Exhibit (c) (2)
CONFORMED COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
dated as of
July 16, 1998
between
XXXXXXX AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, INC.
and
XXXXXXX ACQUISITION CO.
TABLE OF CONTENTS(1)
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PAGE
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ARTICLE 1
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.01. The Offer ...................................................1
SECTION 1.02. Company Action...............................................2
SECTION 1.03. Directors ...................................................3
ARTICLE 2
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.01. The Merger ..................................................4
SECTION 2.02. Conversion of Shares.........................................5
SECTION 2.03. Surrender and Payment........................................5
SECTION 2.04. Dissenting Shares............................................7
SECTION 2.05. Stock Options................................................7
ARTICLE 3
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
SECTION 3.01. Certificate of Incorporation.................................8
SECTION 3.02. Bylaws ......................................................8
SECTION 3.03. Directors and Officers.......................................8
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power................................8
SECTION 4.02. Corporate Authorization......................................9
SECTION 4.03. Governmental Authorization...................................9
SECTION 4.04. Non-contravention............................................9
SECTION 4.05. Capitalization..............................................10
SECTION 4.06. Subsidiaries................................................10
SECTION 4.07. SEC Filings ................................................11
SECTION 4.08. Financial Statements........................................12
SECTION 4.09. Disclosure Documents........................................12
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(1) The Table of Contents is not a part of this Agreement.
SECTION 4.10. Absence of Certain Changes..................................13
SECTION 4.11. No Undisclosed Material Liabilities.........................15
SECTION 4.12. Litigation ................................................15
SECTION 4.13. Taxes ......................................................15
SECTION 4.14. ERISA ......................................................16
SECTION 4.15. Compliance with Laws........................................19
SECTION 4.16. Licenses and Permits........................................19
SECTION 4.17. Intellectual Property.......................................20
SECTION 4.18. Environmental Matters.......................................20
SECTION 4.19. Finders' Fees...............................................22
SECTION 4.20. Inapplicability of Certain Restrictions.....................22
SECTION 4.21. Rights Plan ................................................22
ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
SECTION 5.01. Corporate Existence and Power...............................22
SECTION 5.02. Corporate Authorization.....................................22
SECTION 5.03. Governmental Authorization..................................23
SECTION 5.04. Non-contravention...........................................23
SECTION 5.05. Disclosure Documents........................................23
SECTION 5.06. Litigation ................................................24
SECTION 5.07. Finders' Fees...............................................24
SECTION 5.08. Financing ................................................24
ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 6.01. Conduct of the Company......................................25
SECTION 6.02. Stockholder Meeting; Proxy Material.........................27
SECTION 6.03. Access to Information.......................................28
SECTION 6.04. Other Offers................................................28
SECTION 6.05. Notices of Certain Events...................................31
ARTICLE 7
COVENANTS OF BUYER
SECTION 7.01. Confidentiality.............................................31
SECTION 7.02. Voting of Shares............................................32
SECTION 7.03. Director and Officer Liability..............................32
SECTION 7.04. Employee Matters............................................33
ARTICLE 8
COVENANTS OF BUYER AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 8.01. Best Efforts................................................33
SECTION 8.02. Certain Filings.............................................33
SECTION 8.03. Public Announcements........................................34
SECTION 8.04. Further Assurances..........................................34
ARTICLE 9
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 9.01. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party.................34
SECTION 9.02. Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer......................35
ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION
SECTION 10.01. Termination................................................35
SECTION 10.02. Effect of Termination......................................36
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01. Notices ...................................................36
SECTION 11.02. Survival of Representations and Warranties.................38
SECTION 11.03. Amendments; No Waivers.....................................38
SECTION 11.04. Expenses...................................................39
SECTION 11.05. Successors and Assigns; Benefit............................39
SECTION 11.06. Governing Law..............................................39
SECTION 11.07. Counterparts; Effectiveness................................39
SECTION 11.08. Entire Agreement...........................................39
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of July 16, 1998 between XxXxxxx
Aircraft Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and XxXxxxx
Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer").
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the acquisition of the Company by Buyer on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Buyer
proposes to make an offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common
stock of the Company at a purchase price of $23.00 per share, net to seller in
cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Company and Buyer
have approved the offer and the merger of Buyer with the Company upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.01. The Offer. (a) Provided that nothing shall have occurred
that had the Offer referred to below been commenced, would give rise to a right
to terminate the Offer pursuant to any of the conditions set forth in Annex I
hereto, Buyer shall, as promptly as practicable after the date hereof, but in no
event later than five business days following the public announcement of the
terms of this Agreement, commence an offer (the "Offer") to purchase all of the
outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"), of
the Company at a price of $23.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash. The Offer
shall remain open for at least twenty-five business days, shall be subject to
the condition that there shall have been validly tendered in accordance with the
terms of the Offer prior to the expiration date of the Offer and not withdrawn a
number of Shares which, together with the Shares then owned by Buyer, represents
at least a majority of the Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis (the
"Minimum Condition") and to the other conditions set forth in Annex I hereto.
Buyer expressly reserves the right to waive the Minimum Condition or any of the
other conditions to the Offer and to make any change in the terms or conditions
of the Offer; provided that no change may be made which changes the form of
consideration to be paid or decreases the price per Share or the number of
Shares sought in the Offer or which imposes conditions to the Offer in addition
to those set forth in Annex I or which otherwise materially and adversely
affects the Company or the holders of the Shares.
(b) As soon as practicable on the date of commencement of the Offer,
Buyer shall file with the SEC (as defined in Section 4.07) a Tender Offer
Statement on Schedule 14D-1 with respect to the Offer which will contain the
offer to purchase and form of the related letter of transmittal (together with
any supplements or amendments thereto, collectively the "Offer Documents"). Each
of Buyer and the Company agrees promptly to correct any information provided by
it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent that it shall have become
false or misleading in any material respect. Buyer agrees to take all steps
necessary to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with the SEC
and to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent
required by applicable federal securities laws. The Company and its counsel
shall be given an opportunity to review and comment on the Schedule 14D-1 and
each amendment and supplement thereto, in each case prior to the filing thereof
with the SEC.
SECTION 1.02. Company Action. (a) The Company hereby consents to the
Offer and represents that its Board of Directors, at a meeting duly called and
held and acting on the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company comprised entirely of non-management
independent directors (the "Special Committee"), has (i) unanimously determined
that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Offer and the Merger (as defined in Section 2.01), are fair to and in the best
interest of the Company's stockholders, (ii) unanimously approved this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the Merger,
which approval satisfies in full the requirements of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Law") (including Section 203 thereof)
and the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company with respect to the
requisite approval of a board of directors, and (iii) unanimously resolved to
recommend acceptance of the Offer and approval and adoption of this Agreement
and the Merger by its stockholders; provided however, that such recommendation
may be withdrawn, modified or amended to the extent the Board of Directors of
the Company shall have concluded in good faith on the basis of written advice
from outside counsel that such action by the Board of Directors is required in
order to comply with the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors to the
stockholders of the Company under applicable law. The Company further represents
that Warburg Dillon Read has delivered to the Company's Board of Directors its
opinion that the consideration to be paid in the Offer and the Merger is fair to
the holders of Shares from a financial point of view. The Company has been
advised that all of its directors and executive officers who own Shares intend
either to tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer or to vote in favor of the
Merger, unless its recommendation shall have been withdrawn or materially
modified as permitted by Section 6.04(a). The Company will promptly furnish
Buyer with a list of its stockholders, mailing labels and any available listing
or computer file containing the names and addresses of all record holders of
Shares and lists of securities positions of Shares held in stock depositories,
in each case true and correct as of the most recent practicable date, and will
provide to Buyer such additional information (including, without limitation,
updated lists of stockholders, mailing labels and lists of securities positions)
and such other assistance as Buyer may reasonably request in order to be able to
communicate the Offer to the holders of the Shares.
(b) As soon as practicable on the day that the Offer is commenced the
Company will file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-9") which shall reflect the recommendations of
the Company's Board of Directors referred to above. The Company and Buyer each
agree promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the Schedule
14D-9 if and to the extent that it shall have become false or misleading in any
material respect. The Company agrees to take all steps necessary to cause the
Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated
to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable
federal securities laws. Buyer and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to
review and comment on the Schedule 14D-9 prior to its being filed with the SEC.
SECTION 1.03. Directors. (a) Effective upon the acceptance for payment
by Buyer of any Shares, Buyer shall be entitled to designate the number of
directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the Company's Board of
Directors that equals the product of (i) the total number of directors on the
Company's Board of Directors (giving effect to the election of any additional
directors pursuant to this Section) and (ii) the percentage that the number of
Shares owned by Buyer (including Shares accepted for payment) bears to the total
number of Shares outstanding, and the Company shall take all action necessary to
cause Buyer's designees to be elected or appointed to the Company's Board of
Directors, including, without limitation, increasing the number of directors,
and seeking and accepting resignations of incumbent directors. At such times,
the Company will use its best efforts to cause individuals designated by Buyer
to constitute the same percentage as such individuals represent on the Company's
Board of Directors of (A) each committee of the Board (other than the Special
Committee or any committee of the Board established to take action under this
Agreement), (B) each board of directors of each Subsidiary (as defined in
Section 4.06) and (C) each committee of each such board. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, until such time as Buyer acquires a majority of the outstanding
Shares on a fully-diluted basis, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to
ensure that all of the members of the Board of Directors and such boards and
committees as of the date hereof who are not employees of the Company shall
remain members of the Board of Directors and such boards and committees until
the Effective Time (as defined in Section 2.01).
(b) The Company's obligations to appoint designees to the Board of
Directors shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act (as defined in
Section 4.03) and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder. The Company shall promptly
take all actions required pursuant to Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1 in order to
fulfill its obligations under this Section and shall include in the Schedule
14D-9 such information with respect to the Company and its officers and
directors as is required under Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1 to fulfill its
obligations under this Section 1.03. Buyer will supply to the Company in writing
and be solely responsible for any information with respect to itself and its
nominees, officers, directors and affiliates required by Section 14(f) and Rule
14f-1.
(c) Following the election or appointment of Buyer's designees pursuant
to this Section 1.03 and until the Effective Time, the approval of a majority of
the directors of the Company then in office who were not designated by Buyer
(the "Continuing Directors") shall be required to authorize (and such
authorization shall constitute the authorization of the Board of Directors and
no other action on the part of the Company, including any action by any other
director or the Company, shall be required to authorize) any termination of this
Agreement by the Company, any amendment of this Agreement requiring action by
the Board of Directors, and any waiver of compliance with any of the agreements
or conditions contained herein for the benefit of the Company.
ARTICLE 2
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.01. The Merger. (a) At the Effective Time, Buyer shall be
merged (the "Merger") with and into the Company in accordance with the Delaware
Law and this Agreement, whereupon the separate existence of Buyer shall cease,
and the Company shall be the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
Corporation").
(b) As soon as practicable after satisfaction or, to the extent
permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to the Merger, the Company and
Buyer will file a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware and make all other filings or recordings required by Delaware Law in
connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at such time as
the certificate of merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware or at such later time as is specified in the certificate of merger
(the "Effective Time").
(c) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
possess all the rights, privileges, powers and franchises and be subject to all
of the restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Company and Buyer, all as
provided under Delaware Law.
SECTION 2.02. Conversion of Shares. At the Effective Time:
(a) each Share held by the Company as treasury stock or owned by Buyer
or any subsidiary of Buyer immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be canceled, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto;
(b) each share of common stock of Buyer outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one share of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation with the same rights, powers
and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation; and
(c) each Share outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.02(a) or as provided
in Section 2.04 with respect to Shares as to which appraisal rights
have been perfected, be converted into the right to receive $23.00 in
cash or any higher price paid for each Share in the Offer, without
interest (the "Merger Consideration").
SECTION 2.03. Surrender and Payment. (a) Prior to the Effective Time,
Buyer shall appoint a national bank or trust company (or a subsidiary thereof)
reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange
Agent") for the purpose of exchanging certificates representing Shares for the
Merger Consideration. Buyer will make available to the Exchange Agent, as
needed, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the Shares. For
purposes of determining the Merger Consideration to be made available, Buyer
shall assume that no holder of Shares will perfect his right to appraisal of his
Shares. Promptly after the Effective Time, Buyer will send, or will cause the
Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of Shares at the Effective Time a letter
of transmittal for use in such exchange (which shall specify that the delivery
shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper
delivery of the certificates representing Shares to the Exchange Agent).
(b) Each holder of Shares that have been converted into the right to
receive the Merger Consideration, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a
certificate or certificates representing such Shares, together with a properly
completed letter of transmittal covering such Shares, will be entitled promptly
upon such surrender to receive the Merger Consideration payable in respect of
such Shares. Until so surrendered, each such certificate shall, after the
Effective Time, represent for all purposes, only the right to receive such
Merger Consideration.
(c) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be paid to a
Person other than the registered holder of the Shares represented by the
certificate or certificates surrendered in exchange therefor, it shall be a
condition to such payment that the certificate or certificates so surrendered
shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that
the Person requesting such payment shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer
or other taxes required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the
registered holder of such Shares or establish to the satisfaction of the
Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not payable. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability
company, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or
organization, including a government or political subdivision or any agency or
instrumentality thereof.
(d) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration
of transfers of Shares. If, after the Effective Time, certificates representing
Shares are presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be canceled and
exchanged for the consideration provided for, and in accordance with the
procedures set forth, in this Article 2.
(e) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the
Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.03(a) that remains unclaimed by the holders
of Shares one year after the Effective Time shall be returned to the Surviving
Corporation, upon demand, and any such holder who has not exchanged his Shares
for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section prior to that time
shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment of the
Merger Consideration in respect of his Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Buyer shall not be liable to any holder of Shares for any amount paid to a
public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property laws. Any amounts
remaining unclaimed by holders of Shares two years after the Effective Time (or
such earlier date immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise
escheat to or become property of any governmental entity) shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation
free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled
thereto.
(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the
Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.03(a) to pay for Shares for which appraisal
rights have been perfected shall be returned to the Surviving Corporation, upon
demand.
(g) If any certificate representing Shares shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
Buyer, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as Buyer
may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with
respect to such certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such
lost, stolen or destroyed certificate the Merger Consideration.
SECTION 2.04. Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding Section 2.02, Shares
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has
not voted in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who has
demanded appraisal for such Shares in accordance with Delaware Law shall not be
converted into a right to receive the Merger Consideration, unless such holder
fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his right to appraisal. If
after the Effective Time such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or loses his
right to appraisal, such Shares shall be treated as if they had been converted
as of the Effective Time into a right to receive the Merger Consideration. The
Company shall give Buyer prompt notice of any demands received by the Company
for appraisal of Shares prior to the Effective Time, and Buyer shall have the
right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such
demands. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Buyer,
make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such
demands.
SECTION 2.05. Stock Options. (a) At or immediately prior to the
Effective Time, each outstanding employee stock option to purchase Shares
granted under any employee stock option or compensation plan or arrangement of
the Company shall be canceled, and each holder of any such option, whether or
not then vested or exercisable, shall be paid by the Company promptly after the
Effective Time for each such option an amount determined by multiplying (i) the
excess, if any, of $23.00 per Share over the applicable exercise price of such
option by (ii) the number of Shares such holder could have purchased (assuming
full vesting of all options) had such holder exercised such option in full
immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts (i) to obtain any consents from holders of options to purchase
Shares granted under the Company's stock option or compensation plans or
arrangements and (ii) make any amendments to the terms of such stock option or
compensation plans or arrangements that, in the case of either clauses
2.05(b)(i) or 2.05(b)(ii), are necessary to give effect to the transactions
contemplated by Section 2.05(a). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section, payment may be withheld in respect of any employee stock option until
necessary consents are obtained.
ARTICLE 3
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
SECTION 3.01. Certificate of Incorporation. The certificate of
incorporation of the Company in effect at the Effective Time shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until amended in
accordance with applicable law.
SECTION 3.02. Bylaws. The bylaws of Buyer in effect at the Effective
Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until amended in
accordance with applicable law.
SECTION 3.03. Directors and Officers. From and after the Effective
Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance
with applicable law, (a) the directors of Buyer at the Effective Time shall be
the directors of the Surviving Corporation, and (b) the officers of the Company
(including the chief executive officer) at the Effective Time shall be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Buyer as of the date hereof and
as of the Effective Time that:
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware, and has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted. The Company is duly qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions where the
failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business,
assets, results of operations or, insofar as can reasonably be foreseen,
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole ("Material
Adverse Effect"). The Company has heretofore delivered to Buyer true and
complete copies of the Company's certificate of incorporation and bylaws as
currently in effect.
SECTION 4.02. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the Company's corporate
powers and, except for any required approval by the Company's stockholders in
connection with the consummation of the Merger, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of the Company.
SECTION 4.03. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger
by the Company require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any
governmental body, agency, official or authority other than (a) the filing of a
certificate of merger in accordance with Delaware Law; (b) compliance with any
applicable requirements of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of
0000 (xxx "XXX Xxx"); (c) compliance with any applicable requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "Exchange Act"); and (d) compliance with any
applicable antitrust laws and regulations in Switzerland and the UK.
SECTION 4.04. Non-contravention. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or
conflict with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (b)
assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.03, contravene or
conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any law, regulation,
judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon or applicable to the Company
or any Subsidiary, (c) except as set forth on Schedule 4.04 attached hereto,
constitute a default under or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation
or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary or
to a loss of any benefit to which the Company or any Subsidiary is entitled
under any provision of any agreement, contract or other instrument binding upon
the Company or any Subsidiary or any license, franchise, permit or other similar
authorization held by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (d) except as set forth
on Schedule 4.04 attached hereto, result in the creation or imposition of any
Lien on any asset of the Company or any Subsidiary, except in the case of
clauses (b), (c) and (d), to the extent that any such contravention, conflict,
violation, failure to obtain any such consent or other action, default, right,
loss or Lien would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, "Lien" means,
with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.
SECTION 4.05. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 9,924,950 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock") and 18,309,018 shares of preferred stock (the "Preferred
Stock"). As of July 15, 1998, there were outstanding 7,524,740 shares of Common
Stock and no shares of Preferred Stock and employee stock options to purchase an
aggregate of 536,260 Shares (of which options to purchase an aggregate of
215,204 Shares were exercisable). All outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section and except for changes since
July 15, 1998 resulting from the exercise of employee stock options outstanding
on such date, there are outstanding (a) no shares of capital stock or other
voting securities of the Company, (b) no securities of the Company convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of the
Company, and (c) no options or other rights to acquire from the Company or any
Subsidiary, and no obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to issue, any
capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for capital stock or voting securities of the Company (the items in clauses
4.05(a), 4.05(b) and 4.05(c) being referred to collectively as the "Company
Securities"). There are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities.
SECTION 4.06. Subsidiaries. (a) Each Subsidiary is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted, except to the extent the failure to have such
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would not, in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect, and, except as set forth on Schedule 4.06
attached hereto, is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the property
owned or leased by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification
necessary, except for those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity
of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are directly or indirectly owned by the Company. All Subsidiaries and
their respective jurisdictions of incorporation are identified in the Company's
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (the
"Company 10-K") or on Schedule 4.06 attached hereto.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.06 attached hereto, all of the
outstanding capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, each Subsidiary,
is owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Lien
(other than Liens imposed by the lenders under the Company's bank credit
facilities) and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any
restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital
stock or other ownership interests), except such limitations as may be imposed
by applicable securities laws. There are no outstanding (i) securities of the
Company or any Subsidiary convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital
stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in any Subsidiary, and
(ii) options or other rights to acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary, and
no other obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to issue, any capital
stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, voting securities or
ownership interests in, any Subsidiary (the items in clauses 4.06(b)(i) and
4.06(b)(ii) being referred to collectively as the "Subsidiary Securities").
There are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding Subsidiary Securities.
SECTION 4.07. SEC Filings. (a) The Company has delivered to Buyer (i)
the Company 10-K, (ii) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarter
ended March 31, 1998 (the "Company 10-Q"), (iii) its proxy or information
statements relating to meetings of, or actions taken without a meeting by, the
stockholders of the Company since January 1, 1997, and (iv) all of its other
reports, statements, schedules and registration statements filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") since January 1, 1997.
(b) As of its filing date, each such report or statement filed
pursuant to the Exchange Act did not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading except for such statements or omissions as may have been
modified by subsequent filings pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(c) Each such registration statement, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), as of the date such statement or amendment became effective
did not 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 except for such statements or omissions as may have been
modified by subsequent filings pursuant to the Securities Act.
SECTION 4.08. Financial Statements. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of the
Company included in the Company 10-K and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q
referred to in Section 4.07 fairly present in all material respects, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and except as permitted
by Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act with respect to the unaudited consolidated
interim financial statements), the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their
consolidated results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods
then ended (subject to normal year-end adjustments in the case of any unaudited
interim financial statements). For purposes of this Agreement, "Balance Sheet"
means the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 1997 set
forth in the Company 10-K and "Balance Sheet Date" means December 31, 1997.
SECTION 4.09. Disclosure Documents. (a) Each document required to be
filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Documents"), including,
without limitation, the Schedule 14D-9, the proxy or information statement of
the Company containing information required by Regulation 14A under the Exchange
Act (the "Company Proxy Statement") and, if applicable, Rule 13e-3 and Schedule
13E-3 under the Exchange Act, if any, to be filed with the SEC in connection
with the Offer and/or the Merger, and any amendments or supplements thereto
will, when filed, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act, except that no representation or warranty is
made hereby with respect to any information supplied by Buyer expressly for
inclusion in the Company Disclosure Documents.
(b) At the time the Company Proxy Statement or any amendment or
supplement thereto is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, at the time
such stockholders vote on adoption of this Agreement and at the Effective Time,
the Company Proxy Statement, as supplemented or amended, if applicable, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. At the time of the
filing of any Company Disclosure Document other than the Company Proxy Statement
and at the time of any distribution thereof, such Company Disclosure Document
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties contained in this Section 4.09(b) will not apply
to statements or omissions included in the Company Disclosure Documents based
upon information furnished to the Company in writing by Buyer specifically for
use therein.
(c) The information with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary that
the Company furnishes to Buyer in writing specifically for use in the Offer
Documents will not, at the time of the filing thereof, at the time of any
distribution thereof and at the time of the consummation of the Offer, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
SECTION 4.10. Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.10 hereto, in the Company 10-Q, or in the Prospectus included in
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No.333-47457 filed
on March 11, 1998 (the "Prospectus"), since the Balance Sheet Date, the Company
and Subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course consistent
with past practice and there has not been:
(a) any event, occurrence or development of a state of circumstances
or facts which has had or reasonably would be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
distribution with respect to any shares of capital stock of the
Company, or any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by the
Company or any Subsidiary of any outstanding shares of capital stock or
other securities of, or other ownership interests in, the Company or
any Subsidiary;
(c) any amendment of any material term of any outstanding security of
the Company or any Subsidiary;
(d) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by the Company or any
Subsidiary of any indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the
ordinary course of business and in amounts and on terms consistent with
past practices;
(e) any creation or assumption by the Company or any Subsidiary of any
Lien on any material asset which would materially impair the use
thereof by the Company other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices;
(f) any making of any loan, advance or capital contributions to or
investment in any Person other than loans, advances or capital
contributions to or investments in wholly-owned Subsidiaries made in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
(g) any damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not
covered by insurance) affecting the business or assets of the Company
or any Subsidiary which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(h) any transaction or commitment made, or any contract or agreement
entered into, by the Company or any Subsidiary relating to its assets
or business (including the acquisition or disposition of any assets) or
any relinquishment by the Company or any Subsidiary of any contract or
other right, in either case, material to the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than transactions and commitments
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and
those contemplated by this Agreement;
(i) any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice by
the Company or any Subsidiary, except for any such change required by
reason of a concurrent change in generally accepted accounting
principles;
(j) except as set forth on Schedule 4.10(j), any (i) grant of any
severance or termination pay to any director or officer of the Company
or any Subsidiary, (ii) entering into of any employment, deferred
compensation or other similar agreement (or any amendment to any such
existing agreement) with any director or officer of the Company or any
Subsidiary, (iii) increase in benefits payable under any existing
severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements or (iv)
increase in compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to directors
or officers of the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(k) any labor dispute, other than routine individual grievances, or
any activity or proceeding by a labor union or representative thereof
to organize any employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, which
employees were not subject to a collective bargaining agreement at the
Balance Sheet Date, or any lockouts, strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages
or threats thereof by or with respect to such employees; or
(l) any cancellation of any licenses, sublicenses, franchises, permits
or agreements to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or any
notification to the Company or any Subsidiary that any party to any
such arrangements intends to cancel or not renew such arrangements
beyond its expiration date as in effect on the date hereof, which
cancellation or notification, individually or in the aggregate, has had
or reasonably would be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.11. No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. To the Company's
knowledge, there are no liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary of any kind
whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or
otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances
which would reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than:
(a) liabilities disclosed or provided for in the Balance Sheet;
(b) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date or in connection with
the acquisition by the Company of Avtech Corporation and Xxxxxxxx
Industries, Inc., which, in each case, would not be reasonably expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
and
(c) liabilities under this Agreement.
SECTION 4.12. Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.12 and the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of the Company there is no action, suit,
investigation or proceeding pending against, or threatened against or affecting,
the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before any
court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official which, if
determined or resolved adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary in accordance
with the plaintiff's demands, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin,
alter or materially delay the Offer or the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.13. Taxes. (a) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.13
attached hereto, and except where the failure to file such Return has not
had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, all tax returns, statements, reports
and forms (including estimated tax returns and reports and information
returns and reports) required to be filed with any taxing authority with
respect to any tax period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the
Effective Time (a "Pre-Closing Tax Period") by or on behalf of the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company (collectively, the "Returns"), were filed
when due (including any applicable extension periods) in accordance with
all applicable laws.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.13, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have timely paid, or withheld and remitted to the appropriate
taxing authority, all taxes shown as due and payable on the Returns that have
been filed, except where the failure to so pay or withhold and remit has
not had and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The charges, accruals and reserves for taxes with respect to the
Company and any Subsidiary for any Pre-Closing Tax Period (including any
Pre-Closing Tax Period for which no Return has yet been filed) reflected on the
books of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any provision for deferred
income taxes) are adequate to cover such taxes.
(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.13, there is no material claim
(including under any indemnification or tax-sharing agreement), audit, action,
suit, proceeding, or investigation now pending or threatened in writing against
or in respect of any tax or "tax asset" of the Company or any Subsidiary. For
purposes of this Section 4.13, the term "tax asset" shall include any net
operating loss, net capital loss, investment tax credit, foreign tax credit,
charitable deduction or any other credit or tax attribute which could reduce
taxes.
(e) There are no material Liens for taxes upon the assets of the
Company or its Subsidiaries except for Liens for current taxes not yet due.
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United
States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") during the
applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
SECTION 4.14. ERISA. (a) The Company has provided Buyer with a list
identifying each "employee benefit plan", as defined in Section 3(3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), which (i) is subject
to any provision of ERISA and (ii) is maintained, administered or contributed to
by the Company or any affiliate (as defined below) and covers any employee or
former employee of the Company or any affiliate or under which the Company or
any affiliate has any liability. Copies of such plans (and, if applicable,
related trust agreements) and all amendments thereto and written interpretations
thereof have been furnished to Buyer together with (A) the three most recent
annual reports (Form 5500 including, if applicable, Schedule B thereto) prepared
in connection with any such plan and (B) the most recent actuarial valuation
report prepared in connection with any such plan. Such plans are referred to
collectively herein as the "Employee Plans". For purposes of this Section,
"affiliate" of any Person means any other Person which, together with such
Person, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code. The
only Employee Plans which individually or collectively would constitute an
"employee pension benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (the
"Pension Plans") are identified as such in the list referred to above. The
Company has provided Buyer with complete age, salary, service and related data
as of a recent date for employees and former employees of the Company and any
affiliate covered under the Pension Plans.
(b) Except as otherwise indicated on Schedule 4.14(b), no Employee
Plan (i) constitutes a "multiemployer plan", as defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA; (ii) is maintained in connection with any trust described in Section
501(c)(9) of the Code; or (iii) is subject to Title IV of ERISA. The Company
knows of no "reportable event", within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, and
no event described in Section 4041, 4042, 4062 or 4063 of ERISA has occurred in
connection with any Employee Plan. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates
has incurred any material liability under Title IV of ERISA arising in
connection with the termination of, or complete or partial withdrawal from, any
plan covered or previously covered by Title IV of ERISA. Nothing done or omitted
to be done and no transaction or holding of any asset under or in connection
with any Employee Plan has or will make the Company or any Subsidiary, or any
officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary, subject to any liability
under Title I of ERISA or liable for any tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the
Code.
(c) Each Employee Plan which is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has been so qualified during the period
from its adoption to date, and each trust forming a part thereof is exempt from
tax pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code. The Company has furnished to the
Buyer copies of the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letters
with respect to each such Plan. Each Employee Plan has been maintained in
substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements prescribed by
any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited
to ERISA and the Code, which are applicable to such Plan.
(d) There is no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement covering any
employee or former employee of the Company or any affiliate that, individually
or collectively, could give rise to the payment of any amount that would not be
deductible pursuant to the terms of Sections 162(a)(1) or 280G of the Code.
(e) The Company has provided Buyer with a list of each employment,
severance or other similar contract, arrangement or policy and each plan or
arrangement (written or oral) providing for insurance coverage (including any
self-insured arrangements), workers' compensation, disability benefits,
supplemental unemployment benefits, vacation benefits, retirement benefits or
for deferred compensation, profit-sharing, bonuses, stock options, stock
appreciation or other forms of incentive compensation or post-retirement
insurance, compensation or benefits which (i) is not an Employee Plan, (ii) is
entered into, maintained or contributed to, as the case may be, by the Company
or any of its affiliates and (iii) covers any employee or former employee of the
Company or any of its affiliates. Such contracts, plans and arrangements as are
described above, copies or descriptions of all of which have been furnished
previously to Buyer are referred to collectively herein as the "Benefit
Arrangements". Each Benefit Arrangement has been maintained in substantial
compliance with its terms and with the requirements prescribed by any and all
statutes, orders, rules and regulations that are applicable to such Benefit
Arrangement.
(f) The Company does not provide post-employment health or medical
benefits for former employees of the Company and its affiliates except as
required to avoid imposition of tax under Section 4980B of the Code. No
condition exists that would prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from amending
or terminating any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement providing health or
medical benefits in respect of any active employee of the Company or any
Subsidiary other than limitations imposed under the terms of a collective
bargaining agreement.
(g) Except as disclosed in writing to Buyer prior to the date hereof,
there has been no amendment to, written interpretation or announcement (whether
or not written) by the Company or any of its affiliates relating to, or change
in employee participation or coverage under, any Employee Plan or Benefit
Arrangement which would increase materially the expense of maintaining such
Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement above the level of the expense incurred in
respect thereof for the fiscal year ended on the Balance Sheet Date.
(h) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.14(h), neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary is a party to or subject to any union contract or any employment
contract or arrangement providing for annual future compensation of $150,000 or
more with any officer, consultant, director or employee.
(i) Schedule 4.14(i) identifies each International Plan (as defined
below). The Company has furnished to Buyer copies of each International Plan.
Each International Plan has been maintained in substantial compliance with its
terms and with the requirements prescribed by any and all applicable statutes,
orders, rules and regulations (including any special provisions relating to
qualified plans where such Plan was intended to so qualify) and has been
maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities. There has
been no amendment to, written interpretation of or announcement (whether or not
written) by the Company or any Subsidiary relating to, or change in employee
participation or coverage under, any International Plan that would increase
materially the expense of maintaining such International Plan above the level of
expense incurred in respect thereof for the most recent fiscal year ended prior
to the date hereof.
"International Plan" means any employment, severance or similar
contract or arrangement (whether or not written) or any plan, policy, fund,
program or arrangement or contract providing for severance, insurance coverage
(including any self-insured arrangements), workers' compensation, disability
benefits, supplemental unemployment benefits, vacation benefits, pension or
retirement benefits or for deferred compensation, profit-sharing, bonuses, stock
options, stock appreciation rights or other forms of incentive compensation or
post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits that (i) is not an Employee
Plan or a Benefit Arrangement, (ii) is entered into, maintained, administered or
contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary and (iii) covers any employee or
former employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 4.15. Compliance with Laws. To the Company's knowledge, neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of, or has since January 1, 1997
violated, and to the knowledge of the Company none is under investigation with
respect to or has been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any
violation of, any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order
or decree, except for violations that have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.16. Licenses and Permits. The Company has previously
delivered to Buyer true and correct copies of each material license, franchise,
permit, certificate, approval or other similar authorization affecting, or
relating in any way to, the assets or business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (the "Permits") together with the name of the government agency or
entity issuing such Permit. Except as set forth on the Schedule 4.16, (i) the
Permits are valid and in full force and effect, (ii) neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary is in material default under, and no condition exists that with
notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a material default under, the
Permits and (iii) none of the Permits will be terminated or impaired or become
terminable, in whole or in part, as a result of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
SECTION 4.17. Intellectual Property. (a) The Company and the
Subsidiaries own or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use all
Intellectual Property Rights necessary to conduct the business now operated by
them, except where the failure to own or possess such licenses or rights has not
had and would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property Rights of the Company and
the Subsidiaries do not conflict with or infringe upon any Intellectual Property
Rights of others to the extent that, if sustained, such conflict or infringement
has had and would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual Property Right" means any trademark,
service xxxx, trade name, mask work, copyright, patent, software license, other
data base, invention, trade secret, know-how (including any registrations or
applications for registration of any of the foregoing) or any other similar type
of proprietary intellectual property right.
(b) The Company's data processing systems will recognize, manage and
manipulate data with respect to single-century formulas, multi-century formulas
and leap year formulas involving dates without giving rise to any invalid or
incorrect date whether used before, during or after the calendar year 2000.
SECTION 4.18. Environmental Matters. (a) Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.18 hereto and in the Prospectus:
(i) no notice, notification, demand, request for information,
citation, summons, complaint or order has been received by, or, to the
knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, is pending or threatened by
any Person against, the Company or any Subsidiary nor has any material
penalty been assessed against the Company or any Subsidiary with
respect to any (A) alleged violation of any Environmental Law or
liability thereunder, (B) alleged failure to have any permit,
certificate, license, approval, registration or authorization required
under any Environmental Law, (C) generation, treatment, storage,
recycling, transportation or disposal of any Hazardous Substance or (D)
discharge, emission or release of any Hazardous Substance;
(ii) no Hazardous Substance has been discharged, emitted, released or
is present at any property now or previously owned, leased or operated
by the Company or any Subsidiary, which circumstances, individually or
in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect; and
(iii) there are no Environmental Liabilities that have had or may
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) There has been no environmental investigation, study, audit, test,
review or other analysis conducted of which the Company has knowledge in
relation to the current or prior business of the Company or any property or
facility now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary
which has not been delivered to Buyer at least five days prior to the date
hereof.
(c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns or leases or has owned
or leased any real property in New Jersey or Connecticut.
(d) For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:
(i) "Company" and "Subsidiary" shall include any entity which is, in
whole or in part, a predecessor of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(ii) "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances,
rules, judgments, orders, decrees, codes, plans, injunctions, permits,
concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and governmental
restrictions, relating to human health, the environment or to
emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants or other
hazardous substances or wastes into the environment, including without
limitation ambient air, surface water, ground water or land, or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants,
contaminants or other hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or
other remediation thereof;
(iii) "Environmental Liabilities" means any and all liabilities of or
relating to the Company and any Subsidiary, whether contingent or
fixed, actual or potential, known or unknown, which (i) arise under or
relate to matters covered by Environmental Laws and (ii) relate to
actions occurring or conditions existing on or prior to the Effective
Time; and
(iv) "Hazardous Substances" means any toxic, radioactive, corrosive or
otherwise hazardous substance, including petroleum, its derivatives,
by-products and other hydrocarbons, or any substance having any
constituent elements displaying any of the foregoing characteristics,
which in any event is regulated under Environmental Laws.
SECTION 4.19. Finders' Fees. Except for Warburg Dillon Read LLC a copy
of whose engagement agreement has been provided to Buyer, there is no investment
banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is
authorized to act on behalf, of the Company or any Subsidiary who might be
entitled to any fee or commission from Buyer or any of its affiliates or the
Company upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
any alternative transaction.
SECTION 4.20. Inapplicability of Certain Restrictions. Section 203 of
the Delaware Law does not in any way restrict the acquisition of Shares pursuant
to the Offer, the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated hereby. The adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of
the holders of Shares entitling such holders to exercise at least a majority of
the voting power of the Shares is the only vote of holders of any class or
series of the capital stock of the Company required to adopt this Agreement, or
to approve the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby and
no higher or additional vote is required pursuant to of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise.
SECTION 4.21. Rights Plan. The Company has not entered into, and its
Board of Directors has not adopted or authorized the adoption of, a shareholder
rights or similar agreement, other than any such agreement which was terminated
prior to December 31, 1997 and which is of no further force or effect.
ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof and
as of the Effective Time that:
SECTION 5.01. Corporate Existence and Power. Buyer is a corporation
duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation and has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted. Since the date of its incorporation, Buyer has
not engaged in any activities other than in connection with or as contemplated
by this Agreement or in connection with arranging any financing required to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 5.02. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and
performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by Buyer of the
transactions contemplated hereby are within the corporate powers of Buyer and
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and stockholder action.
This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Buyer.
SECTION 5.03. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and
performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by Buyer of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement require no action by or in respect
of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency, official or authority other
than (a) the filing of a certificate of merger in accordance with Delaware Law,
(b) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act; (c) compliance
with any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act; and (d) compliance with
any applicable antitrust laws and regulations in Switzerland and the U.K.
SECTION 5.04. Non-contravention. The execution, delivery and
performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by Buyer of the
transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict
with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Buyer, (b) assuming
compliance with the matters referred to in Section 5.03, contravene or conflict
with any provision of law, regulation, judgment, order or decree binding upon
Buyer, or (c) constitute a default under or give rise to any right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of Buyer or
to a loss of any benefit to which Buyer is entitled under any agreement,
contract or other instrument binding upon Buyer.
SECTION 5.05. Disclosure Documents. (a) The information with respect to
Buyer and its subsidiaries that Buyer furnishes to the Company in writing
specifically for use in any Company Disclosure Document will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading (i) in the case of the Company Proxy
Statement at the time the Company Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement
thereto is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, at the time the
stockholders vote on adoption of this Agreement and at the Effective Time, and
(ii) in the case of any Company Disclosure Document other than the Company Proxy
Statement, at the time of the filing thereof and at the time of any distribution
thereof.
(b) The Offer Documents, when filed, will comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and will
not at the time of the filing thereof, at the time of any distribution thereof
or at the time of consummation of the Offer, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, provided, that this representation and warranty will not
apply to statements or omissions in the Offer Documents based upon information
furnished to Buyer in writing by the Company specifically for use therein.
SECTION 5.06. Litigation. To the knowledge of Buyer no action, suit,
investigation or proceeding pending against, or threatened against or affecting,
Buyer or any of its properties before any court or arbitrator or any
governmental body, agency or official, which in any manner challenges or seeks
to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the Offer or the Merger or any of
the other transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 5.07. Finders' Fees. Except for Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation ("DLJSC"), whose fees will be paid by Buyer, there is no
investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary who might be entitled to
any fee or commission from the Company or any of its affiliates upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 5.08. Financing. The Company has received copies of (a) a
commitment letter dated July 16, 1998 from DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II,
L.P. and certain related funds pursuant to which each of the foregoing has
committed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase
equity securities of XxXxxxx Holdings Co., the indirect, newly formed parent
company of Buyer for an aggregate amount equal to $65,000,000, (b)(i) a letter
dated July 16, 1998 from DLJ Bridge Finance, Inc. ("DLJ Bridge Fund") pursuant
to which DLJ Bridge Fund has committed, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth therein, to purchase Senior Pay-In-Kind Notes of XxXxxxx Holdings Co., a
subsidiary of XxXxxxx Holdings Co. and the direct, newly formed parent company
of Buyer and Senior Subordinated Notes of XxXxxxx Finance Co. in an aggregate
amount of $134,000,000, and (ii) a commitment letter dated July 16, 1998 from
DLJ Capital Funding, Inc. ("DLJ Senior Debt Fund") pursuant to which DLJ Senior
Debt Fund has committed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein,
to enter into one or more credit agreements providing for loans to XxXxxxx
Finance Co. of up to $130,000,000. As used in this Agreement, the aforementioned
entities shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Financing Entities." The
aforementioned commitments shall be referred to as the "Financing Agreements"
and the financing to be provided thereunder shall be referred to as the
"Financing." The aggregate proceeds of the Financing are in an amount sufficient
to pay when due the aggregate purchase price for the Shares to be purchased in
the Offer and the Merger Consideration, to repay all of the Company's and its
Subsidiaries' indebtedness together with any interest, premium or penalties
payable in connection therewith, to provide a reasonable amount of working
capital financing and to pay related fees and expenses (such amounts, the
"Required Amounts"). As of the date hereof, none of the commitment letters
relating to the Financing Agreements referred to above has been withdrawn and
Buyer does not know of any facts or circumstances that may reasonably be
expected to result in any of the conditions set forth in the commitment letters
relating to the Financing Agreements not being satisfied.
ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 6.01. Conduct of the Company. Except as expressly required by
this Agreement or with the prior consent of Buyer, from the date hereof until
the Effective Time, the Company and the Subsidiaries shall conduct their
business in all material respects in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice and shall use their reasonable best efforts to preserve substantially
intact their business organizations and relationships with third parties that
are material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole and to keep
available the services of their present officers and employees. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Effective Time
the Company will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries not to:
(a) adopt or propose any change in its certificate of incorporation
or bylaws;
(b) except pursuant to existing agreements or arrangements
(i) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of
stock or assets) any material corporation, partnership or
other business organization or division thereof, or sell,
lease or otherwise dispose of a material subsidiary or a
material amount of assets or securities;
(ii) make any investment other than in readily marketable
securities in an amount in excess of $750,000 in the aggregate
whether by purchase of stock or securities, contributions to
capital or any property transfer, or purchase for an amount in
excess of $750,000 in the aggregate, any property or assets of
any other individual or entity;
(iii) waive, release, grant, or transfer any rights of
value material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a
whole;
(iv) modify or change in any material respect any existing
license, lease, contract, or other document material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(v) except to refund or refinance commercial paper,
incur, assume or prepay an amount of long-term or short-term
debt in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate;
(vi) assume, guarantee, endorse (other than endorsements
of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of business)
or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly,
contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other
person (other than any Subsidiary) which, are in excess of
$500,000 in the aggregate;
(vii) make any loans or advances to any other person (other
than any Subsidiary) which are in excess of $100,000 in the
aggregate or
(viii) authorize any new capital expenditures which,
individually, is in excess of $250,000 or, in the aggregate,
are in excess of $1,000,000;
(c) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock,
declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether
in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of
its capital stock, other than cash dividends and distributions by a
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a
subsidiary all of the capital stock which is owned directly or
indirectly by the Company, or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire
or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its
securities or any securities of its Subsidiaries;
(d) adopt or amend any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, severance,
termination, stock option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation,
employment or employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, plan, fund or
other arrangement for the benefit and welfare of any director, officer
or employee, or (except for normal increases in the ordinary course of
business that are consistent with past practices and that, in the
aggregate, do not result in a material increase in benefits or
compensation expense to the Company) increase in any manner the
compensation or fringe benefits of any director, officer or employee or
pay any benefit not required by any existing plan or arrangement
(including, without limitation, the granting of stock options or stock
appreciation rights or the removal of existing restrictions in any
benefit plans or agreements);
(e) revalue in any material respect any of its assets, including,
without limitation, writing down the value of inventory in any material
manner or write-off of notes or accounts receivable in any material
manner;
(f) pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims, liabilities or
obligations (whether absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted,
contingent or otherwise) other than the payment, discharge or
satisfaction in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past
practices, of liabilities reflected or reserved against in the
consolidated financial statements of the Company or incurred since the
most recent date thereof pursuant to an agreement or transaction
described in this Agreement (including the schedules hereto) or
incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past
practices;
(g) except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(g), make any tax election or
settle or compromise any material income tax liability;
(h) take any action other than in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practices with respect to accounting policies or
procedures other than any change in accounting policies (that is not
material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole) that is
required by regulations of the SEC; or
(i) agree or commit to do any of the foregoing; or
(j) take or agree or commit to take any action that would make any
representation and warranty of the Company hereunder inaccurate in any
respect at, or as of any time prior to, the Effective Time.
SECTION 6.02. Stockholder Meeting; Proxy Material. The Company shall
cause a meeting of its stockholders (the "Company Stockholder Meeting") to be
duly called and held as soon as reasonably practicable for the purpose of voting
on the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger unless a vote of
stockholders of the Company is not required by Delaware Law. The Directors of
the Company shall, subject to their fiduciary duties as advised by counsel,
recommend approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger by the
Company's stockholders. In connection with such meeting, the Company (a) will
promptly prepare and file with the SEC, will use its reasonable best efforts to
have cleared by the SEC and will thereafter mail to its stockholders as promptly
as practicable the Company Proxy Statement and all other proxy materials for
such meeting, (b) will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the necessary
approvals by its stockholders of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and (c) will otherwise comply with all legal requirements
applicable to such meeting.
SECTION 6.03. Access to Information. From the date hereof until the
Effective Time, the Company will give Buyer, its counsel, financial advisors,
auditors and other authorized representatives full access to the offices,
properties, books and records of the Company and the Subsidiaries, will furnish
to Buyer, its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized
representatives such financial and operating data and other information as such
Persons may reasonably request and will instruct the Company's employees,
counsel and financial advisors to cooperate with Buyer in its investigation of
the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to grant any such access or furnish information to
Buyer to the extent that such information is subject to an attorney/client or
attorney work product privilege and breach thereof would have a Material Adverse
Effect; and provided, further, that no investigation pursuant to this Section
shall affect any representation or warranty given by the Company to Buyer
hereunder. Buyer and the Company acknowledge that such information is governed
by the terms of that certain confidentiality agreement between DLJ Merchant
Banking II, Inc. and the Company (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), and that
such Confidentiality Agreement remains in full force and effect.
SECTION 6.04. Other Offers. (a) Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall (whether directly or indirectly through advisors, agents or
other intermediaries), 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 (i) solicit, initiate or take any
action knowingly to facilitate the submission of inquiries, proposals or offers
from any Third Party (as defined below) (other than Buyer) which constitutes or
would reasonably be expected to lead to (A) any acquisition or purchase of 30%
or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or of
over 30% of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (B) any tender offer (including a self tender offer) or exchange
offer that if consummated would result in any Third Party beneficially owning
30% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (C) any merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of
substantially all assets, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar
transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose assets,
individually or in the aggregate, constitute more than 30% of the consolidated
assets of the Company other than the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, or (D) any other transaction the consummation of which would
reasonably be expected to interfere with in a material way, prevent or
materially delay the Merger or which would reasonably be expected to materially
dilute the benefits to Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby
(collectively, "Acquisition Proposals"), or agree to or endorse any Acquisition
Proposal, (ii) enter into or participate in any discussions or negotiations
regarding any of the foregoing, or furnish to any Third Party any information
with respect to its business, properties or assets or any of the foregoing, or
otherwise cooperate in any way with, or knowingly assist or participate in,
facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any Third Party (other than
Buyer) to do or seek any of the foregoing, or (iii) grant any waiver or release
under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any class of equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that
the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company (either directly or indirectly
through advisors, agents or other intermediaries) from (A) furnishing
information pursuant to an appropriate confidentiality letter (which letter
shall not be less favorable to the Company in any material respect (with respect
to duration and standstill provisions) than the Confidentiality Agreement, and a
copy of which shall be provided for informational purposes only to Buyer)
concerning the Company and its businesses, properties or assets to a Third Party
who has made or is seeking to initiate discussions with respect to a bona fide
Acquisition Proposal, (B) engaging in discussions or negotiations with such a
Third Party who has made a bona fide Acquisition Proposal, (C) following receipt
of a bona fide Acquisition 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, (D) following receipt of a bona fide
Acquisition Proposal, failing to make or withdrawing or modifying its
recommendation referred to in Section 1.02(b) and/or Section 6.02 and/or (E)
taking any non-appealable, final action ordered to be taken by the Company by
any court of competent jurisdiction but in each case referred to in the
foregoing clauses (A) through (D) only to the extent that the Board of Directors
of the Company shall have concluded in good faith on the basis of written advice
from outside counsel that such action by the Board of Directors is required in
order to comply with the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors to the
stockholders of the Company under applicable law; provided, further, that the
Board of Directors of the Company shall not take any of the foregoing actions
referred to in clauses (A) through (D) until after reasonable notice to Buyer
with respect to such action and that such Board of Directors shall continue to
advise Buyer after taking such action and, in addition, if the Board of
Directors of the Company receives an Acquisition Proposal, then the Company
shall promptly inform Buyer of the terms and conditions of such proposal and the
identity of the person making it. The Company will immediately cease and cause
its advisors, agents and other intermediaries to cease any and all existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore
with respect to any of the foregoing, and shall use its reasonable best efforts
to cause any such parties in possession of confidential information about the
Company that was furnished by or on behalf of the Company to return or destroy
all such information in the possession of any such party or in the possession of
any agent or advisor of any such party. As used in this Agreement, the term
"Third Party" means any person, corporation, entity or "group," as defined in
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than Buyer or any of its affiliates.
(b) If a Payment Event (as hereinafter defined) occurs, the Company
shall pay to Buyer, within two business days following such Payment Event, a fee
of $6,900,000.
"Payment Event" means (x) the termination of this Agreement by
the Company or Buyer pursuant to Section 10.01(d); or (y) the occurrence of any
of the following events within 12 months of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 10.01(b) whereby stockholders of the Company receive,
pursuant to such event, cash, securities or other consideration having an
aggregate value, when taken together with the value of any securities of the
Company or its Subsidiaries otherwise held by the stockholders of the Company
after such event, in excess of $23.00 per Share: the Company is acquired by
merger or otherwise by a Third Party; a Third Party acquires more than 50% of
the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; a Third
Party acquires more than 50% of the outstanding Shares or the Company adopts and
implements a plan of liquidation, recapitalization or share repurchase relating
to more than 50% of the outstanding Shares or an extraordinary dividend relating
to more than 50% of the outstanding Shares or 50% of the assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c) Upon the termination of this Agreement for any reason (other than
a termination which would not have occurred but for the failure of Buyer to
fulfill its obligations under this Agreement) the Company shall reimburse Buyer
and its affiliates not later than two business days after submission of
reasonable documentation thereof for 100% of their documented out-of-pocket fees
and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) up to
$4,250,000, in each case, actually incurred by any of them or on their behalf in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
(including the Merger and the arrangement, obtaining the commitment to provide
or obtaining the Financing for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including fees payable to the Financing Entities and their respective
counsel)).
(d) The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this
Section 6.04 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and that, without these agreements, Buyer would not enter into this
Agreement; accordingly, if the Company fails to promptly pay any amount due
pursuant to this Section 6.04, and, in order to obtain such payment, the other
party commences a suit which results in a judgment against the Company for the
fee or fees and expenses set forth in this Section 6.04, the Company shall also
pay to Buyer its costs and expenses incurred in connection with such litigation.
(e) This Section 6.04 shall survive any termination of this Agreement,
however caused.
SECTION 6.05. Notices of Certain Events. The Company shall promptly
notify Buyer of:
(a) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that
the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(b) any notice or other communication from any governmental or
regulatory agency or authority in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; and
(c) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings
commenced or, to the best of its knowledge threatened against, relating
to or involving or otherwise affecting the Company or any Subsidiary
which, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been
required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 4.12 or which
relate to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 7
COVENANTS OF BUYER
Buyer agrees that:
SECTION 7.01. Confidentiality. Prior to the Effective Time and after
any termination of this Agreement Buyer will hold, and will use its best efforts
to cause its officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants,
advisors and agents to hold, in confidence, unless compelled to disclose by
judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of law, all
confidential documents and information concerning the Company and the
Subsidiaries furnished to Buyer in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the stockholder lists
furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 1.02, except to the extent that
such information can be shown to have been (a) previously known on a
nonconfidential basis by Buyer, (b) in the public domain through no fault of
Buyer or (c) later lawfully acquired by Buyer from sources other than the
Company (provided that such sources are not known by Buyer to be under any
obligation of confidentiality to the Company with respect to such information);
provided that Buyer may disclose such information to its officers, directors,
employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to its lenders in
connection with obtaining the financing for the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement so long as such Persons are informed by Buyer of the confidential
nature of such information and agree to treat such information confidentially.
Buyer's obligation to hold any such information in confidence shall be satisfied
if it exercises the same care with respect to such information as it would take
to preserve the confidentiality of its own similar information, it being
understood that Buyer shall remain responsible for breach of any such agreement.
If this Agreement is terminated, Buyer will, and will use its best efforts to
cause its officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants,
advisors and agents to, destroy or deliver to the Company, upon request, all
documents and other materials, and all copies thereof, obtained by Buyer or on
its behalf from the Company in connection with this Agreement that are subject
to such confidence.
SECTION 7.02. Voting of Shares. Buyer agrees to vote all Shares
beneficially owned by it in favor of adoption of this Agreement at the Company
Stockholder Meeting.
SECTION 7.03. Director and Officer Liability. For six years after the
Effective Time, Buyer will cause the Surviving Corporation to (i) indemnify and
hold harmless the present and former officers and directors of the Company in
respect of acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time (including
without limitation matters related to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement) and (ii) retain limitations on personal liability of directors for
monetary damages in each case, to the fullest extent provided under the
Company's certificate of incorporation and bylaws in effect on the date hereof;
provided that such indemnification shall be subject to any limitation imposed
from time to time under applicable law. For six years after the Effective Time,
Buyer will cause the Surviving Corporation to use its best efforts to provide
officers' and directors' liability insurance in respect of acts or omissions
occurring prior to and including the Effective Time covering each such Person
currently covered by the Company's officers' and directors' liability insurance
policy on terms with respect to coverage and amount no less favorable than those
of such policy in effect on the date hereof, provided that in satisfying its
obligation under this Section, Buyer shall not be obligated to cause the
Surviving Corporation to pay premiums in excess of 150% of the amount per annum
the Company paid in its last full fiscal year, which amount has been disclosed
to Buyer. It is understood that such obligation to indemnify (but not to
maintain insurance) shall apply to claims of which the Surviving Corporation
shall have been notified prior to the expiration of such six-year period
regardless of when such claims shall have been disposed of.
SECTION 7.04. Employee Matters. Parent agrees that, for at least one
year from the Effective Time, subject to applicable law, the Surviving
Corporation and its Subsidiaries will provide benefits to their employees which
will, in the aggregate, be comparable to those currently provided by the Company
and its subsidiaries to their employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein shall obligate or require the Surviving Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries to provide its employees with a plan or arrangement similar to any
equity based compensation plans currently maintained by the Company and nothing
herein shall otherwise limit the Surviving Corporation's right to amend, modify
or terminate any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement.
ARTICLE 8
COVENANTS OF BUYER AND THE COMPANY
The parties hereto agree that:
SECTION 8.01. Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each party will use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 8.02. Certain Filings. The Company and Buyer shall cooperate
with one another (a) in connection with the preparation of the Company
Disclosure Documents and the Offer Documents, (b) in determining whether any
action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or
official, or authority is required, or any actions, consents, approvals or
waivers are required to be obtained from parties to any material contracts, in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and (c) in seeking any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers or
making any such filings, furnishing information required in connection therewith
or with the Company Disclosure Documents or the Offer Documents and seeking
timely to obtain any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers.
SECTION 8.03. Public Announcements. Buyer and the Company will consult
with each other before issuing any press release or making any public statement
with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and,
except as may be required by applicable law or any listing agreement with any
national securities exchange or the rules applicable to the Nasdaq Stock Market,
will not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to
such consultation.
SECTION 8.04. Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the
officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to
execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Buyer, any
deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name
and on behalf of the Company or Buyer, any other actions and things to vest,
perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and
all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or
assets of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as
a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.
ARTICLE 9
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 9.01. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The
obligations of the Company and Buyer to consummate the Merger are subject to
the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) if required by Delaware Law, this Agreement shall have been
adopted by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with such Law;
(b) any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act relating to the
Merger shall have expired or been terminated;
(c) no provision of any applicable law or regulation and no judgment,
injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the consummation of the
Merger;
(d) Buyer shall have purchased Shares pursuant to the Offer; and
(e) all actions by or in respect of or filings with any governmental
body, agency, official, or authority required to permit the
consummation of the Merger shall have been obtained.
SECTION 9.02. Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer. The obligations
of Buyer to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the
following further conditions:
(a) the Company shall have performed in all material respects all of
its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to
the Effective Time;
(b) no provision of any applicable law or regulation and no judgment,
injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the consummation of the
Merger; and
(c) Buyer shall have received all documents it may reasonably request
relating to the existence of the Company and the Subsidiaries and the
authority of the Company for this Agreement, all in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer.
ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION
SECTION 10.01. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time
(notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the
Company):
(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Buyer;
(b) by either the Company or Buyer, if the Offer has not been
consummated by the date that is 60 days after the commencement of the
Offer; provided, however, that the right to terminate under this clause
(b) shall not be available if Buyer shall have failed to purchase
Shares in violation of the Offer;
(c) by either the Company or Buyer, if there shall be any law or
regulation that makes consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise
prohibited or if any judgment, injunction, order or decree enjoining
Buyer or the Company from consummating the Merger is entered and such
judgment, injunction, order or decree shall become final and
nonappealable; or
(d) by the Company or Buyer, if the Board of Directors of the Company
shall have withdrawn or materially modified its recommendation as
permitted by clause (D) of the proviso of Section 6.04(a).
The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to clauses
10.01(b), 10.01(c) or 10.01(d) shall give written notice of such termination to
the other party in accordance with Section 11.01.
SECTION 10.02. Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 10.01, this Agreement shall become void and of no effect
with no liability on the part of any party hereto, except that termination of
this Agreement shall be without prejudice to any rights any party may have
hereunder against any other party for wilful breach of this Agreement. The
agreements contained in Sections 6.04, 7.01, 11.04 and 11.06 shall survive the
termination hereof.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications
to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopy or similar
writing) and shall be given,
if to Buyer, to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
if to the Company, to:
R. Xxxx XxXxxxx
XxXxxxx Aircraft Holdings, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Stroock & Stroock & Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Spolin & Xxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
or such other address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for
the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto. Each such notice, request or
other communication shall be effective (a) if given by telecopy, when such
telecopy is transmitted to the telecopy number specified in this Section and the
appropriate telecopy confirmation is received or (b) if given by any other
means, when delivered at the address specified in this Section.
SECTION 11.02. Survival of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties and agreements contained herein and in any
certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall not survive the
Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement except for the
representations, warranties and agreements set forth in Sections 6.04, 7.01,
7.03, 10.02 and 11.04.
SECTION 11.03. Amendments; No Waivers. (a) Any provision of this
Agreement may be amended or waived prior to the Effective Time if, and only if,
such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment,
by the Company and Buyer or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom
the waiver is to be effective; provided that after the adoption of this
Agreement by the stockholders of the Company, no such amendment or waiver shall,
without the further approval of such stockholders, alter or change (i) the
amount or kind of consideration to be received in exchange for any shares of
capital stock of the Company, (ii) any term of the certificate of incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation or (iii) any of the terms or conditions of this
Agreement if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any
shares of capital stock of the Company.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or
privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or
partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein
provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided by law.
SECTION 11.04. Expenses. Except as provided in Section 6.04, all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid
by the party incurring such cost or expense.
SECTION 11.05. Successors and Assigns; Benefit. The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, provided that no party may assign,
delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this
Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto except that Buyer may
transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of its
affiliates, the right to purchase shares pursuant to the Offer, but any such
transfer or assignment will not relieve Buyer of its obligations under the Offer
or prejudice the rights of tendering stockholders to receive payment for Shares
validly tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer. Nothing in this
Agreement, expressed or implied, shall confer on any Person other than the
parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns, any rights,
benefits, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this
Agreement, except that the present and former officers and directors of the
Company and their respective heirs and representatives shall have the rights and
benefits set forth in Section 7.03 hereof.
SECTION 11.06. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the law of the State of Delaware, without giving
effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
SECTION 11.07. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be
signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with
the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall
have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.
SECTION 11.08. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Confidentiality
Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
XXXXXXX AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ R. Xxxx XxXxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: R. Xxxx XxXxxxx
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
XXXXXXX ACQUISITION CO.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Title: President
ANNEX I
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Buyer shall not be required to
accept for payment or pay for any Shares, and may terminate the Offer, if (i)
prior to the expiration date of the Offer, (A) less than a majority of the
outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis has been tendered pursuant to the
Offer by the expiration of the Offer and not withdrawn, (B) the applicable
waiting period under the HSR Act in respect of any of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement shall not have expired or been terminated
or (C) the Required Amounts (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall not have
been made available to Buyer as contemplated in Section 5.08 of the Merger
Agreement or (ii) at any time on or after ________, 1998 and prior to the
acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares, any of the following
conditions exist:
(a) there shall be instituted or pending any action or proceeding by
any government or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, or by
any other person, domestic or foreign, before any court or governmental
authority or agency, domestic or foreign, (i) challenging or seeking to make
illegal, to delay materially or otherwise directly or indirectly to restrain or
prohibit the making of the Offer, the acceptance for payment of or payment for
some of or all the Shares by Buyer or the consummation by Buyer of the Merger,
or seeking to obtain material damages, (ii) seeking to restrain or prohibit
Buyer's ownership or operation (or that of its respective subsidiaries or
affiliates) of all or any material portion of the business or assets of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or of Buyer and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or to compel Buyer or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates to dispose of or hold separate all or any material portion of the
business or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or of
Buyer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) seeking to impose or confirm
material limitations on the ability of Buyer or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates effectively to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares,
including, without limitation, the right to vote any Shares acquired or owned by
Buyer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates on all matters properly presented
to the Company's stockholders, or (iv) seeking to require divestiture by Buyer
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates of any Shares, or (v) that otherwise,
in the reasonable judgment of Buyer, is likely to materially adversely affect
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or
(b) there shall be any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation,
injunction, order or decree proposed, enacted, enforced, promulgated, issued or
deemed applicable to the Offer or the Merger, by any court, government or
governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign other than the application
of the waiting period provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer or the Merger,
that, in the reasonable judgment of Buyer, is likely, directly or indirectly, to
result in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of
paragraph (a) above; or
(c) any change or material worsening of any existing condition shall
have occurred in the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or
otherwise), results of operations or, insofar as can be reasonably foreseen,
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole that, in the
reasonable judgment of Buyer, is or is likely to be materially adverse to the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or
(d) a tender or exchange offer for more than 30% of the Shares at a
price per Share in excess of $23.00 shall have been made by another person, or
it shall have been publicly disclosed or Buyer shall have otherwise learned that
(i) any person or "group" (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)
shall have acquired or proposed to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 30%
of any class or series of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares),
through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a group or otherwise, or
shall have been granted any option, right or warrant, conditional or otherwise,
to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 30% of any class or series of
capital stock of the Company (including the Shares) other than acquisitions for
bona fide arbitrage purposes only and other than as disclosed in a Schedule 13D
or 13G on file with the Commission on July 16, 1998, or (ii) any such person or
group which, prior to July 16, 1998, had filed such a Schedule with the
Commission shall have acquired or proposed to acquire beneficial ownership of
additional shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company
(including the Shares), through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a
group or otherwise, constituting 10% or more of any such class or series, or
shall have been granted any option, right or warrant, conditional or otherwise,
to acquire beneficial ownership of additional shares of any class or series of
capital stock of the Company (including the Shares) constituting 10% or more of
any such class or series or (iii) any person or group shall have entered into a
definitive agreement or an agreement in principle with respect to a merger,
consolidation or other business combination with the Company; or
(e) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any
material respect any of its covenants or agreements under the Merger Agreement,
or any of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the
Merger Agreement shall not be true in any material respect when made or at any
time prior to consummation of the Offer as if made at and as of such time; or
(f) The Fourth Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement and the
Fifth Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, in each case among the
Company and certain of its shareholders, shall not have been terminated; or
(g) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
its terms; or
(h) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have withdrawn or
materially modified its approval or recommendation of the Offer or the Merger;
which, in the reasonable judgment of Buyer in any such case, and regardless of
the circumstances giving rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to
proceed with such acceptance for payment or payment.