OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH
ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
OF
CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
AT
$12.25 NET PER SHARE
BY
KBI ACQUISITION CORP.
A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
KNOWLEDGE BEGINNINGS, INC.
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THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY
TIME, ON FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1998, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
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THE OFFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, DATED
AS OF MARCH 27, 1998, BY AND AMONG KNOWLEDGE BEGINNINGS, INC. ("PARENT"), KBI
ACQUISITION CORP. ("PURCHASER") AND CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA,
INC. (THE "COMPANY"). THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, (1)
THERE HAVING BEEN VALIDLY TENDERED PURSUANT TO THE OFFER, AND NOT VALIDLY
WITHDRAWN, A MINIMUM OF A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01
PER SHARE (THE "SHARES"), OF THE COMPANY (DETERMINED ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS),
(2) THE EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF ANY APPLICABLE WAITING PERIOD UNDER THE
XXXX-XXXXX-XXXXXX ANTITRUST IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1976, AS AMENDED, AND THE
PASSAGE OF CERTAIN STATUTORY WAITING PERIODS RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S OPERATING
LICENSES, (3) CERTAIN ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS HAVING BEEN OBTAINED
BY THE COMPANY AND PARENT, AND (4) THE SATISFACTION OF CERTAIN OTHER TERMS AND
CONDITIONS. SEE SECTION 15 OF THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY HAS, BY A VOTE OF ALL DIRECTORS AT A
MEETING DULY CALLED AND HELD, UNANIMOUSLY (1) DETERMINED THAT EACH OF THE OFFER
AND THE MERGER IS FAIR TO, AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF, THE COMPANY'S
STOCKHOLDERS, (2) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE OPTION AND
SUPPORT AGREEMENT (EACH AS DEFINED HEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
THEREBY, INCLUDING THE OFFER AND THE MERGER (EACH AS DEFINED HEREIN), (3)
RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS ACCEPT THE OFFER AND TENDER THEIR
SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER, AND (4) TAKEN ALL ACTION NECESSARY TO RENDER
SECTION 203 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND OTHER
STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES INAPPLICABLE TO THE OFFER, THE MERGER AND THE OPTION AND
SUPPORT AGREEMENT.
THE COMPANY HAS GRANTED PARENT AN IRREVOCABLE OPTION TO PURCHASE NEWLY
ISSUED SHARES REPRESENTING UP TO 19.9% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES PURSUANT TO AND
UPON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE OPTION AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT. IN ADDITION,
PURSUANT TO THE OPTION AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT, CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS OF THE
COMPANY (THE "SELLING STOCKHOLDERS"), OWNING IN THE AGGREGATE APPROXIMATELY
20.2% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES, HAVE AGREED TO TENDER AND SELL ALL OF THEIR
SHARES TO PURCHASER PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND HAVE GRANTED TO PARENT AN
IRREVOCABLE OPTION TO PURCHASE ALL OF SUCH SELLING STOCKHOLDERS' SHARES UPON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE OPTION AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT. SEE SECTION 13 OF THIS
OFFER TO PURCHASE.
IMPORTANT
Any stockholder desiring to tender all or a portion of such stockholder's
Shares should either (i) complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal or a
facsimile thereof in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Letter of
Transmittal, have such stockholder's signature thereon guaranteed if required by
Instruction 1 to the Letter of Transmittal, and mail or deliver the Letter of
Transmittal together with the certificate(s) representing tendered Shares and
all other required documents to IBJ Xxxxxxxx Bank & Trust Company, the
Depositary for the Offer, or tender such Shares pursuant to the procedure for
book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase or (ii)
request such stockholder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
other nominee to effect the transaction for such stockholder. Stockholders
having Shares registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust
company or other nominee must contact such person or entity if they desire to
tender their Shares. Any stockholder who desires to tender Shares and whose
certificates representing such Shares are not immediately available, or who
cannot comply with the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may
tender such Shares pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in
Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase.
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information
Agent or to Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation ("DLJ"), as
Dealer Manager (the "Dealer Manager"), at their respective addresses and
telephone numbers set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase.
Additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal, the
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other related materials may be obtained from
the Information Agent or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust
companies.
THE DEALER MANAGER FOR THE OFFER IS:
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
APRIL 3, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1
1. Terms of the Offer............................................................... 3
2. Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares.................................... 5
3. Procedure for Tendering Shares................................................... 6
4. Withdrawal Rights................................................................ 8
5. Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences............................ 9
6. Price Range of Shares; Dividends................................................. 11
7. Certain Effects of the Transaction............................................... 11
8. Certain Information Concerning the Company....................................... 13
9. Certain Information Concerning Parent and Purchaser.............................. 15
10. Source and Amount of Funds....................................................... 16
Background of the Offer; Past Contacts, Transactions or Negotiations with the
11. Company........................................................................ 16
12. Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company....................... 19
13. Merger Agreement and Option and Support Agreement................................ 21
14. Dividends and Distributions...................................................... 34
15. Certain Conditions of the Offer.................................................. 34
16. Certain Regulatory and Legal Matters............................................. 36
17. Fees and Expenses................................................................ 39
18. Miscellaneous.................................................................... 40
ANNEX I-- Certain Information Concerning Certain Entities and Certain of their Directors and Executive
Officers
ANNEX II-- Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
i
To the Holders of Common Stock of
Children's Discovery Centers of America, Inc.:
INTRODUCTION
KBI Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Purchaser") and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Knowledge Beginnings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), hereby offers to purchase any and all outstanding shares of common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"), of Children's Discovery Centers
of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), at a purchase price of
$12.25 per Share (the "Offer Price"), net to the seller in cash, without
interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended
and supplemented from time to time, together constitute the "Offer").
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY (THE "COMPANY BOARD") HAS, BY A VOTE
OF ALL DIRECTORS AT A MEETING DULY CALLED AND HELD, UNANIMOUSLY (I) DETERMINED
THAT EACH OF THE OFFER AND THE MERGER (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) IS FAIR TO, AND
IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF, THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS, (II) APPROVED AND ADOPTED
THE MERGER AGREEMENT (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) AND THE OPTION AND SUPPORT
AGREEMENT (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY,
INCLUDING THE OFFER AND THE MERGER, (III) RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMPANY'S
STOCKHOLDERS ACCEPT THE OFFER AND TENDER THEIR SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER, AND
(IV) TAKEN ALL ACTION NECESSARY TO RENDER SECTION 203 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION
LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (THE "DGCL") AND OTHER STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES
INAPPLICABLE TO THE OFFER, THE MERGER AND THE OPTION AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT.
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) there having been
validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, and not validly withdrawn, a minimum of
a majority of the Shares (determined on a fully diluted basis) (the "Minimum
Condition"), (ii) the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period
under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
"HSR Act"), and the passage of certain statutory waiting periods relating to the
Company's operating licenses, (iii) certain ancillary agreements and instruments
having been obtained by the Company and Parent, and (iv) the satisfaction of
certain other terms and conditions. See Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase.
In order to induce Parent and Purchaser to enter into the Merger Agreement,
the Company has granted Parent an irrevocable option to purchase, under certain
conditions, newly issued Shares representing up to 19.9% of the outstanding
Shares pursuant to and upon the terms set forth in an Option and Support
Agreement dated March 27, 1998 (the "Option and Support Agreement") by and among
the Company, Parent and each of Proactive Partners, L.P., Fremont Proactive
Partners, L.P. and Lagunitas Partners, L.P. (collectively, the "Selling
Stockholders"). In addition, pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement, the
Selling Stockholders, owning in the aggregate approximately 20.2% of the issued
and outstanding Shares, have agreed to tender and sell all of their Shares to
Purchaser pursuant to the Offer and have granted Parent an irrevocable option to
purchase, under certain conditions, all of the Shares owned by such Selling
Stockholders upon the terms set forth in the Option and Support Agreement. See
Section 13 of this Offer to Purchase.
Advest, Inc. ("Advest") has delivered to the Company Board its opinion that,
as of the date of such opinion, the consideration to be received by the
stockholders of the Company in the Offer and the Merger is fair to the Company
and its stockholders from a financial point of view. A copy of such opinion is
contained in the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule
14D-9 (the "Company's Schedule 14D-9") which is being distributed to the
Company's stockholders. Stockholders are urged to read the written opinion of
Advest, dated March 18, 1998 in its entirety and the discussion thereof in the
Company's Schedule 14D-9, which sets forth the procedures followed, assumptions
and qualifications made, matters considered and limitations of the review
undertaken by Advest in connection with the opinion.
The Offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of March 27, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among Parent, Purchaser
and the Company. The Merger Agreement provides that, among other things, as soon
as practicable after the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and
in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, Purchaser (or such other
subsidiary of Parent as described below)
will be merged with the Company (the "Merger"). See Section 13 of this Offer to
Purchase. Following consummation of the Merger, the surviving corporation in the
Merger (the "Surviving Corporation") will be a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at Parent's election, the Merger may
be structured (i) as a merger of Purchaser and the Company, with either as the
Surviving Corporation, (ii) such that any direct or indirect subsidiary of
Parent is merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the Surviving
Corporation, or (iii) such that the Company is merged with and into any such
other subsidiary, with such other subsidiary as the Surviving Corporation. At
the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), by virtue of the Merger
and without any action on the part of the Company, Purchaser or the Surviving
Corporation, each issued and outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by the
Company, Parent, Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company, Parent or Purchaser, or Shares with respect to which appraisal
rights are properly exercised under the DGCL) will be converted into and
represent the right to receive $12.25 (or such other price that may be paid for
each Share pursuant to the Offer, if amended) in cash, without interest thereon
(the "Merger Consideration"). As of the Effective Time, all such converted
Shares shall no longer be outstanding and will automatically be canceled and
retired and will cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing
any such Shares will, to the extent such certificate represents such Shares,
cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the
Merger Consideration in cash in consideration therefor upon surrender of such
certificate. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, no Shares held by the Company or
any of its wholly owned subsidiaries will be tendered in the Offer. All Shares
that are owned by the Company, Parent, Purchaser or any direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Parent or Purchaser immediately prior to
the Effective Time will be canceled and retired at the Effective Time, and no
consideration will be delivered in exchange therefor. See Section 5 of this
Offer to Purchase for a description of certain tax consequences of the Offer and
the Merger and Section 13 of this Offer to Purchase with respect to the Merger
Agreement.
The Company has advised Parent and Purchaser that, as of March 27, 1998, (i)
6,744,499 Shares were validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
non-assessable and no Shares were held in the Company's treasury; (ii) no shares
of preferred stock were issued and outstanding; and (iii) 928,565 Shares were
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options (the "Options")
granted under the Company's stock option plans or otherwise. As of the date
hereof, neither Parent nor Purchaser beneficially owns any Shares.
Based on the foregoing and the expected tender of 1,363,700 Shares by the
Selling Stockholders pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement, the Minimum
Condition will be satisfied if 2,472,833 other Shares are validly tendered, and
not validly withdrawn, prior to the Expiration Date. The number of Shares
required to be validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in order to satisfy
the Minimum Condition will increase to the extent additional Shares are deemed
to be outstanding on a fully diluted basis under the Merger Agreement. For
purposes of the Merger Agreement, "on a fully diluted basis" means, as of any
date, the number of Shares outstanding, together with Shares issuable upon
exercise of outstanding Options.
Upon the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, Purchaser will have the
ability to acquire and control a majority of the outstanding Shares and will
thus be able to approve the Merger without the vote of any other stockholder. In
the event Purchaser acquires 90% or more of the outstanding Shares through the
Offer or otherwise, Purchaser and Parent would be able to effect the Merger
pursuant to the "short-form" merger provisions of the DGCL, without prior notice
to, or any action by, any other stockholder of the Company. See Section 12 of
this Offer to Purchase.
Purchaser is not offering to acquire outstanding Options in the Offer.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company Board will, prior to the
consummation of the Offer, cause all Options to become exercisable immediately
prior to the Effective Time, subject to the consummation of the Merger. Further,
prior to the consummation of the Offer, the Company will offer (the "Option
Offer") to pay, subject to the consummation of the Merger, each holder of
Options an amount equal to the aggregate Merger Consideration into which Shares
issuable upon exercise of such holder's Options would have been
2
converted if such Options had been exercised immediately prior to the Effective
Time reduced by (i) the aggregate exercise price for the Shares then issuable
upon exercise of such Options, (ii) the amount of any withholding taxes which
may be required thereon, and (iii) the amount of all outstanding loans, if any,
from the Company to such holder, in return for the cancellation of such Options.
In accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Option Offer must be accepted, if
at all, irrevocably by the holders of Options prior to the consummation of the
Offer and must provide that holders of Options subject to the Option Offer agree
not to exercise such Options after accepting the Option Offer. It is a condition
to the Offer that all holders of Options shall have irrevocably agreed to cancel
such Options in return for the payment of consideration pursuant to the Option
Offer. See Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase.
THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD BE READ BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE
OFFER.
1. TERMS OF THE OFFER
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the
Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any extension or
amendment), Purchaser will accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly
tendered prior to the Expiration Date, and not theretofore withdrawn in
accordance with Section 4 of this Offer to Purchase, as soon as legally
permitted and practicable after the commencement of the Offer. The term
"Expiration Date" means 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, on Friday, May 1,
1998, unless Purchaser shall have extended the period of time for which the
Offer is open, in which event the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest
time and date as of which the Offer, as so extended by Purchaser, shall expire.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY INTEREST BE PAID ON THE OFFER PRICE FOR TENDERED
SHARES, REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION OF THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN MAKING SUCH
PAYMENT.
THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SATISFACTION OF THE
MINIMUM CONDITION. SEE SECTIONS 13 AND 15 OF THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE. THE OFFER
IS ALSO SUBJECT TO OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING THE EXPIRATION OR
TERMINATION OF ANY APPLICABLE WAITING PERIOD UNDER THE HSR ACT, THE PASSAGE OF
CERTAIN STATUTORY WAITING PERIODS RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S OPERATING LICENSES
AND THE COMPANY AND PARENT HAVING OBTAINED CERTAIN ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS AND
INSTRUMENTS. SEE SECTIONS 15 AND 16 OF THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement
(including the right to terminate, extend or modify the Offer), and subject to
the other conditions set forth in Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase,
including, without limitation, the Minimum Condition, Purchaser will use its
reasonable best efforts to consummate the Offer as soon as legally permissible
in accordance with the Merger Agreement. Subject to the terms of the Merger
Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), Purchaser expressly
reserves the right to modify the terms of the Offer, including, without
limitation, to extend the period of time during which the Offer is open beyond
the scheduled Expiration Date (including an extension of up to 20 business days
beyond the initial scheduled Expiration Date notwithstanding the satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase), and thereby
delay acceptance for payment of and the payment for any Shares, by giving oral
or written notice of such extension to IBJ Xxxxxxxx Bank and Trust Company, as
Depositary (the "Depositary"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Minimum
Condition may not be waived without the written consent of the Company. In
addition, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser may not,
without the written consent of the Company, amend the Offer to decrease the
Offer Price, decrease the number of Shares being sought in the Offer, change the
form of consideration payable in the Offer or impose conditions to the Offer in
addition to the conditions described in the Merger Agreement and in Section 15
of this Offer to Purchase.
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Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and
notwithstanding any other provisions of the Offer or the Merger Agreement,
Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or pay for any Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer and may terminate, withdraw or amend the Offer
and may postpone acceptance of, and payment for, Shares, upon the occurrence of
any of the conditions set forth in Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase, by
giving oral or written notice of such delay or termination to the Depositary.
Purchaser's right to delay payment for any Shares or not to pay for any Shares
theretofore accepted for payment is subject to the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), relating to Purchaser's
obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares promptly after the termination
or withdrawal of the Offer.
If by 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, on Friday, May 1, 1998 (or any
other date or time then set as the Expiration Date), any or all conditions to
the Offer have not been satisfied or waived, Purchaser reserves the right (but
shall not be obligated), subject to the terms and conditions contained in the
Merger Agreement and to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission,
to (i) terminate the Offer and not accept for payment any Shares and return all
tendered Shares to tendering stockholders, (ii) waive all the unsatisfied
conditions to the Offer (other than the Minimum Condition, which may not be
waived without the Company's consent) and, subject to complying with the terms
of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly tendered prior to
the Expiration Date and not theretofore withdrawn, (iii) extend the Offer and,
subject to the right of stockholders to withdraw Shares until the Expiration
Date, retain the Shares that have been tendered during the period or periods for
which the Offer is extended, or (iv) amend the Offer.
There can be no assurance that Purchaser will exercise its right to extend
the Offer (including the right to extend the Offer pursuant to the Merger
Agreement for up to 20 business days beyond the initial scheduled Expiration
Date notwithstanding the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 15
of this Offer to Purchase). See Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase. Any
extension of the period during which the Offer is open, delay in acceptance for
payment or payment, termination or amendment of the Offer will be followed, as
promptly as practicable, by public announcement thereof, such announcement, in
the case of an extension, to be issued not later than 9:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date in
accordance with the public announcement requirements of Rules 14d-4(c), 14d-6(d)
and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act (which, among other things, require that any
material change in the information published, sent or given to stockholders in
connection with the Offer be promptly disseminated to stockholders in a manner
reasonably designed to inform stockholders of such change). Without limiting the
obligations of Purchaser under such rules or the manner in which Purchaser may
choose to make any public announcement, Purchaser currently intends to make
announcements by issuing a press release to the Dow Xxxxx News Service and
making any appropriate filing with the Commission. As used in this Offer to
Purchase, "business day" has the meaning set forth in Rule 14d-1 of the Exchange
Act.
If Purchaser makes a material change in the terms of the Offer or the
information concerning the Offer, or if it waives a material condition of the
Offer, Purchaser will disseminate additional tender offer materials and extend
the Offer if and to the extent required by Rules 14d-4(c), 14d-6(d) and 14e-1
under the Exchange Act or otherwise. The minimum period during which a tender
offer must remain open following material changes in the terms thereof or the
information concerning such tender offer, other than a change in price or a
change in percentage of securities sought, will depend upon the facts and
circumstances, including the relative materiality of the terms or information
changes. With respect to a change in price or a change in percentage of
securities sought, a minimum ten business day period is generally required to
allow for adequate dissemination to stockholders and investor response.
The Company has provided Purchaser with the Company's list of stockholders
and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to
holders of Shares. This Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal will be
mailed to record holders of Xxxxxx and will be furnished to brokers, dealers,
commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names
of whose nominees,
4
appear on the list of stockholders or, if applicable, who are listed as
participants in a clearing agency's security position listing for subsequent
transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares. Parent and Purchaser have been
advised that each of the directors on the Company Board intend to tender all
Shares beneficially owned or owned of record by such directors pursuant to the
Offer.
2. ACCEPTANCE FOR PAYMENT AND PAYMENT FOR SHARES
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the
Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or
amendment), Purchaser will accept for payment and will pay for, all Shares
validly tendered prior to the Expiration Date, and not theretofore withdrawn in
accordance with Section 4 of this Offer to Purchase, promptly after the later to
occur of (a) the Expiration Date and (b) subject to compliance with the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c)
under the Exchange Act, the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth
in Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase. Subject to such compliance, Purchaser
expressly reserves the right to delay payment for Shares in order to comply in
whole or in part with any applicable law, including the satisfaction of the
statutory requirements with respect to the Pennsylvania Waiting Period (as
defined in paragraph (c) of Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase). In all cases,
payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made only
after timely receipt by the Depositary of (i) certificates for such Shares or
timely confirmation (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") of a book-entry transfer of
such Shares into the Depositary's account at The Depository Trust Company
(hereinafter referred to as the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility"), pursuant to the
procedures set forth in Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase, (ii) a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed
facsimile thereof) with all required signature guarantees or, in the case of a
book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message and (iii) any other documents required
by the Letter of Transmittal. The term "Agent's Message" means a message
transmitted by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to, and received by, the
Depositary and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, which states that
such Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an express acknowledgment from
the participant in such Book-Entry Transfer Facility tendering the Shares that
are the subject of the Book-Entry Confirmation that such participant has
received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and
that Purchaser may enforce such agreement against the participant. See Section 3
of this Offer to Purchase.
For purposes of the Offer, Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for
payment, and thereby purchased, Shares validly tendered, and not validly
withdrawn, as, if and when Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the
Depositary of Purchaser's acceptance of such Shares for payment. In all cases,
payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made by deposit of
the purchase price with the Depositary, which will act as agent for tendering
stockholders for the purpose of receiving payment from Purchaser and
transmitting such payment to tendering stockholders. Upon the deposit of funds
with the Depositary for the purpose of making payments to tendering
stockholders, Purchaser's obligation to make such payment shall be satisfied,
and tendering stockholders must thereafter look solely to the Depositary for
payment of amounts owed to them by reason of the acceptance for payment of
Shares pursuant to the Offer. If, for any reason whatsoever, acceptance for
payment of any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer is delayed, or Purchaser is
unable to accept for payment Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, then,
without prejudice to Purchaser's rights under this Offer to Purchase, the
Depositary may nevertheless, on behalf of Purchaser, retain tendered Shares,
and, subject to compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, such Shares may not
be withdrawn, except to the extent that the tendering stockholders are entitled
to withdrawal rights as described in Section 4 of this Offer to Purchase. UNDER
NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST BE PAID BY PURCHASER, REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION
OF THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENT.
If any tendered Shares are not accepted for payment pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the Offer for any reason, or if certificates are submitted
representing more Shares than are tendered, certificates representing such
unpurchased or untendered Shares will be returned, without expense to the
5
tendering stockholder (or, in the case of Shares delivered by book-entry
transfer to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, such Shares will be credited to an
account maintained within such Book-Entry Transfer Facility), as promptly as
practicable after the expiration, termination or withdrawal of the Offer.
If, prior to the Expiration Date, Purchaser increases the price being paid
for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer, such increased
consideration will be paid to all stockholders whose Shares are purchased
pursuant to the Offer.
Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign, in whole or from time to
time in part, to one or more of its affiliates the right to purchase Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment will not
relieve Purchaser of its obligations under the Offer or prejudice the rights of
tendering stockholders to receive payment for Shares validly tendered and
accepted for payment.
3. PROCEDURE FOR TENDERING SHARES
VALID TENDERS. For Shares to be validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, a
properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed
facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a
book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message, and any other required documents, must
be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back
cover of this Offer to Purchase prior to the Expiration Date, or the tendering
stockholder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.
In addition, either (i) certificates representing such Shares must be received
by the Depositary along with the Letter of Transmittal or such Shares must be
tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth below, and
a Book-Entry Confirmation must be received by the Depositary, in each case prior
to the Expiration Date or (ii) the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth below
must be complied with. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be
accepted. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY'S PROCEDURES DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY.
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER. The Depositary will make a request to establish an
account with respect to the Shares at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility for
purposes of the Offer within two business days after the date of this Offer to
Purchase. Any financial institution that is a participant in the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility's system may make book-entry delivery of Shares by causing the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Shares into the Depositary's
account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with such Book-Entry
Transfer Facility's procedures for transfer. Although delivery of Shares may be
effected through book-entry at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility prior to the
Expiration Date, (i) the Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile
thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature
guarantees, or an Agent's Message in connection with a book-entry transfer, and
any other required documents, must, in any case, be transmitted to and received
by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this
Offer to Purchase prior to the Expiration Date or (ii) the guaranteed delivery
procedure described below must be complied with.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE. Signatures on the Letter of Transmittal must be
guaranteed by a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program, or by any other bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings
association or other entity which is an "eligible guarantor institution," as
such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act (each of the
foregoing being referred to as an "Eligible Institution" and, collectively, as
"Eligible Institutions"), unless the Shares tendered thereby are tendered (i) by
a registered holder of Shares who has not completed either the box labeled
"Special Delivery Instructions" or the box labeled "Special Payment
Instructions" on the Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of any
Eligible Institution. If the certificates evidencing Shares are registered in
the name of a person or persons other than the signer of the Letter of
Transmittal, or if payment is to be made, or delivered to, or certificates for
unpurchased Shares are to be issued or returned to, a person other than the
registered owner or owners, then the tendered certificates must be endorsed or
accompanied by duly executed stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the
name or names of the registered owner or
6
owners appear on the certificates, with the signatures on the certificates or
stock powers guaranteed by an Eligible Institution as provided in the Letter of
Transmittal. See Instructions 1 and 5 to the Letter of Transmittal.
GUARANTEED DELIVERY. If a stockholder desires to tender Shares pursuant to
the Offer and such stockholder's certificates for Shares are not immediately
available or time will not permit all required documents to reach the Depositary
prior to the Expiration Date or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be
completed on a timely basis, such Shares may nevertheless be tendered if all of
the following guaranteed delivery procedures are duly complied with:
(i) the tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;
(ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery, substantially in the form provided by Purchaser herewith, is
received by the Depositary, as provided below, prior to the Expiration Date;
and
(iii) the certificates for all tendered Shares, in proper form for
transfer (or a Book-Entry Confirmation), together with a properly completed
and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile
thereof), and any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-
entry transfer, an Agent's Message, and any other documents required by the
Letter of Transmittal are received by the Depositary within three Nasdaq
National Market ("NNM") trading days after the date of execution of such
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. A "trading day" is any day on which NNM is
open for business.
The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or transmitted by
telegram, facsimile transmission or mail to the Depositary and must include a
guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in the Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF SHARES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY,
IS AT THE OPTION AND RISK OF THE STOCKHOLDER TENDERING SUCH SHARES. IF DELIVERY
IS BY MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, IS
RECOMMENDED.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, payment for Shares accepted for
payment pursuant to the Offer will in all cases be made only after timely
receipt by the Depositary of (i) certificates for such Shares or a Book-Entry
Confirmation, (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal
(or a manually signed facsimile thereof), with all required signature
guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message and
(iii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal.
BACKUP FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING. To prevent backup federal income tax
withholding with respect to the payment of the Offer Price for Shares purchased
pursuant to the Offer, each tendering stockholder must generally provide the
Depositary with his or her correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") and
certify that such stockholder is not subject to backup federal income tax
withholding by completing the Substitute Form W-9 included in the Letter of
Transmittal. See Section 5 of this Offer to Purchase and Instruction 8 to the
Letter of Transmittal. If the stockholder is a nonresident alien or foreign
entity not subject to back-up withholding, the stockholder must give the
Depositary a completed Form W-8 Certificate of Foreign Status prior to receipt
of any payments.
DETERMINATION OF VALIDITY. All questions as to the form of documents and
the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment
of any tender of Shares will be determined by Purchaser, in its sole discretion,
and its determination will be final and binding on all parties. Purchaser
reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders of any Shares that are
determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance of or payment for
which may, in the opinion of Purchaser, be unlawful. Purchaser also reserves the
absolute right to waive any of the conditions of the Offer, or any defect or
irregularity in the tender of any Shares. Purchaser's interpretation of the
terms and conditions of the Offer
7
(including the Letter of Transmittal and the Instructions to the Letter of
Transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. No tender of Shares will
be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have
been cured or waived. None of Purchaser, Parent, the Dealer Manager, the
Depositary, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to
give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any
liability for failure to give any such notification.
APPOINTMENT. By executing the Letter of Transmittal as set forth above
(including through delivery of an Agent's Message), a tendering stockholder
irrevocably appoints designees of Purchaser as such stockholder's
attorneys-in-fact and proxies, each with full power of substitution, in the
manner set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, to the full extent of such
stockholder's right with respect to the Shares tendered by such stockholder and
accepted for payment by Purchaser (and any and all other Shares or other
securities or rights issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or after
March 27, 1998). All such powers of attorney and proxies shall be considered
coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares. This appointment is effective
upon the acceptance for payment of the Shares by Purchaser. Upon acceptance for
payment, all prior powers of attorney and proxies given by the stockholder with
respect to such Shares or other securities or rights will, without further
action, be revoked and no subsequent proxies may be given or written consent
executed (and, if given or executed, will not be deemed effective). The
designees of Purchaser will, with respect to the Shares and other securities or
rights, be empowered to exercise all voting and other rights of such stockholder
as they in their sole judgment deem proper in respect of any annual or special
meeting of the Company's stockholders, any adjournment or postponement thereof,
actions by written consent in lieu of such meeting or otherwise. Purchaser
reserves the right to require that, in order for Shares to be deemed validly
tendered, immediately upon Purchaser's acceptance for payment of such Shares,
Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights with
respect to such Shares and the other securities or rights issued or issuable in
respect of such Shares, including voting at any meeting of stockholders (whether
annual or special or whether or not adjourned) or acting by written consent
without a meeting in respect of such Shares.
A tender of Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described above
will constitute the tendering stockholder's acceptance of the terms and
conditions of the Offer, as well as the tendering stockholder's representation
and warranty that (i) such stockholder has the full power and authority to
tender, sell, assign and transfer the tendered Shares (and any and all other
Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or
after March 27, 1998), and (ii) when the same are accepted for payment by
Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and
clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to
any adverse claims. Purchaser's acceptance for payment of Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering
stockholder and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Offer.
4. WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
Except as otherwise provided in this section, tenders of Shares made
pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable. Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may
be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date and, unless theretofore
accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer, may also be withdrawn at any time
after June 1, 1998. If purchase of or payment for Shares is delayed for any
reason or if Purchaser is unable to purchase or pay for Shares for any reason,
then, without prejudice to Purchaser's rights under the Offer, tendered Shares
may be retained by the Depositary on behalf of Purchaser and may not be
withdrawn except to the extent that tendering stockholders are entitled to
withdrawal rights as set forth in this section, subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under
the Exchange Act which provides that no person who makes a tender offer shall
fail to pay the consideration offered or return the securities deposited by or
on behalf of security holders promptly after the termination or withdrawal of
the Offer.
8
For a withdrawal to be effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile
transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at
one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Any
notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares
to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name in which the
certificates representing such Shares are registered, if different from that of
the person who tendered the Shares. If certificates for Shares to be withdrawn
have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, then, prior to
the physical release of such certificates, the serial numbers shown on such
certificates must be submitted to the Depositary and, unless such Shares have
been tendered by an Eligible Institution, the signatures on the notice of
withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been
tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth in Section
3 of this Offer to Purchase, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name
and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited
with the withdrawn Shares. All questions as to the form and validity (including
time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by Purchaser, in
its sole discretion, and its determination will be final and binding on all
parties. None of Purchaser, Parent, the Dealer Manager, the Depositary, the
Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give
notification of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or
incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
Any Shares properly withdrawn will be deemed not validly tendered for
purposes of the Offer, but may be retendered at any subsequent time prior to the
Expiration Date by following any of the procedures described in Section 3 of
this Offer to Purchase.
5. CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences
of the Offer and the Merger to holders whose Shares are purchased pursuant to
the Offer or whose Shares are converted to cash in the Merger (including
pursuant to the exercise of appraisal rights). This summary does not, however,
purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax effects of the Offer
and the Merger. This summary is based on current provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), currently applicable Treasury
regulations and judicial and administrative decisions and rulings. There can be
no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") will not take a
contrary view, and no ruling from the IRS has been or will be sought.
Legislative, judicial or administrative changes may be forthcoming that could
alter or modify the statements and conclusions set forth herein. Any such
changes or interpretations could be retroactive and could affect the tax
consequences to holders whose Shares are purchased pursuant to the Offer. This
discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of United States federal
income taxation that may affect any particular holder in light of such holder's
individual circumstances, and is not intended for certain types of holders
subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax law
(e.g., holders of Shares in whose hands Shares are not capital assets, holders
who received their Shares pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or
otherwise as compensation, financial institutions, broker-dealers, insurance
companies, tax-exempt organizations, non-United States persons or persons who
hold their Shares as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction).
EACH HOLDER OF SHARES SHOULD CONSULT SUCH XXXXXX'S OWN TAX ADVISOR TO
DETERMINE THE APPLICABILITY OF THE RULES DISCUSSED BELOW TO SUCH HOLDER AND THE
PARTICULAR TAX EFFECTS OF THE OFFER AND THE MERGER, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION
AND EFFECT OF STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER INCOME TAX LAWS.
GAIN OR LOSS. The receipt of cash for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the
Merger (including pursuant to the exercise of appraisal rights) will be a
taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes. In general, a holder of
Shares will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between his or her
adjusted tax basis in the Shares sold pursuant to the Offer or converted to cash
in the Merger and the amount of cash received therefor. Gain or loss should
generally be determined separately for each block of Shares (i.e., Shares
acquired at the same cost in a single transaction) sold pursuant to the Offer or
converted to
9
cash in the Merger. Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss
provided the Shares are a capital asset in the hands of the stockholders and
will be long-term capital gain or loss if, on the date of sale (or, if
applicable, the date of the Merger), the Shares were held for more than 12
months. The maximum capital gains tax rate currently applicable to noncorporate
taxpayers is equal to 20% for Shares held more than 18 months at the time of
disposition and is equal to 28% for Shares held more than 12 months but not more
than 18 months. Corporate taxpayers are subject to a 35% capital gains tax rate.
If a holder exercises such holder's appraisal rights and receives an amount
treated as interest for federal income tax purposes, such amount will be taxed
as ordinary income.
BACKUP FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING. Payments in connection with the
Offer or the Merger may be subject to "backup withholding" at a rate of 31%.
Backup withholding generally applies if the holder (a) fails to furnish such
holder's TIN, (b) furnishes an incorrect TIN, (c) is subject to backup
withholding due to previous failures to file a federal income tax return
including reportable interest or dividend payments, or (d) under certain
circumstances, fails to provide a certified statement, signed under penalties of
perjury, that such holder is not subject to backup withholding due to previous
failures to file a federal income tax return including reportable interest or
dividend payments. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, rather it is an
advance tax payment that is subject to refund if, and to the extent that, it
results in an overpayment of tax. Certain taxpayers are generally exempt from
backup withholding, including corporations and financial institutions. Certain
penalties apply for failure to furnish correct information and for failure to
include reportable payments in income. Each holder of Shares should consult with
his or her own tax advisor as to his or her qualification for exemption from
backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such exemption. Tendering
holders of Shares may be able to prevent backup withholding by completing the
Substitute Form W-9 included in the Letter of Transmittal. See Section 3 of this
Offer to Purchase and Instruction 8 to the Letter of Transmittal.
QUALIFIED SMALL BUSINESS STOCK. The Company has advised Purchaser that it
believes that Shares issued by it on December 17, 1993 may constitute "qualified
small business stock" under the Code. Qualified small business stock is
generally stock issued after August 10, 1993 that is acquired by certain
taxpayers at its original issue (directly or through an underwriter) from a
corporation that is a "qualified small business" at the time of such issuance.
Qualified small business stock retains its character after certain transfers,
including gifts or transfers by reason of death. In addition, certain
look-through rules apply for taxpayers holding qualified small business stock
through a partnership, regulated investment company or certain other
pass-through entities.
Gain with respect to qualified small business stock held by non-corporate
taxpayers may be eligible for a fifty percent exclusion from gross income (in
addition to certain favorable capital gains rates generally permitted) if held
for more than five years. In addition, such gain may generally be deferred by an
electing individual that has directly held such stock for more than six months
if the amount realized on the sale thereof is used to purchase other qualified
small business stock within 60 days of such sale (but gain will have to be
recognized to the extent that such sales proceeds are not so reinvested). Gain
on Shares constituting qualified small business stock tendered pursuant to the
Offer or converted to cash in the Merger likely will not be eligible for the
fifty percent gross income exclusion, but may be eligible for deferral. If an
individual elects to defer the recognition of gain on the sale of Shares, such
individual will have to reduce such individual's basis in the other qualified
small business stock acquired by the amount of such deferred gain, and the
holding period of the acquired stock will include such individual's holding
period of the Shares. EACH NON-CORPORATE HOLDER OF SHARES ACQUIRED ON ORIGINAL
ISSUANCE ON DECEMBER 17, 1993 AND CERTAIN SUBSEQUENT HOLDERS THEREOF SHOULD
CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SELLING SUCH
SHARES.
10
6. PRICE RANGE OF SHARES; DIVIDENDS
The Shares are listed and trade on NNM under the symbol "CDCR." The
following table sets forth for the quarterly fiscal periods ended March 31, June
30, September 30 and December 31 the high and low sales prices per Share as
reported by NNM.
HIGH LOW
--------- ---------
1996:
First Quarter............................................................. $ 5.75 $ 4.00
Second Quarter............................................................ 8.63 4.63
Third Quarter............................................................. 7.00 5.00
Fourth Quarter............................................................ 8.13 4.75
1997:
First Quarter............................................................. $ 7.00 $ 4.88
Second Quarter............................................................ 7.50 4.63
Third Quarter............................................................. 8.00 6.38
Fourth Quarter............................................................ 9.88 7.13
1998:
First Quarter............................................................. $ 12.50 $ 9.13
Second Quarter through April 2, 1998...................................... 12.06 12.00
On March 27, 1998, the last full trading day prior to the date of the public
announcement of the Merger Agreement, the last sales price per Share was $10.13.
HOLDERS OF SHARES ARE URGED TO OBTAIN CURRENT MARKET QUOTATIONS FOR THE SHARES.
The Company has publicly stated it has not paid, and does not intend to pay,
any cash dividends on the Shares. See Section 14 of this Offer to Purchase.
7. CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE TRANSACTION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. The Merger Agreement requires the
Company to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the resignation of each
director on the Company Board, other than Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, prior to the
consummation of the Offer, which resignations are to be effective immediately
following the consummation of the Offer. See Section 13 of this Offer to
Purchase. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, promptly upon acceptance for payment
and payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer, and from time to time thereafter,
the Company and the Company Board shall, upon the request of Parent, promptly
take all action, subject to compliance with applicable law, necessary to cause
to be elected as directors of the Company a number of directors designated by
Parent equal to the product, rounded up to the next whole number, of the total
number of directors on the Company Board (giving effect to the directors so
elected) multiplied by the percentage that the number of Shares accepted for
payment and paid for by Purchaser bears to the number of Shares outstanding. The
Company is further required to use its reasonable best efforts to cause Xxxxxx's
designees to be so elected, including by accepting the resignations of certain
incumbent directors or increasing the size of the Company Board and causing
Xxxxxx's designees to be elected. Purchaser and Parent intend to take such steps
as are necessary in accordance with the Merger Agreement to assure that Xxxxxx's
designees constitute a majority or more of the directors on the Company Board
immediately following the consummation of the Offer.
EFFECT UPON THE SHARES. The purchase of the Shares by Purchaser pursuant to
the Offer will reduce the number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly
and will reduce the number of holders of Shares, which could adversely affect
the liquidity and market value of the remaining Shares held by holders of Shares
other than Purchaser. According to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (the "Company's 10-K"), as of March 21,
1998 there were approximately 307 holders of record of the Shares.
11
Depending upon the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer and the
aggregate market value of any Shares not purchased pursuant to the Offer, the
Shares may no longer meet the standards for continued listing on NNM and may be
delisted from NNM. The published guidelines of NNM indicate that NNM would
consider delisting the Shares if, among other things, either (i) the number of
round lot holders of Shares should fall below 400, the number of publicly held
Shares should fall below 750,000, the aggregate market value of the publicly
held Shares should fall below $5,000,000, the minimum bid price for Shares
should fall below $1 per Share, the net tangible assets of the Company should
fall below $4,000,000 or there should be less than two registered and active
market makers providing quotations for the Shares, or, alternatively, (ii) the
market capitalization of the Company (or the Company's total assets and total
revenue, respectively) should fall below $50,000,000, the number of round lot
holders of Shares should fall below 400, the number of publicly held Shares
should fall below 1,100,000, the aggregate market value of the publicly held
Shares should fall below $15,000,000, the minimum bid price for Shares should
fall below $5 per Share or there should be less than four registered and active
market makers providing quotations for the Shares. If neither of the foregoing
standards are met, the Shares would no longer be admitted to quotation on NNM.
To the extent the Shares are delisted from NNM, the market for Shares could
be adversely affected. If NNM were to delist the Shares, it is possible that the
Shares would continue to trade in the over-the-counter market and that price
quotations for the Shares would be reported by other sources. The extent of the
public market for the Shares and the availability of such quotations would,
however, depend on the number of holders of Shares remaining at such time, the
interest in maintaining a market in the Shares on the part of securities firms,
the possible termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act
(as described below) and other factors. Purchaser cannot predict whether the
reduction in the number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly, if any,
effected by the Offer would have an adverse or beneficial effect on the market
price for or marketability of the Shares or whether it would cause future market
prices to be greater or less than the Offer Price.
The Shares are currently registered under the Exchange Act. Such
registration may be terminated upon application by the Company to the Commission
if there are fewer than 300 holders of record of Shares. It is the intention of
Purchaser to seek to cause an application for such termination to be made as
soon after consummation of the Offer as the requirements for termination of
registration of the Shares are met. If such registration were terminated, the
Company would no longer legally be required to disclose publicly in proxy
materials distributed to stockholders the information which it now must provide
under the Exchange Act or to make public disclosure of financial and other
information in annual, quarterly and other reports required to be filed with the
Commission under the Exchange Act, and the executive officers and directors of
the Company and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Shares would no longer
be subject to the "short-swing" xxxxxxx xxxxxxx reporting and profit recovery
provisions of the Exchange Act. Furthermore, if such registration were
terminated, "affiliates" of the Company and persons holding "restricted
securities" of the Company may be deprived of their ability to dispose of such
securities under Rule 144 or 144A promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
If registration of the Shares is not terminated and the Shares are not
delisted prior to the Merger, then the Shares will cease to be listed on NNM and
the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act will be terminated
following the Merger.
MARGIN REGULATIONS. The Shares are currently "margin securities" as such
term is defined under the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board"), which has the effect, among other
things, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of such
securities. Depending upon factors similar to those described above with respect
to listing and market quotations, it is possible that, following the Offer, the
Shares would no longer constitute "margin securities" for purposes of the margin
regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, in which event such Shares could no
longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers.
12
8. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, THE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY
CONTAINED IN THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE, INCLUDING FINANCIAL INFORMATION, HAS BEEN
FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY OR HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM OR BASED UPON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION AND OTHER PUBLIC SOURCES.
ALTHOUGH NONE OF PARENT, PURCHASER OR THE DEALER MANAGER HAS ANY KNOWLEDGE THAT
WOULD INDICATE THAT STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN BASED UPON SUCH DOCUMENTS ARE
UNTRUE, NONE OF PARENT, PURCHASER OR THE DEALER MANAGER ASSUMES ANY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION CONCERNING
THE COMPANY, FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY OR CONTAINED IN SUCH DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS
OR FOR ANY FAILURE BY THE COMPANY TO DISCLOSE EVENTS WHICH MAY HAVE OCCURRED OR
MAY AFFECT THE SIGNIFICANCE OR ACCURACY OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION BUT WHICH ARE
UNKNOWN TO PARENT, PURCHASER OR THE DEALER MANAGER.
According to the Company's 10-K, the Company is a leading chain of
preschools in the United States providing educational services for children of
both preschool and elementary school age. As of December 31, 1997, the Company
operated 248 preschools in 22 states and the District of Columbia with an
aggregate licensed capacity of approximately 25,000 children. The Company
provides programs to children primarily between 2 1/2 and six years of age as
well as after school programs for school age children and infant care. The
Company's school age programs include private academic programs for children in
kindergarten through eighth grade, before and after school programs and summer
camps.
Set forth below is certain summary consolidated financial data with respect
to the Company excerpted or derived in part from financial information contained
in the Company's 10-K. More comprehensive financial information is included in
such reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission. For
the periods covered by such reports, the following summary is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such reports and such other documents and all the
financial information (including any related notes) contained therein. Such
reports and other documents should be available for inspection and copies
thereof should be obtainable in the manner set forth below.
CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31,
--------------------
1997 1996
--------- ---------
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Revenue from Operations............................................................... $ 93,015 $ 87,480
Operating Expenses.................................................................... 88,530 85,037
Income from Operations................................................................ 4,485 2,443
Other Income (Expense)................................................................ (885) (1,317)
Income Before Income Taxes............................................................ 3,600 1,126
Provision for Income Taxes............................................................ 1,100 225
Net Income............................................................................ $ 2,500 $ 901
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
PER SHARE DATA:
Net Income per Share.................................................................. $ 0.37 $ 0.14
AT DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
1997 1996
--------- ---------
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total Assets.......................................................................... $ 77,740 $ 75,335
Total Liabilities..................................................................... 24,911 25,048
Stockholders' Equity.................................................................. 52,829 50,287
13
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act
and in accordance therewith files periodic reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Commission relating to its business, financial condition
and other matters. The Company is required to disclose in such proxy statements
certain information, as of particular dates, concerning the Company's directors
and officers, their remuneration, stock options granted to them, the principal
holders of the Company's securities and any material interests of such persons
in transactions with the Company. Such reports, proxy statements and other
information may be inspected at the public reference facilities maintained by
the Commission at Room 1024, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000, and
at the regional offices of the Commission located at Seven World Trade Center,
13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and Northwestern Atrium Center, 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The Commission also
maintains a web site on the Internet at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx that contains reports
and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the
Commission.
PROJECTIONS. Parent has received certain non-public information from the
Company (the "Projections"). The non-public information included certain
financial projections for the fiscal year 1998, including income statement and
balance sheet projections which are summarized below. The Projections do not
take into account any of the potential effects of the transactions contemplated
by the Offer and the Merger.
CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
BUDGET 1998
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
FISCAL QUARTER ENDING YEAR ENDING
--------------------------------------------------- ------------
MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1998 1998 1998 1998 1998
----------- --------- ------------- ------------ ------------
INCOME STATEMENT:
Revenue from Operations..................... $ 23,862 $ 26,120 $ 25,051 $ 26,155 $ 101,188
Operating Expenses.......................... 20,802 22,351 22,486 22,478 88,116
Income from Operations...................... 3,060 3,769 2,565 3,678 13,072
Other Income (Expense)...................... 1,880 1,990 2,088 2,173 8,131
Income Before Income Taxes.................. 1,180 1,780 476 1,505 4,941
Provision for Income Taxes.................. 389 587 157 496 1,630
Net Income.................................. $ 791 $ 1,193 $ 319 $ 1,008 $ 3,310
----------- --------- ------------- ------------ ------------
----------- --------- ------------- ------------ ------------
Net Income per Share........................ $ 0.11 $ 0.17 $ 0.04 $ 0.14 $ 0.46
AT JUNE 30, AT SEPTEMBER 30, AT DECEMBER 31,
AT MARCH 31, 1998 1998 1998 1998
----------------- --------------- -------------------- -------------------
BALANCE SHEET:
Total Assets.................... $ 78,864 $ 81,217 $ 81,396 $ 83,569
Total Liabilities............... $ 25,257 $ 26,418 $ 26,278 $ 27,443
Stockholders' Equity............ $ 53,607 $ 54,799 $ 55,118 $ 56,126
THE PROJECTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE WERE NOT PREPARED BY PARENT OR PURCHASER OR
WITH A VIEW TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OR COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLISHED GUIDELINES OF THE
COMMISSION OR THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS REGARDING
PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION. THE PROJECTIONS REFLECT NUMEROUS ASSUMPTIONS,
ALL MADE BY MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY, WITH RESPECT TO INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE,
GENERAL BUSINESS, ECONOMIC, MARKET AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND OTHER MATTERS,
ALL OF WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE COMPANY'S
CONTROL AND NONE OF WHICH WERE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY PARENT OR PURCHASER.
ACCORDINGLY, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT
14
THE ASSUMPTIONS MADE IN PREPARING THE PROJECTIONS WILL PROVE ACCURATE, AND
ACTUAL RESULTS MAY BE MATERIALLY GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THE
PROJECTIONS. THE PROJECTIONS ARE INCLUDED HEREIN SOLELY BECAUSE SUCH INFORMATION
WAS FURNISHED TO PARENT IN JANUARY 1998. ACCORDINGLY, THE INCLUSION OF THE
PROJECTIONS IN THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS AN INDICATION
THAT PARENT, PURCHASER OR THE COMPANY OR THEIR RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS, OR
THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, CONSIDER SUCH INFORMATION TO BE
ACCURATE, RELIABLE OR ACHIEVABLE, AND NONE OF SUCH PERSONS OR ENTITIES ASSUMES
ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY THEREOF.
9. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND PURCHASER
Purchaser is a Delaware corporation formed for the purpose of acquiring the
Company and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. To date, Purchaser has not
conducted any business other than incident to its formation and the commencement
of the Offer. The principal executive offices of Purchaser are located at 000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000.
Parent is a Delaware corporation whose principal business is to acquire
interests in, and/or operate, other companies and businesses, primarily, but not
limited to, companies and businesses engaged in education. The principal
executive offices of Parent are located at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000. Annex I to this Offer to Purchase sets forth certain
information with respect to the executive officers and directors of Purchaser,
Parent and certain related entities and persons with interests therein and
certain persons who may be deemed to control Purchaser, Parent and such related
entities.
Neither Purchaser nor Parent are subject to the informational requirements
of the Exchange Act and accordingly are not required to, and do not, file
periodic reports and other information with the Commission relating to their
respective businesses, financial condition and other matters. At April 2, 1998,
Parent had in excess of approximately $85,000,000 in cash and cash equivalent
assets and had no liabilities other than certain fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the Offer and its obligations under the Parent Note (as defined
in Section 10 of this Offer to Purchase). See Sections 10 and 17 of this Offer
to Purchase.
Except as otherwise set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of Parent or
Purchaser, nor, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, any of the
persons or entities listed in Annex I hereto owns or has any right to acquire
any Shares and none of them has effected any transaction in the Shares during
the past sixty days.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of Parent or Purchaser,
nor, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, any of the persons or
entities listed in Annex I hereto has any contract, arrangement, understanding
or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of the
Company, including, without limitation, any contract, arrangement, understanding
or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any securities of the
Company, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties
of loans, guaranties against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of Parent or Purchaser, nor,
to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, any of the persons or entities
listed in Annex I hereto has had any transactions with the Company, or any of
its executive officers, directors or affiliates that would require reporting
under the rules of the Commission.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, there have been no contacts,
negotiations or transactions between any of Parent or Purchaser or their
respective subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, any
of the persons or entities listed in Annex I hereto, on the one hand, and the
Company or its executive officers, directors or affiliates, on the other hand,
concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender offer or other
acquisition of securities, election of directors or a sale or other transfer of
a material amount of assets.
15
10. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS
The total amount of funds required by Purchaser to purchase all of the
Shares pursuant to the Offer is estimated to be approximately $83,000,000. Fees
and expenses related to the Offer and the Merger payable by Purchaser are
estimated not to exceed an additional $2,000,000. Purchaser will obtain all of
the funds necessary to consummate the Offer and the Merger from Parent in the
form of (i) a $50,000,000 capital contribution and (ii) a $35,000,000 loan to be
evidenced by a promissory note accruing interest at 8% per annum and maturing on
April 2, 1999 (the "Purchaser Note"). Parent will fund its capital contribution
and the loan to Purchaser entirely from its unrestricted working capital
reserves, which exceed $85,000,000.
On April 2, 1998, Parent borrowed $35,000,000 from Knowledge University
Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("Lender") and an
affiliate of Parent, pursuant to a promissory note (the "Parent Note") in favor
of Lender in the aggregate principal amount of $35,000,000. The entire principal
amount of the Parent Note and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon will
become due on April 2, 1999 and the Parent Note bears interest at a rate of 8%
per annum. The Parent Note is unsecured. No person or entity listed on Annex I
to this Offer to Purchase (other than Parent) will be obligated under the Parent
Note, will guarantee the Parent Note or will otherwise support the repayment of
funds advanced pursuant to the Parent Note.
Although no definitive plans or arrangements for the repayment of funds
advanced pursuant to the Parent Note or the Purchaser Note have been
established, Purchaser anticipates the Purchaser Note will be repaid after the
Effective Time with the proceeds of future bank financings. Parent intends to
repay the Parent Note with the proceeds from the repayment of the Purchaser
Note. Such decision will be made based on Parent's and Purchaser's review from
time to time of the advisability of particular actions with respect to such
repayment, as well as prevailing interest rates, financial and other economic
conditions and such other factors as Parent and Purchaser may deem appropriate.
The Offer is not subject to any financing contingency. None of the persons
or entities listed in Annex I to this Offer to Purchase is obligated to fund,
nor does any such person or entity intend to fund, any portion of the Offer or
the Merger.
11. BACKGROUND OF THE OFFER; PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH
THE COMPANY
BACKGROUND OF THE OFFER. On November 11, 1997, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Treasurer
and Secretary of each of Parent and Purchaser, met with Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in San Rafael, California to
initiate discussions regarding a possible merger or other combination involving
the Company, Preschool Education Co., L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company ("PEC"), a subsidiary of Knowledge Universe, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company ("Knowledge Universe"), and the direct parent of Parent and
Knowledge Universe. Subsequent to the November 11, 1997 meeting, representatives
of PEC and Knowledge Universe contacted representatives of DLJ to discuss the
prospect of a potential acquisition of the Company.
During November and December 1997, representatives of the Company, PEC and
Knowledge Unviverse and their respective financial advisors, including
XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx & Co. ("XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx") and DLJ, respectively, engaged in
discussions regarding the economic and other terms of a possible transaction
involving the Company and PEC or an affiliate of PEC. On December 22, 1997, PEC
and Knowledge Universe, acting through DLJ, made a non-binding proposal for the
acquisition of the Company, subject to customary financial, legal, accounting
and other due diligence. In early January 1998, PEC, Knowledge Universe and DLJ
commenced a comprehensive business due diligence investigation of the Company
and its financial affairs, including physical inspections of a number of the
Company's school facilities.
In late January 1998, the Company was informed by PEC that it would need to
undertake accounting and legal due diligence before it could make a firm
proposal, and that such due diligence would only be undertaken by PEC on an
exclusive basis, with economic protection should the Company enter into an
16
alternative transaction during, or within a limited period of time following,
the conduct of such due diligence. At the request of PEC, the Company and PEC
entered into an interim agreement on February 5, 1998 pursuant to which the
Company agreed not to pursue alternative transactions with third parties during
a limited period of time to permit further due diligence. Pursuant to such
interim agreement, the Company also granted PEC a one year option with
contingent exercise rights on 300,000 Shares at $9.50 per Share and agreed to
reimburse PEC for certain due diligence expenses under certain circumstances.
On February 27, 1998, PEC advised the Company that it and its affiliates had
completed the due diligence review of the Company and that Parent was prepared
to offer to acquire the Company for cash at a price of $12.25 per Share, subject
to execution of a definitive agreement.
From late February 1998 through late March 1998, Parent and the Company
negotiated the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Option and
Support Agreement and related documents. On March 18, 1998, all directors on the
Company Board and certain representatives of Advest participated in a telephonic
meeting of the Company Board at which time the Company Board, among other
things, approved and adopted the Offer and the Merger and recommended that the
Company's stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the
Offer. The parties executed the Merger Agreement on March 27, 1998 and delivered
the signature pages thereto into escrow pending the delivery of certain
ancillary documents, which were delivered to Parent on March 29, 1998. The
execution of the Merger Agreement was publicly announced prior to the opening of
the financial markets on March 30, 1998.
CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PARENT AND CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. Concurrent with the execution of the Merger
Agreement, Parent and Xx. Xxxxx entered into an Employment Agreement (the "Yalow
Employment Agreement") providing for the employment of Xx. Xxxxx by Parent. The
Yalow Employment Agreement is contingent upon the consummation of the Offer and
will become effective upon a date designated by Parent, which date will be on or
after the consummation of the Offer and on or prior to the Effective Time. The
terms and conditions of the Yalow Employment Agreement, once effective, will
supersede the terms and conditions of Xx. Xxxxx'x employment with the Company.
Pursuant to the Yalow Employment Agreement, Xx. Xxxxx is required to serve
Parent and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates in such executive capacity, and
agrees to hold such office(s), as the Board of Directors of Parent shall from
time to time designate. In consideration for such services, Xx. Xxxxx will
receive base compensation of $200,000 per year during the term of the Yalow
Employment Agreement and will be eligible, in the sole discretion of Parent,
each fiscal year for a bonus of up to 50% of such base compensation in
accordance with Parent's bonus policy in effect from time to time, as well as
certain other benefits set forth in the Yalow Employment Agreement. In addition,
at such time as Parent or the Surviving Corporation adopts an employee equity
participation program, Xx. Xxxxx will be eligible to participate in such program
and will be granted rights in an amount, at a stated price, on a vesting
schedule and subject to such other terms and conditions as shall be determined
by the Board of Directors of Parent or its compensation committee, if
applicable. In accordance with the Yalow Employment Agreement, 10,000 Options
held by Xx. Xxxxx will be canceled as of the Effective Time and will be replaced
with options, stock appreciation or other rights (with the same vesting schedule
as such Options) at exercise prices that will result in Xx. Xxxxx realizing an
economic benefit substantially similar to such canceled Options (provided that
such economic benefit does not constitute an "excess parachute payment" under
Section 280G of the Code). The Yalow Employment Agreement further provides that,
during the term thereof, Xx. Xxxxx will not compete with Parent and that during
her employment with Parent and for two years after the date of termination of
such employment, Xx. Xxxxx will not, among other things, interfere with Parent's
business relationships with its customers or suppliers, employees or independent
contractors. The Yalow Employment Agreement also provides that during the term
thereof and, depending on the circumstances under which the Yalow Employment
Agreement terminates, for an additional period of up to two years after such
termination, Xx. Xxxxx will not be engaged in, or own or control, or be
associated with, any business that operates preschools or elementary schools
anywhere in the world or, under certain circumstances, any competitive business
that involves any form of early childhood or
17
elementary education or that otherwise competes with Parent anywhere in the
world. Pursuant to the Yalow Employment Agreement, the term of Xx. Xxxxx'x
employment with Parent commences upon the effective date thereof and terminates
3 years thereafter.
As an inducement to entering into the Merger Agreement, Parent requested
that the Company enter into a Consulting Agreement (the "Consulting Agreement")
with Xx. Xxxxxx concurrent with the execution of the Merger Agreement. The
Consulting Agreement is contingent upon the consummation of the Offer and will
become effective upon a date designated by Parent, which date will be on or
after the consummation of the Offer and on or prior to the Effective Time.
Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, among other things, Xx. Xxxxxx agrees to
resign, as of the effective date of the Consulting Agreement, as an employee and
an officer of the Company and the Company agrees to engage Xx. Xxxxxx as a
consultant to the Company upon the terms and conditions set forth therein. In
consideration for such consulting services, Xx. Xxxxxx will receive a consulting
fee equal to $350,000 per annum. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, Xx.
Xxxxxx'x engagement as a consultant to the Company commences upon the effective
date thereof and terminates 2 years thereafter and the entire consulting fee for
such 2-year term (equal to $700,000) shall be paid to Xx. Xxxxxx as of the
effective date of the Consulting Agreement. The Consulting Agreement provides
that, during the term thereof, Xx. Xxxxxx will not engage in any other business
activity which would interfere with the performance of his duties under the
Consulting Agreement, including engaging in any business that, as more than an
incidental part of its business, operates preschools or elementary schools (a
"Competitive Business). In addition, for two years after the effective date of
the Consulting Agreement, even if terminated, Xx. Xxxxxx agrees that he will not
interfere with the Company's business relationships with its customers or
suppliers, employees or independent contractors, and will not be engaged in, or
own or control, or be associated with, any Competitive Business anywhere in
North America. The Consulting Agreement supersedes any previous employment,
consulting or similar agreement between the Company and Xx. Xxxxxx.
In addition to the foregoing and in order to induce Parent to enter into the
Merger Agreement, Parent further requested that the Company enter into
employment agreements (the "Employment Agreements") with certain officers of the
Company concurrent with the execution of the Merger Agreement. The Employment
Agreements are contingent upon the consummation of the Offer and will become
effective upon a date designated by Parent, which date will be on or after the
consummation of the Offer and on or prior to the Effective Time. Except as set
forth below, the Employment Agreements have identical terms and generally
provide for the continued employment, as of the effective date, respectively,
thereof, of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, each an
officer of the Company (such individuals, together with Xx. Xxxxx and Xx.
Xxxxxx, hereinafter referred to as the "Named Officers") in consideration for
the payment of base compensation of $110,000 per annum, in the case of Messrs.
Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx, and $90,000 per annum, in the case of Xx. Xxxxxxx, as well
as certain other benefits set forth in their respective Employment Agreements.
In addition, each of Messrs. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxxx will be
eligible, at the sole discretion of the Company, in accordance with their
respective Employment Agreements for a bonus of up to 30% of such Named
Officer's base compensation in accordance with the Company's bonus policy in
effect from time to time. At such time as the Company adopts an employee equity
participation program, each of the foregoing Named Officers will be eligible to
participate in such program and will be granted rights in an amount, at a stated
price, on a vesting schedule and subject to such other terms and conditions as
shall be determined by the Company Board or its compensation committee, if
applicable. Each of the Employment Agreements provides that, during the term
thereof, the Named Officer party thereto will not compete with the Company and
that, during the term thereof and for two years from the date of termination
thereof, such Named Officer will not interfere with the Company's business
relationships with its customers or suppliers, employees or independent
contractors. Each Employment Agreement also provides that, during the term
thereof and for two years from the date of termination thereof, the Named
Officer party thereto will not be engaged in, or own or control, or be
associated with, any business that involves any form of early childhood or
elementary education or that otherwise competes with the Company anywhere in the
world, except that this provision
18
will not apply to Xx. Xxxxxxx after termination of employment if her Employment
Agreement is terminated by the Company without cause. Each of the Employment
Agreements provides for a term of employment equal to 2 years after the
effective date, respectively, thereof.
XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx has provided certain financial advisory services to the
Company in connection with the Merger Agreement. Following the consummation of
the Merger, Parent may retain XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx as financial advisor to the
Surviving Corporation in connection with the disposition of certain
non-material, non-core assets of the Company.
12. PURPOSE OF THE OFFER AND THE MERGER; PLANS FOR THE COMPANY
PURPOSE. The Offer is being made pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The
purpose of the Offer, the Merger and the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby is to enable Parent to acquire control of, and to own the
entire equity interest in, the Company. Upon consummation of the Merger, the
Surviving Corporation will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
Under the DGCL and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the approval
of the Company Board, and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding Shares are required to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger. Section 203 of
the DGCL prevents certain "business combinations" with an "interested
stockholder" (generally, any person who owns or has the right to acquire 15% or
more of a corporation's outstanding voting stock) for a period of three years
following the time such person became an interested stockholder unless, among
other things, prior to the time the interested stockholder became such, the
board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination
or the transaction in which the interested stockholder became such.
The Company Board is comprised of seven members. The Company Board has
unanimously approved the Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the Option
and Support Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby for the purposes
of Section 203 of the DGCL, and has taken all action necessary to render Section
203 of the DGCL and other state takeover statutes inapplicable to the Offer, the
Merger and the Option and Support Agreement. Unless the Merger is consummated
pursuant to the "short-form" merger provisions under the DGCL described below
(in which case no further corporate action by the stockholders of the Company
will be required to complete the Merger), the only remaining required corporate
action of the Company will be the approval of the Merger by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the Shares. If the Minimum Condition is
satisfied, Purchaser will have the ability to approve and adopt the Merger by
virtue of its ownership of a majority of the Shares without the affirmative vote
of any other stockholder of the Company.
PLANS FOR THE COMPANY AFTER THE OFFER. Once the Offer is consummated, if
permitted by NNM and the Exchange Act, it is the intention of Purchaser and
Parent to seek to cause the Company to file applications to withdraw the Shares
from listing on NNM and to terminate the registration of the Shares under the
Exchange Act. See Section 7 of this Offer to Purchase. In the event that the
Shares are no longer included for quotation on NNM, it is possible that the
Shares would continue to trade in the over-the-counter market and that price
quotations would be reported by other sources. The extent of the public market
for the Shares and the availability of such quotations would, however, depend on
the number of holders of Shares remaining at such time, the interest in
maintaining a market in Shares on the part of securities firms, the possible
termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act (as described
below) and other factors. To the extent the Shares are delisted from NNM, the
market for Shares could be adversely affected. Further, neither Parent nor
Purchaser can predict whether the reduction in the number of Shares that might
otherwise trade publicly, if any, effected by the Offer would have an adverse or
beneficial effect on the market price for or marketability of the Shares or
whether it would cause future market prices to be greater or less than the Offer
Price. See Section 7 of this Offer to Purchase.
19
If, following consummation of the Offer, Purchaser owns 90% or more of the
outstanding Shares, Purchaser intends, and Parent intends to cause Purchaser, to
consummate the Merger as a "short-form" merger pursuant to Section 253 of the
DGCL. Under such circumstances, neither the approval of any holder of Shares
(other than Purchaser) or of the Company Board would be required. Assuming all
outstanding Options are exercised and tendered pursuant to the Offer, upon the
tender of all Shares owned by the Selling Stockholders in accordance with the
Option and Support Agreement, Purchaser will need to acquire an additional
4,706,350 Shares pursuant to the Offer to reach the 90% ownership level
necessary to effect such a "short-form" merger under the DGCL.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, promptly upon acceptance for
payment and payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer, and from time to time
thereafter, the Company and the Company Board shall, upon the request of Parent,
promptly take all action, subject to compliance with applicable law, necessary
to cause to be elected as directors of the Company a number of directors
designated by Parent equal to the product, rounded up to the next whole number,
of the total number of directors on the Company Board (giving effect to the
directors so elected) multiplied by the percentage that the number of Shares so
accepted for payment and paid for by Purchaser bears to the number of Shares
outstanding. The Company is required to use its reasonable best efforts to cause
Xxxxxx's designees to be so elected, including by accepting the resignations of
certain incumbent directors or increasing the size of the Company Board and
causing Xxxxxx's designees to be elected. In accordance with the Merger
Agreement, the Company is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain, prior to the consummation of the Offer, the resignation of each of the
directors on the Company Board, other than Xx. Xxxxx, which resignations are to
be effective immediately following consummation of the Offer. See Sections 11
and 13 of this Offer to Purchase.
After completion or termination of the Offer, Purchaser reserves the right,
but has no current intention, to acquire or sell Shares in open market or
negotiated transactions. There can be no assurance that Purchaser will acquire
such additional Shares in such circumstances or over what period of time such
additional Shares, if any, might be acquired. As a consequence, no assurance can
be given as to when Purchaser will cause the Merger to be consummated, and
similarly no assurance can be given as to when the Merger Consideration will be
paid to stockholders who do not tender their Shares in the Offer.
Pursuant to the Merger, each then-outstanding Share (other than Shares owned
by the Company, Parent or Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, Parent or Purchaser and Shares owned by stockholders
who perfect any available appraisal rights under the DGCL) shall be converted
into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Merger Consideration,
without interest thereon. All Shares that are owned by the Company, Parent,
Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company,
Parent or Purchaser at the Effective Time shall be canceled, and no
consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
Purchaser is not offering to acquire outstanding Options in the Offer.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, subject to the consummation of the Merger, in
exchange for the payment, pursuant to the Option Offer, of an amount equal to
the aggregate Merger Consideration into which Shares issuable upon exercise of
Options would have been converted if such Options had been exercised immediately
prior to the Effective Time reduced by (i) the aggregate exercise price for the
Shares then issuable upon exercise of such Options, (ii) the amount of any
withholding taxes which may be required thereon, and (iii) the amount of all
outstanding loans, if any, from the Company to such holder, all Options shall be
canceled. In accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Option Offer must be
accepted, if at all, irrevocably by the holders of Options prior to the
consummation of the Offer and must provide that holders of Options subject to
the Option Offer agree not to exercise such Options after accepting the Option
Offer. It is a condition to the Offer that all holders of Options shall have
irrevocably agreed to cancel such Options in return for the payment of
consideration pursuant to the Option Offer. See Section 15 of this Offer to
Purchase. The Company is required, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, to take
such action as may be necessary to make the Option Offer to each holder of
Options and shall use its best efforts to obtain acceptances of the Option Offer
from all such holders.
20
Following the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will be a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the officers of the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of
the Surviving Corporation until their successors are duly elected and qualified,
or their earlier death, resignation or removal. Concurrent with the execution of
the Merger Agreement, Xxxxxx has entered into the Yalow Employment Agreement to
provide, among other things, for the employment of Xx. Xxxxx by Parent
commencing on the effective date thereof, and the Company has entered into the
Consulting Agreement with Xx. Xxxxxx to provide for the resignation of Xx.
Xxxxxx as an employee and an officer of the Company and his engagement as a
consultant to the Company commencing as of the effective date thereof. See
Sections 11 and 13 of this Offer to Purchase. In addition, the Company has,
concurrent with the execution of the Merger Agreement, entered into the
Employment Agreements with certain of the Named Officers. See Sections 11 and 13
of this Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company is
required to obtain releases, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent, from
each of the Named Officers and from XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx prior to the consummation
of the Offer. Except as set forth herein with respect to the Named Officers,
neither Parent nor Xxxxxxxxx has discussed with the Company's key management
personnel, nor reached any agreement with respect to, the terms of future
employment.
Except as otherwise described in this Offer to Purchase, Purchaser has no
current plans or proposals which relate to or would result in: (a) an
extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or
liquidation involving the Company; (b) a sale or transfer of a material amount
of assets of the Company; (c) any change in the Company Board or management of
the Company, including, but not limited to, any plan or proposal to change the
number or term of directors, to fill any existing vacancy on the Company Board
or any change any material term of the employment contract of any executive
officer; (d) any material change in the present dividend rate or policy or
indebtedness or capitalization of the Company; (e) any other material change in
the Company's corporate structure or business; (f) a class of equity securities
of the Company becoming eligible for termination of registration pursuant to
Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange Act; or (g) the suspension of the Company's
obligation to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
13. MERGER AGREEMENT AND OPTION AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material terms of the Merger Agreement and
the Option and Support Agreement. Such summary is not a complete description of
such agreements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete
texts of the agreements, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the Tender
Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 filed with the Commission with respect to the
Offer, and are incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the applicable agreement.
THE MERGER AGREEMENT
THE OFFER. The Merger Agreement provides for the making of the Offer by
Purchaser. The obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer is subject to the satisfaction of the Minimum
Condition and certain other conditions that are described in Section 15 of this
Offer to Purchase. Purchaser has agreed that, without the written consent of the
Company, it may not waive the Minimum Condition or amend the Offer to decrease
the Offer Price, decrease the number of Shares being sought in the Offer, change
the form of consideration to be paid in the Offer or impose additional
conditions to the Offer. Purchaser may, without the consent of the Company,
modify the terms of the Offer, including, without limitation, to extend the
Offer beyond the scheduled Expiration Date (including an extension of up to 20
business days beyond the initial scheduled Expiration Date notwithstanding the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 15 of this Offer to
Purchase). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement
(including the right to terminate, extend or modify the Offer), and subject to
the other conditions set forth in Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase,
including, without limitation, the Minimum Condition, Purchaser will use its
reasonable best efforts to
21
consummate the Offer as soon as legally permissible in accordance with the
Merger Agreement. The conditions described in Section 15 of this Offer to
Purchase are for the sole benefit of Purchaser and may be asserted by Purchaser
regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be
waived by Purchaser, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, in
its sole discretion.
The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to compliance with applicable
law, promptly upon the acceptance for payment and payment by Purchaser of Shares
purchased pursuant to the Offer, and from time to time thereafter, Purchaser
shall be entitled to designate certain directors to the Company Board and the
Company and the Company Board shall, at such time, take all actions necessary to
cause Purchaser's designees to be so elected. See Sections 7 and 12 of this
Offer to Purchase.
THE MERGER. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the terms and
conditions therein, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time,
Purchaser (or such other subsidiary of Parent as described below) will be merged
with the Company, the separate corporate existence of Purchaser shall cease and
the Surviving Corporation will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, at Parent's election, the Merger may be structured (i)
as a merger of Purchaser and the Company, with either as the Surviving
Corporation, (ii) such that any direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent is
merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the Surviving Corporation,
or (iii) such that the Company is merged with and into any such other
subsidiary, with such other subsidiary as the Surviving Corporation. The Merger
will become effective at such time as a Certificate of Merger or, if applicable,
a Certificate of Ownership and Merger, is filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware. As a result of the Merger, all of the properties, rights,
privileges and franchises of the Company and Purchaser will vest in the
Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and
Purchaser will become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving
Corporation.
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the Company, Parent or Purchaser (i) all Shares that are owned by the
Company, Parent, Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company, Parent or Purchaser will be canceled, and no consideration will be
delivered in exchange therefor, (ii) each Share outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time will, except as otherwise provided in (i) above and except
for Shares held by stockholders exercising appraisal rights pursuant to Section
262 of the DGCL, be converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration, and (iii) the Surviving Corporation will become a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent.
The Merger Agreement provides that the Certificate of Incorporation and the
Bylaws of Purchaser at the Effective Time will be the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation. The Merger Agreement also
provides that at the Effective Time the directors of Purchaser in office
immediately prior to the Effective Time will remain in office and will be the
initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of the Company
immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the officers of the Surviving
Corporation, in each case until their successors are duly elected and qualified,
or their earlier death, resignation or removal.
STOCK OPTIONS. In accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Company shall,
prior to the consummation of the Offer, cause all Options to become exercisable
immediately prior to the Effective Time, subject to the consummation of the
Merger. The Company is required to make the Option Offer to each holder of
Options prior to the consummation of the Offer and, if such Option Offer is
accepted, the Company shall pay, subject to consummation of the Merger, each
such holder an amount equal to the aggregate Merger Consideration into which
Shares issuable upon exercise of such holder's Options would have been converted
if such Options had been exercised immediately prior to the Effective Time
reduced by (i) the aggregate exercise price for the Shares then issuable upon
exercise of such Options, (ii) the amount of any withholding taxes which may be
required thereon, and (iii) the amount of all outstanding loans, if any, from
the Company to such holder, in return for the cancellation of such Options.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Option Offer must be accepted, if at all,
irrevocably by the holders of Options prior to the consummation of the Offer and
must provide that holders of Options subject to the Option Offer agree not to
exercise such Options after accepting the Option Offer. The Company is required,
22
pursuant to the Merger Agreement, to take such action as may be necessary to
make the Option Offer to each holder of Options and shall use its best efforts
to obtain acceptances of the Option Offer from all such holders.
RECOMMENDATION. The Company represents and warrants in the Merger Agreement
that the Company Board has, by the unanimous vote of all directors at a meeting
duly called and held: (i) determined that each of the Offer and the Merger is
fair to, and in the best interests of, the holders of Shares; (ii) approved and
adopted the Merger Agreement and the Option and Support Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger; (iii)
recommended acceptance of the Offer, the tender of Shares pursuant to the Offer
and approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Merger by the
stockholders of the Company; and (iv) taken all action necessary to render
Section 203 of the DGCL and other state takeover statutes inapplicable to the
Offer, the Merger and the Option and Support Agreement. Subject to the
provisions of the Merger Agreement, the recommendation of the Company Board may
be withdrawn, modified or amended to the extent that the Company Board deems it
necessary to do so in the exercise of its fiduciary duty after being so advised
in writing by outside counsel. Any withdrawal, modification or amendment of the
recommendation of the Company Board by the Company Board or any committee
thereof in any manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser, however, may give rise to
certain termination rights on the part of Parent and Purchaser under the Merger
Agreement and the right to receive certain termination fees as set forth
therein.
INTERIM AGREEMENTS OF PARENT, PURCHASER AND THE COMPANY. Pursuant to the
Merger Agreement, the Company has covenanted and agreed that, between the date
of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, unless Parent shall otherwise
agree in writing, the business of the Company and its subsidiaries will be
conducted only in, and the Company and its subsidiaries will not take any action
except in, the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices. The
Merger Agreement provides that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts
to preserve intact and maintain the Company's business organization, its present
relationships with customers, suppliers and other persons having business
relations with the Company and its subsidiaries, assets, employees, regulatory
licenses and approvals and advantageous business relationships. Except as
otherwise contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Company will not, nor will
it permit any of its subsidiaries or other entities controlled by it, between
the date of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, without the prior
written consent of Parent, to, directly or indirectly:
(i) Amend or propose to amend its Certificate of Incorporation,
regulations or Bylaws, or equivalent organizational documents;
(ii) (a) issue, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or
authorize, propose or agree to the issuance, sale, pledge, transfer,
disposition or encumbrance of, any capital stock of the Company (except for
shares issuable upon exercise of Options outstanding on the date of the
Merger Agreement) or any of its subsidiaries; (b) issue, sell, pledge,
transfer or dispose of, or authorize, propose or agree to the issuance,
sale, pledge, transfer or disposition of any options, warrants or rights of
any kind to acquire any shares of, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for any shares of, any capital stock of any class or any other
equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (c) authorize,
recommend or propose any change in its capitalization; or (d) adopt a plan
of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation,
restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries (other than the Merger);
(iii) (a) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice, sell, pledge, transfer, lease, sell and leaseback, assign,
license, dispose of or encumber any assets of the Company or of any of its
subsidiaries (including without limitation, any indebtedness owed to them or
any claims held by them) or (b) whether or not in the ordinary course of
business, sell, pledge, transfer, lease, sell and leaseback, assign,
license, dispose of or encumber any material assets of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries;
23
(iv) (a) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or
declare, set aside or pay any dividend or distribution, payable in cash,
stock, property or otherwise with respect to any of its capital stock other
than dividends and distributions by a subsidiary of the Company to the
Company or to any other subsidiary all of the capital stock of which (other
than directors' qualifying shares) is owned directly or indirectly by the
Company, or (b) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer or agree to
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any capital stock of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries;
(v) Except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice, acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or
assets) any corporation, partnership or other business organization or
division thereof or make any investment either by purchase of stock or
securities, contributions to capital, loans, advances, property transfer or
purchase of any amount of property or assets, in any other individual or
entity (other than subsidiaries of the Company);
(vi) Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, issue any debt
securities or enter into any capitalized leases or assume, guarantee,
endorse, secure or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for, the
obligations of any other person (other than the Company and its
subsidiaries);
(vii) Take any action with respect to the grant of any severance or
termination pay (other than pursuant to policies or written agreements of
the Company in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement) or with respect
to any increase of benefits payable under its severance or termination pay
policies or written agreements in effect on the date of the Merger
Agreement;
(viii) Adopt, enter into or amend any bonus, profit sharing, compensation,
stock option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment,
severance, retention or stay or other employee benefit plan, agreement,
trust, fund or other arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any director,
officer or employee or increase in any manner the compensation or fringe
benefits of any director, officer or employee or pay any benefit not
required by any plan, arrangement or agreement in effect on the date of the
Merger Agreement;
(ix) Make any tax election or settle or compromise any federal, state,
local or foreign income tax liability;
(x) Take any action or omit to take any action, which action or omission
would reasonably be expected to result in a breach or inaccuracy of any of
the representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement in any
material respect at, or as of any time prior to, the Effective Time;
(xi) Enter into any contract or agreement other than in the ordinary
course of business or amend, terminate or modify any Material Contract or
enter into any contract or agreement which would have been a Material
Contract if entered into prior to the date of the Merger Agreement;
(xii) Enter into, amend, modify or terminate any contract or agreement
with, or make any payment other than pursuant to a written agreement
existing on the date of the Merger Agreement to, any affiliate (other than
the Company or any of its subsidiaries) of the Company or its subsidiaries,
including releasing Shares under pledge agreements;
(xiii) Settle or compromise any pending or threatened suit, action or
claim for an amount in excess of $25,000 per suit, action or claim or which
relates to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
(xiv) Authorize or make any expenditure for capital or acquisitions which
are not specifically provided for in the Company's capital budget;
(xv) Incur costs, fees and expenses in connection with the Offer, the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in
excess of (i) $1,000,000 for the costs, fees and expenses of financial
advisors, including, without limitation, XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx and Advest and
(ii) those costs, fees and expenses reasonable and necessary, including,
without limitation, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, and other
representatives and advisors (excluding financial
24
advisors), costs of preparing, printing and mailing materials to
stockholders, filing fees and other out-of-pocket costs, which shall be
evidenced by detailed invoices submitted to the Company and which shall be
payable by the Company in accordance with its standard accounts payable
practices; or
(xvi) Offer or propose to take or agree or commit to take any of the
foregoing actions.
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF PARENT, PURCHASER AND THE COMPANY. In the Merger
Agreement, the Company has agreed that, prior to the Effective Time, it will
not, nor will it authorize or permit any of its subsidiaries or any of its
subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives, to,
directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, facilitate or encourage any
inquiries or the making of any proposal with respect to any tender offer,
exchange offer, merger, consolidation, sale of assets, sales of capital stock or
other business combination involving the Company or its subsidiaries or the
acquisition of 20% or more of the assets or capital stock of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole (an "Acquisition Transaction"); (ii) negotiate,
explore or otherwise communicate in any way with, or provide or furnish any
information to, any person (other than Parent or Purchaser) with respect to any
Acquisition Transaction; or (iii) enter into any agreement, arrangement or
understanding requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate
the Offer or the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by the Merger
Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may, in response to an
unsolicited written binding offer with respect to an Acquisition Transaction
from a person with sufficient financial resources available to it to consummate
such transaction which contains no financing condition, (i) furnish or disclose
non-public information to such third party and (ii) negotiate, explore or
otherwise communicate with such third party, in each case only if the Company
Board determines in good faith (A) after consultation with its outside counsel
and financial advisors, that the Acquisition Transaction would, upon
consummation thereof, result in a transaction which is more favorable to the
Company's stockholders from a financial point of view than the Offer and the
Merger and that such Acquisition Transaction is likely to be consummated and (B)
after advice of outside counsel, that failing to take such action would
constitute a breach of the Company Board's fiduciary duties. The Company is
required to advise Parent in writing of the receipt by the Company, any of its
subsidiaries or any or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents
or representatives of any request for information, inquiries, indications of
interest, offers or proposals relating to any Acquisition Transaction and any
actions taken with respect to such Acquisition Transaction, which notice shall
include the terms and conditions of such Acquisition Transaction and the
identity of the person making such request, inquiry, indication of interest,
offer or proposal.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, between the date of the Merger Agreement
and the Effective Time, the Company is required to, and will cause its
subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, and agents to, afford the
officers, employees, counsel, investment bankers and agents of Parent and its
affiliates complete access at all reasonable times to its officers, employees,
agents, properties, books, records and contracts and shall furnish to Parent and
its affiliates all financial, operating and other data and information as Parent
or its affiliates, through their respective officers, employees or agents, may
reasonably request for such purposes as may be necessary or desirable. The
Company will, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, endorse the Offer
and the Merger and recommend to its stockholders the approval and adoption of
the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the transactions to be consummated
thereunder; and will use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper
or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the
transactions contemplated by the Offer and the Merger Agreement, and to
cooperate with Parent and Purchaser in connection with the foregoing, including
using reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary waivers, consents and
approvals, including by the Company's stockholders, if required, of the Merger
Agreement and the Merger.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company must take all action necessary
to cause a meeting of its stockholders (the "Company Stockholder Meeting"), if
required by the DGCL, to be duly called and held as promptly as practicable
after the consummation of the Offer (provided Purchaser shall have accepted for
payment Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer) for the purposes of voting on the
approval
25
and adoption of the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the transactions
contemplated thereby. The Company is also required to use its reasonable efforts
to solicit from stockholders of the Company proxies in favor of such adoption
and approval and to take all other action necessary or, in the reasonable
judgment of Parent, helpful to secure the vote or consent of the Company's
stockholders, if required by the DGCL, to effect the Merger.
The Merger Agreement provides that, if the Company Stockholder Meeting is
required by the DGCL, as promptly as practicable following consummation of the
Offer, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a proxy statement
under the Exchange Act relating to the Company Stockholder Meeting (the "Proxy
Statement") and will cause the Proxy Statement, subject to compliance with the
rules and regulations of the Commission, to be mailed to its stockholders as
promptly as practicable thereafter and will use its reasonable best efforts to
secure all necessary approvals by its stockholders of the Merger Agreement and
the Merger. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Purchaser acquires
at least 90% of the outstanding Shares and Parent so requests, Parent, Purchaser
and the Company will take all actions necessary and appropriate to cause the
Merger to become effective without a meeting of the stockholders of the Company
in accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL.
For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the officers and directors
of the Company as of the date of the Merger Agreement against all losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities arising out of actions or omissions or
alleged actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time to the
same extent and on the same terms and conditions (including with respect to
advancement of expenses) provided for in the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws in effect at the date of the Merger Agreement (to the
extent consistent with applicable law). The Surviving Corporation shall maintain
in effect the Company's existing policies of directors' and officers' liability
insurance with respect to claims arising from facts or events which occurred
prior to the Effective Time for a period of six years from and after the
Effective Time (provided that Parent or the Surviving Corporation may substitute
therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions no less advantageous to such directors or officers); provided,
however, that the Surviving Corporation shall not be obligated to make annual
premium payments for such insurance to the extent such premiums exceed 150% of
the premiums paid by the Company as of the date of the Merger Agreement for such
insurance.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company is required to use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain employment or consulting agreements
and noncompete agreements, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent, from
the Named Officers, releases, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent, from
each Named Officer and from XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx and a fully executed copy of the
Excess Payment Agreement dated March 27, 1998 by and between the Company and Xx.
Xxxxx, prior to the consummation of the Offer. In addition, the Company is
required to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the
consummation of the Offer, the resignation of each director of the Company,
other than Xx. Xxxxx, which resignations are to be effective immediately
following the consummation of the Offer.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Merger Agreement contains various
customary representations and warranties of the parties thereto, including,
without limitation, representations by the Company as to corporate status and
good standing, subsidiaries, power and authority, enforceability,
capitalization, no violation, reports and financial statements, no commissions,
material developments and absence of undisclosed liabilities, compliance with
law, taxes, employee benefit plans, litigation and environmental liabilities. In
addition, the Company represented to Parent and Purchaser that the Company
Board, by a vote of all directors at a meeting duly called and held, has
unanimously (i) determined that each of the Offer, the Merger and the Option and
Support Agreement is fair to, and in the best interests of, the holders of
Shares; (ii) approved and adopted the Option and Support Agreement and the
Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer
and the Merger; (iii) resolved to recommend acceptance of the Offer, the tender
of Shares pursuant to the Offer and approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement and the Merger by the stockholders of the Company; and (iv) taken all
26
action necessary to render Section 203 of the DGCL and other state takeover
statutes inapplicable to the Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the
Option and Support Agreement.
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER. The respective obligations of the Company, Parent
and Purchaser to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior
to the Effective Time, of the conditions that (i) Purchaser (or a subsidiary or
an affiliate of Parent) shall have accepted for payment and paid for Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer in accordance with the terms of the Offer, (ii)
to the extent required by the DGCL, the Merger and the Merger Agreement shall
have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote or consent of the Company's
stockholders, and (iii) no permanent injunction, order, decree or ruling issued
by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or by a domestic
governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission nor any statute,
rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any domestic
governmental authority shall be in effect which would make the acquisition or
holding by Parent, Purchaser or the subsidiaries or affiliates of Parent of the
shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation illegal or otherwise prevent
the consummation of the Merger (provided that the Company, Parent and Purchaser
shall have used all reasonable efforts to prevent such event). The obligation of
Purchaser and Parent to effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction of
the conditions, unless waived by Parent or Purchaser, that (i) Parent, Purchaser
and the Company shall have obtained such licenses, permits, consents, waivers,
approvals, authorizations, qualifications, orders, actions and non-actions from
all third parties, including governmental authorities and agencies, as are
necessary for consummation of the Merger and the consummation of the Merger will
not result in the loss of any material license, permit, authorization, approval
or registration of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the Company
shall not have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its
obligations in the Merger Agreement or failed to comply in any material respect
with any of its agreements or covenants in the Merger Agreement, (iii) each of
the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the Merger
Agreement that are subject to, or qualified by, any materiality qualification
shall be true and correct and each such representation and warranty that is not
so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case at
the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Effective Time, except as to each
such representation or warranty which speaks as of a specific date which must be
true and correct in the foregoing respects as of such date, (iv) no event,
condition or change (or any development involving a prospective event, condition
or change) shall have occurred or be threatened which has had or is reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole, and (v) there shall not have occurred (A) any general
suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on any United
States stock exchange, (B) the declaration of a banking moratorium or any
suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States, (C) the
commencement of a war, armed hostilities or other international or national
calamity materially affecting the United States, (D) any limitation by any
governmental authority or any other event which is reasonably likely to affect
the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions, or (E) in the
case of any of the foregoing existing at the date of this Agreement, any
material acceleration or worsening thereof.
For purposes of the Merger Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect"
means a material adverse effect on the assets, liabilities, condition (financial
or otherwise), results of operations, business, operations or prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the ability of the Company,
Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.
TERMINATION. The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to
the Effective Time, whether prior to or after approval by the stockholders of
the Company, by mutual written consent duly authorized by the Company Board and
the Board of Directors of Parent. The Merger Agreement may also be terminated by
the Company, upon delivery of notice to Parent, (i) if Purchaser or any of its
or Parent's subsidiaries or affiliates shall have (A) failed to commence the
Offer within the time period specified in the Merger Agreement, (B) terminated
the Offer, or (C) failed to pay for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer within
120 days after the commencement of the Offer, provided that such failure to
commence or termination or failure to pay for Shares does not arise from, is not
in connection with, or related to a breach of a representation or warranty of
the Company or the failure to perform in any material respect
27
any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement; (ii) if, prior to the
purchase of any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, Purchaser or Parent fails
to perform in any material respect any of their respective obligations under the
Merger Agreement or comply in any material respects with their respective
agreements and covenants under the Merger Agreement and such failure shall not
have been cured within ten days following notice from the Company to Parent of
such failure and the Company's intent to terminate the Merger Agreement; (iii)
at any time prior to the purchase of any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer,
to allow the Company to enter into an agreement in respect of an Acquisition
Transaction if the Company Board determines in good faith, after advice of
outside counsel, that such Acquisition Transaction is reasonably capable of
being completed on the terms proposed and would, if consummated, result in a
transaction more favorable to the stockholders of the Company than the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that such action is
necessary in order to fulfill the fiduciary duty of the Company Board to the
Company's stockholders; provided that the Company Board is then in receipt of a
written opinion from its financial advisor that such Acquisition Transaction
would, if consummated, result in a transaction more favorable to the Company's
stockholders from a financial point of view than the transaction contemplated by
the Offer, the Merger and the Merger Agreement; provided, further, that prior to
any such termination, the Company notifies Parent promptly of its intention to
terminate the Merger Agreement and enter into an agreement with respect to an
Acquisition Transaction, which notice shall include the terms of such
Acquisition Transaction and shall be given at least 48 hours prior to the
termination of the Merger Agreement; provided, further, that such termination
shall not be effective until the Company pays Parent all termination fees
described in the Merger Agreement; or (iv) if any court of competent
jurisdiction in the United States or a domestic governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission shall have issued a nonappealable final
order, decree or ruling or taken any other action having the effect of
permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the purchase of the
Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger; provided that the Company shall have
used its reasonable best efforts to remove or lift such order, decree or ruling.
In addition, the Merger Agreement may be terminated by Parent, upon delivery
of notice to the Company, (i) if Purchaser or any of its or Parent's
subsidiaries or affiliates shall have (A) failed to commence the Offer within
the time period specified in the Merger Agreement, (B) terminated the Offer, or
(C) failed to pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer within 120 days after the
commencement of the Offer; provided that such failure to commence, or
termination or failure to pay for Shares does not arise from, is not in
connection with, or related to a breach of a representation or warranty of
Parent or Purchaser or their failure to perform in any pertinent aspect any of
their obligations under the Merger Agreement; (ii) if (A) the Company Board or
any committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified (including by amendment
of the Company's Schedule 14D-9) in any manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser
its approval or recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or the Merger Agreement,
or approved or recommended any Acquisition Transaction, or Parent requests in
writing that the Company Board reconfirm its recommendation of the Offer, the
Merger and the Merger Agreement to the Company's stockholders and the Company
Board fails to do so within five days after its receipt of Parent's request, (B)
any Person shall have entered into an agreement, an agreement in principle or
letter of intent with the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to an
Acquisition Transaction, or (C) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall
have resolved to take any of the foregoing actions; (iii) if the Company fails
to perform in any material respect any of its obligations under the Merger
Agreement or comply in any material respects with its agreements and covenants
under the Merger Agreement and such failure shall not have been cured within ten
days following notice from Parent to the Company of such failure and Parent's
intent to terminate the Merger Agreement; or (iv) if any court of competent
jurisdiction in the United States or a domestic governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission shall have issued a nonappealable final
order, decree or ruling or taken any other action having the effect of
permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the purchase of the
Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger; provided that Parent and Purchaser
shall have used their reasonable best efforts to remove or lift such order,
decree or ruling.
28
Except as otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement, in the event of
termination of the Merger Agreement, the Merger Agreement shall, upon receipt of
notice of termination, forthwith become void and of no further force and effect,
and the Company, Parent and Purchaser (and their respective directors, officers,
employees, stockholders, affiliates, agents and advisors) shall be released from
any and all liability thereunder; provided, however, that nothing shall relieve
the Company, Parent or Purchaser from liability for any breach of any agreement,
covenant, representation or warranty set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Notwithstanding the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Option and Support
Agreement and certain provisions of the Merger Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall survive any such termination of the Merger Agreement.
TERMINATION FEE AND EXPENSES. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement for
any reason, in addition to any other amounts which may be payable or become
payable pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company shall (provided that
neither Parent nor Purchaser is then in material breach of their respective
obligations under the Merger Agreement) reimburse Parent and Purchaser for the
reasonable costs, expenses and fees incurred by them and their subsidiaries and
affiliates (including, without limitation, out-of-pocket fees and expenses
payable to all banks and other financial institutions and investment bankers and
reasonable allocations of corporate overhead and salary and payroll expenses of
their employees) or on their behalf in connection with their due diligence
investigation of the Company, the Merger Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and
the consummation of all the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse Parent
or Purchaser for any costs, fees and expenses of its financial advisors
(including, without limitation, DLJ) in excess of $250,000. Upon termination of
the Merger Agreement as a result of the failure by Parent or Purchaser to
perform (or to cure in accordance with the Merger Agreement) in any material
respect any of their respective obligations under the Merger Agreement or comply
in any material respects with their respective agreements and covenants under
the Merger Agreement, Parent shall (provided that the Company is not then in
material breach of its obligations under the Merger Agreement) reimburse the
Company for the reasonable costs, expenses and fees incurred by it and its
subsidiaries or on their behalf in connection with the Merger Agreement or the
Offer, subject to the limitations set forth in the Merger Agreement; provided,
however, that Parent shall not be obligated to reimburse the Company for any
costs, expenses or fees of its financial advisors (including, without
limitation, XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx and Advest) in excess of $250,000.
If the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated (i) by Parent due to
(A)(x) the withdrawal or modification (including by amendment of the Company's
Schedule 14D-9) by the Company Board or any committee thereof, in any manner
adverse to Parent or Purchaser, of the approval or recommendation of the Company
Board of the Offer, the Merger or the Merger Agreement, (y) the approval or
recommendation by the Company Board of any Acquisition Transaction, or (z) the
failure of the Company Board to reconfirm its recommendation of the Offer, the
Merger and the Merger Agreement to the Company's stockholders within five days
of receipt of a request for such reconfirmation by Parent, (B) the Company or
any of its subsidiaries entering into an agreement, agreement in principle or
letter of intent with any person with respect to an Acquisition Transaction, or
(C) the Company Board or any committee thereof resolving to take any of the
foregoing actions; or (ii) by the Company due to a determination by the Company
Board, at any time prior to the purchase of any Shares pursuant to the Offer, in
good faith, after advice of outside counsel, that an Acquisition Transaction is
reasonably capable of being completed on the terms proposed and would, if
consummated, result in a transaction more favorable to the stockholders of the
Company than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that such
action is necessary in order to fulfill the fiduciary duty of the Company Board
to the Company's stockholders (provided that, as described above, the Company is
then in receipt of a written opinion from its financial advisor that such
Acquisition Transaction would, if consummated, result in a transaction more
favorable to the Company's stockholders from a financial point of view than the
transactions contemplated by the Offer, the Merger and the Merger Agreement and
otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement); or (iii) for
any other reason (other than by the Company as a result of failure by Parent or
Purchaser to
29
perform (or to cure in accordance with the Merger Agreement) in any material
respect any of their respective obligations under the Merger Agreement or to
comply in any material respects with their respective agreements and covenants
thereunder) and during the period commencing on the date of the Merger Agreement
and ending on, and including, the date which is nine months after the date of
the Merger Agreement is terminated an Alternative Transaction is consummated,
then, in any such case, the Company shall pay Parent $4,000,000 (the
"Termination Fee"). For purposes of the Merger Agreement, an "Alternative
Transaction" means either (A) a transaction pursuant to which any person other
than Parent, Purchaser or their affiliates (a "Third Party") acquires beneficial
ownership of more than 25% of the outstanding Shares or other equity securities,
whether from the Company, its stockholders or pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer or otherwise, (B) a merger or other business combination involving the
Company pursuant to which any Third Party acquires beneficial ownership of more
than 25% of the outstanding Shares or other equity securities of the Company or
the entity surviving such merger or business combination, or (C) any other
transaction, or series of transactions, pursuant to which any Third Party
acquires control of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries having a
fair market value equal to more than 25% of the fair market value of all the
assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, immediately prior
to such transaction.
The Termination Fee shall be paid to the Company on the date (the "Fee
Payment Date") which is (a) immediately prior to the termination of the Merger
Agreement in the case of payment pursuant to (ii) above, (b) within two business
days of the termination of this Agreement in the case of payment pursuant to (i)
above, and (c) immediately prior to the later to occur of the termination of the
Merger Agreement and the consummation of an Alternative Transaction, in the case
of payment pursuant to (iii) above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and to the extent that Parent has
purchased Shares from the Company pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement
("Company Option Shares") or elected to exercise its right under the Option and
Support Agreement to receive cash rather than Shares (the "Cash Conversion")
prior to the Fee Payment Date, the sum of, (i) the Termination Fee, PLUS (ii)
the net cash amount received by Parent prior to the Fee Payment Date pursuant to
the Cash Conversion under the Option and Support Agreement, PLUS (iii)(x) the
amount received by Parent prior to the Fee Payment Date pursuant to the sale of
Company Option Shares (or any other securities into which such Company Option
Shares are converted or exchanged), less (y) Parent's purchase price for such
Shares, MINUS (iv) any amounts paid or Shares (valued at the closing sales price
of the Shares on NNM on the day of delivery) delivered to the Company pursuant
to the Option and Support Agreement or pursuant to any other reimbursement
obligations, including without limitation, pursuant to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act, shall not exceed $5,000,000. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, if
the Company fails to promptly pay the Termination Fee, the Company shall pay to
Parent its costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection
with collecting such amount, together with interest, from the date when such
amount was due, on the amount of the fee at the rate of 10% per annum
Except as otherwise described herein, each of the parties hereto shall pay
all the fees and expenses incurred by it incident to preparing for, entering
into and carrying into effect the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated therein; provided that the Company covenants and represents and
warrants that such fees and expenses incurred by the Company and its
subsidiaries for costs, fees and expenses of financial advisors (including,
without limitation, XxXxxxxxxx, Xxxx and Advest) associated with the Offer, the
Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein, will not
exceed $1,000,000.
AMENDMENTS; WAIVER. Subject to applicable law, the Merger Agreement may not
be modified, amended or supplemented prior to the Effective Time except by the
written agreement of the Company, Parent and Purchaser. Any failure by the
Company, Parent or Purchaser to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement
or condition in the Merger Agreement may be waived by the Company, Purchaser or
Parent, respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the party granting
such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with
such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not
30
operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other
failure. No extension of time for performance of any obligations or other acts
thereunder or under any other agreement shall be deemed to be an extension of
the time for performance of any other obligations or any other acts.
THE OPTION AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company, Parent
and the Selling Stockholders have entered into the Option and Support Agreement.
Pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement, the Company has granted Parent an
irrevocable option (the "Company Option") to purchase 1,342,155 Shares,
representing 19.9% of the outstanding Shares, at a per Share cash purchase price
of $10.125 per Share (as adjusted pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement).
In addition, pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement, each Selling
Stockholder has agreed to tender and sell all of the Shares owned by such
Selling Stockholder to Purchaser pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of
the Offer and has granted to Parent an irrevocable option (the "Stockholder
Option") to purchase, in whole but not in part, all Shares owned by such Selling
Stockholders at a purchase price of $12.25 per Share.
THE COMPANY OPTION. The Company Option may be exercised by Parent, in whole
or in part, at any time, or from time to time, during the period commencing
immediately after the occurrence of a Trigger Event and ending on, and
including, the date which is nine months after the termination of the Merger
Agreement. For purposes of the Option and Support Agreement, the term "Trigger
Event" means (i) the termination of the Merger Agreement due to the withdrawal
or modification (including by amendment of the Company's Schedule 14D-9) of the
approval or recommendation of the Company Board of the Offer, the Merger or the
Merger Agreement in any manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser or the approval or
recommendation by the Company Board of any Acquisition Transaction, or related
actions as described above or due to a determination by the Company Board, in
good faith, after advice of outside counsel, that an Acquisition Transaction is
reasonably capable of being completed on the terms proposed and would, if
consummated, result in a transaction more favorable to the stockholders of the
Company than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that such
action is necessary in order to fulfill the fiduciary duty of the Company Board
to the Company's stockholders, in accordance with the terms of the Merger
Agreement, as described above, or (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement
for any other reason (other than as a result of failure by Parent or Purchaser
to perform (or to cure in accordance with the Merger Agreement) in any material
respect any of their respective obligations under the Merger Agreement or comply
in any material respects with their respective agreements and covenants under
the Merger Agreement), and during the period commencing on the date of the
Option and Support Agreement and ending on, and including, the date which is
nine months after the termination of the Merger Agreement, an Alternative
Transaction (as defined in the Merger Agreement) is consummated.
The number of Shares subject to the Company Option and the purchase price
thereof are subject to adjustment, in accordance with the terms of the Option
and Support Agreement, in the event of any stock dividend, stock split,
split-up, reclassification, recapitalization, merger or other change in the
corporate or capital structure of the Company, to restore Parent to its rights
under the Option and Support Agreement, including its right to purchase Shares
representing 19.9% of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote for the
election of directors of the Company. In the event that any additional Shares
are issued after the date of the Option and Support Agreement (other than
pursuant to an event described in the preceding sentence), the number of Shares
subject to the Company Option shall be increased by 19.9% of the number of
additional Shares so issued (and such additional Shares subject to the Company
Option shall be exercisable upon the same terms and conditions as the Company
Option).
If at any time the Company Option is then exercisable pursuant to the terms
of the Option and Support Agreement, Parent may elect, in lieu of exercising the
Company Option to purchase Shares, to send written notice to the Company (the
"Cash Exercise Notice") specifying a date not later than twenty business days
and not earlier than ten business days following the date such notice is given
on which date the Company shall pay to Parent an amount in cash equal to the
Spread (as hereinafter defined) multiplied
31
by all or such portion of the Shares subject to the Company Option as Parent
shall specify. As used in the Option and Support Agreement, "Spread" shall mean
the excess, if any, over the exercise price of the Company Option (as adjusted,
if applicable) of the HIGHER of (x) if applicable, the highest price per Share
(including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers'
fees) paid by any person in an Acquisition Transaction (the "Alternative
Purchase Price") or (y) the closing sales price of the Shares on NNM on the last
trading day immediately prior to the date of the Cash Exercise Notice (the
"Closing Price"). If the Alternative Purchase Price includes any property other
than cash, the Alternative Purchase Price shall be the sum of (i) the fixed cash
amount, if any, included in the Alternative Purchase Price plus (ii) the fair
market value of such other property. If such other property consists of
securities with an existing public trading market, the average of the closing
sales prices (or the average of the closing bid and asked prices if closing
sales prices are unavailable) for such securities in their principal public
trading market on the five trading days ending five days prior to the date of
the Cash Exercise Notice shall be deemed to equal the fair market value of such
property. If such other property consists of property other than cash or
securities with an existing public trading market and, as of the payment date
for the Spread, agreement on the value of such other property has not been
reached, the Alternative Purchase Price shall be deemed to equal the Closing
Price. Upon exercise of Xxxxxx's right to receive cash pursuant to the Option
and Support Agreement as described above and the payment of such cash to Parent,
the obligations of the Company to deliver Shares pursuant to the Company Option
shall be terminated with respect to such number of Shares for which Parent shall
have elected to be paid the cash Spread.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Option and Support Agreement, in
no event shall Parent's Total Profit (as defined below) exceed $5,000,000 and,
if such Total Profit does exceed such amount, Parent, at its sole election,
shall, within five business days, either (a) deliver to the Company for
cancellation Shares (valued at the closing sales price of the Shares on NNM on
the day of delivery) previously purchased by Parent, (b) pay cash or other
consideration to the Company or (c) undertake any combination thereof, so that
Parent's Total Profit shall not exceed $5,000,000 after taking into account the
foregoing actions. As used in the Option and Support Agreement, the term "Total
Profit" shall mean the aggregate amount (before taxes) of the following: (i) the
aggregate amount of cash received by Parent as a Termination Fee (as such may be
adjusted in accordance with the Merger Agreement) and pursuant to any cash
conversion of the Company Option in accordance with the Option and Support
Agreement, plus (ii)(x) the amount received by Parent pursuant to the sale of
Shares acquired upon exercise of the Company Option (or any other securities
into which such Shares are converted or exchanged), less (y) Parent's purchase
price for such Shares, less (iii) any amounts paid or Shares (valued at the
closing sales price of the Shares on NNM on the day of delivery) delivered to
the Company pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement or pursuant to any
other reimbursement obligation, including, without limitation, pursuant to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
THE STOCKHOLDER OPTION. The Stockholder Option may be exercised by Parent,
in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, during the period
commencing immediately after the occurrence of a Trigger Event and ending on,
and including, the date which is nine months after the termination of the Merger
Agreement.
The number of Shares subject to the Stockholder Option and the purchase
price thereof are subject to adjustment, in accordance with the terms of the
Option and Support Agreement, in the event of a stock dividend or distribution,
or any change in the Shares by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
spin-off, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation,
combination, exchange of shares or the like, any merger or consolidation of the
Company into another corporation, the exchange of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company for the securities of another corporation, or the
recapitalization, reclassification, liquidation or dissolution of the Company,
or other adjustment or event which results in Shares being exchanged for or
converted into cash, securities or other property.
32
AGREEMENT TO TENDER SHARES. Pursuant to the Option and Support Agreement,
each Selling Stockholder agrees to validly tender (and not withdraw) pursuant to
and in accordance with the terms of the Offer (provided that the Offer is not
amended in a manner prohibited by the Merger Agreement), in a timely manner for
acceptance by Purchaser of the Offer, its respective Shares. In addition, each
Selling Stockholder agrees that, until the first to occur of the Effective Time
or the date the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms
thereof, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, or
in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company, such
Selling Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted), including by way of
written consent, all Shares held of record or beneficially owned, from time to
time by such Selling Stockholder (i) in favor of the Merger, the adoption of the
Merger Agreement and the approval of the terms thereof and each of the other
actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the Option and Support
Agreement and any actions required in furtherance thereof; (ii) against any
action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company
under the Merger Agreement or the Option and Support Agreement; and (iii) except
as specifically requested in writing by Parent in advance, against the following
actions (other than the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement): (A) any Acquisition Transaction, including without limitation, any
extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation or other
business combination involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale,
lease or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or a reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution or liquidation
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (B) (1) the election of any person
to, or other change in the size or composition of, the Company Board; (2) any
material change in the present capitalization of the Company or any amendment of
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; (3) any other material
change in the Company's corporate structure or business; or (4) any other action
which is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with,
delay, postpone, discourage or materially adversely affect the Offer, the Merger
or the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Option and
Support Agreement or the contemplated economic benefits of any of the foregoing.
Moreover, such Selling Stockholder shall not enter into any agreement or
understanding which is inconsistent with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the
preceding sentence
Until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time and the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, no Selling Stockholder shall (a) except
pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Option and Support
Agreement, offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber, assign or
otherwise dispose of (including by merger or otherwise by operation of law) or
enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with
respect to, or consent to the offer for sale, sale, transfer, tender, pledge,
encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of, or exercise any discretionary
powers to distribute, any or all of such Selling Stockholder's Shares or any
interest therein; (ii) grant any proxies or powers of attorney with respect to
any Shares beneficially owned by such Selling Stockholder, deposit any Shares
beneficially owned by such Selling Stockholder into a voting trust or enter into
a voting agreement with respect to any Shares beneficially owned by such Selling
Stockholder; or (iii) take any action that would make any representation or
warranty of such Selling Stockholder contained in the Option and Support
Agreement untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling such
Selling Stockholder from performing such Selling Stockholder's obligations under
the Option and Support Agreement.
Until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time and the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, no Selling Stockholder shall, in its
capacity as such, directly or indirectly solicit, initiate, facilitate or
encourage any inquiries or the making of any Acquisition Transaction, or
negotiate, explore or otherwise communicate in any way with, or provide or
furnish any information to, any person (other than Parent or Purchaser) with
respect to any Acquisition Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement
or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the
Offer or the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by the Merger
Agreement or the Option and Support Agreement; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not restrict a Selling Stockholder who is also a
33
director of the Company from taking actions in such Selling Stockholder's
capacity as a director to the extent and in the circumstances permitted under
the Merger Agreement with respect to an Acquisition Transaction. Such Selling
Stockholder shall immediately advise Parent in writing of the receipt by such
Selling Stockholder or any of its agents or representatives of any request for
information, inquiries, indications of interest, offers or proposals relating to
an Acquisition Transaction and any actions taken with respect to such
Acquisition Transaction pursuant to the Merger Agreement, which notice shall
include the identity of the person making such request, inquiry, indication of
interest, offer or proposal and the terms, if any, of such Acquisition
Transaction. Under the Option and Support Agreement, each Selling Stockholder
and its agents and representatives is required, upon the execution thereof, to
cease any discussions or negotiations with, and shall cease to provide any
information to or otherwise cooperate or encourage, any person with respect to
an Acquisition Transaction.
14. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Company has not paid and does not intend to pay dividends on the Shares.
The Merger Agreement provides that the Company will not, among other things, (i)
split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or declare, set
aside or pay any dividend or distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or
otherwise with respect to any of its capital stock other than dividends and
distributions by a subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to any other
subsidiary all of the capital stock of which (other than directors' qualifying
shares) is owned directly or indirectly by the Company, or (ii) redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire or offer or agree to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
15. CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Offer or the Merger Agreement,
Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c)
under the Exchange Act (relating to Purchaser's obligation to pay for or return
tendered Shares after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer), pay for any
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, and may terminate, withdraw or amend the
Offer and may postpone the acceptance of, and payment for the Shares, if the
Minimum Condition shall not have been satisfied. Furthermore, notwithstanding
any other term of the Offer or the Merger Agreement, Purchaser shall not be
required to accept for payment or, subject as aforesaid, to pay for any Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer, and may terminate, withdraw or amend the Offer
and may postpone the acceptance of, and payment for, the Shares if, at any time
on or after the date of the Merger Agreement and before the time for payment for
any of the Shares (whether or not any Shares shall have theretofore been
accepted for payment or paid for pursuant to the Offer), any of the following
conditions exists:
(a) There shall have been instituted or pending any action or proceeding
before any domestic or foreign court, legislative body or governmental
agency or other regulatory or administrative agency or commission (i)
challenging the acquisition in whole or in part of the Shares by Parent or
Purchaser, seeking to restrain or prohibit the making or consummation of the
Offer or the Merger or seeking to obtain any material damages or otherwise,
directly or indirectly, relating to the transaction contemplated by the
Offer or the Merger Agreement, (ii) seeking to prohibit or restrict the
ownership or operation by Parent, Purchaser or the Company (or any of their
respective affiliates or subsidiaries) of any material portion of Parent's
or Purchaser's or the Company's business or assets, or to compel the
Company, Parent or Purchaser (or any of their respective affiliates or
subsidiaries) to dispose of or hold separate all or any of the Shares or all
or any material portion of the Company's, Parent's or Purchaser's (or any of
their respective affiliates' or subsidiaries') business or assets as a
result of the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (iii) seeking to prohibit or
materially delay or make illegal the purchase of, or payment for, some or
all of the Shares pursuant to the Offer or Merger, (iv) seeking to impose
material limitations on the
34
ability of Parent or Purchaser (or any of their respective affiliates or
subsidiaries) to acquire or to hold or to exercise full rights of ownership
of the Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote the Shares
on all matters properly presented to the stockholders of the Company, (v)
seeking to impose any limitations on the ability of Parent or Purchaser (or
any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries) effectively to control
in any material respect any material portion of the business and operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries; or (vi) which may result in a material
limitation on the benefits expected to be derived by Parent and Purchaser as
a result of the Offer, including without limitation, any limitation on the
ability to consummate the Merger; or
(b) Any statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted,
promulgated, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Offer or the
Merger, or any other action shall have been taken, proposed or threatened,
by any domestic or foreign government or governmental authority or by any
court, domestic or foreign, which is reasonably likely to result, directly
or indirectly, in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through
(vi) of subsection (a) above; or
(c) Parent, Purchaser or the Company and its subsidiaries shall not have
obtained any license, permit, waiver, consent, approval, authorization,
qualification, order, action or non-action from any third party, including
any governmental authority or agency, which is necessary to consummate the
Offer and the Merger, including, without limitation, the termination or
expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act and the passage of 30
days after the filing of an initial application for a license to operate
from the State Board of Private Academic Schools, the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania (the "Pennsylvania Waiting Period"), or the consummation of the
Offer and the Merger will result in the loss of any material license,
permit, authorization, approval or registration of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; or
(d) Any event, condition or change (or any development involving a
prospective event, condition or change) shall have occurred or be threatened
which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) on the Company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole; or
(e) There shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of, or
limitation on prices for, trading in securities on any United States stock
exchange, (ii) the declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of
payments in respect of banks in the United States, (iii) the commencement of
a war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity
materially affecting the United States, (iv) any limitation by any
governmental authority or any other event which is reasonably likely to
affect the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions, or
(v) in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the time of the
commencement of the Offer, any material acceleration or worsening thereof;
or
(f) (i) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have withdrawn
or modified in a manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser its approval or
recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or the Merger Agreement, or approved
or recommended any Acquisition Transaction or Parent requests in writing
that the Company Board reconfirm its recommendation of the Offer, the Merger
and the Merger Agreement and the Company Board fails to do so within five
days after its receipt of Parent's request, (ii) any corporation,
partnership, person or other entity or group shall have entered into an
agreement, an agreement in principle or letter of intent with the Company or
any of its subsidiaries with respect to an Acquisition Transaction, or (iii)
the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have resolved to take any
of the foregoing actions; or
(g) The Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any material
respect any of its obligations in the Merger Agreement or failed to comply
in any material respect with any of its agreements or covenants in the
Merger Agreement; or
35
(h) Any of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth
in the Merger Agreement that are subject to, or qualified by, any
materiality qualification shall not be true and correct or any such
representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall not be true
and correct in any material respect, in each case at the date of the Merger
Agreement and at the time of such determination except as to any such
representation or warranty which speaks as of a specific date which must be
untrue or incorrect in the foregoing respects as of such specific date; or
(i) The Merger Agreement shall have been terminated by the Company,
Parent or Purchaser pursuant to its terms; or
(j) The affirmative vote of the holders of more than a majority of the
outstanding Shares shall be required to consummate the Merger, Purchaser is
not entitled to vote its Shares for the Merger, or the affirmative vote of
the holders of any securities of the Company other than the Shares is
required to consummate the Merger; or
(k) The holders of all Options shall not have irrevocably agreed to
cancel such Options in return for the payment set forth in the Merger
Agreement;
(l) Parent shall not have received the employment and consulting
agreements, noncompete agreements, releases, excess payment agreement and
resignations from the persons contemplated by the Merger Agreement; or
(m) The Company shall not have obtained the insurance contemplated by
the Merger Agreement;
which, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser, in any such case and regardless
of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to
proceed with the Offer or with the acceptance for payment or payment for Shares
pursuant to the Offer.
The foregoing conditions (including those set forth in the opening paragraph
above) are for the sole benefit of Purchaser and may be asserted or waived by
Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole
discretion. The failure by Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the
foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right, and each right
shall be deemed a continuing right which may be asserted at any time and from
time to time. Any determination by Purchaser concerning the events described
above shall be final and binding upon all parties.
Should the Offer be terminated pursuant to the foregoing provisions, all
tendered Shares not theretofore accepted for payment shall forthwith be returned
by the Depositary to the tendering stockholders.
16. CERTAIN REGULATORY AND LEGAL MATTERS
Except as set forth in this Section 16, based on a review of publicly
available filings made by the Company with the Commission and other publicly
available information concerning the Company, as well as certain representations
made to Purchaser and Parent in the Merger Agreement by the Company, neither
Purchaser nor Parent is aware of any license or regulatory permit that appears
to be material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, that might be adversely affected by Purchaser's acquisition of Shares as
contemplated herein or of any approval or other action by any governmental
entity that would be required for the acquisition or ownership of Shares by
Purchaser as contemplated herein. Should any such approval or other action be
required, Purchaser and Parent currently contemplate that such approval or other
action will be sought, except as described below. Except as specified in this
Section 16, Purchaser has no current intention to delay the purchase of Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter, subject,
however, to Purchaser's right to decline to purchase Shares if any of the
conditions specified in Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase shall have
occurred. There can be no assurance that any such approval or other action, if
needed, would be
36
obtained or would be obtained without substantial conditions, or that adverse
consequences might not result to the Company's business or that certain parts of
the Company's business might not have to be disposed of if any such approvals
were not obtained or other action taken. If certain types of adverse action are
taken with respect to the matters discussed below, Purchaser could decline to
accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered. See Section 15 of this Offer
to Purchase for certain conditions of the Offer.
STATE TAKEOVER LAWS. The Company is incorporated under the laws of the
State of Delaware and operations are conducted throughout the United States. A
number of states throughout the United States have enacted takeover statutes
that purport, in varying degrees, to be applicable to attempts to acquire
securities of corporations that are incorporated or have assets, stockholders,
executive offices or principal places of business in such states. In XXXXX X.
MITE CORP., the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Illinois
Business Takeover Act, which involved state securities laws that made the
takeover of certain corporations more difficult, imposed a substantial burden on
interstate commerce and therefore was unconstitutional. In CTS CORP. V. DYNAMICS
CORP. OF AMERICA, however, the Supreme Court of the United States held that a
state may, as a matter of corporate law and, in particular, those laws
concerning corporate governance, constitutionally disqualify a potential
acquirer from voting on the affairs of a target corporation without prior
approval of the remaining stockholders, provided that such laws were applicable
only under certain conditions. Subsequently, a number of Federal courts ruled
that various state takeover statutes were unconstitutional insofar as they apply
to corporations incorporated outside the state of enactment.
The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL with
respect to restrictions upon business combinations involving the Company. In
general, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents an "interested stockholder"
(generally, a person who owns or has the right to acquire 15% or more of a
corporation's outstanding voting stock) from engaging in a "business
combination" (defined to include mergers and certain other transactions) with a
Delaware corporation for a period of three years following the time such person
became an interested stockholder unless, among other things, the corporation's
board of directors approves such business combination or the transaction in
which the interested stockholder becomes such prior to the time the interested
stockholder becomes such. The Company Board has approved the Offer, the Merger,
the Merger Agreement and the Option and Support Agreement for the purposes of
Section 203 of the DGCL. Except as described above with respect to Section 203
of the DGCL, Xxxxxx and Purchaser have not attempted to comply with any other
state takeover laws in connection with the Offer and believes none of such laws
to be applicable to the Offer. Should any person seek to apply any state
takeover law, Parent and Purchaser reserve the right to take such action as then
appears desirable, which may include challenging the validity or applicability
of any such statute allegedly applicable to the Offer in appropriate court
proceedings. Nothing in this Offer to Purchase nor any action taken in
connection herewith is intended as a waiver of that right. In the event it is
asserted that one or more state takeover laws is applicable to the Offer or the
Merger, and an appropriate court does not determine that it is inapplicable or
invalid as applied to the Offer, Parent and Purchaser might be required to file
certain information with, or receive approvals from, the relevant state
authorities. In addition, if enjoined, Purchaser might be unable to accept for
payment or pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, or be delayed in
continuing or consummating the Offer and the Merger. In such case, Purchaser may
not be obligated to accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered. See
Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase.
ANTITRUST. Under the provisions of the HSR Act applicable to the Offer, the
acquisition of Shares under the Offer may be consummated only following the
expiration or early termination of the applicable waiting period under the HSR
Act.
Under the provisions of the HSR Act applicable to the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer, such purchase may not be made until the expiration of a
15-calendar day waiting period following the required filing of a Notification
Report Form under the HSR Act by the ultimate parent entity of Purchaser, which
will be submitted on April 3, 1998. Accordingly, the waiting period under the
HSR Act will expire at
37
11:59 P.M., New York City time, on April 18, 1998, unless early termination of
the waiting period is granted by the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") and the
Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (the "Antitrust Division"), or the
ultimate parent entity of Purchaser receives a request for additional
information or documentary material prior thereto. If either the FTC or the
Antitrust Division issues a request for additional information or documentary
material prior to the expiration of the 15-day waiting period, the waiting
period will be extended and will expire at 11:59 P.M., New York City time, on
the tenth calendar day after the date of substantial compliance by the ultimate
parent entity of Purchaser with such request unless terminated earlier by the
FTC and the Antitrust Division. If such a request is issued, the purchase of and
payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer will be deferred until the additional
waiting period expires or is terminated. Only one extension of such waiting
period pursuant to a request for additional information or documentary material
is authorized by the rules promulgated under the HSR Act. Thereafter, the
waiting period can be extended only by court order or by consent of the ultimate
parent entity of Purchaser. Although the Company is required to file certain
information and documentary material with the Antitrust Division and the FTC in
connection with the Offer, neither the Company's failure to make such filings
nor a request to the Company from the Antitrust Division or the FTC for
additional information or documentary material will extend the waiting period.
The Antitrust Division and the FTC frequently scrutinize the legality under
the antitrust laws of transactions such as the proposed acquisition of the
Company pursuant to the Offer. At any time before or after Purchaser's
acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Antitrust Division or the FTC
could take such action under the antitrust laws as either deems necessary or
desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the purchase of
Shares pursuant to the Offer or the consummation of the Merger or seeking the
divestiture of Shares acquired by Purchaser or the divestiture of substantial
assets of the Company or its subsidiaries or Parent and Purchaser or their
subsidiaries. Private parties and states Attorneys General may also bring legal
action under the antitrust laws under certain circumstances. There can be no
assurance that a challenge to the Offer on antitrust grounds will not be made,
or, if such a challenge is made, of the result thereof.
If the Antitrust Division, the FTC, a state or a private party raises
antitrust concerns in connection with a proposed transaction, Parent and
Purchaser may engage in negotiations with the relevant governmental agency or
party concerning possible means of addressing these issues and may delay
consummation of the Offer or the Merger while such discussions are ongoing.
APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Holders of Shares do not have appraisal rights as a
result of the Offer. However, if the Merger is consummated, holders of Shares
will have certain rights pursuant to the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL
to dissent and demand appraisal of their Shares in connection with the Merger.
Under Section 262, dissenting stockholders who comply with the applicable
statutory procedures will be entitled to receive a judicial determination of the
fair value of their Shares (exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the Merger) and to receive payment of such fair
value in cash, together with a fair rate of interest, if any. Any such judicial
determination of the fair value of the Shares could be based upon factors other
than, or in addition to, the price per share to be paid in the Merger or the
market value of the Shares. The value so determined could be more or less than
the price per share to be paid in the Merger. See Xxxxx XX to this Offer to
Purchase for the complete text of Section 262 of the DGCL.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. Parent and Purchaser are not aware of any pending or
overtly threatened legal proceedings, actions or suits, including, without
limitation, any such proceedings, actions or suits against the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, which would affect the Offer or the Merger. If any such
matters were to arise, Purchaser could decline to accept for payment or pay for
any Shares tendered in the Offer. See Section 15 of this Offer to Purchase.
LICENSING. Each preschool or school operated by the Company must be
licensed under applicable state or local licensing laws and is subject to a
variety of state and local regulations. Although these
38
regulations vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, governmental
agencies generally review, with respect to a preschool, the safety, fitness and
adequacy of the buildings and equipment; the ratio of staff to children; the
dietary program; the daily curriculum and compliance with health standards. In
most jurisdictions, these agencies conduct scheduled and unscheduled inspections
of the preschools, and licenses must be renewed periodically. Repeated failures
by a preschool to comply with applicable regulations may subject it to
sanctions, including probation or, in more serious cases, suspension or
revocation of the preschool's license to operate. The Company has informed
Parent and Purchaser that all preschools and schools operated by the Company
have received all required approvals of governmental authorities required in
connection with the operation thereof and have been operated and maintained in
all material respects in compliance with all applicable regulations. The Company
has further represented and warranted in the Merger Agreement that all material
licenses, permits, authorizations, approvals and registrations required under
any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule or order of any federal, state,
local or foreign governmental authority or agency are renewable by their terms
or in the ordinary course of business without the need to comply with any
special qualification procedures or to pay any amounts other than routine filing
fees and will not be adversely affected by the consummation of the Offer and the
Merger. The Company is required to file an initial application for a license to
operate certain of its facilities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the
State Board of Private Academic Schools, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
thirty days prior to the consummation of the Offer. The Company filed the
necessary application on April 2, 1998. Accordingly, the Pennsylvania Waiting
Period is scheduled to expire as of the initial scheduled Expiration Date.
FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD REGULATIONS. Regulations T, U and X (the "Margin
Regulations") promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board restrict the extension or
maintenance of credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock,
including the Shares, if such credit is secured directly or indirectly by margin
stock. Such secured credit may not be extended or maintained in an amount that
exceeds the maximum loan value of all the direct and indirect collateral
securing the credit, including margin stock and other collateral. The Parent
Note and the Purchaser Note are structured so as to be in full compliance with
the Margin Regulations.
17. FEES AND EXPENSES
Parent and Purchaser have engaged DLJ as the Dealer Manager in connection
with the Offer. In addition, DLJ is acting as exclusive financial advisor to
Parent and PEC in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company.
Pursuant to the terms of DLJ's engagement, DLJ will be paid an aggregate fee of
approximately $1,300,000 in connection with its services as exclusive financial
advisor and as the Dealer Manager. DLJ will also be reimbursed for travel and
other out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable legal fees and expenses, and
DLJ and certain related parties will be indemnified against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the federal securities laws, arising out of DLJ's
engagement. In the ordinary course of business, the Dealer Manager and its
affiliates may actively trade or hold the securities of the Company for their
own account or for the account of customers and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities.
Parent and Purchaser have retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc., as Information
Agent, and IBJ Xxxxxxxx Bank & Trust Company, as Depositary, in connection with
the Offer. The Information Agent and the Depositary will receive reasonable and
customary compensation for their services hereunder and reimbursement for their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Information Agent and the Depositary will
also be indemnified by Purchaser against certain liabilities in connection with
the Offer.
Neither Purchaser nor Parent, nor any officer, director, stockholder, agent
or other representative of Purchaser or Parent, will pay any fees or commissions
to any broker, dealer or other person (other than the Dealer Manager and the
Information Agent) for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
39
Brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees will,
upon request, be reimbursed by Purchaser for customary mailing and handling
expenses incurred by them in forwarding materials to their customers.
18. MISCELLANEOUS
Purchaser is not aware of any state where the making of the Offer is
prohibited by administrative or judicial action pursuant to any valid state
statute. If Purchaser becomes aware of any valid state statute prohibiting the
making of the Offer or the acceptance of Shares pursuant thereto, Purchaser will
make a good faith effort to comply with such state statute. If, after such good
faith effort, Purchaser cannot comply with such state statute, the Offer will
not be made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) the holders
of Shares in such state. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or
other laws require the offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the
Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser by DLJ or one or more
registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF PURCHASER OTHER THAN AS CONTAINED IN THIS OFFER TO
PURCHASE OR IN THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, AND, IF ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATION IS GIVEN OR MADE, IT SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY PURCHASER.
Purchaser and Parent have jointly filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule
14D-1 with the Commission, pursuant to Rule 14d-1 of the Exchange Act, together
with exhibits furnishing certain information with respect to the Offer. Such
Schedule 14D-1 and any amendments thereto, including all exhibits, may be
examined and copies may be obtained at the same places and in the same manner as
set forth with respect to the Company in Section 8 of this Offer to Purchase
(except that copies thereof may not be available at the regional offices of the
Commission).
KBI ACQUISITION CORP.
April 3, 1998
40
ANNEX I
CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING CERTAIN ENTITIES AND CERTAIN OF THEIR
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Certain information is provided herein with respect to Purchaser, Parent,
PEC, Knowledge Universe, EDU, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
("EDU"), ET Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("ET
Holdings"), ET Consolidated, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("ET
Consolidated"), Hampstead Associates, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company ("Hampstead"), Mollusk Holdings, LLC, a California limited liability
company ("Mollusk"), Cephalopod Corporation, a California corporation
("Cephalopod"), Xxxxxxxx Investments, LLC, a California limited liability
company ("Xxxxxxxx"), Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, an individual, Ridgeview Associates,
LLC, a California limited liability company ("Ridgeview"), Xxxxxxx X. Milken, an
individual, and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, an individual (collectively, the "Named
Persons"). Except as otherwise indicated below, the principal executive offices
of each Named Person are located at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
00000, and each natural person is a citizen of the United States.
Parent is a wholly owned subsidiary of PEC. PEC is a holding company with no
operations or assets other than its ownership of 100% of the stock of Parent.
Knowledge Universe is a member of PEC owning 99.9% of the outstanding membership
interests of PEC and is also the manager of PEC. The principal business of
Knowledge Universe is to acquire interests in, and/or operate, other companies
and businesses, primarily, but not limited to, companies and businesses engaged
in education.
XXX is a member of PEC owning 0.1% of the membership interests of PEC. The
principal business of EDU is to act as a member of PEC and other affiliated
companies. ET Holdings is the manager of Knowledge Universe. The principal
business of ET Holdings is to act as the manager and as a member of Knowledge
Universe. ET Consolidated is the manager of ET Holdings. The principal business
of ET Consolidated is to act as the manager and as a member of ET Holdings.
Hampstead is the manager of each of ET Consolidated and EDU. The principal
business of Hampstead is to act as the manager and as a member of ET
Consolidated, EDU and other affiliated companies. Ridgeview is the manager of
Hampstead. The principal business of Ridgeview is to act as the manager and as a
member of Hampstead and other affiliated companies. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx are the managers of Ridgeview.
The principal business of Mollusk is to act as a member of Hampstead and
affiliated companies. Xxxxxxx may also act as, or appoint, a co-manager of
Hampstead. The principal executive offices of Mollusk are located at 000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000. Cephalopod and
Xxxxxxxx are the managers of Mollusk. The principal business of Cephalopod is to
act as a manager and member of Mollusk and other entities. The principal
executive offices of Cephalopod are located at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000. Xx. Xxxxxxx owns all of the outstanding equity
interests in Cephalopod. The principal business of Xxxxxxxx is to act as a
manager and member of Mollusk and other entities. Xx. Xxxxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx are the managers of Xxxxxxxx. The principal executive offices of Xxxxxxxx
are located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
00000.
Messrs. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxxx may each be deemed a
controlling person of Hampstead, ET Holdings, ET Consolidated, Knowledge
Universe, PEC, Parent and Purchaser. In addition, Messrs. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx may each be deemed to be a controlling person of Ridgeview. Xx. Xxxxxxx
may be deemed to be a controlling person of Xxxxxxx, Cephalopod and Xxxxxxxx.
During the past five years, none of the Named Persons nor, to the best
knowledge of each of the Named Persons, any of the members, directors or
executive officers of the Named Persons has been
I-1
convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors) nor has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such person
was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future
violations of, or, prohibiting or mandating activities subject to federal or
state securities laws or finding any violation of such laws, except that on
February 24, 1998, without admitting or denying any liability, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
consented to the entry of a final judgment in the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York in SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION X. XXXXXXX
X. XXXXXX ET AL., which judgment was entered on February 26, 1998, restraining
and enjoining Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx from associating with any broker, dealer,
investment adviser, investment company, or municipal securities dealer and from
violating Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act.
On March 11, 1991, in the action entitled IN THE MATTER OF XXXXXXX X.
XXXXXX, the Commission instituted a proceeding pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of
the Exchange Act and ordered that Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx be barred from association
with any broker, dealer, investment advisor, investment company or municipal
securities dealer. On April 24, 1990, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx consented to the entry
of a final judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New
York in SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION V. XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
INCORPORATED, ET AL., restraining and enjoining Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx from engaging in
transactions, acts, practices and courses of business which constitute or would
constitute violations of, or which aid and abet or would aid and abet violations
of, Sections 7(c), 7(f), 9(a)(2), 10(b), 13(d), 14(e), 15(c)(3) and 17(a)(1) of
the Exchange Act, and Regulations T and X and Rules 10b-5, 10b-6, 13d-1, 13d-2,
14c-3, 15c3-1, 17a-3 and 17a-4 promulgated thereunder and Section 17(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
I-2
The following table sets forth names, present principal occupation or
employment, and material occupations, positions, offices, or employments during
the last five years of each director and executive officer of Parent, Purchaser
and Knowledge Universe, and for the individuals above who are Named Persons.
Unless otherwise noted, the executive officers, directors and Named Persons set
forth below have held the positions indicated below with Parent, Purchaser or
Knowledge Universe, respectively, for the last five years or have served such
entities in various administrative or executive capacities for at least that
long. Unless otherwise set forth below, the business address of each person
listed below is 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, and each person
is a citizen of the United States.
I. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF PARENT AND PURCHASER
PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND
NAME TITLE FIVE YEAR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
--------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Director; President Xx. Xxxxxxxx has served as President of each of
0000 Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 260 Parent and Purchaser and as a director of each of
Burlingame, California 94010 Parent and Purchaser since their incorporation.
Since September 1996, Xx. Xxxxxxxx'x principal
occupation has been to serve as President of
Knowledge Universe. From September 1990 to
September 1996, Xx. Xxxxxxxx served as President
and Chief Executive Officer of Sega of America,
located at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx. Xx. Xxxxxxxx is a director of the
National Foundation for the Improvement of
Education and UCLA's Graduate School of Education
and Information Services and is a trustee of the
RAND Corporation's Institute on Education and
Training. Xx. Xxxxxxxx is also a director of The
Milken Family Foundation, located at 0000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Director; Treasurer Xx. Xxxxxxx has served as Treasurer and Secretary
and Secretary of each of Parent and Xxxxxxxxx and as a director
of each of Parent and Purchaser since their
incorporation. Since March 1998, Xx. Xxxxxxx'x
principal business occupation has been to serve as
a Vice President of Knowledge Universe. Prior
thereto, Xx. Xxxxxxx had served as an executive
employee of Knowledge Universe since March 1997.
From January 1995 to March 1997, Xx. Xxxxxxx was
President and General Manager of Forestal
Trillium, located at 0000 00 xx Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx. Prior thereto, Xx. Xxxxxxx had
been employed as a consultant by XxXxxxxx & Co. at
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx,
from September 1989 to January 1995.
I-3
PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND
NAME TITLE FIVE YEAR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
--------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxx-Xxxxx Director Xxx. Xxxx-Xxxxx has served as a director of each
0000 Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Suite 260 of Parent and Purchaser since their incorporation.
Burlingame, California 94010 Since March 1998, Xxx. Xxxx-Xxxxx'x principal
business occupation has been to serve as a Vice
President of Knowledge Universe. Prior thereto,
Xxx. Xxxx-Xxxxx had served as an executive
employee of Knowledge Universe since November
1997. From January 1993 to November 1997, Xxx.
Xxxx-Xxxxx served as Vice President of Xxxxxx
Educational Centers and Vice President of The
Landrah Corporation, each located at 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx.
II. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSE
PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND
NAME TITLE FIVE YEAR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
--------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Director Mr. Xxxxxx's principal business occupation has
been to serve as a director of Knowledge Universe
since January 1996. Mr. Xxxxxx has also served as
President and a director of MC Group since
December 1993. Since July 1993, Mr. Xxxxxx has
served as President and a director of EEN
Communications Network. Mr. Xxxxxx has also served
as a director of The Milken Institute for Job and
Capital Formation since May 1993, as President and
a director of the Association for the Cure of
Cancer of the Prostate, since April 1993 and as a
director of The Milken Family Foundation, each
located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Director Mr. Xxxxxx's principal business occupation has
been to serve as a director of Knowledge Universe
since January 1996. Since prior to 1993, Mr.
Xxxxxx has served as President and a director of
The Milken Family Foundation, located at 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx.
I-4
PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND
NAME TITLE FIVE YEAR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
--------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Director Xx. Xxxxxxx has served as a director of Knowledge
500 Oracle Parkway Universe since January 1996. Xx. Xxxxxxx'x
Redwood Shores, California 94065 principal business occupation has been to serve as
Chief Executive Officer of Oracle Corporation,
located at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, since May 1977, as Chairman of the
Board of Oracle Corporation since June 1995 and as
a member of its Executive Committee since 1986.
Xx. Xxxxxxx also served as the President of Oracle
Corporation until June 1996. From December 1995
through May 1997, Xx. Xxxxxxx served as President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of
Cephalopod. Since May 1997, Xx. Xxxxxxx has served
as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Cephalopod. Xx. Xxxxxxx has been a member of
Xxxxxxxx since April 1997.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Vice Chairman Xx. Xxxx'x principal business occupation has been
to serve as Vice Chairman of Knowledge Universe
since August 1997. Xx. Xxxx has served as a Vice
President of MC Group since December 1993. Prior
thereto, Xx. Xxxx served as President of East West
Capital, located at 00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx President Xx. Xxxxxxxx has served as President of Knowledge
Universe since September 1996. In addition, Xx.
Xxxxxxxx has held the positions set forth above.
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Secretary Xx. Xxxxx has served as Secretary of Knowledge
Universe since December 1996. Xx. Xxxxx'x
principal business occupation has been to serve as
an attorney and shareholder of Maron & Sandler, a
professional corporation, located at 000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, since 1994. Prior
thereto, Xx. Xxxxx had been an attorney and
shareholder of Buchalter, Nemer, Fields & Younger,
located at 000 X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxx 0000.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Vice President Xx. Xxxxxxx has served as a Vice President of
Knowledge Universe since March 1998. In addition,
Xx. Xxxxxxx has held the positions set forth
above.
Xxxxxxx Xxxx-Xxxxx Vice President Xxx. Xxxx-Xxxxx has served as a Vice President of
Knowledge Universe since March 1998. In addition,
Xxx. Xxxx-Xxxxx has held the positions set forth
above.
I-5
ANNEX II
Set forth below is Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware regarding appraisal rights, which rights will only be available in
connection with the Merger.
SECTION 262 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
SECTION 262 APPRAISAL RIGHTS--(a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this
State who holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand pursuant
to subsection (d) of this section with respect to such shares, who continuously
holds such shares through the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who
has otherwise complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has neither
voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing
pursuant to 228 of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of
Chancery of the fair value of his shares of stock under the circumstances
described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section,
the word "stockholder" means a holder of record of stock in a stock corporation
and also a member of record of a nonstock corporation; the words "stock" and
"share" mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and also
membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock corporation; and the
words "depository receipt" mean a receipt or other instrument issued by a
depository representing an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof,
solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository.
(b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or
series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to be
effected pursuant to Section Section 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant
to subsection (g) of Section 251), 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 or 264 of this title:
(1) Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this section shall
be available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which stock, or
depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to
determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the
meeting of stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or
consolidation, were either (i) listed on a national securities exchange or
designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation
system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or (ii) held
of record by more than 2,000 holders; and further provided that no appraisal
rights shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent
corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its
approval the vote of the holders of the surviving corporation as provided in
subsection (f) of Section 251 of this title.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, appraisal rights
under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series
of stock of a constituent corporation if the holders thereof are required by
the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to Section !
251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this title to accept for such stock
anything except:
a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from
such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof;
b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts
in respect thereof, which shares of stock (or depository receipts in
respect thereof) or depository receipts at the effective date of the
merger or consolidation will be either listed on a national securities
exchange or designated as a national market system security on an
interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. or held of record by more than 2,000 holders;
c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository
receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a. and b. of this
paragraph; or
d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts and
cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts
described in the foregoing subparagraphs a., b. and c. of this paragraph.
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(3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation
party to a merger effected under 253 of this title is not owned by the
parent corporation immediately prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall
be available for the shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation.
(c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that
appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any
class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of
incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a
constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a provision,
the procedures of this section, including those set forth in subsections (d) and
(e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is practicable.
(d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
(1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are
provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of
stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting,
shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record date for
such meeting with respect to shares for which appraisal rights are available
pursuant to subsections (b) or (c) hereof that appraisal rights are
available for any or all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and
shall include in such notice a copy of this section. Each stockholder
electing to demand the appraisal of his shares shall deliver to the
corporation, before the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a
written demand for appraisal of his shares. Such demand will be sufficient
if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder
and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of his
shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation shall not
constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to take such action must do
so by a separate written demand as herein provided. Within 10 days after the
effective date of such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting
corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent corporation
who has complied with this subsection and has not voted in favor of or
consented to the merger or consolidation of the date that the merger or
consolidation has become effective; or
(2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to Section 228
or Section 253 of this title, each constituent corporation, either before
the effective date of the merger or consolidation or within ten days
thereafter, shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock
of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights of the
approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are
available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such
constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of this
section, provided that, if the notice is given on or after the effective
date of the merger or consolidation, such notice shall be given by the
surviving or resulting corporation to all such holders of any class or
series of stock of a constituent corporation that are entitled to appraisal
rights. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the effective date of the
merger or consolidation, shall, also notify such stockholders of the
effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any stockholder entitled to
appraisal rights may, within twenty days after the date of mailing of such
notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation the
appraisal of such holder's shares. Such demand will be sufficient if it
reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and
that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such
holder's shares. If such notice did not notify stockholders of the effective
date of the merger or consolidation, either (i) each such constituent
corporation shall send a second notice before the effective date of the
merger or consolidation notifying each of the holders of any class or series
of stock of such constituent corporation that are entitled to appraisal
rights of the effective date of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the
surviving or resulting corporation shall send such a second notice to all
such holders on or within 10 days after such effective date; provided,
however, that if such second notice is sent more than 20 days following the
sending of the first notice, such second notice need only be sent to each
stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded
appraisal of such holder's shares in accordance with this subsection. An
affidavit of the
II-2
secretary or assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the corporation
that is required to give either notice that such notice has been given
shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated
therein. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive
either notice, each constituent corporation may fix, in advance, a record
date that shall be not more than 10 days prior to the date the notice is
given; provided that, if the notice is given on or after the effective date
of the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be such effective
date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the
effective date, the record date shall be the close of business on the day
next preceding the day on which the notice is given.
(e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation,
the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has complied with
subsections (a) and (d) hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal
rights, may file a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination
of the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, any stockholder shall have the right to withdraw his demand for
appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation.
Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any
stockholder who has complied with the requirements of subsections (a) and (d)
hereof, upon written request, shall be entitled to receive from the corporation
surviving the merger or resulting from the consolidation a statement setting
forth the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or
consolidation and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received
and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. Such written statement shall
be mailed to the stockholder within 10 days after his written request for such a
statement is received by the surviving or resulting corporation or within 10
days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal under
subsection (d) hereof, whichever is later.
(f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a copy
thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which shall
within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in Chancery
in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the names and
addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and
with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by
the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the
surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be accompanied by such a
duly verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Court, shall
give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by
registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting corporation and to
the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated. Such notice
shall also be given by 1 or more publications at least 1 week before the day of
the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of
Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms
of the notices by mail and by publication shall be approved by the Court, and
the costs thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
(g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the
stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled to
appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded an
appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to
submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation
thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder
fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to
such stockholder.
(h) After determining the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the Court
shall appraise the shares, determining their fair value exclusive of any element
of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or
consolidation, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon
the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the
Court shall take into account all relevant factors. In determining the fair rate
of interest, the Court may consider all relevant factors, including the rate of
interest which the surviving or resulting corporation would have had to pay to
borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding. Upon application by the
surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder entitled to participate
in the appraisal proceeding, the Court may, in its discretion,
II-3
permit discovery or other pretrial proceedings and may proceed to trial upon the
appraisal prior to the final determination of the stockholder entitled to an
appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving
or resulting corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and who has
submitted his certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery, if such is
required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally
determined that he is not entitled to appraisal rights under this section.
(i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares,
together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to the
stockholders entitled thereto. Interest may be simple or compound, as the Court
may direct. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case of
holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of shares
represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the
certificates representing such stock. The Court's decree may be enforced as
other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving
or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any state.
(j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and taxed
upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon
application of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the
expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal
proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and the
fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all
the shares entitled to an appraisal.
(k) From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no
stockholder who has demanded his appraisal rights as provided in subsection (d)
of this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to
receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except
dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date
which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation); provided,
however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time
provided in subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder shall deliver
to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of his demand for
an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation, either within 60
days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation as provided in
subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with the written approval of the
corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal shall cease.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding in the Court of Chancery
shall be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the Court, and
such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court deems just.
(l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the shares
of such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they assented to
the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued
shares of the surviving or resulting corporation.
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Facsimile copies (with manual signatures) of the Letter of Transmittal will
be accepted. The Letter of Transmittal and certificates for Shares and any other
required documents should be sent or delivered by each stockholder of the
Company or such stockholder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
other nominee to the Depositary at one of the addresses set forth below:
THE DEPOSITARY FOR THE OFFER IS:
IBJ XXXXXXXX BANK & TRUST COMPANY
BY MAIL: BY FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION: BY HAND OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY:
P.O. Box 84 (000) 000-0000 One State Street
Bowling Green Station Attn: Reorganization Dept. New York, New York 10004
New York, New York 10274-0084 Attn: Reorganization Dept.
Attn: Reorganization Dept. Securities Processing Window
SC-1
CONFIRM RECEIPT OF
FACSIMILE
BY TELEPHONE:
(000) 000-0000
Any questions or requests for assistance or additional copies of the Offer
to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal, and other tender offer
materials, may be directed to the Dealer Manager or the Information Agent at
their respective addresses and telephone numbers listed below. Stockholders may
also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.
THE DEALER MANAGER FOR THE OFFER IS:
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
(000) 000-0000 (call collect)
THE INFORMATION AGENT FOR THE OFFER IS:
[MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC. LOGO]
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
(000) 000-0000 (call collect)
or
Call Toll Free (000) 000-0000
