FORM OF VOTING AGREEMENT
FORM
OF
THIS
VOTING AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of June 13, 2008, among NWJ APARTMENT HOLDINGS CORP.,
a
Maryland corporation (“Parent”),
and
the undersigned Stockholder (the “Stockholder”)
of
WILSHIRE ENTERPRISES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
RECITALS
A. The
Company, NWJ ACQUISITION CORP., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
(“Sub”),
and
Parent have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith
(the “Merger
Agreement”),
which
provides for the merger (the “Merger”)
of Sub
with and into the Company. Pursuant to the Merger, all outstanding common stock
of the Company, par value $1.00 per share (“Company
Common Stock”),
shall
be converted into the right to receive a cash payment as set forth in the Merger
Agreement;
B. The
Stockholder is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”))
of
such number of shares of the outstanding capital stock of the Company and shares
subject to outstanding options as is indicated on the signature page of this
Agreement; and
C. In
consideration of the execution of the Merger Agreement by Parent and in order
to
induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder (in his or
her
capacity as such) has agreed to enter into this Agreement with respect to any
and all Shares (as defined below) so as to facilitate consummation of the
Merger.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Certain
Definitions.
Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in
the Merger Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement:
1.1 “Constructive
Sale” shall
mean, with respect to any security, a short sale with respect to such security,
entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative contract with respect to
such security, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to
deliver such security (including establishing an open “put equivalent position”
within the meaning of Rule 16a-h under the Exchange Act) or entering into any
other hedging or other derivative transaction that has the effect of materially
changing the economic benefits and risks of ownership.
1.2 “Expiration
Date”
shall
mean the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time as the Merger Agreement
shall have been terminated pursuant to Article VIII thereof, or (ii) such
date and time as the Merger shall become effective in accordance with the terms
and provisions of the Merger Agreement.
1.3 “Person”
shall
mean any (i) individual, (ii) corporation, limited liability company,
partnership or other entity, or (iii) governmental authority.
1.4 “Shares”
shall
mean: (i) all securities of the Company (including all shares of Company
Common Stock and all options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of
Company Common Stock) beneficially owned by the Stockholder as of the date
of
this Agreement; and (ii) all additional securities of the Company
(including all additional shares of Company Common Stock and all additional
options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of Company Common Stock)
of
which the Stockholder acquires beneficial ownership during the period from
the
date of this Agreement through the Expiration Date (including, without
limitation, by way of stock dividend or distribution, split-up,
recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares and the like, or by purchase,
exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities, the passage
of time or otherwise).
1.5 “Transfer”
shall
mean with respect to any security, the direct or indirect assignment, sale,
transfer, tender, pledge, hypothecation, or the gift, placement in trust, or
the
Constructive Sale or other disposition of such security (excluding transfers
by
testamentary or intestate succession or otherwise by operation of law) or any
right, title or interest therein (including, but not limited to, any right
or
power to vote to which the holder thereof may be entitled, whether such right
or
power is granted by proxy or otherwise), or the record or beneficial ownership
thereof, the offer to make such a sale, transfer, Constructive Sale or other
disposition, and each agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not
in
writing, to effect any of the foregoing.
2. Transfer
of Shares.
2.1 Transfer
Restrictions.
The
Stockholder agrees that, during the period from the date of this Agreement
through the Expiration Date, the Stockholder shall not cause or permit any
Transfer of any of the Shares to be effected, or make any agreement relating
thereto, in each case without the prior written consent of Parent; provided,
however,
that the
Stockholder may effect a Transfer to a family member or trust for estate
planning purposes, provided that as a condition precedent to such Transfer,
the
transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement to
the
same extent as the Stockholder and delivers a duly signed Proxy (as defined
in
Section 5).
2.2 Transfer
of Voting Rights.
The
Stockholder agrees that, during the period from the date of this Agreement
through the Expiration Date, the Stockholder shall not deposit (or permit the
deposit of) any Shares in a voting trust, grant any proxy or enter into any
voting agreement or similar agreement or understanding or grant any voting
instructions, in each case inconsistent with the obligations of the Stockholder
under this Agreement with respect to any of the Shares.
3. Agreement
to Vote Shares.
At every
meeting of the stockholders of the Company called, and at every adjournment
or
postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of
the
stockholders of the Company, the Stockholder (in his or her capacity as such)
shall, or shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to,
to
the extent not voted by the persons appointed under the Proxy, vote the
Shares:
-2-
3.1 in
favor
of approval of the Merger and the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement,
and in favor of each of the other actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
and the Proxy and any action required in furtherance thereof;
3.2 in
favor
of any matter that could reasonably be expected to facilitate the
Merger;
3.3 against
approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with,
consummation of the Merger or the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, including any Takeover Proposal; and
3.4 against
any of the following actions (other than those actions that relate to the Merger
and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement): (A) any merger,
consolidation, business combination, sale of assets, reorganization or
recapitalization of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company with any party,
(B) any sale, lease or transfer of any significant part of the assets of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company, (C) any reorganization,
recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company or
any
subsidiary of the Company, (D) any material change in the capitalization of
the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or the corporate structure of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or (E) any other action that is
intended, or could reasonably be expected to, impede, interfere with, delay,
postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or any action that would
constitute a breach of any covenant of the Company pursuant to the Merger
Agreement.
The
Stockholder further agrees that if a meeting is held the Stockholder shall,
or
shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to, appear at
such meeting or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat
for
purposes of establishing a quorum.
4. Directors
and Officers.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in
this
Agreement shall limit or restrict the Stockholder from acting in the
Stockholder’s capacity as a director or officer of the Company (it being
understood that this Agreement shall apply to the Stockholder solely in the
Stockholder’s capacity as a stockholder of the Company) or voting in the
Stockholder’s sole discretion on any matter other than those matters referred to
in Section 3.
5. Irrevocable
Proxy.
Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Stockholder agrees to
deliver to Parent a proxy in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A
(the
“Proxy”),
which
shall be irrevocable to the fullest extent permissible by law, with respect
to
the Shares and which is granted in consideration of Parent entering into this
Agreement and the Merger Agreement and incurring any related fees and
expenses.
6. No
Ownership Interest.
Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent any direct or
indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Shares.
All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Shares shall
remain vested in and belong to the Stockholder, and Parent shall have no
authority to manage, direct, superintend, restrict, regulate, govern, or
administer any of the policies or operations of the Company or exercise any
power or authority to direct the Stockholder in the voting of any of the Shares,
except as otherwise provided herein.
-3-
7. Representations
and Warranties of the Stockholder.
7.1 Power;
Binding Agreement.
The
Stockholder has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and the Proxy, to perform the Stockholder's obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. If the Stockholder is a
corporation or other entity, the execution, delivery and performance by the
Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Stockholder
and
no other actions or proceedings on the part of the Stockholder are necessary
to
authorize the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has
been duly executed and delivered by the Stockholder, and, assuming this
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent, constitutes
a
valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms. If the Stockholder is married and the Shares set
forth on the signature page to this Agreement constitute community property
under applicable laws, the Stockholder’s spouse has consented to this Agreement.
If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity,
the Stockholder signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter
into and perform this Agreement.
7.2 No
Conflicts; Required Filings and Consents.
Except
for filings under the Exchange Act, no filing with, and no permit,
authorization, consent, or approval of, any Governmental Entity is necessary
for
the execution of this Agreement by the Stockholder and the consummation by
the
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. None of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, the consummation
by
the Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or compliance
by the Stockholder with any of the provisions of this Agreement shall (i) if
the
Stockholder is a corporation or other entity, conflict with or result in any
breach of any organizational documents applicable to the Stockholder, (ii)
result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or
lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any third party right of
consent, termination, cancellation, material modification or acceleration)
under
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, loan agreement, bond,
mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment, arrangement, understanding,
agreement, or other instrument or obligation of any kind to which the
Stockholder is a party or by which the Stockholder or any of its properties
or
assets may be bound, (iii) result in the imposition of a lien on any of the
Stockholder’s assets or properties, or (iv) violate
any law, order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment, order, statute, rule, or
regulation applicable to the Stockholder or any of the Stockholder's properties
or assets, that, in the case of each of (i), (ii) and (iii), would reasonably
be
expected to impair the Stockholder’s ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. There is no beneficiary or holder of a voting
trust certificate or other interest of any trust of which the Stockholders
is a
trustee whose consent is required for either the execution and delivery of
this
Agreement or the consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
7.3 Ownership
of Shares.
The
Stockholder (i) is the beneficial owner of the shares of Company Common Stock
and the options to purchase shares of Company Common Stock indicated on the
signature page to this Agreement, which are free and clear of any liens, adverse
claims, charges, security interests, pledges or options, proxies, voting trusts
or agreements, understandings or agreements, or any other rights or encumbrances
whatsoever (including any restriction on the right to vote or transfer the
Shares, except for any applicable restrictions on transfer arising under
applicable securities laws or under this Agreement and except for applicable
community property laws); and (ii) other than the shares of Company Common
Stock and options to purchase shares of Company Common Stock indicated on the
signature page to this Agreement, does not beneficially own any securities
of
the Company (including, without limitation, shares of capital stock or voting
securities of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
capital stock or voting securities of the Company and options or other rights
to
acquire capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of the Company).
-4-
7.4 Voting
Power.
The
Stockholder has or will have sole voting power, sole power of disposition,
sole
power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein, and
sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each
case with respect to all of the Stockholder's Shares, with no limitations,
qualifications or restrictions on such rights, subject to restrictions on
transfer arising under applicable securities laws and the terms of this
Agreement. Other than the Proxy contemplated by this agreement, none of the
Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with
respect to the voting of those Shares.
7.5 No
Finder’s Fees.
No
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person is entitled to
any
broker’s, finder’s, financial adviser’s or other similar fee or commission from
Parent, the Company or any of their affiliates in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon any arrangement or
agreement made by or on behalf of the Stockholder.
7.6 No
Litigation or Orders. There
is
(a) no action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending
before any Governmental Entity or, to the Stockholder’s knowledge, threatened
against, and (b) no judgment, decree or order against, (i) the Stockholder,
or
(ii) to the Stockholder’s knowledge any of (A) the Stockholder’s affiliates, (B)
any of the Stockholder’s or his affiliates’ respective properties, (C) any of
the Stockholder’s or his affiliates’ officers or directors (in the case of a
corporate entity (in their capacities as such)), or (D) any of the Stockholder’s
or his affiliates’ respective partners (in the case of a partnership), in the
case of each of (i) and (ii) that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to impair the Stockholder’s ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.7 Reliance
by Parent.
The
Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into the Merger
Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
8. Certain
Restrictions.
8.1 No
Solicitation.
The
Stockholder hereby represents and warrants that he/she or it has read Section
6.5 of the Merger Agreement and hereby covenants and agrees to not take any
action that the Company is prohibited from taking by the provisions of such
section.
8.2 Certain
Actions.
Prior
to the termination of this Agreement, the Stockholder hereby covenants and
agrees not to, directly or indirectly, take any action that would make any
representation or warranty of the Stockholder contained herein untrue or
incorrect or take any action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere
with the performance of the Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated to be performed by the Stockholder under this
Agreement.
-5-
9. Disclosure.
The
Stockholder agrees to permit Parent to publish and disclose in all documents
and
schedules filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any press
release or other disclosure document that Parent, in its sole discretion,
determines to be necessary or desirable in connection with the Merger and any
transactions related to the Merger, the Stockholder's identity and ownership
of
Shares and the nature of the Stockholder's commitments, arrangements and
understandings under this Agreement.
10. Consents
and Waivers.
The
Stockholder hereby gives any consents or waivers that are reasonably required
for the consummation of the Merger under the terms of any agreements to which
the Stockholder is a party or pursuant to any rights the Stockholder may
have.
11. Stop
Transfer Order; Legending of Shares.
In
furtherance of this Agreement, the Stockholder hereby authorizes Parent to
notify the Company’s transfer agent that there is a stop transfer restriction
with respect to all of the Shares and that this Agreement places limits on
the
voting and Transfer of the Shares; provided,
however,
that
each such
notification to the Company’s transfer agent in accordance with this Section 11
shall provide that the relevant stop transfer restriction shall not limit the
exercise by the Stockholder of the Stockholder’s options to purchase Company
Common Stock or the Transfer of Shares in compliance with the
proviso contained in Section 2(a). If
so
requested by Parent, the Stockholder agrees that the Shares shall bear a legend
stating that they are subject to this Agreement and to an irrevocable proxy.
12. Termination.
This
Agreement and the Proxy delivered in connection herewith shall terminate and
shall have no further force or effect as of the Expiration Date. Nothing in
this
Section 12 shall relieve or otherwise limit any party of liability for breach
of
this Agreement.
13. Miscellaneous.
13.1 Validity.
The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement will not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement,
which will remain in full force and effect. In the event any court of competent
jurisdiction holds any provision of this Agreement to be null, void or
unenforceable, the parties hereto will negotiate in good faith and will execute
and deliver an amendment to this Agreement in order, as nearly as possible,
to
effectuate, to the extent permitted by law, the intent of the parties hereto
with respect to such provision.
13.2 Binding
Effect and Assignment.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of
the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided
that,
except as specifically provided herein, no party may assign, delegate or
otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without
the consent of the other parties, except that Parent may transfer or assign
its
rights and obligations to any affiliate of Parent without the consent of the
Stockholder. The Stockholder agrees that this Agreement and the Stockholder’s
obligations under this Agreement shall attach to the Shares and shall be binding
upon any Person to which legal or beneficial ownership of those Shares shall
pass, whether by operation of law or otherwise, including, but not limited
to,
the Stockholder’s heirs, guardians, administrators or successors.
-6-
13.3 Amendments; Waiver.
This
Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto and the terms and conditions
hereof may be waived only by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each
of the parties hereto, or, in the case of a waiver, by an instrument signed
on
behalf of the party waiving compliance.
13.4 Specific
Performance; Injunctive Relief.
The
parties hereto acknowledge that Parent shall be irreparably harmed and that
there shall be no adequate remedy at law for a violation of any of the covenants
or agreements of the Stockholder set forth herein. Therefore, it is agreed
that,
in addition to any other remedies that may be available to Parent upon any
such
violation, Parent shall have the right to enforce such covenants and agreements
by specific performance, injunctive relief or by any other means available
to
Parent at law or in equity.
13.5 Notices.
All
notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement
shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile or by overnight courier as
follows:
If
to the Parent:
|
||
c/o
NWJ Companies
|
||
0
Xxxx 00xx
Xxxxxx
|
||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx III
|
||
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
||
with
a copy to:
|
||
Blank
Rome LLP
|
||
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
|
||
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
If
to the Stockholder:
|
To
the address for notice set forth on the signature page hereof or
to such
other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the
person
to receive such notice as provided above.
|
Any
notice, request, instruction or other document given as provided above shall
be
deemed given to the receiving party upon actual receipt, if delivered
personally; three (3) business days after deposit in the mail, if sent by
registered or certified mail; upon confirmation of successful transmission
if
sent by facsimile; or on the next business day after deposit with an
internationally recognized overnight courier, if sent by such a
courier.
-7-
13.6 No
Waiver.
The
failure of any party to exercise any right, power or remedy provided under
this
Agreement or otherwise available in respect of this Agreement at law or in
equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party with its obligation
under this Agreement, and any custom or practice of the parties at variance
with
the terms of this Agreement, will not constitute a waiver by such party of
its
right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such
compliance.
13.7 No
Third Party Beneficiaries.
This
Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties
hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
13.8 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without
reference to rules of conflicts of law.
13.9 Submission
to Jurisdiction.
All
actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall
be
heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware state or federal court sitting
in Newcastle County. The parties hereto hereby (a) submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the Newcastle County
for
the purpose of any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought
by any party hereto, and (b) irrevocably waive, and agree not to assert by
way
of motion, defense, or otherwise, in any such action, any claim that it is
not
subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its
property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the action
is
brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the action is improper,
or
that this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may not be enforced
in or by any of the above-named courts.
13.10 Rules
of Construction.
The
parties hereto agree that they have been represented by counsel during the
negotiation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the
application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing
that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against
the
party drafting such agreement or document.
13.11 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the Proxy contain the entire understanding of the parties in
respect of the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior negotiations,
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties hereto
with respect to the subject matter hereof.
13.12 Severability.
If any
term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable
of
being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and
provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect
so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated
herein are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto.
Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal
or
incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith
to
modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as
closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner.
-8-
13.13 Interpretation.
13.13.1 Whenever
the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” As used in
this Agreement, the term “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in
Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
13.13.2 The
article and section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the
purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the parties hereto and
shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
13.14 Expenses.
All
costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring the
expenses.
13.15 Further
Assurances.
Parent
and the Stockholder will each execute and deliver, or cause to be executed
and
delivered, all further documents and instruments and shall take, or cause to
be
taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or,
in
the reasonable opinion of Parent, advisable under applicable laws and
regulations, to make effective the covenants and agreements made by the
Stockholder hereunder.
13.16 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
13.17 No
Obligation to Exercise Options.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in
this
Agreement shall obligate the Stockholder to exercise any option, warrant or
other right to acquire shares of Company Common Stock.
[The
remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]
-9-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed
on
the day and year first above written.
NWJ
APARTMENT HOLDINGS CORP.
|
STOCKHOLDER
|
|||
|
||||
By:
|
By:
|
|||
Signature
of Authorized Signatory
|
Signature
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx III
|
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
President
|
Title:
|
||
|
||||
|
||||
Print
Address
|
||||
|
||||
Telephone
|
||||
|
||||
|
Facsimile
No.
|
|||
|
Shares
beneficially owned:
|
[Signature
Page to Voting Agreement]
-10-
Exhibit
A
IRREVOCABLE
PROXY
The
undersigned Stockholder (the “Stockholder”)
of
WILSHIRE ENTERPRISES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
hereby irrevocably (to the fullest extent permitted by law) appoints XXXXXXXX
X.
XXXXXXXX III , officer of NWJ APARTMENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Maryland corporation
(“Parent”),
and
each of them, as the sole and exclusive attorneys and proxies of the
undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote and
exercise all voting and related rights (to the full extent that the undersigned
is entitled to do so) with respect to all of the shares of capital stock of
the
Company that now are or hereafter may be beneficially owned by the undersigned,
and any and all other shares or securities of the Company issued or issuable
in
respect thereof on or after the date hereof (collectively, the “Shares”)
in
accordance with the terms of this Proxy until the Expiration Date (as defined
below). Upon the undersigned’s execution of this Proxy, any and all prior
proxies given by the undersigned with respect to any Shares are hereby revoked
and the undersigned agrees not to grant any subsequent proxies with respect
to
the Shares until after the Expiration Date.
This
Proxy is irrevocable to the fullest extent permitted by law, is coupled with
an
interest and is granted pursuant to that certain Voting Agreement of even date
herewith by and among Parent and the undersigned the Stockholder (the
“Voting
Agreement”),
and
is granted in consideration of Parent entering into that certain Agreement
and
Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the “Merger
Agreement”)
by and
among Parent, NWJ ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent (“Sub”),
and
the Company. The Merger Agreement provides for the merger of Sub with and into
the Company in accordance with its terms (the “Merger”).
As
used herein, the term “Expiration
Date”
shall
mean the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time as the Merger Agreement
shall have been validly terminated pursuant to Article VIII thereof or
(ii) such date and time as the Merger shall become effective in accordance
with the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement.
The
attorneys and proxies named above, and each of them, are hereby authorized
and
empowered by the undersigned, at any time prior to the Expiration Date, to
act
as the undersigned’s attorney and proxy to vote the Shares, and to exercise all
voting, consent and similar rights of the undersigned with respect to the Shares
(including, without limitation, the power to execute and deliver written
consents) at every annual, special or adjourned meeting of the stockholders
of
the Company and in every written consent in lieu of such meeting (i) in favor
of
approval of the Merger and the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement,
and in favor of each of the other actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
and the Proxy and any action required in furtherance thereof; (ii) against
approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with,
consummation of the Merger or the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, including any Takeover Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement);
(iii) against any of the following actions (other than those actions that relate
to the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement): (A)
any merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of assets, reorganization
or recapitalization of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company with any
party other than the Merger, (B) any sale, lease or transfer of any significant
part of the assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, (C) any
reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of
the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company, (D) any material change in the
capitalization of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or the corporate
structure of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or (E) any other
action that is intended, or could reasonably be expected to, impede, interfere
with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the Merger or any of
the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Exh-1
Exhibit
A
The
attorneys and proxies named above may not exercise this Proxy on any other
matter. The undersigned the Stockholder may vote the Shares on all other
matters.
Any
obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors
and
assigns of the undersigned.
[The
remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]
Exh-2
Exhibit
A
This
Proxy is irrevocable to the fullest extent permitted by law. This Proxy shall
terminate, and be of no further force and effect, automatically upon the
Expiration Date.
Dated:
June ___, 2008
Signature
of the Stockholder:
|
||
Print
Name of the Stockholder
|
[Signature
Page to Irrevocable Proxy]
Exh-3