Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Dated as of August 8, 2005,
Among
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION,
WHIRLPOOL ACQUISITION CO.
and
MAYTAG CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I THE MERGER.................................................................................1
SECTION 1.01 The Merger...................................................................1
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SECTION 1.02 Closing......................................................................1
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SECTION 1.03 Effective Time...............................................................1
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SECTION 1.04 Effects......................................................................2
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SECTION 1.05 Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.....................................2
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SECTION 1.06 Directors....................................................................2
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SECTION 1.07 Officers.....................................................................2
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ARTICLE II EFFECT ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES......2
SECTION 2.01 Effect on Capital Stock......................................................2
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SECTION 2.02 Appraisal Rights; Stock Options; Affiliates..................................4
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SECTION 2.03 Exchange of Certificates.....................................................5
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ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY..............................................9
SECTION 3.01 Organization, Standing and Power.............................................9
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SECTION 3.02 Company Subsidiaries: Equity Interests.......................................9
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SECTION 3.03 Capital Structure...........................................................10
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SECTION 3.04 Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability...........................11
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SECTION 3.05 No Conflicts; Consents......................................................12
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SECTION 3.06 SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities......................................13
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SECTION 3.07 Information Supplied........................................................15
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SECTION 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events........................................16
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SECTION 3.09 Taxes.......................................................................17
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SECTION 3.10 Absence of Changes in Benefit Plans.........................................19
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SECTION 3.11 ERISA Compliance; Excess Parachute Payments.................................19
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SECTION 3.12 Litigation..................................................................23
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SECTION 3.13 Compliance with Applicable Laws.............................................23
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SECTION 3.14 Labor Matters...............................................................24
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SECTION 3.15 Environmental Matters.......................................................24
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SECTION 3.16 Intellectual Property.......................................................26
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SECTION 3.17 Brokers; Schedule of Fees and Expenses......................................26
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SECTION 3.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor................................................27
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB..........................................27
SECTION 4.01 Organization, Standing and Power............................................27
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SECTION 4.02 Capital Structure...........................................................27
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SECTION 4.03 Sub.........................................................................28
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SECTION 4.04 Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability...........................29
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SECTION 4.05 No Conflicts; Consents......................................................29
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SECTION 4.06 SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities......................................30
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SECTION 4.07 Information Supplied........................................................32
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SECTION 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events........................................33
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SECTION 4.09 Litigation..................................................................33
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SECTION 4.10 Compliance with Applicable Laws.............................................33
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SECTION 4.11 Environmental Matters.......................................................33
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SECTION 4.12 Intellectual Property.......................................................35
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SECTION 4.13 Financing...................................................................35
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SECTION 4.14 Brokers; Schedule of Fees and Expenses......................................35
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ARTICLE V COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.................................................35
SECTION 5.01 Conduct of Business.........................................................35
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SECTION 5.02 No Solicitation.............................................................41
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ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.....................................................................43
SECTION 6.01 Preparation of Proxy Statement and Form S-4; Stockholders Meeting...........43
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SECTION 6.02 Access to Information; Confidentiality......................................44
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SECTION 6.03 Reasonable Best Efforts; Notification.......................................44
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SECTION 6.04 ESPP........................................................................46
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SECTION 6.05 Benefit Plans...............................................................46
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SECTION 6.06 Indemnification.............................................................49
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SECTION 6.07 Fees and Expenses...........................................................49
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SECTION 6.08 Public Announcements........................................................51
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SECTION 6.09 Transfer Taxes..............................................................51
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SECTION 6.10 Rights Agreements; Consequences if Rights Triggered.........................51
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SECTION 6.11 Stockholder Litigation......................................................52
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SECTION 6.12 Stock Exchange Listing......................................................52
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SECTION 6.13 Affiliates..................................................................52
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SECTION 6.14 Other Actions by Parent.....................................................52
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SECTION 6.15 Section 16(b)...............................................................52
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ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT......................................................................53
SECTION 7.01 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger..................53
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SECTION 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub.................................53
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SECTION 7.03 Conditions to Obligation of the Company.....................................54
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ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.........................................................55
SECTION 8.01 Termination.................................................................55
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SECTION 8.02 Effect of Termination.......................................................56
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SECTION 8.03 Amendment...................................................................56
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SECTION 8.04 Extension; Waiver...........................................................56
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SECTION 8.05 Procedure for Termination...................................................56
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ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS........................................................................57
SECTION 9.01 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties...............................57
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SECTION 9.02 Notices.....................................................................57
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SECTION 9.03 Definitions.................................................................58
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SECTION 9.04 Interpretation; Disclosure Letter...........................................59
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SECTION 9.05 Severability................................................................59
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SECTION 9.06 Counterparts................................................................59
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SECTION 9.07 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries..............................59
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SECTION 9.08 Governing Law...............................................................60
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SECTION 9.09 Assignment..................................................................60
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SECTION 9.10 Enforcement.................................................................60
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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
Defined Term Location
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"20-Day Average Price".................................... 2.01(f)
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"2005 Bonus Plans"........................................ 6.05(e)
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"2006 Bonus Plans"........................................ 6.05(e)
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"affiliate"............................................... 9.03
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"Affiliate Agreement"..................................... 6.13(a)
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"Antitrust Laws".......................................... 6.03(b)(i)
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"Appraisal Shares"........................................ 2.02(a)
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"Book Entry Shares"....................................... 2.03(a)
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"Cash LTIPs".............................................. 2.02(b)(2)
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"Certificate"............................................. 2.01(d)
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"Certificate of Merger"................................... 1.03
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"Closing"................................................. 1.02
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"Closing Date"............................................ 1.02
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"Code".................................................... 2.03(j)
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"Common Shares Trust"..................................... 2.03(e)(2)
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"Commonly Controlled Entity".............................. 3.10(a)
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"Company"................................................. Preamble
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"Company Benefit Agreements".............................. 3.10(b)
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"Company Benefit Plans"................................... 3.10(a)
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"Company Board"........................................... 2.02(b)(1)
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"Company By-laws"......................................... 3.01
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"Company Capital Stock"................................... 3.03(a)
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"Company Charter"......................................... 3.01
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"Company Common Stock".................................... 2.01
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"Company Disclosure Letter"............................... Article III
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"Company Employees"....................................... 6.05(d)
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"Company Material Adverse Effect"......................... 9.03
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"Company Pension Plans"................................... 3.11(a)
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"Company Preferred Stock"................................. 3.03(a)
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"Company Rights".......................................... 3.03(a)
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"Company Rights Agreement"................................ 3.03(a)
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"Company SEC Documents"................................... 3.06(a)
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"Company Stock Option".................................... 2.02(b)(1)
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"Company Stock Plans"..................................... 2.02(b)(4)
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"Company Stockholder Approval"............................ 3.04(c)
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"Company Stockholders Meeting"............................ 6.01(d)
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"Company Subsidiary"...................................... 3.01
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"Company Takeover Proposal"............................... 5.02(f)
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"Competitively Sensitive Information"..................... 6.02(a)
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"Confidentiality Agreement"............................... 6.02(a)
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"Consent"................................................. 3.05(b)
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"Contract"................................................ 3.05(a)
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"DGCL".................................................... 1.01
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"Disqualified Individual"................................. 3.11(e)
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"Effective Time".......................................... 1.03
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"Environmental Claim"..................................... 3.15(i)(1)
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"Environmental Laws"...................................... 3.15(i)(2)
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"Environmental Permits"................................... 3.15(b)(i)
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"ERISA"................................................... 3.11(a)
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"ESPP".................................................... 2.02(b)(4)
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"Excess Shares"........................................... 2.03(e)(1)
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"Exchange Act"............................................ 3.05(b)
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"Exchange Agent".......................................... 2.03(a)
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"Exchange Fund"........................................... 2.03(a)
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"Exchange Ratio".......................................... 2.01(f)
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"Excluded Participants"................................... 5.01(a)
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"Filed Company SEC Document".............................. Article III
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"Filed Parent SEC Document"............................... Article IV
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"Form S-4"................................................ 4.05(b)(iii)(A)
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"GAAP".................................................... 3.06(b)
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"Governmental Antitrust Entity"........................... 6.03(b)(i)
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"Governmental Entity"..................................... 3.05(b)
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"Hazardous Materials"..................................... 3.15(i)(3)
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"HSR Act"................................................. 3.05(b)
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"Intellectual Property Rights"............................ 3.16
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"Judgment"................................................ 3.05(a)
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"knowledge"............................................... 9.03
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"Law"..................................................... 3.05(a)
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"Lazard".................................................. 3.17
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"Liens"................................................... 3.02(a)
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"Maximum Premium"......................................... 6.06(b)
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"Merger".................................................. Recitals
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"Merger Consideration".................................... 2.01(c)
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"New Plans"............................................... 6.05(b)
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"Non-U.S. Benefit Plans".................................. 3.11(j)
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"Nonclearance Termination Fee"............................ 6.07(d)
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"NYSE".................................................... 2.01(f)
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"Old Plans"............................................... 6.05(b)
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"Outside Date"............................................ 8.01(b)(i)
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"Parent".................................................. Preamble
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"Parent Board"............................................ 4.05(c)
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"Parent By-laws".......................................... 4.02
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"Parent Capital Stock".................................... 4.02
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"Parent Charter".......................................... 4.02
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"Parent Common Stock"..................................... 1.01
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"Parent Disclosure Letter"................................ Article IV
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"Parent Material Adverse Effect".......................... 9.03
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"Parent Preferred Stock".................................. 4.02
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"Parent Rights"........................................... 4.02
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"Parent Rights Agreement"................................. 4.02
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"Parent SEC Documents".................................... 4.06(a)
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"Parent Subsidiary"....................................... 4.02
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"Participant"............................................. 3.08(iv)(A)
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"Permits"................................................. 3.13
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"person".................................................. 9.03
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"Primary Company Executive"............................... 3.11(e)
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"Proxy Statement"......................................... 3.05(b)
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"Release"................................................. 3.15(i)(4)
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"Representatives"......................................... 5.02(a)
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"Retention Bonus"......................................... 6.05(d)
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"Retention Pool".......................................... 6.05(d)
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"Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act"...................................... 3.06(d)
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"SEC"..................................................... 2.02(b)(3)
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"Section 262"............................................. 2.02(a)
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"Securities Act".......................................... 3.06(b)
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"Severance Plan".......................................... 6.05(f)
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"Sub"..................................................... Preamble
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"subsidiary".............................................. 9.03
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"Superior Company Proposal"............................... 5.02(f)
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"Superior Proposal Average Price"......................... 2.01(f)
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"Surviving Corporation"................................... 1.01
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"Tax Return".............................................. 3.09(a)
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"Taxes"................................................... 3.09(a)
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"Taxing Authority"........................................ 3.09(a)
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"Transactions"............................................ 1.01
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"Transfer Taxes".......................................... 6.09
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"Trust Agreement"......................................... 3.11(i)
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"US Pension Plan"......................................... 3.11(c)
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"Voting Company Debt"..................................... 3.03(a)
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"Vesting Date"............................................ 6.05(d)
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"Triton".................................................. 2.01(f)
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"Triton Agreement"........................................ 2.01(f)
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"Voting Parent Debt"...................................... 4.02
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vi
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of August 8, 2005, among
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), WHIRLPOOL ACQUISITION
CO., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and
MAYTAG CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and
the Company have approved the acquisition of the Company by Parent on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS the respective Boards of Directors of Sub and the
Company have approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the merger (the
"Merger") of Sub into the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.01 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), Sub shall be merged with
and into the Company at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate
corporate existence of Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the
surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"). The Merger, the payment of
cash and shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Parent ("Parent
Common Stock") in connection with the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are referred to herein as the "Transactions".
SECTION 1.02 Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the
Merger shall take place at the offices of Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 at 10:00 a.m. on the second business day
following the satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by all
parties) of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 (other than those
conditions that by their nature are to be fulfilled at the Closing), or, if on
such day any condition set forth in Section 7.02 or 7.03 has not been satisfied
(or, to the extent permitted by Law, waived by the party or parties entitled to
the benefits thereof and other than those conditions that by their nature are to
be fulfilled at the Closing), as soon as practicable after all the conditions
set forth in Article VII have been satisfied (or, to the extent permitted by
Law, waived by the parties entitled to the benefits thereof), or at such other
place, time and date as shall be agreed in writing between Parent and the
Company. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement
as the "Closing Date".
SECTION 1.03 Effective Time. Prior to the Closing, Parent
shall prepare, and on the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter the
Surviving Corporation shall file with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") executed in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other
filings or recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective
at such time as the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with such Secretary of
State, or at such subsequent time as Parent and the Company shall agree and
specify in the Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective
being the "Effective Time").
SECTION 1.04 Effects. The Merger shall have the effects set
forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.
SECTION 1.05 Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. (a) The
certificate of incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law.
(b) The By-laws of Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.
SECTION 1.06 Directors. The directors of Sub immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, until
the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors
are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.
SECTION 1.07 Officers. The officers of the Company immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation,
until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, as the case may be.
ARTICLE II
EFFECT ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
SECTION 2.01 Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time,
by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any
shares of common stock, par value $1.25 per share, of the Company ("Company
Common Stock") or any shares of capital stock of Sub:
(a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each issued and outstanding share of
capital stock of Sub shall be converted into and become one fully paid and
nonassessable share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Stock.
Each share of Company Common Stock that is owned by the Company, Parent or Sub
shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall
cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in
exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Company Common Stock. Subject to Sections
2.01(b), 2.02(a) and 2.02(b), each issued and outstanding share of Company
Common Stock shall be converted into the right to receive (x) $10.00 in cash,
2
without interest, and (y) that number of validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio
(together, the "Merger Consideration").
(d) Effect of Conversion. From and after the Effective Time,
all of the shares of Company Common Stock converted into the Merger
Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.01 shall no longer be outstanding and
shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate (each a "Certificate") theretofore representing any such
shares of Company Common Stock shall thereafter cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except the right to receive (i) the Merger Consideration, (ii)
any dividends and other distributions in accordance with Section 2.03(d) and
2.03(f) and (iii) any cash to be paid in lieu of any fractional share of Parent
Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.03(e).
(e) Changes to Stock. If at any time during the period between
the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding
shares of capital stock of Parent or the Company shall occur by reason of any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, split-up,
exchange or readjustment of shares, rights issued in respect of Parent Common
Stock or any stock dividend thereon with a record date during such period, the
Merger Consideration, the Exchange Ratio and any other similarly dependent
items, as the case may be, shall be appropriately adjusted to provide the
holders of shares of Company Common Stock the same economic effect as
contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
(f) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
"Exchange Ratio" means the quotient obtained by dividing
$10.00 by the 20-Day Average Price and rounding to the nearest 1/10,000;
provided that if the 20-Day Average Price is less than an amount equal to 90% of
the Superior Proposal Average Price, the Exchange Ratio shall be equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing $10.00 by the product of 90% and the Superior
Proposal Average Price; and if the 20-Day Average Price is greater than an
amount equal to 110% of the Superior Proposal Average Price, the Exchange Ratio
shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $10 by the product of 110%
and the Superior Proposal Average Price.
"20-Day Average Price" shall mean the average (rounded to
nearest 1/10,000), of the volume weighted averages (rounded to the nearest
1/10,000), of the trading prices of the Parent Common Stock on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets (or
such other source as the parties shall agree in writing) for each of the 20
consecutive trading days ending on and including the second trading day prior to
the Closing Date.
"Superior Proposal Average Price" shall mean the volume
weighted average (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000) of the trading prices of the
Parent Common Stock on the NYSE as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets (or
such other source as the parties shall agree in writing) on the day that the
Company Board declares Parent's offer a Company Superior Proposal under the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 19, 2005 (the "Triton Agreement"),
among Triton Acquisition Holding Co. and Triton Acquisition Co. (collectively,
3
"Triton") and the Company, or, if such declaration is not made on a NYSE trading
day, on the NYSE trading day immediately prior to the date of such declaration.
SECTION 2.02 Appraisal Rights; Stock Options; Affiliates.
(a) Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, shares ("Appraisal Shares") of Company Common Stock
that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that
are held by any person who is entitled to demand and properly demands appraisal
of such Appraisal Shares pursuant to, and who complies with, Section 262 of the
DGCL ("Section 262") shall not be converted into Merger Consideration as
provided in Section 2.01(c), but rather the holders of Appraisal Shares shall be
entitled to the rights provided for under Section 262; provided, however, that
if any such holder shall fail to perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or
lose the right to appraisal under Section 262, then such holder's Appraisal
Shares shall be deemed to have been converted as of the Effective Time into, and
to have become exchangeable solely for the right to receive, the Merger
Consideration as provided in Section 2.01(c) and unpaid dividends and other
distributions as provided in Section 2.03(d). The Company shall serve prompt
notice to Parent of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of any
shares of Company Common Stock, and Parent shall have the right to participate
in and direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands.
Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, without the prior written
consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to
settle, any such demands, or agree to do any of the foregoing.
(b) Stock Options and Equity Awards.
(1) The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company
Board"), or the appropriate committee thereof, shall take such action as is
necessary so that at the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase
shares of Company Common Stock (a "Company Stock Option") granted under the
Company Stock Plans, whether or not vested, shall cease to represent a right to
acquire shares of Company Common Stock, and shall thereafter constitute an
option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such
Company Stock Option pursuant to the relevant Company Stock Plan under which it
was issued and the agreement evidencing the grant thereof prior to the Effective
Time, the number (rounded to the nearest whole number) of shares of Parent
Common Stock determined by multiplying (x) the number of shares of Company
Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option immediately prior to the
Effective Time by (y) two times the Exchange Ratio. The exercise price or base
price per share of Parent Common Stock subject to any such Company Stock Option
at and after the Effective Time shall be an amount (rounded to the nearest one
hundredth of a cent) equal to (A) the exercise price or base price per share of
Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option prior to the Effective
Time divided by (B) two times the Exchange Ratio. The parties acknowledge that
as of the Effective Time, all Company Stock Options granted under the 2002
Employee and Director Stock Incentive Plan, the 1998 Non-Employee Directors'
Stock Option Plan, the 2000 Employee Stock Incentive Plan, the 1996 Employee
Stock Incentive Plan, the 1992 Stock Option Plan for Executives and Key
Employees and the 1989 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors, if
unvested, shall vest in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with the
terms of the applicable plan documents and award agreements for each such
Company Stock Option. The parties will make good faith efforts to make equitable
4
adjustments to ensure that the conversions of Company Stock Options contemplated
by this Section 2.02(b)(1) comply with Section 409A of the Code.
(2) At the Effective Time, (i) each restricted stock unit or
performance unit granted under the Company Stock Plans, if unvested, shall vest
in full and be settled for a cash payment to the holder of such award equal to
$20.00 per unit; and (ii) each award granted under the Company's Performance
Incentive Award Plan and the Company's Executive Economic Profit Plan (together,
the "Cash LTIPs") shall vest and be settled in cash (based on a per share
valuation equal to $10.00 plus (A) the Exchange Ratio times (B) the closing
price of the Parent Common Stock on the Closing Date) at the Effective Time at
100% of target.
(3) Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to assume
as of the Effective Time the Company's obligations under the Company Stock
Options and to otherwise effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.02(b), and
shall reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock
for delivery pursuant to the terms set forth in this Section 2.02(b). Effective
as of the Closing Date, Parent shall file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on an appropriate form or a
post-effective amendment to a previously filed registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the Parent Common Stock subject to Company Stock
Options and shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness
of such registration statement (and maintain the current status of the
prospectus contained therein), as well as comply with any applicable state
securities or "blue sky" laws, for so long as such options remain outstanding.
(4) For purposes of this Agreement, "Company Stock Plans" mean
the 2002 Employee and Director Stock Incentive Plan, the 1998 Non-Employee
Directors' Stock Option Plan, the 2000 Employee Stock Incentive Plan, the 1996
Employee Stock Incentive Plan, the 1992 Stock Option Plan for Executives and Key
Employees, the 1989 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors and the
Company's Employee Discount Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP").
(c) Company Affiliates. Anything to the contrary herein
notwithstanding, no shares of Parent Common Stock (or certificates therefor)
shall be issued in exchange for any Certificate to any "affiliate" of the
Company (identified pursuant to Section 6.13) until such person shall have
delivered to Parent duly executed Affiliate Agreements as contemplated by
Section 6.13. Such persons shall be subject to the restrictions described in
such agreements, and such shares (or certificates therefor) shall bear a legend
describing such restrictions.
SECTION 2.03 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall
appoint the transfer agent for the Parent Common Stock or such other exchange
agent reasonably acceptable to the Company (the "Exchange Agent") for the
purpose of exchanging Certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock
and non-certificated shares represented by book entry ("Book Entry Shares") for
the Merger Consideration. Parent will make available to the Exchange Agent, at
or prior to the Effective Time, the cash and Parent Common Stock to be delivered
in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock (such cash and Parent Common
Stock being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund"). Promptly after the
5
Effective Time, Parent will send, or will cause the Exchange Agent to send, to
each holder of record of shares of Company Common Stock as of the Effective Time
a letter of transmittal for use in such exchange (which shall specify that
delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates
theretofore representing shares of Company Common Stock shall pass, only upon
proper delivery of such Certificates to the Exchange Agent or by appropriate
guarantee of delivery in the form customarily used in transactions of this
nature from a member of a national securities exchange, a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company
in the United States) in such form as the Company and Parent may reasonably
agree, for use in effecting delivery of shares of Company Common Stock to the
Exchange Agent. Exchange of any Book-Entry Shares shall be effected in
accordance with Parent's customary procedures with respect to securities
represented by book entry.
(b) Exchange Procedure. Each holder of shares of Company
Common Stock that have been converted into a right to receive the Merger
Consideration, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate, together
with a properly completed letter of transmittal, will be entitled to receive (A)
one or more shares of Parent Common Stock (which shall be in non-certificated
book-entry form unless a physical certificate is requested) representing, in the
aggregate, the whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, that such
holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.01(c) and (B) a check in
the amount equal to the cash portion of the Merger Consideration, if any, that
such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.01(c) and this
Article II, including cash payable in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to
Section 2.03(e) and dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section
2.03(d). No interest shall be paid or accrued on any Merger Consideration, cash
in lieu of fractional shares or on any unpaid dividends and distributions
payable to holders of Certificates. Until so surrendered, each such Certificate
shall, after the Effective Time, represent for all purposes only the right to
receive such Merger Consideration and any dividends and other distributions in
accordance with Sections 2.03(d) and 2.03(f), and any cash to be paid in lieu of
any fractional share of Parent Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.03(e).
(c) Certificate Holder. If any portion of the Merger
Consideration is to be registered in the name of a person other than the person
in whose name the applicable surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be
a condition to the registration thereof that the surrendered Certificate shall
be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the
person requesting such delivery of the Merger Consideration shall pay to the
Exchange Agent any transfer or other similar Taxes required as a result of such
registration in the name of a person other than the registered holder of such
Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Tax
has been paid or is not payable.
(d) Dividends and Distributions. No dividends or other
distributions with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock issued in the Merger
shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificates or Book-Entry
Shares until such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares are properly surrendered.
Following such surrender, there shall be paid, without interest, to the record
holder of the shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange therefor (i) at
the time of such surrender, all dividends and other distributions payable in
respect of such shares of Parent Common Stock with a record date after the
Effective Time and a payment date on or prior to the date of such surrender and
not previously paid and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the dividends or
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other distributions payable with respect to such shares of Parent Common Stock
with a record date after the Effective Time but with a payment date subsequent
to such surrender. For purposes of dividends or other distributions in respect
of shares of Parent Common Stock, all shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Merger shall be entitled to dividends pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence as if issued and outstanding as of the Effective
Time.
(e) Fractional Shares.
(1) No fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be
issued in the Merger, but in lieu thereof each holder of shares of Company
Common Stock otherwise entitled to a fractional share of Parent Common Stock
will be entitled to receive, from the Exchange Agent in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 2.03(e), a cash payment in lieu of such fractional
shares of Parent Common Stock representing such holder's proportionate interest,
if any, in the proceeds from the sale by the Exchange Agent in one or more
transactions of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the excess of (x) the
aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be delivered to the
Exchange Agent by Parent pursuant to Section 2.03(a) over (y) the aggregate
number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock to be distributed to the holders
of Certificates pursuant to Section 2.03(b) (such excess being herein called the
"Excess Shares"). As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the Exchange
Agent, as agent for the holders of the Certificates representing shares of
Company Common Stock, shall sell the Excess Shares at then prevailing prices on
the NYSE in the manner provided in the following paragraph.
(2) The sale of the Excess Shares by the Exchange Agent, as
agent for the holders that would otherwise receive fractional shares, shall be
executed on the NYSE through one or more member firms of the NYSE and shall be
executed in round lots to the extent practicable. Until the proceeds of such
sale or sales have been distributed to the holders of shares of Company Common
Stock, the Exchange Agent shall hold such proceeds in trust for the holders of
shares of Company Common Stock (the "Common Shares Trust"). Parent shall pay all
commissions, transfer taxes and other out-of-pocket transactions costs,
including the expenses and compensation of the Exchange Agent, incurred in
connection with such sale of Excess Shares. The Exchange Agent shall determine
the portion of the Common Shares Trust to which each holder of shares of Company
Common Stock shall be entitled, if any, by multiplying the amount of the
aggregate proceeds comprising the Common Shares Trust by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the amount of the fractional share interest to which such
holder of shares of Company Common Stock would otherwise be entitled and the
denominator of which is the aggregate amount of fractional share interests to
which all holders of shares of Company Common Stock would otherwise be entitled.
(3) As soon as practicable after the determination of the
amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of shares of Company Common Stock
in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, the Exchange Agent
shall make available such amounts to such holders of shares of Company Common
Stock without interest, subject to and in accordance with this Section 2.03.
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(f) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. The
Merger Consideration paid in accordance with the terms of this Article II upon
conversion of any shares of Company Common Stock shall be deemed to have been
paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company
Common Stock, subject, however, to the Surviving Corporation's obligation to pay
any dividends or make any other distributions with a record date prior to the
Effective Time that may have been declared or made by the Company on such shares
of Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or prior
to the date of this Agreement and which remain unpaid at the Effective Time, and
after the Effective Time there shall be no further registration of transfers on
the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of shares of Company
Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If,
after the Effective Time, any certificates formerly representing shares of
Company Common Stock are presented to the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange
Agent for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this
Article II.
(g) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange
Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common Stock for six
months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and
any holder of Company Common Stock who has not theretofore complied with this
Article II shall thereafter look only to Parent and/or the Surviving Corporation
for payment of its claim for Merger Consideration.
(h) No Liability. None of Parent, Sub, the Company or the
Exchange Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any cash or Parent
Common Stock from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official to the extent
required by any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any
Certificate has not been surrendered immediately prior to such date on which the
Merger Consideration in respect of such Certificate would otherwise irrevocably
escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity, any such shares,
cash, dividends or distributions in respect of such Certificate shall, to the
extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving
Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person previously
entitled thereto.
(i) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent shall
invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by Parent, in (i)
direct obligations of the United States of America, (ii) obligations for which
the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide
for the payment of all principal and interest or (iii) commercial paper
obligations receiving the highest rating from either Xxxxx'x Investor Services,
Inc. or Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, or a
combination thereof; provided that, in any such case, no such instrument shall
have a maturity exceeding three months from the date of the investment therein.
Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to
Parent.
(j) Withholding Rights. Parent and the Exchange Agent shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any
holder of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are
required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Code"), or under any other provision of
applicable federal, state, local or foreign tax Law. To the extent that amounts
are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority by Parent or
8
the Exchange Agent, as applicable, such withheld amounts shall be treated for
all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holders of the shares
of Company Common Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was
made by Parent or the Exchange Agent.
(k) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been
lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact
by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed
and, if reasonably required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such
person of a bond in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may
direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect
to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall pay in respect of such lost,
stolen, defaced or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration with respect
to each share of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub that,
except as set forth in the disclosure letter, dated as of the date of this
Agreement, from the Company to Parent and Sub (the "Company Disclosure Letter")
or in any Company SEC Document filed and publicly available prior to the date of
this Agreement (each, a "Filed Company SEC Document"):
SECTION 3.01 Organization, Standing and Power. Each of the
Company and each of its subsidiaries (each, a "Company Subsidiary") (a) is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is organized, other than defects in such organization,
existence or good standing that, individually and in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (b) has
full corporate power and authority and possesses all governmental franchises,
licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to own,
lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to conduct its businesses
as presently conducted, other than such corporate power and authority,
franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals the lack of which,
individually and in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is duly
qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business
or the ownership or leasing of its properties make such qualification necessary
or the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. The Company has delivered to Parent true and complete
copies of the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended to the
date of this Agreement (as so amended, the "Company Charter"), and the by-laws
of the Company, as amended to the date of this Agreement (as so amended, the
"Company By-laws").
SECTION 3.02 Company Subsidiaries: Equity Interests.
(a) Section 3.02(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists
each "significant subsidiary", as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of
Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act and its jurisdiction of organization. All
the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Company Subsidiary have been
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the
Company, by another Company Subsidiary or by the Company and another Company
9
Subsidiary, free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges, mortgages,
encumbrances and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever
(collectively, "Liens").
(b) Except for its interests in the Company Subsidiaries, the
Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock, equity
membership interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest or other
equity interest in any person.
SECTION 3.03 Capital Structure. (a) The authorized capital
stock of the Company consists of 200,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and
24,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Company
Preferred Stock" and, together with the Company Common Stock, the "Company
Capital Stock"). At the close of business on July 31, 2005, (i) 79,943,633
shares of Company Common Stock (each together with a Company Right) and no
shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 37,206,960
shares of Company Common Stock were held by the Company in its treasury, (iii)
7,521,608 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to outstanding Company
Stock Options and 891,921 additional shares of Company Common Stock were
reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, (other than any
shares reserved under the Employee Discount Stock Purchase Plan) and (iv)
4,000,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance in
connection with the rights (the "Company Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights
Agreement dated as of February 12, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the
"Company Rights Agreement"), between the Company and Computershare Investor
Services, LLC, as Rights Agent. Except as set forth above, at the close of
business on July 31, 2005, no shares of capital stock or other voting securities
of the Company were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. During the
period from July 31, 2005 to the date of this Agreement, (x) there have been no
issuances by the Company of shares of capital stock or other voting securities
of the Company other than issuances of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant
to the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on such date as required by
their terms as in effect on the date of such issuance and (y) there have been no
issuances by the Company of options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares
of capital stock or other voting securities of the Company. There are no
outstanding stock appreciation rights linked to the price of the Company Common
Stock that were not granted in tandem with a related Company Stock Option. All
outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock are, and all such shares that may be
issued prior to the Effective Time will be when issued, duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation
of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right,
subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DGCL, the
Company Charter, the Company By-laws or any Contract to which the Company is a
party or otherwise bound. There are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other
indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
holders of Company Capital Stock may vote ("Voting Company Debt"). Except as set
forth above, as of the date of this Agreement, there are not any options,
warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock
rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, commitments,
Contracts, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any
Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound (i) obligating
the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be
issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity
interests in, or any security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable
into any capital stock of or other equity interest in, the Company or any
10
Company Subsidiary or any Voting Company Debt, (ii) obligating the Company or
any Company Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option,
warrant, call, right, security, unit, commitment, Contract, arrangement or
undertaking or (iii) that give any person the right to receive any economic
benefit or right similar to or derived from the economic benefits and rights
occurring to holders of Company Capital Stock. As of the date of this Agreement,
there are not any outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company has made
available to Parent a complete and correct copy of the Company Rights Agreement,
as amended to the date of this Agreement.
(b) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent a
true, complete and correct list of all outstanding Company Stock Options, the
number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to each such Company Stock
Option, the grant dates, exercise prices, expiration dates and vesting schedule
of each such Company Stock Option and the names of the holders of each Company
Stock Option. All outstanding Company Stock Options are evidenced by the forms
of Company Stock Option agreements delivered or made available to Parent, and no
Company Stock Option agreement contains terms that are materially inconsistent
with, or in addition in any material respect to, the terms contained therein.
SECTION 3.04 Authority; Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability. (a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and the other
Transactions to be performed or consummated by the Company. The execution and
delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of
the Merger and the other Transactions to be performed or consummated by the
Company have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company, subject, in the case of the Merger, to receipt of the Company
Stockholder Approval. The Company has duly executed and delivered this
Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding
obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
rights, and to general equity principles.
(b) The Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held, duly
adopted resolutions (i) approving this Agreement, the Merger and the other
Transactions to be performed or consummated by the Company, (ii) determining
that the terms of the Merger and the other Transactions to be performed or
consummated by the Company are fair to and in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders, (iii) directing that this Agreement be submitted to a vote
at the Company Stockholders Meeting, (iv) recommending that the Company's
stockholders adopt this Agreement and (v) declaring the advisability of this
Agreement. Assuming that the representation set forth in the second sentence of
Section 4.03(c) is true and correct, such resolutions of the Company Board are
sufficient to render inapplicable to Parent and Sub and this Agreement, the
Merger and the other Transactions (i) the restrictions on "business
combinations" contained in Section 203 of the DGCL and (ii) the provisions of
Article Eleventh of the Company Charter. To the Company's knowledge, no other
state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation applies or purports to
apply to the Company with respect to this Agreement, the Merger or any other
Transaction.
11
(c) Assuming that the representation set forth in the second
sentence of Section 4.03(c) is true and correct, the only vote of holders of any
class or series of Company Capital Stock necessary to approve and adopt this
Agreement and the Merger is the adoption of this Agreement by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote
thereon (the "Company Stockholder Approval"). The affirmative vote of the
holders of Company Capital Stock, or any of them, is not necessary to consummate
any Transaction other than the Merger.
SECTION 3.05 No Conflicts; Consents. (a) The execution and
delivery by the Company of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
Merger and the other Transactions and compliance with the terms hereof will not,
conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without the
lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both) under, or give rise to a right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a
material benefit under, or to increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed
rights or entitlements of any person under, or result in the creation of any
Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary under, any provision of (i) the Company Charter, the Company By-laws
or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any Company Subsidiary,
(ii) any contract, lease, license, indenture, note, bond, agreement, permit,
concession, franchise or other instrument (a "Contract") to which the Company or
any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective properties
or assets is bound or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred to
in Section 3.05(b), any judgment, order or decree ("Judgment") or statute, law
(including common law), ordinance, rule or regulation ("Law") applicable to the
Company or any Company Subsidiary or their respective properties or assets,
other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or
authorization ("Consent") of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or
permit from, any federal, state, local or foreign government or any court of
competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or commission or other
governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental
Entity"), is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to the Company
or any Company Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, other
than (i) compliance with and filings under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) any additional
Consents and filings under any foreign Antitrust Laws (including, if applicable,
the competition or antitrust laws of Mexico and Brazil, and the Competition Act
(Canada)) or under the Investment Canada Act (Canada), (iii) the filing with the
SEC of (A) a proxy or information statement relating to the adoption of this
Agreement by the Company's stockholders (the "Proxy Statement") and (B) such
reports under, or other applicable requirements of, the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as may be required in connection with
this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions, (iv)the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of the other jurisdictions
in which the Company is qualified to do business, (v) compliance with and such
filings as may be required under applicable Environmental Laws, (vi) such
filings as may be required in connection with the Taxes described in Section
6.09, (vii) filings under any applicable state takeover Law and (viii) such
12
other items that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The Company and the Company Board have taken all action
necessary to (i) render the Company Rights Agreement inapplicable to this
Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions and (ii) ensure that (A)
neither Parent nor any of its affiliates or associates is or will become an
"Acquiring Person" (as defined in the Company Rights Agreement) by reason of
this Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction, (B) a "Distribution Date"
or a "Share Acquisition Date" (as each such term is defined in the Company
Rights Agreement) shall not occur by reason of this Agreement, the Merger or any
other Transaction and (C) the Company Rights shall expire immediately prior to
the Effective Time.
SECTION 3.06 SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. (a) The
Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
required to be filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 2003 pursuant
to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (the "Company SEC Documents").
(b) As of its respective date, each Company SEC Document
complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Document, and did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Except to the
extent that information contained in any Filed Company SEC Document has been
revised or superseded by a later filed Filed Company SEC Document, none of the
Company SEC Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements of the Company
included in the Company SEC Documents (including the related notes and schedules
thereto) comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted
by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods shown (subject, in
the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
(c) Other than liabilities or obligations (i) disclosed or
provided for in the financial statements included in the Filed Company SEC
Documents or (ii) incurred since March 31, 2005 in the ordinary course of
business, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise)
required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries or in the notes thereto and that, individually
or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
13
(d) Each of the principal executive officer and the principal
financial officer of the Company (or each former principal executive officer and
former principal financial officer of the Company, as applicable) has made all
certifications required under Sections 302 and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002 and the related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and under the
Exchange Act (collectively, the "Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act") with respect to the
Company SEC Documents, and the Company has delivered to Parent a summary of any
disclosure made by the Company's management to the Company's auditors and audit
committee referred to in such certifications. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, "principal executive officer" and "principal financial officer" shall
have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
(e) The Company has (i) designed and maintained disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the
Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to the Company,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, that is required to be disclosed by the
Company in the reports it files under the Exchange Act is made known to its
principal executive officer and principal financial officer or other appropriate
members of management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure; (ii) designed and maintained a system of internal control
over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the
Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including reasonable assurance
(A) that transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorizations and recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset
accountability and (B) regarding prevention or timely detection of any
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a
material effect on the Company's financial statements; (iii) with the
participation of the Company's principal executive and financial officers,
completed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal controls
over financial reporting in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act for the year ended January 1, 2005, and such assessment
concluded that such internal controls were effective using the framework
specified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for such year ended; and
(iv) to the extent required by applicable Law, disclosed in such report or in
any amendment thereto any change in the Company's internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by such report or
amendment that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
(f) The Company has disclosed, based on the most recent
evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company's
auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (i) any significant
deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's
internal control over financial reporting. The Company has identified, based on
the most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, for the
Company's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls. The Company has
provided to Parent true and correct copies of any of the foregoing disclosures
to the auditors or audit committee that have been made in writing from January
14
1, 2003 through the date hereof, and will promptly provide Parent true and
correct copies of any such disclosure that is made after the date hereof.
(g) None of the Company Subsidiaries is, or has at any time
since January 1, 2003 been, subject to the reporting requirements of Sections
13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(h) As of the date of this Agreement, to the knowledge of the
Company, there is no applicable accounting rule, consensus or pronouncement that
has been adopted by the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the
Emerging Issues Task Force or any similar body but that is not in effect as of
the date of this Agreement that, if implemented, would reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(i) There are no pending (A) formal or, to the knowledge of
the Company, informal investigations of the Company by the SEC, (B) to the
knowledge of the Company, inspections of an audit of the Company's financial
statements by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or (C)
investigations by the audit committee of the Company Board regarding any
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any Company
Subsidiary has engaged in improper or illegal accounting or auditing practices
or maintains improper or inadequate internal accounting controls. The Company
will promptly provide to Parent information as to any such matters that arise
after the date hereof.
(j) Since July 30, 2002, the Company has been in compliance in
all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act
in effect from time to time.
(k) Since the date of the Company's 2004 annual meeting of
stockholders, the Company has been in compliance with the applicable corporate
governance listing standards of the NYSE in all material respects.
SECTION 3.07 Information Supplied.
(a) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the
Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement will,
at the date it is first mailed to the Company's stockholders or at the time of
the Company Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder, except that no representation is made by the
Company with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein
based on information supplied by Parent or Sub in writing for inclusion or
incorporation by reference therein.
(b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the
Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Form S-4 or any
amendment or supplement thereto will, at the time the Form S-4 or any such
amendment or supplement becomes effective under the Securities Act or at the
time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be included in order
15
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
SECTION 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. From the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed
Company SEC Documents to the date of this Agreement, the Company has conducted
its business only in the ordinary course, and during such period there has not
been:
(i) any event, change, effect, development, condition or
occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect
to any Company Common Stock or any repurchase for value by the Company of any
Company Common Stock, other than quarterly cash dividends with respect to the
Company Common Stock of (A) $0.18 per share with respect to the first quarter of
2005 and (B) $0.09 per share with respect to the second and third quarters of
2005, in each case with usual declaration, record and payment dates;
(iii) any split, combination or reclassification of any
Company Common Stock or any issuance or the authorization of any issuance of any
other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of
Company Common Stock;
(iv) (A) any granting by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary to any current or former director, officer, employee or independent
contractor of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (each, a "Participant") of
any loan or any increase in any type of compensation, benefits, perquisites or
any bonus or award, except for grants of normal cash bonus opportunities and
normal increases of cash compensation (including compensation in connection with
new hires), in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or as was required under employment agreements in effect as of the date
of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed Company
SEC Documents, (B) any payment of any bonus to any Participant, except for
bonuses paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
(C) any granting by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any Participant of
any severance, change in control, termination or similar compensation, pay or
benefits or increases therein, or of the right to receive any severance, change
in control, termination or similar compensation, pay or benefits or increases
therein, except (x) as was required under any employment, severance or
termination agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent audited
financial statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents, (y) in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection with new
hires to replace departed employees and (z) in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice in connection with promotions made in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, or (D) any entry by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary into, or any amendment of, any Company Benefit
Agreement;
16
(v) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered
by insurance, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(vi) any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except for any change which
is not material or which is required by a change in GAAP or applicable Law;
(vii) any material elections with respect to Taxes by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary or settlement or compromise by the Company or
any Company Subsidiary of any material Tax liability or refund; or
(viii) any revaluation by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary of any of the assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except
insofar as may have been required by applicable Law or that would not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.09 Taxes. (a) As used in this Agreement:
"Taxes" shall mean all (i) federal, state and local, domestic
and foreign, taxes, assessments, duties or similar charges of any kind
whatsoever, including all corporate franchise, income, sales, use, ad valorem,
receipts, value added, profits, license, withholding, employment, excise,
property, net worth, capital gains, transfer, stamp, documentary, social
security, payroll, environmental, alternative minimum, occupation, recapture and
other taxes, and including any interest, penalties and additions imposed with
respect to such amounts; (ii) liability for the payment of any amounts of the
type described in clause (i) as a result of being a member of an affiliated,
consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group; and (iii) liability for the
payment of any amounts as a result of an obligation to indemnify any other
person with respect to the payment of any amounts of the type described in
clause (i) or (ii).
"Taxing Authority" shall mean any federal, state or local,
domestic or foreign, governmental body (including any subdivision, agency or
commission thereof), or any quasi-governmental body, in each case, exercising
regulatory authority in respect of Taxes.
"Tax Return" shall mean all returns, declarations of estimated
tax payments, reports, estimates, information returns and statements, including
any related or supporting information with respect to any of the foregoing,
filed or to be filed with any Taxing Authority in connection with the
determination, assessment, collection or administration of any Taxes.
(b) The Company and each Company Subsidiary has timely filed,
or has caused to be timely filed on its behalf, all material Tax Returns
required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company and each Company Subsidiary
in the manner prescribed by applicable Law. All such Tax Returns are complete
and correct, except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each
Company Subsidiary has timely paid (or the Company has paid on each such Company
Subsidiary's behalf) all Taxes due and owing, and, in accordance with GAAP, the
most recent financial statements contained in the Filed Company SEC Documents
reflect a reserve (excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes) for all Taxes
payable by the Company and each Company Subsidiary for all taxable periods and
17
portions thereof through the date of such financial statement, in each case
except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) No Tax Return of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is
under audit or examination by any Taxing Authority, and no written notice or, to
the knowledge of the Company, unwritten notice of such an audit or examination
has been received by the Company or any Company Subsidiary. Each material
assessed deficiency resulting from any audit or examination relating to Taxes by
any Taxing Authority has been timely paid and there is no assessed deficiency,
refund litigation, proposed adjustment or matter in controversy with respect to
any Taxes due and owing by the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The federal
income Tax Returns of the Company and each Company Subsidiary have been examined
by the Internal Revenue Service or the relevant statute of limitations has
closed for all years through 1997.
(d) There is no agreement or other document extending, or
having the effect of extending, the period of assessment or collection of any
material Taxes and no power of attorney with respect to any such Taxes has been
executed or filed with any Taxing Authority by or on behalf of the Company or
any Company Subsidiary.
(e) No material Liens for Taxes exist with respect to any
assets or properties of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except for
statutory liens for Taxes not yet due.
(f) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party
to or bound by any material Tax sharing agreement, material Tax indemnity
obligation or similar material agreement or arrangement with respect to Taxes
(including any advance pricing agreement, closing agreement or other agreement
relating to Taxes with any Taxing Authority), other than any such agreements (i)
with customers, vendors, lessors or similar persons entered into in the ordinary
course of business and (ii) among the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.
(g) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company
and each Company Subsidiary has complied with all applicable Laws relating to
the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to
Sections 1441, 1442, 3121 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any
federal, state or local, domestic or foreign, Laws) and has, within the time and
the manner prescribed by applicable Law, withheld from and paid over to the
proper Governmental Entities all amounts required to be so withheld and paid
over under applicable Law.
(h) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is or has
been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of
Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(i) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall be
required to include in a taxable period ending after the Closing Date taxable
income attributable to income that accrued in a prior taxable period but was not
recognized in any prior taxable period as a result of the installment method of
accounting, the long-term contract method of accounting, the cash method of
accounting or Section 481 of the Code or comparable provisions of state, local
or foreign Tax law.
18
(j) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has
participated in any "listed transaction" as defined in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.6011-4.
SECTION 3.10 Absence of Changes in Benefit Plans. (a) From the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed
Company SEC Documents to the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any
Company Subsidiary has terminated, adopted, amended, modified or agreed to
terminate, adopt, amend or modify (or announced an intention to terminate,
adopt, amend or modify), in any material respect, any collective bargaining
agreement or any bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation,
incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock appreciation,
restricted stock, stock repurchase rights, stock option, phantom stock,
performance, retirement, thrift, savings, stock bonus, cafeteria, paid time off,
perquisite, fringe benefit, vacation, severance, disability, death benefit,
hospitalization, medical or other welfare benefit or other plan, program,
arrangement or understanding, whether oral or written, formal or informal,
funded or unfunded (whether or not legally binding), maintained, contributed to
or required to be maintained or contributed to by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary or any other person or entity that, together with the Company or any
Company Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c),
(m) or (o) of the Code or any other applicable Law (each, a "Commonly Controlled
Entity"), in each case providing benefits to any Participant and whether or not
subject to United States law (all such plans, programs, arrangements and
understandings, including any such plan, program, arrangement or understanding
entered into or adopted on or after the date of this Agreement, "Company Benefit
Plans") or has made any change, in any material respect, in any actuarial or
other assumption used to calculate funding obligations with respect to any
Company Benefit Plan that is a Company Pension Plan, or any change, in any
material respect, in the manner in which contributions to any such Company
Pension Plan are made or the basis on which such contributions are determined.
(b) Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a
complete and correct list of (i) any material employment, deferred compensation,
severance, change in control, termination, employee benefit, loan (other than
Participant loans under any Company Pension Plan that includes a qualified cash
or deferred arrangement within the meaning of Section 401(k) of the Code),
indemnification, retention, stock repurchase, stock option, consulting or
similar agreement, commitment or obligation between the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Participant, on the other hand, and (ii)
any agreement between the Company or any Company Subsidiary, on the one hand,
and any Participant, on the other hand, the benefits of which are contingent, or
the terms of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of transactions
involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary of the nature contemplated by
this Agreement (all such agreements, collectively, the "Company Benefit
Agreements").
SECTION 3.11 ERISA Compliance; Excess Parachute Payments.
(a) Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains
a complete and correct list of all Company Benefit Plans that are "employee
pension benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) (all such plans,
collectively, the "Company Pension Plans") or "employee welfare benefit plans"
(as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and all other material Company Benefit
Plans; provided, however, that no Company Benefit Agreement shall be deemed a
Company Benefit Plan or listed in Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure
19
Letter. Each Company Benefit Plan has been administered in compliance with its
terms and applicable Law, and the terms of any applicable collective bargaining
agreements, except to the extent that the failure to comply with any such terms
or Law, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has delivered or made
available to Parent complete and correct copies of (i) each Company Benefit Plan
and each Company Benefit Agreement (or, in the case of any unwritten Company
Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement, a description thereof), (ii) the most
recent annual report on Form 5500 (including accompanying schedules and
attachments) with respect to each Company Benefit Plan for which such a report
is required, (iii) the most recent summary plan description for each Company
Benefit Plan for which such summary plan description is required under ERISA,
(iv) each material trust agreement and material group annuity contract relating
to the funding or payment of benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, (v) the
most recent determination or qualification letter issued by the Internal Revenue
Service for each Company Benefit Plan intended to qualify for favorable tax
treatment in the United States of America, as well as a true, correct and
complete copy of each pending application for such letter, if applicable, and
(vi) the most recent actuarial valuation, if applicable, for each Company
Pension Plan.
(b) All Company Pension Plans intended to be tax qualified
have been the subject of determination letters from the Internal Revenue Service
with respect to all tax Law changes through the Economic Growth and Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to which a determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service can be obtained to the effect that such Company Pension
Plans are qualified and exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a)
and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and no such determination letter has been
revoked nor, to the knowledge of the Company, has revocation been threatened,
nor has any such Company Pension Plan been amended since the date of its most
recent determination letter or application therefor in any respect that would
adversely affect its qualification or materially increase its costs or require
security under Section 307 of ERISA. All Company Pension Plans that are required
to have been approved by any non-U.S. Governmental Entity have been so approved.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.11(c) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has
maintained, contributed to or been obligated to maintain or contribute to, or
has any liability under, any Company Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV of
ERISA. With respect to the Maytag Corporation Employees Retirement Plan (the "US
Pension Plan"), to the knowledge of the Company there has been no material
adverse change in the financial condition of such plan from the date of the most
recent audited financial statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents
to the date of this Agreement, assuming for such purpose that there has been no
change in the discount rate used for purposes of valuing the liabilities of such
plan from the discount rate applied in such financial statements. No liability
under Title IV of ERISA (other than for premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation) has been or is expected to be incurred by the Company or any
Company Subsidiary with respect to any ongoing, frozen or terminated
"single-employer" plan (as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA), currently
or formerly maintained by any of them or by any Commonly Controlled Entity,
except for any such liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of
20
the Company Pension Plans has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in
Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, nor has
any waiver of the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code been requested. None of the Company, any Company Subsidiary, any
employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the Company Benefit
Plans, including the Company Pension Plans, or any trusts created thereunder or
any trustee, administrator or other fiduciary of any Company Benefit Plan or
trust created thereunder, or any agents of the foregoing, has engaged in a
"prohibited transaction" (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the Code) that would be reasonably expected to subject the Company, any Company
Subsidiary or any officer of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the
Company Benefit Plans, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any trusts created
thereunder or any trustee or administrator of any Company Benefit Plan or trust
created thereunder to the tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed by
such Section 4975 of the Code or to the sanctions imposed under Title I of ERISA
or to any other liability for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA, except for
any such prohibited transactions that, individually or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No Company
Pension Plan or related trust has been terminated during the last five years,
nor has there been any "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA),
other than an event for which the 30-day notice period has been waived, with
respect to any Company Pension Plan since January 1, 2004, and no notice of a
reportable event will be required to be filed in connection with the
Transactions. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has incurred any
material liability that has not been satisfied in full as a result of a
"complete withdrawal" or a "partial withdrawal" (as each such term is defined in
Sections 4203 and 4205, respectively, of ERISA) during the past six years from
any "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
(d) With respect to any Company Benefit Plan that is an
employee welfare benefit plan, whether or not subject to ERISA, such Company
Benefit Plan is either funded through an insurance company contract and is not a
"welfare benefits fund" (as defined in Section 419(e) of the Code) or it is
unfunded.
(e) Other than payments or benefits that may be made to the
persons listed in Section 3.11(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter (each, a
"Primary Company Executive"), no amount or other entitlement that could be
received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of
any of the Transactions (alone or in combination with any other event) by any
Participant who is a "disqualified individual" (as defined in final Treasury
Regulation Section 1.280G-1) (each, a "Disqualified Individual") under any
Company Benefit Plan, Company Benefit Agreement or other compensation
arrangement currently in effect would be an "excess parachute payment" (as
defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code) and no such Disqualified Individual
is entitled to receive any additional payment (e.g., any tax gross-up or any
other payment) from the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any other person
in the event that the excise tax required by Section 4999(a) of the Code is
imposed on such Disqualified Individual. The Company has provided Parent with
calculations performed in 2004 by Xxxxxx Associates of the estimated amounts of
compensation and benefits that could be received (whether in cash or property or
the vesting of property) by certain Primary Company Executives as a result of a
transaction of the nature contemplated by this Agreement (alone or in
combination with any other event), and the "base amount" (as defined in Section
280G(b)(3) of the Code) for certain Primary Company Executives, in each case as
21
of the date specified in such calculations and in accordance with the
assumptions made by Xxxxxx Associates as set forth in such calculations. To the
knowledge of the Company, the Company provided true and complete compensation
and benefit information and data to Xxxxxx Associates necessary to perform such
calculations, which information and data was correct in all material respects as
of the date provided by the Company to Xxxxxx Associates.
(f) The execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement do not, and the consummation of the Transactions and compliance with
the terms hereof will not (either alone or in combination with any other event)
(i) entitle any Participant to any additional compensation, severance,
termination, change in control or other benefits or any benefits the value of
which will be calculated on the basis of any of the Transactions (alone or in
combination with any other event), (ii) accelerate the time of payment or
vesting or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise)
of any compensation, severance or other benefits under, or increase the amount
payable or trigger any other material obligation pursuant to, any Company
Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement, or (iii) trigger the forgiveness of
indebtedness owed by any Participant to the Company or any of its affiliates.
(g) Since January 1, 2004, and through the date of this
Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received notice
of, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no (i) material pending
termination proceedings or other suits, claims (except claims for benefits
payable in the normal operation of the Company Benefit Plans), actions or
proceedings against or involving or asserting any rights or claims to benefits
under any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement or (ii) pending
investigations (other than routine inquiries) by any Governmental Entity with
respect to any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement, except for any
such suits, claims, proceedings or investigations that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. All contributions, premiums and benefit payments under or in connection
with the Company Benefit Plans or Company Benefit Agreements that are required
to have been made by the Company or any Company Subsidiary have been timely
made, accrued or reserved for, except for failures to make, accrue or reserve
for any such contributions, premiums and benefit payments that, individually or
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(h) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any
liability or obligations, including under or on account of a Company Benefit
Plan or Company Benefit Agreement, arising out of the hiring of persons to
provide services to the Company or any Company Subsidiary and treating such
persons as consultants or independent contractors and not as employees of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, except for any such liabilities or
obligations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(i) The Agreement for the Trust for Maytag Corporation
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans dated as of October 1, 2003 (the
"Trust Agreement"), by and between the Company and KeyBank National Association,
and each Plan (as such term is defined in the Trust Agreement) has been amended
to provide that no funding shall be required in connection with the execution of
this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions. With respect to the
Maytag Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan II, the Maytag Corporation
Deferred Compensation Plan II, their predecessor plans and any trust agreements
22
relating to the payment of benefits under these plans, all necessary actions
have been taken to ensure that no funding shall be required in connection with
the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions.
(j) Except for any items that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, (i) all Company Benefit Plans maintained primarily for the benefit of
Participants principally employed in jurisdictions other than the United States
of America (all such plans, collectively, the "Non-U.S. Benefit Plans") have
been maintained in accordance with their terms and all applicable legal
requirements, (ii) if any Non-U.S. Benefit Plan is intended to qualify for
special tax treatment, such Non-U.S. Benefit Plan meets all requirements for
such treatment, and (iii) the fair market value of the assets of each Non-U.S.
Benefit Plan required to be funded, the liability of each insurer for any
Non-U.S. Benefit Plan required to be funded, and the book reserve established
for any Non-U.S. Benefit Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is
sufficient to provide for the accrued benefit obligations under each Non-U.S.
Benefit Plan.
SECTION 3.12 Litigation. There are no suits, actions or
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any Company Subsidiary (and the Company is not aware of
any basis for any such suit, action or proceeding) that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, nor are there any Judgments outstanding against the Company or any
Company Subsidiary that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.13 Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Company and
the Company Subsidiaries and their relevant personnel and operations are in
compliance with all applicable Laws, including those relating to occupational
health and safety, except for such failure to be in compliance as, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any
written communication during the past two years from a Governmental Entity that
alleges that the Company or a Company Subsidiary is not in compliance in any
material respect with any applicable Law, except for such failure to be in
compliance as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Company
Subsidiaries have in effect all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions,
authorizations, operating certificates, franchises, orders and approvals of all
Governmental Entities (collectively, "Permits"), necessary or advisable for them
to own, lease or operate their properties and assets and to carry on their
businesses as now conducted, except for such Permits the absence of which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, and there has occurred no violation of, default
(with or without the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both) under, or
event giving to others any right of termination, amendment or cancellation of,
with or without notice or lapse of time or both, any such Permit, except for any
such violations, defaults or events that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
There is no event which, to the knowledge of the Company, would reasonably be
expected to result in the revocation, cancellation, non-renewal or adverse
modification of any such Permit, except for any such events that, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
23
Adverse Effect. This Section 3.13 does not relate to matters with respect to
Taxes, which are the subject of Section 3.09.
SECTION 3.14 Labor Matters. Since January 1, 2004 to the date
of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has
experienced any material labor strikes, union organization attempts, requests
for representation, work slowdowns or stoppages or disputes due to labor
disagreements, and to the knowledge of the Company there is currently no such
action threatened against or affecting the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are each, and since January 1, 2002
have each been, in compliance with all applicable Laws with respect to labor
relations, employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment and wages and hours, human rights, pay equity and workers
compensation, except to the extent that the failure to comply with any such Law,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, and is not, and since January 1, 2002 has not,
engaged in any unfair labor practice that, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There is
no unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the Company or any Company
Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, in each
case, before the National Labor Relations Board or any comparable federal,
state, provincial or foreign agency or authority, except for any such charges or
complaints that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No grievance or arbitration
proceeding arising out of a collective bargaining agreement is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, except for any such grievances or proceedings that, individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.15 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries are, and have been, in
compliance with all Environmental Laws, and neither the Company nor any of the
Company Subsidiaries has received any written communication from a Governmental
Entity that alleges that the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is in
violation of, or has liability under, any Environmental Law.
(b) (i) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries have obtained and are
in compliance with all material permits, licenses and governmental
authorizations pursuant to Environmental Law (collectively "Environmental
Permits") necessary for their operations as presently conducted, (ii) all such
Environmental Permits are valid and in good standing and (iii) since January 1,
2003, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has been advised
in writing by any Governmental Entity of any actual or potential change in the
status or terms and conditions of any Environmental Permit.
(c) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
24
Effect, there are no Environmental Claims pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened, against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.
(d) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has entered into
or agreed to, or is otherwise subject to, any Judgment relating to any
Environmental Law or to the investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.
(e) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, there has been no treatment, storage or Release of any Hazardous
Material that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any
Environmental Claim against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or
against any person whose liabilities for such Environmental Claims the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries has, or may have, retained or assumed, either
contractually or by operation of law.
(f) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, there are no underground storage tanks at, on, under or about (i) any
manufacturing facility owned, operated or leased by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, (ii) any other property owned by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, any other property leased
or operated by the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(g) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, to the knowledge of the Company, any asbestos-containing material that
is at, under or about property owned, operated or leased by the Company or any
Company Subsidiary is non-friable or encapsulated and in good condition
according to the generally accepted standards and practices governing such
material, and its presence or condition does not violate or otherwise require
abatement or removal pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.
(h) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has retained
or assumed, either contractually or by operation of law, any liabilities or
obligations that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any
Environmental Claim against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, and
(ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no Environmental Claims are pending
against any person whose liabilities for such Environmental Claims the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries has, or may have, retained or assumed, either
contractually or by operation of law.
(i) Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
(1) "Environmental Claim" means any and all administrative,
regulatory or judicial actions, suits, orders, demands, directives, claims,
liens, judgments, investigations, proceedings or written notices of
noncompliance or violation by or from any person alleging liability of whatever
kind or nature (including liability or responsibility for the costs of
25
enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal
or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries,
medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive
relief) arising out of, based on or resulting from (x) the presence or Release
of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials at any location; or (y) the failure
to comply with any Environmental Law;
(2) "Environmental Laws" means all applicable federal,
state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, judgments,
legally binding agreements or Environmental Permits issued, promulgated or
entered into by or with any Governmental Entity, relating to pollution, natural
resources or protection of endangered or threatened species, human health or the
environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or
subsurface strata);
(3) "Hazardous Materials" means (x) any petroleum or
petroleum products, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, urea
formaldehyde foam insulation and polychlorinated biphenyls; and (y) any other
chemical, material, substance or waste that in relevant form or concentration is
prohibited, limited or regulated under any Environmental Law; and
(4) "Release" means any actual or threatened release, spill,
emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge,
dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment (including
ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or
within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
SECTION 3.16 Intellectual Property. The Company and the
Company Subsidiaries own, or are validly licensed or otherwise have the right to
use, all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names,
trade name rights, service marks, service xxxx rights, copyrights, domain names
and other proprietary intellectual property rights and computer programs
(collectively, "Intellectual Property Rights") which are material to the conduct
of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole. No
claims are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is infringing or otherwise adversely affecting
the rights of any person with regard to any Intellectual Property Right, except
for any such claims that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the
Company, no person is infringing the rights of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary with respect to any Intellectual Property Right, except for any such
infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.17 Brokers; Schedule of Fees and Expenses. No
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than Lazard
Freres & Co. LLC ("Lazard"), the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the
Company, is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other
similar fee or commission in connection with the Merger and the other
Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. The
Company has furnished to Parent a true and complete copy of all agreements
between the Company and Lazard relating to the Merger and the other
Transactions.
26
SECTION 3.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has
received the opinion of Lazard, dated as of the date of the meeting of the
Company Board referred to in Section 3.04(b), to the effect that, as of such
date, the consideration to be received in the Merger by the holders of the
Company Common Stock is fair from a financial point of view to such holders, a
signed copy of which opinion shall be delivered to Parent as soon as reasonably
practicable following the date of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB
Parent and Sub, jointly and severally, represent and warrant
to the Company that, except as set forth in the disclosure letter, dated as of
the date of this Agreement, from Parent and Sub to the Company (the "Parent
Disclosure Letter") or in any Parent SEC Document filed and publicly available
prior to the date of this Agreement (each, a "Filed Parent SEC Document"):
SECTION 4.01 Organization, Standing and Power. Each of Parent
and Sub (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, other than defects in such
organization, existence or good standing that, individually and in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, and (b) has full corporate power and authority and possesses all
governmental franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals
necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets
and to conduct its businesses as presently conducted, other than such corporate
power and authority, franchises, permits, authorizations and approvals the lack
of which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.02 Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock
of Parent consists of 250,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and 10,000,000
shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Parent Preferred Stock"
and, together with the Parent Common Stock, the "Parent Capital Stock"). At the
close of business on July 31, 2005, (i) 66,797,864 shares of Parent Common Stock
(each together with a Parent Right) and no shares of Parent Preferred Stock were
issued and outstanding, (ii) 23,729,728 shares of Parent Common Stock were held
by Parent in its treasury, (iii) 5,878,756 shares of Parent Common Stock were
reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding options and other stock-based
awards (other than shares of restricted stock or other equity based awards
included in the number of shares of Parent Common Stock outstanding set forth
above) and (iv) shares of Parent Preferred Stock reserved for issuance in
connection with the rights (the "Parent Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights
Agreement dated as of April 21, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the "Parent
Rights Agreement"), between Parent and First Chicago Trust Company of New York,
as Rights Agent. Except as set forth above, at the close of business on July 31,
2005, no shares of capital stock or other voting securities of Parent were
issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. During the period from July 31,
2005 to the date of this Agreement, (x) there have been no issuances by Parent
of shares of capital stock or other voting securities of Parent other than
issuances of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options
and other stock-based awards outstanding on such date as required by their terms
as in effect on the date of such issuance and (y) there have been no issuances
by Parent of options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital
27
stock or other voting securities of Parent. All outstanding shares of Parent
Capital Stock are, and all such shares that may be issued prior to the Effective
Time will be when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option,
call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any
similar right under any provision of the DGCL, the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of Parent (the "Parent Charter") and the Amended and Restated
By-laws of Parent (the "Parent By-laws") or any Contract to which Parent is a
party or otherwise bound. There are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other
indebtedness of Parent having the right to vote (or convertible into, or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
holders of Parent Capital Stock may vote ("Voting Parent Debt"). Except as set
forth above, as of the date of this Agreement, there are not any options,
warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock
rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, commitments,
Contracts, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which Parent or any of
Parent's subsidiaries (each, a "Parent Subsidiary") is a party or by which any
of them is bound (i) obligating Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to issue,
deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of
capital stock or other equity interests in, or any security convertible or
exercisable for or exchangeable into any capital stock of or other equity
interest in, Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any Voting Parent Debt, (ii)
obligating Parent or any Parent Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into
any such option, warrant, call, right, security, unit, commitment, Contract,
arrangement or undertaking or (iii) that give any person the right to receive
any economic benefit or right similar to or derived from the economic benefits
and rights occurring to holders of Parent Capital Stock. As of the date of this
Agreement, there are not any outstanding contractual obligations of Parent or
any Parent Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of
capital stock of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary. Parent has made available to
the Company a complete and correct copy of the Parent Rights Agreement, as
amended to the date of this Agreement.
SECTION 4.03 Sub. (a) Since the date of its incorporation, Sub
has not carried on any business, conducted any operations or incurred any
obligations or liabilities other than (i) the execution of this Agreement and
the other agreements referred to herein, (ii) the performance of its obligations
hereunder and thereunder, and (iii) matters ancillary hereto and thereto.
(b) The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 1,000
shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, all of which have been
validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent free
and clear of any Lien.
(c) As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth on
Section 4.03(c) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, neither Parent nor Sub owns any
shares of Company Common Stock. None of Parent or any of its affiliates is (i)
an "interested stockholder" (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) of the
Company or (ii) an "Interested Shareholder" or an "Affiliate" of an Interested
Shareholder (as each such term is defined in Article Eleventh of the Company
Charter).
SECTION 4.04 Authority; Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability. Each of Parent and Sub has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and
the other Transactions to be performed or consummated by Parent or Sub, as the
case may be. The execution and delivery by each of Parent and Sub of this
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Agreement and the consummation by it of the Merger and the other Transactions to
be performed or consummated by Parent or Sub, as the case may be, have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub.
Parent, as sole stockholder of Sub, shall adopt this Agreement as soon as
reasonably practicable following its execution. Each of Parent and Sub has duly
executed and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes its legal,
valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights, and to general equity principles. To the Parent's knowledge,
no state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation applies or purports
to apply to Parent with respect to this Agreement, the Merger or any other
Transaction.
SECTION 4.05 No Conflicts; Consents. (a) The execution and
delivery by each of Parent and Sub of this Agreement, do not, and the
consummation of the Merger and the other Transactions and compliance with the
terms hereof will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of or default
(with or without the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both) under, or
give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or to increased, additional,
accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements of any person under, or result
in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or
any Parent Subsidiary under, any provision of (i) the Parent Charter or Parent
By-laws or organizational documents of any Parent Subsidiaries, (ii) any
Contract to which Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of their respective properties or assets is bound or (iii) subject to
the filings and other matters referred to in Section 4.05(b), any Judgment or
Law applicable to Parent or any Parent Subsidiaries or their respective
properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above,
any such items that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) No Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing
with, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by or with
respect to Parent or any Parent Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
Transactions, other than (i) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (ii)
any additional consents and filings under any Antitrust Law or under the
Investment Canada Act (Canada), (iii) the filing with the SEC of (A) a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Form S-4") relating to the issuance of
the Parent Common Stock in the Merger and (B) such reports under, or other
applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act, as may be required in connection
with this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions, (iv) the filing of
the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
(v) compliance with and such filings as may be required under applicable
Environmental Laws, (vi) such filings as may be required in connection with the
Taxes described in Section 6.09, (vii) filings under any applicable state
takeover Law and (viii) such other items that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Parent and the Board of Directors of Parent (the "Parent
Board") have taken all action necessary to (i) render the Parent Rights
Agreement inapplicable to this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions
and (ii) ensure that (A) neither Company nor any of its affiliates or associates
is or will become an "Acquiring Person" (as defined in the Parent Rights
Agreement) by reason of this Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction, and
29
(B) a "Distribution Date" or a "Share Acquisition Date" (as each such term is
defined in the Parent Rights Agreement) shall not occur by reason of this
Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction.
SECTION 4.06 SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. (a)
Parent has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
required to be filed by Parent with the SEC since January 1, 2003 pursuant to
Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (the "Parent SEC Documents").
(b) As of its respective date, each Parent SEC Document
complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as the case may be, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such Parent SEC
Document, and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Except to the extent that information contained in any
Filed Parent SEC Document has been revised or superseded by a later filed Filed
Parent SEC Document, none of the Parent SEC Documents contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The consolidated
financial statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents (including
the related notes and schedules thereto) comply as to form in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form
10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of Parent and its
consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results
of their operations and cash flows for the periods shown (subject, in the case
of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
(c) Other than liabilities or obligations (i) disclosed or
provided for in the financial statements included in the Filed Parent SEC
Documents or (ii) incurred since June 30, 2005 in the ordinary course of
business, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise)
required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of Parent and
its consolidated subsidiaries or in the notes thereto and that, individually or
in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) Each of the principal executive officer and the principal
financial officer of Parent (or each former principal executive officer and
former principal financial officer of Parent, as applicable) has made all
certifications required under Sections 302 and 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act
with respect to the Parent SEC Documents, and Parent has delivered to the
Company a summary of any disclosure made by Parent's management to Parent's
auditors and audit committee referred to in such certifications. For purposes of
the preceding sentence, "principal executive officer" and "principal financial
officer" shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act.
30
(e) Parent has (i) designed and maintained disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange
Act) to ensure that material information relating to Parent, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, that is required to be disclosed by Parent in the
reports it files under the Exchange Act is made known to its principal executive
officer and principal financial officer or other appropriate members of
management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure; (ii) designed and maintained a system of internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange
Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with GAAP, including reasonable assurance (A) that
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations and recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability and (B)
regarding prevention or timely detection of any unauthorized acquisition, use or
disposition of assets that could have a material effect on Parent's financial
statements; (iii) with the participation of Parent's principal executive and
financial officers, completed an assessment of the effectiveness of Parent's
internal controls over financial reporting in compliance with the requirements
of Section 404 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act for the year ended December 31, 2004,
and such assessment concluded that such internal controls were effective using
the framework specified in Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for such year
ended; and (iv) to the extent required by applicable Law, disclosed in such
report or in any amendment thereto any change in Parent's internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by such report or
amendment that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, Parent's internal control over financial reporting.
(f) Parent has disclosed, based on the most recent evaluation
of internal control over financial reporting, to Parent's auditors and the audit
committee of the Parent Board (i) any significant deficiencies or material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect Parent's ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information and (ii) any fraud,
whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
significant role in Parent's internal control over financial reporting. Parent
has identified, based on the most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, for Parent's auditors any material weaknesses in internal
controls. Parent has provided to the Company true and correct copies of any of
the foregoing disclosures to the auditors or audit committee that have been made
in writing from January 1, 2003 through the date hereof, and will promptly
provide the Company true and correct copies of any such disclosure that is made
after the date hereof.
(g) None of the Parent Subsidiaries is, or has at any time
since January 1, 2003 been, subject to the reporting requirements of Sections
13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(h) As of the date of this Agreement, to the knowledge of
Parent, there is no applicable accounting rule, consensus or pronouncement that
has been adopted by the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the
Emerging Issues Task Force or any similar body but that is not in effect as of
the date of this Agreement that, if implemented, would reasonably be expected to
have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
31
(i) There are no pending (A) formal or, to the knowledge of
Parent, informal investigations of Parent by the SEC, (B) to the knowledge of
Parent, inspections of an audit of Parent's financial statements by the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board or (C) investigations by the audit committee
of the Parent Board regarding any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that
Parent or any Parent Subsidiary has engaged in improper or illegal accounting or
auditing practices or maintains improper or inadequate internal accounting
controls. Parent will promptly provide to the Company information as to any such
matters that arise after the date hereof.
(j) Since July 30, 2002, Parent has been in compliance in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act in
effect from time to time.
(k) Since the date of Parent's 2004 annual meeting of
stockholders, Parent has been in compliance with the applicable corporate
governance listing standards of the NYSE in all material respects.
SECTION 4.07 Information Supplied.
(a) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by
Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Form S-4, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, will, at the time it becomes effective under
the Securities Act or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Form S-4 will comply as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, except that no representation is made by Parent with
respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on
information supplied by the Company in writing for inclusion or incorporation by
reference therein.
(b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by
Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto will, at the date it is first mailed to the
Company's Stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be included in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) As of the opening of business on August 8, 2005, to the
knowledge of Parent, Parent has delivered to the Company true and correct copies
of all letters in its possession from Parent's trade customers, retail buying
groups and retail dealer associations regarding Parent's proposed acquisition of
the Company. As of the opening of business on August 8, 2005 and except as
previously disclosed to the Company, Parent has no knowledge of any opposition
of Parent's proposed acquisition of the Company by any trade customers, retail
buying groups or retail dealer associations contacted by Parent in connection
with the Merger.
SECTION 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. From the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed
Parent SEC Documents to the date of this Agreement, Parent has conducted its
32
business only in the ordinary course, and during such period there has not been:
(i) any event, change, effect, development, condition or
occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect
to any Parent Common Stock or any repurchase for value by Parent of any Parent
Common Stock, other than quarterly cash dividends with respect to the Parent
Common Stock with usual declaration, record and payment dates;
(iii) any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, except for any change which is not
material or which is required by a change in GAAP or applicable Law;
(iv) any material elections with respect to Taxes by Parent
or any Parent Subsidiary or settlement or compromise by Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary of any material Tax liability or refund
(v) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered
by insurance, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect; or
(vi) any revaluation by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary of
any of the assets of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, except insofar as may have
been required by applicable Law or that would not reasonably be expected to have
a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.09 Litigation. There are no suits, actions or
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against or
affecting Parent or any Parent Subsidiary (and Parent is not aware of any basis
for any such suit, action or proceeding) that, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, nor are
there any Judgments outstanding against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that,
individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.10 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Parent and the
Parent Subsidiaries and their relevant personnel and operations are in
compliance with all applicable Laws, except for such failure to be in compliance
as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.11 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, Parent and each of the Parent Subsidiaries are, and have been, in
compliance with all Environmental Laws, and neither Parent nor any of the Parent
Subsidiaries has received any written communication from a Governmental Entity
33
that alleges that Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries is in violation of,
or has liability under, any Environmental Law.
(b) (i) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, Parent and each of the Parent Subsidiaries have obtained and are in
compliance with all Environmental Permits necessary for their operations as
presently conducted, (ii) all such Environmental Permits are valid and in good
standing and (iii) since January 1, 2003, neither Parent nor any of the Parent
Subsidiaries has been advised in writing by any Governmental Entity of any
actual or potential change in the status or terms and conditions of any
Environmental Permit.
(c) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, there are no Environmental Claims pending or, to the knowledge of
Parent, threatened, against Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries.
(d) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, neither the Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries has entered into
or agreed to, or is otherwise subject to, any Judgment relating to any
Environmental Law or to the investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.
(e) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, there has been no treatment, storage or Release of any Hazardous
Material that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any
Environmental Claim against Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries or against
any person whose liabilities for such Environmental Claims Parent or any of the
Parent Subsidiaries has, or may have, retained or assumed, either contractually
or by operation of law.
(f) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, there are no underground storage tanks at, on, under or about (i) any
manufacturing facility owned, operated or leased by Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary, (ii) any other property owned by the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary
or (iii) to the knowledge of Parent, any other property leased or operated by
Parent or any Parent Subsidiary.
(g) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, to the knowledge of Parent, any asbestos-containing material that is at,
under or about property owned, operated or leased by Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary is non-friable or encapsulated and in good condition according to the
generally accepted standards and practices governing such material, and its
presence or condition does not violate or otherwise require abatement or removal
pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.
(h) Except for such matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, (i) neither the Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries has retained
or assumed, either contractually or by operation of law, any liabilities or
obligations that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any
34
Environmental Claim against Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries, and (ii)
to the knowledge of Parent, no Environmental Claims are pending against any
person whose liabilities for such Environmental Claims Parent or any of the
Parent Subsidiaries has, or may have, retained or assumed, either contractually
or by operation of law.
SECTION 4.12 Intellectual Property. Parent and the Parent
Subsidiaries own, or are validly licensed or otherwise have the right to use,
all Intellectual Property Rights which are material to the conduct of the
business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries taken as a whole. No claims are
pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened that Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary is infringing or otherwise adversely affecting the rights of any
person with regard to any Intellectual Property Right, except for any such
claims that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of Parent, no person
is infringing the rights of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary with respect to any
Intellectual Property Right, except for any such infringements that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.13 Financing. Parent has a sufficient amount of cash
on hand or available borrowing capacity under existing loan agreements and a
sufficient number of authorized shares of Parent Common Stock in order to pay
the Merger Consideration in accordance with Article II.
SECTION 4.14 Brokers; Schedule of Fees and Expenses. No
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than
Xxxxxxxxx & Co. the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Parent, is
entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or
commission in connection with the Merger and the other Transactions based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
SECTION 5.01 Conduct of Business. (a) Conduct of Business by
the Company. Except for matters set forth in Section 5.01(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter or otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, from the
date of this Agreement to the Effective Time the Company shall, and shall cause
each Company Subsidiary to, conduct its business in the ordinary course in
substantially the same manner as previously conducted and, to the extent
consistent therewith, use commercially reasonable best efforts to preserve
intact its current business organization, keep available the services of its
current officers and employees and keep its relationships with customers,
suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors and others having business
dealings with them. In addition, and without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, except for matters set forth in Section 5.01(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter or otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, from the
date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, and shall
not permit any Company Subsidiary to, do any of the following without the prior
written consent of Parent:
(i) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make
any other distributions in respect of (in each case, whether in cash, stock or
property), any of its capital stock, other than (1) dividends and distributions
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by a direct or indirect wholly owned Company Subsidiary to its parent and (2)
quarterly cash dividends with respect to the Company Common Stock not in excess
of $0.09 per share, with usual declaration, record and payment dates, (B) split,
combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of its capital stock, other than (1) any such issuance by a direct or
indirect wholly owned Company Subsidiary to its parent and (2) as permitted
under Section 5.01(a)(v), or (C) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any (1)
shares of capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (2) any other
securities thereof or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares
or other securities, except as permitted by Section 5.02(a)(viii), or (3) any
options, warrants, rights, securities, units, commitments, contracts,
arrangements or undertakings of any kind that give any person the right to
receive any economic benefit and rights accruing to holders of capital stock of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
(ii) except to the extent permitted under Section
5.01(a)(v), issue, deliver, sell or grant (A) any shares of its capital stock,
(B) any Voting Company Debt or other voting securities, (C) any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options, warrants or rights to
acquire, any such shares, Voting Company Debt, voting securities or convertible
or exchangeable securities, (D) any "phantom" stock, "phantom" stock rights,
stock appreciation rights or stock-based performance units or (E) any options,
warrants, rights, securities, units, commitments, Contracts, arrangements or
undertakings of any kind that give any person the right to receive any economic
benefits and rights accruing to holders of capital stock of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary, other than the issuance of shares of its capital stock by a
wholly owned Company Subsidiary to the Company or another wholly owned Company
Subsidiary and other than the issuance of Company Common Stock (and associated
Company Rights) (1) upon the exercise of Company Stock Options or rights under
the ESPP outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and only if and to the
extent required by their terms as in effect on the date of this Agreement and
(2) with respect to rights outstanding as of the date of this Agreement under
restricted stock units, performance stock rights and deferred compensation plans
as set forth in Section 3.03 of the Company Disclosure Letter and only if and to
the extent required by their terms in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(iii) amend its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or
other comparable charter or organizational documents;
(iv) acquire or agree to acquire (A) by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or portion
of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association or other business organization or
division thereof, except for acquisitions permitted by Section 5.01(a)(iv)(B) or
5.01(a)(ix), or (B) any assets that are material, individually or in the
aggregate, to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except
(x) purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice and (y) acquisitions of assets pursuant to capital expenditures in an
amount not in excess of $200,000,000 in the aggregate (including expenditures
pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(ix)) and taken together with all such expenditures
made since January 1, 2005;
36
(v) except as required under applicable Law or the terms of
any plan or agreement in effect on the date of this Agreement, (A) grant to any
Participant any loan or increase in compensation, except for any such increase
in compensation (other than a base salary increase to a Primary Company
Executive) made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (B) grant to any Participant any increase in severance, change in
control or termination pay or benefits, or pay any bonus to any Participant,
except for bonuses paid to Participants in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (C) enter into any employment, change in control,
loan, retention, consulting, indemnification, severance, termination or similar
agreement with any Participant, except (x) in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice in connection with new hires to replace departed
key employees, (y) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice in connection with promotions made in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice (except, in the case of clauses (x) and (y), any
change in control agreements) and (z) for severance arrangements entered into
with Participants (other than Excluded Participants) in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice after consultation in good faith with
Parent), (D) take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of
compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit
Agreement, (E) establish, adopt, enter into, terminate or amend any collective
bargaining agreement or other labor union Contract, Company Benefit Plan or
Company Benefit Agreement, (F) pay or provide to any Participant any benefit not
provided for under a Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement as in
effect on the date hereof other than the payment of compensation and severance
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (G) grant any
incentive awards under any Company Benefit Plan (including the grant of Company
Stock Options, stock appreciation rights, performance units, performance shares,
restricted stock, stock purchase rights or other stock-based or stock-related
awards or the removal or modification of existing restrictions in any Contract,
Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement on incentive awards made
thereunder), other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or (H) take any action to accelerate any material rights or benefits,
including vesting and payment, under any collective bargaining agreement,
Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt,
under no circumstances shall any voluntary contributions to the US Pension Plan
not prohibited by Section 5.01(a)(xiii) be deemed prohibited under this Section
5.01(a)(v) or under any other sub-clause of this Section 5.01(a)); provided that
under no circumstances shall this Section 5.01 be deemed to prohibit any of the
following actions by the Company and its affiliates between the date hereof and
the Closing Date (and the parties acknowledge that such actions shall be
permitted during such period): (x) administration of the Company's annual bonus
program in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
(including determination and payment of 2005 bonuses and establishment and
implementation of a plan for the 2006 calendar year), and (y) grants of Company
Stock Options and restricted stock units and performance units in amounts and on
terms consistent with past practice (it being agreed that aggregate grants of
each type of award in an amount that does not exceed the amount of such type
that was granted in 2004 shall be conclusively deemed consistent with past
practice), and implementation of a long-term incentive program for the 2006-2008
37
cycle with target amounts and terms consistent with those of the Cash LTIPs,
each under the Company Stock Plans; and, provided, further, that between the
date hereof and the Closing Date, the Company and its affiliates may negotiate
in good faith a settlement with applicable labor unions with respect to
grievances concerning the freezing of the ESPP, and provide compensation to the
extent determined in good faith to be necessary to facilitate such a settlement;
(vi) make any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices materially affecting the reported consolidated assets, liabilities or
results of operations of the Company, except insofar as may have been required
by a change in GAAP;
(vii) sell, lease (as lessor), license or otherwise dispose
of or subject to any Lien any material properties or assets, except (x) pursuant
to contracts or agreements in effect as of the date of this Agreement, (y) sales
of assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or
(z) sales of assets or properties in the commercial appliance segment; provided,
in the case of clause (z), that such sale, lease, license or other disposition
or subjection of Lien (1) is not consummated prior to the first anniversary of
the date hereof, (2) any agreement for such sale is terminable if the Effective
Time occurs prior to the first anniversary of the date hereof and (3) includes
only the Xxxxx-Narco and/or Jade brands (solely with respect to such segment);
(viii) (A) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
guarantee any such indebtedness of another person (other than any such
indebtedness or guarantees among the Company and the direct or indirect wholly
owned Company Subsidiaries or among the direct and indirect wholly owned Company
Subsidiaries), issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, guarantee
any debt securities of another person, enter into any "keep well" or other
agreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another person or
enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing,
provided that the Company may enter into a credit facility so long as the
Company does not incur any indebtedness thereunder, except as permitted hereby,
except, in the case of this clause (A) for (x) short-term borrowings (1)
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (2)
for working capital purposes, (y) indebtedness incurred to refinance
indebtedness existing on the date of this Agreement or (z) indebtedness incurred
in connection with capital expenditures permitted by Section 5.01(a)(ix); or (B)
make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any
other person, other than to or in the Company or any direct or indirect wholly
owned Company Subsidiary;
(ix) make or agree to make any capital expenditures other
than those capital expenditures in an amount not in excess of $200,000,000 in
the aggregate (including expenditures pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(iv)) and taken
together with all such expenditures made since January 1, 2005;
(x) make or change any material Tax election or settle or
compromise any material Tax liability or refund, other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or as required by applicable
Law;
38
(xi) (A) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities
or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or in accordance with their
terms, of liabilities reflected or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the
most recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the
Company included in the Filed Company SEC Documents or incurred in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, (B) cancel any material
indebtedness (individually or in the aggregate) or waive any claims or rights of
substantial value or (C) waive the benefits of, or agree to modify in any
manner, any confidentiality or similar agreement (excluding any standstill
provision in any such agreement) to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary
is a party;
(xii) permit any insurance policy or arrangement naming or
providing for it as a beneficiary or a loss payable payee to be canceled or
terminated (unless such policy or arrangement is canceled or terminated in the
ordinary course of business and concurrently replaced with a policy or
arrangement with substantially similar coverage) or materially impaired;
(xiii) make any contributions to the US Pension Plan, except
for (x) contributions of up to $70,000,000 from and after the date hereof
through December 31, 2005, (y) contributions of up to $100,000,000 during the
2006 calendar year and (z) with the consent of Parent (not to be unreasonably
withheld), additional contributions of up to $100,000,000 during the 2006
calendar year;
(xiv) enter into any material agreement that is not
terminable by the Company or a Company Subsidiary, without penalty, within one
year from the date of entering into any such agreement;
(xv) renew, extend or amend any material agreement if doing
so would cause such agreement to not be terminable by the Company or a Company
Subsidiary, without penalty, within one year from the date of entering into any
such renewal, extension or amendment; or
(xvi) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of,
the foregoing actions.
For the purposes of this Section 5.01(a), "Excluded Participants" shall mean
those Participants (1) listed in Items 1 and 2 of Section 3.10(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter or (2) that are otherwise employed with the Company at the
level of director or at any more-senior level of employment.
(b) Other Actions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit
any of the Company Subsidiaries to, take any action that would reasonably be
expected to result in any condition to the Merger set forth in Article VII not
being satisfied, except any action permitted by Section 5.02 or Section 8.01.
39
(c) Advice of Changes. The Company shall promptly advise
Parent orally and in writing of any event, change, effect, development,
condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Conduct of Business by Parent. Except for matters set
forth in Section 5.01(d) of the Parent Disclosure Letter or otherwise expressly
permitted by this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement to the Effective
Time Parent shall, and shall cause each Parent Subsidiary to, conduct its
business in the ordinary course in substantially the same manner as previously
conducted and, to the extent consistent therewith, use commercially reasonable
best efforts to preserve intact its current business organization, keep
available the services of its current officers and employees and keep its
relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors and
others having business dealings with them. In addition, and without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, except as otherwise expressly permitted by this
Agreement, from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Parent shall
not, and shall not permit any Parent Subsidiary to, do any of the following
without the prior written consent of the Company:
(i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any
other distributions in respect of (in each case, whether in cash, stock or
property), any of its capital stock, other than (1) dividends and distributions
by a direct or indirect wholly owned Parent Subsidiary to its parent, (2)
regular quarterly cash dividends with respect to the Parent Common Stock, with
usual declaration, record and payment dates or (3) any distribution of stock or
property for which adjustment is made pursuant to Section 2.01(e);
(ii) adopt or propose any change in its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or other comparable organizational documents in a
manner that would adversely affect the economic benefits of the Merger or the
other Transactions to the Company's stockholders;
(iii) engage in any merger, consolidation, share exchange,
business combination, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar
transaction unless Parent is the surviving or resulting corporation, the
shareholders of Parent prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, a
majority of the voting common equity interests in the surviving or resulting
corporation and such voting common equity interests are publicly traded;
(iv) take any action that would be reasonably likely to
prevent, hinder or delay the consummation of the Merger or the other
Transactions; or
(v) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the
foregoing actions.
SECTION 5.02 No Solicitation. (a) Subject to Section 5.02(b),
from the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, the Company shall not, nor shall it
authorize or permit any Company Subsidiary to, and the Company shall direct and
use its reasonable best efforts to cause any officer, director or employee of,
40
or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative
(collectively, "Representatives") of the Company or any Company Subsidiary not
to, (i) directly or indirectly solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of
any Company Takeover Proposal, (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to any
Company Takeover Proposal, except as contemplated by Section 5.02(b), or (iii)
directly or indirectly participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding,
or furnish to any person any non-public information with respect to, or
knowingly 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 Company
Takeover Proposal. Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that any
violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any
Representative of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, whether or not such
person is purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary
or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.02(a) by the
Company. On the date hereof, the Company shall immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any existing solicitation, encouragement, discussion, negotiation or
other action conducted by the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any of their
respective Representatives with respect to a Company Takeover Proposal.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
5.02(a), from the date hereof and prior to the receipt of the Company
Stockholder Approval, the Company may, in response to an unsolicited Company
Takeover Proposal which did not result from a breach of Section 5.02(a) and
which the Company Board determines, in good faith, after consultation with
outside counsel and financial advisors, may reasonably be expected to lead to a
transaction (i) more favorable from a financial point of view to the holders of
Company Common Stock than the Merger, taking into account all the terms and
conditions of such proposal, and this Agreement (including any amendment to the
terms of this Agreement and the Merger in effect as of the date of such
determination) and (ii) that is reasonably capable of being completed, taking
into account all financial, regulatory, legal and other aspects of such
proposal, and subject to compliance with Section 5.02(d), (x) furnish
information with respect to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to the
person making such Company Takeover Proposal and its Representatives pursuant to
a customary confidentiality agreement not less restrictive of the other party
than the Confidentiality Agreement (excluding the provisions of the tenth and
eleventh paragraphs thereof) and (y) participate in discussions or negotiations
with such person and its Representatives regarding any Company Takeover
Proposal; provided, however, that the Company shall promptly provide to Parent
any non-public information concerning the Company or any Company Subsidiary that
is provided to the person making such Company Takeover Proposal or its
Representatives which was not previously provided to Parent, other than any
Competitively Sensitive Information.
(c) Subject to Section 8.01(e), neither the Company Board nor
any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent
or Sub, or publicly propose to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent
or Sub, the approval or recommendation by the Company Board or any such
committee of this Agreement or the Merger, (ii) approve any letter of intent,
agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or similar agreement relating to
any Company Takeover Proposal or (iii) approve or recommend, or publicly propose
to approve or recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if, prior to receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company
Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that
failure to so withdraw or modify its recommendation of the Merger and this
Agreement would be inconsistent with the Company Board's exercise of its
41
fiduciary duties, the Company Board or any committee thereof may withdraw or
modify its recommendation of the Merger and this Agreement.
(d) The Company promptly shall advise Parent orally and in
writing of any Company Takeover Proposal or any inquiry with respect to or that
would reasonably be expected to lead to any Company Takeover Proposal, the
identity of the person making any such Company Takeover Proposal or inquiry and
the material terms of any such Company Takeover Proposal or inquiry. The Company
shall keep Parent reasonably informed of the status (including any change to the
terms thereof) of any such Company Takeover Proposal or inquiry.
(e) Nothing contained in this Section 5.02 shall prohibit the
Company from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated
by Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any required
disclosure to the Company's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the
Company Board, after consultation with outside counsel, failure so to disclose
would be inconsistent with its obligations under applicable Law.
(f) For purposes of this Agreement:
"Company Takeover Proposal" means (i) any proposal or offer
for a merger, consolidation, dissolution, recapitalization or other business
combination involving the Company, (ii) any proposal for the issuance by the
Company of over 20% of its equity securities as consideration for the assets or
securities of another person or (iii) any proposal or offer to acquire in any
manner, directly or indirectly, over 20% of the equity securities or
consolidated total assets of the Company, in each case other than the Merger.
"Superior Company Proposal" means any proposal made by a third
party to acquire all or substantially all the equity securities or assets of the
Company, pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, a merger, a consolidation, a
liquidation or dissolution, a recapitalization, a sale of all or substantially
all its assets or otherwise, (i) on terms which the Company Board determines in
good faith, after consultation with the Company's outside legal counsel and
financial advisors, to be more favorable from a financial point of view to the
holders of Company Common Stock than the Merger, taking into account all the
terms and conditions of such proposal, and this Agreement (including any
proposal by Parent to amend the terms of this Agreement and the Merger) and (ii)
that is reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all
financial, regulatory, legal and other aspects of such proposal; provided that
the Company Board shall not so determine that any such proposal is a Superior
Company Proposal prior to the time that is 48 hours after the time at which the
Company has complied in all material respects with Section 5.02(d) with respect
to such proposal.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.01 Preparation of Proxy Statement and Form S-4;
Stockholders Meeting. (a) As promptly as practicable following the date of this
Agreement, Parent and the Company shall prepare, and Parent shall file with the
SEC, the Form S-4, in which the Proxy Statement will be included as a
prospectus, and each of the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable best
42
efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments of the SEC with
respect thereto. Each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable best
efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act, and
for the Proxy Statement to be cleared by the SEC and its staff under the
Exchange Act, as promptly as practicable after such filing. Without limiting any
other provision herein, the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement will contain such
information and disclosure reasonably requested by either Parent or the Company
so that the Form S-4 conforms in form and substance to the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Proxy Statement conforms in form and substance to the
requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to holders of Company Common
Stock as promptly as practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under
the Securities Act.
(b) Each of the Company and Parent shall promptly notify the
other of the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff and of any
request by the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Form S-4 or
Proxy Statement or for additional information and shall supply the other with
copies of all correspondence between the Company or any of its representatives
or Parent or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its
staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement.
The Company and Parent shall cooperate with each other and provide to each other
all information necessary in order to prepare the Form S-4 and the Proxy
Statement as expeditiously as practicable.
(c) If at any time prior to the Effective Time there shall
occur (i) any event with respect to the Company or any of Company Subsidiaries,
or with respect to other information supplied by Company for inclusion in the
Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement, or (ii) any event with respect to Parent, or
with respect to information supplied by Parent for inclusion in the Form S-4 or
the Proxy Statement, in either case, which event is required to be described in
an amendment of or a supplement to the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement, 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.
(d) The Company shall, as soon as practicable following the
date the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act, duly call,
give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the "Company
Stockholders Meeting") for the purpose of seeking the Company Stockholder
Approval. The Company shall, through the Company Board, recommend to its
stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder Approval, except to the
extent that the Company Board shall have withdrawn or modified its
recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger as permitted by Section 5.02(c).
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees that its
obligations pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 6.01(d) shall not be
affected by (i) the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or
communication to the Company of any Company Takeover Proposal or (ii) the
withdrawal or modification by the Company Board of its recommendation of this
Agreement or the Merger.
SECTION 6.02 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) Subject to compliance with applicable Law, the Company and
Parent shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to, afford
to the other party and its officers, employees, accountants, counsel, financial
43
advisors and other representatives, reasonable access during normal business
hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to all their respective
properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records and, during
such period, shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to,
furnish promptly to the other party (i) a copy of each report, schedule,
registration statement and other document filed by it during such period
pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws and (ii) all
other information concerning its business, properties and personnel as the other
party may reasonably request and receive consistent with the provisions of
applicable Law. All information exchanged pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall be
subject to the confidentiality agreement dated July 26, 2005 between the Company
and Parent (the "Confidentiality Agreement"). Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Section 6.02, the Company and Parent shall not be
obligated, and shall not be obligated to cause any of their respective
subsidiaries, to afford the other party or its officers, employees, accountants,
counsel, financial advisors or other representatives, any access to any
properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel or records relating to, or
in respect of, any forward product plans, product specific cost information,
pricing information, customer specific information, merchandising information,
or other similar competitively sensitive information ("Competitively Sensitive
Information").
(b) To the extent not already done, the Company shall promptly
upon execution of this Agreement request each person that has heretofore
executed a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement in connection with its
consideration of acquiring the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to
return (or certify in writing the destruction of) all materials containing
confidential information and copies thereof furnished to such person by or on
behalf of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.
SECTION 6.03 Reasonable Best Efforts; Notification. (a) Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (including,
without limitation, those contained in Sections 6.03(b) and (c)), each of the
parties shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the
other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate
and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Merger and
the other Transactions, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or
nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Entities and the
making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with
Governmental Entities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be
necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or
proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary
Consents or waivers from third parties, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or
other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this
Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, including seeking to have
vacated or reversed any decree, order or judgment entered by any court or other
Governmental Entity that would restrain, prevent or delay the Closing and (iv)
the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate
the Transactions and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement. In
connection with and without limiting the foregoing, the Company and the Company
Board shall (i) use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that no state
takeover statute or similar statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to
any Transaction or this Agreement and (ii) if any state takeover statute or
similar statute or regulation becomes applicable to this Agreement, use their
reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Merger and the other Transactions may
be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this
44
Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute or regulation on
the Merger and the other Transactions. Parent will take all action necessary to
cause Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the
Merger on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Subject to
applicable Law relating to the exchange of information, the Company and Parent
and their respective counsel shall (i) have the right to review in advance, and
to the extent practicable each shall consult the other on, any filing made with,
or written materials to be submitted to, any Governmental Entity in connection
with the Merger and the other Transactions, (ii) promptly inform each other of
any communication (or other correspondence or memoranda) received from, or given
to, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, or any
other Governmental Antitrust Entity and (iii) furnish each other with copies of
all correspondence, filings and written communications between them or their
subsidiaries or affiliates, on the one hand, and any Governmental Entity or its
respective staff, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and the
Merger. The Company and Parent shall, to the extent practicable, provide the
other party and its counsel with advance notice of and the opportunity to
participate in any discussion, telephone call or meeting with any Governmental
Entity in respect of any filing, investigation or other inquiry in connection
with the Merger or the other Transactions and to participate in the preparation
for such discussion, telephone call or meeting. The Company and Parent may, as
each deems advisable and necessary, reasonably designate any competitively
sensitive material provided to the other under this Section 6.03 as "Antitrust
Counsel Only Material" (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.03, materials
provided to the other party or its counsel may be redacted to remove references
concerning the valuation of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(b) (i) Without limiting the generality of the undertakings
pursuant to this Section 6.03, the parties hereto shall provide or cause to be
provided as promptly as practicable to Governmental Entities with regulatory
jurisdiction over enforcement of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign
antitrust, competition, premerger notification or trade regulation law,
regulation or order ("Antitrust Laws" and each such Governmental Entity, a
"Governmental Antitrust Entity") information and documents requested by any
Governmental Antitrust Entity or necessary, proper or advisable to permit
consummation of the Transactions, including preparing and filing any
notification and report form and related material required under the HSR Act and
any additional Consents and filings under any Antitrust Laws as promptly as
practicable following the date of this Agreement (but in no event more than five
business days from the date hereof) and thereafter to respond as promptly as
practicable to any request for additional information or documentary material
that may be made under the HSR Act and any additional Consents and filings under
any Antitrust Laws; (ii) the parties shall use their best efforts to take such
actions as are necessary or advisable to obtain prompt approval of consummation
of the Transactions by any Governmental Antitrust Entity; and (iii) the parties
shall use their best efforts to resolve any objections and challenges, including
by contest through litigation on the merits, negotiation or other action, that
may be asserted by any Governmental Antitrust Entity with respect to the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement under the HSR Act and any Antitrust
Laws.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, in no event will Parent or Sub be obligated to propose or agree to
accept any undertaking or condition, to enter into any consent decree, to make
any divestiture, to accept any operational restriction, or take any other action
45
that, in the reasonable judgment of Parent, could be expected to limit the right
of Parent or the Surviving Corporation to own or operate all or any portion of
their respective businesses or assets. With regard to any Governmental Antitrust
Entity, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary (or any of their
respective affiliates) shall, without Parent's prior written consent in Parent's
sole discretion, discuss or commit to any divestiture transaction, or discuss or
commit to alter their businesses or commercial practices in any way, or
otherwise take or commit to take any action that limits the Parent's freedom of
action with respect to, or the Parent's ability to retain any of the businesses,
product lines or assets of, the Surviving Corporation or otherwise receive the
full benefits of this Agreement.
(d) The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent
or Sub shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (i) any representation or
warranty made by it contained in this Agreement that is qualified as to
materiality becoming untrue or inaccurate in any respect or any such
representation or warranty that is not so qualified becoming untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect or (ii) the failure by it to comply with or
satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, however, that
no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties
under this Agreement.
(e) As soon as reasonably practicable following the execution
of this Agreement, Parent, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Sub, shall
adopt this Agreement.
SECTION 6.04 ESPP. As soon as practicable following the date
of this Agreement, the Company Board (or, if appropriate, any committee of the
Company Board administering the ESPP) shall adopt such resolutions or take such
other actions as may be required to provide that with respect to the ESPP no
purchase period shall be commenced after the date of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.05 Benefit Plans. (a) Subject to all applicable
collective bargaining agreements, from the Effective Time through December 31,
2006, except as set forth below, Parent shall provide or cause the Surviving
Corporation to provide to employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries
who remain employed by the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries
compensation and employee benefits that, taken as a whole, are comparable in the
aggregate to those provided to such employees immediately prior to the Effective
Time (it being understood and agreed that modifications to Company Benefit Plans
that have been announced to participants or planned and otherwise disclosed to
Parent but not yet implemented as of the Effective Time shall be taken into
account for purposes of the foregoing). Without limiting the foregoing, Parent
agrees that, with respect to service through December 31, 2006, it shall, or
shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain the employer matching
contribution component of the Maytag Corporation Salary Savings Plan without
reduction. Parent and the Company agree and acknowledge that consummation of the
Transactions shall constitute a "change of control" for purposes of each
applicable Company Benefit Plan and Company Benefit Agreement. Nothing herein
shall be construed to prohibit Parent or the Surviving Corporation from amending
or terminating any Company Benefit Plan in accordance with the terms thereof and
with applicable Law, so long as they comply with the requirements of this
Section 6.05.
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(b) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall, and shall
cause the Surviving Corporation to, honor in accordance with their respective
terms (as in effect on the date of this Agreement), all the Company Benefit
Plans and Company Benefit Agreements disclosed in Sections 3.10(b) and 3.11(a)
of the Company Disclosure Letter (subject, in each case, to the right of Parent
or the Surviving Corporation to amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan or
Company Benefit Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof and with
applicable Law). For purposes of eligibility, vesting and benefit accrual (other
than benefit accrual under defined benefit pension plans) under the employee
benefit plans of Parent and its subsidiaries providing benefits after the
Effective Time to any employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary
immediately prior to the Effective Time (all such plans, collectively, the "New
Plans"), each such employee shall be credited with all years of service for
which such employee was credited before the Effective Time under any comparable
Company Benefit Plans, except where such crediting would lead to a duplication
of benefits or to the extent such service credit is not provided under a newly
adopted plan to similarly situated employees of Parent who were never employees
of the Company and its affiliates. In addition and without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, (i) Parent shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to cause each employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary as of
the Effective Time to be immediately eligible to participate, without any
waiting period, in any and all New Plans to the extent coverage under any such
New Plan replaces coverage under a comparable Company Benefit Plan in which such
employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time (all such plans,
collectively, the "Old Plans"), (ii) for purposes of each New Plan providing
medical, dental, pharmaceutical and/or vision benefits to any such employee,
Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all pre-existing
condition exclusions, limitations and actively-at-work requirements of such New
Plan to be waived for such employee and his or her covered dependent (to the
extent such exclusions, limitations and actively-at-work requirements were
waived or satisfied as of the Effective Time under the corresponding Old Plan)
and (iii) all deductibles, coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by such employee and his or her covered dependents under any Old Plan
during the portion of the plan year of such Old Plan ending on the date such
employee's participation in the corresponding New Plan begins shall be taken
into account under such New Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible,
co-insurance and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such employee
and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year as if such
amounts had been paid in accordance with such New Plan.
(c) Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring
Parent or the Surviving Corporation to continue the employment of any specific
person.
(d) The Company may provide up to the Retention Amount as a
retention pool (the "Retention Pool") for the purposes of retaining the services
of employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries ("Company Employees")
who are key employees. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall
determine in his sole discretion, subject to approval by (i) the Company Board
(or the Compensation Committee thereof) and (ii) Parent (whose approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld), the Company Employees eligible to receive
retention awards from the Retention Pool (who shall not include Primary Company
Executives) (each, a "Retention Bonus"), the amounts of the Retention Bonus,
individually and in the aggregate, and any criteria for payment of the Retention
Bonus. Any Retention Bonus shall be intended to retain the services of the
recipient through, and shall be payable (if such recipient still remains
47
employed by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries at such time) as soon as
practicable following (but in no event more than 30 days following) the first to
occur of (x) the 90th day following the Closing Date or (y) if this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof, the date of such termination (such
first to occur, the "Vesting Date"); provided that such Retention Bonus shall be
payable in the event that the applicable recipient's employment has been
terminated (i) prior to the Closing Date without cause by mutual agreement of
Parent and the Company, (ii) following the Closing Date but prior to the date of
payment of Retention Bonuses without cause (or by the applicable recipient in a
termination otherwise entitling such recipient to severance), or (iii) due to
death or long-term disability. In the event this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 8.01(a), (b), (e) or (f) hereof, Parent shall be solely
responsible for making payments of Retention Bonuses, and shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and its affiliates in connection with such bonuses.
For purposes of this Agreement, the Retention Amount shall equal the product of
(x) $15,000,000 times (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days from the date hereof through the Vesting Date and the denominator of which
is the number of days from the date hereof through December 31, 2006.
(e) In the event that the Closing Date occurs prior to payment
of annual bonuses for the 2005 calendar year, Parent shall cause the Surviving
Corporation to continue to maintain and honor the Company's 2005 annual bonus
plans set forth in Section 6.05(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter (the "2005
Bonus Plans") for the 2005 calendar year and to pay Company Employees the bonus
amounts due under such 2005 Bonus Plans pursuant to the objective formulae set
forth therein (including formulae approved thereunder by the Company or the
Company Board, or a committee thereof, prior to the date of this Agreement and
previously provided to Parent), based on the performance of the Company and its
operating units, without adjusting such total for individual performance. If the
Effective Date has not occurred prior to or on December 31, 2005, the Company
may establish annual bonus plans ("2006 Bonus Plans") for the 2006 calendar year
on terms consistent with past practice. If the Effective Date occurs during the
2006 calendar year, (x) Parent will pay, as soon as practicable following the
Effective Time, prorated bonuses (prorated to the Effective Time) to Company
Employees who were employed as of the Effective Time, assuming for purposes of
such prorated bonuses that all performance measures relevant to the
determination of bonuses under such 2006 Bonus Plans shall be deemed to have
been met for the period beginning on January 1, 2006 and ending on the Closing
Date, and (y) Parent shall implement a bonus plan for purposes of bonuses for
Company Employees for the balance of the 2006 calendar year. Company performance
in respect of calculations to be made under the 2005 Bonus Plans and 2006 Bonus
Plans shall be calculated without taking into account any expenses or costs
related to or arising out of the Transactions or any non-recurring charges that
would not reasonably be expected to have been incurred had the Transactions not
occurred.
(f) From the Effective Time through December 31, 2006, (i)
Company Employees below the level of Director shall continue to participate in
the Maytag Corporation Separation Pay and Benefits Plan (the "Severance Plan"),
(ii) Company Employees at the levels of Director and above shall be eligible for
severance benefits pursuant to the plan set forth in Section 6.05(f) of the
Company Disclosure Letter and (iii) none of the Severance Plan, the Maytag
Corporation Separation of Employment Plan or the plan set forth in Section
6.05(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be amended in any manner adverse
to the Company Employees.
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SECTION 6.06 Indemnification. (a) Parent shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by Law, cause the Surviving Corporation to honor all the
Company's obligations to indemnify the current or former directors or officers
of the Company for acts or omissions by such directors and officers occurring
prior to the Effective Time to the extent that such obligations of the Company
exist on the date of this Agreement, whether pursuant to the Company Charter,
the Company By-laws or individual indemnity agreements, and such obligations
shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in
accordance with the terms of the Company Charter, the Company By-laws and such
individual indemnity agreements from the Effective Time until the expiration of
the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any claims against such
directors or officers arising out of such acts or omissions. Parent shall, to
the fullest extent permitted by Law, cause the Surviving Corporation to advance
funds for expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending a civil or
criminal action, suit or proceeding relating to the indemnification obligations
referenced in the immediately preceding sentence in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by
or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall be
ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to the indemnification
referenced in the immediately preceding sentence.
(b) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, Parent
shall cause to be maintained in effect the current policies of directors' and
officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company (provided that Parent
may substitute therefor policies purchased by Parent or the Surviving
Corporation, at the sole election of Parent, with reputable and financially
sound carriers of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions which are no less advantageous) with respect to claims arising from
or related to facts or events which occurred at or before the Effective Time;
provided, however, that Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall not be
obligated to make annual premium payments for such insurance to the extent such
premiums exceed 300% of the annual premiums paid as of the date hereof by the
Company for such insurance (such 300% amount, the "Maximum Premium"). If such
insurance coverage cannot be obtained at all, or can only be obtained at an
annual premium in excess of the Maximum Premium, Parent shall maintain the most
advantageous policies of directors' and officers' insurance obtainable for an
annual premium equal to the Maximum Premium. The Company represents to Parent
that the Maximum Premium is $3,696,000.
SECTION 6.07 Fees and Expenses. (a) Except as provided in this
Section 6.07, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger and
the other Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or
expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated, except for (i) expenses
incurred in connection with printing, mailing and filing the Form S-4 and the
Proxy Statement and (ii) all fees paid in respect of filings made by the Company
and Parent pursuant to the HSR Act in connection with the Merger, with the
expenses and fees referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) to be borne by Parent.
(b) The Company shall pay to Parent a fee of $60,000,000 and
shall reimburse Parent for its payment to Triton of $40,000,000 in connection
with the Company's termination of the Triton Agreement if: (i) Parent terminates
this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(d); (ii) (A) after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article
VIII, any person makes a Company Takeover Proposal or amends a Company Takeover
Proposal made prior to the date of this Agreement, (B) this Agreement is
terminated by either the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(i) (and
49
prior to such termination the Company shall have breached or failed to perform
any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement) or 8.01(b)(iii)
(but only if a Company Takeover Proposal is publicly announced at or prior to
the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting) or by Parent pursuant to Section
8.01(c) and (C) within 12 months after the date of such termination the Company
enters into a definitive agreement to consummate, or consummates, the
transactions contemplated by a Company Takeover Proposal; or (iii) the Company
terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(e). The Company shall (i) pay
to Parent a fee of $60,000,000 if Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.01(c) by reason of the Company knowingly breaching its obligations
under Section 5.02 (unless such breach of Section 5.02 has only an immaterial
effect on Parent) and (ii) in such event, if the circumstance described in
clause (ii) (C) of the immediately preceding sentence occurs, also reimburse
Parent for its payment to Triton of $40,000,000 in connection with the Company's
termination of the Triton Agreement. Any fee due under this Section 6.07(b)
shall be paid by wire transfer of same-day funds on the date of termination of
this Agreement (except that in the case of termination pursuant to clause (ii)
of either of the first or second sentence of this Section 6.07(b), such payment
shall be made on the date of execution of such definitive agreement or, if
earlier, consummation of such transactions and in the case of termination
pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, such payment shall be made on or
before the fifth business day following such termination). Solely for the
purposes of clause (ii) of each of the first and second sentences of this
Section 6.07(b), the term "Company Takeover Proposal" shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 5.02(f), except that all references to "20%"
shall be changed to "40%". The Company acknowledges that the agreements
contained in this Section 6.07(b) are an integral part of the Transactions, and
that, without these agreements, Parent would not enter into this Agreement;
accordingly, if the Company fails promptly to pay the amounts due pursuant to
this Section 6.07(b), and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent commences a
suit that results in a judgment against the Company for the amounts set forth in
this Section 6.07(b), the Company shall pay to Parent interest on the amounts
set forth in this Section 6.07(b) from and including the date payment of such
amount was due to but excluding the date of actual payment at the prime rate of
JPMorgan Chase Bank in effect on the date such payment was required to be made,
together with reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with
such suit. It is expressly understood that in no event shall the Company be
required to pay the $60,000,000 fee or reimburse the $40,000,000 payment
referred to in this Section 6.07(b) on more than one occasion.
(c) In the event that either the Company or Parent is entitled
to terminate, and terminates, this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(i) or
8.01(b)(ii)(A) and at the time of such termination (i) all of the conditions set
forth in Sections 7.02(a), 7.02(b) and 7.02(c) have been satisfied or waived
(other than the delivery of certificates and provided that the term "Closing
Date" shall in any of such sections be deemed to refer to the date of such
termination), (ii) neither the Company nor Parent is entitled to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(ii)(B) and (iii) if a vote to obtain the
Company Stockholder Approval has been taken at a Company Stockholder Meeting,
Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained, then Parent shall pay a
termination fee equal to $120,000,000 (the "Nonclearance Termination Fee") on or
before the fifth business day following such termination by wire transfer of
same day funds to an account designated in writing to Parent by the Company at
least two business days after such termination.
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SECTION 6.08 Public Announcements. Each of Parent and Sub, on
the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall use its reasonable best
efforts to consult with each other before issuing, and, to the extent reasonably
feasible, provide each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any
press release or other public statements with respect to the Merger and the
other Transactions and shall not issue any such press release or make any such
public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by
applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing
agreement with any national securities exchange.
SECTION 6.09 Transfer Taxes. All stock transfer, real estate
transfer, documentary, stamp, recording and other similar Taxes (including
interest, penalties and additions to any such Taxes) ("Transfer Taxes") incurred
in connection with the Transactions shall be paid by either Sub or the Surviving
Corporation, and the Company shall cooperate with Sub and Parent in preparing,
executing and filing any Tax Returns with respect to such Transfer Taxes,
including supplying in a timely manner a complete list of all real property
interests held by the Company that are located in New York State and any
information with respect to such property that is reasonably necessary to
complete such Tax Returns.
SECTION 6.10 Rights Agreements; Consequences if Rights
Triggered.
(a) The Company Board shall take all further actions (in
addition to those referred to in Section 3.05(c)) requested in writing by Parent
in order to render the Company Rights inapplicable to the Merger and the other
Transactions. Except as approved in writing by Parent, the Company Board shall
not (i) amend the Company Rights Agreement, (ii) redeem the Company Rights or
(iii) take any action with respect to, or make any determination under, the
Company Rights Agreement. If any Distribution Date or Share Acquisition Date
occurs under the Company Rights Agreement at any time during the period from the
date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company and Parent shall make
such adjustment to the Merger Consideration as the Company and Parent shall
mutually agree so as to preserve the economic benefits that the Company and
Parent each reasonably expected on the date of this Agreement to receive as a
result of the consummation of the Merger and the other Transactions.
(b) The Parent Board shall take all further actions (in
addition to those referred to in Section 4.05(c)) requested in writing by the
Company in order to render the Parent Rights inapplicable to the Merger and the
other Transactions. Except as would not adversely affect the ability of Parent
to consummate the Merger and the Transactions, unless approved in writing by the
Company, the Parent Board shall not (i) amend the Parent Rights Agreement, (ii)
redeem the Parent Rights or (iii) take any action with respect to, or make any
determination under, the Parent Rights Agreement.
SECTION 6.11 Stockholder Litigation. The Company shall give
Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any
stockholder litigation against the Company and its directors relating to any
Transaction; provided, however, that no such settlement shall be agreed to
without Parent's consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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SECTION 6.12 Stock Exchange Listing. Parent shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
in connection with the Merger and the shares of Parent Common Stock to be
reserved for issuance upon exercise of Company Stock Options to be approved for
listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
SECTION 6.13 Affiliates.
(a) Not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the Effective
Time, the Company (i) shall deliver to Parent a letter identifying all Persons
who, in the Company's opinion, may be, as of the Effective Time, its
"affiliates" for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act, and (ii) shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause each Person who is identified as an
"affiliate" of it in such letter to deliver to Parent, as promptly as
practicable but in no event later than thirty (30) days prior to the Effective
Time, a signed agreement reasonably acceptable to both Parent and the Company
(an "Affiliate Agreement"). The Company shall notify Parent from time to time
after the delivery of the letter described above of any Person not identified on
such letter who then is, or may be, such an "affiliate" and use its reasonable
best efforts to cause each additional Person who is identified as an "affiliate"
to execute an Affiliate Agreement.
(b) Neither Parent or the Company shall register, or allow its
transfer agent to register, on its books, any transfer of any shares of Parent
Common Stock or Company Common Stock of any affiliate of the Company who has not
provided an executed Affiliate Agreement in accordance with this Section 6.13
unless the transfer is made in compliance with the foregoing.
(c) For one year following the Closing, Parent shall continue
to make available such adequate current public information as shall satisfy the
conditions set forth in Rule 144(c) of the Securities Act.
SECTION 6.14 Other Actions by Parent. Parent shall not, and
shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliates not to, take any
action that would reasonably be expected to result in any condition to the
Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied, except any action permitted
to be taken pursuant to Section 8.01.
SECTION 6.15 Section 16(b). Parent shall take all such steps
as may be reasonably necessary to cause the Transactions and any other
dispositions of equity securities of the Company (including derivative
securities) or acquisitions of Parent equity securities (including derivative
securities) in connection with this Agreement by each individual who (a) is a
director or officer of the Company or (b) at the Effective Time will become a
director or officer of Parent, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
SECTION 7.01 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect
the Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is
subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the
following conditions:
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(a) Stockholder Approval. The Company shall have obtained the
Company Stockholder Approval.
(b) Antitrust. Any waiting period (and any extension thereof)
applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall
have expired. Any Consents and filings required prior to the Closing under any
Antitrust Law, the absence of which would reasonably be expected to (i) have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or
(iii) result in a criminal violation, shall have been obtained or made.
(c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No restraining order,
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided, however, that prior to
asserting this condition, subject to Section 6.03, the asserting party shall
have used its reasonable best efforts or best efforts, as applicable, in a
manner consistent with this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section
6.03(b), to prevent the entry of any such injunction or other order and to
appeal as promptly as possible any such judgment that may be entered.
(d) Form S-4 Effective. The Form S-4 shall have been declared
effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall be in effect and no proceedings for such
purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC.
(e) Listing of Parent Common Stock. The shares of Parent
Common Stock to be issued in the Merger and such other shares of Parent Common
Stock to be reserved for issuance in connection with the Merger shall have been
approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
SECTION 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub. The
obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the
following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement that are qualified as to
Company Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and those not so
qualified shall be true and correct except for such failures to be true and
correct as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect (other than the representations and warranties set forth in Sections
3.02, 3.03, 3.04 and 3.18, which shall be true and correct in all material
respects), as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though
made on the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and
warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such
representations and warranties qualified as to Company Material Adverse Effect
shall be true and correct, and those not so qualified shall be true and correct
except for such failures to be true and correct as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (other than the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 and 3.18,
which shall be true and correct in all material respects), on and as of such
earlier date). Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the
Company by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the
Company to such effect.
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(b) 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 the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.
(c) Absence of Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as
disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter or in any Filed Company SEC Document,
since the date of this Agreement there shall not have been any event, change,
effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.03 Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The
obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the
following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Parent and Sub set forth in this Agreement that are qualified as
to Parent Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and those not so
qualified shall be true and correct except for such failures to be true and
correct as would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect (other than the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.02
and 4.04, which shall be true and correct in all material respects), as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing
Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate
to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties qualified
as to Parent Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and those not so
qualified shall be true and correct except for such failures to be true and
correct as would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect (other than the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.02
and 4.04, which shall be true and correct in all material respects), on and as
of such earlier date). The Company shall have received a certificate signed on
behalf of Parent by an executive officer of Parent to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Sub. Parent and
Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the
Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an
executive officer of Parent to such effect.
(c) Absence of Parent Material Adverse Effect. Except as
disclosed in the Parent Disclosure Letter or in any Filed Parent SEC Document,
since the date of this Agreement there shall not have been any event, change,
effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 8.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at
any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after receipt of the
Company Stockholder Approval:
54
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent, Sub and the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company:
(i) if the Merger is not consummated on or before December
31, 2006 (the "Outside Date"), unless the failure to consummate the Merger is
the result of a willful and material breach of this Agreement by the party
seeking to terminate this Agreement;
(ii) if any Governmental Entity issues an order, decree or
ruling or takes any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise
prohibiting the Merger (A) as violative of any Antitrust Law or (B) for any
reason other than as contemplated by Section 8.01(b)(ii)(A), and, in either
case, such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and
non-appealable; or
(iii) if, upon a vote thereon at the Company Stockholder
Meeting, the Company Stockholder Approval is not obtained;
(c) by Parent, if the Company breaches or fails to perform in
any material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants
contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give
rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.02(a) or 7.02(b), and
(ii) cannot be or has not been cured by the Outside Date (provided that neither
Parent nor Sub is then in willful and material breach of any representation,
warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement);
(d) by Parent:
(i) if the Company Board or any committee thereof withdraws
or modifies, in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, or publicly proposes to
withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger, fails to recommend to the
Company's stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder Approval or
approves or recommends, or publicly proposes to approve or recommend, any
Company Takeover Proposal; or
(ii) if the Company gives Parent the notification
contemplated by Section 8.05(b)(iii);
(e) by the Company prior to receipt of the Company Stockholder
Approval in accordance with Section 8.05(b); provided, however, that the Company
shall have complied with all provisions thereof, including the notice provisions
therein; or
(f) by the Company, if Parent or Sub breaches or fails to
perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties or
covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i)
would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.03(a) or
7.03(b), and (ii) cannot be or has not been cured by the Outside Date (provided
that the Company is not then in willful and material breach of any
representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement).
55
SECTION 8.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of
termination of this Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in
Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect,
without any liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Sub or the Company,
other than the last sentence of Section 6.02, Section 6.07, this Section 8.02
and Article IX, which provisions shall survive such termination, and except to
the extent that such termination results from the willful and material breach by
a party of any representation, warranty or covenant set forth in this Agreement.
SECTION 8.03 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties at any time before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval;
provided, however, that after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, there
shall be made no amendment that by Law requires further approval by the
stockholders of the Company without the further approval of such stockholders.
This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of each of the parties.
SECTION 8.04 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the
Effective Time, the parties may (a) extend the time for the performance of any
of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement
or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) waive compliance
with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. No
extension or waiver by the Company shall require the approval of the
stockholders of the Company. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to
assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute
a waiver of such rights.
SECTION 8.05 Procedure for Termination. (a) A termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01 shall, in order to be effective, require
in the case of Parent, Sub or the Company, action by its Board of Directors or,
to the extent permitted by law, the duly authorized designee of its Board of
Directors. Termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time shall not
require the approval of the stockholders of the Company.
(b) The Company may terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.01(e) only if (i) the Company Board has received a Superior Company
Proposal, (ii) in light of such Superior Company Proposal a majority of the
disinterested directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith,
after consultation with outside counsel, that the failure to withdraw or modify
its recommendation of the Merger and this Agreement would be inconsistent with
the Company Board's exercise of its fiduciary duty under applicable Law, (iii)
the Company has notified Parent in writing of the determinations described in
clause (ii) above, (iv) at least five business days following receipt by Parent
of the notice referred to in clause (iii) above, and taking into account any
revised proposal made by Parent since receipt of the notice referred to in
clause (iii) above, such Superior Company Proposal remains a Superior Company
Proposal and a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company has again
made the determinations referred to in clause (ii) above, (v) the Company is in
compliance, in all material respects, with Section 5.02, (vi) the Company has
previously paid the fee and reimbursement, as applicable, due under Section
6.07, (vii) the Company Board concurrently approves, and the Company
concurrently enters into, a definitive agreement providing for the
implementation of such Superior Company Proposal and (viii) Parent is not at
56
such time entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(c)
(assuming for purposes of this clause (viii) that the Outside Date is the date
of termination of this Agreement by the Company, except where the applicable
breach or failure to perform is not willful and material and is capable of being
cured prior to the Outside Date).
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 9.01 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties.
None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective
Time. This Section 9.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties
which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
SECTION 9.02 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands
and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given upon receipt by the parties at the following addresses (or at such
other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) if to Parent or Sub, to
Whirlpool Corporation
0000 X00 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
with a copy to:
Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
(b) if to the Company, to
Maytag Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxx Xxxx, Jr., Esq.
57
SECTION 9.03 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
An "affiliate" of any person means another person that
directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such first person.
A "Company Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material
adverse effect on the business, assets (including, without limitation, the
Maytag brand) or financial condition of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (c) a material
adverse effect on the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the
other Transactions to be performed or consummated by the Company; provided,
however, that a Company Material Adverse Effect shall not include any event,
change, effect, development, condition or occurrence arising out of or relating
to (i) general economic or political conditions in the United States of America,
(ii) conditions generally affecting industries in which any of the Company or
the Company Subsidiaries operates (except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii)
above, if the event, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence
disproportionately impacts the business, assets or financial condition of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), (iii) the public
announcement of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, any loss of customers,
suppliers, licensors. licenses, or distributors of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary as a result thereof, or changes arising out of, or attributable to,
any such loss, with the burden of proving that any such loss was not caused by
such public announcement or consummation to be borne by Parent) or (iv) the loss
of employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or changes arising out of,
or attributable to, such loss; and provided, further, that (x) any change in the
Company's stock price or trading volume or (y) any failure of the Company to
meet its internal financial projections or published analysts' forecasts
relating to it, or any other amount of revenues or earnings of the Company shall
each not, individually or collectively, be deemed to constitute a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
"knowledge" means, with respect to the Company, the knowledge
of any of Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx or Xxxxxx Xxxx, and
with respect to Parent, the knowledge of Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx or Xxxxxx X. Xxxx.
A "Parent Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material
adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of
operations of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a
material adverse effect on the ability of Parent to perform its obligations
under this Agreement or (c) a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent
to consummate the Merger and the other Transactions to be performed or
consummated by Parent; provided, however, that a Parent Material Adverse Effect
shall not include any event, change, effect, development, condition or
occurrence arising out of or relating to (i) general economic or political
conditions in the United States of America or (ii) conditions generally
affecting industries in which any of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries operates
(except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, if the event, change,
effect, development, condition or occurrence disproportionately impacts the
business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of Parent and the
Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole); provided, however, that any change in
58
Parent's stock price or trading volume shall not be deemed to constitute a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
A "person" means any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture,
association, Governmental Entity or other entity.
A "subsidiary" of any person means another person (a) an
amount of the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership
interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of
Directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests,
50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by
such first person, or (b) of which such first person is, in the case of a
partnership, the general partner or, in the case of a limited liability company,
the managing member.
SECTION 9.04 Interpretation; Disclosure Letter. When a
reference is made in this Agreement to a Section or subsection, such reference
shall be to a Section or subsection, as applicable, of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. The table of contents 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 words "include",
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation". Any matter disclosed in any section
of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed only for the purposes
of the specific Sections of this Agreement to which such section relates.
SECTION 9.05 Severability. If any term or other provision of
this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or
Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement
shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or
legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end
that Transactions are fulfilled to the extent possible.
SECTION 9.06 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.
SECTION 9.07 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This Agreement, taken together with the Company Disclosure Letter and the
Confidentiality Agreement, (a) constitute the entire agreement, and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties with respect to the Transactions and (b) except for Section 6.06 and
except as otherwise provided in the Confidentiality Agreement, are not intended
to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies.
Notwithstanding clause (b) of the immediately preceding sentence, following the
Effective Time the provisions of Article II shall be enforceable by holders of
Certificates.
59
SECTION 9.08 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,
regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles
of conflicts of laws thereof, except to the extent the laws of Delaware are
mandatorily applicable to the Merger.
SECTION 9.09 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in
whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties without
the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Sub may assign, in
its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under
this Agreement to any direct or indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, but
no such assignment shall relieve Sub of any of its obligations under this
Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject
to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors
and assigns.
SECTION 9.10 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable
damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement
were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any New York state
court, any federal court located in the State of New York or the State of
Delaware, or the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In
addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the
personal jurisdiction of any New York state court, any federal court located in
the State of New York or the State of Delaware, or the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any
Transaction, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal
jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (c)
agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any
Transaction in any court other than any New York state court, any federal court
sitting in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware and (d) waives any right to trial by jury with
respect to any action related to or arising out of this Agreement or any
Transaction.
[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have duly
executed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
by /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman, CEO & President
WHIRLPOOL ACQUISITION CO.
by /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: President
MAYTAG CORPORATION
by
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
