STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of August 13, 1997, is made and
entered into by COMFORCE Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"),
COMFORCE Columbus, Inc., a New York corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent ("Sub"), and the other parties signatory hereto (each a "Stockholder",
and collectively, the "Stockholders").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent, Sub and Uniforce Services,
Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"), are entering into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger (as such agreement may hereafter be amended from time to time,
the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the
respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which
Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Merger, Parent and the Company desire
that Sub commence a tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock (as defined in Section 1), including all of the Shares (as defined
in Section 2) owned beneficially by the Stockholders; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to entering into the Merger
Agreement, Parent has required that the Stockholders agree, and the Stockholders
have agreed, to enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership" with respect
to any securities shall mean 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"]), including pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing. Without duplicative
counting of the same securities by the same holder, securities Beneficially
Owned by a Person shall include securities Beneficially Owned by all other
Persons with whom such Person would constitute a "group" as within the meanings
of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
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(b) "Company Common Stock" shall mean at any time the common
stock, $.01 par value, of the Company.
(c) "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or
other entity.
2. Tender of Shares.
(a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to validly tender (and not
to withdraw) pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Offer, not
later than the fifth business day after commencement of the Offer pursuant to
Section 1.1 of the Merger Agreement and Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act, the
number of shares of Company Common Stock set forth opposite such Stockholder's
name on Schedule I hereto (the "Existing Shares", and together with any shares
of Company Common Stock acquired by such Stockholder 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 or otherwise, the
"Shares"), Beneficially Owned by him or it. Each Stockholder hereby acknowledges
and agrees that the Parent's obligation to accept for payment and pay for Shares
in the Offer, including the Shares Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder, is
subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer.
(b) The transfer by each Stockholder of his or its Shares to
Sub in the Offer shall pass to and unconditionally vest in Sub good and valid
title to the number of Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on
Schedule I hereto, free and clear of all claims, liens, restrictions, security
interests, pledges, limitations and encumbrances whatsoever.
(c) Each Stockholder hereby agrees to permit Parent and Sub to
publish and disclose in the Offer Documents and, if Company Stockholder Approval
is required under applicable law, the Proxy Statement (including all documents
and schedules filed with the SEC) his or its identity and ownership of Company
Common Stock and the nature of his or its commitments, arrangements and
understandings under this Agreement.
3. Provisions Concerning Company Common Stock.
(a) Each Stockholder hereby agrees that during the period
commencing on the date hereof and continuing until the first to occur of the
Effective Time or termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its
terms, at any meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock, however called, or
in connection with any written consent of the holders of Company Common Stock,
such Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares hold of record or
Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder, whether issued, heretofore owned or
hereafter acquired, (i) in favor of the merger, the execution and delivery by
the Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the terms thereof and
each of the other actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and this
Agreement and any actions required in furtherance thereof and
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hereof; (ii) 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
(iii) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by Parent, against the
following actions (other than the Merger and the transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement): (A) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a
merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or its
Subsidiaries; (B) a sale, lease or transfer of a material amount of assets of
the Company or its Subsidiaries, or a reorganization, recapitalization,
dissolution or liquidation of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (C) (1) any
change in a majority of the persons who constitute the board of directors of the
Company (2) any change in the present capitalization of the Company or any
amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws); (3) any
other material change in the Company's corporate structure or business; or (4)
any other action which, in the case of each of the matters referred to in
clauses C (1), (2), (3) or (4), is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to
impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, or materially adversely affect the
Offer or the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Merger Agreement. Such Stockholder shall not enter into any agreement or
understanding with any person or entity the effect of which would be
inconsistent or violative of the provisions and agreements contained in this
Section 3.
(b) Each Stockholder hereby grants to Parent a proxy to vote
the Shares of such Stockholder as indicated in Section 3(a). Each Stockholder
intends such proxy to be irrevocable and coupled with an interest and will take
such further action or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to
effectuate the intent of this proxy and hereby revokes any proxy previously
granted by Stockholder with respect to such Shares.
4. Other Covenants, Representations and Warranties. Each Stockholder
hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:
(a) Ownership of Shares. Such Stockholder is either (i) the
record and Beneficial Owner of, or (ii) the Beneficial Owner but not the record
holder of, the number of Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on
Schedule I hereto. On the date hereof, the Existing Shares set forth opposite
such Stockholder's name on Schedule I hereto constitute all of the Shares owned
of record or Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder. Such Stockholder has sole
voting power and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters
set forth in Sections 2 and 3 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 set forth opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule I
hereto, with no limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such rights,
subject to applicable securities laws and the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Power; Binding Agreement. Such Stockholder has the legal
capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of such
Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by such Stockholder will
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not violate any other agreement to which such Stockholder is a party including,
without limitation, any voting agreement, stockholders agreement or voting
trust. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such
Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder,
enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms. There is no
beneficiary or holder of a voting trust certificate or other interest of any
trust of which such Stockholder is trustee whose consent is required for the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by such stockholder
of the transactions contemplated hereby. If such Stockholder is married and such
Stockholder's Shares constitute community property, this Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of, such Stockholder's spouse, enforceable against such person in
accordance with its terms.
(c) No Conflicts. Except for (i) filings under the HSR Act, if
applicable, (A) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or
approval of, any state or federal public body or authority is necessary for the
execution of this Agreement by such Stockholder and the consummation by such
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and (B) none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder, the consummation
by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by
such Stockholder with any of the provisions hereof shall (1) conflict with or
result in any breach of any applicable organization documents applicable to such
Stockholder, (2) 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, bond, mortgage,
indenture, license, contract, commitment, arrangement, understanding, agreement
or other instrument or obligation of any kind to which such Stockholder is a
party or by which such Stockholder or any of such Stockholder's properties or
assets may be bound, or (3) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree,
judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Stockholder or
any of such Stockholder's properties or assets.
(d) No Encumbrances. Except as required by Section 2 and for
the proxy granted under Section 3(b), such Stockholder's Shares and the
certificates representing such Shares are now, and at all times during the term
hereof will be, held by such Stockholder, or by a nominee or custodian for the
benefit of such Stockholder, free and clear of all liens, claims, security
interests, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements
or any other encumbrances whatsoever.
(e) No Finder's Fees. No broker, investment banker, financial
adviser 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 such
Stockholder.
(f) No Solicitation. No Stockholder shall, in his or its
capacity as such, directly or indirectly, solicit (including by way of
furnishing information) or respond to any
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inquiries or the making of any proposal by any Potential Acquirer with respect
to the Company that constitutes a proposed Acquisition Transaction. If any
Stockholder receives any such inquiry or proposal, then such Stockholder shall
promptly inform Parent of the terms and conditions, if any, of such inquiry or
proposal and the identity of the person making such proposal. Each Stockholder
will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities,
discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect
to any of the foregoing.
(g) Restrictions on Transfer, Proxies and Non-Interference.
Except as required by Section 2 or Section 3(b), no Stockholder shall, directly
or indirectly: (i) 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 such Stockholder's Shares or any interest therein; (ii) grant any
proxies or powers of attorney, deposit any Shares into a voting trust or enter
into a voting agreement with respect to any Shares; or (iii) take any action
that would make any representation or warranty of such Stockholder contained
herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling such
Stockholder from performing such Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement.
(h) Waiver of Appraisal Rights. Each Stockholder hereby waives
any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger that such
Stockholder may have.
(i) Reliance by Parent. Such Stockholder understands and
acknowledges that Parent and Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in
reliance upon such Stockholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement.
(j) Further Assurances. From time to time, at the other
party's request and without further consideration, each party hereto shall
execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action
as may be necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective, in the most
expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5. Stop Transfer. Each Stockholder agrees with, and covenants to,
Parent that such Stockholder shall not request that the Company register the
transfer (book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or uncertificated interest
representing any of such Stockholder's Shares, unless such transfer is made in
compliance with this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 2 hereof).
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 shares or the like, the term "Shares" shall be deemed
to refer to and include the Shares as well as all such stock dividends and
distributions and any shares into which or for which any or all of the Shares
may be changed or exchange.
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6. Termination. Except as otherwise provided herein, the covenants and
agreements contained herein with respect to the Shares shall terminate upon the
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms.
7. Stockholder Capacity. No person executing this Agreement who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director of the Company makes any agreement or
understanding herein in his or her capacity as such director. Each Stockholder
signs solely in his or her capacity as the record and beneficial owner ow, or
the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of, such
Stockholder's Shares.
8. Confidentiality. The Stockholders recognize that successful
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be dependent
upon confidentiality with respect to the matters referred to herein. In this
connection, pending public disclosure thereof, each Stockholder hereby agrees
not to disclose or discuss such matters with anyone not a party to this
Agreement (other than such Stockholder's counsel and advisors, if any) without
the prior written consent of Parent, except for filings required pursuant to the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder or disclosures such
Stockholder's counsel advises are necessary in order to fulfill such
Stockholder's obligations imposed by law, in which event such Stockholder shall
give notice of such disclosure to Parent as promptly as practicable so as to
enable Parent to seek a protective order from a court of competent jurisdiction
with respect thereto.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement
constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(b) Certain Events. Each Stockholder agrees that this
Agreement and the obligations hereunder shall attach to such Stockholder's
Shares and shall be binding upon any person or entity to which legal or
beneficial ownership of such Shares shall pass, whether by operation of law or
otherwise, including, without limitation, such Stockholder's heirs, guardians,
administrators or successors. Notwithstanding any transfer of Shares, the
transferor shall remain liable for the performance of all obligations under this
Agreement of the transferor.
(c) Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other
party, provided that Parent may assign, in its sole discretion, its rights and
obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder
if such assignee does not perform such obligations.
(d) Amendments, Waivers, Etc. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated, with
respect to any one or
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more Stockholders, except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement
executed by the relevant parties hereto; provided that Schedule I hereto may be
supplemented by Parent by adding the name and other relevant information
concerning any stockholder of the Company who agrees to be bound by the terms of
this Agreement without the agreement of any other party hereto, and thereafter
such added stockholder shall be treated as a "Stockholder" for all purposes of
this Agreement.
(e) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly received if so given) by hand delivery, telegram, telex
or telecopy, or by mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) or by any courier service, such as Federal Express, providing
proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the
respective parties at the following addresses:
If to Stockholder: At the addresses set forth on Schedule I hereto.
If to Parent or Sub: COMFORCE Corporation
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone No. (000) 000-0000
Fax No. (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
with a copy to: Doepken Keevican & Xxxxx Professional Corporation
58th Floor, USX Tower
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone No. (000) 000-0000
Fax No. (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esquire
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
(f) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion
of any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.
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(g) Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto
recognizes and acknowledges that 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 each of the parties hereto agrees that in the event of any such breach
the aggrieved party shall be entitled to the remedy of specific 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.
(h) Remedies Cumulative. All rights, powers and remedies
provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or
in equity shall be cumulative and no alternative, and the exercise of any
thereof by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of
any other such right, power or remedy by such party.
(i) 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, shall not constitute a waiver by
any such party of its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy
or to demand such compliance.
(j) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not
intended to be for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by, any person
or entity who or which is not a party hereto.
(k) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving
effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
(l) Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings used herein
are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part
of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
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(m) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which,
taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and each Stockholder have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
COMFORCE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-----------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chairman
COMFORCE COLUMBUS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-----------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chairman
STOCKHOLDERS:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Fanning Limited Partnership, L.P., a Georgia
limited partnership
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: General Partner
AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED (with respect to Section 5):
UNIFORCE SERVICES, INC.
By /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------
Name Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title Chief Operating Officer
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SCHEDULE 1 TO
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name and Address of Stockholder Number of Shares Owned
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxxx 1,447,517
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Fanning Limited Partnership, L.P. 361,513
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
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