Exhibit 99.4
THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO
CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN AND TO
RESALE RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated May 31, 1999, between Crompton &
Xxxxxxx, a Massachusetts corporation ("Issuer"), and Witco Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Grantee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement"), which
agreement has been executed by the parties hereto immediately prior to this
Stock Option Agreement (the "Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger
Agreement and in consideration therefor, Issuer has agreed to grant Grantee the
Option (as hereinafter defined);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional,
irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up
to 13,025,917 fully paid and nonassessable shares of Issuer's Common Stock, par
value $.10 per share ("Common Stock"), at a price of $18.375 per share (the
"Option Price"); provided, however, that in no event shall the number of shares
of Common Stock for which this Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the
Issuer's issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock without giving effect to
any shares subject to or issued pursuant to the Option. The number of shares of
Common Stock that may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the Option
Price are subject to adjustment as herein set forth.
(b) In the event that any additional shares of Common
Stock are either (i) issued or otherwise become outstanding after the
date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to this Agreement) or (ii)
redeemed, repurchased, retired or otherwise cease to be outstanding
after the date of this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the Option shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate,
so that, after such issuance, such number equals 19.9% of the number of
shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding without giving
effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing
contained in this Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be
deemed to authorize Issuer or Grantee to breach any provision of the
Merger Agreement.
2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the
Option, in whole or part, and from time to time, if, but only if, a Triggering
Event (as hereinafter defined) shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an
Exercise Termination Event (as hereinafter defined), provided that the Holder
shall have sent the written notice of such exercise (as provided in
subsection (c) of this Section 2) within 60 days following such Triggering
Event. A "Triggering Event" shall mean any occurrence following which Grantee is
entitled (without any further contractual contingencies) to receive a
termination fee pursuant to Section 10.3[(b)][(c)] of the Merger Agreement. Each
of the following shall be an "Exercise Termination Event": (i) the Effective
Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger; (ii) termination of the
Merger Agreement in accordance with the provisions thereof if following such
termination a Triggering Event, by its terms, cannot occur; or (iii) such time
after termination of the Merger Agreement when a Triggering Event, by its terms,
cannot thereafter occur. The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of
the Option.
(b) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of
the occurrence of any Triggering Event of which it has notice, it being
understood that the giving of such notice by Issuer shall not be a
condition to the right of the Holder to exercise the Option.
(c) In the event the Holder is entitled to and wishes
to exercise the Option, it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the
date of which being herein referred to as the "Notice Date") specifying
(i) the total number of shares it will purchase pursuant to such
exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier than three business days
nor later than 60 business days from the Notice Date for the closing of
such purchase (the "Closing Date"); provided that if prior notification
to or approval of any regulatory agency is required in connection with
such purchase, the Holder shall promptly file the required notice or
application for approval and shall expeditiously process the same and
the period of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence
shall run instead from the date on which any required notification
periods have expired or been terminated or such approvals have been
obtained and any requisite waiting period or periods shall have passed.
Any exercise of the Option shall be deemed to occur on the Notice Date
relating thereto.
(d) At the closing referred to in subsection (c) of
this Section 2, the Holder shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase
price for the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise
of the Option in immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank
account designated by Issuer, provided that failure or refusal of
Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude the Holder
from exercising the Option.
(e) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery
of immediately available funds as provided in subsection (d) of this
Section 2, Issuer shall deliver to the Holder a certificate or
certificates representing the number of shares of Common Stock
purchased by the Holder and, if the Option should be exercised in part
only, a new Option evidencing the rights of the Holder thereof to
purchase the balance of the shares purchasable hereunder, and the
Holder shall deliver to Issuer this Agreement and a letter agreeing
that the Holder will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such
shares in violation of applicable law or the provisions of this
Agreement.
(f) Certificates for Common Stock delivered at a
closing hereunder may be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall
read substantially as follows:
"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
subject to certain provisions of an agreement between the
registered holder hereof and Issuer and to resale restrictions
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A copy
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of such agreement is on file at the principal office of Issuer
and will be provided to the holder hereof without charge upon
receipt by Issuer of a written request therefor."
It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale restrictions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), in the above legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff
of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such legend is not required for
purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions to this Agreement
in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s)
without such reference if the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance
with the provisions of this Agreement and under circumstances that do not
require the retention of such reference; and (iii) the legend shall be removed
in its entirety if the conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both
satisfied. In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be
required by law.
(g) Upon the giving by the Holder to Issuer of the
written notice of exercise of the Option provided for under subsection
(c) of this Section 2 and the tender of the applicable purchase price
in immediately available funds, the Holder shall be deemed to be the
holder of record of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such
exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of Issuer shall
then be closed or that certificates representing such shares of Common
Stock shall not then be actually delivered to the Holder. Issuer shall
pay all expenses, and any and all United States federal, state and
local taxes and other charges that may be payable in connection with
the preparation, issue and delivery of stock certificates under this
Section 2 in the name of the Holder or its assignee, transferee or
designee.
3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain,
free from preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury
shares of Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised without additional
authorization of Common Stock after giving effect to all other options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii)
that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation,
merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary act, avoid or
seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the covenants,
stipulations or conditions to be observed or performed hereunder by Issuer;
(iii) use its reasonable best efforts to promptly to take all action as may from
time to time be required (including complying with all premerger notification,
reporting and waiting period requirements specified in 15 U.S.C. Section 18a and
regulations promulgated thereunder) in order to permit the Holder to exercise
the Option and Issuer duly and effectively to issue shares of Common Stock
pursuant hereto; and (iv) use its reasonable best efforts to promptly to take
all action provided herein to protect the rights of the Holder against dilution.
4. This Agreement and the Option granted hereby are
exchangeable, without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation
and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other
Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling the holder
thereof to purchase, on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are
set forth herein, in the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include
any Stock Option Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and
the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft,
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destruction or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or
destruction) of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and
cancellation of this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a
new Agreement of like tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and
delivered shall constitute an additional contractual obligation on the part of
Issuer, whether or not the Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated
shall at any time be enforceable by anyone.
5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of
Common Stock that are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to
Section 1 of this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable
upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 5. In the event of any
change in, or distributions in respect of, the Common Stock by reason of stock
dividends, split-ups, mergers, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions,
conversions, exchanges of shares, distributions on or in respect of the Common
Stock that would be prohibited under the terms of the Merger Agreement, or the
like, the type and number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise
hereof and the Option Price shall be appropriately adjusted in such manner as
shall fully preserve the economic benefits provided hereunder and proper
provision shall be made in any agreement governing any such transaction to
provide for such proper adjustment and the full satisfaction of the Issuer's
obligations hereunder.
6. Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event that occurs prior
to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the request of Grantee
delivered within 60 days of such Triggering Event (whether on its own behalf or
on behalf of any subsequent holder of this Option (or part thereof) or any of
the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant hereto), promptly prepare, file and
keep current a shelf registration statement under the 1933 Act covering this
Option and any shares issued and issuable pursuant to this Option and shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective and remain current in order to permit the sale or other disposition of
this Option and any shares of Common Stock issued upon total or partial exercise
of this Option ("Option Shares") in accordance with any plan of disposition
requested by Grantee. Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
registration statement first to become effective and then to remain effective
for such period not in excess of 180 days from the day such registration
statement first becomes effective or such shorter time as may be reasonably
necessary to effect such sales or other dispositions. Grantee shall have the
right to demand two such registrations. The foregoing notwithstanding, if, at
the time of any request by Grantee for registration of the Option or Option
Shares as provided above, Issuer is in registration with respect to an
underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock, and if in the good faith
judgment of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, or, if none, the
sole underwriter or underwriters, of such offering the inclusion of the Holder's
Option or Option Shares would interfere with the successful marketing of the
shares of Common Stock offered by Issuer, the number of Option Shares otherwise
to be covered in the registration statement contemplated hereby may be reduced;
provided, however, that after any such required reduction the number of Option
Shares to be included in such offering for the account of the Holder shall
constitute at least 25% of the total number of shares to be sold by the Holder
and Issuer in the aggregate; and provided further, however, that if such
reduction occurs, then the Issuer shall file a registration statement for the
balance as promptly as practicable and no reduction shall thereafter occur. Each
such Holder shall provide all information reasonably requested by Issuer for
inclusion in any registration statement to be filed hereunder. If requested by
any such Holder in connection with such registration, Issuer shall become a
party to any underwriting agreement relating to the sale of such shares, but
only to the extent of obligating
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itself in respect of representations, warranties, indemnities and other
agreements customarily included in secondary offering underwriting agreements
for the Issuer. Upon receiving any request under this Section 6 from any Holder,
Issuer agrees to send a copy thereof to any other person known to Issuer to be
entitled to registration rights under this Section 6, in each case by promptly
mailing the same, postage prepaid, to the address of record of the persons
entitled to receive such copies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, in no event shall Issuer be obligated to effect more than two
registrations pursuant to this Section 6 by reason of the fact that there shall
be more than one Grantee as a result of any assignment or division of this
Agreement.
7. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
in no event shall the Total Option Profit (as hereinafter defined) exceed in the
aggregate $30 million.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, this Option may not be exercised for a number of shares as
would, as of the date of exercise, result in a Notional Total Option
Profit (as hereinafter defined) which would exceed in the aggregate $30
million.
(c) As used herein, the term "Total Option Profit"
shall mean the aggregate amount (before taxes) of the following: (i)
(x) the amount received by Grantee pursuant to Section 15, less (y)
Grantee's purchase price for any Option Shares, (ii) (x) the amount
received by Grantee pursuant to the sale of Option Shares to any
unaffiliated party, valuing any non-cash consideration at its fair
market value, less (y) Grantee's purchase price for such Option Shares,
and (iii) any equivalent amount with respect to the Substitute Option.
(d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Option
Profit" with respect to any number of shares of Common Stock as to
which Grantee has delivered an exercise notice shall be the Total
Option Profit determined as of the Notice Date assuming that the Option
were exercised on such date for such number of shares of Common Stock
and assuming that such shares, together with all other Option Shares
held by Grantee and its affiliates as of such date, were sold for cash
at the closing market price for the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the preceding trading day (less customary brokerage
commissions or underwriting discounts).
8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination
Event, Issuer shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge
into any person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, and shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (ii) to
permit any person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, to merge into
Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but, in
connection with such merger, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall
be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person
or cash or any other property or the then outstanding shares of Common Stock
shall after such merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting shares
and voting share equivalents of the merged company, or (iii) to sell or
otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any person, other
than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the
agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provision so that the
Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged
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for, an option (the "Substitute Option"), at the election of the Holder, of
either (x) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) or (y) any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation.
(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:
(A) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the
continuing or surviving corporation of a consolidation or
merger with Issuer (if other than Issuer), (ii) Issuer in a
merger in which Issuer is the continuing or surviving person,
and (iii) the transferee of all or substantially all of
Issuer's assets.
(B) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common
stock issued by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon
exercise of the Substitute Option.
(3) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (i)
the price per share of Common Stock at which a tender offer or
exchange offer therefor has been made, (ii) the price per
share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant
to an agreement with Issuer, (iii) the highest closing price
for shares of Common Stock within the immediately preceding
six-month period, or (iv) in the event of a sale of all or a
substantial portion of Issuer's assets, the sum of the price
paid in such sale for such assets and the current market value
of the remaining assets of Issuer as determined by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Holder and reasonably acceptable to the Issuer, divided by the
number of shares of Common Stock of Issuer outstanding at the
time of such sale.
(4) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing
price of a share of the Substitute Common Stock for the 45
business days immediately preceding the consolidation, merger
or sale in question, but in no event higher than the closing
price of the shares of Substitute Common Stock on the day
preceding such consolidation, merger or sale; provided that if
Issuer is the issuer of the Substitute Option, the Average
Price shall be computed with respect to a share of common
stock issued by the person merging into Issuer or by any
company which controls or is controlled by such person, as the
Holder may elect.
(c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as
the Option, provided, that if the terms of the Substitute Option
cannot, for legal reasons, be the same as the Option, such terms shall
be as similar as possible and in no event less advantageous to the
Holder. The issuer of the Substitute Option shall also enter into an
agreement with the then Holder or Holders of the Substitute Option in
substantially the same form as this Agreement, which shall be
applicable to the Substitute Option.
(d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such
number of shares of Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned
Value multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock for which the
Option is then exercisable, divided by the Average Price. The exercise
price of the Substitute Option per share of Substitute Common Stock
shall then be equal to the Option Price multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock for
which the Option is then exercisable and the denominator of which shall
be the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the
Substitute Option is exercisable.
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(e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing
paragraphs, shall the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than
19.9% of the shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to
exercise of the Substitute Option. In the event that the Substitute
Option would be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of
Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise but for this
clause (e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option
Issuer") shall make a cash payment to Holder equal to the excess of (i)
the value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the
limitation in this clause (e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute
Option after giving effect to the limitation in this clause (e). This
difference in value shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by the Holder or the Owner, as the
case may be, and reasonably acceptable to the Acquiring Corporation.
(f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction
described in subsection (a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring
Corporation and any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation
assume in writing all the obligations of Issuer hereunder.
9. [Intentionally Omitted]
10. The 60-day period for exercise of certain rights under
Sections 2, 6 and 13 shall be extended: (i) to the extent necessary to obtain
all regulatory approvals for the exercise of such rights and for the expiration
of all statutory waiting periods; and (ii) to the extent necessary to avoid
liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise.
11. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as
follows:
(a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
and validly authorized by the Board of Directors of Issuer and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Issuer are necessary to authorize
this Agreement or to consummate the transactions so contemplated. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Issuer.
(b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from
the date hereof through the termination of this Agreement in accordance
with its terms will have reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the
Option, that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum
number of shares of Common Stock at any time and from time to time
issuable hereunder, and all such shares, upon issuance pursuant hereto,
will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and
will be delivered free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrance and
security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.
(c) Issuer has taken all action (including if required
redeeming all of the Rights or amending or terminating the Rights
Agreement) so that the entering into of this Option Agreement, the
acquisition of shares of Common Stock hereunder and the other
transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not result in the
grant of any rights to any person under the Rights Agreement or enable
or require the Rights to be exercised, distributed or triggered.
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12. Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer that:
(a) Grantee has all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to any approvals or
consents referred to herein, to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Grantee.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.
(b) The Option is not being, and any shares of Common
Stock or other securities acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the
Option will not be, acquired with a view to the public distribution
thereof and will not be transferred or otherwise disposed of except in
a transaction registered or exempt from registration under the 1933
Act.
13. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights
or obligations under this Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any other
person, without the express written consent of the other party, except that in
the event a Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an Exercise
Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express provisions hereof, may assign
in whole or in part its rights and obligations hereunder within 90 days
following such Triggering Event (or such later period as provided in Section
10).
14. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its reasonable best
efforts to make all filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties
and governmental authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation making application
to list the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder on the New York Stock
Exchange upon official notice of issuance.
15. (a) At any time from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, (i) following a request of the Holder, delivered prior to an
Exercise Termination Event, Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase
the Option from the Holder at a price (the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to
the amount by which (A) the Market/Offer Price (as defined below) exceeds (B)
the Option Price, multiplied by the number of shares for which this Option may
then be exercised and (ii) at the request of the owner of Option Shares from
time to time (the "Owner"), delivered within 60 days of such occurrence (or such
later period as provided in Section 10), Issuer shall repurchase such number of
the Option Shares from the Owner as the Owner shall designate at a price (the
"Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to the Market/Offer Price multiplied by
the number of Option Shares so designated. The term "Market/Offer Price" shall
mean the highest of (i) the highest price per share of Common Stock to be paid
or received in connection with or as a result of such Triggering Event
(including, in the event of a sale of all or a substantial portion of Issuer's
assets, the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets and the current
market value of the remaining assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder or the Owner, as the
case may be, and reasonably acceptable to the Issuer, divided by the number of
shares of Common Stock of Issuer outstanding at the time of such sale), or (ii)
the highest closing price for shares of Common Stock within the six-month period
immediately preceding the date the Holder gives notice of the required
repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives notice of the required repurchase
of Option Shares, as the case may be. In determining the Market/Offer Price, the
value of consideration other than cash shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment
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banking firm selected by the Holder or Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably
acceptable to the Issuer.
(b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may
exercise its right to require Issuer to repurchase the Option and any
Option Shares pursuant to this Section 15 by surrendering for such
purpose to Issuer, at its principal office, this Agreement or
certificates for Option Shares, as applicable, accompanied by a written
notice or notices stating that the Holder or the Owner, as the case may
be, elects to require Issuer to repurchase this Option and/or the
Option Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Section 15.
Within the latter to occur of (x) five business days after the
surrender of the Option and/or certificates representing Option Shares
and the receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto and (y) the
time that is immediately prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder the Option
Repurchase Price and/or to the Owner the Option Share Repurchase Price
therefor or the portion thereof, if any, that Issuer is not then
prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so delivering.
(c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under
applicable law or regulation from repurchasing the Option and/or the
Option Shares in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify the Holder
and/or the Owner and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from
time to time, to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the
portion of the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase
Price, respectively, that it is no longer prohibited from delivering,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer
so prohibited; provided, however, that if Issuer at any time after
delivery of a notice of repurchase pursuant to paragraph (b) of this
Section 15 is prohibited under applicable law or regulation from
delivering to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the Option
Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively,
in full (and Issuer hereby undertakes to use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals and to
file any required notices, in each case as promptly as practicable in
order to accomplish such repurchase), the Holder or Owner may revoke
its notice of repurchase of the Option or the Option Shares either in
whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter
case, Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner,
as appropriate, that portion of the Option Repurchase Price or the
Option Share Repurchase Price that Issuer is not prohibited from
delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the Holder,
a new Stock Option Agreement evidencing the right of the Holder to
purchase that number of shares of Common Stock obtained by multiplying
the number of shares of Common Stock for which the surrendered Stock
Option Agreement was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice
of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Option
Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the
Holder and the denominator of which is the Option Repurchase Price, or
(B) to the Owner, a certificate for the Option Shares it is then so
prohibited from repurchasing.
(d) The parties hereto agree that Issuer's obligations
to repurchase the Option or Option Shares under this Section 15 shall
not terminate upon the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event
unless no Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to the occurrence
of an Exercise Termination Event.
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(e) The Holder and any Owner shall have rights
substantially identical to those set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), (c)
and (d) of this Section 15 with respect to the Substitute Option, the
Substitute Common Stock and the Substitute Option Issuer.
16. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an
inadequate remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that
the obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party
hereto through injunctive or other equitable relief.
17. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained
in this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that the Holder is not permitted to acquire, or Issuer is not permitted to
repurchase pursuant to Section 15, the full number of shares of Common Stock
provided in Section 1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section 1(b) or 5
hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire or
to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.
18. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered
in person, by cable, telegram, telecopy or telex, or by registered or certified
mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) at the respective addresses of
the parties set forth in the Merger Agreement.
19. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, regardless of the laws that
might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof
(except to the extent that mandatory provisions of federal or state law apply).
20. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute
one and the same agreement.
21. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the
parties hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on
its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including
fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers,
accountants and counsel.
22. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the
Merger Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes
all prior arrangements or understandings with respect thereof, written or oral.
The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer
upon any party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors
and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or
by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
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23. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this
Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, all as of the date first above written.
CROMPTON & XXXXXXX CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
WITCO CORPORATION
By: /s/ E. Xxxx Xxxx
------------------------------------
Name: E. Xxxx Xxxx
Title: Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
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