TENDER OFFER AND MERGER AGREEMENT Dated as of June 26, 2008 among NATIONAL PATENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, NPDV ACQUISITION CORP. and FIVE STAR PRODUCTS, INC.
Exhibit
2.1
Dated as
of June 26, 2008
among
NATIONAL
PATENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,
NPDV
ACQUISITION CORP.
and
FIVE STAR
PRODUCTS, INC.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I
|
THE
OFFER
|
2
|
Section
1.1
|
The
Offer
|
2
|
Section
1.2
|
Company
Actions
|
4
|
Section
1.3
|
Top-Up
Option
|
6
|
Section
1.4
|
Stockholder
Meeting
|
7
|
Section
1.5
|
Offer
Documents; Schedule 13E-3; Schedule 14D9; Proxy Statement
|
8
|
Section
1.6
|
Transfer
of Five Star Note to Parent or Purchaser; Conversion of Five Star
Note.
|
8
|
ARTICLE
II
|
THE
MERGER
|
9
|
Section
2.1
|
The
Merger
|
9
|
Section
2.2
|
Closing
|
9
|
Section
2.3
|
Effective
Time
|
9
|
Section
2.4
|
Effects
of the Merger
|
9
|
Section
2.5
|
Certificate
of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation
|
9
|
Section
2.6
|
Directors
and Officers of the Surviving Corporation
|
9
|
Section
2.7
|
Conversion
of Securities
|
10
|
Section
2.8
|
Exchange
of Certificates
|
10
|
Section
2.9
|
Appraisal
Rights
|
13
|
Section
2.10
|
Company
Equity Awards
|
13
|
Section
2.11
|
Rule
16b-3
|
14
|
ARTICLE
III
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
14
|
Section
3.1
|
Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power
|
14
|
Section
3.2
|
Capitalization
|
15
|
Section
3.3
|
Authority;
Noncontravention; Voting Requirements
|
16
|
Section
3.4
|
Governmental
Approvals
|
18
|
Section
3.5
|
Company
SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities
|
18
|
Section
3.6
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
20
|
Section
3.7
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
20
|
Section
3.8
|
Compliance
With Laws; Permits
|
20
|
Section
3.9
|
Information
Supplied
|
21
|
Section
3.10
|
Tax
Matters
|
22
|
Section
3.11
|
Opinion
of Financial Advisor
|
22
|
Section
3.12
|
Brokers
and Other Advisors
|
22
|
Section
3.13
|
State
Takeover Statutes
|
23
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
|
23
|
Section
4.1
|
Organization
|
23
|
Section
4.2
|
Authority;
Noncontravention
|
23
|
Section
4.3
|
Government
Approvals
|
24
|
Section
4.4
|
Information
Supplied
|
25
|
Section
4.5
|
Ownership
and Operations of Purchaser
|
25
|
Section
4.6
|
Financing
|
25
|
Section
4.7
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
25
|
Section
4.8
|
Material
Non-Public Information
|
26
|
ARTICLE
V
|
ADDITIONAL
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
|
26
|
Section
5.1
|
Conduct
of Business
|
26
|
Section
5.2
|
No
Solicitation by the Company; Etc.
|
30
|
Section
5.3
|
Reasonable
Best Efforts
|
33
|
Section
5.4
|
Public
Announcements
|
33
|
Section
5.5
|
Notification
of Certain Matters
|
33
|
Section
5.6
|
Indemnification
and Insurance
|
34
|
Section
5.7
|
Securityholder
Litigation
|
34
|
Section
5.8
|
Fees
and Expenses
|
35
|
Section
5.9
|
Takeover
Laws
|
35
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
CONDITIONS
TO THE MERGER
|
35
|
Section
6.1
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger
|
35
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
TERMINATION
|
35
|
Section
7.1
|
Termination
|
35
|
Section
7.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
37
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
|
38
|
Section
8.1
|
No
Survival of Representations and Warranties
|
38
|
Section
8.2
|
Amendment
or Supplement
|
38
|
Section
8.3
|
Extension
of Time, Waiver, Etc.
|
38
|
Section
8.4
|
Assignment
|
39
|
Section
8.5
|
Counterparts
|
39
|
Section
8.6
|
Entire
Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
39
|
Section
8.7
|
Governing
Law; Waiver of Jury Trial
|
39
|
Section
8.8
|
Specific
Enforcement
|
39
|
Section
8.9
|
Consent
to Jurisdiction
|
39
|
Section
8.10
|
Notices
|
40
|
Section
8.11
|
Severability
|
41
|
Section
8.12
|
Definitions
|
41
|
Section
8.13
|
Interpretation
|
42
|
EXHIBITS
Certain
Conditions to the Offer
|
Annex
A
|
Forms
of Equity Award Letter Agreement
|
Annex
B
|
Index of Defined
Terms
Affiliate
|
42
|
Agreement
|
1
|
Balance
Sheet Date
|
2
|
Bankruptcy
and Equity Exception
|
1
|
Business
Day
|
42
|
Certificate
of Merger
|
9
|
Certificates
|
11
|
Closing
|
9
|
Code
|
12
|
Company
|
1
|
Company
Acquisition Agreement
|
31
|
Company
Common Stock
|
1
|
Company
Charter Documents
|
7
|
Company
Disclosure Schedule
|
15
|
Company
Employee Plans
|
29
|
Company
Material Adverse Effect
|
15
|
Company
Preferred Stock
|
16
|
Company
Recommendation
|
31
|
Company
SEC Documents
|
19
|
Company
Stock Plans
|
14
|
Company
Stockholder Approval
|
17
|
Company
Stockholders Meeting
|
7
|
Contract
|
18
|
DGCL
|
1
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
13
|
Dissenting
Stockholders
|
13
|
Effective
Time
|
9
|
Engagement
Letter
|
25
|
Exchange
Act
|
2
|
Expiration
Time
|
2
|
Fairness
Opinion
|
5
|
Filed
Company SEC Documents
|
20
|
Financial
Advisor
|
5
|
Five
Star Note
|
6
|
GAAP
|
42
|
Governmental
Authority
|
42
|
HSR
Act
|
42
|
JL
Distributors
|
6
|
Knowledge
|
42
|
Laws
|
21
|
Liens
|
15
|
Material
Adverse Effect
|
37
|
Merger
|
1
|
Merger
Consideration
|
10
|
Offer
|
1
|
Offer
Documents
|
4
|
Offer
Price
|
1
|
Option
|
14
|
Parent
|
1
|
Paying
Agent
|
10
|
Permits
|
21
|
Person
|
42
|
Proxy
Statement
|
8
|
Purchase
Date
|
42
|
Purchaser
|
1
|
Representatives
|
30
|
Schedule
D5-9
|
5
|
Schedule
TO
|
4
|
SEC
|
3
|
Securities
Act
|
15
|
Share
|
1
|
Subsidiary
|
42
|
Superior
Proposal
|
33
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
9
|
Takeover
Laws
|
23
|
Takeover
Proposal
|
32
|
Taxes
|
22
|
Top-Up
Consideration
|
42
|
Top-Up
Option
|
42
|
Top-Up
Option Shares
|
42
|
Transactions
|
42
|
Walk-Away
Date
|
43
|
This
TENDER OFFER AND MERGER AGREEMENT, dated as of June 26, 2008 (this “Agreement”), is among
NATIONAL PATENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), NPDV
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”), and FIVE
STAR PRODUCTS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Certain
terms used in this Agreement are used as defined in Section 8.12.
WHEREAS, the respective Boards
of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company each deems it advisable that
Purchaser acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company,
par value $0.01 per share (“Company Common
Stock”), on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for in this
Agreement;
WHEREAS, in furtherance
thereof, it is proposed that such acquisition be accomplished by (a) Purchaser
commencing a tender offer to purchase up to 100% of the shares of Company Common
Stock issued and outstanding at the time of the expiration of the tender offer
(each, a “Share” and,
collectively, the “Shares”) for $0.40
per Share (such amount or any greater amount per Share paid pursuant to the
Offer being hereinafter referred to as the “Offer Price”),
subject to any required withholding of Taxes, net to the seller in cash, on the
terms and subject to the conditions provided for in this Agreement (such cash
tender offer, as it may be amended from time to time as permitted by this
Agreement, the “Offer”), and (b)
following the consummation of the Offer, the merger of Purchaser with and into
the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation, in accordance
with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), pursuant to
which Shares (other than certain shares as provided in Section 2.7. Conversion of Securities,
hereof) will be converted into the right to receive the Offer Price, subject to
any required withholding of Taxes, on the terms and subject to the conditions
provided for in this Agreement (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, each of the
respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Purchaser and, based on the
recommendation of a special committee of the independent director of the Company
(the “Special
Committee”), the Board of Directors of the Company, has approved this
Agreement, the Offer and the Merger; and
WHEREAS, Parent intends to
contribute its Shares (including those obtained through the conversion of the
Five Star Note) (together, the “Currently Owned
Shares”) to Purchaser prior to the commencement of the
Offer;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent,
Purchaser and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1
ARTICLE
I
The
Offer
SECTION
1.1 The
Offer.
(a) Provided
that (i) none of the events or circumstances set forth in paragraphs (b)(i)
through (b)(vi) of Annex A hereto shall
have occurred and be existing (and shall not have been waived by Purchaser) and
(ii) the Company shall have complied with its obligations under Section 1.2
Company Actions,
hereof, Purchaser shall commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”)) the
Offer to purchase all of the Shares (other than the Currently Owned Shares) at
the Offer Price as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date
hereof.
(b) Subject
to the terms of the Offer and this Agreement and the satisfaction or earlier
waiver of all the conditions of the Offer set forth in Annex A hereto, at
the time of the expiration of the Offer (as may be extended from time to time in
accordance with this Section 1.1, the “Expiration Time”),
Purchaser shall accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly tendered and
not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer promptly after it is permitted to do so
under applicable Law. The Offer Price shall, subject to any required
withholding of Taxes, be net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Offer.
(c) The
obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer shall be subject only to the satisfaction (or waiver by
Purchaser) of the conditions set forth in Annex A
hereto.
(d) Purchaser
expressly reserves the right to:
(i) waive
any of the conditions set forth in Annex A
hereto;
(ii) increase
the price per Share payable in the Offer; and
(iii) make
any other changes in the terms of the Offer;
provided, however, that no
change may be made without the prior written consent of the Company
which:
(1) decreases
the price per Share payable in the Offer;
(2) changes
the form of consideration to be paid in the Offer;
(3) reduces
the maximum number of Shares sought to be purchased in the Offer;
(4) imposes
conditions to the Offer in addition to the conditions set forth in Annex A hereto;
or
2
(5) modifies
or amends any of the conditions set forth in Annex A hereto or
makes other changes in the terms of the Offer that are in any manner adverse to
the holders of Shares or, except as provided below, extends the Expiration
Time.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Purchaser shall:
(i) extend
the Offer beyond the initial scheduled Expiration Time, which shall be 20
Business Days following the date of commencement of the Offer, or any extension
of the Expiration Time, if, at the scheduled Expiration Time, any of the
conditions to Purchaser’s obligation to accept for payment and to pay for Shares
tendered shall not be satisfied or waived, subject, however, to the parties’
respective rights to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1. Termination; and
(ii) extend
the Offer for any period required by any rule, regulation or interpretation of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or the staff
thereof applicable to the Offer.
(f) Each
extension of the Offer pursuant to paragraph (e)(i) of this Section 1.1 shall
not exceed the lesser of five Business Days (or such longer period as the
Company and Purchaser may agree in writing in any particular instance) or such
fewer number of days that Purchaser reasonably believes are necessary to cause
the conditions of the Offer set forth in Annex A hereto to be
satisfied.
(g) If,
at the Expiration Time, all of the conditions to the Offer have been satisfied
but the number of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the
Offer, when taken together with the Currently Owned Shares, constitutes less
than 90% of the Shares then outstanding, without the consent of the Company,
Purchaser shall (subject to applicable Law) have the right to provide for a
“subsequent offering period” (as contemplated by Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange
Act) for up to 20 Business Days after Purchaser’s acceptance for payment of the
Shares then tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, in which event
Purchaser shall:
(i) give
the required notice of such subsequent offering period; and
(ii) immediately
accept for payment and promptly pay for all Shares validly tendered and not
withdrawn as of such Expiration Time.
(h) The
Company and Purchaser agree that no Shares held by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries will be tendered to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. The
Company has caused each of the officers and directors of the Company listed on
Section 1.1(h) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule to execute and deliver to Parent and
Purchaser letter agreements, substantially in the forms attached hereto as Annex B
(collectively, the “Equity Award Letter
Agreements”), pursuant to which such officers and directors have, among
other things, agreed to (i) not exercise outstanding options to purchase Company
Common Stock through Closing and (ii) relinquish all rights under existing
equity award agreements with the Company.
3
(i) As
promptly as practicable on the date of commencement of the Offer, Parent and
Purchaser shall file with the SEC:
(i) a
Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (together with all amendments, supplements
and exhibits thereto, the “Schedule TO”) with
respect to the Offer; and
(ii) a
Schedule 13E-3.
(j) The
Schedule TO shall contain or incorporate by reference an offer to purchase and
forms of the related letter of transmittal and all other ancillary Offer
documents (collectively, together with all amendments, supplements and exhibits
thereto, the “Offer
Documents”). The Company shall promptly provide Parent with
all information concerning the Company that is required to be included in the
Offer Documents. Parent and Purchaser shall cause the Offer Documents
to be disseminated to the holders of the Shares as and to the extent required by
applicable federal securities laws. Parent and Purchaser, on the one
hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall promptly correct any information
provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent that it shall
be or shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, and Parent
and Purchaser shall cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with
the SEC and disseminated to holders of the Shares, in each case, as and to the
extent required by applicable federal securities laws.
SECTION
1.2 Company
Actions.
(a) The
Company hereby represents and warrants that the Company’s Board of Directors, at
a meeting duly called and held, has, based on the recommendation of the Special
Committee, unanimously:
(i) approved
and declared advisable the Transactions, including this Agreement, the Offer and
the Merger (such approval having been made in accordance with the DGCL,
including for purposes of Section 203 thereof);
(ii) resolved
to recommend that stockholders of the Company accept the Offer, tender their
Shares to Purchaser pursuant thereto and, if applicable, adopt this Agreement;
and
(iii) approved
the transfer by Parent to Purchaser of the Five Star Note, and the Shares
issuable upon the conversion of the Five Star Note, as may be deemed necessary
or appropriate, in the sole determination of Parent, to ensure compliance with
Section 203 of the DGCL.
(b) Subject
to paragraph (b) of Section 5.2, No Solicitation by the Company,
Etc., hereof, the Company shall, through its Board of Directors,
recommend that stockholders of the Company accept the Offer, tender their Shares
to Purchaser pursuant thereto and, if applicable, adopt this
Agreement.
4
(c) The
Company hereby consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the
recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors described in subsection
(a)(ii) above.
(d) The
Company hereby further represents and warrants that:
(i) the
Company and Special Committee have received the opinion of Xxxxxxx Securities
Inc. (the “Financial
Advisor”), dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of
such date, and subject to the various assumptions and qualifications set forth
therein, the consideration to be received by the Company’s stockholders in the
Offer and the Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of view (the
“Fairness
Opinion”); and
(ii) the
Company has been authorized by the Financial Advisor to permit the inclusion of
the Fairness Opinion, and references thereto and to the Financial Advisor, in
the Offer Documents, the Schedule 13E-3, the Schedule 14D-9 and any Proxy
Statement, and all amendments thereto, if any, subject to prior review and
consent by the Financial Advisor (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed).
(e) As
promptly as practicable on the date of commencement of the Offer, the Company
shall file with the SEC: (i) a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule
14D-9 (together with all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, the
“Schedule
14D-9”) which shall contain, among other things, the recommendation of
the Board of Directors of the Company described in Section 1.2(a), and (ii) a
Schedule 13E-3. The Company shall cause the Schedule 14D-9 to be
disseminated to holders of the Shares as and to the extent required by
applicable federal securities laws. The Company, on the one hand, and
each of Parent and Purchaser, on the other hand, shall promptly correct any
information provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9 if and to the extent
that it shall be or shall have become false or misleading in any material
respect, and the Company shall cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be
filed with the SEC and disseminated to holders of the Shares, in each case, as
and to the extent required by applicable federal securities
laws. Parent and its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity
to review and comment upon the Schedule 14D-9 before it is filed with the SEC
and disseminated to holders of Shares. In addition, the Company
agrees to provide Parent and its counsel with any comments, whether written or
oral, that the Company or its counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC
or its staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after the receipt of
such comments, to consult with Parent and its counsel prior to responding to any
such comments and to provide Parent with copies of all such responses, whether
written or oral.
(f) The
Company shall promptly furnish Purchaser with mailing labels containing the
names and addresses of all record holders of Shares and with security position
listings of Shares held in stock depositories, each as of a recent date,
together with all other available listings and computer files containing names,
addresses and security position listings of record holders and beneficial owners
of Shares. The Company shall furnish Purchaser with such additional
information, including updated listings and computer files of shareholders,
mailing labels and security position listings, and such other assistance as
Parent, Purchaser or their agents may reasonably require in communicating the
Offer to the record and beneficial holders of Shares.
5
(g) To
the extent permissible under applicable Law, the Company will cooperate and
assist Purchaser in connection with the conversion into Shares of the
convertible Five Star Group, Inc. $2,800,000 unsecured note payable to JL
Distributors, Inc. (the “Five Star Note”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent (“JL Distributors”), as
required by Section 1.6, Transfer of Five Star Note to Parent
or Purchaser; Conversion of Five Star Note, by promptly:
(i) obtaining
any and all waivers or approvals necessary or appropriate to facilitate the
transfer by JL Distributors of the Five Star Note from JL Distributors to Parent
or Purchaser and to facilitate JL Distributors, Parent or Purchaser, as holder
of the Five Star Note, to effect such conversion;
(ii) making
all reasonable modifications to its credit facilities, if any, as are deemed by
the Company, Parent or Purchaser to be necessary or appropriate to effect such
conversion;
(iii) issuing
such Shares to the holder of the Five Star Note promptly upon receipt of notice
of conversion; and
(iv) causing
its counsel to furnish to the Company’s transfer agent a legal opinion in
connection with the issuance of Shares upon the conversion of the Five Star Note
in the event that the Company’s transfer agent requires such a legal opinion to
issue the certificates representing such Shares.
SECTION
1.3 Top-Up
Option.
(a) The
Company hereby grants to Parent and Purchaser an irrevocable option (the “Top-Up Option”) to
purchase, for the Offer Price, a number of shares of Company Common Stock (the
“Top-Up Option
Shares”) that, when added to the number of Shares owned by Parent and
Purchaser immediately prior to the time of exercise of the Top-Up Option,
constitutes one share of Company Common Stock more than 90% of the number of
shares of Company Common Stock that will be outstanding immediately after the
issuance of the Top-Up Option Shares up to a maximum of 6,157,423
Shares. The Top-Up Option may be exercised by Parent or Purchaser, in
whole or in part, at any time not more than five Business Days after the
Expiration Time; provided,
however, that the obligation of the Company to deliver Top-Up Option
Shares upon the exercise of the Top-Up Option is subject to the conditions that
(A) the number of Shares owned by Parent and Purchaser immediately prior to the
time of exercise of the Top-Up Option constitutes no less than 87.5% of the
number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
time of exercise of the Top-Up Option, (B) the conversion of the Five Star Note
shall have occurred, (C) no provision of any applicable Law and no judgment,
injunction, order or decree of any Governmental Authority shall prohibit the
exercise of the Top-Up Option or the delivery of the Top-Up Option Shares in
respect of such exercise, (D) the issuance of the Top-Up Option Shares will not
cause the Company to have more shares of Company Common
Stock issued or reserved for issuance than are authorized by the Company’s
certificate of incorporation, and (E) Purchaser has accepted for payment all
shares of Company Common Stock validly tendered in the Offer and not withdrawn.
The parties shall cooperate to ensure that the issuance of the Top-Up Option
Shares is accomplished consistent with all applicable legal requirements of all
Governmental Authorities, including compliance with an applicable exemption from
registration of the Top-Up Option Shares under the Securities
Act.
6
(b) The
Company shall, as soon as practicable following receipt of notice from Parent or
Purchaser as the case may be of their exercise of the Top-Up Option, notify
Parent and Purchaser of the number of shares of Company Common Stock then
outstanding and the number of Top-Up Option Shares. The closing of the purchase
of the Top-Up Option Shares will take place at a time and on a date to be
specified by Parent or Purchaser, which shall be no later than one Business Day
after the exercise of the Top-Up Option, at the offices of Xxx Xxxxxx LLP, 0
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx between 41st and 42nd Streets, New York, New York 10036,
unless another time, date or place is specified by Parent or Purchaser, Parent
or Purchaser, as the case may be, shall pay the Company an amount equal to the
Offer Price multiplied by the number of Top-Up Option Shares (the “Top-Up
Consideration”), and the Company shall, at Parent’s or Purchaser’s
request, cause to be issued to Parent or Purchaser a certificate representing
the Top-Up Option Shares. To the extent permissible under applicable
Law, the Top-Up Consideration may be paid by Purchaser or Parent by executing
and delivering to the Company a full recourse promissory note having a principal
amount equal to the balance of the aggregate cash purchase price for the Top-Up
Shares. Any such promissory note shall bear interest at the rate of
interest per annum equal to the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan
Chase, in the City of New York, at the time such note is paid as such bank’s
prime lending rate, shall mature on the first anniversary of the date of
execution and delivery of such promissory note and may be prepaid without
premium or penalty.
SECTION
1.4 Stockholder
Meeting.
(a) As
promptly as practicable following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer,
if required by applicable Law to consummate the Merger, the Company, acting
through its Board of Directors, shall, in accordance with applicable Law and the
Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws (collectively, the “Company Charter
Documents ”):
(i) duly
call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of the Company’s
stockholders for the purposes of considering and taking action upon the adoption
of this Agreement (the “Company Stockholders
Meeting”);
(ii) in
consultation with Parent, prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary proxy or
information statement
relating to the terms and conditions of the Merger set forth in this Agreement
and obtain and furnish the information required by the SEC to be included
therein and, after consultation with Parent, respond promptly to any comments
made by the SEC with respect to the preliminary proxy or information statement
and cause a definitive proxy or information statement (together with all
amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, the “Proxy Statement”) to
be mailed to the Company’s stockholders at the earliest practicable date; provided that no amendments
or supplements to the Proxy Statement shall be made by the Company without
consultation with Parent. Parent shall provide the Company with such
information with respect to Parent and its Affiliates as shall be required to be
included in the Proxy Statement; and
7
(iii) recommend
to the stockholders of the Company in the Proxy Statement and otherwise a vote
or consent in favor of approval of the Merger and the terms and conditions of
the Merger set forth in this Agreement.
(b) Purchaser
shall vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Shares acquired in the Offer in
favor of the adoption of this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding
the provisions of Sections 1.4(a) and 1.4(b) above, in the event that Purchaser
shall acquire pursuant to the Offer, the exercise, if any, of the Top-Up Option,
or otherwise, a number of Shares which together with the Currently Owned Shares
constitute in the aggregate at least 90% of the outstanding Shares, the parties
hereto shall, subject to Article VI, Conditions to the Merger,
hereof, take all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become
effective as soon as practicable after such acquisition, without a meeting of
stockholders of the Company, in accordance with Section 253 of the
DGCL.
SECTION
1.5 Offer Documents; Schedule
13E-3; Schedule 14D-9; Proxy Statement. Without limiting any
other provision of this Agreement, whenever any party hereto becomes aware of
any event or change which is required to be set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the Offer Documents, the Schedule 13E-3, the Schedule 14D-9 and/or
the Proxy Statement, such party shall promptly inform the other parties thereof
and each of the parties shall cooperate in the preparation, filing with the SEC
and (as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws)
dissemination to the Company’s stockholders of such amendment or
supplement.
SECTION
1.6 Transfer of Five Star Note
to Parent or Purchaser; Conversion of Five Star Note. Prior to
the commencement of the Offer:
(a) JL
Distributors shall transfer the Five Star Note to Parent or Purchaser;
and
(b) Parent
or Purchaser shall convert the Five Star Note into Shares.
8
ARTICLE
II
The
Merger
SECTION
2.1 The
Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time,
Purchaser shall be merged with and into the Company, and the separate corporate
existence of Purchaser
shall thereupon cease, and the Company shall be the surviving corporation in the
Merger (the “Surviving
Corporation”).
SECTION
2.2 Closing. The
closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take
place at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on a date to be specified by the
parties, which date shall be no later than the second Business Day after
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI, Conditions to the Merger,
hereof (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be
satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such
conditions), unless another time or date, or both, are agreed to in writing by
the parties hereto. The date on which the Closing is held is herein
referred to as the “Closing
Date”. The Closing will be held at the offices of Xxx Xxxxxx
LLP, 0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx between 41st and 42nd Streets, New York, New York
10036, unless another place is agreed to in writing by the parties
hereto.
SECTION
2.3 Effective
Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the
Closing Date, the parties shall file with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware a certificate of ownership and merger or other appropriate documents
executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL (the “Certificate of
Merger”). The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of
the Certificate of Merger or at such later time as is agreed to by the parties
hereto and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the time at which the Merger
becomes effective is herein referred to as the “Effective
Time”).
SECTION
2.4 Effects of the
Merger. From and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall
have the effects set forth in the DGCL. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the
properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and
Purchaser shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities
and duties of the Company and Purchaser shall become the debts, liabilities and
duties of the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION
2.5 Certificate of Incorporation
and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation. The certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law.
SECTION
2.6 Directors and Officers of
the Surviving Corporation.
(a) Each
of the parties hereto shall take all necessary action to cause the directors of
the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time to be the directors of the
Surviving Corporation immediately following the Effective Time, until their
respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or their
earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation.
9
(b) The
officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors are duly
appointed
and qualified or their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with
the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving
Corporation.
SECTION
2.7 Conversion of
Securities. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of the holders of any securities of Purchaser or
the Company:
(a) Each
issued and outstanding share of capital stock of Purchaser shall be converted
into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Any
Shares that are owned by the Company as treasury stock, and any Shares owned by
Parent or Purchaser or another Subsidiary of Parent, shall be automatically
canceled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in
exchange therefor.
(c) Each
issued and outstanding Share (other than (i) Shares to be converted into common
stock of the Surviving Corporation in accordance with Section 2.7(a) above, (ii)
Shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 2.7(b) above, and (iii) any
Dissenting Shares), shall be converted into the right to receive an amount of
cash equal to the Offer Price payable to the holder thereof upon surrender, in
the manner provided in this Agreement, of the certificate formerly representing
such Share, without interest (the “Merger
Consideration”). All such Shares, when so converted, shall no
longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of a certificate which immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented any such Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect
thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration therefor upon the
surrender of such certificate in accordance with this Agreement, without
interest.
SECTION
2.8 Exchange of
Certificates.
(a) Paying
Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate a
bank or trust company to act as agent for the holders of Shares in connection
with the Merger (the “Paying Agent”) to
receive, for the benefit of holders of Shares, the aggregate Merger
Consideration to which holders of Shares shall become entitled pursuant to
paragraph (c) of Section 2.7, Conversion of Securities,
hereof. Parent shall deposit such aggregate Merger Consideration with
the Paying Agent at or prior to the Effective Time. Such aggregate
Merger Consideration deposited with the Paying Agent shall, pending its
disbursement to such holders, be invested by the Paying Agent as directed by
Parent in (i) direct obligations of the United States of America,
(ii) obligations for which the full faith and credit of the United States
of America is pledged to provide for payment of all principal and interest,
(iii) commercial paper obligations receiving the highest rating from either
Xxxxx’x Investor Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s, a division of The
McGraw Hill Companies, or (iv) money market funds investing solely in a
combination of the foregoing, or a combination thereof. Any net
profit resulting from, or interest or income produced by, such amounts on
deposit with the Paying Agent will be payable to Parent or as Parent otherwise
directs.
10
(b) Exchange
Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Paying Agent to mail
to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates, which immediately
prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Shares (the “Certificates”), whose
shares were converted pursuant to Section 2.7, Conversion of Securities,
hereof into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, (i) a letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the
Certificates to the Paying Agent, and which shall be in such form and shall have
such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions
for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for payment
of the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate for
cancellation to the Paying Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions (and such
other customary documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent),
the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor
the Merger Consideration, without interest, for each Share formerly represented
by such Certificate, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be
canceled. If payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a
Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is
registered, it shall be a condition of payment that (x) the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for
transfer and (y) the Person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer
and other taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration to
a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate surrendered or
shall have established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Surviving
Corporation that such tax either has been paid or is not
applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.8,
each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration as contemplated by
this Article II, without interest.
(c) Transfer Books; No Further
Ownership Rights in Company Stock. The Merger Consideration
paid in respect of Shares upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates in
accordance with the terms of this Article II shall be deemed to have been paid
in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common
Stock previously represented by such Certificates, and at the Effective Time,
the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and thereafter there
shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock
on the records of the Company. From and after the Effective Time, the
holders of Certificates that evidenced ownership of Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with
respect to such Shares, except as otherwise provided for herein or by applicable
Law. Subject to the last sentence of Section 2.8(e), if, at any time
after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in
this Article II.
11
(d) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen
or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such
reasonable amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may
be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will pay,
in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate,
the applicable Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the Shares formerly
represented by such Certificate, as contemplated by this Article
II.
(e) Termination of
Fund. At any time following 180 days after the Closing Date,
the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to require the Paying Agent to
deliver to it any funds (including any interest received with respect thereto)
that had been made available to the Paying Agent and which have not been
disbursed to holders of Certificates, and thereafter such holders shall be
entitled to look only to the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned
property, escheat or other similar laws) as general creditors thereof with
respect to the payment of any Merger Consideration that may be payable upon
surrender of any Certificates held by such holders, as determined pursuant to
this Agreement, without any interest thereon. Any amounts remaining
unclaimed by such holders at such time at which such amounts would otherwise
escheat to or become property of any Governmental Authority shall become, to the
extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Parent free and clear of all
claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto, except as set
forth in the first sentence of this Section 2.8(e).
(f) No
Liability. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, none of Parent, Purchaser, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying
Agent shall be liable to any Person for Merger Consideration delivered to a
public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar Law.
(g) Withholding
Taxes. Purchaser and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to a holder of
Shares pursuant to the Offer or Merger such amounts as may be required to be
deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, or under any provision of state, local
or foreign tax Law. To the extent amounts are so withheld and paid
over to the appropriate taxing authority, the withheld amounts shall be treated
for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the
Shares in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
12
SECTION
2.9 Appraisal
Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Shares that are issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by a
stockholder who did not vote in favor of the Merger (or consent thereto in
writing) and who is entitled to demand and properly demands appraisal of such
shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, the provisions of
Section 262 of the DGCL (the “Dissenting
Stockholders”) shall not be converted into or be exchangeable for the
right to receive the Merger Consideration (the “Dissenting
Shares”). Instead such holder shall be entitled to payment of
the fair value of such shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262
of the DGCL (and at the Effective Time, such Dissenting Shares shall no longer
be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and
such holder shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the
right to receive the fair value of such Dissenting Shares in accordance with the
provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL), unless and until such holder shall have
failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost rights to
appraisal under the DGCL.
(b) If
any Dissenting Stockholder shall have failed to perfect or shall have
effectively withdrawn or lost such right, such holder’s Shares shall thereupon
be treated as if they had been converted into and become exchangeable for the
right to receive, as of the Effective Time, the Merger Consideration for each
such Share, in accordance with Section 2.7, Conversion of Securities,
hereof without any interest thereon.
(c) The
Company shall give Parent:
(i) prompt
notice of any written demands for appraisal of any Shares, attempted withdrawals
of such demands and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL and
received by the Company relating to stockholders’ rights of appraisal;
and
(ii) the
opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
demands for appraisal under the DGCL.
(d) The
Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily
make any payment with respect to, or settle, or offer or agree to settle, any
such demand for payment. Any portion of the Merger Consideration made
available to the Paying Agent pursuant to Section 2.8, Exchange of Certificates, to
pay for Shares for which appraisal rights have been perfected shall be returned
to Parent upon demand.
SECTION
2.10 Company Equity
Awards.
(a) The
Company shall take all actions necessary to ensure that the Company will not at
the Effective Time be bound by any options, stock appreciation rights, warrants
or other rights or agreements which would entitle any Person, other than
Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, to own any capital stock of the Surviving
Corporation or to receive any payment in respect thereof.
13
(b) The
parties acknowledge that consideration is to be made to certain holders (the
“Covered
Securityholders”) of Company Common Stock and options outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether or not then vested or
exercisable) that represents the right to acquire shares of Company Common Stock
(each, an “Option”) pursuant to
the terms of the Equity Award Letter Agreements. The Parent and Company each
represent and warrant that all such amounts payable under the Equity Award
Letter Agreements (i) are being paid or granted as compensation for past
services performed, future services to be performed, or future services to be
refrained from performing, by the Covered Securityholders (and matters
incidental thereto) and (ii) are not calculated based on the number of Shares
tendered or to be tendered into the Offer by the applicable Covered
Securityholder. In accordance with the safe harbor provision provided by Rule
14d-10(d)(2) under the Exchange Act and the instructions thereto: (i) the Parent
represents and warrants that following the commencement of the discussions
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby between the Company and the
Purchaser began, the compensation committee of its Board of Directors considered
and approved the consideration; and (ii) the Company represents and warrants
that following the commencement of the discussions relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby between the Company and the Purchaser began, the Special
Committee was formed to consider and approve the consideration and has
considered and approved the consideration.
(c) Prior
to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all actions necessary to terminate
all its Company Stock Plans, such termination to be effective at or before the
Effective Time.
(d) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Company Stock Plans”
shall mean the following plans of the Company: (i) The Five Star Products, Inc.
2007 Incentive Stock Plan; and (ii) The Five Star Products, Inc. 1994 Stock
Option Plan, as amended.
SECTION
2.11 Rule
16b-3. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and Parent
shall take such steps as may be reasonably requested by any party hereto to
cause dispositions of Company equity securities (including derivative
securities) pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each
individual who is a director or officer of the Company to be exempt under Rule
16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
ARTICLE
III
Representations
and Warranties of the Company
The
Company represents and warrants to Purchaser that except (a) as set forth in the
disclosure schedule (with specific reference to the Section or Subsection of
this Agreement to which the information stated in such disclosure relates)
delivered by the Company to Parent simultaneously with the execution of this
Agreement (the “Company Disclosure
Schedule”) and (b) as otherwise Known to Parent on the date
hereof:
SECTION
3.1 Organization, Standing and
Corporate Power.
(a) Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and has all requisite corporate power
and authority necessary to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as currently proposed by
its management to be conducted.
14
(b) Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly licensed or qualified to do business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business
conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned
or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where
the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing, individually or in
the aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) on the Company (“Company Material Adverse
Effect”). For
purposes of this Agreement, the term “Material Adverse
Effect” shall mean, with respect to any party, any change, event,
occurrence or state of facts which has, or could reasonably be expected to have,
a material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, assets, liabilities
(contingent or otherwise), results of operations or condition (financial or
otherwise) of
such party and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) such party’s ability
to, in a timely manner, perform its obligations under this Agreement or
consummate the Transactions.
(c) All
the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, each
Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company
free and clear of all liens, pledges, charges, mortgages, encumbrances, adverse
rights or claims and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including any restriction on the right to vote or transfer the same, except for
such transfer restrictions of general applicability as may be provided under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (the “Securities Act”), and
the “blue sky” laws of the various States of the United States) (collectively,
“Liens”). Except
as set forth in Section 3.1(c) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock, voting securities or equity interests in any
Person other than any Subsidiary.
SECTION
3.2 Capitalization.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 30,100,000 shares,
consisting of 30,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 100,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Company Preferred
Stock”). At the close of business on June 25,
2008:
(i) 19,826,098
shares of Company Common Stock were issued (of which 16,842,577 shares of
Company Common Stock were outstanding and 2,983,521 shares of Company Common
Stock were held by the Company in treasury);
(ii) No
shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding;
(iii) 2,500,000
shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the Company
Stock Plans (of which 975,000 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to
outstanding Options granted under the Company Stock Plans); and
15
(iv) 7,000,000
shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon conversion of the
Five Star Note.
(b) All
Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
(c) Included
in Section 3.2 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule is a correct and complete list, as of June
25, 2008, of all outstanding options or other rights to purchase or receive
shares of Company Common Stock granted under the Company Stock Plans or
otherwise, including, without limitation, the Options, and, for each such option
or other right, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject thereto,
the terms of vesting, the grant and expiration dates and exercise price thereof
and the name of the holder thereof.
(d) Since
January 1, 2008, other than as disclosed in Section 3.2 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not issued any shares of its capital
stock, voting securities or equity interests, or any securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, voting
securities or equity interests, other than pursuant to the outstanding options
and the Five Star Note, in each case, referred to above in this Section
3.2.
(e) Except
(i) as set forth above in this Section 3.2 or set forth in Section 3.2 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule or (ii) as otherwise expressly permitted by Section
5.1, Conduct of
Business, hereof, as of the date of this Agreement, there are not, and as
of the Effective Time there will not be, any shares of capital stock, voting
securities or equity interests of the Company issued and outstanding or any
subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, convertible or exchangeable securities,
rights, commitments or agreements of any character providing for the issuance of
any shares of capital stock, voting securities or equity interests of the
Company, including any representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive
any Company Common Stock.
(f) None
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has issued or is bound by any
outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, convertible or exchangeable
securities, rights, commitments or agreements of any character providing for the
issuance or disposition of any shares of capital stock, voting securities or
equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company. Except as set
forth in Section 2.10 or Section 3.2 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding obligations of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares
of capital stock, voting securities or equity interests (or any options,
warrants or other rights to acquire any shares of capital stock, voting
securities or equity interests) of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION
3.3 Authority; Noncontravention;
Voting Requirements.
(a) The
Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the approval of its stockholders to the
adoption of this Agreement as contemplated by Section 1.4, Stockholder Meeting, hereof
(to the extent required by the DGCL) (the “Company Stockholder
Approval”), to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company
of this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the Transactions, have been
duly authorized and approved by its Board of Directors, and except for obtaining
the Company Stockholder Approval (to the extent required by the DGCL), no other
corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
consummation by it of the Transactions. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery hereof by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws of general application affecting or relating to the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general
principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity
(the “Bankruptcy and
Equity Exception”).
16
(b) The
Company’s Board of Directors, at a meeting duly called and held and acting on
the recommendation of the Special Committee, has unanimously:
(i) approved
and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Offer
and the Merger (such approval having been made in accordance with the DGCL,
including for purposes of Section 203 thereof);
(ii) resolved
to recommend that stockholders of the Company accept the Offer, tender their
Shares to Purchaser pursuant thereto and, to the extent required by the DGCL,
adopt this Agreement; and
(iii) approved
the form of and execution of the Equity Award Letter
Agreements.
(c) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation
by the Company of the Transactions, nor compliance by the Company with any of
the terms or provisions hereof, will:
(i) conflict
with or violate any provision of the Company Charter Documents; or
(ii) assuming
that the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section 3.4,
Governmental Approvals,
and the Company Stockholder Approval (to the extent required by the DGCL) are
obtained and the filings referred to in Section 3.4, Governmental Approvals, are
made:
(1) violate
any Law, judgment, writ or injunction of any Governmental Authority applicable
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
or assets; or
17
(2) violate,
conflict with, result in the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or
an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a
default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or
cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the
creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any loan or credit agreement, debenture, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract or other agreement,
instrument or obligation (each, a “Contract”) or Permit,
to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or
any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected except for
such violations, conflicts, losses, defaults, terminations, cancellations,
accelerations or Liens as, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The
affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock in favor of the adoption of this
Agreement (to the extent required by the DGCL) is the only vote or approval of
the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which is necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the
Transactions.
SECTION
3.4 Governmental
Approvals. Except for (i) the filing with the SEC of the
Schedule 13E-3, the Schedule 14D-9 and, if necessary, a Proxy Statement in
definitive form relating to the Company Stockholders Meeting, and amendments
thereto, if necessary, and other filings required under, and compliance with
other applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act, (ii) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
pursuant to the DGCL, and (iii) filings required under, and compliance with
other applicable requirements of, the HSR Act, if
any, no consents or approvals of, or filings, declarations or registrations
with, any Governmental Authority are necessary for the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the
Transactions, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, declarations
or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, could not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION
3.5 Company SEC Documents;
Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The
Company has filed all required reports, schedules, forms, prospectuses, and
registration, proxy and other statements with the SEC since January 1, 2006 (collectively,
and in each case including all exhibits and schedules thereto and documents
incorporated by reference therein, and to the extent subsequently amended, as
amended, the “Company
SEC Documents”). None of the Company’s Subsidiaries is
required to file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange
Act.
(b) As
of their respective effective dates (in the case of Company SEC Documents that
are registration statements filed pursuant to requirements of the Securities
Act) and as of their respective SEC filing dates (in the case of all other
Company SEC Documents), the Company SEC Documents complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as
the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder, applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company
SEC Documents as of such respective dates contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
18
(c) The
consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC
Documents comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of
unaudited quarterly statements, as indicated in the notes thereto) applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the
notes thereto) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the
dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows
for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments, none of which has been or will
be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole).
(d) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to each Annual Report on
Form 10-K and each Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q included in the Company SEC
Documents, the financial statements and other financial information included in
such reports fairly present (within the meaning of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002) in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations
of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in such Company SEC
Documents.
(e) The
Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as
such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act);
such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material
information relating to the Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is
made known to the
Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by
others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the
periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; and such
disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting the
Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer to
material information required to be included in the Company’s periodic reports
required under the Exchange Act. The Company’s principal executive
officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed, based on their most
recent evaluation, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company:
(i) all
significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which
could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and
report financial data and have identified for the Company’s auditors any
material weaknesses in internal controls; and
(ii) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who
have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.
(f) With
respect to each Annual Report on Form 10-K, each Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
and each amendment of any such report included in the Company SEC Documents, the
principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of Company have
made all certifications required by the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and any related rules
and regulations promulgated by the SEC, and the statements contained in such
certifications are complete and correct.
19
(g) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of
any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) whether or not
required, if known, to be reflected or reserved against on a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP or the notes
thereto, except liabilities (i) as and to the extent set forth on the audited
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 (the
“Balance Sheet
Date”) (including the notes thereto) included in the Company SEC
Documents filed by the Company and publicly available prior to the date of this
Agreement (the “Filed
Company SEC Documents”) or (ii) incurred after the Balance Sheet Date
that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and could not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.6 Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. Since the Balance Sheet Date there have not been
any events, changes, occurrences or state of facts that, individually or in the
aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Filed Company SEC
Documents, since the Balance Sheet Date (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries
have carried on and operated their respective businesses in all material
respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and
(b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action
described in paragraph (a) of Section 5.1, Conduct of Business, hereof
that if taken after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time without the
prior written consent of Parent would violate such
provision.
SECTION
3.7 Legal
Proceedings. Except as set forth in Section 3.7 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceeding, claim,
suit or action against, or governmental or regulatory investigation of, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor is there any injunction, order,
judgment, ruling or decree imposed (or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened to be imposed) upon the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by or before any Governmental
Authority, that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.8 Compliance With Laws;
Permits.
(a) The
Company and its Subsidiaries are (and since January 1, 2008 have been) in
compliance with all laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations,
decrees and orders of Governmental Authorities (collectively, “Laws”) applicable to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any of their properties or other assets
or any of their businesses or operations, except for such non-compliance as,
individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
20
(b) The
Company and each of its Subsidiaries hold all licenses, franchises, permits,
certificates, approvals and authorizations from Governmental Authorities
necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses (collectively,
“Permits”),
except where the failure to hold the same, individually or in the aggregate, has
not had and could not reasonably be expected to have Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) The
Company and its Subsidiaries are (and since January 1, 2008 have been) in
compliance with the terms of all Permits, except for such non-compliance as,
individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Except
as has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2008, neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice to the
effect that a Governmental Authority:
(i) claimed
or alleged that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries was not in compliance
with all Laws applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any of their
properties or other assets or any of their businesses or operations;
or
(ii) was
considering the amendment, termination, revocation or cancellation of any
Permit.
(e) The
consummation of any of the Transactions will not cause the revocation or
cancellation of any Permit that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole.
SECTION
3.9 Information
Supplied.
(a) Subject
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Parent and Purchaser
set forth in Section 4.4, Information Supplied, hereof,
neither the Schedule 14D-9 nor any information supplied (or to be supplied) in
writing by or on behalf of the Company specifically for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the Offer Documents will, at the respective times
the Schedule 14D-9, the Offer Documents, or any amendments or supplements
thereto, are filed with the SEC or at the time they are first published, sent or
given to stockholders of the Company, as the case may be, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading.
(b) The
Proxy Statement (if any) will not, on the date it is first mailed to
stockholders of the Company, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not misleading and will not, at the time of the Company
Stockholders Meeting (if such a meeting is held), omit to state any material
fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication from the
Company with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Company Stockholders
Meeting which shall have become false or misleading in any material
respect.
21
(c) The
Proxy Statement (if any) and the Schedule 14D-9 will comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act.
(d) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to
information supplied by or on behalf of Purchaser for inclusion or incorporation
by reference in any of the foregoing documents.
SECTION
3.10
Tax
Matters.
(a) The
Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed, or has caused to be
timely filed on its behalf (taking into account any extension of time within
which to file), all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it, and all
such filed Tax Returns are correct and complete in all material
respects. All Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns, or otherwise
required to be paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, have been timely
paid. All Tax liabilities of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries
have been adequately provided for in the consolidated financial statements of
the Company in accordance with GAAP consistently applied by the
Company.
(b) For
purposes of this Agreement:
(i)
“Taxes” shall
mean: (A) all federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges, fees, imposts,
levies or other assessments, including all gross income, gross receipts,
capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits,
inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social
security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and
estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and charges of any kind
whatsoever; (B) all interest, penalties, fines, additions
to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Authority in connection
with any item described in clause (A); and (C) any transferee liability in
respect of any items described in clauses (A) and/or (B) payable by reason of
contract, assumption, transferee liability, operation of Law, Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof of any
analogous or similar provision under Law) or otherwise, and
(ii) “Tax Returns” shall
mean any return, report, claim for refund, estimate, information return or
statement or other similar document relating to or required to be filed with any
Governmental Authority with respect to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
SECTION
3.11 Opinion of Financial
Advisor. The Board of Directors of the Company has received
the Fairness Opinion and the Company has delivered to Parent a correct and
complete copy of the Fairness Opinion.
SECTION
3.12 Brokers
and Other Advisors. Except for the Financial Advisor and
counsel to the Special Committee, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by
the Company, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is
entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or
commission, or the reimbursement of expenses, in connection with the
Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries. The Company has heretofore delivered to Parent a
correct and complete copy of the Company’s engagement letter with the Financial
Advisor, which letter describes all fees payable to the Financial Advisor in
connection with the Transactions, all agreements under which any such fees or
any expenses are payable and all indemnification and other agreements related to
the engagement of the Financial Advisor (the “Engagement
Letter”).
22
SECTION
3.13 State Takeover
Statutes. No “fair price”, “moratorium”, “control share
acquisition”, “business combination” or other similar antitakeover statute or
regulation enacted under state or federal laws in the United States (with the
exception of Section 203 of the DGCL) (collectively, “Takeover Laws”) applicable
to the Company is applicable to the Offer, the Merger or the other
Transactions. The action of the Board of Directors of the Company in
approving this Agreement and the Transactions is sufficient to render
inapplicable to this Agreement and the Transactions the restrictions on
“business combinations” (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) as set forth in
Section 203 of the DGCL.
ARTICLE
IV
Representations
and Warranties of Parent and Purchaser
Parent
and Purchaser jointly and severally represent and warrant to the
Company:
SECTION
4.1 Organization. Each
of Parent and Purchaser is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and has all requisite corporate power
and authority necessary to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as currently proposed by
its management to be conducted.
SECTION
4.2 Authority;
Noncontravention.
(a) Each
of Parent and Purchaser has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform their respective obligations
hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery
and performance by Parent and Purchaser of this Agreement, and the consummation
by Parent and Purchaser of the Transactions, have been duly authorized and
approved by their respective Boards of Directors and by Parent as sole
shareholder of Purchaser and no other corporate action on the part of Parent and
Purchaser is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by
Parent and Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation by them of the
Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Parent and Purchaser and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery
hereof by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each
of Parent and Purchaser, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its
terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
(b) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser, nor the
consummation by Parent or Purchaser of the Transactions, nor compliance by
Parent or Purchaser with any of the terms or provisions hereof,
will:
23
(i) conflict
with or violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of
Parent or Purchaser; or
(ii) assuming
that the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section 4.3,
Government Approvals,
hereof are obtained and the filings referred to in Section 4.3, Government Approvals, hereof
are made,
(1) violate
any Law, judgment, writ or injunction of any Governmental Authority applicable
to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or
assets; or
(2) violate,
conflict with, result in the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or
an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a
default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or
cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the
creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of, Parent
or Purchaser or any of their respective
Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract
to which Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a party,
or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or
affected except for such violations, conflicts, losses, defaults, terminations,
cancellations, accelerations or Liens as, individually or in the aggregate,
could not reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect the ability
of Parent or Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder, or prevent or
materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the
Transactions.
SECTION
4.3 Governmental
Approvals. Except for (i) the filing with the SEC of the Offer
Documents, the Schedule 13E-3 and, if necessary, a Proxy Statement in definitive
form relating to the Company Stockholders Meeting, and any amendments thereto,
and other filings required under, and compliance with other applicable
requirements of, the Exchange Act, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, and
(iii) filings required under, and compliance with other applicable requirements
of, the HSR Act, if any, no consents or approvals of, or filings, declarations
or registrations with, any Governmental Authority are necessary for the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Purchaser or the
consummation by Parent or Purchaser of the Transactions, other than such other
consents, approvals, filings, declarations or registrations that, if not
obtained, made or given, could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to impair in any material respect the ability of Parent or Purchaser
to perform its obligations hereunder, or prevent or materially impede, interfere
with, hinder or delay the consummation of the Transactions.
24
SECTION
4.4 Information
Supplied.
(a) Subject
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth
in Section 3.9, Information
Supplied, hereof, neither the Offer Documents nor any information
supplied (or to be supplied) in writing by or on behalf of Parent or Purchaser
specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Schedule 14D-9
will, at the respective times the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9, or any
amendments or supplements thereto, are filed with the SEC or at the time they
are first published, sent or given to stockholders of the Company, as the case
may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading.
(b) The
information supplied by Parent for inclusion in the Proxy Statement (if any)
will not, on the date it is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading, and will not, at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting (if
such a meeting is held), omit to state any material fact necessary to correct
any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of
proxies for the Company Stockholders Meeting which shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect.
(c) The
Offer Documents will comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act.
(d) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Parent and Purchaser make no representation or warranty with
respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion
or incorporation by reference in any of the foregoing documents.
SECTION
4.5 Ownership and Operations of
Purchaser. Parent owns beneficially and of record all of the
outstanding capital stock of Purchaser. Purchaser was formed solely
for the purpose of engaging in the Transactions, has engaged in no other
business activities and has conducted its operations only as contemplated
hereby.
SECTION
4.6 Financing. At the
expiration of the Offer and at the Effective Time, Purchaser will have available
all the funds necessary to consummate the Offer and the Merger in accordance
with this Agreement, and to make all other necessary payments of fees and
expenses required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser relating to such
transactions.
SECTION
4.7 Legal Proceedings. As
of the date of this Agreement, (a) neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is
a party to any, and there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent,
threatened, material legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceedings,
claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature
challenging the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or that would impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and (b) there is no injunction, order,
judgment, ruling or decree imposed (or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened
to be imposed) upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries by or before any Governmental Authority that would
impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
25
SECTION
4.8 Material Non-Public
Information. As of the date of this Agreement, Parent is not in
possession of any material non-public information regarding the Company not
Known to the Special Committee, and Parent hereby agrees to inform the Special
Committee as promptly as practicable of any such material non-public information
of which Parent becomes aware during the period from the date of this Agreement
until the Effective Time.
ARTICLE
V
Additional Covenants and
Agreements
SECTION
5.1 Conduct of
Business.
(a) Except
as expressly permitted by this Agreement or as required by applicable Law,
during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time,
unless Parent otherwise agrees in writing, the Company shall, and shall cause
each of its Subsidiaries to:
(i) conduct
its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice;
(ii) comply
in all material respects with all applicable Laws and the requirements of all
Material Contracts;
(iii) use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business
organization and the goodwill of those having business relationships with it and
retain the services of its present officers and key employees, in each case, to
the end that its goodwill and ongoing business shall be unimpaired at the
Effective Time; and
(iv) keep
in full force and effect all material insurance policies maintained by the
Company and its Subsidiaries, other than changes to such policies made in the
ordinary course of business.
(b) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly permitted or
contemplated by this Agreement or as required by applicable Law, during the
period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company shall
not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written
consent of Parent:
(i) (A) issue,
sell, grant, dispose of, pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of its capital
stock, voting securities or equity interests, or any securities or rights
convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or evidencing the right to
subscribe for any shares of its capital stock, voting securities or equity
interests, or any rights, warrants, options, calls, commitments or any other
agreements of any character to purchase or acquire any shares of its capital
stock, voting securities or equity interests or any securities or rights
convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or evidencing the right to
subscribe for, any shares of its capital stock, voting securities or equity
interests, provided
that the Company may issue shares of Company Common Stock upon:
26
(1) the
exercise of options granted under the Company Stock Plans that are outstanding
on the date of this Agreement and in accordance with the terms thereof;
and
(2) the
conversion of the Five Star Note into Shares;
(B) redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire any of its outstanding shares of capital stock,
voting securities or equity interests, or any rights, warrants, options, calls,
commitments or any other agreements of any character to acquire any shares of
its capital stock, voting securities or equity interests;
(C) declare,
set aside for payment or pay any dividend on, or make any other distribution in
respect of, any shares of its capital stock or otherwise make any payments to
its stockholders in their capacity as such (other than dividends by a direct or
indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent);
(D) split,
combine, subdivide or reclassify any shares of its capital stock;
or
(E) amend
or waive any of its rights under, or accelerate the vesting under, any provision
of the Company Stock Plans or any agreement evidencing any outstanding
stock option or other right to acquire capital stock of the Company or any
restricted stock purchase agreement or any similar or related contract, except
such vesting as required pursuant to employment agreements in effect on the date
of this Agreement (correct and complete copies of which have been made available
to Parent);
(ii) incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any indebtedness (or enter into
a “keep well” or similar agreement), other than:
(A) borrowings
by the Company in the ordinary course of business under the Company’s existing
credit agreement and guarantees of such borrowings issued by the Company’s
Subsidiaries to the extent required under the terms of such credit
facility;
(B) borrowings
by the Company in the ordinary course of business in connection with or pursuant
to the extension or modification of its existing line of credit, which will
expire at the end of June 2008; and
(C) borrowings
from the Company by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
27
(iii) sell,
transfer, lease, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of (including pursuant
to a sale-leaseback transaction or an asset securitization transaction) any of
its properties or assets (including securities of Subsidiaries) to any Person,
except:
(A) sales
of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(B) pursuant
to Contracts in force at the date of this Agreement and listed on Section 5.1(b)(iii) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, correct and complete copies of which have
been made available to Parent; or
(C) dispositions
of obsolete or worthless assets;
(iv) make
any capital expenditures, except in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice;
(v) make
any acquisition (by purchase of securities or assets, merger or consolidation,
or otherwise) of any other Person, business or division;
(vi) make
any investment (by contribution to capital, property transfers, purchase of
securities or otherwise) in, or loan or advance (other than travel and similar
advances to its employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice) to, any Person other than a direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business;
(vii) (A) enter
into, terminate or amend other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, any Contract that is material to the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(B) enter
into or extend the term or scope of any Contract that purports to restrict the
Company, or any existing or future Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, from
engaging in any line of business or in any geographic area;
(C) amend
or modify the Engagement Letter in any manner financially adverse to Parent
determined in Parent’s sole, but reasonable, discretion;
(D) enter
into any Contract that would be breached by, or require the consent of any third
party in order to continue in full force following, consummation of the
Transactions; or
(E) release
any Person from, or modify or waive any provision of, any confidentiality,
standstill or similar agreement;
(viii)
increase in any manner the compensation of any of its directors, officers
or employees or enter into, establish, amend or terminate any employment,
consulting, retention, change in control, collective bargaining, bonus or other
incentive compensation, profit sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or
other equity (or equity-based), pension, retirement, vacation, severance,
deferred compensation or other compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement,
trust, fund or arrangement with, for or in respect of, any stockholder,
director, officer, other employee, consultant or Affiliate (together, the “Company Employee
Plans”), other than:
28
(A) as
required pursuant to applicable Law or the terms of agreements in effect on the
date of this Agreement set forth on Section 5.1(b)(viii) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule (correct and complete copies of which have
been made available to Parent); and
(B) increases
in salaries, wages and benefits of employees (other than officers) made in the
ordinary course of business and in amounts and in a manner consistent with past
practice;
(ix) make
or change any material election concerning Taxes or Tax Returns, file any
amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement with respect to Taxes,
settle any material Tax claim or assessment or surrender any right to claim a
refund of Taxes or obtain any Tax ruling;
(x)
make any changes in financial or tax accounting methods,
principles or practices (or change an annual accounting period), except insofar
as may be required by GAAP or applicable Law;
(xi) amend
the Company Charter Documents;
(xii) adopt
a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution,
restructuring, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization
(other than transactions exclusively between wholly owned Subsidiaries of the
Company);
(xiii) pay,
discharge, settle or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute,
accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the
payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice or in accordance with their terms of
other liabilities, claims or obligations reflected or reserved against in the
most recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the
Company included in the Filed Company SEC Documents or incurred since the date
of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice;
(xiv) settle
or compromise any litigation or proceeding material to the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole (this covenant being in addition to the Company’s
agreement set forth in Section 5.8, Fees and Expenses, hereof);
or
(xv) agree,
in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions or take any action
or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any action, which would cause (A) any
of the representations or warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement
(1) that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect to be untrue
or (2) that are not so qualified to be untrue in any material respect, or (B)
any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in this Agreement not being
satisfied.
29
(c) Parent
agrees that, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the
Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement
or as required by applicable Law, and except as may be agreed in writing by the
Company, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, take
any action or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any action which would
cause (A) any of the representations or warranties of Purchaser set forth in
this Agreement (1) that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse
Effect to be untrue or (2) that are not so qualified to be untrue in any
material respect, or (B) any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in this
Agreement not being satisfied.
SECTION
5.2 No Solicitation by the
Company; Etc.
(a) The
Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and the Company’s and its
Subsidiaries’ respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers,
financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, agents and other representatives
(collectively, “Representatives”) not
to, directly or indirectly:
(i) solicit,
initiate or encourage the initiation of (including by way of furnishing
information), or take any other action to facilitate, any inquiries or proposals
that constitute, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover
Proposal; or
(ii) participate
in any discussions with any third party regarding, or furnish to any third party
any non-public information with respect to, or assist or facilitate, any
Takeover Proposal.
(b) In
addition to the other obligations of the Company set forth in this Section 5.2,
the Company shall promptly advise Parent, orally and in writing, and in no event
later than 48 hours after receipt, if any proposal, offer, inquiry or other
contact is received by, any information is requested from, or any discussions or
negotiations are sought to be initiated or continued with, the Company in
respect of any Takeover Proposal, and shall, in any such notice to Parent,
indicate the identity of the Person making such proposal, offer, inquiry or
other contact and the terms and conditions of any proposals or offers or the
nature of any inquiries or contacts (and shall include with such notice copies
of any written materials received from or on behalf of such Person relating to
such proposal, offer, inquiry or request), and thereafter shall keep Parent
informed, on a reasonably timely basis and in reasonable detail, of all material
developments affecting the status and terms of any such proposals, offers,
inquiries or requests (and the Company shall provide Parent with copies of any
additional written materials received that relate to such proposals, offers,
inquiries or requests) and of the status of any such discussions or
negotiations.
(c) Subject
to the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section 5.2, neither the Board of
Directors of the Company nor the Special Committee thereof shall:
(i) (A) withdraw
or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to
Parent, the recommendation by such Board of Directors that stockholders of the
Company accept the Offer, tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant thereto and
adopt this Agreement (the “Company
Recommendation”) or the approval or declaration of advisability by such
Board of Directors of this Agreement and the Transactions (including the Offer
and the Merger); or
30
(B) approve
or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any Takeover
Proposal; or
(ii) allow,
cause or authorize the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any
letter of intent, agreement in principle, memorandum of understanding, merger,
acquisition, purchase or joint venture agreement or other agreement related to
any Takeover Proposal (each, a “Company Acquisition
Agreement”).
(d) Notwithstanding
the foregoing:
(i) the
Board of Directors of the Company and the Special Committee may withdraw or
modify the Company Recommendation, or recommend a Takeover Proposal, if such
Board or Special Committee determines in good faith, after reviewing applicable
provisions of state law and after consulting with
outside counsel, that the failure to make such withdrawal, modification or
recommendation would constitute a breach by the Board of Directors of the
Company or Special Committee of its fiduciary duties to the Company’s
stockholders under the DGCL; and
(ii) if
the Board of Directors of the Company or Special Committee receives an
unsolicited, bona fide written Takeover Proposal that was made in circumstances
not involving a breach of this Agreement and that such Board or Special
Committee determines
in good faith constitutes a Superior Proposal, the Board of Directors of the
Company or Special Committee may, in response to such Superior Proposal and
within 48 hours after the expiration of the three Business Day period described
below (but in no event later than the Purchase Date), enter into a Company
Acquisition Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, but only
if:
(A) the
Company shall have concurrently with entering into such Company Acquisition
Agreement, terminated this Agreement pursuant to subparagraph (c)(i) of Section
7.1, Termination,
hereof, which it may only do following the third Business Day after Parent’s
receipt of written notice from the Company advising Parent that the Board of
Directors of the Company or Special Committee is prepared to enter into a
Company Acquisition Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal and
terminate this Agreement; and
(B) during
such three Business Day period, the Company and its representatives shall have
negotiated in good faith with Parent and Parent’s representatives to make such
adjustments in the terms of this Agreement as would enable Parent to proceed
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on such adjusted terms and,
at the end of such three Business Day period, after taking into account any such
adjusted terms as may have been proposed by Parent since its receipt of such
written notice, the Board of Directors of the Company or Special Committee has
again in good faith made the determination referred to above in this clause
(ii).
31
(e) For
purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Takeover Proposal”
means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Parent and its
Subsidiaries and other than the Transactions) relating to any:
(A) direct
or indirect acquisition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions) of assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including
securities of Subsidiaries, but excluding sales of inventory in the ordinary
course of business) equal to 15% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets or
to which 15% or more of the Company’s revenues or earnings on a consolidated
basis are attributable;
(B) direct
or indirect acquisition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions) of 15% or more of any class of equity securities of the
Company;
(C) tender
offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person
beneficially owning 15% or more of any class of equity securities of the
Company; or
(D) merger,
consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization,
liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company or
involving any Subsidiary (or Subsidiaries) or any assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries equal to 15% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets or to
which 15% or more of the Company’s revenues or earnings on a consolidated basis
are attributable.
(ii) “Superior Proposal”
means a bona fide written offer to acquire, directly or indirectly, all of the
equity securities of the Company or all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, made by a third party,
which
(A) is
obtained not in breach of this Agreement or any standstill
agreement;
(B) is
for consideration consisting of cash in an amount equal to or greater than 110%
of the Offer Price; and
(C) which
is otherwise on terms and conditions which the Board of Directors of the Company
or Special Committee determines in its good faith and reasonable judgment (after
consultation with a financial advisor of national reputation) to be more
favorable to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view than the
Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions, taking into account at the time of
determination any changes to the terms of this Agreement that as of that time
had been proposed by Parent in writing and the ability of the Person
making such proposal to consummate the transactions contemplated by such
proposal (based upon, among other things, the availability of financing and the
expectation of obtaining required approvals).
32
(f) Nothing
in this Section 5.2 shall prohibit the Board of Directors of the Company or
Special Committee from taking and disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a
position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A
promulgated under the Exchange Act if such Board determines in good faith, after
consultation with outside counsel, that failure to so disclose such position
would constitute a violation of applicable Law; provided, however, that in no
event shall the Company or its Board of Directors or Special Committee take, or
agree or resolve to take, any action prohibited by Section 5.2(c).
SECTION
5.3 Reasonable Best
Efforts. Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Section 5.3(d)), each
of the parties hereto shall cooperate with the other parties and use (and shall
cause their respective Subsidiaries to use) their respective reasonable best
efforts to promptly take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to
be done, all things, necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the
Transactions.
SECTION
5.4 Public
Announcements. The initial press release with respect to the
execution of this Agreement shall be a joint press release to be reasonably
agreed upon by Parent and the Company. Thereafter, neither the
Company nor Parent shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or
other public announcement (to the extent not previously issued or made in
accordance with this Agreement) with respect to the Offer, the Merger, this
Agreement or the other Transactions without the prior consent of the other party
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except as may be
required by Law as determined in the good faith judgment of the party proposing
to make such release (in which case such party shall not issue or cause the
publication of such press release or other public announcement without prior
consultation with the other party).
SECTION
5.5 Notification of Certain
Matters. The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent,
and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of:
(a) any
notice or other communication received by such party from any Governmental
Authority in connection with the Transactions or from any Person alleging that
the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the
Transactions, if the subject matter of such communication or the failure of such
party to obtain such consent could be material to the Company, the Surviving
Corporation or Parent;
(b) any
actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings commenced or, to such
party’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise
affecting such party or any of its Subsidiaries which relate to the
Transactions;
(c) the
discovery of any fact or circumstance that, or the occurrence or non-occurrence
of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, would cause any
representation or warranty made by such party contained in this Agreement (i)
that is qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect to be untrue and
(ii) that is not so qualified to be untrue in any material respect;
and
33
(d) any
material failure of such party to comply with or satisfy any covenant or
agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder;
provided, however, that the
delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not (1) be considered
in determining whether any representation or warranty is true for purposes of
Section 7.1, Termination, hereof, or the
conditions to the Offer, (2) cure any breach or non-compliance with any other
provision of this Agreement, or (3) limit the remedies available to the party
receiving such notice.
SECTION
5.6 Indemnification and
Insurance.
(a) From
and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall indemnify the
individuals who at or prior to the Effective Time were directors or officers of
the Company (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) with
respect to all acts or omissions by them in their capacities as such at any time
prior to the Effective Time (including in their capacity serving on the Special
Committee), to the fullest extent (i) required or permitted by the Company
Charter Documents as in effect on the date of this Agreement and (ii) permitted
under applicable Law.
(b) For
the six-year period commencing immediately after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall maintain in effect the Company’s current directors’
and officers’ liability insurance covering acts or omissions occurring at or
prior to the Effective Time with respect to those persons who are currently
covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy (a
correct and complete copy of which has been heretofore delivered to Parent), on
terms with respect to such coverage, and in amount, not less favorable to the
Company’s directors and officers currently covered by such insurance than those
of such policy in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, the Surviving
Corporation may substitute therefor policies, issued by reputable insurers, of
at least the same coverage with respect to matters occurring prior to the
Effective Time; provided
further, however, that, if the aggregate annual premiums for such
insurance shall exceed 150 percent of the premium for the current Company
directors, and offices liability insurance ,
then the Surviving Corporation shall provide or cause to be provided a policy
for the applicable individuals with the best coverage as shall then be available
at an annual premium of 150 percent of the premium for the current Company
directors and officer’s liability insurance.
(c) The
Indemnitees to whom this Section 5.6 applies shall be third party beneficiaries
of this Section 5.6. The provisions of this Section 5.6 are intended
to be for the benefit of each Indemnitee, his or her heirs and his or her
representatives.
SECTION
5.7 Securityholder
Litigation. The Company shall give Parent the opportunity to
participate in the defense or settlement of any securityholder litigation
against the Company and/or its directors relating to the Transactions, and no
such settlement shall be agreed to without Parent’s prior consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
34
SECTION
5.8 Fees and
Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such
fees or expenses (or, in the case of the Company, by the Surviving Corporation),
whether or not the Transactions are consummated. Other
than any Taxes imposed upon a holder of Shares or Options, the Company (or the
Surviving Corporation) shall pay all Taxes incident to preparing for, entering
into and carrying out this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions
(including (i) transfer, stamp and documentary Taxes or fees and (ii) sales,
use, gains, real property transfer and other or similar Taxes or
fees).
SECTION
5.9 Takeover Laws. The
Company shall, upon the request of Parent or Purchaser, take all reasonable
steps to exclude the applicability of, or to assist in any challenge by Parent
or Purchaser to the validity, or applicability to the Offer, the Merger or any
other transaction contemplated by this Agreement of, any Takeover
Laws.
ARTICLE
VI
Conditions to the
Merger
SECTION
6.1 Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of
each party hereto to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction (or
waiver, if permissible under applicable Law) at or prior to the Effective Time
of the following conditions:
(a) This
Agreement shall have been duly adopted by the requisite vote of the holders of
Company Common Stock, if, and to the extent required by, applicable Law and the
certificate of incorporation of the Company, in order to consummate the
Merger;
(b) All
necessary waiting periods under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended applicable to the Merger shall have expired or been
terminated;
(c) No
Law, injunction, judgment or ruling enacted, promulgated, issued, entered,
amended or enforced by any Governmental Authority shall be in effect enjoining,
restraining, preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Merger or making the
consummation of the Merger illegal; and
(d) Purchaser
shall have purchased all of the Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer; provided that this condition
shall be deemed satisfied with respect to Purchaser if Purchaser shall have
failed to purchase Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer in breach of its
obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII
Termination
SECTION
7.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned at any time prior to
the Effective Time, whether before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder
Approval (if any):
35
(a) by
the mutual written consent of the Company and Parent duly authorized by the
Board of Directors of the Company (including the Special Committee) and the
Board of Directors of Parent; or
(b) by
either of the Company or Parent:
(i) if
any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, promulgated, issued, entered,
amended or enforced (A) a Law prohibiting the Offer or the Merger or making the
Offer or the Merger illegal, or (B) an injunction, judgment, order, decree or
ruling, or taken any other action, in each case, enjoining, restraining,
preventing or prohibiting the Offer or the Merger; provided, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b)(i) shall not be available to
a party if the issuance of such injunction, judgment, order, decree or ruling
was primarily due to the failure of such party to perform any of its obligations
under this Agreement;
(ii) if
the Offer shall have expired pursuant to its terms (and not have been extended
in accordance with Section 1.1, The Offer, hereof) without
any Shares being purchased therein, provided, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to
any party whose failure to perform any of is obligations under this Agreement
resulted in the failure of Purchaser to purchase Shares in the Offer;
or
(iii) if
no Shares shall have been purchased pursuant to the Offer on or before the
Walk-Away Date; provided, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b)(iii) shall not be available
to any party whose failure to perform any of is obligations under this Agreement
resulted in the failure of the Offer to be so consummated by the Walk-Away Date;
or
(c) by
the Company:
(i) if
concurrently it enters into a definitive Company Acquisition Agreement providing
for a Superior Proposal in accordance with Section 5.2, No Solicitation by the
Company, hereof; provided that the Company
shall also have complied with all the other requirements of Section 5.2, No Solicitation by the
Company, hereof and provided, further, that the
Company may only exercise this termination right prior to the Purchase Date;
or
(ii) if
(A) the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement
that are qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall not be
true and correct, or the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth
in this Agreement that are not so qualified shall not be true and correct in all
material respects, in each case, on and as of the date of this Agreement and on
and as of the date of such determination as if made on such date (or, with
respect to those representations and warranties that address matters only as of
a particular date, on and as of such date), or (B) Parent or Purchaser shall
have breached or failed in any material respect to perform or comply with any
obligation, agreement or covenant required by this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by them, which inaccuracy, breach or failure (in each case under
clauses (A) and (B)) cannot be cured or has not been cured by the later of (1)
the next scheduled Expiration Time pursuant to Section 1.1, The Offer, hereof, and (2)
ten Business Days after Parent receives notice of such inaccuracy, breach or
failure; provided,
however, that the Company may only exercise this termination right prior
to the Purchase Date; or
36
(iii) if
Purchaser fails to commence the Offer in violation of Section 1.1, The Offer, hereof;
or
(d) by
Parent:
(i) if,
due to a circumstance or occurrence that if occurring after the commencement of
the Offer would make it impossible to satisfy one or more of the conditions set
forth in Annex
A hereto, Purchaser shall have failed to commence the Offer; provided, that Parent may not
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d)(i) if Parent or
Purchaser is in material breach of this Agreement;
(ii) if
the Board of Directors of the Company or the Special Committee thereof (A) shall
have withdrawn or modified, in a manner adverse to Parent, the Company
Recommendation or its approval or recommendation of any of the Transactions or
(B) shall have approved or recommended to the stockholders of the Company a
Takeover Proposal; provided,
however, that Parent may only exercise this termination right prior to
the Purchase Date;
(iii) if
(A) there shall have occurred any events or changes that, individually or in the
aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect or
(B)(x) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this
Agreement that are qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect”
shall not be true and correct, or the representations and warranties of the
Company set forth in this Agreement that are not so qualified shall not be true
and correct in all material respects, in each case, on and as of the date of
this Agreement and on and as of the date of such determination as if made on
such date (or, with respect to those representations and warranties that address
matters only as of a particular date, on and as of such date), or (y) the
Company shall have breached or failed in any material respect to perform or
comply with any obligation, agreement or covenant required by this Agreement to
be performed or complied with by it (other than a breach or failure caused by
Parent), which inaccuracy, breach or failure (in each case under clauses (x) and
(y)) cannot be cured or has not been cured by the later of (1) the next
scheduled Expiration Time pursuant to Section 1.1, The Offer, hereof, and (2)
ten Business Days after the Company receives notice of such inaccuracy, breach
or failure; provided,
however, that Parent may only exercise this termination right prior to
the Purchase Date.
SECTION
7.2 Effect of
Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement
as provided in Section 7.1, Termination, hereof, written
notice thereof shall be given to the other party or parties, specifying the
provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement
shall forthwith become null and void (other than Sections 5.7, Securityholder Litigation,
5.8, Fees and Expenses,
7.2, Effect of
Termination, and Article VIII, General Provisions, hereof,
all of which shall survive termination of this Agreement), and there shall be no
liability on the part of Parent or the Company or their respective directors,
officers and Affiliates or the Special Committee, except nothing shall relieve
any party from liability for fraud or any willful breach of this
Agreement.
37
ARTICLE
VIII
General
Provisions
SECTION
8.1 No Survival of
Representations and Warranties.
(a) Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the representations, warranties and
agreements of each party hereto shall remain operative and in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any other party
hereto, any Person controlling any such party or any of their officers,
directors or representatives, whether prior to or after the execution of this
Agreement, and no information provided or made available shall be deemed to be
disclosed in this Agreement or in the Company Disclosure Schedule, except to the
extent actually set forth herein or therein.
(b) The
representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement shall terminate at
the Effective Time or, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2, Effect of Termination,
hereof, upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, Termination, hereof, as the
case may be, except that the agreements set forth in Article II, The Merger, hereof, and
Sections 5.6, Indemnification
and Insurance, 5.7, Securityholder Litigation,
and 5.8, Fees and
Expenses, hereof and any other agreement in this Agreement which
contemplates performance after the Effective Time shall survive the Effective
Time indefinitely and those set forth in Sections 5.7, Securityholder Litigation,
5.8, Fees and Expenses,
7.2, Effect of
Termination, and this Article VIII shall survive termination
indefinitely.
SECTION
8.2 Amendment or
Supplement. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects, whether
before or after approval of any of the transactions contemplated hereby by
stockholders of the Company, by written agreement of the parties hereto, by
action taken by their respective Boards of Directors (or Special Committee);
provided, however, that
following approval of the Transactions by the stockholders of the Company, there
shall be no amendment or change to the provisions hereof which by Law would
require further approval by the stockholders of the Company without such
approval.
SECTION
8.3 Extension of Time, Waiver,
Etc. At any time prior to the Effective Time, any party may,
subject to applicable Law, (a) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties of any other party hereto, (b) extend the time for the performance of
any of the obligations or acts of any other party hereto, or (c) waive
compliance by the other party with any of the agreements contained herein or,
except as otherwise provided herein, waive any of such party’s
conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the
Company, Parent or Purchaser in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as
a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right
hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party.
38
SECTION
8.4 Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall
be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any of
the parties without the prior written consent of the other parties.
Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns. Any
purported assignment not permitted under this Section shall be null and
void.
SECTION
8.5 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) and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.
SECTION
8.6 Entire Agreement; No
Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, together with the
Annexes hereto, the Company Disclosure Schedule, and the Equity Award Letter
Agreements (a) constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and (b) except
for the provisions of Section 5.6, Indemnification and
Insurance, hereof are not intended to and shall not confer upon any
Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder.
SECTION
8.7 Governing Law; Waiver of
Jury Trial.
(a) This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws
thereof.
(b) Each
of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by
jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement or the
Transactions.
SECTION
8.8 Specific
Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of
the United States located in the State of New York or in New York state court
this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or
in equity.
SECTION
8.9 Consent to
Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto (i) consents to
submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any Federal court located in the
State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York or any
New York state court located in such Borough in the event any dispute arises out
of this Agreement or any of the Transactions, (ii) agrees that it will not
attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request
for leave from any such court, and (iii) agrees that it will not bring any
action relating to this Agreement or any of the Transactions in any court other
than a Federal or State court sitting in the State of New York located in the
Borough of Manhattan, City of New York.
39
SECTION
8.10 Notices. All notices,
requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given if delivered personally, facsimiled (which is confirmed)
or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the
following addresses:
If to
Parent or Purchaser, to:
00 Xxxx
00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
with a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxx Xxxxxx llp
0 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
between 00xx xxx 00xx Xxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
If to the
Company, to:
Five Star
Products, Inc.
00 Xxxx
00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Chief
Executive Officer
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
with
copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Special
Committee
c/o Five
Star Products, Inc.
00 Xxxx
00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
40
and
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
or such
other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the
purpose by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices,
requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of
receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5 P.M. in the place of
receipt and such day is a Business Day in the place of
receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall
be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in
the place of receipt.
SECTION
8.11 Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by
any rule of law or public policy, all other terms, provisions and conditions of
this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and
effect. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable Law in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions
contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.
SECTION
8.12 Definitions.
(a) As
used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings ascribed thereto
below:
“Affiliate” shall
mean, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls,
or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such
Person. For this purpose, “control” (including, with its correlative
meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership
of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or
otherwise.
“Business Day” shall
mean a day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the SEC or banks in
the City of New York are authorized or required by Law to be
closed.
“GAAP” shall mean
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
“Governmental
Authority” shall mean any government, court, arbitrator, regulatory or
administrative agency, commission or authority or other governmental
instrumentality, federal, state or local, domestic, foreign or
multinational.
41
“HSR Act” shall mean
the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
“Knowledge” of any
Person that is not an individual shall mean, with respect to any matter in
question, the knowledge after due inquiry of such Person’s executive officers
and all other officers and managers having responsibility relating to the
applicable matter and any matter in question shall be “Known” to such Person if
such Person has Knowledge of such matter.
“Person” shall mean an
individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an
association, a trust or any other entity, including a Governmental
Authority.
“Purchase Date” shall
mean the first date on which Purchaser accepts for payment Shares tendered and
not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.
“Subsidiary” when used
with respect to any party, shall mean any corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, association, trust or other entity the accounts of which
would be consolidated with those of such party in such party’s consolidated
financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance
with GAAP, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust or other entity of which securities or other
ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of
the ordinary voting power (or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of
the general partnership interests) are, as of such date, owned by such party or
one or more Subsidiaries of such party or by such party and one or more
Subsidiaries of such party.
“Top-Up Consideration”
has the meaning assigned in Section 1.3(b).
“Top-Up Option” has
the meaning assigned in Section 1.3(a).
“Top-Up Option Shares”
has the meaning assigned in Section 1.3(a).
“Transactions” refers
collectively to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Offer and the Merger.
“Walk-Away Date” shall
mean December 26, 2008.
SECTION
8.13
Interpretation.
(a) When
a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, a Section, Annex or
Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section of, or an Annex or
Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of
contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including”
are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation”. The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder”
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined
meanings when used in any document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless
otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this
Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such
terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such
term. Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to
herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such
agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or
supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or
consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor
statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated
therein. References to a Person are also to its permitted successors
and assigns.
42
(b) The
parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation
arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties
hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring
any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this
Agreement.
[signature page
follows]
43
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as
of the date first above written.
NATIONAL
PATENT DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Vice President |
NPDV
ACQUISITION CORP.
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
President | |||
FIVE
STAR PRODUCTS, INC.
|
|||
By: | /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Xxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Senior
Vice President, Finance
|
|||
44
ANNEX A
Conditions to the
Offer
The
capitalized terms used in this Annex A have the
meanings set forth in the attached Agreement, except that the term “Agreement”
shall be deemed to refer to the attached Agreement.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Offer, Purchaser shall not be required to accept for
payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC,
including Rule 14e-l(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to Purchaser’s
obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares promptly after termination or
withdrawal of the Offer), pay for, and may delay the acceptance for payment of
or, subject to the restriction referred to above, the payment for, any tendered
Shares, and (subject to the provisions of the Agreement) may terminate the Offer
and not accept for payment any tendered shares if:
(a) any
applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been
terminated prior to the Expiration Time; or
(b) at
any time on or after the date of the Agreement and prior to the Expiration Time,
any of the following conditions shall exist:
(i) there
shall be any injunction, judgment, ruling, order, decree, action, proceeding or
litigation instituted, issued, entered, commenced, pending or threatened by or
before any Governmental Authority that would or that seeks or is reasonably
likely
to:
|
(A)
|
restrain,
enjoin, prevent, prohibit or make illegal the acceptance for payment,
payment for or purchase of some or all of the Shares by Purchaser or
Parent or the consummation of the
Transactions;
|
|
(B)
|
impose
limitations on the ability of Purchaser or Parent or any of their
Affiliates effectively to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares,
including, without limitation, the right to vote the Shares purchased by
them on all matters properly presented to the Company’s stockholders on an
equal basis with all other stockholders (including, without limitation,
the adoption of the Agreement and approval of the
Transactions);
|
|
(C)
|
restrain,
enjoin, prevent, prohibit or make illegal, or impose material limitations
on, Parent’s, Purchaser’s or any of their Affiliates’ ownership or
operation of all or any portion of the businesses and assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, as a result of the
Transactions, of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole;
|
|
(D)
|
compel
Parent, Purchaser or any of their Affiliates to dispose of any Shares or,
as a result of the Transactions, compel Parent, Purchaser or any of their
Affiliates to dispose of or hold separate any portion of the businesses or
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or of Parent
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
or
|
Annex A -
1
|
(E)
|
impose
damages on Parent, the Company or any of their respective
Subsidiaries as a result of the
Transactions;
|
(ii) there
shall be any Law enacted, issued, promulgated, amended or enforced by any
Governmental Authority applicable to (A) Parent, the Company or any of their
respective Affiliates or (B) the Transactions (other than the routine
application of the waiting period provisions of the HSR Act) that results, or
that seeks or is reasonably likely to result, directly or indirectly, in any of
the consequences referred to in paragraph (d)(i) above;
(iii) (A)
there shall have occurred any events or changes that, individually or in the
aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect or (B)(x) the representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in the Agreement that are qualified as to “materiality” or “Material
Adverse Effect” shall not be true and correct, or the representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in the Agreement that are not so qualified
shall not be true and correct in all material respects, in each case, on and as
of the date of such determination as if made on such date (or, with respect to
those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a
particular date, on and as of such date), or (y) the Company shall have breached
or failed in any material respect to perform or comply with any obligation,
agreement or covenant required by the Agreement to be performed or complied with
by it (other than a breach or failure caused by Parent), which inaccuracy,
breach or failure (in each case under clauses (x) and (y)) cannot be cured or
has not been cured by the later of (1) the next scheduled Expiration Time
pursuant to Section 1.1, The
Offer, hereof, and (2) ten Business Days after the Company receives
notice of such inaccuracy, breach or failure;
(iv) the
Board of Directors of the Company or the Special Committee thereof shall have
(A) withdrawn or modified, in a manner adverse to Parent, its approval or
recommendation of any of the Transactions or (B) recommended to the stockholders
of the Company a Takeover Proposal;
(v) there
shall have occurred:
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(A)
|
a
declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in
respect of banks in the United States (whether or not
mandatory);
|
|
(B)
|
any
limitation or proposed limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any United
States Governmental Authority that has a material adverse effect generally
on the extension of credit by banks or other financial
institutions;
|
|
(C)
|
the
commencement of a war, armed hostilities or other international or
national calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States;
or
|
Annex A -
2
|
(D)
|
in
the case of any of the situations in clauses (A) through (C) of this
paragraph (v) existing at the time of the commencement of the Offer, a
material acceleration or worsening thereof;
or
|
(vi) the
Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms or the Offer
shall have been terminated with the consent of the Company.
The
foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and Purchaser and may be
asserted by either of them regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such
conditions or may be waived by Parent or Purchaser, in whole or in part at any
time and from time to time in the sole discretion of Parent or
Purchaser. The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise
any of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of any right, the waiver
of such right with respect to any particular facts or circumstances shall not be
deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts or circumstances, and each right
will be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time
to time.
If the
Offer is terminated, all tendered Shares not theretofore accepted for payment
shall forthwith be returned to the tendering stockholders.
Annex A - 3