EXHIBIT A
VOTING AGREEMENT
VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of June __, 2000,
by and among [PARENT], a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), [SUB], a Delaware
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Sub"), and
[STOCKHOLDER] ("Stockholder").
WITNESSETH:
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WHEREAS, immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement,
Parent, Sub and [COMPANY], a Michigan corporation (the "Company"), have
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the
"Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which the parties thereto have agreed,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, to merge
Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Stockholder is the record and
Beneficial Owner (as defined hereinafter) of _________ Existing Shares (as
defined hereinafter) of the common stock, no par value, of the Company (the
"Company Common Stock"); and
WHEREAS, as inducement and a condition to entering into the
Merger Agreement, Parent has required Stockholder to agree, and Stockholder
has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual promises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby,
agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. In addition to the terms
defined elsewhere herein, capitalized terms used and not defined herein
have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership" with respect
to any securities means having "beneficial ownership" of such securities as
determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Without duplicative counting of the
same securities by the same holder, securities Beneficially Owned by a
person include securities Beneficially Owned by all other persons with whom
such person would constitute a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)
of the Exchange Act with respect to the securities of the same issuer.
(b) "Existing Shares" means shares of the Company Common Stock
Beneficially Owned by Stockholder as of the date hereof.
(c) "Securities" means the Existing Shares together with any
shares of the Company Common Stock or other securities of the Company
acquired by Stockholder in any capacity after the date hereof and prior to
the termination of this Agreement whether upon the exercise of options,
warrants or rights, the conversion or exchange of convertible or
exchangeable securities, or by means of purchase, dividend, distribution,
split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like,
gift, bequest, inheritance or as a successor in interest in any capacity or
otherwise.
Section 2. Representations And Warranties of Stockholder.
Stockholder represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
(a) Ownership of Shares. Stockholder is the sole record and
Beneficial Owner of (i) the Existing Shares, (ii) Company Options to
purchase [ ] shares of Company Common Stock ("Stockholder Options") and
(iii) Company Warrants to purchase [ ] shares of Company Common Stock
("Stockholder Warrants") . On the date hereof, the Existing Shares
constitute all of the shares of the Company Common Stock owned of record or
Beneficially Owned by Stockholder. There are no outstanding options or
other rights to acquire from Stockholder or obligations of Stockholder to
sell or to acquire, any shares of the Company Common Stock. Stockholder has
sole voting power and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the
matters set forth in Sections 5 through 9 hereof, sole power of
disposition, sole power of conversion, sole power to demand appraisal
rights and sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this
Agreement, in each case with respect to all of the Existing Shares with no
limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such rights, subject to
applicable securities laws and the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Power; Binding Agreement. Stockholder has the legal
capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of
Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly and validly executed and delivered by Stockholder and constitutes a
valid and binding agreement of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder
in accordance with its terms except that (i) such enforcement may be
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, now or
hereafter in effect, affecting creditors' rights generally, and (ii) the
remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable
relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the
court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(c) No Conflicts. Except as contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or
approval of, any state or federal public body or authority ("Governmental
Entity") is necessary for the execution of this Agreement by Stockholder
and the consummation by Stockholder of the transactions contemplated
hereby, none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Stockholder, the consummation by Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby or compliance by Stockholder with any of the provisions
hereof shall (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any
organizational documents applicable to Stockholder, (ii) result in a
violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of
time or both) a default (or give rise to any third party right of
termination, cancellation, material modification or acceleration) under any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, loan agreement, bond,
mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment, arrangement,
understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation of any kind to
which Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder or any of its
properties or assets may be bound, or (iii) violate any order, writ,
injunction, decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable
to Stockholder or any of Stockholder's properties or assets, except in the
case of clauses (ii) and (iii) where the failure to obtain such permits,
authorizations, consents or approvals or to make such filings, or where
such violations, breaches or defaults would not, individually or in the
aggregate, materially impair the ability of Stockholder or the Company to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, this
Agreement or by the other Ancillary Agreements.
(d) No Encumbrance. Except as permitted by this Agreement, the
Existing Shares are now and, at all times during the term hereof, and the
Securities will be, held by Stockholder, or by a nominee or custodian for
the benefit of Stockholder, free and clear of all mortgages, claims,
charges, liens, security interests, pledges or options, proxies, voting
trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements or any other rights
whatsoever ("Encumbrances"), except for any such Encumbrances arising
hereunder.
(e) No Finder's Fees. No broker, investment banker, financial
advisor or other person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial
adviser's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on
behalf of Stockholder.
(f) Reliance by Parent. Stockholder understands and
acknowledges that Parent is entering into, and causing Sub to enter into,
the Merger Agreement in reliance upon Stockholder's execution and delivery
of this Agreement.
Section 3. Representations And Warranties of Parent And Sub.
Each of Parent and Sub hereby, jointly and severally, represents and
warrants to Stockholder as follows:
(a) Power; Binding Agreement. Parent and Sub each has the
corporate power and authority to enter into and perform all of its
obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by each of Parent and Sub and constitutes a valid
and binding agreement of Parent and Sub, enforceable against each of Parent
and Sub in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such enforcement may
be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, now
or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors' rights generally, and (ii) the
remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable
relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the
court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(b) No Conflicts. Except as contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or
approval of, any Governmental Entity is necessary for the execution of this
Agreement by Parent and Sub and the consummation by Parent and Sub of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and none of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by each of Parent and Sub, the consummation by each of
Parent and Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by
each of Parent and Sub with any of the provisions hereof shall (i) conflict
with or result in any breach of any provision of the respective
certificates of incorporation or by-laws of Parent and Sub, (ii) require
any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any
Governmental Entity, (iii) result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default
(or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, license, lease, contract, agreement or other
instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets may be
bound or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv)
where the failure to obtain such permits, authorizations, consents or
approvals or to make such filings, or where such violations, breaches or
defaults would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the
ability of Parent or Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement, this Agreement or by the other Ancillary Agreements.
Section 4. Disclosure. Stockholder hereby agrees to permit
Parent to publish and disclose in the Registration Statement and the Proxy
Statement/ Prospectus (including all documents and schedules filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission), and any press release or other
disclosure document which Parent, in its sole discretion determines to be
necessary or desirable in connection with the Merger and any transactions
related thereto, Stockholder's identity and ownership of the Company Common
Stock and the nature of Stockholder's commitments, arrangements and
understandings under this Agreement.
Section 5. Transfer And Other Restrictions. Prior to the
termination of this Agreement, Stockholder agrees not to, directly or
indirectly:
(i) except pursuant to the terms of the Merger
Agreement, offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge,
encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, 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
any or all of the Securities or any interest therein except as
provided in Section 6 hereof;
(ii) grant any proxy, power of attorney, deposit any of
the Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting
agreement or arrangement with respect to the Securities except
as provided in this Agreement; or
(iii) take any other action that would make any
representation or warranty of Stockholder contained herein
untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing or
disabling Stockholder from performing its obligations under
this Agreement.
Section 6. Voting of the Company Common Stock. Stockholder
hereby agrees that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and
continuing until the first to occur of (a) the Effective Time or (b)
termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, at any meeting
(whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed
meeting) of the holders of the Company Common Stock, however called, or in
connection with any written consent of the holders of the Company Common
Stock, Stockholder will appear at the meeting or otherwise cause the
Securities to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a
quorum and vote or consent (or cause to be voted or consented) the
Securities:
(A) in favor of the adoption of the
Merger Agreement and the approval of other actions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement and this Agreement and any actions
required in furtherance thereof and hereof;
(B) against any action or agreement
that would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement
of the Company under the Merger Agreement or this Agreement;
and
Stockholder may not enter into any agreement or understanding
with any person the effect of which would be inconsistent with or violative
of any provision contained in this Section 6.
Section 7. Proxy.
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(a) Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints,
Parent and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Consul, or any of them in their
respective capacities as officers of Parent and any individual who shall
hereafter succeed to any such office of Parent and each of them
individually, such Stockholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full
power of substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of
Stockholder, to vote the Securities, or grant a consent or approval in
respect of the Securities, in connection with any meeting of the
stockholders of the Company, as specified in Section 6 hereof.
(b) Stockholder represents that any other proxies heretofore
given in respect of the Existing Shares are not irrevocable, and that such
proxies are hereby revoked.
(c) Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is
entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder's
execution and delivery of this Agreement. Stockholder hereby affirms that
the irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 7 is given in connection
with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy
is given to secure the performance of the duties of Stockholder under this
Agreement. Stockholder hereby further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is
coupled with an interest and may not be revoked under any circumstances.
Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Such irrevocable
proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance with the
provisions of Section 422 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act.
Section 8. Lock-Up. As a further inducement to Parent to enter
into the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder hereby agrees that until 90 days
after the Closing Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement), the
Stockholder will not offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge,
encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, 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 any or all of the Parent Common Stock, or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares
of Parent Common Stock, Beneficially Owned or controlled by such
Stockholder as of the date hereof or at any time hereafter, in cash or
otherwise, without, in each case, the prior written consent of Parent;
provided, that the foregoing prohibitions will not apply to shares sold for
the express purpose of covering the exercise price of Stockholder Options.
In furtherance of the foregoing, Parent and its transfer agent and
registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares
of such securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach
of this Agreement.
Section 9. Stop Transfer; Legend.
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(a) Stockholder agrees with, and covenants to, Parent that
Stockholder will not request that the Company register the transfer
(book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or uncertificated interest
representing any of the Securities, unless such transfer is made in
compliance with this Agreement.
(b) In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any
change in the Company Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend,
split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of share or the like
other than pursuant to the Merger, the term "Existing Shares" will be
deemed to refer to and include the shares of the Company Common Stock as
well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any shares into
which or for which any or all of the Securities may be changed or exchanged
and appropriate adjustments shall be made to the terms and provisions of
this Agreement.
(c) Stockholder will promptly after the date hereof surrender
to the Company all certificates representing the Securities, the Company
will place the following legend on such certificates in addition to any
other legend required thereof:
"THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE
SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER PURSUANT TO AND
OTHER PROVISIONS OF A VOTING AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF
JUNE __, 2000, BY AND AMONG [PARENT], [SUB] AND
[STOCKHOLDER]."
Section 10. Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to
do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement. Each
party shall promptly consult with the other and provide any necessary
information and material with respect to all filings made by such party
with any Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement and the
Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section 11. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the
earliest of (a) termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section
7.1(a), (b) or (c) thereof, (b) six months following the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(d) or (e) thereof, (c) the
agreement of the parties hereto to terminate this Agreement, or (d) the
consummation of the Merger.
Section 12. Miscellaneous.
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(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents
and instruments referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and
supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and
oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter
hereof.
(b) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall not be
assigned by operation of law or otherwise without the prior written consent
of the other parties hereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by each party and such party's respective
heirs, beneficiaries, executors, representatives and permitted assigns.
(c) Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be
amended, altered, supplemented or otherwise modified or terminated except
upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (which is confirmed) or sent by an overnight courier service,
such as FedEx, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to Parent or Sub, to:
[to come]
Attention:
Telephone No.:
Facsimile No.:
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
If to Stockholder, to:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
with a copy to:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
(e) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which
is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect in any
jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or
unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or
affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions
of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this
Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be
interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.
(f) Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto recognizes
and acknowledges a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain damages for which it
would not have an adequate remedy at law for money, damages, and therefore
in the event of any such breach the aggrieved party shall be entitled to
the remedy of specified performance of such covenants and agreements and
injunctive and other equitable relief in addition to any other remedy to
which it may be entitled, at law or in equity.
(g) No Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any
right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available
in respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any
other party hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or
practice of the parties at variance with the terms hereof, will not
constitute a waiver by such party of its right to exercise any such or
other right, power or remedy or to demand such compliance.
(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not
intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights
or remedies hereunder.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without
giving effect to the principles of conflict of law thereof, except in such
cases as the laws of the State of Michigan are mandatorily applicable.
(j) Descriptive Heading. The descriptive headings used herein
are for reference purposes only and will not affect in any way the meaning
or interpretation of this Agreement.
(k) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid
by the party incurring such expenses.
(l) Further Assurances. From time to time, at any other party's
request and without further consideration, each party hereto shall execute
and deliver such additional documents and take all such further lawful
action as may be necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective,
in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(m) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and Stockholder have caused
this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first written
above.
[PARENT]
By: ____________________________
Name:
Title:
[SUB]
By: ____________________________
Name:
Title:
By: ____________________________
[Stockholder]*
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* In the event this agreement covers shares held jointly or held
individually by related parties who will sign this together, each joint or
related party shall sign.
