AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC.,
HSI ACQUISITION CORP.
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ DENTAL PRODUCTS, INC.
Dated August 3, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I
THE MERGER...............................................................................................1
Section 1.1 The Merger.............................................................................1
Section 1.2 Effective Time of the Merger...........................................................2
Section 1.3 Closing................................................................................2
ARTICLE II
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION................................................................................2
Section 2.1 Articles of Incorporation..............................................................2
Section 2.2 By-Laws................................................................................2
Section 2.3 Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation........................................2
ARTICLE III
CONVERSION OF SHARES.....................................................................................3
Section 3.1 Exchange Ratio.........................................................................3
Section 3.2 Exchange of Company Common Stock; Procedures...........................................3
Section 3.3 Dividends; Transfer Taxes, Escheat.....................................................4
Section 3.4 No Fractional Securities...............................................................4
Section 3.5 Closing of Company Transfer Books......................................................5
Section 3.6 Further Assurances.....................................................................5
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY............................................................5
Section 4.1 Organization...........................................................................5
Section 4.2 Capitalization.........................................................................6
Section 4.3 Company Subsidiaries...................................................................6
Section 4.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement...................................................7
Section 4.5 Consents and Approvals; No Violations..................................................7
Section 4.6 Reports and Financial Statements.......................................................8
Section 4.7 Absence of Certain Changes or Events; Material Contracts...............................8
Section 4.8 Litigation.............................................................................8
Section 4.9 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.....................................................9
Section 4.10 No Default.............................................................................9
Section 4.11 Taxes..................................................................................9
Section 4.12 Title to Properties; Encumbrances.....................................................10
Section 4.13 Intellectual Property.................................................................11
Section 4.14 Compliance with Applicable Law........................................................11
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Section 4.15 Information in Disclosure Documents and Registration Statement........................12
Section 4.16 Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.........................................................12
Section 4.17 Environmental Laws and Regulations....................................................14
Section 4.18 Vote Required.........................................................................14
Section 4.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................15
Section 4.20 Accounting Matters....................................................................15
Section 4.21 WBCL Sections 1131, 1134 and 1141.....................................................15
Section 4.22 Labor Matters.........................................................................15
Section 4.23 Affiliate Transactions................................................................15
Section 4.24 Brokers...............................................................................15
Section 4.25 Tax Matters...........................................................................16
Section 4.26 Accounts Receivable...................................................................16
Section 4.27 Inventory.............................................................................16
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT................................................................16
Section 5.1 Organization..........................................................................16
Section 5.2 Capitalization........................................................................17
Section 5.3 Authority Relative to this Agreement..................................................17
Section 5.4 Consents and Approvals No Violations..................................................18
Section 5.5 Reports and Financial Statements......................................................18
Section 5.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events; Material Contracts..............................18
Section 5.7 Litigation............................................................................19
Section 5.8 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities....................................................19
Section 5.9 No Default............................................................................19
Section 5.10 Compliance with Applicable Law........................................................19
Section 5.11 Information in Disclosure Documents and Registration Statement........................19
Section 5.12 Vote Required.........................................................................20
Section 5.13 Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................20
Section 5.14 Accounting Matters....................................................................20
Section 5.15 Brokers...............................................................................20
Section 5.16 Acceleration of Parent Stock Options..................................................21
Section 5.17 Parent Subsidiaries...................................................................21
Section 5.18 Taxes.................................................................................21
Section 5.19 Title to Properties; Encumbrances.....................................................22
Section 5.20 Intellectual Property.................................................................22
Section 5.21 Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.........................................................23
Section 5.22 Environmental Laws and Regulations....................................................24
Section 5.23 Labor Matters.........................................................................25
Section 5.24 Affiliate Transactions................................................................25
Section 5.25 Tax Matters...........................................................................25
Section 5.26 Accounts Receivable...................................................................25
Section 5.27 Inventory.............................................................................26
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ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER..................................................................26
Section 6.1 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger.................................26
Section 6.2 Conduct of Business by Parent Pending the Merger......................................27
Section 6.3 Conduct of Business of Sub............................................................28
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS...................................................................................28
Section 7.1 Access and Information................................................................28
Section 7.2 No Solicitation.......................................................................29
Section 7.3 Registration Statement................................................................30
Section 7.4 Proxy Statements; Stockholder Approvals...............................................30
Section 7.5 Compliance with the Securities Act....................................................31
Section 7.6 Reasonable Best Efforts...............................................................31
Section 7.7 Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement....................................32
Section 7.8 Company Stock Options.................................................................32
Section 7.9 Public Announcements..................................................................33
Section 7.10 Expenses..............................................................................33
Section 7.11 Listing Application...................................................................33
Section 7.12 Supplemental Disclosure...............................................................33
Section 7.13 Letters of Accountants................................................................34
Section 7.14 Directors of Parent...................................................................34
Section 7.15 Indemnification.......................................................................34
Section 7.16 Solicitation of Employees and Representatives. ......................................35
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER................................................................35
Section 8.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger............................35
Section 8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub to Effect the Merger......................36
Section 8.3 Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger..........................37
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION.............................................................................................38
Section 9.1 Termination...........................................................................38
Section 9.2 Effect of Termination.................................................................40
ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................41
Section 10.1 Amendment and Modification............................................................41
Section 10.2 Waiver................................................................................41
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Section 10.3 Survivability; Investigations.........................................................41
Section 10.4 Notices...............................................................................41
Section 10.5 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation..................................................42
Section 10.6 Entire Agreement; Assignment..........................................................42
Section 10.7 Governing Law.........................................................................43
Section 10.8 Severability..........................................................................43
Section 10.9 Counterparts..........................................................................43
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated August 3, 1997, by and
among ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), HSI Acquisition
Corp., a Wisconsin corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dental Products, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company").
The Boards of Directors of Parent and Sub and the Company
deem it advisable and in the best interests of their respective stockholders
that Parent acquire the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and, in furtherance of such acquisition, such Boards of Directors
have approved the merger of Sub with and into the Company in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL") and the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the "WBCL").
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and as a condition and inducement to Parent's willingness to enter
into this Agreement, certain holders of shares of the common stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Company Common Stock"), of the Company are entering into an
agreement with Parent and Sub in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
"Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement") granting Parent the right
to vote such shares of the Company Common Stock and granting Parent the right to
receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of such shares under certain
circumstances in accordance with the terms set forth in the Irrevocable Proxy
and Termination Rights Agreement.
For federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
Merger (as defined in Section 1.1) shall qualify as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code").
For accounting purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall
be accounted for as a pooling of interests.
In consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.1 The Merger. In accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, the DGCL and the WBCL, at the Effective Time (as
defined in Section 1.2), Sub shall be merged with and into the Company (the
"Merger"), the separate existence of Sub shall thereupon cease, and the Company
shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter called
the "Surviving Corporation") and shall continue its corporate existence under
the laws of the State of Wisconsin. The Merger shall have the effects set forth
in Section 1106 of the WBCL.
Section 1.2 Effective Time of the Merger. The Merger
shall become effective at the time of filing of or at such later time specified
in, a properly executed Certificate of Merger, in the form required by and
executed in accordance with the WBCL, filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Wisconsin in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 180 of the
WBCL. Such filing shall be made as soon as practicable after the Closing (as
defined in Section 1.3). When used in this Agreement, the term "Effective Time"
shall mean the date and time at which the Merger shall become effective.
Section 1.3 Closing. The closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, at 10:00 a.m., on the
day on which all of the conditions set forth in Article VIII are satisfied or
waived or on such other date and at such other time and place as Parent and the
Company shall agree (such date, the "Closing Date").
ARTICLE II
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
Section 2.1 Articles of Incorporation. The Articles of
Incorporation of Sub in effect at the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with
applicable law, except that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be
"▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dental Products, Inc."
Section 2.2 By-Laws. The By-Laws of Sub as in effect
at the Effective Time shall be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation until
amended in accordance with applicable law.
Section 2.3 Directors and Officers of Surviving
Corporation.
(a) The directors of Sub at the Effective Time shall be
the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office from
the Effective Time until their respective successors are duly elected or
appointed and qualified in the manner provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation or as otherwise provided
by law.
(b) The officers of the Company at the Effective Time
shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office
from the Effective Time until their respective successors are duly elected or
appointed and qualified in the manner provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation, or as otherwise provided
by law.
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ARTICLE III
CONVERSION OF SHARES
Section 3.1 Exchange Ratio. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof:
(a) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares to be
cancelled in accordance with Section 3.1(b)) shall be converted into the right
to receive 0.735 (the "Exchange Ratio") of a share of the common stock, par
value $.01 per share, of Parent (the "Parent Common Stock"), payable upon the
surrender of the certificate formerly representing such share of Company Common
Stock.
(b) All shares of Company Common Stock that are held by
the Company as treasury shares shall be cancelled and retired and cease to
exist, and no securities of Parent or other consideration shall be delivered in
exchange therefor.
(c) Each share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, of Sub (the "Sub Common Stock"), issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving
Corporation.
(d) Each outstanding option to purchase Company Common
Stock issued by the Company (each, a "Company Stock Option") shall be assumed by
Parent as more specifically provided in Section 7.8.
Section 3.2 Exchange of Company Common Stock;
Procedures.
(a) Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall designate
a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as Exchange
Agent hereunder (the "Exchange Agent"). As soon as practicable after the
Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Transfer Agent to deposit with or for the
account of the Exchange Agent stock certificates representing the number of
shares of Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 3.1 in exchange for
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, which shares of Parent Common Stock
shall be deemed to have been issued at the Effective Time.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time,
Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a
certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the "Certificates") that
were converted pursuant to Section 3.1 into the right to receive shares of
Parent Common Stock (i) a form of letter of transmittal specifying that delivery
shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass,
only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and (ii)
instructions for use in surrendering such Certificates in exchange for
certificates representing shares of Parent Common Stock. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for cancellation (or delivery of such customary affidavit with
respect to a lost Certificate as the
3
Exchange Agent may reasonably require) to the Exchange Agent, together with
such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall
be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (x) a certificate representing that
number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock which such holder has the right to
receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article III and (y) cash in lieu of
any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 3.4, after giving effect to any required tax withholdings,
and the Certificate so surrendered (or with respect to which a lost Certificate
affidavit has been delivered as provided above) shall forthwith be cancelled.
In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock which is not
registered in the transfer records of the Company, a certificate representing
the proper number of shares of Parent Common Stock may be issued to a transferee
if the Certificate representing such Company Common Stock is presented to the
Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect
such transfer, and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have
been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.2(b), each
Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent
only the right to receive upon such surrender a certificate representing shares
of Parent Common Stock and cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent
Common Stock as contemplated by this Article III.
Section 3.3 Dividends; Transfer Taxes, Escheat. No
dividends or distributions that are declared on shares of Parent Common Stock
will be paid to persons entitled to receive certificates representing shares of
Parent Common Stock until such persons surrender their Certificates. Upon such
surrender, there shall be paid to the person in whose name the certificates
representing such shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued, any dividends
or distributions with respect to such shares of Parent Common Stock which have a
record date after the Effective Time and shall have become payable between the
Effective Time and the time of such surrender. In no event shall the person
entitled to receive such dividends or distributions be entitled to receive
interest thereon. Promptly following the date which is six months after the
Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall deliver to the Surviving Corporation
all cash, certificates and other documents in its possession relating to the
transactions described in this Agreement, and any holders of Company Common
Stock who have not theretofore complied with this Article III shall look
thereafter only to the Surviving Corporation for the shares of Parent Common
Stock, any dividends or distributions thereon, and any cash in lieu of
fractional shares thereof to which they are entitled pursuant to this Article
III. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party
hereto shall be liable to a holder of Company Common Stock for any shares of
Parent Common Stock, any dividends or distributions thereon or any cash in lieu
of fractional shares thereof delivered to a public official pursuant to
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.
Section 3.4 No Fractional Securities. No certificates
or scrip representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued
upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates, and such fractional interests
shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a security
holder. In lieu of any such fractional securities, each holder of Company
Common Stock who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share of
Parent Common Stock upon surrender of such holder's Certificates will be
entitled to receive, and Parent will timely provide (or cause to be provided) to
the Exchange Agent sufficient funds to make, a cash payment (without interest)
determined by multiplying (i) the fractional interest to which such holder would
otherwise be entitled (after taking into account all shares of Company Common
Stock then held of record by
4
such holder) and (ii) the average of the per share closing prices for Parent
Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market ("NASDAQ") for the five trading days
immediately preceding the Effective Time. It is understood (i) that the payment
of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock is solely for the
purpose of avoiding the expense and inconvenience to Parent of issuing
fractional shares and does not represent separately bargained-for consideration
and (ii) that no holder of Company Common Stock will receive cash in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock in an amount greater than the value of
one full share of Parent Common Stock.
Section 3.5 Closing of Company Transfer Books. At the
Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and no
transfer of shares of Company Common Stock shall thereafter be made. If, after
the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation,
they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article III.
Section 3.6 Further Assurances. If, at any time after
the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that
any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things
are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in
the Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of
the rights, properties or assets of either of Sub or the Company acquired or to
be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with,
the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, the officers of the
Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name
and on behalf of each of Sub and the Company or otherwise, all such deeds, bills
of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in such names and on
such behalves or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may be
necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and
interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving
Corporation or otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as
follows:
Section 4.1 Organization. The Company is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Wisconsin and has the corporate power to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted or presently proposed to be conducted. The Company is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in
each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or held under
lease or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except
where the failure to be so qualified will not have a material adverse effect,
individually or in the aggregate, on the financial condition, results of
operations, assets, liabilities or properties of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or on the ability of the Company to consummate
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (a "Company
Material Adverse Effect"). As used in this Agreement, the term "Subsidiary"
means, with respect to any party, any corporation or other organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, of which (x) such party or any other Subsidiary
of such party is a
5
general partner (excluding partnerships, the general partnership interests of
which held by such party or any Subsidiary of such party do not have a majority
of the voting interest in such partnership) or (y) at least a majority of the
securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar
functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or
indirectly owned or controlled by such party and/or one or more of its
Subsidiaries.
Section 4.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists
of 30,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 500,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share of the Company (the "Company Preferred Stock").
As of July 31, 1997, (i) approximately 10,027,951 shares of Company Common Stock
were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were
issued and outstanding, (iii) Company Stock Options to acquire approximately
1,766,775 shares of Company Common Stock were outstanding under all stock option
plans of the Company, and (iv) approximately 2,435,550 shares of Company Common
Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company Stock Options and all
other employee benefit plans of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) Except as disclosed in this Section 4.2 or as set
forth on Schedule 4.2(b), (i) there is no outstanding right, subscription,
warrant, call, option or other agreement or arrangement of any kind
(collectively, "Rights") to purchase or otherwise to receive from the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries any of the outstanding, authorized but unissued or
treasury shares of the capital stock or any other security of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries or to require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
purchase any such security, (ii) there is no outstanding security of any kind
convertible into or exchangeable for such capital stock, and (iii) there is no
voting trust or other agreement or understanding to which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or is bound with respect to the voting of the
capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The conversion of the
Company Stock Options provided for in Section 7.8 of this Agreement is in
accordance with the respective terms of the Company Stock Options and the plans
under which they were issued.
(c) Since December 31, 1995, except as set forth on
Schedule 4.2(c), the Company has not in any manner accelerated or provided for
the acceleration of the vesting or exercisability of, or otherwise modified the
terms and conditions applicable to, any of the Company Stock Options, whether
set forth in the governing stock option plans of the Company, a stock option
grant, award or other agreement or otherwise. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.2(c), none of the awards, grants or other agreements pursuant to which Company
Stock Options were issued have provisions which accelerate the vesting or right
to exercise such options upon the execution of this Agreement (including the
documents attached as Exhibits hereto), the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby (or thereby) or any other "change of control" events.
Section 4.3 Company Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.3
contains a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of the Company.
Each Subsidiary of the Company that is a corporation is duly
6
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation. Each Subsidiary of the Company that is a
partnership or limited liability company is duly formed and validly existing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation. Each Subsidiary of the Company
has the corporate, partnership or limited liability company power, as the case
may be, to carry on its business as it is now being conducted or presently
proposed to be conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation, foreign partnership or a foreign limited liability company,
as the case may be, authorized to do business, and is in good standing, in each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or held under lease or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where
the failure to be so qualified will not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries of the
Company that are corporations are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Except as set forth in the Company SEC Reports (as hereinafter defined), all of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other membership or ownership
interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company are owned by the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company, in each case free and clear of any liens, pledges,
security interests, claims, charges or other encumbrances of any kind whatsoever
("Liens").
Section 4.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement. The
Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated on its part hereby have been duly
authorized by the Company's Board of Directors and, except for the approval of
its stockholders to be sought at the stockholders meeting contemplated by
Section 7.4(a) with respect to this Agreement, no other corporate proceedings on
the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or for the
Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms.
Section 4.5 Consents and Approvals; No Violations.
Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby, will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provisions of the
charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) require a filing with, or a permit, authorization, consent or
approval of, any federal, state, local or foreign court, arbitral tribunal,
administrative agency or commission or other governmental or other regulatory
authority or administrative agency or commission (a "Governmental Entity"),
except in connection with, or in order to comply with, the applicable provisions
of the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
"HSR Act"), the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), state
securities or "blue sky" laws, the By-Laws of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") and the filing and recordation of a
Certificate of Merger as required by the WBCL, (iii) except as set forth on
Schedule 4.5, result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without
due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, or result in the creation of a
Lien on any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant
to, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, license, contract,
7
agreement or other instrument or obligation (each, a "Contract") to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any
of their properties or assets may be bound or (iv) violate any material law,
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation of any Governmental
Entity applicable to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
properties or assets.
Section 4.6 Reports and Financial Statements. The
Company has timely filed all reports required to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act since January 1, 1995 (collectively, the "Company SEC Reports"),
and has previously made available to Parent true and complete copies of all such
Company SEC Reports. Such Company SEC Reports, as of their respective dates,
complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and none of such
Company SEC Reports contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The consolidated financial statements of the Company included
in the Company SEC Reports have been prepared in accordance with United States
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") consistently applied
throughout the periods indicated (except as otherwise noted therein) and fairly
present the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations
and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates, and for the respective periods, presented therein, except that
in the case of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in any
Form 10-Q, the presentation and disclosures conform with the applicable rules of
the Exchange Act, but include all adjustments necessary to conform to GAAP
requirements with respect to interim financial statements. Except as set forth
on Schedule 4.6, since January 1, 1996, there has been no change in any of the
significant accounting (including tax accounting) policies, practices or
procedures of the Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries. References
in this Agreement to the Company's consolidated financial statements shall be
deemed to include the Company's financial statements with respect to any period
or as of any date during which or which the Company did not have any
consolidated Subsidiaries.
Section 4.7 Absence of Certain Changes or Events;
Material Contracts. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.7 or the Companys SEC
Reports, since December 31, 1996 (i) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has conducted its business and operations other than in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices or taken any
actions that, if it had been in effect, would have violated or been inconsistent
with the provisions of Section 6.1 and (ii) there has not been any fact, event,
circumstance or change affecting or relating to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.7, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not constitute a change of control under or
require the consent from or the giving of notice to a third party pursuant to
the terms, conditions or provisions of any material Contract to which Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party.
Section 4.8 Litigation. Except for litigation
disclosed on Schedule 4.8, in the notes to the financial statements included in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
8
ended December 31, 1996 or in the Company SEC Reports filed subsequent thereto,
there is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Actual
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, the outcome of which is
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; nor is there any
judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any Governmental Entity
outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries having, or which is
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The term Actual
Knowledge of the Company shall mean the actual knowledge of any of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
Section 4.9 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except
for liabilities or obligations which are accrued or reserved against in the
Company's consolidated financial statements (or disclosed in the notes thereto)
included in the Company SEC Reports or which were incurred after December 31,
1996 in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, and
except as set forth on Schedule 4.9, none of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has any liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise) of a nature required by GAAP to be reflected in a consolidated
balance sheet (or disclosed in the notes thereto) or which may, to the Actual
Knowledge of the Company, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.10 No Default. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.10, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company is in
default or violation (and no event has occurred which with notice or the lapse
of time or both would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition
or provision of (i) its charter, by-laws or comparable organizational documents,
(ii) any material Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which they or any of their properties or assets may be bound, or
(iii) any material order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation
of any Governmental Entity applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.11 Taxes.
(a) The Company has heretofore delivered or will make
available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of the consolidated
federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise sales and other Tax Returns
(as hereinafter defined) filed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for each of
the Company's years ended December 31, 1995, 1994, 1993 and 1992, inclusive.
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11, the Company has duly filed, and each
Subsidiary has duly filed, all material federal, state, local and foreign
income, franchise, sales and other Tax Returns required to be filed by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. All such Tax Returns are true, correct and
complete, in all material respects, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have
duly paid, all Taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown on such Tax Returns and has
made adequate provision for payment of all accrued but unpaid material Taxes
anticipated in respect of all periods since the periods covered by such Tax
Returns. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11, all material deficiencies
assessed as a result of any examination of Tax Returns of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries by federal, state, local or foreign tax authorities have been
paid or reserved on the financial statements of the Company in accordance with
GAAP consistently applied, and true, correct and complete copies of all revenue
agent's reports, "30-day letters," or "90-day letters" or similar written
statements proposing or asserting any Tax deficiency against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries for any
9
open year have been heretofore delivered to Parent. The Company has heretofore
delivered or will make available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of
all written tax-sharing agreements and written descriptions of all such
unwritten agreement or arrangements to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.11, no material
issue has been raised during the past five years by any federal, state, local or
foreign taxing authority which, if raised with regard to any other period not so
examined, could reasonably be expected to result in a proposed material
deficiency for any other period not so examined. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 4.11 hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
granted any extension or waiver of the statutory period of limitations
applicable to any claim for any material Taxes. The consolidated federal income
tax returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been examined by and
settled with the Internal Revenue Service (the "Service") for all years through
1987. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.11, (i) neither the Company nor any of
the Company Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement, contract or arrangement
that would result, separately or in the aggregate, in the payment of any "excess
parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 28OG of the Code; (ii) no
consent has been filed under Section 341(f) of the Code with respect to any of
the Company or the Subsidiaries of the Company; (iii) neither the Company nor
any of the Subsidiaries of the Company has participated in, or cooperated with,
an international boycott within the meaning of Section 999 of the Code; and (iv)
neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries of the Company has issued or
assumed any corporate acquisition indebtedness, as defined in Section 279(b) of
the Code. The Company and each Subsidiary of the Company have complied (and
until the Effective Time will comply) in all material respects with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment and withholding
of Taxes (including, without limitation, withholding of Taxes pursuant to
Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code or similar provisions under any foreign laws)
and have, within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, withheld from
employee wages and paid over to the proper governmental authorities all amounts
required to be so withheld and paid over under all applicable laws.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Taxes"
shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies, duties, imposts or other
assessments, including, without limitation, income, gross receipts, excise,
property, sales, use, transfer, gains, license, payroll, withholding, capital
stock and franchise taxes, imposed by the United States, or any state, local or
foreign government or subdivision or agency thereof, including any interest,
penalties or additions thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Tax
Return" shall mean any report, return or other information or document required
to be supplied to a taxing authority in connection with Taxes.
Section 4.12 Title to Properties; Encumbrances. Except
as described in the following sentence, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has good, valid and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all
of its material properties and assets (real, personal and mixed, tangible and
intangible), including, without limitation, all the properties and assets
reflected in the balance sheet of the Company as of March 31, 1997 included in
the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended on such date
(except for properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with past practices since March 31, 1997). None of such
properties or assets are subject to any Liens (whether absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise), except (i) as specifically set forth in the Company
SEC Reports and (ii) minor imperfections of title and encumbrances, if any,
which are not substantial in amount, do not materially detract from the
10
value of the property or assets subject thereto and do not impair the operations
of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.13 Intellectual Property.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13(a), the Company
and its Subsidiaries are the sole and exclusive owners of all material patents,
patent applications, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names,
trade name rights, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets, registrations for
and applications for registration of trademarks, service marks and copyrights,
technology and know-how, rights in computer software and other proprietary
rights and information and all technical and user manuals and documentation made
or used in connection with any of the foregoing, used or held for use in
connection with the businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as
currently conducted (collectively, the "Intellectual Property"), free and clear
of all Liens except as set forth on Schedule 4.13(a) and except minor
imperfections of title and encumbrances, if any, which are not substantial in
amount, do not materially detract from the value of the Intellectual Property
subject thereto and do not impair the operations of any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(b) All grants, registrations and applications for
Intellectual Property that are used in and are material to the conduct of the
Business (as hereinafter defined) (i) are valid, subsisting, in proper form and
enforceable, and have been duly maintained, including the submission of all
necessary filings and fees in accordance with the legal and administrative
requirements of the appropriate jurisdictions and (ii) have not lapsed, expired
or been abandoned, and no grant, registration or license therefor is the subject
of any legal or governmental proceeding before any registration authority in any
jurisdiction.
(c) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or has
the right to use all of the material Intellectual Property used by it or held
for use by it in connection with its business. To the Actual Knowledge of the
Company, there are no conflicts with or infringements of any Intellectual
Property by any third party. The conduct of the businesses of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as currently conducted (collectively, the "Business") does not
conflict with or infringe in any way any proprietary right of any third party,
which conflict or infringement would have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and
there is no claim, suit, action or proceeding pending or, to the Actual
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (i) alleging any such conflict or infringement with any third
party's proprietary rights, or (ii) challenging the ownership, use, validity or
enforceability of the Intellectual Property.
Section 4.14 Compliance with Applicable Law. Except as
set forth on Schedule 4.14 or as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports, (i) the
Company and its Subsidiaries hold, and are in compliance with the terms of, all
material permits, licenses, exemptions, orders and approvals of all Governmental
Entities necessary for the current and proposed conduct of their respective
businesses ("Company Permits"), except for failures to hold or to comply with
such permits, licenses, exemptions, orders and approvals which would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) no fact exists or event has occurred, and
no action or proceeding is pending or, to the Actual Knowledge of the Company
threatened, that has a reasonable possibility of resulting in a revocation,
11
nonrenewal, termination, suspension or other material impairment of any material
Company Permits, (iii) the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries are
not being conducted in material violation of any applicable law, ordinance,
regulation, judgment, decree or order of any Governmental Entity ("Applicable
Law"), and (iv) to the Actual Knowledge of the Company (x) no investigation or
review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or its
Subsidiaries is pending or threatened, and (y) no Governmental Entity has
indicated an intention to conduct the same.
Section 4.15 Information in Disclosure Documents and
Registration Statement. None of the information to be supplied by or on behalf
of the Company for inclusion in (i) the Registration Statement to be filed with
the SEC by Parent on Form S-4 under the Securities Act for the purpose of
registering the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in connection with
the Merger (the "Registration Statement") or (ii) the joint proxy statement to
be distributed in connection with Parent's and the Company's meetings of
stockholders to vote upon this Agreement (the "Proxy Statement") will, in the
case of the Registration Statement, at the time it becomes effective, at the
time of the filing of any post-effective amendment thereto and at the Effective
Time, and, in the case of the Proxy Statement or any amendments thereof or
supplements thereto, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement and any
amendments or supplements thereto, and at the respective times of the meetings
of stockholders of the Company and Parent to be held in connection with the
Merger, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, except that no representation is made by the
Company with respect to statements made therein based on information supplied by
Parent or its representatives for inclusion in the Proxy Statement or with
respect to information concerning Parent or any of its Subsidiaries incorporated
by reference in the Proxy Statement.
Section 4.16 Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.
(a) Schedule 4.16 hereto sets forth a true and complete
list of each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and any
other material employee benefit plan, arrangement or agreement, that is
maintained, or was maintained at any time during the five (5) calendar years
preceding the date of this Agreement (the "Company Plans"), by the Company or by
any trade or business, whether or not incorporated (a "Company ERISA
Affiliate"), which together with the Company would be deemed a "single employer"
within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o) of the Code. True and complete copies of each of the Company Plans and
related documents have been delivered to the Parent.
(b) Each of the Company Plans is and has been maintained
and operated in compliance with its terms and applicable law, including without
limitation, ERISA and the Code; each of the Company Plans intended to be
"qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and
has been qualified since its inception.
12
(c) None of the Company, any Company ERISA Affiliate, or
any of their respective predecessors has ever contributed to, contributes to,
has ever been required to contribute to, or otherwise participated in or
participates in or in any way, directly or indirectly, has any liability with
respect to any plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or
Title IV of ERISA, including, without limitation any, "multiemployer plan"
(within the meaning of Sections (3)(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or Section 414(f)
of the Code), or any single employer pension plan and no Company Plan is a
multiple employer plan described in Section 413 of the Code. All contributions
or other amounts payable by the Company as of the Effective Time with respect to
each Company Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been either
paid or accrued on the balance sheet of the Company. There are no pending,
threatened or, to the Actual Knowledge of the Company, anticipated claims,
lawsuits, arbitrations or other actions (other than non-material routine claims
for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any of the Company Plans, any trustee
or fiduciaries thereof or any trusts related thereto. No Company Plan
currently is under audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, U.S.
Department of Labor, or any other governmental authority and no such completed
audit, if any, has resulted in the imposition of any tax or penalty. With
respect to each Company Plan that is funded mostly or partially through an
insurance policy, neither the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate has any
material liability in the nature of retroactive rate adjustment, loss sharing
arrangement or other actual or contingent material liability arising wholly or
partially out of events occurring on or before the Effective Time.
(d) Neither the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate,
nor any Company Plan, nor any trust created thereunder, nor any trustee or
administrator thereof has engaged in a transaction in connection with which the
Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate, any Company Plan, any such trust, or any
trustee or administrator thereof, or any party dealing with any Company Plan or
any such trust that is a "prohibited transaction," within the meaning of Section
4975 of the Code and Section 406 of ERISA, other than a prohibited transaction
that has been corrected and with respect to which all taxes and penalties have
been paid prior to the date hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.16, no
Company Plan provides benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to current
or former employees of the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate beyond their
retirement or other termination of service other than benefits under any
"employee pension plan," as that term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA,
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or under Section 4980B of the Code.
Neither the Company, any Company ERISA Affiliate, nor any officer or employee
thereof, has made any promises or commitments, whether legally binding or not,
to create any additional plan, agreement, or arrangement, or to modify or change
any existing Company Plan. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will not give rise to any liability, including, without
limitation, liability for severance pay, unemployment compensation, termination
pay, or withdrawal liability, or accelerate the time of payment or vesting or
increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to any employee, director,
shareholder, or beneficiary of the Company (whether current, former, or retired)
or their beneficiaries solely by reason of such transactions. Neither the
Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate has any material unfunded liabilities
pursuant to any Company Plan that is not intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code.
13
Section 4.17 Environmental Laws and Regulations.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17(a): (i) the
Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been, in all material respects, in
compliance with, and there are no outstanding written allegations or, to the
Actual Knowledge of the Company, oral allegations by any person or entity that
the Company or its Subsidiaries has not been in compliance with, all material
applicable laws, rules, regulations, common law, ordinances, decrees, orders or
other binding legal requirements relating to pollution (including the treatment,
storage and disposal of hazardous wastes or materials and the remediation of
releases and threatened releases of hazardous materials or wastes), the
preservation of the environment, and the exposure to hazardous wastes or
materials in the environment or work place ("Environmental Laws") and (ii) the
Company and its Subsidiaries currently hold all material permits, licenses,
registrations and other governmental authorizations (including exemptions,
waivers, and the like) and financial assurance required under Environmental Laws
for the Company and its Subsidiaries to operate their businesses as currently
conducted.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17(b), (i) there
is no friable asbestos-containing material in or on any real property currently
owned, leased or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) there are
and, to the Actual Knowledge of the Company, have been no underground storage
tanks (whether or not required to be registered under any applicable law),
dumps, landfills, lagoons, surface impoundments, injection ▇▇▇▇▇ or other land
disposal units in or on any property currently owned, leased or operated by the
Company or its Subsidiaries.
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17(c), (i) neither
the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received (x) any written communication from
any person stating or alleging that any of them may be a potentially responsible
party under any Environmental Law (including, without limitation, the Federal
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980,
as amended) with respect to any actual or alleged environmental contamination or
(y) any request for information under any Environmental Law from any
Governmental Entity with respect to any actual or alleged material environmental
contamination; and (ii) neither the Company, nor its Subsidiaries nor any
Governmental Entity is conducting or has conducted (or, to the Actual Knowledge
of the Company, is threatening to conduct) any environmental remediation or
investigation.
(d) To the Actual Knowledge of the Company, all real
properties formerly owned, used, leased, occupied, managed or operated by the
Company or its Subsidiaries complied, in all material respects, with the
Environmental Laws during the Company's or its Subsidiaries' tenure thereat, and
there are no environmental liabilities associated therewith that are reasonably
likely to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.18 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock are
the only votes of the holders of any class or series of the Company's capital
stock necessary to approve the Merger. The Board of Directors of the Company
(at a meeting duly called and held) has unanimously (i) approved this Agreement
and the Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement, (ii) determined that
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are fair to and in the best
interests of the holders of Company
14
Common Stock and (iii) determined to recommend this Agreement, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby to such holders for approval and
adoption. The resolutions of the Company's Board of Directors taking the
actions described in the preceding sentence have not been rescinded, withdrawn,
amended or otherwise modified, remain in full force and effect, and constitute
the only action of such Board of Directors with respect to the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Board of
Directors of the Company has received the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Gull ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc. ("▇▇▇▇▇▇ Gull"), dated August 1, 1997, substantially to the
effect that the consideration to be received in the Merger by the holders of
Company Common Stock is fair to such holders from a financial point of view, a
copy of which opinion has been delivered to Parent.
Section 4.20 Accounting Matters. None of the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Actual Knowledge of the Company, any of their
respective directors, officers or stockholders, has taken any action which would
prevent the accounting for the Merger as a pooling of interests in accordance
with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16, the interpretative releases
pursuant thereto and the pronouncements of the SEC.
Section 4.21 WBCL Sections 1131, 1134 and 1141. Prior
to the date hereof, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved this
Agreement and the Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement, and the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and such
approval is sufficient to render inapplicable to the Merger and any of such
other transactions the provisions of Sections 1131, 1134 and 1141 of the WBCL.
Section 4.22 Labor Matters. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining
agreement, contract or other understanding with a labor union or labor
organization and, to the Actual Knowledge of the Company, there is no activity
involving any employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries seeking to certify a
collective bargaining unit or engaging in any other organizational activity.
Section 4.23 Affiliate Transactions. Except as set
forth in Schedule 4.23 or as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports, there are no,
and since January 1, 1996 there have not been any, material Contracts or other
transactions between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand,
and any (i) officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
record or beneficial owner of five percent or more of the voting securities of
the Company or (iii) affiliate (as such term is defined in Regulation 12b-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any such officer, director or beneficial
owner, on the other hand.
Section 4.24 Brokers. Except for its financial advisor,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Gull, no broker, finder or financial advisor is entitled to any
brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the Merger or
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of the Company and the Company has disclosed to Parent the material
terms of the agreement pursuant to which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Gull is entitled to its fee.
15
Section 4.25 Tax Matters. The Company knows of no fact
or circumstance which is reasonably likely to cause the Merger to be treated
other than as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 4.26 Accounts Receivable. All of the accounts
and notes receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries set forth on the books
and records of the Company (net of the applicable reserves reflected on the
books and records of the Company and in the financial statements included in the
Company SEC Reports) (i) represent sales actually made in the ordinary course of
business for goods or services delivered or rendered to unaffiliated customers
in bona fide arms length transactions, (ii) constitute valid claims, and (iii)
are good and collectible at the aggregate recorded amounts thereof (net of such
reserves) without right of recourse, defense, deduction, return of goods,
counterclaim, or offset and have been or will be collected in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past experience.
Section 4.27 Inventory. All inventory of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is (net of the applicable reserves reflected on the books
and records of the Company and in the financial statements included in the
Company SEC reports) of merchantable quality, free of defects in workmanship or
design and is usable and saleable at normal profit margins and in accordance
with historical sales practices in the ordinary course of the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries. The inventory (net of such reserves) does not
include any items which are obsolete, damaged, excessive, below standard quality
or slow moving (i.e., items that are for discontinued or expected to be
discontinued product lines, or items that have not been used or sold within 12
months prior to the date hereof).
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Parent represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
Section 5.1 Organization. Parent is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and has the corporate power to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted or presently proposed to be conducted. Parent is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or held under lease or
the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary, except where the
failure to be so qualified will not have a material adverse effect individually
or in the aggregate, on the financial condition, results of operations, assets,
liabilities or properties of Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or on
the ability of Parent to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (a "Parent Material Adverse Effect"). Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Wisconsin and Parent has delivered to Company a copy of (i) the
Articles of Incorporation of Sub and (ii) the By-Laws of Sub, each as in effect
as of the date of this Agreement. Sub has not engaged in any business (other
than in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby)
since the date of its incorporation. Schedule
16
5.17 contains a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of Parent (other
than inactive subsidiaries the assets of which are de minimis). The Sub has no
subsidiaries.
Section 5.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of
60,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Parent Preferred Stock"), of Parent. As of
July 31, 1997, (i) approximately 24,200,000 shares of Parent Common Stock were
issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Parent Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding, (iii) options to acquire approximately 1,300,000 shares of Parent
Common Stock (the "Parent Stock Options") were outstanding under all stock
option plans of Parent, and (iv) approximately 2,230,000 shares of Parent Common
Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Parent Stock Options and all
other employee benefit plans of Parent. All of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of Parent are, and the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in
exchange for shares of Company Common Stock at the Effective Time in accordance
with this Agreement will be, when so issued, duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable. The numbers for outstanding shares, options and
shares reserved for issuance in connection with the exercise of options set
forth in this Section 5.2 do not reflect the shares and options issued or
reserved for issuance in connection with Parent's acquisition of Micro
Bio-Medics, Inc., which acquisition was consummated on August 1, 1997.
(b) The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of
1,000 shares of Sub Common Stock, all of which shares, as of the date hereof,
were issued and outstanding. All of such outstanding shares are owned by
Parent, and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(c) Except as disclosed in this Section 5.2, (i) there
are no outstanding Rights to purchase or otherwise to receive from Parent, Sub
or any of Parents other Subsidiaries any of the outstanding authorized but
unissued or treasury shares of the capital stock or any other security of Parent
or Sub, (ii) there is no outstanding security of any kind convertible into or
exchangeable for such capital stock, and (iii) there is no voting trust or other
agreement or understanding to which Parent or Sub is a party or is bound with
respect to the voting of the capital stock of Parent or Sub.
(d) Parent and its subsidiaries do not beneficially own
any shares of the Company's Common Stock and, to Parent's knowledge, none of
its affiliates beneficially owns any shares of the Companys Common Stock.
Section 5.3 Authority Relative to this Agreement. Each
of Parent and Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent and Sub and the
consummation by each of Parent and Sub of the transactions contemplated on its
part hereby have been duly authorized by their respective Boards of Directors,
and by Parent as the sole stockholder of Sub, and, except for the approval of
Parent's stockholders to be sought at the stockholders' meeting contemplated by
Section 7.4(b), no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Sub are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or for Parent and Sub to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered
17
by each of Parent and Sub and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each
of Parent and Sub, enforceable against Parent and Sub in accordance with its
terms.
Section 5.4 Consents and Approvals No Violations.
Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent or
Sub, nor the consummation by Parent or Sub of the transactions contemplated
hereby will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provisions of the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of Parent or the
Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of Sub, (ii) require a filing with, or a
permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity except in
connection with, or in order to comply with, the applicable provisions of the
HSR Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, state securities or "blue sky"
laws, the By-Laws of the NASD, and the filing and recordation of a Certificate
of Merger as required by the WBCL, (iii) except as set forth on Schedule 5.4
hereto, result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due
notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, or result in the creation of a
Lien on any property or asset of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to,
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material Contract to which
Parent or Sub is a party or by which either of them or any of their properties
or assets may be bound or (iv) violate any material law, order, writ,
injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity
applicable to Parent, Sub or any of their properties or assets.
Section 5.5 Reports and Financial Statements. Parent
has timely filed all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act since January 1, 1995 (collectively, the
"Parent SEC Reports"), and has previously made available to the Company true and
complete copies of all such Parent SEC Reports. Such Parent SEC Reports, as of
their respective dates, complied in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and
none of such SEC Reports contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements of Parent included
in the Parent SEC Reports have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied throughout the periods indicated (except as otherwise noted
therein and fairly present the consolidated financial position of Parent and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the consolidated results
of operations and cash flows of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of
the respective dates, and for the respective periods, presented therein except
that in the case of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in
any Form 10-Q, the presentation and disclosures conform with the applicable
rules of the Exchange Act, but include all adjustments necessary to conform to
GAAP requirements with respect to interim financial statements. Except as set
forth in the Parent SEC Reports or on Schedule 5.5, since January 1, 1996, there
has been no change in any of the significant accounting (including tax
accounting) policies, practices or procedures of the Parent or, any of its
consolidated Subsidiaries.
Section 5.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events;
Material Contracts. Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports or on
Schedule 5.6, since December 28, 1996, (i) Parent has not conducted its business
and operations other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practices or taken any of the actions set forth in Section 6.2(b) and (ii)
there has not been
18
any fact, event, circumstance or change affecting or relating to Parent and its
Subsidiaries which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 5.7 Litigation. Except for litigation
disclosed in the notes to the financial statements included in Parent's Annual
Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 28, 1996 or in the Parent SEC
Reports filed subsequent thereto, there is no suit, action, proceeding or
investigation pending or, to the Actual Knowledge of Parent, threatened against
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, the
outcome of which is reasonably likely to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect;
nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any
Governmental Entity outstanding against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
having, or which is reasonably likely to have, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
The term "Actual Knowledge of Parent" shall mean the actual knowledge of any of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇.
Section 5.8 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except
for liabilities or obligations which are accrued or reserved against in Parent's
financial statements (or disclosed in the notes thereto) included in the Parent
SEC Reports or which were incurred after June 30, 1997 in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice, none of Parent and its Subsidiaries
has any liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise) of a nature required by GAAP to be reflected in a consolidated
balance sheet (or disclosed in the notes thereto) or which may, to the Actual
Knowledge of Parent, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.9 No Default. Neither Parent nor any
idiary of Parent is in default or violation (and no event has occurred which
with notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute a default or
violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) its charter, by-laws or
comparable organizational documents, (ii) any material Contracts to which Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which they or any of their
properties or assets may be bound, or (iii) any material order, writ,
injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity
applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.10 Compliance with Applicable Law. Except
as disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports, (i) Parent and its Subsidiaries hold,
and are in compliance with the terms of, all material permits, licenses,
exemptions, orders and approvals of all Governmental Entities necessary for the
current or proposed conduct of their respective businesses ("Parent Permits"),
(ii) no fact exists or event has occurred, and no action or proceeding is
pending or, to the Actual Knowledge of Parent threatened, that has a reasonable
possibility of resulting in a revocation, non-renewal, termination, suspension
or other material impairment of any material Parent Permits, (iii) the
businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries are not being conducted in material
violation of any Applicable Law, and (iv) to the Actual Knowledge of Parent (x)
no investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to Parent or
its Subsidiaries is pending or threatened and (y) no Governmental Entity has
indicated an intention to conduct the same.
Section 5.11 Information in Disclosure Documents and
Registration Statement. None of the information to be supplied by or on behalf
of Parent or Sub for inclusion in (i) the Registration Statement or (ii) the
Proxy Statement will, in the case of the Registration Statement, at
19
the time it becomes effective, at the time of the filing of any post-effective
amendment thereto, and at the Effective Time, and, in the case of the Proxy
Statement or any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, at the time of the
mailing of the Proxy Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto, and at
the respective times of the meetings of stockholders of Parent to be held in
connection with the Merger, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not misleading. The Registration Statement and the Proxy
Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, except that no representation is made by
Parent with respect to statements made therein based on information supplied by
the Company or its representatives for inclusion in the Registration Statement
or the Proxy Statement or with respect to information concerning the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
or the Proxy Statement.
Section 5.12 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the shares of Parent Common Stock present in person or
represented by proxy at the stockholders meeting of Parent described in Section
7.4(b) (provided that the shares so present or represented constitute a majority
of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock) is the only vote of the
holders of any class or series of Parent capital stock necessary to approve the
Merger and the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant thereto. The
affirmative vote of Parent, as the sole stockholder of all outstanding shares of
Sub Common Stock, is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of Sub
capital stock necessary to approve the Merger. The Board of Directors of Parent
(at a meeting duly called and held) has by the unanimous vote of the directors
present (i) approved this Agreement and the Irrevocable Proxy and Termination
Rights Agreement, (ii) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby are
fair to and in the best interests of the holders of Parent Common Stock, (iii)
determined to recommend this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby to such holders for approval and adoption and (iv) caused
Parent, as the sole stockholder of Sub, to approve and adopt this Agreement and
the Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement. The Board of Directors
of Sub (by unanimous written consent) has approved this Agreement and the
Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement.
Section 5.13 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Board of
Directors of Parent has received the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., dated August
1, 1997, substantially to the effect that as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is
fair to Parent from a financial point of view, the material terms of which
opinion have been disclosed to the Company.
Section 5.14 Accounting Matters. None of Parent, any of
its Subsidiaries or, to the Actual Knowledge of Parent, any of their respective
directors, officers or stockholders, has taken any action which would prevent
the accounting for the Merger as a pooling of interests in accordance with
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16, the interpretative releases pursuant
thereto and the pronouncements of the SEC.
Section 5.15 Brokers. Except for ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., no
broker, finder or financial advisor is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or
other fee or commission in connection with the Merger or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or
20
on behalf of Parent or Sub, and Parent has disclosed to the Company the material
terms of the agreement pursuant to which ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. is entitled to its
fee.
Section 5.16 Acceleration of Parent Stock Options.
Since December 31, 1995, except as set forth on Schedule 5.16, the Parent has
not in any manner accelerated or provided for the acceleration of the vesting or
exercisability of, or otherwise modified the terms and conditions applicable to,
any outstanding option to purchase Parent Common Stock ("Parent Stock Options"),
whether set forth in the governing stock option plans of the Parent, a stock
option grant, award or other agreement or otherwise. Except as set forth on
Schedule 5.16, none of the awards, grants or other agreements pursuant to which
Parent Stock Options were issued have provisions which accelerate the vesting or
right to exercise such options upon the execution of this Agreement (including
the documents attached as Exhibits hereto), the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby (or thereby) or any other "change of control" events.
Section 5.17 Parent Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.17
contains a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of the Parent (other
than inactive subsidiaries the assets of which are de minimis). Each Subsidiary
of Parent listed on Schedule 5.17 that is a corporation is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation. Each Subsidiary of Parent listed on Schedule 5.17 that is a
partnership or limited liability company is duly formed and validly existing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation. Each Subsidiary of Parent
listed on Schedule 5.17 has the corporate, partnership or limited liability
company power, as the case may be, to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted or presently proposed to be conducted. Each Subsidiary of Parent is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation, foreign partnership or a foreign
limited liability company, as the case may be, authorized to do business, and is
in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties
owned or held under lease or the nature of its activities makes such
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified will not
have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. All of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Subsidiaries of Parent listed on Schedule 5.17 that are
corporations are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set
forth in the Parent SEC Reports, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock
of, or other membership or ownership interests in, each Subsidiary of Parent are
owned by the Parent or a Subsidiary of the Parent, in each case free and clear
of any Liens.
Section 5.18 Taxes.
(a) Parent has heretofore delivered or will make
available to the Company true, correct and complete copies of the consolidated
federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise, sales and other Tax Returns
filed by Parent and its Subsidiaries for each of Parent's 1995, 1994, 1993 and
1992 fiscal years, inclusive. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18, Parent has
duly filed, and each Subsidiary of Parent has duly filed, all material federal,
state, local and foreign income, franchise, sales and other Tax Returns required
to be filed by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. All such Tax Returns are
true, correct and complete, in all material respects, and Parent and its
Subsidiaries have duly paid, all Taxes shown on such Tax Returns and has made
adequate provision for payment of all accrued but unpaid material Taxes
anticipated in respect of all periods since the periods covered by such Tax
Returns. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18, all material deficiencies
assessed as a result of any examination of Tax Returns of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries by federal,
21
state, local or foreign tax authorities have been paid or reserved on the
financial statements of Parent in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and
true, correct and complete copies of all revenue agent's reports, "30-day
letters," or "90-day letters" or similar written statements proposing or
asserting any Tax deficiency against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries for any
open year have been heretofore delivered to the Company. Parent has heretofore
delivered or will make available to the Company true, correct and complete
copies of all written tax-sharing agreements and written descriptions of all
such unwritten agreement or arrangements to which Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.18, no material
issue has been raised during the past five years by any federal, state, local or
foreign taxing authority which, if raised with regard to any other period not so
examined, could reasonably be expected to result in a proposed material
deficiency for any other period not so examined. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 5.18 hereof, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has granted any
extension or waiver of the statutory period of limitations applicable to any
claim for any material Taxes. The consolidated federal income tax returns of
Parent and its Subsidiaries have been examined by and settled with the Internal
Revenue Service (the "Service") for all years through 1989. Except as set forth
in Schedule 5.18, (i) neither Parent nor any of Parent's Subsidiaries is a party
to any agreement, contract or arrangement that would result, separately or in
the aggregate, in the payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the
meaning of Section 28OG of the Code; (ii) no consent has been filed under
Section 341(f) of the Code with respect to any of Parent or the Subsidiaries of
Parent; (iii) neither Parent nor any of the Subsidiaries of Parent has
participated in, or cooperated with, an international boycott within the meaning
of Section 999 of the Code; and (iv) neither Parent nor any of the Subsidiaries
of Parent has issued or assumed any corporate acquisition indebtedness, as
defined in Section 279(b) of the Code. Parent and each Subsidiary of Parent
have complied (and until the Effective Time will comply) in all material
respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment
and withholding of Taxes (including, without limitation, withholding of Taxes
pursuant to Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code or similar provisions under any
foreign laws) and have, within the time and in the manner prescribed by law,
withheld from employee wages and paid over to the proper governmental
authorities all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over under all
applicable laws.
Section 5.19 Title to Properties; Encumbrances. Except
as described in the following sentence, each of Parent and its Subsidiaries has
good, valid and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of
its material properties and assets (real, personal and mixed, tangible and
intangible), including, without limitation, all the properties and assets
reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of
March 29, 1997 included in Parent's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended on such date (except for properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practices since March 29, 1997).
None of such properties or assets are subject to any Liens (whether absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise), except (i) as specifically set forth in the
Parent SEC Reports and (ii) minor imperfections of title and encumbrances, if
any, which are not substantial in amount, do not materially detract from the
value of the property or assets subject thereto and do not impair the operations
of any of Parent and its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.20 Intellectual Property.
22
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.20(a), Parent and
its Subsidiaries are the sole and exclusive owners of all material patents,
patent applications, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names,
trade name rights, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets, registrations for
and applications for registration of trademarks, service marks and copyrights,
technology and know-how, rights in computer software and other proprietary
rights and information and all technical and user manuals and documentation made
or used in connection with any of the foregoing used or held for use in
connection with the businesses of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries as currently
conducted (collectively, the "Parent Intellectual Property"), free and clear of
all Liens except as set forth on Schedule 5.20 and except minor imperfections of
title and encumbrances, if any, which are not substantial in amount, do not
materially detract from the value of the Parent Intellectual Property subject
thereto and do not impair the operations of any of Parent and its Subsidiaries.
(b) All grants, registrations and applications for
Parent Intellectual Property that are used in and are material to the conduct
of the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries (i) are valid, subsisting, in
proper form and enforceable, and have been duly maintained, including the
submission of all necessary filings and fees in accordance with the legal and
administrative requirements of the appropriate jurisdictions and (ii) have not
lapsed, expired or been abandoned, and no grant, registration or license
therefor is the subject of any legal or governmental proceeding before any
registration authority in any jurisdiction.
(c) Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries owns or has the
right to use all of the material Parent Intellectual Property used by it or held
for use by it in connection with its business. To the Actual Knowledge of
Parent, there are no conflicts with or infringements of any Parent Intellectual
Property by any third party. The conduct of the business of Parent and its
Subsidiaries does not conflict with or infringe in any way any proprietary right
of any third party, which conflict or infringement would have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect, and there is no claim, suit, action or proceeding pending or, to
the Actual Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries (i) alleging any such conflict or infringement with any third
party's proprietary rights, or (ii) challenging the ownership, use, validity or
enforceability of the Parent Intellectual Property.
Section 5.21 Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.
(a) Each "employee benefit plan," within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of ERISA, and any other material employee benefit plan, arrangement
or agreement, that is maintained, or was maintained at any time during the five
(5) calendar years preceding the date of this Agreement (the "Parent Plans"), by
the Parent or by any trade or business, whether or not incorporated (a "Parent
ERISA Affiliate"), which together with the Parent would be deemed a "single
employer" within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or under Section 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Code is and has been maintained and operated in
compliance with its terms and applicable law, including without limitation,
ERISA and the Code; each of the Parent Plans intended to be "qualified" within
the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has been qualified
since its inception.
(b) None of the Parent, any Parent ERISA Affiliate, or
any of their respective predecessors has ever contributed to, contributes to,
has ever been required to contribute to, or
23
otherwise participated in or participates in or in any way, directly or
indirectly, has any liability with respect to any plan subject to Section 412 of
the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or Title IV of ERISA, including, without
limitation any, "multiemployer plan" (within the meaning of Sections (3)(37) or
4001(a)(3) of ERISA or Section 414(f) of the Code), or any single employer
pension plan and no Parent Plan is a multiple employer plan described in Section
413 of the Code. All contributions or other amounts payable by the Parent as of
the Effective Time with respect to each Parent Plan in respect of current or
prior plan years have been either paid or accrued on the balance sheet of the
Parent. There are no pending, threatened or, to the Actual Knowledge of the
Parent, anticipated claims, lawsuits, arbitrations or other actions (other than
non-material routine claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any of the
Parent Plans, any trustee or fiduciaries thereof or any trusts related
thereto. No Parent Plan currently is under audit or investigation by the
Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Labor, or any other governmental
authority and no such completed audit, if any, has resulted in the imposition of
any tax or penalty. With respect to each Parent Plan that is funded mostly or
partially through an insurance policy, neither the Parent nor any Parent ERISA
Affiliate has any material liability in the nature of retroactive rate
adjustment, loss sharing arrangement or other actual or contingent material
liability arising wholly or partially out of events occurring on or before the
Effective Time.
(c) Neither the Parent nor any Parent ERISA Affiliate,
nor any Parent Plan, nor any trust created thereunder, nor any trustee or
administrator thereof has engaged in a transaction in connection with which the
Parent or any Parent ERISA Affiliate, any Parent Plan, any such trust, or any
trustee or administrator thereof, or any party dealing with any Parent Plan or
any such trust that is a "prohibited transaction," within the meaning of Section
4975 of the Code and Section 406 of ERISA, other than a prohibited transaction
that has been corrected and with respect to which all taxes and penalties have
been paid prior to the date hereof. No Parent Plan provides benefits (whether
or not insured), with respect to current or former employees of the Parent or
any Parent ERISA Affiliate beyond their retirement or other termination of
service other than benefits under any "employee pension plan," as that term is
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or
under Section 4980B of the Code. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not give rise to any liability, including,
without limitation, liability for severance pay, unemployment compensation,
termination pay, or withdrawal liability, or accelerate the time of payment or
vesting or increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to any employee,
director, shareholder, or beneficiary of the Parent (whether current, former, or
retired) or their beneficiaries solely by reason of such transactions.
Section 5.22 Environmental Laws and Regulations. Except
as would not reasonably be likely to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, or
except as set forth on Schedule 5.22:
(a) (i) Parent and its Subsidiaries are and have been,
in all material respects, in compliance with, and there are no outstanding
written allegations or, to the Actual Knowledge of Parent, oral allegations, by
any person or entity that Parent or its Subsidiaries has not been in compliance
with, all Environmental Laws and (ii) Parent and its Subsidiaries currently hold
all material permits, licenses, registrations and other governmental
authorizations (including exemptions, waivers, and the like) and financial
assurance required under Environmental Laws for Parent and its Subsidiaries to
operate their businesses as currently conducted.
24
(b) (i) there is no friable asbestos-containing material
in or on any real property currently owned, leased or operated by Parent or its
Subsidiaries and (ii) there are and, to the Actual Knowledge of Parent, have
been no underground storage tanks (whether or not required to be registered
under any applicable law), dumps, landfills, lagoons, surface impoundments,
injection ▇▇▇▇▇ or other land disposal units in or on any property currently
owned, leased or operated by Parent or its Subsidiaries.
(c) (i) neither Parent nor its Subsidiaries has received
(x) any written communication from any person stating or alleging that any of
them may be a potentially responsible party under any Environmental Law
(including, without limitation, the Federal Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended) with respect to
any actual or alleged environmental contamination or (y) any request for
information under any Environmental Law from any Governmental Entity with
respect to any actual or alleged material environmental contamination; and (ii)
neither of Parent, nor its Subsidiaries nor any Governmental Entity is
conducting or has conducted (or, to the Actual Knowledge of the Parent, is
threatening to conduct) any environmental remediation or investigation.
(d) To the Actual Knowledge of Parent, all real
properties formerly owned, used, leased, occupied, managed or operated by Parent
or its Subsidiaries complied, in all material respects, with the Environmental
Laws during Parent's or its Subsidiaries' tenure thereat and, to the Actual
Knowledge of Parent there are no environmental liabilities associated therewith
that are reasonably likely to result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.23 Labor Matters. Neither Parent nor any of
its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining
agreement, contract or other understanding with a labor union or labor
organization and, to the Actual Knowledge of Parent, there is no activity
involving any employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries seeking to certify a
collective bargaining unit or engaging in any other organizational activity.
Section 5.24 Affiliate Transactions. Except as set
forth in Schedule 5.24 or as disclosed in Parent SEC Reports, there are no, and
since January 1, 1996 there have not been any, material Contracts or other
transactions between the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and
any (i) officer or director of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
record or beneficial owner of five percent or more of the voting securities of
the Parent or (iii) affiliate (as such term is defined in Regulation 12b-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any such officer, director or beneficial
owner, on the other hand.
Section 5.25 Tax Matters. Parent knows of no fact or
circumstance which is reasonably likely to cause the Merger to be treated other
than as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 5.26 Accounts Receivable. All of the accounts
and notes receivable of the Parent and its Subsidiaries set forth on the books
and records of the Parent net of the applicable reserves reflected on the books
and records of the Parent and in the financial statements included in the Parent
SEC Reports): (i) represent sales actually made in the ordinary course of
business for
25
goods or service delivered or rendered to unaffiliated customers in bona fide
arm's length transactions, (ii) constitute valid claims, and (iii) are good and
collectible, at the aggregate recorded amounts thereof (net of such reserves)
without right of recourse, defense, deduction, return of goods, counterclaim, or
offset and have been or will be collected in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with past experience.
Section 5.27 Inventory. All inventory of the Parent and
its Subsidiaries is (net of the applicable reserves reflected on the books and
records of the Parent and in the financial statements included in the Parent SEC
Reports) of merchantable quality, free of defects in workmanship or design and
is usable and salable at normal profit margins and in accordance with historical
sales practices in the ordinary course of the business of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries. The inventory (net of such reserves) does not include any items
which are obsolete, damaged, excessive, below standard quality or slow moving
(i.e., items that are for discontinued or expected to be discontinued product
lines, or items that have not been used or sold within 12 months prior to the
date hereof).
ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
Section 6.1 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending
the Merger. Prior to the Effective Time, unless Parent shall otherwise agree in
writing, or as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement:
(a) the Company shall conduct, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to conduct, its business only in the ordinary and usual course
consistent with past practice, and the Company shall use, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to use, its reasonable efforts to preserve intact the present
business organization, keep available the services of its present officers and
key employees, and preserve the goodwill of those having business relationships
with it;
(b) the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, (i) amend its charter, bylaws or other organizational
documents, (ii) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its outstanding
capital stock, (iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other
distribution payable in cash, stock or property, or (iv) directly or indirectly
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or shares of the
capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries;
(c) except as provided in Schedule 6.1(c), the Company
shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) authorize for
issuance, issue or sell or agree to issue or sell any shares of, or Rights to
acquire or which are convertible into any shares of, its capital stock or shares
of the capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries (whether through the issuance or
granting of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase or
otherwise), except for the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the
exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of this Agreement and
the issuance of options in connection with the hiring of sales representatives
consistent with past practices; (ii) merge or consolidate with another entity;
(iii)
26
acquire or purchase an equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets
of another corporation, partnership or other business organization or otherwise
acquire any assets outside the ordinary and usual course of business and
consistent with past practice or otherwise enter into any material contract,
commitment or transaction outside the ordinary and usual course of business
consistent with past practice; (iv) sell, lease, license, waive, release,
transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of its assets outside the
ordinary and usual course of business and consistent with past practice; (v)
incur, assume or prepay any material indebtedness or any other material
liabilities other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice; (vi) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or
responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of
any other person other than a Subsidiary of the Company, in each case in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (vii) make any
loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other
person, other than to Subsidiaries of the Company; (viii) authorize or make
capital expenditures in excess of the amounts currently budgeted therefor; (ix)
permit any insurance policy naming the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
as a beneficiary or a loss payee to be cancelled or terminated other than in the
ordinary course of business; or (x) enter into any contract, agreement,
commitment or arrangement with respect to any of the foregoing;
(d) the Company shall not, nor shall it permit its
Subsidiaries to, (i) adopt, enter into, terminate or amend (except as may be
required by Applicable Law) any Company Plan or other arrangement for the
current or future benefit or welfare of any director, officer or current or
former employee, (ii) increase in any manner the compensation or fringe benefits
of, or pay any bonus to, any director, officer or employee (except for normal
increases in salaried compensation in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, or (iii) take any action to fund or in any other way secure,
or to accelerate or otherwise remove restrictions with respect to, the payment
of compensation or benefits under any employee plan, agreement, contract,
arrangement or other Company Plan (including the Company Stock Options);
(e) the Company shall not, nor shall it permit its
Subsidiaries to, take any action with respect to, or make any material change
in, its accounting or tax policies or procedures, except as required by law or
to comply with GAAP;
(f) the Company shall not (i) take or allow to be taken
any action which would jeopardize the treatment of Parent's acquisition of the
Company as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes; or (ii) take any
action which would jeopardize qualification of the Merger as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 6.2 Conduct of Business by Parent Pending the
Merger. Prior to the Effective Time, unless the Company shall otherwise agree
in writing, and except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement:
(a) Parent shall conduct its business and the business
of its Subsidiaries in a manner designed, in the good faith judgment of its
Board of Directors, to enhance the long-term value of the Parent Common Stock
and the business prospects of Parent and Subsidiaries;
27
(b) Parent shall not (i) split, combine or reclassify
any shares of its outstanding capital stock; or (ii) declare, set aside or pay
any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, stock or property;
(c) Parent shall not authorize for issuance, issue or
sell or agree to issue or sell any shares of, or Rights to acquire or which are
convertible into any shares of, its capital stock, except for (i) the issuance
of shares of Parent Common Stock (x) upon the exercise of stock options or other
Rights outstanding on the date of this Agreement, or (y) upon the exercise of
Rights described in the immediately following clause (ii) or (z) upon the
conversion of the Parent Preferred Stock in accordance with its present terms,
(ii) the issuance of Rights or shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
existing employee benefit plans or arrangements in a manner consistent with past
practice, and (iii) the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock or Rights in
connection with arm's length transactions with non-affiliates;
(d) neither Parent nor Sub shall (i) take or allow to be
taken any action which would jeopardize the treatment of Parent's acquisition of
the Company as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes; or (ii) take any
action which would jeopardize qualification of the Merger as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 6.3 Conduct of Business of Sub. During the
period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Sub shall not
engage in any activities of any nature except as provided in or contemplated by
this Agreement. It is understood that Sub was formed by Parent solely for the
purpose of effecting the Merger, and that Sub will have no material assets and
no material liabilities prior to the Merger.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section 7.1 Access and Information. Each of the
Company and Parent shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and those of
their respective officers, directors and employees whose names appear on
Schedule 7.1, auditors and agents to) afford to the other and to the other's
officers, employees, financial advisors, legal counsel, accountants, consultants
and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours
throughout the period prior to the Effective Time to all of its books and
records and its properties, plants and personnel and, during such period, each
shall furnish promptly to the other a copy of each report, schedule and other
document filed or received by it pursuant to the requirements of federal
securities laws, provided that no investigation pursuant to this Section 7.1
shall affect any representations or warranties made herein or the conditions to
the obligations of the respective parties to consummate the Merger. Unless
otherwise required by law, each party agrees that it (and its Subsidiaries and
its and their respective representatives) shall hold in confidence all
non-public information so acquired in accordance with the terms of the
confidentiality agreement, dated July 1, 1997, between Parent and the Company
(the "Confidentiality Agreement").
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Section 7.2 No Solicitation.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company agrees
that neither it, any of its Subsidiaries or its affiliates, nor any of the
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives of the
foregoing will, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, facilitate or
encourage (including by way of furnishing or disclosing non-public information)
any inquiries or the making of any proposal with respect to any merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or any
material Subsidiary of the Company or the acquisition of any securities of the
Company or all or any material assets (including stock of a subsidiary) of the
Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company taken as a whole (an "Acquisition
Transaction") or negotiate, explore or otherwise engage in discussions with any
person (other than Parent and its representatives) with respect to any
Acquisition Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with respect to any such Acquisition Transaction or which would
require it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Merger or any other
transaction contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company
may, in response to an unsolicited written proposal from a third party with
respect to an Acquisition Transaction, furnish information to and engage in
discussions with such third party, in each case only if the Board of Directors
of the Company determines in good faith by a majority vote, after consultation
with its financial advisors and based upon the advice of outside counsel to the
Company, that failing to take such action would result in a breach of the
fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors and, prior to taking such action, the
Company (i) provides reasonable notice to Parent to the effect that it is taking
such action and (ii) receives from such corporation, partnership, person or
other entity or group (and delivers to Parent) an executed confidentiality
agreement in reasonably customary form. The Company agrees that as of the date
hereof, it, its Subsidiaries and affiliates, and the respective directors,
officers, employees, agents and representatives of the foregoing, shall
immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities,
discussions or negotiations with any person (other than Parent and its
representatives) conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition
Transaction. The Company agrees to immediately advise Parent in writing of any
inquiries or proposals (or desire to make a proposal) received by any such
information requested from, or any such negotiations or discussions sought to be
initiated or continued with, any of it, its Subsidiaries or affiliates, or any
of the respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives of
the foregoing, in each case from a person (other than Parent and its
representatives) with respect to an Acquisition Transaction, and the terms
thereof, including the identity of such third party, and to update on an ongoing
basis or upon Parent's request, the status thereof, as well as any actions taken
or other developments pursuant to this Section 7.2(a). Notwithstanding anything
in the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.2(a) to the contrary: (i) the
Company shall not disclose any information received by it or any of its
directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives pursuant to the
Confidentiality Agreement or any other confidentiality or other similar
agreement between the Company and Parent to any person in violation of such
agreement and (ii) the Company shall not be obligated to disclose to Parent any
confidential information provided to the Company by any third party in violation
of any law or any confidentiality agreement between the Company and such third
party provided for in this Section 7.2.
(b) Except as set forth in this Section 7.2(b), the
Board of Directors of the Company shall not (i) withdraw or modify, or propose
to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse
29
to the Parent or the Sub, the approval or recommendation by the Board of
Directors of this Agreement or the Merger, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose
to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Transaction or (iii) cause the Company
to enter into any agreement with respect to any Acquisition Transaction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that prior to the Effective Time the
Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good faith reasonable
judgment, by a majority vote, after consultation with its financial advisors,
that the Acquisition Transaction is more favorable to the stockholders of the
Company than the Merger and, based upon the advice of outside counsel to the
Company, that such action is required by the fiduciary duties of the Board of
Directors, the Board of Directors of the Company may withdraw or modify its
approval or recommendation of this Agreement and the Merger, approve or
recommend such Acquisition Transaction or (subject to Section 9.2(b)) cause the
Company to enter into an agreement with respect to such Acquisition Transaction,
but only if the Company gives Parent at least five business days prior written
notice thereof, during which time Parent may make, and, in such event, the
Company shall in good faith consider, a counter proposal to such Acquisition
Transaction.
Section 7.3 Registration Statement. As promptly as
practicable, Parent and the Company shall in consultation with each other
prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement and Parent in consultation
with the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Registration
Statement. Each of Parent and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable.
Parent shall also use its reasonable best efforts to take any action required to
be taken under state securities or "blue sky" laws in connection with the
issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement in the
Merger. The Company shall furnish Parent with all information concerning the
Company and the holders of its capital stock and shall take such other action as
Parent may reasonably request in connection with the Registration Statement and
the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock. If at any time prior to the
Effective Time any event or circumstance relating to Parent, any Subsidiary of
Parent, the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or their respective officers
or directors, should be discovered by such party which should be set forth in an
amendment or a supplement to the Registration Statement or Proxy Statement, such
party shall promptly inform the other thereof and take appropriate action in
respect thereof. Neither Parent nor Company shall distribute any written
material that would constitute a "prospectus" relating to the Merger other than
in compliance with the Securities Act or any applicable state's securities laws.
Section 7.4 Proxy Statements; Stockholder Approvals.
(a) The Company, acting through its Board of Directors,
l, subject to and in accordance with applicable law and its Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws, promptly and duly call, give notice of, convene and
hold as soon as practicable following the date upon which the Registration
Statement becomes effective a meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock for
the purpose of voting to approve and adopt this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, and, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of
Directors of the Company under applicable law as advised by outside legal
counsel, (i) recommend approval and adoption of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby by the stockholders of the Company and include
in the Proxy Statement such recommendation and (ii) take all reasonable and
lawful action to solicit and obtain such approval.
30
(b) Parent, acting through its Board of Directors,
shall, subject to and in accordance with applicable law and its Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws, promptly and duly call, give notice of, convene and
hold as soon as practicable following the date upon which the Registration
Statement becomes effective a meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock for
the purpose of voting to approve and adopt this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, and, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of
Directors of Parent under applicable law as advised by outside counsel, (i)
recommend approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby by the stockholders of Parent and include in the Proxy
Statement such recommendation, and (ii) take all reasonable and lawful action to
solicit and obtain such approval.
(c) Parent and the Company, as promptly as practicable
(or with such other timing as they mutually agree), shall cause the definitive
Proxy Statement to be mailed to their stockholders.
(d) At or prior to the Closing, each of Parent and the
Company shall deliver to the other a certificate of its Secretary setting forth
the voting results from its stockholder meeting.
Section 7.5 Compliance with the Securities Act.
(a) At least 45 days prior to the Effective Time, each
of Parent and the Company shall cause to be delivered to the other a list
identifying all persons who were, in its reasonable judgment, at the record date
for its stockholders' meeting convened in accordance with Section 7.4 hereof,
"affiliates" of such party as that term is used in paragraphs (c) and (d) of
Rule 145 under the Securities Act (the "Affiliates").
(b) Each of Parent and the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause each person who is identified as one of its
Affiliates in its list referred to in, Section 7.5(a) above to deliver to Parent
(with a copy to the Company), at least 30 days prior to the Effective Time, a
written agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1, in the case of
Affiliates of Parent, and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-2, in the
case of Affiliates of the Company (the "Affiliate Agreement").
(c) If any Affiliate of the Company refuses to provide
an Affiliate Agreement, Parent may place appropriate legends on the certificates
evidencing the shares of Parent Common Stock to be received by such Affiliate
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and to issue appropriate stop transfer
instructions to the transfer agent for shares of Parent Common Stock to the
effect that the shares of Parent Common Stock received by such Affiliate
pursuant to this Agreement may be sold, transferred or otherwise conveyed only
(i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act,
(ii) in compliance with Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act, or (iii)
pursuant to another exemption under the Securities Act.
Section 7.6 Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the
terms and conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use
its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do,
or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable
laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated
31
by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the obtaining of all necessary
waivers, consents and approvals and the effecting of all necessary registrations
and filings. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as promptly as
practicable, the Company, Parent and Sub shall make all filings and submissions
under the HSR Act as may be reasonably required to be made in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and the Company shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause any affiliate of the Company who is
required to make a filing or submission under the HSR Act in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to do so promptly.
Subject to the Confidentiality Agreement, the Company will furnish to Parent and
Sub, and Parent and Sub will furnish to the Company, such information and
assistance as the other may reasonably request in connection with the
preparation of any such filings or submissions. Subject to the Confidentiality
Agreement, the Company will provide Parent and Sub, and Parent and Sub will
provide the Company, with copies of all material written correspondence, filings
and communications (or memoranda setting forth the substance thereof) between
such party or any of its representatives and any Governmental Entity, with
respect to the obtaining of any waivers, consent or approvals and the making of
any registrations or filings, in each case that is necessary to consummate the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. In case at any time
after the Effective Time any further action is necessary or desirable to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement, the proper officers or directors of Parent
and the Surviving Corporation shall take all such necessary action.
Section 7.7 Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights
Agreement. Concurrently herewith, and as an essential inducement for Parent's
entering into this Agreement, Parent and Sub are entering into the Irrevocable
Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement with certain holders of the Company
Common Stock with respect to all such shares of Company Common Stock held by
such holders.
Section 7.8 Company Stock Options. To the extent
permitted by the respective terms of the Company Stock Options and the plans
under which they were issued, at the Effective Time, each of the Company Stock
Options (and, solely with respect to such options, the applicable option plans
pursuant to which such options were issued) which is outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be assumed by Parent and converted
automatically into an option to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock (a "New
Option") in an amount and at an exercise price determined as provided below:
(a) The number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be
subject to the New Option shall be equal to the product of the number of shares
of Company Common Stock remaining subject (as of immediately prior to the
Effective Time) to the original option and the Exchange Ratio, provided that any
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock resulting from such multiplication
shall be rounded down to the nearest share; and
(b) The exercise price per share of Parent Common Stock
under the New Option shall be equal to the exercise price per share of Company
Common Stock under the original option divided by the Exchange Ratio, provided
that such exercise price shall be rounded down to the nearest cent.
32
The adjustment provided herein with respect to any options which are "incentive
stock options" (as defined in Section 422 of the Code) shall be modified to the
extent required to comply with Section 424(a) of the Code and the applicable
Treasury regulations. After the Effective Time, each New Option shall be
exercisable and shall vest upon the same terms and conditions as were applicable
to the related Company Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective Time,
except that all references to the Company shall be deemed to be references to
Parent. Parent shall file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 (or
other appropriate form) or a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement and shall take any action required to be taken under state securities
"blue sky" laws for purposes of registering all shares of Parent Common Stock
issuable after the Effective Time upon exercise of the New Options, and shall
use all reasonable efforts to have such registration statement or post-effective
amendment (or a successor or replacement registration statement) become
effective with respect thereto as promptly as practicable after the Effective
Time.
Section 7.9 Public Announcements. Each of Parent, Sub,
and the Company agrees that it will not issue any press release or otherwise
make any public statement with respect to this Agreement (including the Exhibits
hereto) or the transactions contemplated hereby (or thereby) without the prior
consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed; provided, however, that such disclosure can be made without obtaining
such prior consent if (i) the disclosure is required by law or by obligations
imposed pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange
and (ii)the party making such disclosure has first used its reasonable best
efforts to consult with (but not obtain the consent of) the other party about
the form and substance of such disclosure.
Section 7.10 Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth
in Section 9.2(b), whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement (including the Exhibits
hereto) and the transactions contemplated hereby (and thereby) shall be paid by
the party incurring such expenses, except that (i) the expenses incurred in
connection with printing the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement and
(ii) the filing fee with the SEC relating to the Registration Statement or the
Proxy Statement will be shared equally by Parent and the Company and the filing
fee in connection with filings under the HSR Act by Parent or the Company (but
not any Affiliate of the Company) shall be the expense solely of Parent .
Section 7.11 Listing Application. Parent will use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement in the Merger (as well as the shares of Parent Common
Stock issuable after the Effective Time upon exercise of the New Options) to be
listed for quotation and trading on the NASDAQ National Market.
Section 7.12 Supplemental Disclosure. The Company shall
give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the
Company, of (i) the occurrence, or non-occurrence, of any event the occurrence,
or non-occurrence, of which would be likely to cause (x) any representation or
warranty contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate or (y) any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement not to be complied
with or satisfied and (ii) any failure of the Company or Parent, as the case may
be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery
of any notice pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall not have any effect for
33
the purpose of determining the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Article VIII of this Agreement or otherwise limit or affect the remedies
available hereunder to any party.
Section 7.13 Letters of Accountants.
(a) Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to
be delivered to the Company (i) a letter of BDO ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, Parent's
independent auditors, dated a date within two business days before the date on
which the Registration Statement shall become effective and addressed to the
Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and
customary in scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public
accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the
Registration Statement, which letter shall be brought down to the Effective
Time, and (ii) the letter referred to in 8.2(d).
(b) The Company shall use all reasonable best efforts
to cause to be delivered to Parent a letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the
Company's independent auditors, dated a date within two business days before the
date on which the Registration Statement shall become effective and addressed to
Parent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and customary in
scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement,
which letter shall be brought down to the Effective Time.
Section 7.14 Directors of Parent. Parent agrees that,
promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall take such action as may be
necessary to cause either ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or if both
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ are unwilling or unable to serve,
then ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ designee, which designee shall be reasonably
acceptable to Parent), to be nominated for election to Parent's Board of
Directors, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause such individual to be
elected to Parent's Board of Directors.
Section 7.15 Indemnification.
(a) Parent agrees that all rights to indemnification
existing as of the date of this Agreement in favor of the employees, agents,
directors or officers ("Indemnified Persons") of the Company, as provided in the
Companys articles of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, as amended
("Organic Documents") of the Company or in any written agreement between the
Company and an Indemnified Person ("Indemnification Agreements") listed on
Schedule 7.15 (true and complete copies of which have been delivered to Parent),
shall survive the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect as
obligations of the Parent for a period not less than six years from the
Effective Date. Parent shall cause Surviving Corporation on the Effective Date
not to cause or permit the amendment of such provisions of the Organic Documents
for a period of not less than six years from the Effective Date.
(b) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to
maintain in effect (for at least six years from the Effective Time in the case
of claims made policies) directors' and officers' liability insurance policies
providing coverage in an aggregate amount of at least $4,000,000 and with a
carrier(s) having a Best's rating of at least "A" covering directors and
officers of the Company
34
serving as of or after December 1, 1990 with respect to claims arising from
occurrences prior to or at the Effective Time (including the transactions
contemplated by or related to this Agreement).
Section 7.16 Solicitation of Employees and
Representatives. Each of Parent and the Company agrees that, subject to the
last sentence of this Section 7.16, (i) for a period beginning on the
Termination Date, if any, and ending on the 6 month anniversary of such date, it
will not hire any individual who at any time during the three month period
preceding the date of this Agreement was, or who at any time on or after the
date of this Agreement is, an employee or independent sales representative of
the other party and (ii) for a period beginning on the Termination Date, if any,
and ending on the 12-month anniversary of such date, it will not directly or
indirectly solicit any such individual of the other party. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, each party may place advertisements in publications of general
circulation to recruit personnel, provided such publications containing such
advertisements are distributed solely through the customary and public
distribution channels of the publication. The covenants provided for in this
Section 7.16 shall not apply to any party from and after the time that such
party becomes entitled to receive a fee pursuant to Section 9.2(b), (c) or (d).
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
Section 8.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to
Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to effect the
Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of
the following conditions:
(a) HSR Approval. Any waiting period applicable to the
consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated, and no action shall have been instituted by the U.S. Department of
Justice or Federal Trade Commission challenging or seeking to enjoin the
consummation of this transaction, which action shall have not been withdrawn or
terminated.
(b) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall have been approved and adopted by (i) the
requisite vote (as described in Section 4.18) of the stockholders of the Company
and (ii) by the requisite vote (as described in Section 5.12) of the
stockholders of Parent, in each case, in accordance with applicable law.
(c) NASDAQ Listing. The shares of Parent Common Stock
issuable to the holders of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement in
the Merger shall have been authorized for listing on the NASDAQ National Market,
upon official notice of issuance.
(d) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement
shall have become effective under the Securities Act and shall not be the
subject of any stop order or proceeding by the SEC seeking a stop order.
35
(e) No Order. No Governmental Entity (including a
federal or state court) of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued,
promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent)
which is in effect and which materially restricts, prevents or prohibits
consummation of the Merger or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement;
provided, however, that the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to
cause any such decree, judgment, injunction or other order to be vacated or
lifted.
(f) Approvals. Other than the filing of Merger
documents in accordance with the WBCL, all authorizations, consents, waivers,
orders or approvals of, or declarations or filings with, or expirations of
waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental Entity the failure of which to
obtain, make or occur would individually or in the aggregate have a material
adverse effect at or after the Effective Time on (i) Parent and its Subsidiaries
or (ii) the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall have been obtained,
been filed or have occurred. Parent shall have received all state securities or
"blue sky" permits and other authorizations necessary to issue the shares of
Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement in the Merger.
(g) Litigation. No preliminary or permanent injunction
or other order shall have been issued by any court or by any governmental or
regulatory agency, body or authority which enjoins, restrains or prohibits the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the consummation of the Merger or
has the effect of making the Merger illegal and which is in effect at the
Effective Time (each party agreeing to use its best efforts to have any such
injunction or order lifted).
(h) Statutes. No statute, rule, regulation, executive
order, decree or order of any kind shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated
or enforced by any court or governmental authority which prohibits the
consummation of the Merger or has the effect of making the Merger illegal.
(i) Market Events. There shall not have occurred and be
continuing any general suspension or limitation of trading in Parent Common
Stock (exclusive, however, of any temporary suspension pending an ensuing public
announcement) or in securities generally on the NASDAQ National Market.
Section 8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub
to Effect the Merger. The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the
following additional conditions, unless waived in writing by Parent:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations
and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except to the extent
such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date, as of the
Effective Time as though made at and as of the Effective Time, except, in each
case, to the extent that the aggregate effect of all such breaches or
misrepresentations does not and would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, and Parent shall have received a certificate
signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or the chief
financial officer of the Company to such effect.
36
(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. Each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have performed in all material respects
all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior
to the Effective Time, and Parent shall have received a certificate signed on
behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer or the chief financial
officer of the Company to such effect.
(c) Affiliate Agreements. Parent shall have received
the Affiliate Agreements from each of the Affiliates of the Company, as
contemplated in Section 7.5.
(d) "Pooling Letter". Parent shall have received from
BDO ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP a letter, dated the Closing Date and addressed to Parent, to the
effect that, subject to customary qualifications, the Merger qualifies for
pooling of interests treatment for financial reporting purposes in accordance
with GAAP, and Parent shall have received from the Company, with the consent of
Deloitte & Touche LLP, a copy of a letter, dated the Closing Date, of Deloitte &
Touche LLP addressed to the Company to the effect that, subject to customary
qualifications, the Merger qualifies for pooling of interests for financial
reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.
(e) Tax Opinion of Counsel. Parent shall have received
an opinion of Proskauer Rose LLP, tax counsel to Parent, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Parent, dated as of the Effective Time, substantially
to the effect that no gain or loss will be recognized by the Company, Parent or
Sub as a result of the Merger.
(f) Letters of Resignation. Parent and Sub shall have
received letters of resignation addressed to the Company from the members of the
Company's board of directors, which resignations shall be effective as of the
Effective Time.
(g) Legal Opinion. Parent shall have received an
opinion, dated the Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Ryd, counsel to the Company,
substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, subject to
assumptions, qualifications and limitations reasonably satisfactory to Parent.
In such opinion ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Ryd may rely on an opinion of local counsel as to
matters of Wisconsin law, provided that such local counsel and its opinion are
reasonably satisfactory to Parent and a copy of such counsel's opinion is
attached to ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Ryd's opinion.
Section 8.3 Conditions to Obligation of the Company to
Effect the Merger. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger shall be
subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations
and warranties of Parent set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date, as of the Effective
Time as though made on and as of the Effective Time, except, in each case, to
the extent that the aggregate effect of all such breaches or misrepresentations
does not and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of
Parent by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of Parent
to such effect.
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(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Sub. Each
of Parent and Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations
required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective
Time, and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of
Parent by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of Parent
to such effect.
(c) Legal Opinion. The Company shall have received the
opinion, dated as of the Effective Time, of Proskauer Rose LLP, counsel to
Parent, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto, subject to
assumptions, qualifications and limitations reasonably satisfactory to the
Company. In such opinion Proskauer Rose LLP may rely on an opinion of local
counsel as to matters of Wisconsin law, provided that such local counsel and its
opinion are reasonably satisfactory to the Company and a copy of such counsel's
opinion is attached to Proskauer Rose LLP's opinion.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
Section 9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be
terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after
approval by the stockholders of Parent or the Company:
(a) by mutual consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company, if (i) the Merger
shall not have been consummated before January 31, 1998 or (ii) the approval of
the stockholders of each of Parent and the Company required by Sections 5.12 and
4.18, respectively, shall not have been obtained at a meeting duly convened
therefor or any adjournment thereof (unless, in the case of any such termination
pursuant to this Section 9.1(b), the failure to so consummate the Merger by such
date or to obtain such stockholder approval shall have been caused by the action
or failure to act of the party (or its Subsidiaries) seeking to terminate this
Agreement, which action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this
Agreement); provided, however, that this Agreement may be extended not more than
90 days by Parent or the Company by written notice to the other party if the
Merger shall not have been consummated solely as a result of the failure of any
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(a) or Section 8.1(f) to be
satisfied, but only if no permanent injunction or other order described in
Section 9.1(c) shall have been issued and the failure of such conditions to be
satisfied shall not have been caused by the action or failure to act of the
party seeking to extend this Agreement, which action or failure to act
constitutes a breach of this Agreement;
(c) by either Parent or the Company, if any permanent
injunction or action by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall have become final and
nonappealable; provided, however, that the party seeking to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c) shall have used all reasonable efforts
to remove such injunction or overturn such action;
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(d) by Parent, if (i) there has been a breach of any
representations or warranties of the Company set forth herein the effect of
which individually or together with all other such breaches, is a Company
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) there has been a material breach of any covenant
or agreement set forth in this Agreement on the part of the Company, which
breach is not cured within 30 days after written notice of such breach is given
by Parent to the Company, (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company (x)
withdraws or amends or modifies in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub its
recommendation or approval in respect of this Agreement or the Merger, (y) makes
any recommendation with respect to an Acquisition Transaction (including making
no recommendation or stating an inability to make a recommendation), other than
a recommendation to reject such Acquisition Transaction, or (z) takes any action
that would be prohibited by Section 7.2, (iv) any corporation, partnership,
person or other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act) ("Acquiring Person") other than Parent, or any affiliate or Subsidiary of
Parent, shall have become the beneficial owner of more than 20% of the
outstanding voting equity of the Company (either on a primary or a fully diluted
basis); provided, however that "Acquiring Person" shall not include any
corporation, partnership, person, other entity or group which beneficially owns
as of the date hereof (either on a primary or a fully diluted basis) more than
20% of the outstanding voting equity of the Company (either on a primary or a
fully diluted basis) and which has not after the date hereof increased such
ownership percentage by more than an additional 1% of the outstanding voting
equity of the Company (either on a primary or a fully diluted basis), or (v) any
other Acquisition Transaction shall have occurred with any Acquiring Person
other than Parent, or any affiliate or Subsidiary of Parent;
(e) by the Company, if (i) there has been a breach of
any representations or warranties of Parent set forth herein the effect of which
individually or together with all other such breaches is a Parent Material
Adverse Effect, (ii) there has been a material breach of any covenant or
agreement set forth in this Agreement on the part of Parent, which breach is not
cured within 30 days after written notice of such breach is given by the Company
to Parent or (iii) such termination is necessary to allow the Company to enter
into an Acquisition Transaction in accordance with the last sentence of Section
7.2(b) (provided that the termination described in this clause (iii) shall not
be effective unless and until the Company shall have paid to Parent in full the
fee described in Section 9.2(b);
(f) by Parent, if the meeting of stockholders of the
Company to vote upon this Agreement is canceled or is otherwise not held prior
to January 31, 1998 (or such later date to which the date for termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(b) has been extended in accordance with
the terms thereof) except as a result of a judgment, injunction, order or decree
of any competent authority or events or circumstances beyond the reasonable
control of the Company;
(g) by the Company, if the meeting of stockholders of
the Parent to vote upon this Agreement is canceled or is otherwise not held
prior to January 31, 1998 (or such later date to which the date for termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.2(b) has been extended in accordance
with the terms thereof) except as a result of a judgment, injunction, order or
decree of any competent authority or events or circumstances beyond the
reasonable control of the Parent; and
39
(h) by the Company, if the average of the closing sale
prices of a share of Parent Common Stock during the twenty (20) trading days
preceding the third business day prior to the date of the mailing of the Proxy
Statement is less than $25.00 per share.
Section 9.2 Effect of Termination.
(a) In the event of termination of this Agreement
pursuant to this Article IX, the Merger shall be deemed abandoned and this
Agreement shall forthwith become void, without liability on the part of any
party hereto, except as provided in this Section 9.2, Section 7.1 (solely with
respect to confidentiality), Section 7.10 and Section 7.16, and except that
nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for any breach of this
Agreement.
(b) If (x) Parent shall have terminated this Agreement
pursuant to Sections 9.1(d)(iii), 9.1(d)(iv) or 9.1(d)(v) or (y) either (1) the
Company shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(b) or (2)
Parent shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(i),
9.1(d)(ii) or 9.1(f) and, prior to or within six (6) months after any
termination described in this clause (y), the Company (or any of its
Subsidiaries) shall have directly or indirectly entered into a definitive
agreement for, or shall have consummated, an Acquisition Transaction, or (z) the
Company shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(e)(iii),
then, in any of such cases, the Company shall pay Parent a termination fee of
twelve million dollars ($12,000,000); provided, however, that any liquidated
damage amounts previously paid by the Company to Parent pursuant to Section
9.2(c) shall be credited against the termination fee payable under this Section
9.2(b). Any fees payable under this Section 9.2(b) shall be paid in same day
funds no later than: (i) five business days after a termination described in
clause (x) of this Section 9.2(b); (ii) concurrently with or prior to the
entering into of the definitive agreement for, or the consummation of, such
Acquisition Transaction, in the case of a termination described in clause (y) of
this Section 9.2(b); or (iii) concurrently with or prior to a termination
described in clause (z) of this Section 9.2(b). For the sake of clarity, the
parties hereto expressly acknowledge that Parent shall not be entitled to a fee
pursuant to this Section 9.2(b) if, prior to the time that Parent would
otherwise be entitled to such fee, the Company shall have properly terminated
this agreement pursuant to Sections 9.1(e)(i), 9.1(e)(ii) or 9.1(g).
(c) If Parent shall have terminated this Agreement
pursuant to Sections 9.1(d)(i), 9.1(d)(ii) or 9.1(f), then, in any of such
cases, the Company shall pay to Parent, as liquidated damages and not as a
penalty, seven million dollars ($7,000,000). Such liquidated damage amount
shall be payable no later than five business days after such termination.
(d) If the Company shall have terminated this Agreement
pursuant to Sections 9.1(e)(i), 9.1(e)(ii) or 9.1(g), then, in either such case,
Parent shall pay to the Company as liquidated damages and not as a penalty,
seven million dollars ($7,000,000). Such liquidated damage amount shall be
payable no later than five business days after such termination.
40
ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 10.1 Amendment and Modification. At any time
prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented only by written agreement (referring specifically to this
Agreement) of Parent, Sub and the Company with respect to any of the terms
contained herein; provided, however, that after any approval and adoption of
this Agreement by the stockholders of Parent or the Company, no such amendment,
modification or supplementation shall be made which under applicable law
requires the approval of such stockholders, without the further approval of such
stockholders.
Section 10.2 Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, Parent and Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, may
(i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts
of the other, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
of the other contained herein or in any documents delivered pursuant hereto and
(iii) waive compliance by the other with any of the agreements or conditions
contained herein which may legally be waived. Any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing specifically
referring to this Agreement and signed on behalf of such party.
Section 10.3 Survivability; Investigations. The
respective representations and warranties of Parent and the Company contained
herein or in any certificates or other documents delivered prior to or as of the
Effective Time (i) shall not be deemed waived or otherwise affected by any
investigation made by any party hereto and (ii) shall not survive beyond the
Effective Time. The covenants and agreements of the parties hereto (including
the Surviving Corporation after the Merger) shall survive the Effective Time
without limitation (except for those which, by their terms, contemplate a
shorter survival period).
Section 10.4 Notices. All notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally
or by next-day courier or telecopied with confirmation of receipt, to the
parties at the addresses specified below (or at such other address for a party
as shall be specified by like notice; provided that notices of a change of
address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof. Any such notice shall be
effective upon receipt, if personally delivered or telecopied, or one day after
delivery to a courier for next-day delivery.
(a) If to Parent or Sub, to:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
41
with a copy to:
Proskauer Rose LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
(b) if to the Company, to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dental Products, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Ryd
▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
If Parent, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other, has or gains
knowledge prior to the Effective Date of any breach of any representation,
warranty or covenant of the other set forth in this Agreement, Parent or the
Company, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the other of such breach, but
any failure to give such notice shall not affect such party's rights or remedies
hereunder in respect thereof.
Section 10.5 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
References in this Agreement to Sections, Schedules, Exhibits or Articles mean a
Section, Schedule, Exhibit or Article of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. References to this Agreement shall be deemed to include the Exhibits
and Schedules hereto, unless the context otherwise requires. The term "person"
shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a
corporation, a trust, a Governmental Entity or an unincorporated organization.
Section 10.6 Entire Agreement; Assignment. This
Agreement (including the Schedules and other documents and instruments referred
to herein), together with the Irrevocable Proxy and Termination Rights Agreement
and the Confidentiality Agreement, constitute the entire agreement and supersede
all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person not a party hereto any
rights or remedies hereunder. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation
of law or otherwise; provided that Parent or Sub may
42
assign its rights and obligations hereunder to a direct or indirect subsidiary
of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Sub, as the case may
be, of its obligations hereunder.
Section 10.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
without giving effect to the provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law,
except to the extent relating to matters governed by the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware or the WBCL.
Section 10.8 Severability. In case any one or more of
the provisions contained in this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect against a party hereto, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way
be affected or impaired thereby and such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall only apply as to such party in the specific jurisdiction
where such judgment shall be made.
43
Section 10.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREFORE, each of Parent, Sub and the Company has
caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto
duly authorized, all as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
By:/S/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
HSI ACQUISITION CORP.
By:/S/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ DENTAL PRODUCTS, INC.
By:/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
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