connection with the termination of any plan covered or previously
covered by Title IV of ERISA.
(iv) The Benefit Plans and their related trusts
intended to qualify under Sections 401 and 501(a) of the Code, respectively, so
qualify. Any voluntary employee benefit association which provides benefits to
current or former employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or their
beneficiaries, is and has been qualified under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code.
(v) All contributions or other payments required
to have been made by the Company and its Subsidiaries to or under any Benefit
Plan or Employee Arrangement by applicable law or the terms of such Benefit Plan
or Employee Arrangement (or any agreement relating thereto) have been timely and
properly made. There has been no amendment to, written interpretation of or
announcement (whether or not written) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit
Plan or Employee Arrangement that would increase materially the expense of
maintaining such Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement above the level of the
expense incurred in respect thereof for the fiscal year ended prior to the date
hereof.
(vi) The Benefit Plans and Employee Arrangements
have been maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance
with their terms and applicable laws.
(vii) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened actions, claims or proceedings
against or relating to any Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement other than
routine benefit claims by persons entitled to benefits thereunder.
(viii) The Company and its Subsidiaries do not
maintain or have an obligation to contribute to retiree life or retiree health
plans which provide for continuing benefits or coverage for current or former
officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
except (A) as may be required under Part 6 of Title I of ERISA) and at the sole
expense of the participant or the participant's beneficiary or (B) a medical
expense reimbursement account plan pursuant to Section 125 of the Code. No tax
under Section 4980B or Section 4980D of the Code has been incurred in respect of
any Benefit Plan that is a group health plan, as defined in Section 5000(b)(1)
of the Code.
(ix) None of the assets of any Benefit Plan is
stock of the Company or any of its affiliates, or property leased to or jointly
owned by the Company or any of its affiliates.
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(x) Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(i)(x),
neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will (A) result in any payment becoming due to
any employee (current, former or retired) of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
(B) increase any benefits under any Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement or (C)
result in the acceleration of the time of payment of, vesting of or other rights
with respect to any such benefits.
(xi) The Company and its Subsidiaries have no
liability (contingent or otherwise) under Section 4069 of ERISA by reason of a
transfer of an underfunded pension plan.
(j) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed after November 1, 1997 or on
Schedule 4.1(j) hereto, since November 1, 1997 the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries has been carried on only in the ordinary and usual course and
as of the date of this Agreement there has not been any material adverse change
(either individually or in the aggregate) in the business, operations, assets or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company.
(k) No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. To the Company's
knowledge, except as specifically and individually set forth on Schedule 4.1(k)
or the other schedules hereto (specific reference to which has been made on
Schedule 4.1(k)), there are no liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary of
any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined,
determinable or otherwise, that are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries
considered as a whole other than: (i) liabilities reflected on the Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended November 1, 1997 (the "November 1 Balance Sheet"); and (ii)
liabilities under this Agreement.
(l) Vote Required. In the event that Section 253 of the
DGCL is inapplicable and unavailable to effectuate the Merger, the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company's
capital stock necessary (under Delaware law and the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws) to approve the Merger and this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.
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(m) Labor Matters.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any labor or collective bargaining agreement, and no
employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are represented by any labor
organization. Within the preceding three years, there have been no
representation or certification proceedings, or petitions seeking a
representation proceeding, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened in writing to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations
Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority. Within the preceding
three years, to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no organizing
activities involving the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to any group
of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(ii) There are no strikes, work stoppages,
slowdowns, lockouts, material arbitrations or material grievances or other
material labor disputes pending or threatened in writing against or involving
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no unfair labor practice
charges, grievances or complaints pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened in writing by or on behalf of any employee or group of employees of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(m)(iii),
there are no material complaints, charges or claims against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to
be brought or filed with any governmental authority, arbitrator or court based
on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to the employment
or termination of employment of any individual by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(iv) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is
in material compliance with all laws, regulations and orders relating to the
employment of labor, including all such laws, regulations and orders relating to
wages, hours, WARN (as defined below), collective bargaining, discrimination,
civil rights, safety and health, workers' compensation and the collection and
payment of withholding and/or social security taxes and any similar tax.
(v) There has been no "mass layoff" or "plant
closing" as defined by the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, as
amended ("WARN"), with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries within the
six (6) months prior to Closing.
(n) Intangible Property.
(i) Schedule 4.1(n) sets forth a list of each
material trademark, trade name, patent, service xxxx, brand xxxx, brand name,
computer program (other than standard off-the-shelf programs), database
purchased, licensed or acquired from third parties and copyright owned or used
in connection with the operation of the businesses of each of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as well as a list of all registrations thereof and pending
applications therefor, and each
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license or other contract relating thereto (collectively, the "Company
Intangible Property"). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(n), all of the
Company Intangible Property is in good standing and is owned by the Company or
its Subsidiaries free and clear of any and all liens, claims or encumbrances.
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(n), to the knowledge of the Company, the use
of the Company Intangible Property by the Company or its Subsidiaries does not,
in any material respect, conflict with, infringe upon, violate or interfere with
or constitute an appropriation of any right, title, interest or goodwill,
including, without limitation, any intellectual property right, trademark, trade
name, patent, service xxxx, brand xxxx, brand name, computer program, database,
industrial design, maskworks, copyright or any pending application therefor of
any other person and there have been no claims made and neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any claim or otherwise knows
that any of the Company Intangible Property is invalid or conflicts with the
asserted rights of any other person or has not been used or enforced or has
failed to be used or enforced in a manner that would result in the abandonment,
cancellation or unenforceability of any of the Company Intangible Property.
(ii) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
owns or has a right to use all material Company Intangible Property necessary
for the operation of its respective business and has not forfeited or otherwise
relinquished any material Company Intangible Property.
(iii) Each of the material licenses or other
contracts relating to the Company Intangible Property (collectively, the
"Company Intangible Property Licenses") is in full force and effect and is valid
and enforceable in accordance with its terms, and there is no material default
under any Company Intangible Property License either by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, by any other party
thereto.
(o) Environmental Matters.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement:
(A) "Environmental Costs and
Liabilities" means any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, damages, fines,
penalties, judgments, actions, claims, costs and expenses (including, without
limitation, fees, disbursements and expenses of legal counsel, experts,
engineers and consultants, the costs of investigation and feasibility studies
and costs to clean up, remove, treat, or in any other way address any Hazardous
Materials) arising from or under any Environmental Law.
(B) "Environmental Law" means any
applicable law relating to the use of natural resources, or regulating or
prohibiting Releases into any part of the natural environment, or pertaining to
the protection of natural resources, the environment and public and employee
health and safety including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA") (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et
seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et
seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et
seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.), the
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Clean Air Act (33 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act
(15 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Section 136 et seq.), and the Occupational Safety and
Health Act (29 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq.) ("OSHA"), as well as the regulations
promulgated pursuant to any of the foregoing, and any such applicable state or
local laws, as such laws have been and may be amended or supplemented through
the Closing Date;
(C) "Hazardous Material" means any
substance, material or waste which is regulated by any public or governmental
authority in the jurisdictions in which the applicable party or its Subsidiaries
conducts business, or the United States, including, without limitation, any
material or substance which is defined as a "hazardous waste," "hazardous
material," "hazardous substance," "extremely hazardous waste" or "restricted
hazardous waste," "pollutant," "contaminant," "toxic waste" or "toxic substance"
under any provision of Environmental Law and shall also include, without
limitation, petroleum, petroleum products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls
and radioactive materials;
(D) "Release" means any release, spill,
effluent, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge,
dispersal, leaching, or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment, or
into or out of any property; and
(E) "Remedial Action" means all actions,
including, without limitation, any capital expenditures, required by a
governmental entity or required under any Environmental Law, or voluntarily
undertaken to (I) clean up, remove, treat, or in any other way ameliorate or
address any Hazardous Materials or other substance in the indoor or outdoor
environment; (II) prevent the Release or threat of Release, or minimize the
further Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten to
endanger the public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment;
(III) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations or post-remedial
monitoring and care pertaining or relating to a Release; or (IV) bring the
applicable party into compliance with any Environmental Law.
Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 4.1(o):
(ii) The operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries have been and, as of the Closing Date, will be, in compliance in
all material respects with all Environmental Laws;
(iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have
obtained and will, as of the Closing Date, maintain all permits required under
applicable Environmental Laws for the continued operations of their respective
businesses, except such permits the lack of which would not materially impair
the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to continue operations;
(iv) The Company and its Subsidiaries are not
subject to any outstanding written orders or material contracts with any
Governmental Entity or other person respecting (A) Environmental Laws, (B)
Remedial Action or (C) any Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous
Material;
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(v) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not
received any written communication alleging, with respect to any such party, the
material violation of or material liability under any Environmental Law, which
violation or liability is outstanding;
(vi) Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any contingent liability in connection with the Release of any
Hazardous Material into the indoor or outdoor environment (whether on-site or
off-site) which would be reasonably likely to result in the Company and its
Subsidiaries incurring Environmental Costs and Liabilities in excess of
$500,000;
(vii) There is not now, nor to the knowledge of
the Company has there been in the past, on or in any property of the Company or
its Subsidiaries any of the following: (A) any underground storage tanks or
surface impoundments, (B) any asbestos-containing materials, or (C) any
polychlorinated biphenyls;
(viii) No judicial or administrative proceedings
are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company
and its Subsidiaries alleging the violation of or seeking to impose liability
pursuant to any Environmental Law and there are no investigations pending in
respect of which the Company has received notice or has knowledge and, to the
knowledge of the Company, there are no investigations threatened against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Environmental Laws;
(ix) None of the exceptions set forth on Schedule
4.1(o) are reasonably likely to result in the Company and its Subsidiaries
incurring Environmental Costs and Liabilities in excess of $500,000 individually
or $1,000,000 in the aggregate; and
(x) The Company and its Subsidiaries have
provided Parent with copies of all environmentally related audits, assessments,
studies, reports, analyses, and results of investigations prepared within the
past five years by any third party or any similar material internally generated
report prepared within the past five years concerning any real property
currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
(p) Real Property.
(i) Schedule 4.1(p)(i) sets forth all real
property owned by the Company ("Real Property"). The Subsidiaries own no real
property. All improvements located on the Real Property are owned by the
Company. The Company has heretofore delivered to Parent, true, correct and
complete copies of (i) all Real Property deeds, or other evidences of ownership
(including all modifications, amendments and supplements hereto) and (ii) all
title insurance policies in effect with respect to the Real Property. Except as
set forth on Schedule 4.1(p)(i), the Company has good and clear, record and
marketable fee simple title to the Real Property free and clear of all
mortgages, pledges, liens, easements, covenants, restrictions, claims, leases,
encumbrances and security interests. There are no condemnation, environmental,
zoning or land use regulation proceedings, either instituted or, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, planned to
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be instituted, which would adversely affect the use or operation of the
Company's Real Property and the improvements thereto for their respective
intended uses and purposes, or the value of such properties, and the Company has
not received notice of any special assessment proceedings which would affect
such properties and assets.
(ii) Schedule 4.1(p)(ii) sets forth all leases,
subleases and other agreements (the "Real Property Leases") under which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses or occupies or has the right to use or
occupy, now or in the future, any real property. The Company has heretofore
delivered to Parent true, correct and complete copies of all Real Property
Leases (including all modifications, amendments and supplements hereto). Each
Real Property Lease is valid, binding and in full force and effect, all rent and
other sums and charges payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries as tenants
thereunder are current, no termination event or condition or uncured default of
a material nature on the part of the Company or any such Subsidiary or, to the
Company's knowledge, the landlord, exists under any Real Property Lease, and,
except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(p)(ii), no event has occurred and is
continuing which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a
default or event of default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the
best of the Company's knowledge, by any other party thereto. Each of the Company
and its Subsidiaries has a good and valid leasehold interest in each parcel of
real property leased by it free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens,
easements, covenants, restrictions, claims, encumbrances and security interests,
except (i) those reflected or reserved against in the November 1 Balance Sheet;
(ii) taxes and general and special assessments not yet due and payable without
penalty and interest; (iii) superior rights of lessors' lenders as permitted by
such leases; and (iv) as set forth on Schedule 4.1(p)(ii). No other party holds
an option to purchase or lease any portion of the Real Property, and none of the
Real Property Leases may be terminated by any party except as provided in
accordance with their terms.
(q) Insurance. Set forth on Schedule 4.1(q) is a list and
description of insurance policies (including information on the premiums payable
in connection therewith and the scope and amount of the coverage and deductibles
provided thereunder) maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which
policies have been issued by reputable and financially sound insurers and
provide adequate coverage for the operations conducted by the Company and its
Subsidiaries in accordance with customary industry practice.
(r) Board Recommendation. The Board of Directors of the
Company, at a meeting duly called and held, has by the vote of those directors
present (who constituted 100% of the directors then in office and of which a
majority of those voting were and are Continuing Directors (as defined in and
for purposes of Section 11(b) of the Company's Restated Certificated of
Incorporation) (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the Merger, and the execution and
delivery of the Stockholders Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby, taken together, are fair to and in the best interests of the
stockholders of the Company and has approved the same, and (ii) resolved to
recommend that the holders of the shares of Company Common Stock approve this
Agreement and the transactions
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contemplated herein, including the Merger, and accept the Offer and tender their
shares of Company Common Stock pursuant thereto.
(s) Material Contracts. Each contract, agreement or other
document or instrument (collectively "SEC Contracts") to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party that was required to be filed as an exhibit
to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 1997 was
so filed and, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) has entered
into, from and after July 31, 1997, any contract, agreement or other document or
instrument (other than this Agreement) that is required to be filed with the SEC
that has not been so filed on or before the date of this Agreement or any
amendment, modification or waiver under any contract, agreement or other
document or instrument that was previously so filed, which amendment,
modification or waiver is required to be so filed (collectively "Additional SEC
Contracts") or (B) except as listed on Schedule 4.1(s), is a party to any oral
or written agreement, plan or arrangement with any officer, director or employee
of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company (collectively "Material
Employment Contracts" and together with the SEC Contracts and Additional SEC
Contracts, the "Material Contracts") (1) the benefits of which are contingent,
or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a
transaction involving the Company of the nature of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (2) providing severance benefits or other
benefits after the termination of employment regardless of the reason for such
termination of employment, (3) under which any person may receive payments
subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or (4) any of the
benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which will be
accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the
basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set
forth on Schedule 4.1(s), each Material Contract is a valid and binding
obligation of the Company and, to the Company's knowledge, each other party
thereto and is in full force and effect without amendment. Except as set forth
on Schedule 4.1(s), the Company and, to the Company's knowledge, each other
party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it
through the date hereof under the Material Contracts and is not (with or without
lapse of time or giving notice, or both) in breach or default in any respect
thereunder.
(t) Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.1(t) hereto, no director, officer, partner, employee, "affiliate" or
"associate" (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) has outstanding any indebtedness or
other similar obligations to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) to the
knowledge of the Company, owns any direct or indirect interest of any kind in,
or is a director, officer, employee, partner, affiliate or associate of, or
consultant or lender to, or borrower from, or has the right to participate in
the management, operations or profits of, any person or entity which is (1) a
competitor, supplier, customer, distributor, lessor, tenant, creditor or debtor
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (2) engaged in a business related to
the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (3) participating in
any transaction to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or
(iii) is otherwise a party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(u) Indebtedness. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(u),
or reflected in the SEC Documents or the Company's financial statements provided
to Parent, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any outstanding
indebtedness for borrowed money or representing the deferred purchase price of
property or services or similar liabilities or obligations, including any
guarantee in respect thereof ("Indebtedness"), or is a party to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding providing for the creation, incurrence or
assumption thereof.
(v) Liens. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(v) or
reflected in the SEC Documents or in the Company's financial statements provided
to Parent, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has granted, created
or suffered to exist with respect to any of its assets, any mortgage, pledge,
charge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, lien (statutory or otherwise),
encumbrance or security agreement of any kind or nature whatsoever.
(w) Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received
the opinion (the "Fairness Opinion") of Xxxxxxx to the effect that, as of the
date hereof, the Offer Consideration to be received by the holders of Company
Common Stock in the Offer and the Merger Consideration to be received by the
holders of Company Common Stock in the Merger is fair from a financial point of
view to such holders, a signed, true and complete copy of which opinion has been
delivered to Parent.
4.2 Representations, Warranties, and Covenants of Parent and Sub.
Parent and Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
(a) Organization, Standing and Power. Each of Parent and
Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of its state of incorporation or organization, has all requisite power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted, and is duly qualified and in good standing to
conduct business in each jurisdiction in which the business it is conducting, or
the operation, ownership or leasing of its properties, makes such qualification
necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure so to qualify
would not have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. Parent and Sub
have heretofore made available to the Company complete and correct copies of
their respective Articles of Organization, Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws.
(b) Authority; No Violations; Consents and Approvals.
(i) Each of Parent and Sub has all requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Parent and Sub and
assuming this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the
Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent and Sub
enforceable in accordance with its
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terms except that the enforcement hereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
effect relating to creditors' rights generally and (b) general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity).
(ii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by each of Parent
and Sub will not result in any Violation (as defined in Section 4.1(c)(iii))
pursuant to any provision of the respective Articles of Organization or
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Parent or Sub or, except as to which
requisite waivers or consents have been obtained and assuming the consents,
approvals, authorizations or permits and filings or notifications referred to in
paragraph (iii) of this Section 4.2(b) are duly and timely obtained or made and,
if required, the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained, result in any
Violation of any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, indenture, lease, or
other agreement, obligation, instrument, concession, franchise, license,
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to Parent or Sub or their respective properties or assets, which would have a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(iii) No consent, approval, order or authorization
of, or registration, declaration or filing with, notice to, or permit from any
Governmental Entity, is required by or with respect to Parent or Sub in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent
and Sub or the consummation by each of Parent or Sub of the transactions
contemplated hereby, except for: (A) filings under the HSR Act; (B) the filing
with the SEC of (x) the Schedule 14D-1 in connection with the commencement and
consummation of the Offer and (y) such reports under and such other compliance
with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as may be
required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby; (C) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware; and (D) such filings and approvals as may be required
by any applicable state securities, "blue sky" or takeover laws.
(c) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in (i) the Schedule 14D-9 will, at the time the Schedule 14D-9 is filed with the
SEC, and at any time it is amended or supplemented, 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 are made, not misleading, and (ii) the Proxy
Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company's stockholders or
at the time of the Company Stockholder Approval, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. If at any time prior to
the Effective Time any event with respect to Parent or Sub, or with respect to
information supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9 or the
Proxy Statement, shall occur which is required to be described in an amendment
of, or a supplement to, such documents, such event shall be so described to the
Company.
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(d) Board Recommendation. The Boards of Directors of the
Parent and Sub at meetings duly called and held, have by the unanimous vote of
their directors determined that each of the Offer and the Merger is fair to and
in the best interests of Parent and Sub and have approved the same.
(e) Financing. Parent has sufficient available credit
under existing bank facilities, and will cause Sub to have sufficient financial
resources, to consummate the Offer and the Merger and the respective
transactions contemplated thereby.
(f) Interim Operations of Sub. Sub was formed solely for
the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby and has not
engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Sub is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
5.1 Covenants of the Company. During the period from the date of
this Agreement and continuing until the Effective Time, the Company agrees as to
the Company and its Subsidiaries that (except as expressly contemplated or
permitted by this Agreement, or to the extent that Parent shall otherwise
consent in writing):
(a) Ordinary Course. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall carry on its businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary
course in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted and shall use
all reasonable efforts to preserve intact its present business organizations,
keep available the services of its current officers and employees and preserve
its relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings
with it to the end that its goodwill and ongoing business shall not be impaired
in any material respect at the Effective Time.
(b) Dividends; Changes in Stock. The Company shall not,
nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to: (i) declare or pay any dividends
on or make other distributions in respect of any of its capital stock; (ii)
split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize or
propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for shares of its capital stock; or (iii) repurchase or otherwise
acquire, or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares
of its capital stock, except as required by the terms of its securities
outstanding on the date hereof, as contemplated by this Agreement or as
contemplated by employee benefit and dividend reinvestment plans as in effect on
the date hereof.
(c) Issuance of Securities. The Company shall not, nor
shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) grant any options, warrants or
rights, to purchase shares of Company Common
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Stock, (ii) amend or reprice any Option, any Stock Option Plan or the Stock
Purchase Plan, or (iii) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize or propose to
issue, deliver or sell, any shares of its capital stock of any class or series,
any Company Voting Debt or any securities convertible into, or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, Company Voting Debt or
convertible securities, other than: (A) the issuance of Shares upon the exercise
of Options granted under Stock Option Plans which are outstanding on the date
hereof, or in satisfaction of stock grants or stock based awards made prior to
the date hereof pursuant to Stock Option Plans required by any individual
agreements such as employment agreements or executive termination agreements (in
each such case, as in effect on the date hereof); and (B) issuances by a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of its capital stock to its parent.
(d) Governing Documents. The Company shall not amend or
propose to amend its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws.
(e) No Solicitation. From and after the date hereof until
the termination of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives, agents or affiliates (including, without limitation, any
investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) (such officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents,
affiliates, investment bankers, attorneys and accountants being referred to
herein, collectively, as "Representatives"), will, directly or indirectly,
initiate, solicit or encourage (including by way of furnishing information or
assistance to any person making, or as a result thereof may reasonably be
expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal (as defined below)), or take any
other action to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal,
or enter into or maintain or continue discussions or negotiate with any person
or entity in furtherance of such inquiries or to obtain an Acquisition Proposal
or agree to or endorse any Acquisition Proposal, and neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries will authorize or permit any of its Representatives to take
any such action, and the Company shall as soon as possible notify Parent orally
and in writing of all of the relevant details relating to, and all material
aspects of, all inquiries and proposals which it or any of its Subsidiaries or
any of their respective Representatives may receive relating to any of such
matters and, if such inquiry or proposal is in writing, the Company shall as
soon as possible deliver to Parent a copy of such inquiry or proposal; provided,
however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.1(e) shall prohibit the Board
of Directors of the Company from:
(i) furnishing information to, or entering into
discussions or negotiations with, any person or entity that makes an unsolicited
written, bona fide Acquisition Proposal and, in respect of which, in the case of
an Acquisition Proposal involving the payment of cash, such person or entity
has, in the reasonable and good faith opinion of the Board of Directors or its
Representatives, the necessary funds or written commitments therefor if, and
only to the extent that, (A) the Board of Directors of the Company determines in
good faith (after consultation with and based upon the advice of its financial
advisor) that such Acquisition Proposal may reasonably be expected, if
consummated, to result in a transaction more favorable to the
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Company's stockholders from a financial point of view than the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement and the Board of Directors determines in good
faith, after consultation with and based upon the advice of independent legal
counsel (who may be the Company's regularly engaged independent legal counsel),
that such action is necessary for the Board of Directors of the Company to
comply with its fiduciary duties to stockholders under applicable law, (B) prior
to taking such action, the Company (x) provides reasonable notice to Parent to
the effect that it is taking any such action, describes to Parent in reasonable
detail the identity of the offeror and the terms and conditions of such
Acquisition Proposal, and furnishes Parent a copy of any written material
submitted by the offeror and (y) receives from such person or entity an executed
confidentiality agreement in customary form, and (C) the Company shall as
promptly and continuously as possible advise Parent as to all of the relevant
details relating to, and all material aspects, of any such discussions or
negotiations, or
(ii) failing to make or withdrawing or modifying
its recommendation referred to in Section 1.3 if there exists an Acquisition
Proposal and the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with and
based upon the advice of independent legal counsel (who may be the Company's
regularly engaged independent legal counsel), determines in good faith that such
action is necessary for the Board of Directors of the Company to comply with its
fiduciary duties to stockholders under applicable law.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any
proposal to do any of the following (other than the transactions between the
Company, Parent and Sub contemplated hereunder) involving the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries: (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange,
recapitalization, business combination, or other similar transaction; (ii) any
sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of 25% or
more of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a
single transaction or series of transactions; (iii) any tender offer or exchange
offer for 25% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
or the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act in connection
therewith; or (iv) any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to
do any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the foregoing.
(f) No Acquisitions. The Company shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or a
substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or
any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or
division thereof.
(g) No Dispositions. Other than dispositions in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not
material, individually or in the aggregate, to such party and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of, or agree to
sell, lease (whether such lease is an operating or capital lease), encumber or
otherwise dispose of, any of its assets.
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(h) SEC Filings. The Company shall promptly provide Parent
(or its counsel) with copies of all filings made by the Company with the SEC or
any other state or federal Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(i) No Dissolution, Etc. Except as otherwise permitted or
contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention
to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries.
(j) Other Actions. Except as contemplated by this
Agreement, the Company will not nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to
take or agree or commit to take any action that is reasonably likely to result
in any of the Company's representations or warranties hereunder being untrue in
any material respect or in any of the Company's covenants hereunder or any of
the conditions to the Merger not being satisfied in all material respects.
(k) Certain Employee Matters. The Company and its
Subsidiaries shall not (without the prior written consent of Parent): (i) grant
any increases in the compensation of any of its directors, officers or key
employees; (ii) pay or agree to pay any pension, retirement allowance or other
employee benefit not required or contemplated by any of the existing Benefit
Plans or Employee Arrangements as in effect on the date hereof to any such
director, officer or key employee, whether past or present; (iii) enter into any
new, or materially amend any existing, employment or severance or termination
agreement with any such director, officer or key employee; or (iv) except as may
be required to comply with applicable law, become obligated under any new
Benefit Plan or Employee Arrangement, which was not in existence on the date
hereof, or amend any such plan or arrangement in existence on the date hereof if
such amendment would have the effect of materially enhancing any benefits
thereunder.
(l) Indebtedness; Agreements. (i) Except as set forth on
Schedule 5.1(l)(i), the Company shall not, nor shall the Company permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, assume or incur (which shall be deemed to include both
entering into credit agreements, lines of credit or similar arrangements and any
borrowings under existing credit agreements, lines of credit or similar
arrangements) any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such
indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or rights to
acquire any debt securities of such party or any of its Subsidiaries or
guarantee any debt securities of others or enter into any lease (whether such
lease is an operating or capital lease) or create any mortgages, liens, security
interests or other encumbrances on the property of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with any indebtedness thereof, or enter into any
"keep well" or other agreement or arrangement to maintain the financial
condition of another person.
(ii) The Company shall not, nor shall the Company
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, modify, rescind, terminate,
waive, release or otherwise amend in any material respect any of the terms or
provisions of any Material Contract.
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(m) Accounting. The Company shall not take any action,
other than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or
as required by the SEC or by law, with respect to accounting policies,
procedures and practices.
(n) Capital Expenditures. Except for the capital
expenditures set forth on Schedule 5.1(n), the Company and its Subsidiaries
shall not incur any capital expenditures that, in the aggregate, are in excess
of $1,000,000.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
6.1 Preparation of the Proxy Statement; Company Stockholders
Meeting; Merger without a Company Stockholders Meeting.
(a) As soon as practicable following the acceptance for
payment of and payment for shares of Company Common Stock by Sub in the Offer,
the Company and Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement.
The Company shall use its best efforts to respond to all SEC comments with
respect to the Proxy Statement and to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to
the Company's stockholders at the earliest practicable date. The Company, Parent
and Sub, shall take all reasonable actions necessary or advisable to cause the
Merger to be approved by shareholders and to effect the Merger.
(b) The Company will, as soon as practicable following the
Proxy Trigger Date, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Company
Stockholders Meeting for the purpose of approving this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby. At the Company Stockholders Meeting, Parent
shall cause all of the shares of Company Common Stock then owned by Parent and
Sub and any of their Subsidiaries or affiliates to be voted in favor of the
Merger.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), in
the event that Parent or any other Subsidiary of Parent shall acquire at least
90% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock in the Offer, the parties
hereto agree, at the request of Sub, to take all necessary and appropriate
action to cause the Merger to become effective, as soon as practicable after the
expiration of the Offer, without a meeting of stockholders of the Company, in
accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL.
(d) Parent shall (i) cause Sub promptly to submit this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby for approval and adoption by
its parent by written consent of sole stockholder; (ii) cause the shares of
capital stock of Sub to be voted for adoption and approval of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby; and (iii) cause to be taken all additional
actions necessary for Sub to adopt and approve this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
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6.2 Access to Information. Upon reasonable notice, the Company
shall (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) afford to the officers,
employees, accountants, counsel and other Representatives of Parent (including
potential financing sources and their employees, accountants, counsel and other
representatives), continuing access, during normal business hours during the
period prior to the Effective Time, to all its properties, books, contracts,
commitments and records and, during such period, the Company shall (and shall
cause each of its Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Parent, (a) a copy of
each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed or
received by it during such period pursuant to SEC requirements and (b) all other
information concerning its business, properties and personnel as Parent may
reasonably request. The Confidentiality Agreement between Parent and the Company
(the "Confidentiality Agreement") shall apply with respect to information
furnished thereunder or hereunder and any other activities contemplated thereby.
6.3 Legal Conditions to Merger. Each of the Company, Parent and
Sub will take all reasonable actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal
requirements which may be imposed on such party with respect to the Offer, the
Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Stockholders Agreement
(including furnishing all information required under the HSR Act and in
connection with approvals of or filings with any other Governmental Entity) and
will promptly cooperate with and furnish information to each other in connection
with any such requirements imposed upon any of them or any of their Subsidiaries
in connection with the Offer, the Merger and the transactions contemplated by
the Stockholders Agreement; provided, however, that Parent need not so comply if
required by the Department of Justice or any other Governmental Entity to hold
separate, sell or otherwise dispose of any Subsidiary of Parent or the Company
or assets or properties of any of the foregoing. Each of the Company, Parent and
Sub will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, take all reasonable actions
necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with each other in obtaining) any
consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption by, any
Governmental Entity or other public or private third party, required to be
obtained or made by the Company, Parent or any of their Subsidiaries in
connection with the Offer, the Merger, the Stockholders Agreement or the taking
of any action contemplated hereby or thereby.
6.4 Fees and Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.4 and
except with respect to claims for damages incurred as a result of the breach of
this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such expense.
(b) The Company agrees to pay, by delivery of a certified
or cashier's check, or, if requested by Parent, by wire transfer to an account
designated by Parent, Parent a fee in immediately available funds equal to
$6,000,000 (the "Termination Fee") prior to the termination of this Agreement
under Section 8.1(g), if any of the events set forth below occurs (each, a
"Trigger Event"):
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(i) the Board of Directors of the Company shall
have withdrawn or adversely modified, or taken a public position materially
inconsistent with, its approval or recommendation of the Offer, the Merger, this
Agreement or the Stockholders Agreement; or
(ii) An Acquisition Proposal has been recommended
or accepted by the Company or the Company shall have entered into an agreement
(other than a confidentiality agreement as contemplated by Section 5.1(e)) with
respect to an Acquisition Proposal.
(c) Any amounts due under this Section 6.4 that are not
paid when due shall bear interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date due
through and including the date paid.
6.5 Brokers or Finders.
(a) The Company represents, as to itself, its Subsidiaries
and its affiliates, that no agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor
or other firm or person is or will be entitled to any broker's or finders fee or
any other commission or similar fee in connection with any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except Xxxxxxx, whose fees and expenses will be
paid by the Company in accordance with the Company's agreements with such firm
(copies of which have been delivered by the Company to Parent prior to the date
of this Agreement).
(b) Parent represents, as to itself, its Subsidiaries and
its affiliates, that no agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other firm or person is or will be entitled to any broker's or finders fee or
any other commission or similar fee in connection with any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except BancAmerica Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, whose
fees and expenses will be paid by Parent in accordance with Parent's agreements
with such firm.
6.6 Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance.
(a) The Company shall, and from and after the Effective
Time, the Parent and Surviving Corporation shall, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date
hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, an officer, director,
employee or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the "Indemnified
Parties") against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), liabilities or judgments or amounts
that are paid in settlement with the approval of the indemnifying party of or in
connection with any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out of
the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whether pertaining to any matter existing
or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed
prior to, or at or after, the Effective Time ("Indemnified Liabilities"),
including all Indemnified Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising
in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby, in each case to the full extent a corporation is permitted
under the DGCL to indemnify its own directors or officers as the case may be
(and Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, will pay expenses
in
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advance of the final disposition of any such action or proceeding to each
Indemnified Party to the full extent permitted by law). Without limiting the
foregoing, in the event any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation is brought against any Indemnified Parties (whether arising before
or after the Effective Time), (i) the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel
satisfactory to them and the Company (or them and the Surviving Corporation
after the Effective Time) and the Company (or after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation) shall pay all fees and expenses of such counsel for the
Indemnified Parties promptly as statements therefor are received; and (ii) the
Company (or after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation) will use all
reasonable efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter,
provided that neither the Company nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable
for any settlement effected without its prior written consent. Any Indemnified
Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 6.6, upon learning of
any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify the
Company (or after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation) (but the
failure so to notify shall not relieve a party from any liability which it may
have under this Section 6.6 except to the extent such failure prejudices such
party), and shall to the extent required by the DGCL deliver to the Company (or
after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation) the undertaking
contemplated by Section 145(e) of the DGCL. The Indemnified Parties as a group
may retain only one law firm to represent them with respect to each such matter
unless there is, under applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict
on any significant issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified
Parties. The Company, Parent and Sub agree that all rights to indemnification,
including provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in defense of any
action or suit, existing in favor of the Indemnified Parties with respect to
matters occurring through the Effective Time, shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than six years from
the Effective Time; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in
respect of any Indemnified Liabilities asserted or made within such period shall
continue until the disposition of such Indemnified Liabilities.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall
purchase a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance to be in
effect for not less than six years after the Effective Time, providing for
claims made type coverage substantially equivalent in scope and content to the
coverage provided in the Company's current policies of directors' and officers'
liability insurance, and the premiums therefor shall be prepaid in full with
respect to matters arising before the Effective Time; provided that the Company
shall not pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of 150% of the last
annual premium therefor paid by the Company prior to the date hereof; and
provided further, that the Company shall consult with Parent prior to the
purchase of such insurance or the purchase or renewal of any directors' and
officers' liability insurance and offer Parent the opportunity to elect to
purchase such insurance on behalf of the Company.
(c) The provisions of this Section 6.6 are intended to be
for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his
heirs and his personal representatives and shall be binding on all successors
and assigns of Sub, the Company and the Surviving Corporation.
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6.7 Reasonable Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use all reasonable efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Stockholders Agreement, subject, as applicable, to the Company
Stockholder Approval, including cooperating fully with the other party, and
including by provision of information and making of all necessary filings in
connection with, among other things, approvals under the HSR Act. In case at any
time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to
carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation
with full title to all properties, assets, rights, approvals, immunities and
franchises of either of the Constituent Corporations, the proper officers and
directors of each party to this Agreement shall take all such necessary action.
6.8 Conduct of Business of Sub. During the period of time from the date
of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Sub shall not engage in any activities
of any nature except as provided in or contemplated by this Agreement.
6.9 Publicity. The parties will consult with each other and will
mutually agree upon any press release or public announcement pertaining to the
Offer and the Merger and shall not issue any such press release or make any such
public announcement prior to such consultation and agreement, except as may be
required by applicable law or by obligations arising under the Company's listing
agreement with NASDAQ, in which case the party proposing to issue such press
release or make such public announcement shall use reasonable efforts to consult
in good faith with the other party before issuing any such press release or
making any such public announcement.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger. The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the Merger shall
have been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Shares entitled to vote thereon if such vote is required by
applicable law; provided that the Parent and Sub shall vote all Shares purchased
pursuant to the Offer or the Stockholders Agreement in favor of the Merger.
(b) HSR Act. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall
have expired.
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(c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition (an "Injunction")
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided, however,
that prior to invoking this condition, each party shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts to have any such decree, ruling, injunction or order vacated.
7.2 Conditions of Obligations of Parent and Sub. The obligations of
Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions, any or all of which may be waived in whole or in part by
Parent and Sub:
(a) Payment for Shares. Sub shall have (i) accepted for
payment and become obligated to pay for a number of shares of Company Common
Stock tendered in the Offer such that, after such acceptance and payment, Parent
and its affiliates shall own the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock
satisfying the 90% Tender Condition or (ii) elected under 1.1(c)(i) or (ii) to
do a Cash Merger or waived the 90% Tender Condition in favor of the Majority
Tender Condition.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the
extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date) as of
the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, and Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer and
by the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.
(c) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company
shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and Parent
shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief
executive officer and by the chief financial officer of the Company to such
effect.
(d) Consents, etc. All licenses, permits, consents, approvals,
authorizations, qualifications and orders of governmental authorities and all
material licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications
and orders of other third parties as are necessary in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained.
(e) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have occurred
any material adverse change in the business, operations, assets or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Company.
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ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be
abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after
approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the
stockholders of the Company or Parent:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent, or
by mutual action of their respective Boards of Directors;
(b) by either the Company or Parent prior to the consummation
of the Offer (i) if there has been a material breach (for purpose of this
clause, a material breach by the Company shall mean a breach or series of
breaches the result of which impairs the value of the Company or could
reasonably be expected to impair the value of the Company by more than
$3,000,000 in the aggregate) of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement on the part of the other set forth in this Agreement which breach has
not been cured within 10 business days following receipt by the breaching party
of notice of such breach, or (ii) if any permanent injunction or other order of
a court or other competent authority preventing the consummation of the Merger
shall have become final and non-appealable;
(c) by either the Company or Parent if the Merger shall not
have been consummated on or before July 31, 1998; provided, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to any
party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the
cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such
date;
(d) by Parent in the event an Acquisition Proposal has been
made to the Company and the Company shall fail to reaffirm its approval or
recommendation of the Offer, the Merger, this Agreement and the Stockholders
Agreement on or before the fifth business day following the date on which such
Acquisition Proposal shall have been made;
(e) subject to the provisions of Section 1.1(c), by Parent or
Company, if the Offer terminates, is withdrawn, abandoned or expires by reason
of the failure to satisfy any condition set forth in Exhibit A hereto, except
solely by reason of the failure to satisfy the 90% Tender Condition when the
Majority Tender Condition is satisfied;
(f) except if Section 1.1(c) is applicable and Parent and Sub
shall have elected to terminate the Offer and pursue the Cash Merger, by the
Company, if the Offer shall have expired or have been withdrawn, abandoned or
terminated without any shares of Company Common Stock being purchased by Sub
thereunder on or prior to the 90th day after the date of commencement of the
Offer pursuant to section 1.2 hereof, or;
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(g) by Parent or the Company in the event that a Trigger Event
has occurred under Section 6.4(b), but the parties acknowledge that the Company
may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(g) until it has paid the
Termination Fee as contemplated by Section 6.4(b).
8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this
Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 8.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or
obligation on the part of Parent, Sub or the Company or their respective
affiliates, officers, directors or shareholders except (i) with respect to this
Section 8.2, the second sentence of Section 6.2, and Section 6.4, and (ii) for
any breach by a party hereto of any of its representations or warranties, or of
any of its covenants or agreements as set forth in this Agreement except as
provided in Section 9.7.
8.3 Amendment. Subject to applicable law and Section 1.4(b) hereof,
this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by written
agreement of Parent, Sub and the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date
with respect to any of the terms contained herein; provided, however, that,
after this Agreement is approved by the Company's stockholders, no such
amendment or modification shall reduce the amount or change the form of
consideration to be delivered to the stockholders of the Company or the manner
in which it will be paid.
8.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed and subject to Section 1.4(b)
hereof: (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other parties hereto; (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto; and (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written
instrument signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party hereto to
assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of
the representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective
Time, except for the agreements contained in Article III, and Section 6.6
hereof. The Confidentiality Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, and the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall
apply to all information and material delivered by any party hereunder.
9.2 Notices. Any notice or communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, telegraphed or
telecopied or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall
be deemed to be given, dated and received when so delivered
39
48
personally, telegraphed or telecopied or, if mailed, five business days after
the date of mailing to the following address or telecopy number, or to such
other address or addresses as such person may subsequently designate by notice
given hereunder:
(a) if to Parent or Sub, to:
Hadco Corporation
00X Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(b) if to the Company, to:
Continental Circuits Corp.
0000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
40
49
with copies to:
Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: P. Xxxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
9.3 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Sections, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. The table of contents, glossary of defined terms and
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever
the word "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" 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.
9.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart.
9.5 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries; Rights of
Ownership. This Agreement (together with the Confidentiality Agreement, the
Stockholders Agreement and any other documents and instruments referred to
herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and, except as provided in Section 6.6, is not intended to
confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder.
9.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving
effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
9.7 No Remedy in Certain Circumstances. Each party agrees that, should
any court or other competent authority hold any provision of this Agreement or
part hereof to be null, void or unenforceable, or order any party to take any
action inconsistent herewith or not to take an action consistent herewith or
required hereby, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions and obligations contained or set forth herein shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby, unless the foregoing inconsistent action or the
failure to take an action constitutes a material breach of this Agreement or
makes the Agreement impossible to perform in which case this Agreement shall
terminate pursuant to Article VIII hereof. Except as otherwise
41
50
contemplated by this Agreement, to the extent that a party hereto took an action
inconsistent herewith or failed to take action consistent herewith or required
hereby pursuant to an order or judgment of a court or other competent authority,
such party shall incur no liability or obligation unless such party did not in
good faith seek to resist or object to the imposition or entering of such order
or judgment.
9.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests
or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether
by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other
parties, except that Sub may assign, in its sole discretion, any or all of its
rights, interests and obligations hereunder to any newly-formed direct
wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent. Subject to the preceding sentence, this
Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
9.9 Obligations of Sub. Parent shall cause Sub or any assignee of Sub
to, and Parent hereby unconditionally guarantees that Sub or any such assignee
shall, duly and timely perform each and every obligation of Sub or any such
assignee hereunder.
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51
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the
date first written above.
HADCO CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------------
Title: Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------------
HADCO ACQUISITION CORP. II
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------------
Title: Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------------
CONTINENTAL CIRCUITS CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. XxXxxxx, III
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx X. XxXxxxx, III
---------------------------------------
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------------
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EXHIBIT A
The capitalized terms used in this Exhibit A shall have the respective
meanings given to such terms in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
February 16, 1998, among Hadco Corporation, Hadco Acquisition Corp. II and
Continental Circuits Corp. (the "Merger Agreement") to which this Exhibit A is
attached.
CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Sub shall not be
required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating
to Sub's obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares promptly after
expiration or termination of the Offer), to pay for any Shares tendered, and may
postpone the acceptance for payment or, subject to the restriction referred to
above, payment for any Shares tendered, and may amend (subject to Section 1.1(b)
of the Merger Agreement) or terminate the Offer (whether or not any Shares have
theretofore been purchased or paid for) if, (i) there has not been validly
tendered and not withdrawn prior to the time the Offer shall otherwise expire a
number of Shares which constitutes at least 90% of the Shares outstanding on a
fully-diluted basis on the date of purchase ("on a fully-diluted basis" having
the following meaning, as of any date: the number of Shares outstanding,
together with Shares the Company may be then required to issue pursuant to
obligations outstanding at that date under stock option, stock purchase or other
benefit plans or otherwise); (ii) all material regulatory and related approvals
have not been obtained or made on terms reasonably satisfactory to Sub; (iii)
any applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been
terminated prior to the expiration of the Offer; or (iv) at any time on or after
the date of the Merger Agreement and before acceptance for payment of, or
payment for, such Shares any of the following events shall occur:
(A) There shall have been threatened, instituted or pending any action,
proceeding, application or counterclaim by or before any court or governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency, authority or tribunal, domestic, foreign or
supranational (other than actions, proceedings, applications or counterclaims
filed or initiated by Sub), which (i) seeks to challenge the acquisition by Sub
of the Shares, restrain, prohibit or delay the making or consummation of the
Offer or the Merger or any other merger or business combination involving Sub or
any of its affiliates and the Company or any of its subsidiaries, prohibit the
performance of any of the contracts or other agreements entered into by Sub or
any of its affiliates in connection with the acquisition of the Company or the
Shares, or obtain any material damages in connection with any of the foregoing,
(ii) seeks to make the purchase of or payment for, some or all of the Shares
pursuant to the Offer, the Merger or otherwise, illegal, (iii) seeks to impose
limitations on the ability of Sub or the Company or any of their respective
affiliates or subsidiaries effectively to acquire or hold, or requiring Sub, the
Company or any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries to dispose of or
hold separate, any portion of the assets or the business of Sub or its
affiliates or the Company or its
A-1
53
subsidiaries, or impose limitations on the ability of Sub, the Company or any of
their respective affiliates or subsidiaries to continue to conduct, own or
operate all or any portion of their businesses and assets as heretofore
conducted, owned or operated, (iv) seeks to impose or may result in material
limitations on the ability of Sub or any of its affiliates to exercise full
rights of ownership of the Shares purchased by them, including, without
limitation, the right to vote the Shares purchased by them on all matters
properly presented to the stockholders of the Company, or the right to vote any
shares of capital stock of any subsidiary directly or indirectly owned by the
Company, (v) is reasonably likely to result in a material diminution in the
benefits expected to be derived by Sub as a result of the transactions
contemplated by the Offer, including the Merger, (vi) seeks to impose voting,
procedural, price or other requirements in addition to those under Delaware Law
and federal securities laws (each as in effect on the date of the Offer to
Purchase) or any material condition to the Offer in any such case which is
unacceptable (in its reasonable judgment) to Sub or (vii) challenges or
adversely and materially affects the financing of the Offer;
(B) There shall have been formally proposed, sought, promulgated,
enacted, entered or made applicable to the Offer or the Merger or enforced by
any domestic, foreign or supranational government or any governmental,
administrative or regulatory authority or agency or by any court or tribunal,
domestic, foreign or supranational, any statute, rule, regulation, judgment,
decree, order or injunction that might result in any of the consequences
referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) of paragraph (A) above;
(C) There shall have occurred any of the following which, in the good
faith judgment of the Parent and Sub, make it inadvisable to proceed with the
Offer and acceptance for payment of, and payment for, the Shares (1) any general
suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any
national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market in the United
States, (2) the declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of
payments in respect of banks in the United States, (3) the commencement of a
war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity, directly or
indirectly involving the United States, (4) any limitations (whether or not
mandatory) imposed by any governmental authority on, or any event which might
have material adverse significance with respect to, the nature or extension of
credit or further extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions,
(5) any significant adverse change in the equity or debt markets in the United
States which shall be continuing as of the expiration of the Offer, or (6) in
the case of any of the foregoing, a material acceleration or worsening thereof;
(D) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in the
Merger Agreement (without giving effect to any "Material Adverse Effect",
"materiality" or similar qualifications contained therein) shall not be true and
correct in all material respects (for purpose of this clause, a failure of the
representations and warranties to be true and correct in all material respects
shall mean a failure or series of failures the result of which impairs the value
of the Company or could reasonably be expected to impair the value of the
Company by more than $3,000,000 as of the date of the consummation of the Offer
as though made on and as of such date except (1) for changes specifically
permitted by the Merger Agreement and (2) that those representations and
warranties which address matters only as of a particular date shall remain true
and correct as of such date;
A-2
54
(E) The obligations of the Company contained in the Merger Agreement
(without giving effect to any "Material Adverse Effect", "materiality" or
similar qualifications contained therein) shall not have been performed or
complied with in all material respects by the Company;
(F) The Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
its terms;
(G) Prior to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, an
Acquisition Proposal for the Company exists and the Board shall have withdrawn
or materially modified or changed (including by amendment of the Schedule 14D-9)
in a manner adverse to Sub its recommendation of the Offer, the Merger Agreement
or the Merger;
(H) Any person or group (other than Parent and Sub) shall have entered
into a definitive agreement or agreement in principle with the Company with
respect to a merger, consolidation or other business combination with the
Company; or
(I) The Company shall have suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, assets or condition (financial or otherwise).
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Sub and its
affiliates and may be asserted by Sub regardless of the circumstances (other
than any action or inaction by Parent, Sub or any of their affiliates) giving
rise to any such condition or may be waived by Sub, in whole or in part, from
time to time in its sole discretion, except as otherwise provided in the
Agreement. The failure by Sub at any time to exercise any of the foregoing
rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such right shall
be deemed an ongoing right and may be asserted at any time and from time to
time. Any reasonable determination by Sub concerning any of the events described
herein shall be final and binding.
A-3
55
EXHIBIT B
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SURVIVING CORPORATION,
a Delaware Corporation
* * * * * *
FIRST. The name of the corporation is Continental Circuits Corp. (the
"Corporation").
SECOND. The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the
State of Delaware is 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx. The name of its
registered agent at such address is CT Corporation System.
THIRD. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or
promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for
which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.
FOURTH. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall
have authority to issue is 3,000 shares of Common Stock with a par value of One
Cent ($.01) per share.
FIFTH. The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
SIXTH. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
the laws of the State of Delaware:
A. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to
adopt, amend or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation.
B. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the
By-Laws of the Corporation shall so provide.
C. The books of the Corporation may be kept at such place within or
without the State of Delaware as the By-Laws of the Corporation may
provide or as may be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation.
56
-2-
SEVENTH. The Corporation eliminates the personal liability of each
member of its Board of Directors to the Corporation or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided, however,
that, to the extent provided by applicable law, the foregoing shall not
eliminate the liability of a director (i) for any breach of such 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) under Section 174 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or (iv) for any
transaction from which such director derived an improper personal benefit. No
amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on
the liability or alleged liability of any director for or with respect to any
acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
EIGHTH. The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any
provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or
hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon a stockholder
herein are granted subject to this reservation.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
57
EXHIBIT C
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS OF
SURVIVING CORPORATION
*****************
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
Dated: February __, 1998
58
ARTICLE I MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS..............................................................................1
SECTION 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS......................................................................................1
SECTION 2. ANNUAL MEETING.........................................................................................1
SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS.......................................................................................1
SECTION 4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS.....................................................................................1
SECTION 5. VOTING LIST............................................................................................2
SECTION 6. QUORUM.................................................................................................2
SECTION 7. ADJOURNMENTS...........................................................................................2
SECTION 8. ACTION AT MEETINGS.....................................................................................2
SECTION 9. VOTING AND PROXIES.....................................................................................3
SECTION 10. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING................................................................................3
ARTICLE II DIRECTORS............................................................................................3
SECTION 1. NUMBER, ELECTION, TENURE AND QUALIFICATION.............................................................3
SECTION 2. ENLARGEMENT............................................................................................3
SECTION 3. VACANCIES..............................................................................................4
SECTION 4. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL................................................................................4
SECTION 5. GENERAL POWERS.........................................................................................4
SECTION 6. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD..................................................................................4
SECTION 7. PLACE OF MEETINGS......................................................................................4
SECTION 8. REGULAR MEETINGS.......................................................................................4
SECTION 9. SPECIAL MEETINGS.......................................................................................4
SECTION 10. QUORUM, ACTION AT MEETING, ADJOURNMENTS...............................................................5
SECTION 11. ACTION BY CONSENT.....................................................................................5
SECTION 12. TELEPHONIC MEETINGS...................................................................................5
SECTION 13. COMMITTEES............................................................................................5
SECTION 14. COMPENSATION..........................................................................................6
ARTICLE III OFFICERS............................................................................................6
SECTION 1. ENUMERATION............................................................................................6
SECTION 2. ELECTION...............................................................................................6
SECTION 3. TENURE.................................................................................................6
SECTION 4. PRESIDENT..............................................................................................7
SECTION 5. VICE-PRESIDENTS........................................................................................7
SECTION 6. SECRETARY..............................................................................................7
SECTION 7. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES..................................................................................8
SECTION 8. TREASURER..............................................................................................8
SECTION 9. ASSISTANT TREASURERS...................................................................................8
SECTION 10. BOND..................................................................................................8
ARTICLE IV NOTICES..............................................................................................9
SECTION 1. DELIVERY...............................................................................................9
SECTION 2. WAIVER OF NOTICE.......................................................................................9
ARTICLE V INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................................................9
i
59
SECTION 1. ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION...............................................9
SECTION 2. ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION.........................................................10
SECTION 3. SUCCESS ON THE MERITS.................................................................................10
SECTION 4. SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION................................................................................10
SECTION 5. ADVANCE PAYMENT.......................................................................................10
SECTION 6. NON-EXCLUSIVITY.......................................................................................11
SECTION 7. INSURANCE.............................................................................................11
SECTION 8. CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES...........................................11
SECTION 9. SEVERABILITY..........................................................................................11
SECTION 10. INTENT OF ARTICLE....................................................................................11
ARTICLE VI CAPITAL STOCK.......................................................................................11
SECTION 1. CERTIFICATES OF STOCK.................................................................................11
SECTION 2. LOST CERTIFICATES.....................................................................................12
SECTION 3. TRANSFER OF STOCK.....................................................................................12
SECTION 4. RECORD DATE...........................................................................................12
SECTION 5. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS...............................................................................13
ARTICLE VII CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS...............................................................................13
SECTION 1. TRANSACTIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES..................................................................13
SECTION 2. QUORUM................................................................................................14
ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS................................................................................14
SECTION 1. DIVIDENDS.............................................................................................14
SECTION 2. RESERVES..............................................................................................14
SECTION 3. CHECKS................................................................................................14
SECTION 4. FISCAL YEAR...........................................................................................14
SECTION 5. SEAL..................................................................................................14
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS..........................................................................................15
Addendum
Register of Amendments to the By-Laws
ii
60
SURVIVING CORPORATION
* * * * *
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
* * * * *
ARTICLE I
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be
held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed from
time to time by the board of directors or the chief executive officer, or if not
so designated, at the registered office of the corporation.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be
held on the second Tuesday of March in each year if not a legal holiday, and if
a legal holiday, then on the next secular day following, at 10:00 a.m., or at
such other date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the board
of directors or the chief executive officer, at which meeting the stockholders
shall elect by a plurality vote a board of directors and shall transact such
other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. If no annual
meeting is held in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the board of
directors shall cause the meeting to be held as soon thereafter as convenient,
which meeting shall be designated a special meeting in lieu of annual meeting.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for
any purpose or purposes, may, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the
certificate of incorporation, be called by the board of directors or the chief
executive officer and shall be called by the chief executive officer or
secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the board of directors, or
at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority in amount of the
entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to
vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
Business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to matters relating
to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law,
written notice of each meeting of stockholders, annual or special, stating the
place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the
purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less
than ten or more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 5. Voting List. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger
of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every
meeting of
61
stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the
meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each
stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.
Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose
germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least
ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city or town where
the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the
meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.
The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting
during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is
present.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the
transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by statute, the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws. Where a separate vote by a class
or classes is required, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or
classes, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. If no quorum
shall be present or represented at any meeting of stockholders, such meeting may
be adjourned in accordance with Section 7 hereof, until a quorum shall be
present or represented.
Section 7. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned
from time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of
stockholders may be held under these by-laws, which time and place shall be
announced at the meeting, by a majority of the stockholders present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote (whether or not a
quorum is present), or, if no stockholder is present or represented by proxy, by
any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned
meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the
original meeting, provided that a quorum either was present at the original
meeting or is present at the adjourned meeting. If the adjournment is for more
than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the
adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 8. Action at Meetings. When a quorum is present at any meeting,
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock present in person
or represented by proxy, entitled to vote and voting on the matter (or where a
separate vote by a class or classes is required, the affirmative vote of the
majority of shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by
proxy at the meeting) shall decide any matter (other than the election of
directors) brought before such meeting, unless the matter is one upon which by
express provision of law, the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, a
different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern
and control the decision of such matter. The stock of holders who abstain from
voting on any matter shall be deemed not to have been voted on such matter.
Directors shall be elected by a
2
62
plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy
at the meeting, entitled to vote and voting on the election of directors.
Section 9. Voting and Proxies. Unless otherwise provided in the
certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall at every meeting of the
stockholders be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock having
voting power held of record by such stockholder. Each stockholder entitled to
vote at a meeting of stockholders, or to express consent or dissent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, may authorize another person or persons to
act for him by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three
years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.
Section 10. Action Without Meeting. Any action required to be taken at
any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken
at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a
meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be (1) signed and dated by the
holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which
all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and (2) delivered to
the corporation within sixty days of the earliest dated consent by delivery to
its registered office in the State of Delaware (in which case delivery shall be
by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested), its
principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having
custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are
recorded. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting
by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number, Election, Tenure and Qualification. The number of
directors which shall constitute the whole board shall be not less than one.
Within such limit, the number of directors shall be determined by resolution of
the board of directors or by the stockholders at the annual meeting or at any
special meeting of stockholders. The directors shall be elected at the annual
meeting or at any special meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in
Section 3 of this Article, and each director elected shall hold office until his
successor is elected and qualified, unless sooner displaced. Directors need not
be stockholders.
Section 2. Enlargement. The number of the board of directors may be
increased at any time by vote of a majority of the directors then in office.
Section 3. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled
by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by
a sole remaining director, and
3
63
the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and
until their successors are duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner
displaced. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors
may be held in the manner provided by statute. In the event of a vacancy in the
board of directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law
or these by-laws, may exercise the powers of the full board until the vacancy is
filled.
Section 4. Resignation and Removal. Any director may resign at any time
upon written notice to the corporation at its principal place of business or to
the chief executive officer or secretary. Such resignation shall be effective
upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon
the happening of some other event. Any director or the entire board of directors
may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the
shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, unless otherwise
specified by law or the certificate of incorporation.
Section 5. General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation
shall be managed by its board of directors, which may exercise all powers of the
corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by
the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws directed or required to be
exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. If the board of directors appoints a
chairman of the board, he shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and the board of directors. He shall perform such duties and
possess such powers as are customarily vested in the office of the chairman of
the board or as may be vested in him by the board of directors.
Section 7. Place of Meetings. The board of directors may hold meetings,
both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.
Section 8. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the board of directors
may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to
time be determined by the board; provided that any director who is absent when
such a determination is made shall be given prompt notice of such determination.
A regular meeting of the board of directors may be held without notice
immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board may be
called by the chief executive officer, secretary, or on the written request of
two or more directors, or by one director in the event that there is only one
director in office. Two days' notice to each director, either personally or by
telegram, cable, telecopy, commercial delivery service, telex or similar means
sent to his business or home address, or three days' notice by written notice
deposited in the mail, shall be given to each director by the secretary or by
the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. A notice or waiver of
notice of a meeting of the board of directors need not specify the purposes of
the meeting.
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Section 10. Quorum, Action at Meeting, Adjournments. At all meetings of
the board a majority of directors then in office, but in no event less than one
third of the entire board, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at
which there is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors, except as
may be otherwise specifically provided by law or by the certificate of
incorporation. For purposes of this section, the term "entire board" shall mean
the number of directors last fixed by the stockholders or directors, as the case
may be, in accordance with law and these by-laws; provided, however, that if
less than all the number so fixed of directors were elected, the "entire board"
shall mean the greatest number of directors so elected to hold office at any one
time pursuant to such authorization. If a quorum shall not be present at any
meeting of the board of directors, a majority of the directors present thereat
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 11. Action by Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or of any committee thereof
may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board or committee, as the
case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed
with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.
Section 12. Telephonic Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, members of the board of directors
or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the board of
directors or of any committee, as the case may be, by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a
meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 13. Committees. The board of directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each
committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The
board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee,
who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the
committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the
board of directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of
the board of directors in the management of the business and affairs of the
corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all
papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or
authority in reference to amending the certificate of incorporation, adopting an
agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale,
lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation's property and
assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a
revocation of a dissolution, or amending the by-laws of the corporation; and,
unless the resolution designating such committee or the certificate of
incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or
authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Such
committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from
time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors. Each committee
shall keep
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regular minutes of its meetings and make such reports to the board of directors
as the board of directors may request. Except as the board of directors may
otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its
business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its
business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is
provided in these by-laws for the conduct of its business by the board of
directors.
Section 14. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, the board of directors shall have
the authority to fix from time to time the compensation of directors. The
directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of
the board of directors and the performance of their responsibilities as
directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the
board of directors and/or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall
preclude any director from serving the corporation or its parent or subsidiary
corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. The
board of directors may also allow compensation for members of special or
standing committees for service on such committees.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. Enumeration. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen
by the board of directors and shall be a president, a secretary and a treasurer
and such other officers with such titles, terms of office and duties as the
board of directors may from time to time determine, including a chairman of the
board, one or more vice-presidents, and one or more assistant secretaries and
assistant treasurers. If authorized by resolution of the board of directors, the
chief executive officer may be empowered to appoint from time to time assistant
secretaries and assistant treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the
same person, unless the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws otherwise
provide.
Section 2. Election. The board of directors at its first meeting after
each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a president, a secretary and a
treasurer. Other officers may be appointed by the board of directors at such
meeting, at any other meeting, or by written consent.
Section 3. Tenure. The officers of the corporation shall hold office
until their successors are chosen and qualify, unless a different term is
specified in the vote choosing or appointing him, or until his earlier death,
resignation or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the board of
directors or by the chief executive officer may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors
or a committee duly authorized to do so, except that any officer appointed by
the chief executive officer may also be removed at any time, with or without
cause, by the chief executive officer. Any vacancy occurring in any office of
the
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corporation may be filled by the board of directors, at its discretion. Any
officer may resign by delivering his written resignation to the corporation at
its principal place of business or to the chief executive officer or the
secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is
specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other
event.
Section 4. President. The president shall be the chief operating
officer of the corporation. He shall also be the chief executive officer unless
the board of directors otherwise provides. If no chief executive officer shall
have been appointed by the board of directors, all references herein to the
"chief executive officer" shall be to the president. The president shall, unless
the board of directors provides otherwise in a specific instance or generally,
preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the board of directors, have
general and active management of the business of the corporation and see that
all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect.
The president shall execute bonds, mortgages, and other contracts requiring a
seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required or permitted by
law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and
execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors to some
other officer or agent of the corporation.
Section 5. Vice-Presidents. In the absence of the president or in the
event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the vice-president, or if there
be more than one vice-president, the vice-presidents in the order designated by
the board of directors or the chief executive officer (or in the absence of any
designation, then in the order determined by their tenure in office) shall
perform the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the
powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The
vice-presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as
the board of directors or the chief executive officer may from time to time
prescribe.
Section 6. Secretary. The secretary shall have such powers and perform
such duties as are incident to the office of secretary. The secretary shall
maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as
required and shall be the custodian of corporate records. The secretary shall
attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the
stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation
and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall
perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The secretary
shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and
special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties
as may be from time to time prescribed by the board of directors or chief
executive officer, under whose supervision the secretary shall be. The secretary
shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and the secretary,
or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any
instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her
signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The board of
directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of
the corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature.
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Section 7. Assistant Secretaries. The assistant secretary, or if there
be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board
of directors, the chief executive officer or the secretary (or if there be no
such determination, then in the order determined by their tenure in office),
shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his or her inability
or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary
and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of
directors, the chief executive officer or the secretary may from time to time
prescribe. In the absence of the secretary or any assistant secretary at any
meeting of stockholders or directors, the person presiding at the meeting shall
designate a temporary or acting secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
Section 8. Treasurer. The treasurer shall perform such duties and shall
have such powers as may be assigned to him or her by the board of directors or
the chief executive officer. In addition, the treasurer shall perform such
duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of treasurer. The
treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall
keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging
to the corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in
the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be
designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers
for such disbursements, and shall render to the chief executive officer and the
board of directors, when the chief executive officer or board of directors so
requires, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the
financial condition of the corporation.
Section 9. Assistant Treasurers. The assistant treasurer, or if there
shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the
board of directors, the chief executive officer or the treasurer (or if there be
no such determination, then in the order determined by their tenure in office),
shall, in the absence of the treasurer or in the event of his or her inability
or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the treasurer
and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of
directors, the chief executive officer or the treasurer may from time to time
prescribe.
Section 10. Bond. If required by the board of directors, any officer
shall give the corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties
and upon such terms and conditions as shall be satisfactory to the board of
directors, including without limitation a bond for the faithful performance of
the duties of his office and for the restoration to the corporation of all
books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his
possession or under his control and belonging to the corporation.
ARTICLE IV
NOTICES
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Section 1. Delivery. Whenever, under the provisions of law, or of the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, written notice is required to be
given to any director or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail,
addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the
records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall
be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United
States mail. Unless written notice by mail is required by law, written notice
may also be given by telegram, cable, telecopy, commercial delivery service,
telex or similar means, addressed to such director or stockholder at his address
as it appears on the records of the corporation, in which case such notice shall
be deemed to be given when delivered into the control of the persons charged
with effecting such transmission, the transmission charge to be paid by the
corporation or the person sending such notice and not by the addressee. Oral
notice or other in-hand delivery (in person or by telephone) shall be deemed
given at the time it is actually given.
Section 2. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be
given under the provisions of law or of the certificate of incorporation or of
these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall
be deemed equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Actions other than by or in the Right of the Corporation.
The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 2. Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation. The
corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
the right of the corporation to
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procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit
if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that
no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable unless and only to the
extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which
such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite
the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall
deem proper.
Section 3. Success on the Merits. To the extent that any person
described in Section 1 or 2 of this Article V has been successful on the merits
or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in said
Sections, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith.
Section 4. Specific Authorization. Any indemnification under Section 1
or 2 of this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the
corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of any person described in said Sections is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
said Sections. Such determination shall be made (1) by the board of directors by
a majority vote of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding (even though less than a quorum), or (2) if there are no
disinterested directors or if a majority of disinterested directors so directs,
by independent legal counsel (who may be regular legal counsel to the
corporation) in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders of the
corporation.
Section 5. Advance Payment. Expenses incurred in defending a pending or
threatened civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of any person
described in said Section to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification by the corporation
as authorized in this Article V.
Section 6. Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other Sections of this Article
V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those provided
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as
to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office.
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Section 7. Insurance. The board of directors may authorize, by a vote
of the majority of the full board, the corporation to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against
him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as
such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him
against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.
Section 8. Continuation of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant
to, this Article V shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 9. Severability. If any word, clause or provision of this
Article V or any award made hereunder shall for any reason be determined to be
invalid, the provisions hereof shall not otherwise be affected thereby but shall
remain in full force and effect.
Section 10. Intent of Article. The intent of this Article V is to
provide for indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent
permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware. To the
extent that such Section or any successor section may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, this Article V shall be amended automatically and construed
so as to permit indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest
extent from time to time permitted by law.
ARTICLE VI
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 1. Certificates of Stock. Every holder of stock in the
corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name
of the corporation by, the chairman or vice-chairman of the board of directors,
or the president or a vice-president and the treasurer or an assistant
treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation,
certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the corporation. Any or
all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any
officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature
has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer,
transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued
by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer
agent or registrar at the date of issue. Certificates may be issued for partly
paid shares and in such case upon the face or back of the certificates issued to
represent any such partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to
be paid therefor, and the amount paid thereon shall be specified.
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Section 2. Lost Certificates. The board of directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or
certificates, the board of directors may, in its discretion and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to give
reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction, to advertise the same in
such manner as it shall require and/or to give the corporation a bond in such
sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the
corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate.
Section 3. Transfer of Stock. Upon surrender to the corporation or the
transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares, duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer, and proper evidence of compliance with other conditions to rightful
transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the
transaction upon its books.
Section 4. Record Date. In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, the board of directors may fix a record date, which
shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is
adopted by the board of directors, and which shall not be more than sixty days
nor less then ten days before the date of such meeting. A determination of
stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however,
that the board of directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the
close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which
the meeting is held. In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, the board of directors may fix a record date, which shall not precede
the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the
board of directors, and which shall not be more than ten days after the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of
directors. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is required by statute,
shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the
action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation as provided
in Section 10 of Article I. If no record date is fixed and prior action by the
board of directors is required, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at
the close of business on the date on which the board of directors adopts the
resolution taking such prior action. In order that the corporation may determine
the stockholders entitled to receive payment
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of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action,
the board of directors may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which shall be
not more than sixty days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the
record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the
close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the
resolution relating to such purpose.
Section 5. Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled
to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the
owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold
liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner
of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to
or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or
not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided
by the laws of Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Section 1. Transactions with Interested Parties. No contract or
transaction between the corporation and one or more of its directors or
officers, or between the corporation and any other corporation, partnership,
association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or
officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void
or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is
present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof
which authorizes the contract or transaction or solely because his or their
votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(a) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of
directors or the committee, and the board or committee in good faith
authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a
majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested
directors be less than a quorum; or
(b) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders
entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically
approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
(c) The contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the
time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of directors, a
committee thereof, or the stockholders.
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Section 2. Quorum. Common or interested directors may be counted in
determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or
of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the
corporation, if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or
special meeting or by written consent, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in
cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions
of the certificate of incorporation.
Section 2. Reserves. The directors may set apart out of any funds of
the corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper
purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
Section 3. Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes of the
corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or
persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.
Section 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be
fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
Section 5. Seal. The board of directors may, by resolution, adopt a
corporate seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the
corporation, the year of its organization and the word "Delaware." The seal may
be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or
reproduced or otherwise. The seal may be altered from time to time by the board
of directors.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed or new by-laws may be
adopted by the stockholders or by the board of directors, when such power is
conferred upon the board of directors by the certificate of incorporation, at
any regular meeting of the stockholders or of the board of directors or at any
special meeting of the stockholders or of the board of directors provided,
however, that in the case of a regular or special meeting of stockholders,
notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new by-laws be
contained in the notice of such meeting.
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Register of Amendments to the By-laws
Date Section Affected Change
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