Execution Copy
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
By and Between
the ESOP of STV GROUP, INCORPORATED
and
STV GROUP, INCORPORATED
Dated as of April 30, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE MERGER................................................................1
1.2 The Closing........................................................2
1.3 Effective Time.....................................................2
1.4 Company Actions....................................................2
2. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BYLAWS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE
SURVIVING CORPORATION ....................................................3
2.1 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving Corporation......3
2.2 Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation....................3
3. CONVERSION OF SECURITIES..................................................3
3.1 Conversion of Securities...........................................3
3.2 Dissenting Shareholders............................................5
3.3 Payment for and Surrender of Company Common Shares.................5
3.4 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock................7
3.5 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action.........................7
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.............................7
4.1 Organization and Qualification.....................................7
4.2 Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreement....................8
4.3 Capitalization.....................................................8
4.4 Subsidiaries.......................................................9
4.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.........................9
4.6 Litigation........................................................10
4.7 Restrictions on Business Activities...............................10
4.8 Governmental Authorization........................................11
4.9 Title to Property.................................................11
4.10 Intellectual Property.............................................11
4.11 Taxes.............................................................12
4.12 Employee Benefit Plans............................................13
4.13 Employee Matters..................................................14
4.14 Compliance With Laws..............................................16
4.15 Accounts Receivable...............................................16
4.16 No Brokers........................................................16
4.17 Opinion of Financial Advisor......................................16
4.18 Delivery of Documentation.........................................17
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4.19 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities........17
4.20 Absence of Certain Changes or Events..............................17
4.21 Certain Business Practices........................................18
4.22 Environmental.....................................................18
4.23 Insurance Coverage................................................19
4.24 Contracts.........................................................19
4.25 Representations Complete..........................................20
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SGAC...................................21
5.1 Organization......................................................21
5.2 Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreement...................21
5.3 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents........................21
5.4 No Brokers........................................................22
5.5 WARN Act..........................................................22
5.6 Opinion of Financial Advisors.....................................22
6. COVENANTS................................................................22
6.1 Acquisition Proposals.............................................23
6.2 Conduct of Business by the Company................................24
6.3 Meeting of Shareholders...........................................25
6.4 Filings; Other Action.............................................26
6.5 Access to Information; Confidentiality............................26
6.6 Publicity.........................................................27
6.7 Reasonable Efforts; Additional Actions............................27
6.8 Expenses..........................................................28
6.9 Insurance; Indemnity..............................................28
6.10 Financing.........................................................29
6.11 Newco.............................................................29
6.12 Availability of Certain Agreements................................29
7. CONDITIONS...............................................................30
7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger........30
7.2 Conditions to Obligation of Company to Effect the Merger..........30
7.3 Conditions to Obligation of SGAC and Newco To Effect the Merger...31
8. TERMINATION..............................................................33
8.1 Termination.......................................................33
8.2 Effect of Termination.............................................34
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8.3 Extension; Waiver.................................................34
9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.......................................................34
9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.........34
9.2 Notices...........................................................34
9.3 Assignment; Binding Effect........................................35
9.4 Entire Agreement..................................................35
9.5 Amendment.........................................................36
9.6 Governing Law.....................................................36
9.7 Counterparts......................................................36
9.8 Headings..........................................................36
9.9 Interpretation....................................................36
9.10 Waivers...........................................................36
9.11 Incorporation of Schedules........................................36
9.12 Severability......................................................36
9.13 Delivery by Facsimile.............................................37
9.14 Interpretation of Agreement.......................................37
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
Schedule 4.3 Company Stock Derivatives
Schedule 4.4 Company Subsidiaries
Schedule 4.4A Joint Ventures
Schedule 4.5 Consents
Schedule 4.6 Litigation
Schedule 4.12(a)(v) Retiree Welfare Benefits
Schedule 4.12(c) Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 4.13 Employee Matters
Schedule 4.16 Brokers
Schedule 4.19 Certain Disclosed Liabilities
Schedule 4.22 Environmental
Schedule 4.23 Insurance
Schedule 4.24 Certain Government Contracts
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Agreement and Plan of Merger (this "Agreement"), dated as of April 30,
2001 by and between the employee stock ownership plan of STV Group, Incorporated
("ESOP") and STV Group, Incorporated, a Pennsylvania corporation (the
"Company").
BACKGROUND
A. The Board of Directors of the Company (based upon the recommendation
of a special committee of its independent directors (the "Special Committee"))
has determined that a business combination between the Company and a corporation
to be formed by the ESOP under the laws of Pennsylvania prior to the Effective
Time (as defined in Section 1.3) ("Newco") is in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders, whereby Newco will merge with and into the Company
(the "Merger"), with the Company being the surviving corporation, all upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.
B. The trustee of the ESOP ("Trustee") intends to follow the direction
of the ESOP participants with respect to the voting of shares of common stock,
$0.01 per value per share, of the Company ("Company Common Shares"), allocated
to individual participant accounts to the extent such direction is proper and
otherwise consistent with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA") and the terms of the ESOP.
C. In reliance upon the opinion provided by Willamette Management
Associates ("Willamette") to the Trustee, the Trustee has concluded that this
Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby are fair to the
participants of the ESOP from a financial point of view.
D. The ESOP intends to be the sole shareholder of the Surviving
Corporation.
E. The Company has arranged for the debt financing necessary to
complete the Merger to be provided to the Company simultaneous with the
completion of the Merger in accordance with the terms and conditions of certain
commitment letters and term sheets (the "Commitment Letters").
F. Each of the Company and the ESOP desires to provide for the
consummation of the Merger and certain other transactions relating thereto, on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, and in consideration of
the mutual agreements and covenants set forth below, the parties agree as
follows:
1. THE MERGER.
1.1 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3), Newco will be
merged with and
into the Company in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law (the "BCL"), and the separate corporate
existence of Newco will thereupon cease. The Company will be the surviving
corporation in the Merger (as such, the "Surviving Corporation") under the
corporate name it possesses immediately prior to the Effective Time.
1.2 The Closing.
(a) Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated
pursuant to the provisions of Article 8, the closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Closing") will take place at the offices of
Blank Rome Xxxxxxx & XxXxxxxx LLP, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx
00000-0000, at 10:00 a.m., local time, within two business days following the
date on which the last of the conditions (excluding conditions that by their
terms cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date (as defined below)) set forth
in Article 7 is satisfied or waived in accordance herewith, or at such other
place, time or date as the parties may agree. The date on which the Closing
occurs is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date".
(b) Notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by the
shareholders of the Company and the participants of the ESOP, no agreement
between the parties hereto to change the place, time or date of the Closing will
require the approval of the shareholders of the Company or the participants of
the ESOP.
1.3 Effective Time. On the Closing Date, Newco and the Company
will cause articles of merger with respect to the Merger (the "Articles of
Merger"), executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the BCL, to be
filed with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as
provided in Section 1927 of the BCL. Upon completion of such filing, the Merger
will become effective in accordance with Section 1928 of the BCL. The time and
date on which the Merger becomes effective is herein referred to as the
"Effective Time."
1.4 Company Actions. The Company hereby represents that: (a) its
Board of Directors (at a meeting duly held on April 30, 2001), based upon the
recommendation of the Special Committee, has adopted resolutions recommending
that the holders of Company Common Shares (as defined in Section 3.1) approve
and adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Merger; (b) Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Financial Advisors, Inc. ("Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx") has provided to the Special Committee its opinion that the Consideration
(as defined in Section 3.1) to be received by the holders of the Non-ESOP
Company Common Shares (as defined in Section 3.1) pursuant to the Merger is fair
to such holders from a financial point of view; and (c) in reliance upon the
opinion of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx the Special Committee has concluded that the
Consideration to be received by the holders of Non-ESOP Company Common Shares is
fair to such holders from a financial point of view. The Company shall file as
soon as practicable after the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") a preliminary and final definitive proxy statement
(including certain information described in Schedule 13E-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and required to be set
forth in such proxy statement (such preliminary and final definitive proxy
statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively, the "Proxy
Statement") pursuant to Rule 13e-3(e)(1) and Rule 14a-3 under the
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Exchange Act) and shall cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the holders of
the Company Common Shares. The Company agrees to provide the Trustee and the
ESOP's counsel with any written or oral comments the Company or its counsel may
receive from the SEC with respect to such Proxy Statement promptly after the
receipt of such comments. The Company shall also provide the ESOP and its
counsel a reasonable opportunity to review each of the filings relating to the
Proxy Statement prior to its filing with the SEC or dissemination to the holders
of the Company Common Shares and to participate, including by way of discussions
with the SEC, in the response of the Company to such comments.
2. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BYLAWS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE
SURVIVING CORPORATION.
2.1 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving
Corporation.
(a) The articles of incorporation of Newco (which shall be
mutually agreed to by the Company and the ESOP), as in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Time, shall become, from and after the Effective Time, the
articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until amended in
accordance with their terms and the BCL.
(b) The bylaws of Newco (which shall be mutually agreed to
by the Company and the ESOP), as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall become, from and after the Effective Time, the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with their terms and the BCL.
2.2 Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation . The
directors and officers of Newco (which shall be mutually agreed to by the
Company and the ESOP) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become, from
and after the Effective Time, the directors and officers of the Surviving
Corporation and shall serve in accordance with the articles of incorporation and
bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until his/her successor has been duly
elected or appointed and qualified or until his/her earlier death, resignation
or removal in accordance with the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of
the Surviving Corporation.
3. CONVERSION OF SECURITIES.
3.1 Conversion of Securities.
(a) At the Effective Time, each Company Common Share issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than as described
in Sections 3.1(c) and 3.2 hereof, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holders thereof, will be converted solely and
exclusively into the right to receive $11.25 per share in cash (the
"Consideration") and any dividends payable in accordance with Section 3.3(b).
Company Common Shares owned by (i) the ESOP shall be referred to as the "ESOP
Company Common Shares" and (ii) holders other than the ESOP shall be referred to
as the "Non-ESOP Company Common Shares".
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(b) At the Effective Time, all Non-ESOP Company Common
Shares to be converted into the right to receive the Consideration pursuant to
this Section 3.1, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
the holders thereof, will cease to be outstanding, be canceled and retired and
cease to exist, and each holder of Non-ESOP Company Common Shares will
thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such Non-ESOP Company Common
Shares (other than the right to receive any dividends payable in accordance with
Section 3.3(b)), except the right to receive the Consideration for each of the
Non-ESOP Company Common Shares, upon the surrender of the Certificate(s) (as
defined in Section 3.3) in accordance with Section 3.3, without any interest
thereon, as provided in this Agreement or the rights under Section 1930 of the
BCL.
(c) At the Effective Time, all ESOP Company Common Shares
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, will continue
to be outstanding as fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock, $0.01
par value per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(d) At the Effective Time, each share of the capital stock
of Newco issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Newco or the holder
thereof, will cease to be outstanding, be canceled and retired and cease to
exist without payment of any Consideration therefor.
(e) All notes and other debt instruments of the Company
which are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall continue to
be outstanding subsequent to the Effective Time as debt instruments of the
Surviving Corporation, subject to their respective terms and provisions.
(f) All options and warrants to purchase Company Common
Shares which are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a
"Company Stock Derivative") by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of the holder hereof shall be canceled immediately prior to the
Effective Time in exchange for the right to receive an amount of cash equal to
the product of (i) the number of Company Common Shares subject to such Company
Stock Derivative immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the excess, if
any, of (A) the Consideration over (B) the per share exercise price of such
Company Stock Derivative, to be delivered by the Surviving Corporation
immediately following the Effective Time.
(g) At the Effective Time, each share of capital stock of
Company held in the treasury of Company shall, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of the Company, cease to be issued, be canceled
and retired and cease to exist without payment of any Consideration therefor.
3.2 Dissenting Shareholders. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, holders of Company Common Shares that have, as of the
Effective Time, complied with all procedures necessary to assert dissenters
rights in accordance with the BCL, if applicable, (collectively, the "Dissenting
Shareholders") shall have such rights, if any, as they may have pursuant to
Section 1930 of the BCL and such Company Common Shares shall not be
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converted or be exchangeable as provided in Section 3.1, but such holders shall
be entitled to receive such payment as may be determined to be due to such
holders pursuant to the BCL; provided, however, that if any such holder shall
have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn his right to
appraisal and payment pursuant to Section 1576 of the BCL, such holder shall be
conclusively presumed to have approved and ratified the Merger and such holder's
Company Common Shares shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted and to
have become exchangeable, as of the Effective Time, into the right to receive
the Consideration, without interest thereon, and any dividends payable pursuant
to Section 3.3, upon surrender of the Certificate or Certificates (as defined in
Section 3.3) in the manner provided in Section 3.3. The Company shall give the
ESOP prompt notice of any demand for dissenters rights received by the Company
(and shall also give the ESOP prompt notice of any withdrawals of such demands
for dissenters rights) and the ESOP shall have the opportunity and right to
participate in and direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such
demands. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of the
ESOP, settle or otherwise negotiate or offer to settle any such demand for
dissenters rights.
3.3 Payment for and Surrender of Company Common Shares.
(a) From time to time as needed by such bank or trust
company designated by the ESOP and reasonably acceptable to the Company (the
"Paying Agent"), the Surviving Corporation will deposit with the Paying Agent,
for the benefit of the holders of Company Common Shares, cash, cash equivalents
or a combination thereof in an aggregate amount equal to the product of (i) the
number of Company Common Shares issued and outstanding at the Effective Time
(other than the Company Common Shares referred to in Sections 3.1(c) and 3.2),
multiplied by (ii) the Consideration referred to in Section 3.1 (being
hereinafter referred to as the "Payment Fund"). The Paying Agent will, pursuant
to irrevocable instructions from the Surviving Corporation, deliver the
Consideration contemplated by Section 3.1 out of the Payment Fund, and, except
as provided in this Section 3.3, the Payment Fund will not be used for any other
purpose. The Paying Agent shall invest any cash included in the Payment Fund, as
directed by the Surviving Corporation, on a daily basis; provided such
investment shall be limited to direct obligations of the United States of
America, obligations for which the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged to provide for the payment of principal and interest,
commercial paper rated of the highest quality by Xxxxx'x Investor Services, Inc.
or Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. or
certificates of deposit issued by a commercial bank having at least $10,000,000
in assets. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall
be paid to the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Paying Agent will
mail to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates which immediately
prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Company Common Shares that,
upon the Effective Time, were converted to the right to receive the
Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1 (the "Certificates"): (i) a form of letter
of transmittal (which will specify that delivery will be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates will pass, only upon proper delivery of the
Certificates to the Paying Agent); and (ii) instructions for use in effecting
the surrender of the Certificates for payment therefor. Upon surrender of
Certificates for cancellation to the Paying Agent, together
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with such letter of transmittal duly executed and any other required documents,
the holder of such Certificates will be entitled to receive the Consideration
for each of the Company Common Shares represented by such Certificates, and the
Certificates so surrendered will promptly be canceled. Until so surrendered,
Certificates will represent solely the right to receive the Consideration plus
any declared but unpaid dividends. No interest will be paid or accrued on the
cash payable upon the surrender of the Certificates. No dividends or other
distributions, if any, that are declared prior to the Effective Time and are
payable after the Effective Time to holders of record of Certificates will be
paid to persons entitled by reason of the Merger to receive the Consideration
until such persons surrender their Certificates. Upon such surrender, there will
be paid to the registered holders of surrendered Certificates such declared but
unpaid dividends or other distributions, if any, on the appropriate payment
date. In no event will the persons entitled to receive such dividends or other
distributions be entitled to receive interest on such dividends or other
distributions. If any Consideration is to be paid to a person whose name is a
name other than that in which the surrendered Certificate in exchange therefor
is registered, it will be a condition of such exchange that the Certificate so
surrendered be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and
that the person requesting such exchange pay to the Paying Agent any transfer or
other taxes required by reason of the payment of such Consideration in a name
other than that of the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or
establish to the satisfaction of the Paying Agent that such tax has been paid or
is not applicable. In the event 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, the Paying Agent will issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Consideration
deliverable in respect thereof as determined in accordance with this Agreement,
provided that the person to whom the Consideration is paid shall, as a condition
precedent to the payment thereof if required by the Surviving Corporation, give
the Surviving Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct or otherwise
indemnify the Surviving Corporation in a manner satisfactory to it against any
claim that may be made against the Surviving Corporation with respect to the
Certificate claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
(c) Any portion of the Payment Fund which remains unclaimed
by the former shareholders of the Company for 180 days after the Effective Time
will be delivered to the Surviving Corporation and any former shareholders of
the Company will thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation as a general
creditor, except as described in Section 3.3(b), for payment of their claim for
the Consideration for the Company Common Shares, without any interest thereon.
(d) None of the ESOP, Newco, the Surviving Corporation nor
the Paying Agent shall be liable to any holder of Company Common Shares for such
shares (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash from the
Payment Fund (or from the Surviving Corporation after the Payment Fund has
terminated) delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar law. Immediately prior to the time as any amounts
remaining unclaimed by holders of any such shares would otherwise escheat to or
become property of any Governmental Entity (as defined below), such amounts
shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the property of the
Surviving Corporation free and clear of any claims or interest of any such
holders or their successors, assigns or personal representatives previously
entitled thereto.
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(e) The Paying Agent or the Surviving Corporation
shall be entitled to withhold from the Consideration otherwise payable pursuant
to this Agreement to any holder of Company Common Shares (i) such amounts as the
Paying Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of
such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law, and (ii) with respect to
any Company Stock Derivative, accounting for any amounts due the Company
regarding the exercise price of any such Company Stock Derivative, as
applicable. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Paying Agent or
the Surviving Corporation, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all
purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Company
Common Shares in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the
Paying Agent or the Surviving Corporation.
3.4 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. The
Consideration delivered upon the surrender for exchange of Company Common Shares
in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been issued in full
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Common Shares, and, other
than with respect to Company Common Shares held by the ESOP, there shall be no
further registration of transfers on the records of the Surviving Corporation of
Company Common Shares which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in
this Section 3.
3.5 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. Each of the
Company, the ESOP and Newco will take all such reasonable and lawful action as
may be necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the Merger in accordance
with this Agreement as promptly as possible. If, at any time after the Effective
Time, any such further action is necessary or desirable to carry full right,
title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and
franchises of the Company and Newco, the officers and directors of the Company ,
Newco and the Trustee, immediately prior to the Effective Time are fully
authorized in the name of their respective corporations or otherwise to take,
and will take, all such lawful and necessary action.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to the ESOP and Newco as follows:
4.1 Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 4.4) is a corporation or organization duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the requisite power
and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate
its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except
where the failure to be so organized, existing or in good standing or to have
such power, authority and governmental approvals would not, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation or
organization to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where
the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of
its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such
failures to be so qualified or
7
licensed and in good standing that would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. The term "Company Material Adverse Effect" means any change, series of
changes or any effect that, either individually or in the aggregate, is or is
reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the business, operations,
properties, prospects, financial condition, assets or liabilities of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company has previously delivered to
the ESOP correct and complete copies of the articles of incorporation and bylaws
(or equivalent governing instruments), as currently in effect, of the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries.
4.2 Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreement. The Company
has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and all agreements and documents contemplated hereby to be executed
and delivered by it, and, subject to receipt of necessary shareholder approval,
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Subject only to the approval
of this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby by (i)
the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the Company's
shareholders and (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by
holders of the ESOP Company Common Shares and the holders of the Non-ESOP
Company Common Shares, with each group voting as a separate class, this
Agreement, the Merger and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite
corporate action, and no other corporate action on the part of the Company is
necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Merger or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes, and all agreements and
documents contemplated hereby to be executed and delivered by the Company (when
executed and delivered pursuant hereto) will constitute, the valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their respective terms, subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to creditors' rights
generally, (ii) the availability of injunctive relief and other equitable
remedies, and (iii) ERISA.
4.3 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 12,000,000 Company Common Shares. As of the close of business on the
date hereof: (a) 3,880,128 Company Common Shares were issued and outstanding,
all of which were validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and 248,846
shares were held in the Company's treasury,; (b) no Company Common Shares were
held by Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 4.4) of the Company, (c) a total of
2,000,000 Company Common Shares were reserved for future issuance pursuant to
outstanding Company Stock Derivatives whether or not granted under the Company's
stock option plans (the "Company Stock Option Plans"); (d) Schedule 4.3 is a
true and complete list, as of the date hereof, of the holders of all Company
Stock Derivatives, the number of Company Common Shares subject to each such
option or warrant and the exercise prices thereof. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.3, there are no options, warrants or other rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments of any character issued or authorized by the Company
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue or
sell any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries. All Company Common Shares subject to issuance as
aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the
instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. There are no outstanding
contractual
8
obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any Company Common Shares or any capital stock of any its
Subsidiaries or to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a
loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any person. There are no persons
with registration or other similar rights to have any securities (debt or
equity) of the Company registered by the Company under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
4.4 Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.4 sets forth a complete and accurate
list of the Subsidiaries of the Company and indicates for each such Subsidiary
the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.4, each of the Company's Subsidiaries is wholly owned by the Company
or a Subsidiary of the Company. Each outstanding share of capital stock of each
of the Company's Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and, each such share owned by the Company or another of its
Subsidiaries is free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims,
pledges, options, rights of first refusal, agreements, limitations on the
Company's or such other Subsidiary's voting rights, charges and other
encumbrances of any nature whatsoever. As used in this Agreement, the word
"Subsidiary" when used with respect to any party means any corporation or other
organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which such party
directly or indirectly owns or controls at least a majority of the securities or
other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority
of the Board of Directors or others performing similar functions. Except for the
Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 4.4 hereof and the entities listed on Schedule
4.4A hereof, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries owns any equity interest
in any other joint venture, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
association, joint-stock company or any other similar entity of any kind
whatsoever.
4.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not: (i) conflict with or violate the articles of
incorporation or bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) subject to making the filings and obtaining the
approvals identified in this Section 4.5, conflict with or violate any law,
rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (whether United States or foreign)
applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or
asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected; or (iii)
except as set forth on Schedule 4.5, result in any breach of or ------------
constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both
would become a default) under, result in the loss of a material benefit under,
or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration, increased
payments or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien or other
encumbrance on any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease,
license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or any property or asset of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is bound or affected.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company do not, and the performance of this Agreement and the consummation by
the Company of the
9
transactions contemplated hereby will not, require any consent, approval,
authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any governmental
or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign (each a "Governmental Entity") by
either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for (A) applicable
requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, (B) the filing of the Articles of
Merger and related requirements pursuant to the BCL, (C) filings and consents as
may be required under any environmental, health or safety law or regulation
pertaining to any notification, disclosure or required approval, triggered by
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement as set forth
on Schedule 4.5, and (D) applicable requirements, if any, of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and state, local and foreign tax
laws.
(c) The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by
the Company's shareholders and the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes
cast by holders of the ESOP Company Common Shares and the holders of the
Non-ESOP Company Common Shares, with each group voting as a separate class, are
the only votes of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the
Company necessary to approve this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby on behalf of the Company.
4.6 Litigation. Except as set forth in the Company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission or on Schedule 4.6, there is no
order or private or governmental action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or
investigation (each an "Action") pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or
its Subsidiaries, threatened before any agency, court or tribunal, foreign or
domestic, against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their
respective properties or any of their respective officers or directors (in their
capacities as such) or any Company Plan (as defined in Section 4.12) or any
fiduciary thereof that could prevent, enjoin, or materially alter or delay any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that could reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.7 Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no agreement,
judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon the Company or its
Subsidiaries which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or materially impairing any current or future business practice of
the Company or its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by the Company or
its Subsidiaries or the conduct of business by the Company or its Subsidiaries
as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
4.8 Governmental Authorization. The Company or its Subsidiaries
have obtained each federal, state, county, local or foreign governmental
consent, license, permit, grant, or other authorization of a Governmental Entity
(i) pursuant to which the Company or its Subsidiaries currently operates or
holds any interest in any of its properties or (ii) that is required for the
operation of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' business or the holding of any
such interest ((i) and (ii) herein collectively called "Company
Authorizations"), and all of such Company Authorizations are in full force and
effect, except where the failure to obtain or have any such Company
Authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
4.9 Title to Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries have
good and marketable title to all of their respective properties, interests in
properties and assets, real and
10
personal, reflected in the Financial Statements (as defined in Section 4.19) or
acquired after the Balance Sheet Date (as defined in Section 4.19) (except
properties, interests in properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of
since the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business), or with
respect to leased properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, free and
clear of all liens, except (i) the lien of current taxes not yet due and
payable, (ii) such imperfections of title, liens and easements as do not and
will not materially detract from or interfere with the use of the properties
subject thereto or affected thereby in the manner currently used in the conduct
of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' business, or otherwise materially impair
business operations involving such properties and (iii) liens securing debt
which is reflected in the Financial Statements. The plants, property and
equipment of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are used in the operations of
its business are in good operating condition and repair, subject to normal wear
and tear. All properties used in the operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries are reflected in the Financial Statements to the extent generally
accepted accounting principles require them to be so reflected. Subject to
Section 4.10(a), the Company and each of its Subsidiaries own or lease all of
the assets necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, as and
where such businesses are presently conducted.
4.10 Intellectual Property.
(a) The Company or its Subsidiaries owns, licenses or
otherwise possesses legally enforceable rights to use, all intellectual
property, including without limitation, patents, trademarks, trade names,
service marks, domain names, trade dress, copyrights, copyrightable works, mask
works, hardware, discoveries, databases, systems, networks, documentation,
drawings, research and development, schematics, technology, know-how, trade
secrets, inventions, ideas, algorithms, processes, computer software programs or
applications (in source code and/or object code form), and proprietary
information or material ("Intellectual Property") that are used in the business
of the Company or its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.
(b) To the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
there is no unauthorized use, disclosure, infringement or misappropriation (each
an "Infringement") of any Intellectual Property rights of the Company or its
Subsidiaries by any third party, including any employee or former employee of
the Company or its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have
agreed to indemnify any other person against any charge of Infringement of any
Intellectual Property, other than indemnification provisions contained in
end-user purchase orders or sales contracts arising in the ordinary course of
business.
(c) All material Intellectual Property owned or used by the
Company or its Subsidiaries is valid and subsisting. Neither the Company nor its
Subsidiaries have been sued in any Action which involves a claim of Infringement
of any third party. The manufacturing, marketing, licensing or sale of the
Company's products and services and the operation of its business does not
infringe any patent, trademark, service xxxx, copyright, trade secret or other
proprietary right of any third party. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries
have brought any Action for Infringement of Intellectual Property or breach of
any agreement involving Intellectual Property against any third party. There are
no outstanding or imminent Actions or orders nor, to the Company's or its
Subsidiaries' knowledge, threatened Actions or
11
orders that seek to limit or challenge the use, ownership, validity,
enforceability or value of any Intellectual Property of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company's or its Subsidiaries' knowledge, is there a
valid basis for any such Action or order.
(d) The Company and its Subsidiaries have used commercially
reasonable efforts to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all
Intellectual Property that is confidential in nature ("Confidential
Information"). All use, disclosure or appropriation of material Confidential
Information owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by or to a third
party has been pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries and such third party. All use, disclosure or
appropriation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of material Confidential
Information not owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been
pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between the Company or one or more
of its Subsidiaries and the owner of such Confidential Information, or is
otherwise lawful. The Company and its Subsidiaries has used commercially
reasonable efforts to protect and preserve the integrity and security of its
software, systems and networks and the information thereon from any unauthorized
use, access or appropriation.
(e) There are no actions that must be taken by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries within sixty (60) days of the Closing Date that, if
not taken, will result in the loss of any Intellectual Property right, including
the payment of any fees or the filing of any responses or documents needed to
obtain, maintain, perfect, preserve or renew any Intellectual Property.
4.11 Taxes. The Company and any consolidated, combined, unitary
or aggregate group for Tax (as defined below) purposes of which the Company is
or has been a member, have properly completed and timely filed (taking into
account all extensions) all Tax Returns (as defined below) required to be filed
by them and have paid all Taxes shown thereon to be due, other than any Taxes
for which adequate reserves in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles have been reflected in the Financial Statements. The Company's
Financial Statements reflect any Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
that have not been paid, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax Returns
other than Taxes arising in the ordinary course of business after the date of
the Financial Statements. The Company has not, or will not have at the Effective
Time, any material liability for unpaid Taxes accruing after the date of its
latest Financial Statements except for Taxes incurred in the ordinary course
subsequent to December 31, 2000. There is (i) no material claim for Taxes that
is a lien against the property of the Company or is being asserted against the
Company other than liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (ii) to the
Company's knowledge, no audit of any Tax Return of the Company being conducted
by a Tax Authority (as defined below), (iii) no extension of the statute of
limitations on the assessment of any Taxes granted by the Company and currently
in effect, and (iv) no agreement, contract or arrangement to which the Company
is a party that may result in the payment of any amount that would not be
deductible by reason of Section 280G or Section 404 of the Code. The Company has
not been and will not be required to include any material adjustment in Taxable
income for any Tax period (or portion thereof) pursuant to Section 481 or 263A
of the Code or any comparable provision under state or foreign Tax laws as a
result of transactions, events or accounting methods employed prior to the
Merger. The Company has not filed and will not file any consent to have the
provisions of paragraph 341(f)(2) of the Code (or
12
comparable provisions of any state Tax laws) apply to the Company. The Company
is not a party to any Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement nor does the
Company have any liability or potential liability to another party under any
such agreement. The Company has not filed any disclosures under Section 6662 or
comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law to prevent the imposition
of penalties with respect to any Tax reporting position taken on any Tax Return.
The Company has not ever been a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary
group of which the Company was not the ultimate parent corporation. For purposes
of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings: "Tax" (and,
with correlative meaning, "Taxes" and "Taxable") means (i) any net income,
alternative or add-on minimum tax, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property,
environmental or windfall profit tax, custom, duty or other tax, governmental
fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest or any penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any
governmental entity (a "Tax Authority") responsible for the imposition of any
such tax (domestic or foreign), (ii) any liability for the payment of any
amounts of the type described in (i) as a result of being a member of an
affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any Taxable period, and
(iii) any liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in (i)
or (ii) as a result of being a transferee of or successor to any person or as a
result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other person. As
used herein, "Tax Return" shall mean any return, statement, report or form
(including, without limitation, estimated tax returns and reports, withholding
tax returns and reports and information reports and returns) required to be
filed with respect to Taxes. The Company has not ever been a "United States real
property holding corporation" within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code.
4.12 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) (i) Each Company Plan (as defined below) has been
established and administered in accordance with its terms, and in compliance
with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable laws,
rules and regulations; (ii) each Company Plan which is intended to be qualified
within the meaning of Code section 401(a) is so qualified, has received a
favorable determination letter as to its qualification, and nothing has
occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that could reasonably be expected
to cause the loss of such qualification; (iii) no event has occurred and no
condition exists that would subject the Company, either directly or by reason of
its affiliation with any member of their "Controlled Group" (within the meaning
of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code), to any tax, fine, lien, penalty
or other liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other applicable laws, rules
and regulations; (iv) no "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA) or "prohibited transaction" (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA and
Section 4975 of the Code) has occurred with respect to any Company Plan; and (v)
no Company Plan provides retiree welfare benefits and neither the Company nor
any member of its Controlled Group has no obligations to provide any retiree
welfare benefits.
(b) No Company Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code, and the Company could not have, directly or indirectly,
any current or future liability under Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the
Code (including, without limitation, an
13
obligation to indemnify any person or entity for liability related to a plan
subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code). No Company Plan is a
"multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), and neither
the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has any liability or
contributes (or has at any time contributed or had an obligation to contribute)
to any multiemployer plan.
(c) Except as provided in Schedule 4.12, no Company Plan
exists that, as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement, could result in the payment to any Company
Employee of any money or other property or could result in the increase,
acceleration or provision of any other rights or benefits to any Company
Employee.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Company Plans"
means each "employee benefit plan" (within the meaning of section 3(3) of ERISA,
including, without limitation, multiemployer plans within the meaning of ERISA
section 3(37)), and each stock purchase, stock option, severance, employment,
change-in-control, fringe benefit, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive,
deferred compensation and all other employee benefit plans, agreements,
programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA
(including any funding mechanism therefor now in effect or required in the
future as a result of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement or
otherwise), whether oral or written, under which any current or former employee
or director of the Company (the "Company Employees") has any current or future
right to benefits or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any
current or future liability.
4.13 Employee Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13, (1)
the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with
all applicable laws, regulations, agreements, contracts and policies relating to
employment, discrimination in employment, terms and conditions of employment,
wages, hours and occupational safety and health and employment practices; (2)
the Company and its Subsidiaries have withheld all amounts required by law or by
agreement to be withheld from the wages, salaries, and other payments to
employees, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are not liable for any arrears
of wages or any taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the
foregoing; (3) the Company and its Subsidiaries are not liable for any payment
to any trust or other fund or to any governmental or administrative authority,
with respect to any unpaid unemployment compensation benefits, social security
or other benefits or obligations for employees (other than routine payments to
be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practice); (4)
as of the date hereof, there are no pending claims against the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries under any workers compensation plan or policy or for long-term
disability which could be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect; (5) there are no controversies pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened, between the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries and any of their respective employees, which controversies have
resulted, or would reasonably be expected to result, in an action, suit,
complaint, proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation before or by any
governmental agency, administrative agency, court, commission or tribunal,
foreign or domestic by or on behalf of any employee, prospective employee,
former employee, retiree, labor organization or other representative of the
Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' employees
14
which could be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (6)
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective
bargaining agreement or other labor union contract, and neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries knows of any activities or proceedings of any labor
union in connection with an attempt to organize any such employees; (7) to the
Company's and its Subsidiaries' knowledge, no employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries are in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent
disclosure agreement, noncompetition agreement, or any restrictive covenant to a
former employer relating to the right of any such employee to be employed by the
Company or its Subsidiaries because of the nature of the business conducted by
the Company or its Subsidiaries or to the use of trade secrets or proprietary
information of others; (8) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is a party
to any employment agreement or consulting agreement with any person or entity,
nor is any such contract or agreement presently being negotiated; (9) there is
no unfair labor practice charge or complaint pending or, to the best knowledge
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened against or otherwise adversely
affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (10) there is no labor strike,
slowdown, work stoppage, dispute, lockout or other labor controversy in effect,
threatened against or otherwise adversely affecting the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
experienced any such labor controversy within the past five years; (11) no
grievance is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, threatened which, if adversely decided, could result in having a
Company Material Adverse Effect; (12) the Company is not a party to, or
otherwise bound by, any consent decree with, or citation by, any Government
agency relating to employees or employment practices; (13) the Company and its
Subsidiaries have paid in full to all of their respective employees all wages,
salaries, commissions, bonuses, benefits and other compensation due to such
employees or otherwise arising under any policy, practice, agreement, plan,
program, statute or law; (14) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
liable for any severance pay or other payments to any employee or former
employee arising from the termination of employment, and neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries will have any liability under any benefit or severance
policy, practice, agreement, plan, or program which exists or arises, or may be
deemed to exist or arise, under any applicable law or otherwise, as a result of
or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder or as a result of
the termination by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any persons employed by
the Company or its Subsidiaries on or prior to the Closing Date; (15) neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has closed any plant or facility,
effectuated any layoffs of employees or implemented any early retirement,
separation or window program within the past five years, and neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has planned or announced any such action or program
for the future; (16) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, at
any time within the 90-day period prior to the Closing Date, effectuate a "plant
closing" or "mass layoff", as those terms are defined in the Worker Adjustment
and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended (29 U.S.C. ss. 2101 et seq.)
(the "WARN Act") or any state law, affecting in whole or in part any site of
employment, facility, operating unit or employee; and (17) the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in compliance with its obligations pursuant to the WARN Act,
and all other notification and bargaining obligations arising under any
collective bargaining agreement, statute or otherwise.
4.14 Compliance With Laws. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries has complied with, is not in violation of, and has not received any
notices of violation with respect to, any federal, state, local or foreign
statute, law or regulation with respect to the conduct of its
15
business, or the ownership or operation of its business, except for such
violations or failures to comply as would not be reasonably expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.15 Accounts Receivable. Subject to any reserves set forth in
the Financial Statements, the accounts receivable shown on the Financial
Statements represent bona fide claims against debtors for sales and other
charges, and are not subject to discount except for normal cash and immaterial
trade discounts. The amount carried for doubtful accounts and allowances
disclosed in the Financial Statements was calculated in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and in a manner consistent with prior
periods.
4.16 No Brokers. Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.16, neither
the Company nor any of its officers or directors has employed any investment
banker, business consultant, financial advisor, broker or finder or other
professionals to act on behalf of the Company in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the fees of which will be paid by
the Company), or incurred any liability for any investment banking, business or
legal consultancy, financial advisory, brokerage or finders' fees or commissions
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except for fees payable
to persons disclosed on Schedule 4.16. The Company has provided the ESOP with a
true and correct copy of the engagement letter between the Company any persons
on Schedule 4.16.
4.17 Opinion of Financial Advisor. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx has provided
its opinion to the Company to the effect that, as of the date hereof, the
Consideration to be received by the holders of Non-ESOP Company Common Shares in
the Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of view, and a
complete and correct signed written copy of such opinion, promptly upon receipt
thereof, will be delivered to the ESOP.
4.18 Delivery of Documentation. The Company has provided to the
ESOP any documentation prepared by the Company or provided to the Company,
including meeting minutes, by the Special Committee or its counsel or financial
advisors.
4.19 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.
The Company has made all filings required to be made under the Exchange Act and
the Securities Act with the SEC since January 1, 1996 (the "SEC Filings"). As of
their respective dates, the SEC Filings and any other filings made since January
1, 1996 by the Company with the SEC complied as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, as the case
may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder
applicable to such filings, and the filings did not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial
statements (the "Financial Statements") set forth in the SEC Filings comply as
to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Securities Act
or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
during the periods involved and fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the
respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash
flows for the respective periods
16
then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to
exceptions permitted by Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act and to normal year-end
adjustments). As of December 31, 2000 (the "Balance Sheet Date"), neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries had, and since such date neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, any liabilities of any nature, whether
accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, whether due or to become due that
are required to be recorded or reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the
Company under generally accepted accounting principles, except (i) liabilities
that have arisen since the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) liabilities that are reflected or reserved against or disclosed
in the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Filings, (iii)
liabilities that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (iv) as
otherwise disclosed on Schedule 4.19.
4.20 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in
the SEC Filings filed and publicly available prior to the date hereof, since the
Balance Sheet Date the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their
respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and
as of the date hereof there has not been: (i) any condition, event or occurrence
that has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any declaration,
setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash,
stock or property) with respect to any of the Company's capital stock; (iii) any
split, combination or reclassification of any of its capital stock or any
issuance or the authorization of any issuance of any other securities in respect
of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock; (iv) except
as reflected in Schedule 4.3 and except as set forth on Schedule 4.13, (x) any
granting by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any executive officer or
other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any increase in
compensation, except for normal increases in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (y) any granting by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to any such executive officer of any increase in severance or
termination pay, except as was required under any employment, severance or
termination agreements in effect as of the Balance Sheet Date or (z) any entry
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries into any employment, severance or
termination agreement with any such executive officer except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice; (v) any damage, destruction or
loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that has had or will have a Company
Material Adverse Effect; or (vi) except as required by a change in generally
accepted accounting principles, any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices.
4.21 Certain Business Practices. None of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries has, within the past five years, (i) used any funds for
unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses,
including but not limited to unlawful expenses related to political activity, or
(ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or
employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated
any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
4.22 Environmental. Except as would not have a Company Material
Adverse Effect (1) the operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are in
compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws; (2) except as
set forth on Schedule 4,22, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have
received written notice of any violation of
17
Environmental Laws from a governmental agency, except for such notices of
violation that have been finally resolved and as to which no further action or
payments by the Company or any Subsidiary is required. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice since January 1, 1995 of
potential liability form any person under or relating to the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System
promulgated under CERCLA, or any comparable state or local law. "Environmental"
means, soil, land, surface or subsurface strata, surface waters (including
without limitation navigable waters, ocean waters, streams, ponds, drainage
basins and wetlands), ground waters, drinking water supply, stream sediments,
ambient air, plant and animal life, and any other environmental medium or
natural resource.
"Environmental Law" means all applicable Laws of federal, state and
local authorities, any policies having the force of law, or any common law
principles, concerning pollution or protection of the Environment or natural
resources, or relating to the manufacturing, distribution, use, storage,
treatment, processing, transportation, disposal, emission, discharge, release or
threatened release of Materials of Environmental Concern; including, without
limitation: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act ("CERCLA"), 42 U.S.C.ss.9601, et seq.; the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act, Public Law 99-499, 100 Stat. 1613; the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), 42 U.S.C.ss.6901, et seq.; the Safe
Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C.ss.300f, et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act,
15 U.S.C.ss.2601, et seq.; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act, 7 U.S.C.ss.136, et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33
U.S.C.ss.1251, et seq.; the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C.ss.2701, et
seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 X.X.X.xx. 7401, et seq.; and counterpart state and
local laws, and the regulations adopted thereunder.
"Materials of Environmental Concern" means hazardous chemicals,
hazardous pollutants, contaminants, hazardous wastes, toxic substances,
hazardous substances, hazardous materials, petroleum and petroleum products and
asbestos as such terms are defined under applicable Environmental Law.
4.23 Insurance Coverage. The Company and its Subsidiaries have
maintained in full force and effect insurance policies covering their respective
businesses and assets which are adequate in amounts and types of risks for the
conduct of the Company and its Subsidiaries and all premiums necessary to
maintain such insurance policies have been paid or accrued in full. Except as
set forth on Schedule 4.23, there is no claim by the Company or any Subsidiary
pending under any of such policies as to which coverage has been questioned,
denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies. Since the respective
dates of such policies, no notice of cancellation or nonrenewal with respect to
any such policy has been received by the Company or any Subsidiary.
4.24 Contracts. Subject to review of due diligence material.
(a) Material Contracts. All of the Material Contracts are
valid and binding and in full force and effect and there are no defaults
thereunder or events which with notice or the passage of time would constitute a
default by the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, by
any other party thereto, except for such defaults and events as
18
to which requisite waivers or consents have been obtained. There have been made
available to the ESOP true and complete copies of all the Material Contracts.
(b) Government Contracts.
(i) With respect to each Government Contract or Bid (in
each case as defined below) to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party,
(A) the Company or such Subsidiary has fully complied with all material terms
and conditions and all applicable requirements of statute, rule, regulation or
order; (B) no notice has been received alleging that the Company or such
Subsidiary is in breach or violation of any statutory, regulatory or contractual
requirement; (C) no written notice of termination for convenience, termination
for default, cure notice or show-cause notice has been received by the Company
or such Subsidiary; and (D) other than in the ordinary course of business, no
money due to the Company or such Subsidiary has been (or has been threatened to
be) withheld or set off.
(ii) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.24, none of the
Company or any Subsidiary, nor any of the Company's or any Subsidiary's
directors or officers or, to the Company's knowledge, any employees, agents or
consultants is (or for the last three years has been) (A) under administrative,
civil or criminal investigation, indictment or information, or audit by the U.S.
Government with respect to any alleged irregularity, misstatement or omission
regarding a Government Contract or Bid; or (B) suspended or debarred from doing
business with the U.S. Government or declared nonresponsible or ineligible for
government contracting. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has made, within
the past three years, a voluntary disclosure to the U.S. Government with respect
to any alleged irregularity, misstatement or omission arising under or relating
to any Government Contract or Bid relating to the Company or any Subsidiary. To
the Company's knowledge, there are no circumstances that would warrant
suspension or debarment proceedings or the finding of nonresponsility or
ineligibility on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(c) For purposes of this Section 4.24 the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth below:
(i) "Material Contract" means any contract or agreement
(including any and all amendments thereto) to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party and which (A) relates to indebtedness or is a letter of
credit, pledge, bond or similar arrangement running to the account of or for the
benefit of the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) relates to employment,
compensation, severance, or consulting between the Company or any Subsidiary and
any person, including, without limitation, any such agreement the benefits of
which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the
occurrence of a transaction of the nature contemplated by this Agreement (C) is
a contract for capital expenditures, or the acquisition or construction of fixed
assets for or in respect of any real property, involving payments in excess of
$100,000.00, (D) is a joint venture or partnership contract or a limited
liability company operating agreement, and (E) is material to the business,
results of operations, financial condition or prospects of the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
19
(ii) "Bid" means any outstanding quotation bid or
proposal by the Company which, if accepted or awarded, would lead to a contract
with the U.S. Government or a prime contractor or a higher tier subcontractor to
the U.S. Government, for the design, manufacture or sale of products or the
provision of services by the Company directly or indirectly to the U.S.
Government.
(iii) "Government Contract" means any prime contract,
subcontract, teaming agreement or arrangement, joint venture, basic ordering
agreement, letter contract, purchase order, delivery order, change order,
arrangement or other commitment of any kind between the Company or any
Subsidiary and (A) the U.S. Government, (B) any prime contractor to the U.S.
Government or (C) any subcontractor with respect to any contract described in
clause (A) or (B).
(iv) "U.S. Government" means the United States
government including any and all agencies, commissions, branches,
instrumentalities and departments thereof.
4.25 Representations Complete. None of the representations or
warranties made by the Company herein or in any Schedule hereto or in any
certificate furnished by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, when all such
documents are read together in their entirety, contains or will contain at the
Effective Time any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit at
the Effective Time to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which made, not misleading.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ESOP. The ESOP represents
and warrants to the Company as follows:
5.1 Organization. Newco, when formed and at the Effective Time,
will be wholly-owned by the ESOP, duly incorporated, validly existing and
subsisting under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and formed solely
for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby. Except for
obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its incorporation or
organization and the transactions contemplated hereby, Newco will not incur any
obligations or liabilities or engage in any business or activities of any type
or kind whatsoever or enter into any agreements or arrangements with any person
or entity. Prior to the Effective Time, the ESOP will deliver to the Company
correct and complete copies of the articles of incorporation and bylaws, as
currently in effect, of Newco.
5.2 Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreement. The Trustee
and ESOP have the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and all agreements and documents contemplated hereby to be executed
and delivered by it and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. Newco, when formed and at the Effective Time, will have the requisite
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver all agreements and
documents contemplated hereby to be executed and delivered by it and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement, the
Merger and the
20
consummation by the ESOP and Newco of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly and validly authorized by the Trustee and the Board of Directors and
shareholder of Newco, and no other action (corporate or otherwise) on the part
of the ESOP or Newco is necessary, will be necessary to authorize this Agreement
or the Merger or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed by the ESOP and constitutes, and
all agreements and documents contemplated hereby to be executed and delivered by
the ESOP and Newco (when executed and delivered pursuant hereto) will
constitute, the valid and binding obligations of the ESOP and Newco enforceable
against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, subject to (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting or relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) the availability of
injunctive relief and other equitable remedies, and (iii) ERISA.
5.3 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the ESOP
do not, and the consummation by the ESOP and Newco of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not: (i) conflict with or violate the ESOP or the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of Newco; (ii) except with respect to ERISA,
conflict with or violate any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree
(whether United States or foreign) applicable to the ESOP or Newco or by which
any property or asset of the ESOP or Newco is bound or affected; or (iii) result
in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse
of time or both would become a default) under, result in the loss of a material
benefit under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment,
acceleration, increased payments or cancellation of, or result in the creation
of a lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the ESOP or Newco
pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease,
license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the ESOP
or Newco is a party or by which the ESOP or Newco or any property or asset of
the ESOP or Newco is bound or affected.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the ESOP
do not, and the performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby by the ESOP and Newco will not, require any
consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification
to, any Governmental Entity, except for (A) applicable requirements, if any, of
the Exchange Act, (B) the filing of the Articles of Merger and related
requirements pursuant to the BCL, (C) such filings and consents as may be
required under any environmental, health or safety law or regulation pertaining
to any notification, disclosure or required approval triggered by the Merger or
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (D) applicable
requirements, if any, of the Code and state, local and foreign tax laws.
5.4 No Brokers. Neither the ESOP nor any of its directors or
officers has employed, nor Newco nor any of its directors or officers will
employ any investment banker, business consultant, financial advisor, broker or
finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
except for Willamette or incurred any liability for any investment banking,
business consultancy, financial advisory, brokerage or finders' fees or
commissions in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except for
fees payable to Willamette. The ESOP has provided the Company with a true and
correct copy of the engagement letter between the ESOP and Willamette.
21
5.5 WARN Act. The ESOP does not intend to implement a "plant
closing" or a "mass layoff", as those terms are defined in the WARN Act, in
respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries within 90 days after the
Closing Date. The Surviving Corporation shall be solely responsible for giving
any and all notices required by the WARN Act or any similar state law or
regulation because of any action taken by the ESOP or the Surviving Corporation
with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries occurring on or after the
Closing Date. The parties hereby designate the Closing Date as the "effective
date" for purposes of the WARN Act.
5.6 Opinion of Financial Advisors. Willamette has provided its
opinion to the Trustee to the effect that, as of the date hereof, (i) the price
to be paid by the Company for the Non-ESOP Company Common Shares in the Merger
is not greater than the fair market value of such shares and (ii) the Merger and
related transactions are fair to the ESOP from a financial point of view, and a
complete and correct signed written copy of such opinion, promptly upon receipt
thereof, will be delivered to the Company.
6. COVENANTS.
6.1 Acquisition Proposals.
(a) Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company will, and
will instruct its affiliates, agents or representatives to, immediately cease
and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations
with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal
(as defined below). Prior to the Effective Time, the Company agrees that neither
it nor any of its Subsidiaries, affiliates, agents or representatives will, nor
will it or any of its Subsidiaries, affiliates, agents or representatives permit
their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives
(including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney or accountant
retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) to, initiate, solicit or encourage,
directly or indirectly, any Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event the Company receives an unsolicited proposal or offer with respect
to an Acquisition Proposal, the Special Committee or the Board of Directors of
the Company shall be entitled to review and participate in negotiations
concerning such proposal and furnish confidential information and data
concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries to the offeror; provided that (A)
the offeror executes a confidentiality agreement with the Company and (B) upon
execution thereof, the Company shall have furnished, or concurrently with the
provision of such information to such offeror shall furnish, the ESOP with all
such information provided to such offeror. The Company shall notify the ESOP
immediately of any such unsolicited Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry or
contact with any person with respect thereto, and shall in such notice indicate
in reasonable detail the identity of the offeror and the terms and conditions of
such proposal and, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Special Committee
under applicable law, shall keep the ESOP promptly advised of all material
developments related thereto. In addition, in the event that (i) the Company
enters into negotiations with respect to an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal or
(ii) the Company's Board of Directors (upon recommendation of the Special
Committee) shall withdraw its approval of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby or its recommendation to the shareholders of the Company
22
to approve the same, then the Company shall immediately deliver an additional
notice of such events to the ESOP.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, an "Acquisition
Proposal" shall mean a proposal involving any of the following (other than the
transactions among the Company and the ESOP contemplated hereunder or which the
ESOP consents to in writing in advance) involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries: (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization,
business combination, or other similar transaction (other than mergers, business
combinations or other similar transactions pursuant to which the Company may
acquire another entity); (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge,
transfer or other disposition of a significant portion of the assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or
series of transactions; (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer for twenty
percent (20%) or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
or the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act in connection
therewith; or (iv) any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to
do any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the foregoing.
6.2 Conduct of Business by the Company. Prior to the Effective
Time, except as contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement, unless
the ESOP has previously consented in writing thereto, the Company:
(a) will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
conduct its operations in the ordinary and normal course, consistent with past
practice;
(b) will use its reasonable best efforts, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to use its reasonable best efforts, to preserve intact
their business organizations and goodwill, keep available the services of their
respective officers and employees and maintain satisfactory relationships with
those persons having business relationships with them;
(c) will not amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws
or comparable governing instruments;
(d) will, upon the occurrence of any event or change in
circumstances as a result of which any representation or warranty of the Company
contained in Article 4 would be untrue or incorrect in any material respect if
such representation or warranty were made immediately following the occurrence
of such event or change in circumstance, promptly (and in any event within two
business days of an executive officer of the Company obtaining knowledge
thereof) notify the ESOP in writing thereof;
(e) will promptly deliver to the ESOP true and correct
copies of any report, statement, application or schedule (including any exhibits
thereto) filed with the SEC subsequent to the date of this Agreement;
(f) will not (i) issue any shares of its capital stock other
than the issuance of Company Common Shares issuable upon exercise of Company
Stock Derivatives outstanding on the date of this Agreement (in accordance with
the present terms thereof), effect
23
any stock split or otherwise change its capitalization as it existed on the date
hereof, (ii) grant, confer or award any option, warrant, conversion right or
other equity rights not existing on the date hereof to acquire any shares of its
capital stock, (iii) grant, confer or award any bonuses or other forms of
incentive compensation to any officer, director or employee, except for cash
bonuses or incentives consistent with past practice or under any existing
agreement or automatically under any of the Company Stock Option Plans, (iv)
increase any compensation under any employment agreement with any of its present
or future officers, directors or employees, except for normal increases for
officers and employees consistent with past practice or the terms of such
employment agreement, (v) grant any severance or termination pay to, or enter
into any employment, severance or termination agreement with any officer,
director or employee or amend any such agreement in any material respect, except
for severance arrangements consistent with past practice with respect to
officers and employees terminated by the Company, or (vi) adopt any new employee
benefit plan or program (including any stock option, stock benefit or stock
purchase plan) or amend any existing employee benefit plan or program in any
material respect;
(g) will not (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or
make any other distribution or payment with respect to any shares of its capital
stock or other ownership interests or (ii) directly or indirectly redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or capital stock
of any of its Subsidiaries, or make any commitment for any such action;
(h) will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its assets (including capital
stock of Subsidiaries) or to acquire any business or assets, except for (i) any
purchase or sale of inventory undertaken in the ordinary course of business or
(ii) any sale, lease or other disposition of assets in the ordinary course of
business;
(i) will not incur any material amount of indebtedness for
borrowed money or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or
investments (other than non-controlling investments in the ordinary course of
business) in, any other person other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company, or issue or sell any debt securities, other than borrowings under
existing lines of credit in the ordinary course of business;
(j) will not, except in the ordinary course of business,
authorize, commit to or make capital expenditures;
(k) will not mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to
any lien any properties or assets except for such of the foregoing as are in the
ordinary course of business and would not be reasonably likely to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect;
(l) will not enter into or agree to enter into any contract
without the prior written consent of the ESOP unless such contract is in the
ordinary course of business;
(m) will maintain insurance consistent with past practices
for its businesses and properties;
24
(n) will not make any change in its accounting (including
tax accounting) methods, principles or practices, except as may be required by
generally accepted accounting principles and except, in the case of tax
accounting methods, principles or practices, in the ordinary course of business
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and
(o) will not take or agree in writing or otherwise to take
any action which would make any of the representations or warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement untrue or incorrect or prevent the Company
from performing or cause the Company not to perform its covenants hereunder.
6.3 Meeting of Shareholders. The Company will take all action
necessary in accordance with applicable law and its articles of incorporation
and bylaws to convene a meeting of its shareholders (the "Shareholders'
Meeting") as promptly as practicable after the date hereof to consider and vote
upon the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Merger and such other
related matters as it deems appropriate. The Company and the Board of Directors
(and the Special Committee) will each take all lawful action to solicit such
approval, including, without limitation, the timely mailing of the Proxy
Statement. The Board of Directors will recommend that all Company Common Shares
be voted in favor of the adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Merger and
the transaction contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding anything herein, the Board
of Directors shall be entitled to recommend an Acquisition Proposal that is in
the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and Special Committee,
respectively, deemed to be superior to the Merger.
6.4 Filings; Other Action. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided, the parties will: (a) use all reasonable efforts to cooperate
with one another in (i) determining which filings are required to be made prior
to the Effective Time with, and which consents, approvals, permits or
authorizations are required to be obtained prior to the Effective Time from
Governmental Entities in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii)
timely making all such filings and timely seeking all such consents, approvals,
permits or authorizations, including the Proxy Statement and the information
required by Schedule 13E-3 and Schedule 14A; and (b) use all reasonable efforts
to take, or cause to be taken, all other action and do, or cause to be done, all
other things necessary, proper or appropriate to consummate and make effective
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If, at any time after the
Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the
purpose of this Agreement, the proper officers and directors of the parties will
take all such necessary action.
6.5 Access to Information; Confidentiality. From the date hereof
to the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to,
subject to the execution of reasonable confidentiality agreements which the
Company may elect to require: (a) allow all designated officers, attorneys,
accountants, financing sources (as described in the Commitment Letters) and
other representatives of the ESOP reasonable access at all reasonable times upon
reasonable notice to the offices, records and files, correspondence, audits and
properties, as well as to all information relating to commitments, contracts,
titles and financial position, or otherwise pertaining to the business and
affairs, of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as the case
25
may be; (b) furnish to the ESOP, the ESOP's counsel, financial advisors,
auditors, financing sources (as described in the Commitment Letters) and other
authorized representatives such financial and operating data and other
information as such persons may reasonably request; (c) instruct the employees,
counsel and financial advisors of the Company (including the Special Committee
and its counsel and financial advisor) to cooperate with each other in the
other's investigation of the business of it and its Subsidiaries; and (d) keep
the ESOP fully appraised and informed of all material developments with respect
to the assets, business activities, financial condition, earnings and prospects
of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The ESOP will be permitted to make extracts
from or to make copies of such books and records as may be reasonably necessary.
The ESOP shall keep such information confidential, subject to the requirements
of any governmental or other authorities, except with respect to information
that is ascertainable from public or published information or trade sources.
6.6 Publicity. Each of the parties agrees that it shall not, nor
shall any of their respective affiliates, issue or cause the publication of any
press release or other public announcement with respect to the Merger, this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior approval of
the other party, except such disclosure as may be required by law or by any
listing agreement with a national securities exchange or NASDAQ; provided, if
such disclosure is required by law or any such listing agreement, such
disclosure may not be made without prior consultation of the other parties.
6.7 Reasonable Efforts; Additional Actions.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable efforts to take,
or cause to be taken, all action, and to do or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the
transactions contemplated by, and in connection with, this Agreement, including
using all reasonable efforts to: (i) obtain all consents, amendments to or
waivers under the terms of any of the Company's contractual arrangements
required by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than
consents, amendments or waivers the failure of which to obtain will not (x) have
a Company Material Adverse Effect, (y) impair the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect or (z)
delay in any material respect or prevent the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement); (ii) effect promptly all necessary
or appropriate registrations and filings with Governmental Entities, including,
without limitation, filings and submissions pursuant to the Exchange Act and the
BCL; (iii) defend any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or
administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby; (iv) fulfill or cause the fulfillment of the
conditions to Closing set forth in Article 7; and (v) ensure that the payment of
the Consideration is in compliance with Section 1551 of the BCL. In connection
with and without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall (x) use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that no state takeover statute or similar statute
or regulation (including, without limitation, Chapter 25 of the BCL) is or
becomes applicable to the Merger, this Agreement or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (y) if any state takeover
statute or similar statute or regulation becomes applicable to the Merger, this
Agreement or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, use all
reasonable efforts to
26
ensure that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this
Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute or regulation on
the Merger, this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company
shall not be prohibited from taking any action permitted by the terms of this
Agreement.
(b) If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall determine or be advised that any deeds, bills of sale,
assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or
desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving
Corporation the right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights,
properties or assets of the Company or Newco acquired or to be acquired by the
Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger or
otherwise to carry out this Agreement, the officers and directors of the
Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name
and on behalf of each of the Company and Newco or otherwise, all such deeds,
bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on
behalf of each of the Company and Newco or otherwise, all such other actions and
things as may be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all
right, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in
the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
6.8 Expenses. In the event the Merger is not consummated, all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the Company. In the event the
Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including those incurred by
the ESOP and Newco) will be paid by the Surviving Corporation.
6.9 Insurance; Indemnity.
(a) After the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will
indemnify, defend and hold harmless, to the fullest extent that the Company
would be required under its presently existing articles of incorporation, bylaws
and applicable law, each person who is now or was prior to the date hereof an
officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (individually, an
"Indemnified Party" and collectively, the "Indemnified Parties"), against all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement in connection
with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation arising out of or
pertaining to acts or omissions, or alleged acts or omissions, by them in their
capacities as such occurring at or prior to the Effective Time. In the event of
any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (an "Action"), any
Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification will promptly notify the
Surviving Corporation thereof (provided that failure to so notify the Surviving
Corporation will not affect the obligations of the Surviving Corporation to
provide indemnification except to the extent that the Surviving Corporation
shall have been prejudiced as a result of such failure). With respect to any
Action for which indemnification is requested, the Surviving Corporation will be
entitled to participate therein at its own expense and, except as otherwise
provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Surviving Corporation may
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party. After notice from the Surviving Corporation to the
27
Indemnified Party of its election to assume the defense of an Action, the
Surviving Corporation will not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection
with the defense thereof, other than as provided below. The Surviving
Corporation will not settle any Actions without the consent of the Indemnified
Party where such settlement includes an admission of civil or criminal liability
on behalf of an officer or director or requires any payment to be made by the
Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party will have the right to employ counsel
in any Action, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice
from the Surviving Corporation of its assumption of the defense thereof will be
at the expense of the Indemnified Party, unless (i) the employment of counsel by
the Indemnified Party has been authorized by the Surviving Corporation in
writing, (ii) the Indemnified Party will have reasonably concluded upon the
advice of counsel that there may be a conflict of interest between the
Indemnified Party and the Surviving Corporation in the conduct of the defense of
an Action, or (iii) the Surviving Corporation shall not in fact have employed
counsel to assume the defense of an Action, in each of which cases the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected by the Indemnified Party will
be at the expense of the Surviving Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Surviving Corporation will not be liable for any settlement effected without
its written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed, and the Surviving Corporation will not be obligated pursuant to this
Section 6.9(a) to pay the fees and disbursements of more than one counsel
(including local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties in any single Action,
except to the extent two or more of such Indemnified Parties have conflicting
interests in the outcome of such action.
(b) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation will maintain officers' and directors' liability insurance
covering the Indemnified Parties who are currently covered, in their capacities
as officers and directors, by the Company's existing officers' and directors'
liability insurance policies on terms substantially no less advantageous to the
Indemnified Parties than such existing insurance; provided, however, that the
Surviving Corporation will not be required in order to maintain or procure such
coverage to pay premiums on an annualized basis in excess of 200% of the current
annual premium paid by the Company for its existing coverage (the "Cap") (which
current annual premium the Company represents and warrants to be approximately
$100,000.00); and provided, further, that if equivalent coverage cannot be
obtained, or can be obtained only by paying an annual premium in excess of the
Cap, the Surviving Corporation will only be required to obtain as much coverage
as can be obtained by paying premiums on an annualized basis equal to the Cap.
(c) The provisions of this Section 6.9 will survive the
consummation of the Merger and expressly are intended to benefit each of the
Indemnified Parties covered by such Section.
6.10 Financing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all action, and to do or cause to be done, and to
assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, as
promptly as practicable, proper or advisable to secure the financing on terms
substantially as outlined in the Commitment Letters (the "Financing").
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6.11 Newco. Prior to Effective Time, the ESOP shall form Newco as
a wholly-owned corporation incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania.
6.12 Availability of Certain Agreements. As soon as practicable,
but in no event more than thirty (30) days after the date of this Agreement, the
Company shall make available to the ESOP any contract or agreement (including
any and all amendments thereto) to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a
party and which: (a) relates to the purchase, maintenance or acquisition, or
sale or furnishing of materials, supplies, machinery, equipment, parts or other
property or services and which involves revenues or expenditures to be received
by or paid to the Company as of the date of this Agreement in excess of
$1,000,000.00, (b) obligates the Company or any Subsidiary not to compete with
any business, or to conduct any business with only certain parties, or which
otherwise restrains or prevents the Company or any Subsidiary from carrying on
any lawful business or which restricts the right of the Company or any
Subsidiary to use or disclose any information in its possession, (c) is a lease
or sublease of real property, or a lease, sublease or other title retention
agreement or conditional sales agreement involving annual payments in excess of
$200,000.00 for any machinery, equipment, vehicle or other tangible personal
property (whether the Company or any Subsidiary is a lessor or lessee), and (d)
is a contract granting any Person a lien on any of the assets of the Company or
any Subsidiary, in whole or in part.
7. CONDITIONS.
7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger will be subject to
the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
shall have been approved in the manner required by applicable law by the
shareholders of the Company.
(b) Neither of the parties hereto shall be subject to (i)
any order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction which prohibits the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the effective
operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries after the
Effective Time or (ii) any threatened legal proceeding by the United States
Department of Labor documented in writing. In the event any such order or
injunction shall have been issued, each party agrees to use its reasonable best
efforts to have any such injunction lifted.
(c) All consents, authorizations, orders and approvals of
(or filings or registrations with) any Governmental Entity required in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement shall
have been obtained or made, except for filings in connection with the Merger and
any other documents required to be filed after the Effective Time and except
where the failure to have obtained or made any such consent, authorization,
order, approval, filing or registration would not have a material adverse effect
on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Surviving
Corporation following the Effective Time.
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7.2 Conditions to Obligation of Company to Effect the Merger. The
obligation of the Company to effect the Merger will be subject to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following additional
conditions:
(a) (i) The representations and warranties of the ESOP
contained in this Agreement shall have been true and correct in all material
respects (except that representations and warranties qualified by materiality
shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date hereof and (ii) the
representations and warranties of the ESOP and Newco contained in this Agreement
and in any document delivered in connection herewith shall be true and correct
in all material respects (except that representations and warranties qualified
by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the Closing
Date, except (A) for changes specifically permitted by this Agreement and (B)
that those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a
particular date shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of
such date.
(b) The ESOP shall have performed or complied with all
agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed
or complied with by it on or prior to the Effective Time.
(c) The ESOP shall have delivered to the Company a
certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by the Trustee, certifying as to the
fulfillment of the conditions specified in Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b).
(d) The Company shall have received the Financing on terms
substantially as outlined in the Commitment Letters and shall have sufficient
financing thereunder to consummate the Merger.
(e) The ESOP shall not have consented to permit any of the
ESOP participants to be treated as a dissenting shareholder as set forth in
Section 1573(b) of the BCL and Chapter 15, Subchapter D of the BCL (regarding
dissenters rights), generally.
(f) The ESOP shall have obtained all material consents,
waivers, approvals, authorizations or orders and made all filings required in
connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the ESOP and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
all applicable notice periods shall have expired.
7.3 Conditions to Obligation of the ESOP and Newco To Effect the
Merger. The obligation of the ESOP and Newco to effect the Merger will be
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time (or such other date
as may be specified below) of the following additional conditions:
(a) (i) The representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement shall have been true and correct in all material
respects (except that the representations and warranties qualified by
materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date hereof and
(ii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
30
Agreement and in any document delivered in connection herewith shall be true and
correct in all material respects (except that the representations and warranties
qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the
Closing Date, except (A) for changes specifically permitted by this Agreement
and (B) that those representations and warranties which address matters only as
of a particular date shall remain true and correct in all material respects as
of such date.
(b) The Company shall have performed or complied with all
agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed
or complied with by it on or prior to the Effective Time, unless such failure to
perform or comply is due to any act by, or omission of the ESOP.
(c) The aggregate number of Company Common Shares owned by
those Company shareholders, if any (other than the ESOP), who shall have
exercised, or given notice of their intent to exercise, the rights of dissenting
shareholders under the BCL shall be less than three percent (3%) of the total
number of outstanding Company Common Shares.
(d) The Company shall have delivered to the ESOP a
certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying as to the fulfillment of the
conditions specified in Sections 7.3(a), (b) and (c).
(e) From the date of this Agreement through the Effective
Time, there shall not have been any condition, event or occurrence that has
resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(f) The Company shall have obtained all material consents,
waivers, approvals, authorizations or orders and made all filings required in
connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby,
and all applicable notice periods shall have expired.
(g) The Company or the Board of Directors of the Company
shall have taken any action needed to be taken to provide that Company Stock
Derivatives will be treated as provided in Section 3.1(f) hereof.
(h) The ESOP shall have received a valuation of the assets
of the Company from a reputable third party, or such other assurances as the
parties deem reasonable, that the payment of the Consideration is in compliance
with Section 1551 of the BCL.
(i) The Trustee shall have received financial opinions from
its financial advisor as of the Effective Date to the effect that (i) the price
to be paid by the Company for the Non-ESOP Company Common Shares in the merger
is not greater than the fair market value of such shares and (ii) the Merger and
related transactions are fair to the ESOP from a financial point of view.
31
(j) The Company shall have received the Financing on terms
substantially as outlined in the Commitment Letters and shall have sufficient
financing thereunder to consummate the Merger.
(k) The votes cast in favor of the Merger at the direction
of the ESOP participants with respect to the Company Common Shares held by the
ESOP, together with any votes cast in favor of the Merger by the Trustee in the
exercise of its discretionary fiduciary duty constitute a majority of the
Company Common Shares held by the ESOP, and the Trustee determines that such
directions are proper and consistent with ERISA.
8. TERMINATION.
8.1 Termination. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7,
this Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time
prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the matters
presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders of the Company or
the ESOP:
(a) by mutual written consent duly authorized by the
Trustee, and the Special Committee or the Board of Directors of the Company;
(b) by either the ESOP or the Company if (i) any
Governmental Entity shall have issued any injunction or taken any other action
permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of
the Merger or such injunction or other action shall have become final and
nonappealable, or (ii) any required approval of the shareholders of the Company
shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required
vote upon a vote held at a duly held meeting of shareholders or at any
adjournment thereof;
(c) by either the ESOP or the Company, so long as such party
has not breached its obligations hereunder, if the Merger shall not have been
consummated on or before April 30, 2002; provided, that the right to terminate
this Agreement under this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to any party
whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the cause
of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date;
(d) by the Company if there has been a material breach of
this Agreement on the part of the ESOP of its covenants or any of its
representations or warranties contained herein shall be materially inaccurate
and such breach or inaccuracy has not been cured within 10 business days after
written notice thereof from the Company;
(e) by the ESOP if there has been a material breach of this
Agreement on the part of the Company of its covenants or any of its
representations or warranties contained herein shall be materially inaccurate
and such breach or inaccuracy has not been cured within 10 business days after
written notice thereof from the ESOP;
(f) by the Company if the Company receives an Acquisition
Proposal in writing from any person or group and the Company has concluded that
the Acquisition Proposal is superior to the Merger;
32
(g) by the ESOP if the ESOP receives a proposal with respect
to the ESOP Company Common Shares which the Trustee in the exercise of its
fiduciary duties under ERISA determines requires it to terminate this Agreement;
(h) by the ESOP if the Company (without the consent of the
ESOP) (i) shall have withdrawn or modified, in any manner which is adverse to
the ESOP, its recommendation or approval of the Merger or this Agreement or
shall have resolved to do so or (ii) shall have recommended to the shareholders
of the Company any Acquisition Proposal or any transaction described in the
definition of Acquisition Proposal, or shall have resolved to do so.
8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this
Agreement by either the Company or the ESOP as provided in Section 8.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or
obligation on the part of the ESOP or the Company or their respective
affiliates, officers, directors or shareholders except with respect to this
Section 8.2 and except for the provisions of Sections 6.8, 9.3, 9.4, 9.6, 9.8,
9.9, 9.11, 9.12 and 9.14.
8.3 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
and subject to applicable law, the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Trustee, may, to the extent
legally allowed: (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto; (ii) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any
document delivered pursuant hereto; and (iii) waive compliance with any of the
agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party
hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a
written instrument signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party
hereto to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of
such rights.
9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
All representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement will not survive the Merger,
provided, however, that the agreements contained in Article 3, Sections 6.8 and
6.9 and this Article 9 will survive the Merger indefinitely.
9.2 Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand or other
communication required to be given hereunder will be sufficient if in writing,
and sent by facsimile transmission or by courier service (with proof of
service), hand delivery or certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested and first-class postage prepaid), addressed as follows:
If to the Company:
STV Group, Incorporated
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, CEO & President
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
33
with copies to:
Blank Rome Xxxxxxx & XxXxxxxx LLP
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxx, Esquire
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
If to the ESOP:
LaSalle Bank
000 XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx, S.V.P.
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
with copies to:
Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esquire
Facsimile: 412-355-6501
or to such other address as any party will specify by written notice so given,
and such notice will be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so
telecommunicated, personally delivered or mailed.
9.3 Assignment; Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any of
the rights, interests or obligations hereunder will be assigned by any of the
parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior
written consent of the other parties, except the ESOP may assign and/or delegate
any or all of its rights and obligations hereunder to Newco or any other party
controlled by the ESOP. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will
be binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, except for the provisions of Section 6.9, nothing in
this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other
than the parties hereto or their respective heirs, successors, executors,
administrators and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement.
9.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Exhibits, the Schedules
and any documents delivered by the parties in connection herewith constitute the
entire agreement
34
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all
prior or contemporaneous agreements, written or oral, and understandings between
the parties with respect thereto. No addition to or modification of any
provision of this Agreement will be binding upon any party hereto unless made in
writing and signed by all parties hereto.
9.5 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto. The
parties hereto may agree to any amendment or supplement to this Agreement or a
waiver of any provision of this Agreement, either before or after the approval
of the Company's shareholders (and without seeking further shareholder
approval), so long as such amendment, supplement or waiver does not have a
material adverse effect on the Company's shareholders which determination will
be made by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and
will be binding on the Company's shareholders.
9.6 Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
without regard to choice or conflicts of law principles thereof.
9.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered
will be an original, but all such counterparts will together constitute one and
the same instrument.
9.8 Headings. Headings of the Articles and Sections of this
Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only, and will be given no
substantive or interpretive effect whatsoever.
9.9 Interpretation. In this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, words describing the singular number will include the plural
and vice versa, and words denoting any gender will include all genders and words
denoting natural persons will include corporations, partnerships and other forms
of business entities and vice versa.
9.10 Waivers. Except as provided in this Agreement, no action
taken pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any
investigation by or on behalf of any party, will be deemed to constitute a
waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement. The waiver by
any party hereto of a breach of any provision hereunder will not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of the same or any other
provision hereunder.
9.11 Incorporation of Schedules. The Schedules attached hereto
and referred to herein are hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof for
all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
9.12 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which
is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to that jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or
35
provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this
Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision will be interpreted
to be only so broad as is enforceable.
9.13 Delivery by Facsimile. This Agreement, the agreements
referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in
connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any
amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a
facsimile machine, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original
agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal
effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At
the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each
other party hereto or thereto shall reexecute original forms thereof and deliver
them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or
instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine to deliver a signature or
the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or
communicated through the use of a facsimile machine as a defense to the
formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any
such defense.
9.14 Interpretation of Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge
and agree that this Agreement has been negotiated at arm's-length and among
parties equally sophisticated and knowledgeable in the matters dealt with in
this Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of law or legal decision that would
require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against the party
that has drafted it is not applicable and is waived. The provisions of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in a reasonable manner to effect the intent of
the parties as set forth in this Agreement.
* * *
36
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement and caused
the same to be duly delivered on their behalf on the day and year first written
above.
STV GROUP, INCORPORATED
Attest: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------- -------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Secretary Title: President, CEO
ESOP OF STV GROUP, INCORPORATED
LaSalle Bank, solely in its capacity as
Trustee of the ESOP
Attest: By: /s/ E. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
-------------------------- ------------------------------------
Name: Name: E. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Title: Senior Vice President
37
