EXHIBIT 2
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Dated as of October 14, 1996
Among
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
NY ACQUISITION SUB INC.
AND
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER.............................................. 2
1.1 The Merger.............................................. 2
1.2 Closing................................................. 2
1.3 Effective Time of the Merger............................ 2
1.4 Effects of the Merger................................... 2
1.5 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.................... 2
1.6 Directors............................................... 3
1.7 Officers................................................ 3
ARTICLE 2 EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS................................ 3
2.1 Effect on Capital Stock................................. 3
(a) Common Stock of Sub.............................. 3
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and
Parent-Owned Company Common Stock.............. 3
(c) Conversion of Company Common Stock............... 3
(d) Shares of Dissenting Stockholders................ 4
(e) Cancellation and Retirement of
Company Common Stock........................... 4
2.2 Company Common Stock Elections.......................... 4
2.3 Issuance of Stock Consideration and
Payment of Cash Election Price........................ 6
2.4 Stock Plans............................................. 8
2.5 Exchange of Certificates................................ 9
(a) Exchange Agent.................................. 9
(b) Exchange Procedures............................. 9
(c) Distributions with Respect to
Unexchanged Shares............................ 10
(d) No Further Ownership Rights in
Company Common Stock.......................... 10
(e) No Fractional Shares............................ 10
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund.................... 11
(g) No Liability.................................... 11
(h) Investment of Exchange Fund..................... 11
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................... 12
3.1 Representations and Warranties of the
Company............................................... 12
(a) Organization, Standing and
Corporate Power............................... 12
(b) Subsidiaries.................................... 12
(c) Capital Structure............................... 12
(d) Authority; Noncontravention..................... 13
(e) SEC Documents; Undisclosed
Liabilities................................... 14
(f) Information Supplies............................ 15
(g) Absence of Certain Changes or
Events........................................ 15
(h) Litigation; Labor Matters;
Compliance with Laws.......................... 15
(i) Employee Matter................................. 16
(j) Tax Returns and Tax Payments.................... 17
(k) State Antitakeover Laws Not
Applicable.................................... 17
(l) Environmental Matters........................... 18
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(m) Properties...................................... 18
(n) Brokers......................................... 18
(o) Opinion of Financial Advisor.................... 19
(p) Board Recommendation............................ 19
(q) Required Company Vote........................... 19
3.2 Representations and Warranties of Parent................ 19
(a) Organization, Standing and
Corporate Power............................... 19
(b) Subsidiaries.................................... 19
(c) Capital Structure............................... 20
(d) Authority; Noncontravention..................... 20
(e) SEC Documents; Undisclosed
Liabilities................................... 21
(f) Information Supplied............................ 22
(g) Absence of Certain Changes or
Events........................................ 22
(h) Interim Operations of Sub....................... 22
(i) Brokers......................................... 22
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PRIOR TO
MERGER.................................................. 23
4.1 Conduct of Business of the Company...................... 23
ARTICLE 5 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS................................... 25
5.1 Preparation of Form S-4 and the Proxy
Statement; Stockholder Meetings........................ 25
5.2 Letter of the Company's Accountants..................... 26
5.3 Parent Access to Information............................ 26
5.4 Best Efforts............................................ 26
5.5 Employee Benefits....................................... 27
5.6 Indemnification......................................... 27
5.7 Expenses................................................ 28
5.8 Public Announcements.................................... 29
5.9 Affiliates.............................................. 29
5.10 Stock Exchange Listing.................................. 29
5.11 Takeover Statutes....................................... 29
5.12 No Solicitation......................................... 29
5.13 Certain Agreements...................................... 30
5.14 Company Access to Information........................... 30
ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.................................... 31
6.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To
Effect the Merger..................................... 31
(a) Company Stockholder Approval...................... 31
(b) NYSE Listing...................................... 31
(c) HSR Act........................................... 31
(d) No Injunctions or Restraints...................... 31
(e) Form S-4.......................................... 31
6.2 Conditions to Obligation of Parent and Sub.............. 31
(a) Representations and Warranties.................... 32
(b) Performance of Obligations of the
Company......................................... 32
(c) Tax Opinion....................................... 32
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(d) Consents, etc...................... 32
(e) Affiliate Letters.................. 32
(f) Continuity of Interest Agreement... 32
6.3 Conditions to Obligation of the Company... 33
(a) Representations and Warranties..... 33
(b) Performance of Obligations of
Parent and Sub................... 33
(c) Tax Opinion........................ 33
ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER......... 33
7.1 Termination............................... 33
7.2 Effect of Termination..................... 34
7.3 Amendment................................. 34
7.4 Extension; Waiver......................... 35
ARTICLE 8 GENERAL PROVISIONS........................ 35
8.1 Nonsurvival of Representations and
Warranties.............................. 35
8.2 Notices................................... 35
8.3 Definitions............................... 36
8.4 Interpretation............................ 36
8.5 Counterparts.............................. 36
8.6 Entire Agreement; No Third-party
Beneficiaries........................... 37
8.7 Governing Law............................. 37
8.8 Assignment................................ 37
8.9 Enforcement............................... 37
8.10 Severability.............................. 37
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "Agreement") is entered into as
of October 14, 1996, by and among Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Parent"), NY Acquisition Sub Inc., a New York corporation and a
direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and FlightSafety International
Inc., a New York corporation formed under the name Flight Safety, Inc. (the
"Company").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent and the Company have
approved, and deem it advisable and in the best interests of their respective
companies and stockholders to consummate, a merger of the Company with and into
Sub (the "Merger"), with Sub as the surviving corporation in the Merger, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, pursuant to
which (a) the shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, of the Company
("Company Common Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3) other than (i) shares of Company
Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any subsidiary (as
defined in Section 8.3) of the Company or by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary
of Parent and (ii) Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section 2.1(d)), will be
converted into the right to receive, at the elections of the holders of Company
Common Stock, subject to the terms hereof, shares of Class A Common Stock, $5.00
par value per share, of Parent ("Class A Stock"), or shares of Class B Common
Stock, $.1667 par value per share, of Parent ("Class B Stock," and together with
Class A Stock, "Parent Stock"), or cash;
WHEREAS, the Merger and this Agreement require the vote of two-thirds
of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock entitled to vote thereon
for the approval thereof (the "Company Stockholder Approval"); and
WHEREAS, for United States Federal income tax purposes, it is intended
that the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of
Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and
this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
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this Agreement, and in accordance with the New York Business Corporation Law
(the "NYBCL"), the Company shall be merged with and into Sub at the Effective
Time. Upon the Effective Time, the separate existence of the Company shall
cease, and Sub shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
Corporation") having the name FlightSafety International Inc.
1.2 Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and the
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transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to Section
7.1, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article 6, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place at 10:00
a.m. Eastern time on the second business day after satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 6.1 (or, if not satisfied or waived at that
time, as soon as practicable thereafter following satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Sections 6.2 and 6.3) (the "Closing Date"), at the
offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, unless another date, time or place is agreed to in writing by the parties
hereto.
1.3 Effective Time of the Merger. On the Closing Date, the parties shall
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file a certificate of merger or other appropriate documents (in any such case,
the "Certificate of Merger") executed in accordance with the relevant provisions
of the NYBCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the
NYBCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of
Merger is duly filed with the Department of State of the State of New York, or
at such other time as is permissible in accordance with the NYBCL and as Parent
and the Company shall agree should be specified in the Certificate of Merger
(the time the Merger becomes effective being the "Effective Time").
1.4 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth
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in the NYBCL.
1.5 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.
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(a) The Certificate of Incorporation of Sub as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or
by applicable law; provided that it shall be amended by virtue of the Merger to
change the name of the Surviving Corporation to the name stated in Section 1.1.
(b) The Bylaws of Sub as in effect at the Effective Time shall be the
Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as
provided therein or by applicable law.
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1.6 Directors. The directors of Sub at the Effective Time shall be the
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directors of the Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation
or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified,
as the case may be.
1.7 Officers. The officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall be
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the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of their
resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly appointed
and qualified, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 2
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK
OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS
2.1 Effect on Capital Stock. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the
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Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of Company
Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of Sub:
(a) Common Stock of Sub. Each share of common stock of Sub issued and
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outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding as
a share of the Surviving Corporation and shall be the issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Company Common
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Stock. Each share of the Company Common Stock that is owned by the Company or
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by any subsidiary of the Company, and each share of Company Common Stock that is
owned by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no cash, Parent Stock or
other consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Company Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided
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herein and subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.5, each issued and outstanding share of
Company Common Stock shall be converted into the following (the consideration
described in (i), (ii), and (iii) below being the "Merger Consideration" and the
consideration described in (ii) and (iii) below being the "Stock
Consideration"):
(i) for each such share of Company Common Stock with respect to
which an election to receive cash has been effectively made and not revoked
pursuant to Sections 2.2(c), (d) and (e) ("Cash Electing Shares"), the
right to receive in cash from Parent an amount equal to $50 (the "Cash
Election Price"); or
(ii) for each share of Company Common Stock with respect to which
an election to receive Class A Stock has been effectively made and not
revoked pursuant to Sections 2.2(c), (d) and (e) ("Class A Electing
Shares"), the right to receive from Parent the portion of a fully paid and
nonassessable share of Class A Stock determined by dividing $48.00 by the
Average Class A Stock Price (as defined below) and rounding to nine decimal
places (the "Class A Exchange Ratio"); or
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(iii) for each such share of Company Common Stock other than
Cash Electing Shares and Class A Electing Shares, the right to receive from
Parent the portion of a fully paid and nonassessable share of Class B Stock
determined by dividing $48.00 by the quotient of the Average Class A Stock
Price divided by 30 and rounding to nine decimal places (the "Class B
Exchange Ratio").
The "Average Class A Stock Price" means the average of the high and low trading
prices of the Class A Stock on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") Composite
Tape for each of the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day
which is the last business day prior to the Stockholders Meeting (as defined in
Section 5.1(b)).
(d) Shares of Dissenting Stockholders. Notwithstanding anything in
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this Agreement to the contrary, any issued and outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock held by a person (a "Dissenting Stockholder") who duly demands
appraisal of his shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 623 of the
NYBCL and complies with all the provisions of the NYBCL concerning the right of
holders of Company Common Stock to demand appraisal of their shares in
connection with the Merger ("Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted as
described in Section 2.1(c) but shall become the right to receive such cash
consideration as may be determined to be due to such Dissenting Stockholder as
provided in the NYBCL. If, however, such Dissenting Stockholder withdraws his
demand for appraisal or fails to perfect or otherwise loses his right of
appraisal, in any case pursuant to the NYBCL, his shares shall be deemed to be
converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive Class B Stock,
without interest, pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii). The Company shall give
Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal of shares received by the
Company and (ii) the opportunity to participate in and direct all negotiations
and proceedings with respect to any such demands. The Company shall not,
without the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to,
or settle, offer to settle or otherwise negotiate, any such demands.
(e) Cancellation and Retirement of Company Common Stock. As of the
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Effective Time, all shares of Company Common Stock (other than shares referred
to in Section 2.1(b)) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and
retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing
any such shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except (subject to Section 2.1(d)) the right to receive the
applicable Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1(c) and any cash
in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Stock to be issued or paid in
consideration therefor upon surrender of such certificate in accordance with
Section 2.5.
2.2 Company Common Stock Elections.
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(a) Subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.5(e), each person who, on or prior
to the Election Date referred to in (c) below, is a record holder of shares of
Company Common Stock (and remains a record holder of such stock until the
Effective Time) will be entitled, with respect to all or any portion of his
shares, to make an unconditional election (a "Cash Election" or a "Class A
Election," as the case may be) on or prior to such Election Date to
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receive the Cash Election Price or the Class A Exchange Ratio, on the basis
hereinafter set forth.
(b) Prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement (as defined in Section
3.1(d)), Parent shall appoint a bank or trust company designated by Parent and
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange
Agent") for the payment of the Merger Consideration.
(c) Parent shall prepare and mail a form of election (the "Form of
Election") with the Proxy Statement to the record holders of Company Common
Stock as of the record date for the Stockholders Meeting (as defined in Section
5.1(b)). The Form of Election shall be used by each record holder of shares of
Company Common Stock who wishes to elect to receive the Cash Election Price or
the Class A Exchange Ratio for any or all shares of Company Common Stock held by
such holder. On such Form of Election, such a holder may indicate his election.
The Company will use its best efforts to make the Form of Election and the Proxy
Statement available to all persons who become holders of Company Common Stock
during the period between such record date and the Election Date referred to
below. Any such holder's election to receive the Cash Election Price or the
Class A Exchange Ratio shall have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent
shall have received at its designated office, by 5:00 p.m., New York City time
on the last business day (the "Election Date") prior to the date of the
Stockholders Meeting, a Form of Election properly completed and signed and
accompanied by certificates for the shares of Company Common Stock to which such
Form of Election relates, duly endorsed in blank or otherwise in form acceptable
for transfer on the books of the Company (or by an appropriate guarantee of
delivery of such certificates as set forth in such Form of Election from a firm
which is a member of a registered national securities exchange or of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust
company having an office or correspondent in the United States, provided such
certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent within five NYSE
trading days after the date of execution of such guarantee of delivery).
(d) Any Form of Election may be revoked only by duly executed written
notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on
the Election Date. In addition, all Forms of Election shall automatically be
revoked if the Exchange Agent is notified in writing by Parent and the Company
that the Merger has been abandoned. If a Form of Election is revoked, the
shares of Company Common Stock to which such Form of Election relates shall be
treated as shares as to which no election has been made.
(e) The determination of the Exchange Agent shall be binding as to
whether or not elections to receive the Cash Election Price or the Class A
Exchange Ratio have been properly made or revoked pursuant to this Section 2.2
with respect to shares of Company Common Stock, and as to the time when
elections and revocations were received by it. If the Exchange Agent determines
that any election to receive the Cash Election Price or the Class A Exchange
Ratio was not properly made with respect to shares of Company Common Stock, such
shares shall be treated by the Exchange Agent as shares which were not Cash
Electing Shares or Class A Electing Shares at the Effective Time, and such
shares
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shall be exchanged in the Merger for shares of Class B Stock pursuant to Section
2.1(c)(iii). The Exchange Agent shall also make all computations contemplated
by Section 2.3, and any such computation shall be conclusive and binding on the
holders of shares of Company Common Stock. Parent and the Company shall make
such rules as are consistent with this Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 for the
implementation of the elections and computations provided for herein and therein
as shall be necessary or desirable fully to effect such elections and
computations.
2.3 Issuance of Stock Consideration and Payment of Cash Election Price.
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The manner in which each share of Company Common Stock (other than shares of
Company Common Stock to be cancelled as set forth in Section 2.1(b) and
Dissenting Shares) shall be converted as of the Effective Time into the right to
receive the Stock Consideration or the Cash Election Price shall be as set forth
in this Section 2.3. All references to "outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock" in this Section 2.3 shall mean all shares of Company Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(a) In the event that, between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Stock or Class B
Stock, as the case may be, shall have been changed into a different number or
class of shares as a result of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock
dividend, spin-off, extraordinary dividend, recapitalization, reclassification
or other similar transaction with a record date within such period, the Merger
Consideration shall be appropriately adjusted.
(b) As is more fully set forth below, the Total Cash Consideration (as
defined below) in the Merger pursuant to this Agreement shall not be more than
58 percent of the sum of (i) the Total Cash Consideration, and (ii) the Total
Class A Merger Consideration, and (iii) the Total Class B Merger Consideration;
such amount is referred to herein as the "Cash Limitation". "Total Class A
Merger Consideration" means the product of (i) the Class A Exchange Ratio and
(ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock converted into Class A Stock,
after the application, if and to the extent necessary, of Section 2.5(e) and
(iii) the average of the high and low trading prices of the Class A Stock on the
NYSE Composite Tape on the date on which the Effective Time occurs. "Total
Class B Merger Consideration" means the product of (i) the Class B Exchange
Ratio and (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock converted into Class
B Stock, after the application, if and to the extent necessary, of Sections
2.3(e) and 2.5(e), and (iii) the average of the high and low trading prices of
the Class B Stock on the NYSE Composite Tape on the date on which the Effective
Time occurs. "Total Cash Consideration" means the sum (after the application,
if and to the extent necessary, of Sections 2.3(e) and 2.5(e)) of (i) cash paid
in connection with Cash Elections, (ii) cash paid in lieu of fractional shares,
and (iii) cash paid for Dissenting Shares. For this purpose, cash paid for
Dissenting Shares shall be computed as if holders of Dissenting Shares had made
Cash Elections with respect to all of their Dissenting Shares.
(c) Each share of Company Common Stock that is a Class A Electing
Share shall be converted into the right to receive Class A Stock pursuant to
Section 2.1(c)(ii) and each share of Company Common Stock that is neither a
Class A Electing Share nor a
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Cash Electing Share (a "Non-Electing Class B Share") shall be converted into the
right to receive Class B Stock pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii).
(d) If the Total Cash Consideration is equal to or less than the Cash
Limitation, each share of Company Common Stock that is a Cash Electing Share
shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Election Price pursuant to
Section 2.1(c)(i).
(e) If the Total Cash Consideration is more than the Cash Limitation,
the number of Cash Electing Shares shall be reduced, and the following
shareholders of the Company who have made a Cash Election (a "Cash Electing
Shareholder") shall instead receive one or more shares of Class B Stock to the
extent and in the order described below until the Total Cash Consideration is
equal to or less than the Cash Limitation:
(i) Each Cash Electing Shareholder who holds a sufficient number
of shares of Company Common Stock covered by a Cash Election to receive as
part of the Merger Consideration at least one whole share of Class B Stock
pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) if such shares are treated as Non-Electing
Class B Shares, shall receive such one whole share of Class B Stock for
such shares of Company Common Stock, at the Class B Exchange Ratio pursuant
to Section 2.1(c)(iii), in lieu of receiving the Cash Election Price for
such shares pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(i);
(ii) If the application of Section 2.3(e)(i) is not sufficient to
reduce the Total Cash Consideration to an amount equal to or less than the
Cash Limitation, then, in addition to the application of Section 2.3(e)(i),
each Cash Electing Shareholder who holds a sufficient number of shares of
Company Common Stock covered by a Cash Election to receive as part of the
Merger Consideration at least two whole shares of Class B Stock pursuant to
Section 2.1(c)(iii) if such shares are treated as Non-Electing Class B
Shares, shall receive such two whole shares of Class B Stock for such
shares of Company Common Stock, at the Class B Exchange Ratio pursuant to
Section 2.1(c)(iii), in lieu of receiving the Cash Election Price for such
shares pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(i); and
(iii) If the application of Section 2.3(e)(ii) is not sufficient
to reduce the Total Cash Consideration to an amount equal to or less than
the Cash Limitation, under the principles of Section 2.3(e)(i) and (ii),
the Cash Electing Shares shall continue to be reduced, and each Cash
Electing Shareholder who holds a sufficient number of shares of Company
Common Stock covered by a Cash Election to receive as part of the Merger
Consideration at least three whole shares and, to the extent necessary,
greater than three whole shares, of Class B Stock pursuant to Section
2.1(c)(iii) if such shares are treated as Non-Electing Class B Shares,
shall receive such three or more whole shares of Class B Stock for such
shares of Company Common Stock, at the Class B Exchange Ratio pursuant to
Section 2.1(c)(iii), in lieu of receiving the Cash Election Price for such
shares pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(i), until the Total Cash Consideration is
equal to or less than the Cash Limitation.
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(f) If the Exchange Agent shall determine that any Cash Election was
not effectively made or was revoked, the shares of Company Common Stock covered
by such Cash Election shall, for purposes hereof, be deemed to be Non-Electing
Class B Shares.
(g) If, due to the existence of Dissenting Shares, the amount of cash
paid in cancellation of Company Stock Options (as defined in Section 2.4(a)), or
any other uncertainty in the calculation of the Cash Limitation, it reasonably
appears to Parent or Company that the Merger may potentially fail to satisfy
continuity of interest requirements under applicable principles relating to
reorganizations under Section 368(a) of the Code, the number of Cash Electing
Shares shall be reduced, and Cash Electing Shareholders shall instead receive
one or more shares of Class B Stock in the order described in Section 2.3(e), to
the extent necessary to enable the Merger to satisfy such requirements.
2.4 Stock Plans. Prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement, the Board
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of Directors of Parent and the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if
appropriate, any committee administering the Stock Plans (as defined below))
shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions as may be required to
effect the following:
(a) Adjust the terms of all outstanding employee stock options to
purchase shares of Company Common Stock ("Company Stock Options") granted under
any of the Company's 1979 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended, 1982
Incentive Stock Option Plan, as amended, and 1992 Stock Option Plan
(collectively, the "Option Plans"), to provide that, at the Effective Time, each
Company Stock Option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
(except to the extent that Parent and the holder of a Company Stock Option
otherwise agree in writing prior to the Effective Time): (i) if such Company
Stock Option is vested before the Merger and exercisable and has an exercise
price of less than $50, and the holder of such Company Stock Option shall have
elected by written notice to Parent prior to the date 15 business days prior to
the Effective Time to receive the payment contemplated by this clause (i), be
cancelled in exchange for a payment from the Surviving Corporation (subject to
any applicable withholding taxes) equal to the product of (1) the total number
of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option and (2)
the excess of $50 over the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock
subject to such Company Stock Option, payable in cash immediately following the
Effective Time; provided, however, that, at the request of any person subject to
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Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange
Act"), any such amount to be paid shall be paid as soon as practicable after the
first date payment can be made without liability for such person under Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act; or (ii) with respect to any Company Stock Option not
cancelled pursuant to clause (i) above, be deemed to constitute an option to
acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such Company
Stock Option, the number of shares of Class B Stock equal to the product of (1)
the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such
Option and (2) the Class B Exchange Ratio, provided that any fractional shares
of Class B Stock resulting from such multiplication shall be rounded up or down
to the nearest whole share, at a price per share equal to (1) the exercise price
for the shares of Company Common Stock otherwise purchasable pursuant to such
Company Stock Option divided by (2) the Class B Exchange Ratio, provided that
such exercise price shall be rounded up or down to the nearest cent.
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(b) Adjust the terms of the Company's 1984 Restricted Stock
Compensation Plan, as amended (the "Restricted Stock Plan"), which (or a plan
substantially identical thereto) the Surviving Corporation shall adopt, to
provide (i) that, at the Effective Time, the Merger Consideration into which
each share of Company Common Stock subject at such time to the Restricted Stock
Plan is converted shall thereafter be free of the requirement under the
Restricted Stock Plan that such shares be held in escrow for the periods set
forth therein, and (ii) that, after the Effective Time, no further grants of
Company Common Stock or any other interest in the capital stock of the Company
shall be made under the Restricted Stock Plan.
(c) Except as provided herein or as otherwise agreed to in writing by
the parties, the Option Plans, the Restricted Stock Plan, the Company's Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the "Stock Purchase Plan") and the Nonemployee
Directors Stock Plan, and any other plan, program or arrangement providing for
the issuance or grant of any interest in respect of the capital stock of the
Company or any subsidiary (collectively, the "Stock Plans") shall terminate as
of the Effective Time, and the Company shall ensure that following the Effective
Time no holder of a Company Stock Option nor any participant in any of the Stock
Plans shall have any right thereunder to acquire equity securities of the
Company or the Surviving Corporation.
2.5 Exchange of Certificates.
------------------------
(a) Exchange Agent. As soon as reasonably practicable as of or after
--------------
the Effective Time of the Merger, Parent shall deposit with the Exchange Agent,
for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, for exchange
in accordance with this Article 2, the Merger Consideration.
(b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as practicable after the Effective
-------------------
Time of the Merger, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of an
outstanding certificate or certificates which prior thereto represented shares
of Company Common Stock (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that
delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to such certificate shall
pass, only upon delivery of such certificates to such Exchange Agent), and (ii)
instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the certificates for the
Merger Consideration. Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of such certificate
for cancellation, together with such letter of transmittal, the holder of such
certificate shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates representing the
number of full shares of Parent Stock and the amount of cash, if any, into which
the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock previously represented by
such certificate or certificates surrendered shall have been converted pursuant
to this Agreement. The Exchange Agent shall accept such certificates upon
compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange Agent may
impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal exchange
practices. After the Effective Time of the Merger, there shall be no further
transfer on the records of the Company or its transfer agent of certificates
representing shares of Company Common Stock and if such certificates are
presented to the Company for transfer, they shall be cancelled against delivery
of certificates for Parent Stock and cash as hereinabove provided. If any
certificate for such Parent Stock is to be issued in, or if cash is to be
remitted to, a name other than that in which the certificate for Company Common
Stock surrendered for
-9-
exchange is registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange that the
certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed, with signature
guaranteed, or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
requesting such exchange shall pay to Parent or its transfer agent any transfer
or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of certificates for such
Parent Stock in a name other than that of the registered holder of the
certificate surrendered, or establish to the satisfaction of Parent or its
transfer agent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until
surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.5(b), each certificate for shares
of Company Common Stock shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time of
the Merger to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger
Consideration. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any cash payable as
Merger Consideration or in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Stock.
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or
------------------------------------------------
other distributions with respect to Parent Stock with a record date after the
Effective Time of the Merger shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered
certificate for shares of Company Common Stock with respect to the shares of
Parent Stock represented thereby and no cash payment in lieu of fractional
shares shall be paid to any such holder pursuant to Section 2.5(e) until the
surrender of such certificate in accordance with this Article 2. Subject to the
effect of applicable laws, following surrender of any such certificate, there
shall be paid to the holder of the certificate representing whole shares of
Parent Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of
such surrender the amount of any cash payable in lieu of a fractional share of
Parent Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.5(e) and the
amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time of the Merger theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares
of Parent Stock, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of
dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time of
the Merger but prior to such surrender and a payment date subsequent to such
surrender payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Stock.
(d) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All shares
---------------------------------------------------
of Parent Stock issued and cash paid upon the surrender for exchange of
certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the
terms of this Article 2 (including any cash paid pursuant to Section 2.5(e))
shall be deemed to have been issued (and paid) in full satisfaction of all
rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock theretofore represented
by such certificates.
(e) No Fractional Shares.
--------------------
(i) No certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of
Parent Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of
certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock, and such
fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to
any rights of a stockholder of Parent; and
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, (A)
each holder of shares of Company Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the
Merger who would have otherwise been entitled to receive a fraction of a
share of
-10-
Class A Stock (after taking into account all Class A Electing Shares
delivered by such holder or, as to a holder of record who holds shares of
Company Common Stock as nominee or in a similar representative capacity,
after taking into account all Class A Electing Shares delivered by such a
representative holder on behalf of a particular beneficial owner) shall
receive, in lieu thereof, the number of shares of Class B Stock determined
by dividing (x) the product of such fraction and the Average Class A Stock
Price by (y) the quotient of the Average Class A Stock Price divided by 30,
and (B) after application of Section 2.5(e)(ii)(A), each holder of shares
of Company Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would have
otherwise been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Class B Stock
(after taking into account all shares of Company Common Stock delivered by
such holder, or by such a representative holder on behalf of a particular
beneficial owner, other than Class A Electing Shares and Cash Electing
Shares) shall receive, in lieu thereof, a cash payment (without interest)
equal to the product of (x) such fraction and (y) the quotient of the
Average Class A Stock Price divided by 30.
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Merger
----------------------------
Consideration deposited with the Exchange Agent pursuant to this Section 2.5
(the "Exchange Fund") which remains undistributed to the holders of the
certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock for nine months after
the Effective Time of the Merger shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and
any holders of shares of Company Common Stock who have not theretofore complied
with this Article 2 shall thereafter look only to Parent and only as general
creditors thereof for payment of their claim for cash, Parent Stock, any cash in
lieu of fractional shares of Parent Stock and any dividends or distributions
with respect to Parent Stock to which such holders may be entitled.
(g) No Liability. None of Parent, Sub, the Company or the Exchange
------------
Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any shares of Parent Stock (or
dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash from the Exchange Fund
delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property,
escheat or similar law. If any certificates representing shares of Company
Common Stock shall not have been surrendered prior to five years after the
Effective Time of the Merger (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which
any cash, shares of Parent Stock, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Stock or any dividends or distributions with respect to Parent Stock in
respect of such certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of
any Governmental Entity (as defined in Section 3.1(d)), any such shares, cash
dividends or distributions in respect of such certificate shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation,
free and clear of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled
thereto.
(h) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent shall invest any
---------------------------
cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by Parent, on a daily basis.
Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to
Parent.
-11-
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
---------------------------------------------
represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
(a) Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Each of the Company
------------------------------------------
and each of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 3.1(b)) is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is incorporated and has the requisite corporate power and authority to
carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the
ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification or licensing
necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified
or licensed (individually or in the aggregate) would not have a material adverse
effect (as defined in Section 8.3) with respect to the Company. Attached as
Section 3.1(a) of the disclosure schedule ("Disclosure Schedule") delivered to
Parent by the Company at the time of execution of this Agreement are complete
and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company. The Company has delivered to Parent complete and correct copies of the
certificate or articles of incorporation (or other organizational documents) and
bylaws of each of its Subsidiaries, in each case as amended to the date of this
Agreement.
(b) Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of the
------------
Company (other than subsidiaries of the Company that would not constitute in the
aggregate a "Significant Subsidiary" within the meaning of Rule 1-02 of
Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")) (the
"Subsidiaries") and other ownership interests held by the Company in any other
person are those listed in Section 3.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule. Except as
set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, all the outstanding
shares of capital stock of each such Subsidiary which is a corporation have been
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned (of record and
beneficially) by the Company, by another Subsidiary (wholly owned) of the
Company or by the Company and another such Subsidiary (wholly owned), free and
clear of all pledges, claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security
interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, "Liens"). Except as
set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not
own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other ownership interest in
any corporation, partnership, business association, joint venture or other
entity.
(c) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of the Company
-----------------
consists of 100,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock. Subject to any
Permitted Changes (as defined in Section 4.1(b)) following the date of this
Agreement, there are (i) 30,174,081 shares of Company Common Stock issued and
outstanding, (ii) 118,000 shares of Company Common Stock held in the treasury of
the Company or held by any subsidiary of the Company; (iii) 791,580 shares of
Company Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of authorized but
unissued Company Stock Options pursuant to the Option Plans; (iv) 545,358 shares
of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding Company Stock
Options, (v) 99,510 shares of Company Common Stock issued and
-12-
outstanding (and included in the number stated in clause (i) above) subject to
restrictions under the Restricted Stock Plan, and (vi) an aggregate of 400
shares of Company Common Stock issuable under the Nonemployee Directors Stock
Plan. As of September 30, 1996, there were $582,000 withheld from the Company's
employees' salaries to purchase shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to and
issuable under the Stock Purchase Plan. Except as set forth above, no shares of
capital stock or other equity securities of the Company are issued, reserved for
issuance or outstanding. All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
are, and all shares which may be issued pursuant to the Stock Plans will be when
issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not
subject to preemptive rights. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes
or other indebtedness or other securities of the Company having the right to
vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to
vote) on any matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote. Except as
set forth above, there are no outstanding securities, options, warrants, calls,
rights, commitments, agreements, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them
is bound obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue, deliver or
sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital
stock or other equity or voting securities of the Company or of any of its
subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue,
grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right,
commitment, agreement, arrangement or undertaking. Other than the Company Stock
Options, (i) there are no outstanding contractual obligations, commitments,
understandings or arrangements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or make any payment in respect of or
measured or determined based on the value or market price of any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (ii) to the
knowledge of the Company, there are no irrevocable proxies with respect to
shares of capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. There
are no agreements or arrangements pursuant to which the Company is or could be
required to register shares of Company Common Stock or other securities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
(d) Authority; Noncontravention. The Company has the requisite
---------------------------
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to the
Company Stockholder Approval with respect to the consummation of the Merger, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company, subject, in the case of the Merger,
to the Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. Except
as disclosed in Section 3.1(d) of the Disclosure Schedule, the execution and
delivery of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions hereof will not, conflict
with, or result in any breach or 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 or "put" right with respect to any obligation or
to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon
any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under,
(i) the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or the comparable
charter or
-13-
organizational documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any loan or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license applicable to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets or (iii)
subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred to in the
following sentence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule,
regulation or arbitration award applicable to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case
of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults,
rights, losses or Liens that individually or in the aggregate could not have a
material adverse effect with respect to the Company or could not prevent, hinder
or materially delay the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. No consent, approval, order or authorization
of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Federal,
state or local government or any court, administrative agency or commission or
other governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental
Entity"), is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby, except for (i) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by
the Company under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing with the SEC of (y) a proxy statement
relating to the Company Stockholder Approval (such proxy statement as amended or
supplemented from time to time, the "Proxy Statement"), and (z) such reports
under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Department of State of the State of New York, and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the
Company is qualified to do business and (iv) such other consents, approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings or notices as are
set forth in Section 3.1(d) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(e) SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company has filed all
--------------------------------------
required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the SEC
since January 1, 1994, (collectively, and in each case including all exhibits
and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, the "SEC
Documents"). As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied 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 SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents
(including any and all financial statements included therein) as of such dates
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in
the SEC Documents (the "SEC Financial Statements") comply as to form in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except, in the case of
unaudited consolidated quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the
SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present the consolidated financial
position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates
thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash
-14-
flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). Since December 31, 1995,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, has incurred any liabilities or
obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise)
except (i) as and to the extent set forth on the audited balance sheet of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 (including the notes
thereto), (ii) as incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, (iii) as incurred after December 31, 1995 in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practice, (iv) as described in the SEC
Documents filed since December 31, 1995 (the "Recent SEC Documents"), or (v) as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect with
respect to the Company.
(f) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be
--------------------
supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the
registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent in
connection with the issuance of Parent Stock in the Merger (the "Form S-4")
will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, and at any time it is
amended or supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities
Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and (ii) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is
first mailed to the Company's stockholders or at the time of the Stockholders
Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, except that no representation is made by the Company
with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on
information supplied by Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference
therein.
(g) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in the
------------------------------------
Recent SEC Documents or in Section 3.1(g) of the Disclosure Schedule, since the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included in such Recent SEC
Documents, the Company has conducted its business only in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice, and there is not and has not been: (i) any
material adverse change with respect to the Company; (ii) any condition, event
or occurrence which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect or give rise to a material adverse
change with respect to the Company; (iii) any event which, if it had taken place
following the execution of this Agreement, would not have been permitted by
Section 4.1 without the prior consent of Parent; or (iv) any condition, event or
occurrence which would prevent, hinder or materially delay the ability of the
Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(h) Litigation; Labor Matters; Compliance with Laws.
-----------------------------------------------
(i) Except as disclosed in the Recent SEC Documents, there is no
suit, action or proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any basis for any such suit, action, proceeding or
investigation that, individually or in
-15-
the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect with respect to the Company or prevent, hinder or materially delay
the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or
order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the
Company or any of its subsidiaries having, or which, insofar as reasonably
could be foreseen by the Company, in the future could have, any such
effect.
(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party
to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other
agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is
it or any of its subsidiaries the subject of any proceeding asserting that
it or any subsidiary has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to
compel it to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions
of employment nor is there any strike, work stoppage or other labor dispute
involving it or any of its subsidiaries pending or, to its knowledge,
threatened, any of which could have a material adverse effect with respect
to the Company.
(iii) The conduct of the business of each of the Company and
each of its subsidiaries complies with all statutes, laws, regulations,
ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees or arbitration awards
applicable thereto, except for violations or failures so to comply, if any,
that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect with respect to the Company.
(i) Employee Matters. The Company has delivered or made available to
----------------
Parent full and complete copies or descriptions of each material employment,
severance, bonus, profit sharing, compensation, termination, stock option, stock
appreciation right, restricted stock, phantom stock, performance unit, pension,
retirement, deferred compensation, welfare or other employee benefit agreement,
trust fund or other arrangement and any union, guild or collective bargaining
agreement maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by the
Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates, for the benefit or welfare of any
director, officer, employee or former employee of the Company or any of its
ERISA Affiliates (such plans and arrangements being collectively the "Company
Benefit Plans"). Each of the Company Benefit Plans is in material compliance
with all applicable laws including ERISA and the Code. The Internal Revenue
Service has determined that each Company Benefit Plan that is intended to be a
qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and the Company
is aware of no event occurring after the date of such determination that would
adversely affect such determination. The liabilities accrued under each such
plan are reflected on the latest balance sheet of the Company included in the
Recent SEC Reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis. No condition exists that is reasonably likely to
subject the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any direct or indirect
liability under Title IV of ERISA or to a civil penalty under Section 502(j) of
ERISA or liability under Section 4069 of ERISA or 4975, 4976, or 4980B of the
Code or the loss of a federal tax deduction under Section 280G of the Code or
other liability with respect to the Company Benefit Plans that would have a
material adverse effect on the Company and that is not reflected on such balance
sheet. No Company
-16-
Benefit Plan (other than any Company Benefit Plan that is a "multiemployer plan"
as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) is subject to Title IV
of ERISA. There are no pending, threatened, or anticipated claims (other than
routine claims for benefits or immaterial claims) by, on behalf of or against
any of the Company Benefit Plans or any trusts related thereto. "ERISA
Affiliate" means, with respect to any person, any trade or business, whether or
not incorporated, that together with such person would be deemed a "single
employer" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA").
(j) Tax Returns and Tax Payments. The Company and each of its
----------------------------
subsidiaries has timely filed (or, as to subsidiaries, the Company has filed on
its behalf) all Tax Returns (as defined below) required to be filed by it, has
paid (or, as to subsidiaries, the Company has paid on its behalf) all Taxes (as
defined below) shown thereon to be due and has provided (or, as to subsidiaries,
the Company has made provision on its behalf of) adequate reserves in its
financial statements for any Taxes that have not been paid, whether or not shown
as being due on any Tax Returns. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(j) of the
Disclosure Schedule: (i) no material claim for unpaid Taxes has been asserted
by a Tax authority or has become a lien (except for liens not yet due and
payable) against the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or is
being asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) no audit of
any Tax Return of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is being conducted by a
Tax authority, and (iii) no extension of the statute of limitations on the
assessment of any Taxes has been granted by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and is currently in effect. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is or has been a member of any consolidated, combined, unitary or
aggregate group for Tax purposes except such a group consisting only of the
Company and its subsidiaries. As used herein, "Taxes" shall mean all taxes of
any kind, including, without limitation, those on or measured by or referred to
as income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, franchise, profits, license,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium,
value added, property or windfall profits taxes, customs, duties or similar
fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest
and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any
governmental authority, domestic or foreign. As used herein, "Tax Return" shall
mean any return, report or statement required to be filed with any governmental
authority with respect to Taxes.
(k) State Antitakeover Laws Not Applicable. No state takeover statute
--------------------------------------
or similar statute or regulation of the State of New York (and, to the knowledge
of the Company after due inquiry, of any other state or jurisdiction) applies or
purports to apply to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and
no provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other governing
instruments of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the terms of any rights
plan or agreement of the Company would, directly or indirectly, restrict or
impair the ability of Parent to vote, or otherwise to exercise the rights of a
stockholder with respect to, securities of the Company and its subsidiaries that
may be acquired or controlled by Parent or permit any stockholder to acquire
securities of the Company or of Parent or any of its subsidiaries on a basis not
available to Parent in the event that Parent were to acquire securities of the
Company.
-17-
(l) Environmental Matters. There are no legal, administrative,
---------------------
arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions, causes of action, private
environmental investigations or remediation activities or governmental
investigations of any nature seeking to impose, or that reasonably could be
expected to result in the imposition, on the Company or any of its subsidiaries
of any liability or obligations arising under common law standards relating to
environmental protection, human health or safety, or under any local, state,
federal, national or supernational environmental statute, regulation or
ordinance, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, which liability or obligation would have or would reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, there
is no reasonable basis for any such proceeding, claim, action or governmental
investigation that would impose any liability or obligation that would have or
would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or
any of its subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, during or prior to
the period of (i) its or any of its subsidiaries' ownership or operation of any
of their respective current properties, (ii) its or any of its subsidiaries'
participation in the management of any property, or (iii) its or any of its
subsidiaries' holding of a security interest or other interest in any property,
there was no release or threatened release of hazardous, toxic, radioactive or
dangerous materials or other materials regulated under Environmental Laws in,
on, under or affecting any such property which would reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any agreement,
order, judgment, decree, letter or memorandum by or with any court, governmental
authority, regulatory agency or third party imposing any material liability or
obligations pursuant to or under any Environmental Law that would have or would
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or any
of its subsidiaries.
(m) Properties. Except as disclosed in the Recent SEC Documents, each
----------
of the Company and its subsidiaries (i) has good, clear and marketable title to
all the properties and assets reflected in the latest audited balance sheet
included in such Recent SEC Documents as being owned by the Company or one of
its subsidiaries or acquired after the date thereof which are, individually or
in the aggregate, material to the Company's business on a consolidated basis
(except properties sold or otherwise disposed of since the date thereof in the
ordinary course of business), free and clear of (A) all Liens except (1)
statutory liens securing payments not yet due and (2) such imperfections or
irregularities of title or other Liens (other than real property mortgages or
deeds of trust) as do not materially affect the use of the properties or assets
subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise materially impair business
operations at such properties, and (B) all real property mortgages and deeds of
trust and (ii) is the lessee of all leasehold estates reflected in the latest
audited financial statements included in such Recent SEC Documents or acquired
after the date thereof which are material to its business on a consolidated
basis and is in possession of the properties purported to be leased thereunder,
and each such lease is valid without default thereunder by the lessee or, to the
Company's knowledge, the lessor.
(n) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
-------
person, other xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. and Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Ahn, Inc., the
fees
-18-
and expenses of each of which will be paid by the Company (pursuant to fee
agreements, copies of which have been provided to Parent), is entitled to any
broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.
(o) Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received the
----------------------------
opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect
that the Merger Consideration to be received in the Merger by the Company's
stockholders is fair to the holders of the Company Common Stock from a financial
point of view, a signed copy of which opinion has been delivered to Parent.
(p) Board Recommendation. The Board of Directors of the Company, at a
--------------------
meeting duly called and held, has by unanimous vote of those directors present
(who constituted 100% of the directors then in office) (i) determined that this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are
fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company, and (ii)
resolved to recommend that the holders of the shares of Company Common Stock
approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein, including the
Merger.
(q) Required Company Vote. The Company Stockholder Approval, being
---------------------
the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Company
Common Stock voting separately as a class, is the only vote of the holders of
any class or series of the Company's securities necessary to approve this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
3.2 Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent represents and
----------------------------------------
warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Each of Parent, Sub
------------------------------------------
and the other Parent Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 3.2(b)) is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and has the requisite corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of Parent,
Sub and the other Parent Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its
business or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification
or licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be
so qualified or licensed (individually or in the aggregate) would not have a
material adverse effect with respect to Parent. Parent has delivered to the
Company complete and correct copies of its Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws and the certificate of incorporation (or other organizational
documents) and bylaws of Sub, in each case as amended to the date hereof.
(b) Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of Parent
------------
(other than such subsidiaries that would not constitute in the aggregate a
Significant Subsidiary) are listed in Section 3.2(b) of the disclosure schedule
(the "Parent Disclosure Schedule") delivered to the Company by Parent at the
time of execution of this Agreement (together with Sub, the "Parent
Subsidiaries"). All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each such Parent
Subsidiary which is a corporation have been validly issued and are fully paid
and
-19-
nonassessable and, except as set forth in Section 3.2(b) of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule, are owned (of record and beneficially) by Parent, by
another Parent Subsidiary (wholly owned) or by Parent and another such Parent
Subsidiary (wholly owned), free and clear of all Liens.
(c) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of Parent
-----------------
consists of 1,500,000 shares of Class A Stock, 50,000,000 shares of Class B
Stock, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share ("Parent
Preferred Stock"). Subject to such changes as may occur after September 30,
1996, and subject in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) to adjustment as a result
of conversions of Class A Stock into Class B Stock, there were, as of September
30, 1996: (i) 1,189,074 shares of Class A Stock, 650,640 shares of Class B
Stock, and no shares of Parent Preferred Stock issued and outstanding; (ii)
187,796 shares of Class A Stock held by Parent in its treasury; and (iii)
35,672,220 shares of Class B Stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of
Class A Stock. Except as set forth above, no shares of capital stock or other
equity securities of Parent are issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding.
All outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent are, and all shares of Parent
Stock which may be issued pursuant to this Agreement will be, when issued, duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to
preemptive rights. All shares of Parent Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement
will, when so issued, be registered under the Securities Act for such issuance
and registered under the Exchange Act, be registered or exempt from registration
under any applicable state securities laws, and be listed on the NYSE, subject
to official notice of issuance. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures,
notes or other indebtedness or other securities of Parent having the right to
vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to
vote) on any matters on which stockholders of Parent may vote. Except as set
forth above or as contemplated by Section 2.4, there are no outstanding
securities, options, warrants, calls, or rights obligating Parent or any of its
subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity securities of Parent or
any of its subsidiaries or obligating Parent or any of its subsidiaries to
issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, or
right. The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 100 shares of common
stock, $.01 par value per share, all of which have been validly issued, are
fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly by Parent, free and clear of
any Lien.
(d) Authority; Noncontravention. Parent and Sub have all requisite
---------------------------
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Parent and Sub and the consummation by Parent and Sub of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub. No vote or consent of
the stockholders of Parent or Sub, which has not been obtained, is required
under applicable law or rule of the NYSE to approve the Merger, this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each of
Parent and Sub, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement do 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 breach or violation
of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or
-20-
both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of or "put" right with respect to any obligation or to loss of a
material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
properties or assets of Parent or any of its subsidiaries under, (i) the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Parent or Sub or the comparable
charter or organizational documents of any other subsidiary of Parent, (ii) any
loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other
agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license applicable to
Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent or their respective properties or
assets or (iii) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred
to in the following sentence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule, regulation or arbitration award applicable to Parent, Sub or
any other subsidiary of Parent or their respective properties or assets, other
than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, breaches,
violations, defaults, rights, losses or Liens that individually or in the
aggregate could not have a material adverse effect with respect to Parent or
could not prevent, hinder or materially delay the ability of Parent to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No consent,
approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing
with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to
Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent in connection with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Sub or the consummation by Parent or
Sub, as the case may be, of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except for (i) the filing of a premerger notification and report form
under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (y) the Form S-4 and (z) such
reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Department of State of the State of New York and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the
Company is qualified to do business, and (iv) such other consents, approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings or notices as may
be required under the "takeover" or "blue sky" laws of various states.
(e) SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. Parent has filed all
--------------------------------------
required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the SEC
since January 1, 1994 (collectively, and in each case, including all exhibits
and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, the
"Parent SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the Parent SEC Documents
complied 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 Parent SEC Documents, and none of the
Parent SEC Documents (including any and all financial statements included
therein) as of such date contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements of Parent
included in the Parent SEC Documents comply as to form in all material respects
with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (except, in the case of unaudited consolidated
quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the
notes thereto) and fairly present the consolidated financial position of Parent
and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of operations and
-21-
changes in cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). Since
December 31, 1995, neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any
liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise) except (i) as and to the extent set forth on the audited balance
sheet of Parent and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 (including the
notes thereto), (ii) as incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) as incurred after December 31, 1995 in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (iv) as described
in the SEC Documents filed since December 31, 1995 (the "Recent Parent SEC
Documents"), or (v) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect with respect to Parent.
(f) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be
--------------------
supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the
Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, and at any time
it is amended or supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under the
Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Proxy Statement will, at the
date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Company's stockholders or at the
time of the Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading. The Form S-4 will comply as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except that no representation or
warranty is made by Parent or Sub with respect to statements made or
incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by the Company
for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Form S-4.
(g) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in the
------------------------------------
Recent Parent SEC Documents, since the date of the most recent financial
statements included in the Recent Parent SEC Documents, Parent has conducted its
business only in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and there is
not and has not been (i) any material adverse change with respect to Parent;
(ii) any condition, event or occurrence which, individually or in the aggregate,
could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect or give rise to a
material adverse change with respect to Parent; or (iii) any condition, event or
occurrence which could reasonably be expected to prevent, hinder or materially
delay the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(h) Interim Operations of Sub. Sub was formed on October 11, 1996
-------------------------
solely for the purposes of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby, has
engaged in no other business activities and has conducted its operations only as
contemplated hereby.
(i) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
-------
person, other than Salomon Brothers Inc, the fees and expenses of which will be
paid by Parent, and a certain Parent shareholder, is entitled to or may be paid
any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.
-22-
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF
BUSINESS PRIOR TO MERGER
4.1 Conduct of Business of the Company. From the date of this Agreement
----------------------------------
to the Effective Time (except as otherwise specifically required by the terms of
this Agreement), the Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, act and
carry on their respective businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice and, to the extent consistent
therewith, use its best efforts to preserve intact their current business
organizations, keep available the services of their current officers and
employees and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors,
licensees, advertisers, distributors and others having business dealings with
them to the end that their goodwill and ongoing businesses shall not be impaired
in any material respect at the Effective Time. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the
prior consent of the Parent:
(a) (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other
distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock, other than dividends
and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company to its parent and the declaration and payment by the Company of
regular quarterly cash dividends in an amount not in excess of $.16 per
share of Company Common Stock, with usual record and payment dates for such
dividends in accordance with the Company's past dividend practices, (ii)
split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize
the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for shares of its capital stock, or (iii) purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any other securities thereof or any rights, warrants or
options to acquire any such shares or other securities, except, in the case
of clause (iii), for the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock from
holders of Company Stock Options in full or partial payment of the exercise
price payable by such holder or tax liability arising in connection
therewith, upon exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the date
of this Agreement in accordance with their present terms;
(b) authorize for issuance, issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise
encumber any shares of its capital stock or the capital stock of any of its
subsidiaries, any other voting securities or any securities convertible
into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares,
voting securities or convertible securities or any other securities or
equity equivalents (including without limitation stock appreciation
rights), or contractual obligation valued or measured by the value or
market price of Company Common Stock (other than the issuance of Company
Common Stock upon the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the
date of this Agreement and in accordance with their present terms, such
issuance, together with the acquisitions of shares of Company Common Stock
permitted under clause (a) above, being referred to herein as "Permitted
Changes");
-23-
(c) amend its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other
comparable charter or organizational documents;
(d) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or
by purchasing a substantial portion of the stock or assets of, or by any
other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, or other business organization or division thereof;
(e) sell, lease, license, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject
to any Lien or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets that
are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, except sales of inventory and equipment in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(f) (i) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any
such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt securities or
warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another person,
enter into any "keep well" or other agreement to maintain any financial
statement condition of another person or enter into any arrangement having
the economic effect of any of the foregoing, except for short-term
borrowings incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or (ii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or
investments in, any other person, other than to the Company or any direct
or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
(g) acquire or agree to acquire any assets that are material,
individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole, or make or agree to make any capital expenditures except in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(h) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims (including claims of
stockholders), liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or
unasserted, contingent or otherwise), except for the payment, discharge or
satisfaction, of (i) liabilities or obligations in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice or in accordance with their terms as
in effect on the date hereof, (ii) liabilities reflected or reserved
against in, or contemplated by, the most recent consolidated audited
financial statements (or the notes thereof) of the Company included in the
Recent SEC Documents, or waive, release, grant, or transfer any rights of
material value or modify or change in any material respect any existing
license, lease, contract or other document, other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;
(i) adopt or amend in any material respect (except as may be
required by law or by this Agreement) any bonus, profit sharing,
compensation, stock option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation,
employment or other employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, fund or other
arrangement (including any Company Benefit Plan) for the benefit or welfare
of any employee, director or former director or
-24-
employee or, other than increases for individuals (other than officers and
directors) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, increase the compensation or fringe benefits of any director,
employee or former director or employee; pay any benefit not required by
any existing plan, arrangement or agreement, grant any new or modified
severance or termination arrangement or increase or accelerate any benefits
payable under its severance or termination pay policies in effect on the
date hereof, other than any such increase or acceleration provided for
under such policies as in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(j) change any material accounting principle used by it, except
for such changes as may be required to be implemented following the date of
this Agreement pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles or
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated following the date hereof;
(k) take any action that would, or is reasonably likely to,
result in any of its representations and warranties in this Agreement
becoming untrue, or in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in
Article 6 not being satisfied;
(l) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice, make any tax election or settle or compromise any federal,
state, local or foreign income tax liability; and
(m) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the
foregoing actions.
ARTICLE 5
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
5.1 Preparation of Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement; Stockholder
------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings.
--------
(a) Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall
prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement, and Parent shall prepare and
file with the SEC the Form S-4, in which the Proxy Statement will be included as
a prospectus. Each of the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable best
efforts as promptly as practicable to have the Form S-4 declared effective under
the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing. The Company
will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed
to the Company's stockholders as promptly as practicable after the Form S-4 is
declared effective under the Securities Act. Parent shall also take any action
(other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now
so qualified) required to be taken under any applicable state securities laws in
connection with the issuance of Parent Stock in the Merger, and the Company
shall furnish all information concerning the Company and the holders of the
Company Common Stock and rights to acquire Company Common Stock pursuant to the
Stock Plans as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action.
-25-
(b) The Company will, as promptly as practicable following the date of
this Agreement, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its
stockholders (the "Stockholders Meeting") for the purpose of approving this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company
will, through its Board of Directors, recommend to its stockholders approval of
the foregoing matters, as set forth in Section 3.1(p). Such recommendation,
together with a copy of the opinion referred to in Section 3.1(o), shall be
included in the Proxy Statement. The Company will use reasonable efforts to
hold such meeting as soon as practicable after the date hereof.
(c) The Company will cause its transfer agent to make stock transfer
records relating to the Company available to the extent reasonably necessary to
effectuate the intent of this Agreement.
5.2 Letter of the Company's Accountants. The Company shall use its best
-----------------------------------
efforts to cause to be delivered to Parent a letter of Price Waterhouse LLP, the
Company's independent public accountants, dated a date within two business days
before the date on which the Form S-4 shall become effective and addressed to
Parent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and customary in
scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Form S-4.
5.3 Parent Access to Information.
----------------------------
(a) The Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries, officers,
employees, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives to, afford to
Parent and its representatives reasonable access during normal business hours
during the period prior to the Effective Time to its properties, books,
contracts, commitments, personnel and records and, during such period, shall,
and shall cause its subsidiaries, officers, employees and representatives to,
furnish promptly to Parent (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration
statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the
requirements of Federal or state securities laws and (ii) all other information
concerning its business, properties, financial condition, operations and
personnel as Parent may from time to time reasonably request. No investigation
pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall affect any representations or warranties of
the Company herein or the conditions to the obligations of the parties hereto.
(b) The Company shall report on operational matters and promptly
advise Parent orally and in writing of any change or event having, or which,
insofar as can reasonably be foreseen, could have, a material adverse effect on
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
5.4 Best Efforts. Each of the parties agrees to use its best efforts to
------------
take, or cause to be taken, all actions, 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, in the most expeditious
manner practicable, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Parent, Sub and the Company will use their best efforts and
cooperate with one another (i) in promptly determining whether any filings
-26-
are required to be made or consents, approvals, waivers, permits or
authorizations are required to be obtained under any applicable law or
regulation or from any governmental authorities or third parties in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) in promptly making
any such filings, in furnishing information required in connection therewith and
in timely seeking to obtain any such consents, approvals, waivers, permits or
authorizations.
5.5 Employee Benefits.
-----------------
(a) Parent and the Company agree that the Company Benefit Plans shall,
to the extent practicable and except as otherwise provided in Section 2.4
hereof, remain in effect without amendment until the Effective Time and that
thereafter the Surviving Corporation will maintain, subject to such changes and
modifications as may be necessary or desirable to facilitate compliance by
Parent and its subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation) with
applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, for a period of at least three
years after the Effective Time, the Company Benefit Plans (other than the Stock
Plans).
(b) Parent will, and will cause the Surviving Corporation to, honor
without modification for a period of at least three years after the Effective
Time all employee severance plans (or policies) and employment and severance
agreements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in existence on the date
hereof as such plans, policies and agreements shall be in effect in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement at the Effective Time.
(c) Parent and Company will use their best efforts to agree on
compensation plans for the officers and employees of the Company after the
Effective Time to provide them incentive compensation that in the aggregate is
reasonably comparable (without giving effect to any payments to them resulting
from the Merger) to that historically provided by the Stock Plans, except that
neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be required to issue any
shares of its equity securities in connection with such compensation plans.
5.6 Indemnification.
---------------
(a) The Company shall, and from and after the Effective Time Parent
and the Surviving Corporation shall, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each
person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date of this Agreement
or who becomes such prior to the Effective Time, an officer, director or
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (the "Indemnified Parties")
against (i) all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or
judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of the
indemnifying party (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of or in
connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation based in
whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (the "Indemnified Parties") against (i) all losses, claims,
damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in
settlement with the approval of the indemnifying party (which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld) of or in connection with any claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or
in part out of the fact that
-27-
such person is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, whether pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or
prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or
after, the Effective Time ("Indemnified Liabilities") and (ii) all Indemnified
Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of,
or pertaining to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby;
provided, however, that, in the case of the Company and the Surviving
-------- -------
Corporation such indemnification shall only be to the fullest extent a
corporation is permitted under the NYBCL to indemnify its own directors,
officers and employees, and in the case of Parent, such indemnification shall
not be limited by the NYBCL but such indemnification shall not be applicable to
any claims made against the Indemnified Parties if a judgment or other final
adjudication established that (A) their acts or omissions were committed in bad
faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material
to the cause of action so deliberated or (B) arising out of, based upon or
attributable to the gaining in fact of any financial profit or other advantage
to which they were not legally entitled; and the Company, Parent and the
Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, will pay all expenses of each
Indemnified Party in advance of the final disposition of any such action or
proceeding, in the case of the Company and the Surviving Corporation only to the
fullest extent permitted by law upon receipt of any undertaking contemplated by
Section 723(c) of the NYBCL. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any
such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation is brought against any
Indemnified Party (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) the
Indemnified Parties may retain counsel satisfactory to them and the Company (or
them and Parent and the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time), (ii)
the Company (or after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation) shall pay
all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties
promptly as statements therefor are received, and (iii) the Company (or after
the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation) will use all
reasonable efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter,
provided that none of the Company, Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall be
liable for any settlement of any claim effected without its written consent,
which consent, however, shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any Indemnified
Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 5.6, upon learning of
any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify the
Company, Parent or the Surviving Corporation (but the failure so to notify an
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have
under this Section 5.6 except to the extent such failure prejudices such party),
and shall deliver to the Company (or after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation (but not Parent)) the undertaking contemplated by Section 723(c) of
the NYBCL. The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law firm to
represent them with respect to each such matter unless there is, under
applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any significant
issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified Parties.
(b) The provisions of this Section 5.6 are intended to be for the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her
heirs and representatives.
5.7 Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and
--------
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, except
that the expenses in connection with printing and mailing the Proxy Statement
and the Form S-4, as well as all
-28-
SEC filing fees relating to the transactions contemplated herein, shall be
shared equally between Parent and the Company.
5.8 Public Announcements. Parent and Sub, on the one hand, and the
--------------------
Company, on the other hand, will consult with each other before issuing, and
provide each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release
or other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Merger, and shall not issue any such press release or
make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be
required by applicable law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any
listing agreement with any national securities exchange. The parties agree that
the initial press release or releases to be issued with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be mutually agreed upon prior
to the issuance thereof.
5.9 Affiliates. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to
----------
Parent a letter identifying all persons who are, at the time this Agreement is
submitted for approval to the stockholders of the Company, "affiliates" of the
Company for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act. The Company shall
use its best efforts to cause each such person to deliver to Parent on or prior
to the Closing Date a written agreement substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit A hereto.
5.10 Stock Exchange Listing. Parent shall use its best efforts to cause
----------------------
the shares of Parent Stock to be issued in the Merger and under the Stock Plans
to be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of
issuance, prior to the Closing Date.
5.11 Takeover Statutes. If any "fair price," "moratorium," "control share
-----------------
acquisition" or other form of antitakeover statute or regulation shall become
applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and the members
of the Board of Directors of the Company shall grant such approvals and take
such actions as are reasonably necessary so that the transactions contemplated
hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated
hereby and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or
regulation on the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.12 No Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
---------------
shall, nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries authorize or permit any
of its or their officers, directors, agents, representatives, advisors or
subsidiaries to, (a) solicit, initiate or encourage (including by way of
furnishing information), or take any other action to facilitate the submission
of inquiries, proposals or offers from any person relating to any acquisition or
purchase of a substantial amount of assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (other than in the ordinary course of business) or of over 20% of
any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
tender offer (including a self tender offer) or exchange offer that if
consummated would result in any person beneficially owning 20% or more of any
class of equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any
merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of substantially all assets,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, or any other transaction the consummation of which would or
could reasonably be expected to impede,
-29-
interfere with, prevent or materially delay the Merger or which would or could
reasonably be expected to materially dilute the benefits to Parent of the
transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, "Transaction Proposals") or
agree to or endorse any Transaction Proposal, or (b) enter into or participate
in any discussions or negotiations regarding any of the foregoing, or furnish to
any other person any information with respect to its business, properties or
assets or any of the foregoing, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, or
assist or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any
other person to do or seek any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from (i) furnishing information
concerning the Company and its businesses, properties or assets pursuant to an
appropriate confidentiality agreement substantially similar to the
Confidentiality Agreement dated October 4, 1996 between the Company and Parent
to a third party who has made an unsolicited Transaction Proposal, (ii) engaging
in discussions or negotiations with a third party who has made an unsolicited
Transaction Proposal, (iii) following receipt of an unsolicited Transaction
Proposal, taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by
Rule 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act or otherwise making disclosure to its
stockholders, and/or (iv) following receipt of an unsolicited Transaction
Proposal, failing to make or withdrawing or modifying its recommendation
referred to in Section 3.1(p), but in each case referred to in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (iv) only if and to the extent that the Board of Directors
of the Company shall have concluded in good faith, after consulting with and
considering the advice of outside counsel, that such action is required by the
Board of Directors of the Company in the exercise of its fiduciary duties to the
stockholders of the Company; provided, further, that the Board of Directors of
-------- -------
the Company shall not take any of the foregoing actions referred to in clauses
(i) through (iv) until after giving at least one business day's advance notice
to Parent with respect to the actions specified in the foregoing clauses (i)
through (iv) that it shall take. In addition, if the Board of Directors of the
Company receives a Transaction Proposal, then the Company shall promptly inform
Parent in writing of the material terms of such proposal and the identity of the
person (or group) making it. The Company will immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties
conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing. Without limiting the
foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in
this Section by any director or executive officer of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or by any investment banker, financial adviser, attorney,
accountant, or other representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section by the Company.
5.13 Certain Agreements. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary of the
------------------
Company will waive or fail to enforce any provision of any confidentiality or
standstill or similar agreement to which it is a party without the prior written
consent of Parent.
5.14 Company Access to Information.
-----------------------------
(a) The Parent shall, and shall cause its officers, employees,
counsel, financial advisors and other representatives to, afford to the Company
and its representatives reasonable access during normal business hours during
the period prior to the Effective Time to its books, personnel and records and,
during such period, shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries, officers, employees
and representatives to, furnish promptly to the Company (i) a copy of each
report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed by it
-30-
during such period pursuant to the requirements of Federal or state securities
laws and (ii) all other information concerning its business, financial condition
and operations as the Company may from time to time reasonably request;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not create any obligation to
-----------------
disclose to any person any nonpublic information respecting securities holdings
of Parent or any of its subsidiaries. No investigation pursuant to this Section
5.14 shall affect any representations or warranties of the Parent herein or the
conditions to the obligations of the parties hereto.
(b) Parent shall promptly advise the Company orally and in writing of
any change or event having, or which, insofar as can reasonably be foreseen,
could have, a material adverse effect on the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole.
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
6.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger. The
----------------------------------------------------------
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Company Stockholder Approval. The Company Stockholder Approval
----------------------------
shall have been obtained.
(b) NYSE Listing. The shares of Parent Stock issuable to the
------------
Company's stockholders pursuant to this Agreement shall have been approved for
listing on the NYSE, subject to notice of issuance.
(c) HSR Act. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
-------
applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall
have expired.
(d) No Injunctions or Restraints. No temporary restraining order,
----------------------------
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
parties hereto shall use their best efforts to have any such injunction, order,
restraint or prohibition vacated.
(e) Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have become effective under the
--------
Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order or proceedings
seeking a stop order, and any material "blue sky" and other state securities
laws applicable to the issuance of the Parent Stock shall have been complied
with.
6.2 Conditions to Obligation of Parent and Sub. The obligations of
------------------------------------------
Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the following
conditions:
-31-
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
------------------------------
warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement and as
of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date. Parent shall
have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief
executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have
-----------------------------------------
performed the obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at
or prior to the Closing Date (except for such failures to perform as have not
had or could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the
aggregate, to have a material adverse effect with respect to the Company or
adversely affect the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions
herein contemplated or perform its obligations hereunder), and Parent shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive
officer and the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.
(c) Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received the opinion of Xxxxxx,
-----------
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, counsel to Parent, dated the Closing Date, based on appropriate
representations of the Company, its affiliates, and Parent, and such other
facts, representations, assumptions, and agreements as counsel may reasonably
deem relevant, to the effect that for United States Federal income tax purposes
the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of
the Code and that each of Parent, Sub and the Company will be a party to the
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.
(d) Consents, etc. Parent shall have received evidence, in form and
--------------
substance reasonably satisfactory to it, that such licenses, permits, consents,
approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of governmental authorities
and other third parties as are necessary in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby have been obtained, except such licenses, permits, consents,
approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders which are not, individually
or in the aggregate, material to Parent or the Company or the failure of which
to have been received would not (as compared to the situation in which such
license, permit, consent, approval, authorization, qualification or order had
been obtained) materially dilute the aggregate benefits to Parent of the Merger.
(e) Affiliate Letters. Parent shall have received the agreements
-----------------
referred to in Section 5.9.
(f) Continuity of Interest Agreement. Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx shall
--------------------------------
have executed and delivered, and shall have used his best efforts to cause the
specified members of his family to have executed and delivered, a Continuity of
Interest Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.
-32-
6.3 Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the
---------------------------------------
Company to effect the Merger is further subjected to the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
------------------------------
warranties of Parent and Sub set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement
and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date. The
Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the
chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Parent to such
effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Sub. Parent and Sub
--------------------------------------------
shall have performed the obligations required to be performed by them under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date (except for such failures to perform
as have not had or could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in
the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect with respect to Parent or
adversely affect the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions herein
contemplated or perform its obligations hereunder), and the Company shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the chief executive officer
and the chief financial officer of Parent to such effect.
(c) Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received the opinion of
-----------
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, counsel to the Company, dated the Closing
Date, based on appropriate representations of the Company, its affiliates, and
Parent and such other facts, representations, assumptions, and agreements as
counsel may reasonably deem relevant, to the effect that for United States
Federal income tax purposes the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and that each of Parent, Sub and the
Company will be a party to the reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(b) of the Code.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and abandoned at any
-----------
time prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, whether before or after approval
of the Merger by the stockholders of the Company:
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company; or
(b) by either Parent or the Company if any Governmental Entity shall
have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order,
decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; or
(c) by either Parent or the Company if the Merger shall not have been
consummated on or before March 31, 1997 (other than due to the failure of the
party seeking
-33-
to terminate this Agreement to perform its obligations under this Agreement
required to be performed at or prior to the Effective Time of the Merger); or
(d) by Parent, if any required approval of the stockholders 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 stockholders or at any
adjournment thereof; or
(e) by Parent, (1) if the Company shall have (i) withdrawn, modified
or amended in any respect adverse to Parent or Sub its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger, (ii) failed as soon as
practicable to mail the Proxy Statement to its stockholders or failed to include
in such statement such recommendation, (iii) recommended any Transaction
Proposal from a person other than Parent or (iv) resolved to do any of the
foregoing, or (2) if (i) the Company shall have exercised a right specified in
the first proviso to Section 5.12 with respect to any Transaction Proposal and
shall, directly or through agents or representatives, continue discussions with
any third party concerning such Transaction Proposal for more than 10 business
days after the date of receipt of such Transaction Proposal; or (ii) (A) a
Transaction Proposal that is publicly disclosed shall have been commenced,
publicly proposed or communicated to the Company which contains a proposal as to
price (without regard to whether such proposal specifies a specific price or a
range of potential prices) and (B) the Company shall not have rejected such
proposal within 10 business days of its receipt or, if sooner, the date its
existence first becomes publicly disclosed; or
(f) by the Company, if the Company exercises, pursuant to Section
5.12, the right specified in clause (iv) of the first proviso to Section 5.12;
or
(g) by Parent, if the Company fails to perform any of its material
obligations under this Agreement; or
(h) by the Company, if Parent or Sub fails to perform any of their
respective material obligations under this Agreement.
7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement
---------------------
by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall
forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on
the part of Parent, Sub or the Company, other than pursuant to the provisions of
Section 5.7 and this Section 7.2. Nothing contained in this Section shall
relieve any party for any breach of the representations, warranties, covenants
or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
7.3 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties at any time
---------
before or after required approval of the Merger by the stockholders of the
Company; provided, however, that after such approval, there shall be made no
-------- -------
amendment that by law requires further approval by such stockholders without the
further approval of such stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended except
by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.
-34-
7.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
-----------------
parties may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any document
delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) subject to the proviso of Section
7.3, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this
Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its
rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such
rights.
ARTICLE 8
GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the
---------------------------------------------
representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered
pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This Section 8.1
shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms
contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
8.2 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
-------
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of
delivery) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address
for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) if to Parent or Sub, to:
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chairman of the Board
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: R. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
(b) if to the Company, to:
FlightSafety International Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxx
XxXxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Chairman of the Board
-35-
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
8.3 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
-----------
(a) an "affiliate" of any person means another person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with, such first person;
(b) "material adverse change" or "material adverse effect" means, when
used in connection with the Company or Parent, any change or effect that either
individually or in the aggregate with all other such changes or effects is
materially adverse to the business, assets, properties, condition (financial or
otherwise) or results of operations of such party and its subsidiaries taken as
a whole; provided, however, that, (i) a decline in general economic conditions
-------- -------
affecting the Company or Parent shall not be deemed to be a "material adverse
change" or to have a "material adverse effect" with respect to either such party
or its subsidiaries; and (ii) for purposes of Sections 3.2(g) and 6.3(a), in no
event shall changes in the market prices of portfolio securities owned by Parent
or its subsidiaries be deemed to be a "material adverse change" or to have a
"material adverse effect" with respect to Parent or its subsidiaries;
(c) "person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity; and
(d) a "subsidiary" of any person means another person, an amount of
the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of
which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of directors or
other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of
the equity interest of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first
person.
8.4 Interpretation. A reference made in this Agreement to a Section,
--------------
Exhibit or Schedule, shall be to a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to,
this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include,"
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation."
8.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
------------
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties.
-36-
8.6 Entire Agreement; No Third-party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
----------------------------------------------
constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter of this Agreement, other than the Confidentiality Agreement dated
October 4, 1996 between Parent and the Company. Except as provided in Section
5.6(b), this Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person other than the
parties any rights or remedies.
8.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
-------------
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of the laws that
might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
8.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests
----------
or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by
operation of law or otherwise, by any of the parties without the prior written
consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement
will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the
parties and their respective successors and assigns.
8.9 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur
-----------
in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the State of Delaware
or of the United States located in the State of Delaware in the event any
dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and each party (a) it will not attempt to deny or defeat
personal jurisdiction or venue in any such court by motion or other request for
leave from any such court and (b) it will not bring any action relating to this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court
other than any such court.
8.10 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any
------------
provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein, so long as the economic and legal substance of the
transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in a manner materially adverse
to any party hereto.
-37-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub, and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first written above.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
______________________________
Its: Chairman
_____________________________
NY Acquisition Sub Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
______________________________
Its: Chairman
_____________________________
FlightSafety International
Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
______________________________
Its: Chairman
_____________________________
-38-
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF COMPANY AFFILIATE LETTER
Gentlemen:
The undersigned, a holder of shares of Common Stock, par value $.10
per share ("Company Stock"), of FlightSafety International Inc., a New York
corporation (the "Company"), is entitled to receive in connection with the
merger (the "Merger") of the Company with NY Acquisition Sub Inc., a New York
corporation ("Sub"), securities (the "Parent Securities") of Berkshire Hathaway
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"). The undersigned acknowledges that the
undersigned may be deemed an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of
Rule 145 ("Rule 145") promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), although nothing contained here should be construed as an admission
of such fact.
If the undersigned were an affiliate under the Act, the undersigned's
ability to sell, assign or transfer the Parent Securities received by the
undersigned in exchange for any shares of Company Stock pursuant to the Merger
may be restricted unless such transaction is registered under the Act or an
exemption from such registration is available. The undersigned understands that
such exemptions are limited and the undersigned has obtained advise of counsel
as to the nature and conditions of such exemptions, including information with
respect to the applicability to the sale of such securities of Rules 144 and
145(d) promulgated under the Act.
The undersigned hereby represents to and covenants with the Company,
Sub, and Parent that the undersigned will not sell, assign or transfer any of
the Parent Securities received by the undersigned in exchange for shares of
Company Stock pursuant to the Merger except (i) pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Act, (ii) in conformity with the volume and
other limitations of Rule 145 or (iii) in a transaction which, in the opinion of
independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to Parent or as described in a "no-
action" or interpretive letter from the Staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), is not required to be registered under the Act.
In the event of a sale or other disposition by the undersigned of
Parent Securities pursuant to Rule 145, the undersigned will supply Parent with
evidence of compliance with such Rule, in the form of a letter in the form of
Annex I hereto. The undersigned understands that Parent may instruct its
transfer agent to withhold the transfer of any Parent Securities disposed of by
the undersigned, but that upon receipt of such evidence of compliance the
transfer agent shall effectuate the transfer of the Parent Securities sold as
indicated in the letter.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that appropriate legends will
be placed on certificates representing Parent Securities received by the
undersigned in the Merger or held by a transferee thereof, which legends will be
removed by delivery of substitute certificates upon receipt of an opinion in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent from
39
independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to Parent to the effect that such
legends are no longer required for purposes of the Act.
The undersigned acknowledges that (i) the undersigned has carefully
read this letter and understands the requirements hereof and the limitations
imposed upon the distribution, sale, transfer or other disposition of Parent
Securities and (ii) the receipt by Parent of this letter is an inducement and a
condition to Parent's obligations to consummate the Merger.
Very truly yours,
Dated:
40
ANNEX I
TO EXHIBIT A
[NAME] [DATE]
On _______________ the undersigned sold the securities ("Securities")
of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ("Parent") described below in the space provided for
that purpose (the "Securities"). The Securities were received by the
undersigned in connection with the merger of FlightSafety International Inc.
with and into NY Acquisition Sub Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
Based upon the most recent report or statement filed by Parent with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Securities sold by the undersigned
were within the prescribed limitations set forth in paragraph (e) of Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act").
The undersigned hereby represents that Securities were sold in
"brokers' transactions" within the meaning of Section 4(4) of the Act or in
transactions directly with a "market maker" as that term is defined in Section
3(a)(38) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The undersigned
further represents that the undersigned has not solicited or arranged for the
solicitation of orders to buy the Securities, and that the undersigned has not
made any payment in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities to any
person other than to the broker who executed the order in respect of such sale.
Very truly yours,
[Space to be provided for description of securities]
41
EXHIBIT B
CONTINUITY OF INTEREST AGREEMENT
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), NY
Acquisition Sub Inc., a New York corporation and a direct wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Sub") and each of the undersigned shareholders (each, a
"Shareholder" and collectively, the "Shareholders") of FlightSafety
International Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"), hereby enter into
this Agreement on [DATE] for the purposes hereinafter set forth (collectively,
Parent, Sub and the Shareholders are referred to as the "Parties").
WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and the Company entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated as of October 4, 1996 (the "Merger Agreement");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Company will merge (the
"Merger") with and into Sub with Sub as the surviving corporation in the Merger
and pursuant to such Merger, it is intended that each Shareholder will surrender
all of such Shareholder's shares of Company Common Stock in exchange for Shares
of Class A Stock of Parent and/or Class B Stock of Parent (collectively, "Parent
Shares");
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to take certain steps to qualify the Merger
as a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
(a) Each Shareholder has all necessary power and authority to enter
into and perform all of such Shareholder's obligations hereunder. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Shareholder will
not violate any other agreement to which such Shareholder is a party, including
any voting agreement, shareholders' agreement, trust agreement or voting trust.
This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such
Shareholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Shareholder,
enforceable against such Shareholder in accordance with its terms.
(b) Each Shareholder is the beneficial owner or record holder of the
number of shares set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto and, as of the date
hereof, the shares listed on Schedule 1, with respect to each Shareholder,
constitute all the shares of Company Common Stock owned of record or
beneficially by such Shareholder. Each Shareholder represents that such
Shareholder has not purchased, sold, exchanged, transferred by gift or otherwise
disposed of shares of Company Common Stock prior to the date hereof either in
contemplation of or as part of the Merger or otherwise.
(c) Each Shareholder represents that such Shareholder does not have
any plan or intention to sell, exchange, transfer by gift or otherwise dispose
of (including by transactions which would have the ultimate economic effect of a
disposition including, but
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not limited to, puts, short-sales and equity swap type of arrangements)
(collectively, "dispose" or "disposition") any Parent Shares to be received by
such Shareholder pursuant to the Merger.
(d) Each Shareholder further agrees that for a period of two (2) years
after the Merger (the "Post-Merger Continuity Period"), such Shareholder will
not sell, exchange, transfer by gift or otherwise dispose of (including by
transactions which would have the ultimate economic effect of a disposition
including, but not limited to, puts, short-sales and equity swap type of
arrangements) any of the Parent Shares that such Shareholder receives in
exchange for shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger; provided,
--------
however, each Shareholder (or the estate of such Shareholder) is expressly
-------
permitted to transfer Parent Shares to beneficiaries, heirs or legatees upon
such Shareholder's death, or to a "grantor" trust created for such Shareholder's
benefit in which such Shareholder is treated as the owner pursuant to Sections
671 through 678 of the Code. Notwithstanding this paragraph 3, each Shareholder
may, prior to the end of the Post-Merger Continuity Period, sell, exchange,
transfer by gift or otherwise dispose of Parent Shares that such Shareholder
receives pursuant to the Merger, if, prior to the date of such disposition, the
Shareholder obtains the written opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx
("Xxxxxxx Xxxx") (which opinion will specifically set forth the facts and
analysis forming the basis of such opinion), which opinion is reasonably
satisfactory to Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx ("Xxxxxx Xxxxxx"), that such disposition
will not prevent such Parent Shares from qualifying as stock that satisfied the
"continuity of interest" requirement under Section 368 of the Code, generally on
the ground that the Shareholder had no intent to dispose of such Parent Shares
at the time of the Merger and that the Shareholder's decision to dispose of such
Parent Shares was the result of an unanticipated change in circumstances
subsequent to the Merger, or otherwise.
(e) Each Shareholder agrees that, during the Post-Merger Continuity
Period, such Shareholder will give notice to Parent, Xxxxxxx Xxxx and Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx at least 30 days prior to any proposed disposition of Parent Shares
received pursuant to the Merger, which notice shall describe (i) the number of
Parent Shares that will be subject to the proposed disposition, and (ii) the
manner of such disposition.
(f) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the
benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs,
executors, administrators and other legal representatives. Nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other person any
rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.
(g) This Agreement shall not be modified, amended, altered or
supplemented except by a written agreement executed by all of the Parties
hereto. A Shareholder requesting the written opinion of Skadden, Arps to
dispose of Parent Shares, agrees to bear and pay all fees and expenses of
Xxxxxxx Xxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx.
(h) Each Shareholder is entering this Agreement to enable Xxxxxxx Xxxx
and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx to opine that the Merger constitutes a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and each Shareholder agrees that both
Xxxxxxx Xxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx may rely upon this Agreement in rendering their
opinions.
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(i) All notices to Parent shall be sent to :
Berkshire Hathaway Inc .
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
(j) All notices to Xxxxxxx Xxxx should be sent to:
Barnet Xxxxxxxx, IV
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
(k) All notices to Xxxxxx Xxxxxx should be sent to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed on the date first set forth above.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
___________________________
Name:
ALU/Xxxxxxxx Enterprises
Partnership
By:
___________________________
Its: ___________________________
___________________________
Name:
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
By: ___________________________
Name:
Its: ___________________________
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NY Acquisition Sub Inc.
By: ___________________________
Its: ___________________________
FlightSafety International Inc.
By: ___________________________
Its: ___________________________
[Additional shareholder signatures]
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