EXHIBIT 9.1
VOTING AGREEMENT
This VOTING AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
March 6, 2000, between VeriSign, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and
the undersigned stockholder ("Stockholder") of Network Solutions, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Company").
RECITALS
A. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent, Company and
Nickel Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
first-tier subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), are entering into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") which provides for the merger of
Merger Sub with and into Company (the "Merger"). Pursuant to the Merger, shares
of common stock of Company, par value $0.001 per share ("Company Common Stock")
will be converted into shares of Parent Common Stock on the basis described in
the Merger Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.
B. Stockholder is the record holder of such number of outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock as is indicated on the final page of this Agreement.
C. As a material inducement to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent
desires Stockholder to agree, and Stockholder is willing to agree, to vote the
Shares (as defined below), and such other shares of capital stock of Company
over which Stockholder has voting power, so as to facilitate consummation of
the Merger.
In consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the parties agree as
follows:
1. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES
1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) Shares. The term "Shares" shall mean all issued and outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock owned of record or beneficially by Stockholder
or over which Stockholder exercises voting power, in each case, as of the
record date for persons entitled (i) to receive notice of, and to vote at the
meeting of the stockholders of Company called for the purpose of voting on the
matters referred to in Section 1.2, or (ii) to take action by written consent
of the stockholders of Company with respect to the matters referred to in
Section 1.2. Stockholder agrees that any shares of capital stock of Company
that Stockholder purchases or with respect to which Stockholder otherwise
acquires beneficial ownership or over which Stockholder exercises voting power
after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the date of
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6 below shall be subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they
constituted Shares on the date hereof.
(b) Subject Securities. The term "Subject Securities" shall mean: (i)
all securities of 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 Stockholder as of the date of this Agreement; and (ii)
all additional securities of 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 Stockholder acquires ownership
during the period from the date of this Agreement through the earlier of
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 3 below or the record date
for the meeting at which stockholders of Company are asked to vote upon
approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger.
(c) Transfer. Stockholder shall be deemed to have effected a
"Transfer" of a security if Stockholder directly or indirectly: (i) sells,
pledges, encumbers, transfers or disposes of, or grants an option with respect
to, such security or any interest in such security; or (ii) enters into an
agreement or commitment providing for the sale, pledge, encumbrance, transfer
or disposition of, or grant of an option with respect to, such security or any
interest therein.
1.2 Agreement to Vote Shares. Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees
that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until the
first to occur of (i) such date and time as the Merger shall become effective
in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement (the
"Effective Time") and (ii) termination of this Agreement in accordance with its
terms, at any meeting (whether annual or special and whether or not an
adjourned or postponed meeting) of the stockholders of Company, however called,
or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of Company,
Stockholder will appear at the meeting or otherwise cause the Shares to be
counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum and vote or
consent (or cause to be voted or consented) the Shares:
(1) in favor of the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and
the approval of the Merger and the other actions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement and any actions required in furtherance thereof;
(2) against approval of any proposal made in opposition to or in
competition with the consummation of the Merger, including, without
limitation, any Acquisition Proposal or Superior Offer (each as defined in
the Merger Agreement) or any action or agreement that would result in a
breach in any respect of any covenant, representation or warranty or any
other obligation or agreement of Company under the Merger Agreement or of
the Stockholder under this Agreement.
Stockholder further agrees not to enter into any agreement or
understanding with any person the effect of which would be inconsistent with or
violative of any provision contained in this Section 1.2.
1.3. Transfer and Other Restrictions. (a) Prior to the termination of
this Agreement, Stockholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly:
(i) except pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, offer for
sale, Transfer or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option
or other arrangement or understanding with respect to or consent to the
offer for sale Transfer or other disposition of any or all of the Subject
Securities or any interest therein except as provided in Section 1.2
hereof;
(ii) grant any proxy, power of attorney, deposit any of the Subject
Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or
arrangement with respect to the Subject Securities except as provided in
this Agreement; or
(iii) take any other action that would make any representation or
warranty of Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the
effect of preventing or disabling Stockholder from performing its
obligations under this Agreement.
(b) To the extent Stockholder is, as of the date hereof, party to a
contract or agreement that requires Stockholder to Transfer Shares to another
person or entity (excluding a contract or agreement pledging Shares to
Company), Stockholder will not effect any such Transfer unless and until the
transferee agrees to be bound by and executes an agreement in the form of this
Agreement with respect to the Shares to be Transferred. Nothing herein shall
prohibit Stockholder from exercising (in accordance with the terms of the
option or warrant, as applicable) any option or warrant Stockholder may hold;
provided that the securities acquired upon such exercise shall be deemed
Shares.
1.4 Irrevocable Proxy. Concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement, Stockholder agrees to deliver to Parent a proxy in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit I (the "Proxy"), which shall be irrevocable, with respect to
the Shares, subject to the other terms of this Agreement.
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER
(a) Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of, or Stockholder
exercises voting power over, the shares of Company Common Stock indicated on
the final page of this Agreement, which, on and as of the date hereof, are free
and clear of any Encumbrances that would adversely affect the ability of
Stockholder to carry out the terms of this Agreement. The number of Shares set
forth on the signature pages hereto are the only Shares beneficially owned by
such Stockholder and, except as set forth on such signature pages, the
Stockholder holds no
options to purchase or rights to subscribe for or otherwise acquire any
securities of the Company and has no other interest in or voting rights with
respect to any securities of the Company.
(b) Stockholder has the requisite power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder and
the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such
Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except (i) as the same may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws of general
application relating to or affecting creditors' rights, and (ii) for the
limitations imposed by general principles of equity. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation which
would result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the Shares owned by
such Stockholder under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of any
agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree, or other instrument binding on
such Stockholder or any Shares owned by such Stockholder. No consent, approval,
order or authorization of any Governmental Entity is required by or with
respect to such Stockholder in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by such Stockholder or the consummation by such Stockholder of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except (i) for applicable
requirements, if any, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations thereunder, and (ii) where the failure to obtain such
consents, approvals, orders or authorizations would not prevent or materially
delay the performance by Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement.
If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity,
the person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into
and perform such Agreement.
3. TERMINATION
This Agreement shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect
as of the first to occur of (i) the Effective Time and (ii) such date and time
as the Merger Agreement shall have been validly terminated pursuant to Article
VII thereof.
4. MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void
or unenforceable, then the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
4.2 Binding Effect and Assignment. This Agreement and all of the
provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, but, except as otherwise specifically
provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations of the parties hereto may be assigned by either of the parties
without prior written consent of the other. Any purported assignment in
violation of this Section shall be void.
4.3 Amendments and Modification. This Agreement may not be modified,
amended, altered or supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a
written agreement executed by the parties hereto.
4.4 Specific Performance; Injunctive Relief. The parties hereto
acknowledge that Parent will be irreparably harmed and that there will be no
adequate remedy at law for a violation of any of the covenants or agreements of
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.
4.5 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed duly given upon delivery either by commercial
delivery service, or sent via facsimile (receipt confirmed) to the parties at
the following address or facsimile numbers (or at such other address or
facsimile numbers for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to Parent:
Verisign, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
with a copy to:
Fenwick & West LLP
Xxx Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
If to Stockholder, to the address for notice set forth on the last
page hereof.
with a copy to:
SAIC Venture Capital Corporation
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxx X. Xxxxxx
President
Any party hereto may by notice so given provide and change its address for
future notices hereunder. Notice shall conclusively be deemed to have been
given when personally delivered or when deposited in the mail in the manner set
forth above.
4.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding
that body of law relating to conflict of laws.
4.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan constitute and
contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior negotiations,
correspondence, agreements, understandings, duties or obligations between the
parties respecting the subject matter hereof.
4.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
4.9 Captions. The captions to sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for identification and reference purposes only and shall not be used
to construe or interpret this Agreement.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Voting Agreement
to be executed by their duly authorized respective officers as of the date
first above written.
VERISIGN, INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
STOCKHOLDER:
SAIC VENTURE CAPITAL CORPORATION
By:
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Name:
Title:
Stockholder's Address for Notice:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxx X. Xxxxxx
President
Outstanding Shares of Company Common
Stock Beneficially Owned by
Stockholder:
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EXHIBIT I
IRREVOCABLE PROXY
The undersigned stockholder (the "Stockholder") of Network Solutions,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby irrevocably appoints and
constitutes the members of the Board of Directors of VeriSign, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Parent"), and each such Board member (collectively the
"Proxyholders"), the agents, attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, to the full extent of the
undersigned's rights with respect to the shares of capital stock of Company
which are listed below (the "Shares"), and any and all other shares or
securities issued or issuable in respect thereof on or after the date hereof
and prior to the date this proxy terminates, to vote the Shares as follows: the
agents and proxies named above are empowered at any time prior to termination
of this proxy to exercise all voting and other rights (including, without
limitation, the power to execute and deliver written consents with respect to
the Shares) of the undersigned at every annual, special or adjourned meeting of
Company stockholders, and in every written consent in lieu of such a meeting,
or otherwise, (i) in favor of adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement") among Parent, Nickel Acquisition Corporation and Company,
and the approval of the merger of Nickel Acquisition Corporation with and into
Company (the "Merger"), and (ii) against approval of any proposal made in
opposition to or in competition with consummation of the Merger, including,
without limitation, any Acquisition Proposal or Superior Offer (each as defined
in the Merger Agreement) or any action or agreement that would result in a
breach in any respect of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other
obligation or agreement of Company under the Merger Agreement or of the
Stockholder under the Voting Agreement.
The Proxyholders may not exercise this proxy on any other matter. The
Stockholder may vote the Shares on all such other matters. The proxy granted by
the Stockholder to the Proxyholders hereby is granted as of the date of this
Irrevocable Proxy in order to secure the obligations of the Stockholder set
forth in Section 1 of the Voting Agreement, and is irrevocable and coupled with
an interest in such obligations and in the interests in Company to be purchased
and sold pursuant the Merger Agreement.
This proxy will terminate upon the termination of the Voting Agreement in
accordance with its terms. Upon the execution hereof, all prior proxies given
by the undersigned with respect to the Shares and any and all other shares or
securities issued or issuable in respect thereof on or after the date hereof
are hereby revoked and no subsequent proxies will be given until such time as
this proxy shall be terminated in accordance with its terms. Any obligation of
the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of
the undersigned. The undersigned stockholder authorizes the Proxyholders to
file this proxy and any substitution or revocation of substitution with the
Secretary of the Company and with any Inspector of Elections at any meeting of
the stockholders of the Company.
This proxy is irrevocable and shall survive the insolvency, incapacity,
death or liquidation of the undersigned. Dated: March 6, 2000.
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Signature
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Name (and Title)
Shares of Company Common Stock beneficially
owned:
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