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EXHIBIT 1
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
JLG Industries, Inc.
JLG Acquisition Corp.
and
Gradall Industries, Inc.
dated as of
May 10, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE 1 THE OFFER ............................................................................................... 1
SECTION 1.01. The Offer.................................................................................. 1
SECTION 1.02. Company Actions............................................................................ 2
ARTICLE 2 THE MERGER .............................................................................................. 5
SECTION 2.01. The Merger................................................................................. 5
SECTION 2.02. Effective Time............................................................................. 5
SECTION 2.03. Effects of the Merger...................................................................... 5
SECTION 2.04. Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.................................................... 5
SECTION 2.05. Directors and Officers..................................................................... 5
SECTION 2.06. Conversion of Shares....................................................................... 5
SECTION 2.07. Dissenting Shares.......................................................................... 6
SECTION 2.08. Payments for Shares........................................................................ 6
SECTION 2.09. Stock Option and Other Plans............................................................... 7
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUBSIDIARY .......................................... 8
SECTION 3.01. Corporate Existence and Power.............................................................. 8
SECTION 3.02. Corporate Authority........................................................................ 9
SECTION 3.03. Information Supplied....................................................................... 9
SECTION 3.04. Governmental Authorization................................................................. 9
SECTION 3.05. Non-contravention.......................................................................... 10
SECTION 3.06. Financing.................................................................................. 10
SECTION 3.07. Finders' Fees.............................................................................. 10
SECTION 3.08. Delaware Law............................................................................... 11
SECTION 3.09. Ownership of Shares........................................................................ 11
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY ........................................................... 11
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power.............................................................. 11
SECTION 4.02. Corporate Authority........................................................................ 12
SECTION 4.03. Governmental Authorization................................................................. 12
SECTION 4.04. Non-contravention.......................................................................... 12
SECTION 4.05. Capitalization............................................................................. 13
SECTION 4.06. Subsidiaries............................................................................... 13
SECTION 4.07. Company SEC Documents and Other Reports.................................................... 14
SECTION 4.08. Proxy Statement............................................................................ 14
SECTION 4.09. Information Supplied....................................................................... 14
SECTION 4.10. Absence of Certain Changes................................................................. 15
SECTION 4.11. Litigation................................................................................. 15
SECTION 4.12. Benefit Plans; ERISA....................................................................... 15
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SECTION 4.13. Environmental Matters...................................................................... 18
SECTION 4.14. Taxes...................................................................................... 21
SECTION 4.15. Delaware Takeover Statute.................................................................. 22
SECTION 4.16. Fees and Commissions....................................................................... 23
SECTION 4.17. Material Contracts......................................................................... 23
SECTION 4.18. Intellectual Property Rights............................................................... 24
SECTION 4.19. Labor Matters.............................................................................. 25
SECTION 4.20. Year 2000 Compliance....................................................................... 25
SECTION 4.21. Compliance with Laws....................................................................... 26
SECTION 4.22. Insurance.................................................................................. 26
SECTION 4.23. The Rights Agreement....................................................................... 26
ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS ............................................................................................... 26
SECTION 5.01. Conduct of Business of the Company......................................................... 26
SECTION 5.02. No Solicitation............................................................................ 28
SECTION 5.03. Access to Information...................................................................... 30
SECTION 5.04. Best Efforts............................................................................... 30
SECTION 5.05. Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance................................................. 31
SECTION 5.06. Employee Plans and Benefits and Employment Contracts....................................... 32
SECTION 5.07. Meeting of the Company's Stockholders...................................................... 32
SECTION 5.08. Public Announcements....................................................................... 33
SECTION 5.09. Performance by Merger Subsidiary........................................................... 34
SECTION 5.10. Notification of Certain Matters............................................................ 34
ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER ................................................................................ 34
SECTION 6.01. Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger................................. 34
ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER .......................................................................... 35
SECTION 7.01. Termination................................................................................ 35
SECTION 7.02. Effect of Termination...................................................................... 36
SECTION 7.03. Amendment.................................................................................. 36
SECTION 7.04. Extension; Waiver.......................................................................... 37
SECTION 7.05. Procedure for Termination, Extension or Waiver............................................. 37
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ARTICLE 8 MISCELLANEOUS ........................................................................................... 37
SECTION 8.01. Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties............................................. 37
SECTION 8.02. Entire Agreement; Assignment............................................................... 37
SECTION 8.03. Validity................................................................................... 37
SECTION 8.04. Notices.................................................................................... 38
SECTION 8.05. Governing Law.............................................................................. 39
SECTION 8.06. Jurisdiction............................................................................... 39
SECTION 8.07. Descriptive Headings....................................................................... 39
SECTION 8.08. Parties in Interest........................................................................ 39
SECTION 8.09. Counterparts............................................................................... 39
SECTION 8.10. Fees and Expenses.......................................................................... 39
SECTION 8.11. Certain Definitions........................................................................ 40
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "AGREEMENT"), dated as of May 10,
1999, among JLG Industries, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation ("PARENT"), JLG
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent ("MERGER SUBSIDIARY"), and Gradall Industries, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY").
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.1. The Offer. (a) As promptly as practicable after the date
hereof, but in no event later than the fifth business day after the public
announcement of the execution of this Agreement, Parent shall cause Merger
Subsidiary to commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934), and Merger Subsidiary shall commence, an offer (the
"OFFER") to purchase for cash all issued and outstanding shares, together with
the associated rights to purchase Series B Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock ( collectively, the "SHARES") of common stock, $.00l par value per share,
of the Company (the "COMMON STOCK") at a price of $20 per Share, net to the
seller in cash (such price, or such higher price per Share as may be paid in the
Offer, being referred to as the "OFFER PRICE"). The Offer shall be subject to
only those conditions set forth in Annex A (any of which may be waived by Merger
Subsidiary in its sole discretion; provided that, without the consent of the
Company, Merger Subsidiary shall not waive the Minimum Tender Condition (as
defined in Annex A)).
(b) As soon as practicable on the date of commencement of the Offer,
Parent and Merger Subsidiary shall file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") with respect to the Offer a Tender Offer Statement on
Schedule 14D-1 (the "SCHEDULE 14D-1"), which will comply in all material
respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws and will
contain the offer to purchase relating to the Offer (the "OFFER TO PURCHASE")
and forms of related letters of transmittal and summary advertisement (which
documents, together with any supplements or amendments thereto, are referred to
herein collectively as the "OFFER Documents"). Parent will deliver copies of the
proposed forms of the Schedule 14D-1 and the Offer Documents (as well as any
change thereto) to the Company within a reasonable time prior to the
commencement of the Offer for prompt review and comment by the Company and its
counsel. Parent will provide the Company and its counsel in writing any comments
that Merger Subsidiary, Parent or their counsel may receive from the SEC or its
staff with respect to the Offer Documents promptly after the receipt thereof.
Parent and Merger Subsidiary represent that the Schedule 14D-1 and the Offer
Documents (including any amendments or supplements thereto) (i) shall comply as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder
(collectively, the "EXCHANGE ACT") and (ii) shall not, in the
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case of the Schedule 14D-1 at the time filed with the SEC and at the time the
Offer is consummated and in the case of the Offer Documents when first
published, sent or given to the stockholders of the Company and at the time the
Offer is consummated, 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; provided, however, that Parent and Merger Subsidiary make
no covenant, representation or warranty as to any of the information relating to
and supplied by the Company in writing specifically for inclusion in the
Schedule 14D-1 or the Offer Documents (including any amendments or supplements
thereto). Parent and Merger Subsidiary shall promptly correct any information in
the Schedule 14D-1 or the Offer Documents that shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect and take all steps necessary to cause such
Schedule 14D-1 or Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and
disseminated to the stockholders of the Company, as and to the extent required
by applicable law. Parent and Merger Subsidiary will provide copies of any
amendments or supplements to the Offer Documents or the Schedule 14D-1 to the
Company prior to any filing of such amendments or supplements with the SEC in
order to provide the Company and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to
review and comment thereon.
(c) Each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary expressly reserves the right
to modify the terms of the Offer, except that neither Parent nor Merger
Subsidiary shall, without the prior written consent of the Company, decrease the
consideration payable in the Offer, change the form of consideration payable in
the Offer, decrease the number of Shares sought pursuant to the Offer, change or
modify the conditions to the Offer in a manner adverse to the Company or holders
of Shares, impose additional conditions to the Offer, waive the Minimum Tender
Condition, or amend any term of the Offer in any manner adverse to the Company
or holders of Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Merger Subsidiary, without
the consent of the Company, (i) must extend the Offer for an aggregate of 10
additional business days after the then scheduled expiration date of the Offer
to the extent necessary to permit such condition to be satisfied (the "FIRST
EXTENSION PERIOD"), (ii) may extend the Offer, if at the end of the First
Extension Period any of the conditions to Merger Subsidiary's obligation to
accept for payment and pay for Shares shall not have been satisfied, until such
time as such condition is satisfied or waived and (iii) may extend the Offer for
any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the
SEC or the staff thereof applicable to the Offer.
(d) Parent will provide or cause to be provided to Merger Subsidiary on
a timely basis the funds necessary to accept for payment, and pay for, Shares
that Merger Subsidiary becomes obligated to accept for payment, and pay for,
pursuant to the Offer.
(e) Merger Subsidiary shall accept for payment, and pay for, Shares in
accordance with the Offer, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions to the Offer.
SECTION 1.2. Company Actions. (a) The Company hereby consents to the
Offer and represents that its Board of Directors, at a meeting duly called and
held, has by unanimous vote
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adopted resolutions approving the Offer, the Merger (as defined in Section 2.01)
and this Agreement, determining that the terms of the Offer and the Merger are
fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company's stockholders and
recommending acceptance of the Offer and approval of the Merger and this
Agreement by the stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that the Board
of Directors of the Company may modify, withdraw or change such recommendation
to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company concludes in accordance
with Section 5.02 hereof, that such action is necessary in order for the Board
of Directors to satisfy its fiduciary duties under applicable law. The Company
further represents that ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated
("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇") has delivered to the Company's Board of Directors its opinion
that as of the date of this Agreement the cash consideration to be received by
holders of the Shares for such Shares is fair to such holders from a financial
point of view, and that the Company is authorized by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ to include a
summary description of such opinion in the Offer Documents, provided that any
summary description of such opinion shall be subject to prior review and
approval by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The Company hereby consents to the inclusion in the
Offer Documents of the recommendations of the Company's Board of Directors
described in this Section.
(b) The Company will file with the SEC on the date of the commencement
of the Offer a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the
"SCHEDULE 14D-9") containing such recommendations of the Board in favor of the
Offer and the Merger; provided, however, that the Board of Directors of the
Company may modify, withdraw or change such recommendation to the extent that
the Board of Directors concludes in accordance with Section 5.02 hereof, that
such action is necessary in order for the Board of Directors to satisfy its
fiduciary duties under applicable law. The Company will deliver the proposed
forms of the Schedule 14D-9 and the exhibits thereto to Parent within a
reasonable time prior to the commencement of the Offer for prompt review and
comment by Parent and its counsel. Parent and its counsel shall be given a
reasonable opportunity to review any amendments and supplements to the Schedule
14D-9 prior to their filing with the SEC or dissemination to stockholders of the
Company. The Company will provide Parent and its counsel in writing any comments
that the Company or its counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after receipt thereof, and shall
disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 as required by Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the
Exchange Act. The Company represents that the Schedule 14D-9, on the date filed
with the SEC and on the date first published, sent or given to the stockholders
of the Company, shall not 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 were made, not misleading, provided, however, that the Company makes no
covenant, representation or warranty as to any of the information relating to
and supplied by Parent or Merger Subsidiary in writing specifically for
inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9 (including any amendments or supplements
thereto). The Company shall promptly correct any information in the Schedule
14D-9 that shall have become false or misleading in any material respect and
take all steps necessary to cause such Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be
filed with the SEC and disseminated to the stockholders of the Company, as and
to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws.
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(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company shall furnish to, or
cause to be furnished to, Parent and its information agent mailing labels,
security position listings and any available listing or computer file containing
the names and addresses of the record holders of the Shares as of a recent date
and shall furnish Parent and its information agent with such information and
assistance as Parent or its agents may reasonably request in communicating the
Offer to the stockholders of the Company. Subject to the requirements of law,
and except for such steps as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents
and any other documents necessary to consummate the Merger, Parent and Merger
Subsidiary shall, and shall cause each of their affiliates to, hold the
information contained in any of such labels and lists in confidence, use such
information only in connection with the Offer and the Merger, and, if this
Agreement is terminated, deliver to the Company all copies of such information
or extracts therefrom then in their possession or under their control.
(d) Promptly upon the acceptance for payment of and payment for any
Shares by Merger Subsidiary, Merger Subsidiary shall be entitled to designate
such number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the Board of
Directors of the Company as will give Merger Subsidiary, subject to compliance
with Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act, representation on the Board of Directors
of the Company equal to the product of (i) the number of directors on the Board
of Directors of the Company and (ii) the percentage that such number of votes
represented by Shares so purchased bears to the number of votes represented by
Shares outstanding, and the Company shall at such time, subject to applicable
law, including applicable fiduciary duties, cause Merger Subsidiary's designees
to be so elected by its existing Board of Directors. Subject to applicable law,
including applicable fiduciary duties, the Company promptly shall take all
action requested by Parent necessary to effect any such election, including
mailing to its stockholders the information statement (the "INFORMATION
STATEMENT") containing the information required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange
Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder, and the Company shall make such
mailing with the mailing of the Schedule 14D-9 (provided that Parent and Merger
Subsidiary shall have provided to the Company on a timely basis all information
required to be included in the Information Statement with respect to Merger
Subsidiary's designees). In connection with the foregoing, the Company will,
subject to applicable law, including applicable fiduciary duties, promptly, at
the option of Parent, either increase the size of the Company's Board of
Directors and/or use its best efforts to obtain the resignation of such number
of its current directors as is necessary to enable Merger Subsidiary's designees
to be elected or appointed to the Company's Board of Directors as provided
above.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or of applicable law to the contrary,
following the election or appointment of Merger Subsidiary's designees pursuant
to Section 1.02(d) and prior to the Effective Time, any amendment or termination
of this Agreement or waiver of the obligations or other acts of Parent or Merger
Subsidiary hereunder or waiver by the Company of the Company's rights hereunder
will require the concurrence of a majority of directors of the Company then in
office who are directors on the date hereof and who voted to approve this
Agreement.
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ARTICLE 2
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.1. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), Merger Subsidiary shall be merged with and into
the Company (the "MERGER") as soon as practicable following the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 6. Following the Merger, the
Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "SURVIVING
CORPORATION") and shall continue its existence under the laws of the State of
Delaware, and the separate corporate existence of Merger Subsidiary shall cease.
SECTION 2.2. Effective Time. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, as soon as possible after consummation of the Offer and to
the extent required by the DGCL after the vote of the stockholders of the
Company in favor of the approval of the Merger and this Agreement has been
obtained, the Merger shall be consummated by filing with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware, as provided in the DGCL, a certificate of merger or
other appropriate documents (in any such case, the "CERTIFICATE OF MERGER") and
the parties hereto shall make all other filings or recordings required under the
DGCL (the later of the time of such filing or the time specified in the
Certificate of Merger being the "EFFECTIVE TIME").
SECTION 2.3. Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects
set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL. As of the Effective Time, the Company, as
the Surviving Corporation, shall be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
SECTION 2.4. Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. (a) The
certificate of incorporation of the Company in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation from and after the Effective Time until amended in accordance with
applicable law.
(b) The bylaws of Merger Subsidiary in effect at the Effective Time
shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective
Time until amended in accordance with applicable law.
SECTION 2.5. Directors and Officers. The directors of Merger Subsidiary
and the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation until their respective
successors are duly elected and qualified.
SECTION 2.6. Conversion of Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Subsidiary, the
Company or the holders of any of the following securities:
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(a) each Share held by the Company as treasury stock and each issued
and outstanding Share owned by Parent, Merger Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary
of Parent shall be canceled and retired and no payment made with respect
thereto;
(b) each issued and outstanding Share, other than those Shares referred
to in Section 2.06(a) or Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section 2.07), shall
be converted into the right to receive from the Surviving Corporation an amount
of cash, equal to the Offer Price payable to the holder thereof, without
interest (the "MERGER CONSIDERATION"); and
(c) each share of common stock of Merger Subsidiary issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one
share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.7. Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, any issued and outstanding Shares held by a Person (a
"DISSENTING STOCKHOLDER") who objects to the Merger and complies with all the
provisions of Delaware law concerning the right of holders of Shares to require
appraisal of their Shares ("DISSENTING SHARES") shall not be converted as
described in Section 2.06(b) but shall become the right to receive such
consideration as may be determined to be due to such Dissenting Stockholder
pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware. If, after the Effective Time,
such Dissenting Stockholder withdraws his demand for appraisal or fails to
perfect or otherwise loses his right of appraisal, in any case pursuant to the
DGCL, his Shares shall be deemed to be converted as of the Effective Time into
the right to receive the Merger Consideration. The Company shall give Parent (i)
prompt notice of any demands for appraisal of Shares received by the Company and
(ii) the opportunity to participate in and direct all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to any such demands. The Company shall not, except as
required by any competent court, without the prior written consent of Parent,
make any payment with respect to, or settle, offer to settle or otherwise
negotiate, any such demands. "PERSON" means an individual, a corporation, a
limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other
entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or any
agency or instrumentality thereof.
SECTION 2.8. Payments for Shares. (a) Prior to the Effective Time,
Parent shall appoint a commercial bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to
the Company to act as disbursing agent for the Merger (the "DISBURSING AGENT").
Parent will enter into a disbursing agent agreement with the Disbursing Agent,
in form and substance reasonably acceptable in all material respects to the
Company, and shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Disbursing Agent in
trust for the benefit of the Company's stockholders cash at such times as shall
be necessary to make the payments pursuant to Section 2.06 to holders of Shares
(such amounts being hereinafter referred to as the "EXCHANGE FUND"). The
Disbursing Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, make the payments
provided for in the preceding sentence out of the Exchange Fund.
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(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
cause the Disbursing Agent to mail to each record holder, as of the Effective
Time, of an outstanding certificate or certificates which immediately prior to
the Effective Time represented Shares (the "CERTIFICATES") a form of letter of
transmittal (which shall specify 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 Disbursing Agent) and instructions for use in effecting the
surrender of the Certificate for payment therefor. Upon surrender to the
Disbursing Agent of a Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal duly
executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be paid in exchange therefor cash
in an amount equal to the product of the number of Shares represented by such
Certificate multiplied by the Merger Consideration, and such Certificate shall
forthwith be canceled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash payable
upon the surrender of the Certificates. If payment is to be made to a Person
other than the Person in whose name the Certificate surrendered is registered,
it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate so surrendered be
properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the Person
requesting such payment pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of
the payment to a Person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered or established to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that
such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 2.08, each Certificate (other than
Certificates representing Shares owned by Parent, Merger Subsidiary or any other
Subsidiary of Parent or Dissenting Shares) shall represent for all purposes only
the right to receive the Merger Consideration in cash multiplied by the number
of Shares evidenced by such Certificate, without any interest thereon.
(c) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of
transfers of Shares. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to
the Surviving Corporation, they shall be canceled and exchanged for cash as
provided in this Section 2.08.
(d) Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including the proceeds of any
investments thereof not previously delivered to Parent) that remains unclaimed
by the stockholders of the Company for six months after the Effective Time shall
be paid to the Parent. Any stockholders of the Company who have not theretofore
complied with Section 2.08 shall thereafter look only to Parent and the
Surviving Corporation for payment of their claim for the Merger Consideration
per Share, without any interest thereon.
(e) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, none of Parent,
Merger Subsidiary, the Company or the Disbursing Agent shall be liable to any
Person in respect of any cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
SECTION 2.9. Stock Option and Other Plans. (a) Prior to the Effective
Time, the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee
thereof) shall adopt appropriate resolutions and take all other actions
necessary to provide for the cancellation, effective at the Effective Time, of
all the outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights,
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limited stock appreciation rights and performance units (the "STOCK OPTIONS")
heretofore granted under any stock option, performance unit or similar plan of
the Company (the "STOCK PLANS"). Immediately prior to the Effective Time each
Stock Option, whether or not then vested or exercisable, shall no longer be
exercisable but shall entitle each holder thereof, in cancellation and
settlement therefor, to payments in cash (subject to any applicable withholding
taxes)(the "CASH PAYMENT"), at the Effective Time, equal to the product of (x)
the total number of shares of Common Stock subject or related to such Stock
Option, whether or not then vested or exercisable, and (y) the excess of the
Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Common Stock subject
or related to such Stock Option, each such Cash Payment to be paid to each
holder of an outstanding Stock Option at the Effective Time.
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all
necessary consents to ensure that after the Effective Time, the only rights of
the holders of Stock Options will be to receive the Cash Payment in cancellation
and settlement thereof.
(c) The Company shall take all actions as are reasonably necessary to
cause the "SHARE PURCHASE DATE" applicable to the then current "OFFERING PERIOD"
(both, within the meaning of the Gradall Industries, Inc. Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "STOCK PURCHASE PLAN")) to be the last trading day on which
the Company Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ, immediately prior to the date
which is fifteen (15) business days following the acceptance for payment for
Shares under the Offer (or, if earlier, the Effective Time) (the "NEW PURCHASE
DATE"); provided that, such change in the "SHARE PURCHASE DATE" shall be
conditioned upon the acceptance for payment of Shares under the Offer. On the
New Purchase Date, the Company shall apply the funds credited as of such date
under the Stock Purchase Plan within each participant's payroll withholdings
account to the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock in accordance with the
terms of the Stock Purchase Plan; provided, however that the cost to each
participant in the Stock Purchase Plan for the shares shall be the lower of 85%
of the closing sale price of Company Common Stock, as reported on the NASDAQ on
(i) the first trading day of the then current Offering Period or (ii) the last
trading day prior to the New Purchase Date.
(d) All Stock Plans and the Stock Purchase Plan shall terminate as of
the Effective Time and following the Effective Time, no holder of a Stock Option
or any participant in any Stock Plans and the Stock Purchase Plan shall have any
right thereunder to acquire any capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary
or the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUBSIDIARY
Parent and Merger Subsidiary represent and warrant to the Company as
follows:
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SECTION 3.1. Corporate Existence and Power. Each of Parent and Merger
Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the
requisite corporate power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.
Each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
character of its properties owned or leased or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions where the
failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition, assets, liabilities, business or results of operations of
Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the ability of Parent or Merger
Subsidiary to perform their obligations under this Agreement or to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (a "PARENT MATERIAL ADVERSE
EFFECT").
SECTION 3.2. Corporate Authority. Each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary
has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution
and delivery by Parent and Merger Subsidiary of this Agreement and the
consummation by Parent and Merger Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by its respective Board of Directors and the
stockholder of Merger Subsidiary, and no other corporate action on the part of
Parent or Merger Subsidiary is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated
hereby (including the Offer). This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary and constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary, enforceable against
each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary in accordance with its terms except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally.
SECTION 3.3. Information Supplied. None of the information supplied by
Parent, Merger Subsidiary and their respective affiliates specifically for
inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9 or the Proxy Statement (as defined below), if
required, shall, with respect to the Schedule 14D-9, at the time such Schedule
is filed with the SEC or first published or sent or given to holders of Shares
or at the time the Offer is consummated or, with respect to the Proxy Statement,
at the time the Proxy Statement is mailed or at the time of the meeting of the
Company's stockholders, or action by written consent of stockholders, as the
case may be ("STOCKHOLDER ACTION DATE"), 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 were made, not misleading. The letter to
stockholders, notice of meeting, proxy statement and form of proxy, or the
information statement, as the case may be, to be distributed to stockholders in
connection with the Merger, or any schedule required to be filed with the SEC in
connection therewith, are collectively referred to herein as the "PROXY
STATEMENT."
SECTION 3.4. Governmental Authorization. No consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Federal,
state or local
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government or any court, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or
other governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a "GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITY") is required by Parent or Merger Subsidiary in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Subsidiary or the
consummation by Parent and Merger Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, except for (i) compliance with any applicable requirements under
the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
ACT"), (ii) requirements under the Exchange Act, (iii) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger pursuant to the DGCL and appropriate documents with the
relevant authorities of other states in which Parent or any of its subsidiaries
is qualified to do business; and (iv) such other consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings the failure of which to
be obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.5. Non-contravention. The execution, delivery and performance
by Parent and Merger Subsidiary of this Agreement and the consummation by Parent
and Merger Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will
not (a) contravene or conflict with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws
or other equivalent organizational document, in each case as amended, of Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred to
in Section 3.04, contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any
provision of any law, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding
upon or applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) constitute a
default under or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or to a loss
of a material benefit to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled
under any provision of any agreement, contract or other instrument binding upon
Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any license, franchise, permit or other
similar authorization held by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or (d) result
in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than, in the case of clauses (b), (c) and (d), any such
conflict, violation, default, right, loss or Lien that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, "LIEN" means, with respect to any asset,
any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind
in respect of such asset.
SECTION 3.6. Financing. As of the date of the acceptance for payments
of the Shares pursuant to the Offer, Parent or Merger Subsidiary has, and will
at all times thereafter until consummation of the Merger and the transactions
contemplated thereby, continue to have, and will make available to Merger
Subsidiary, the funds necessary to consummate the Offer and the Merger and the
transactions contemplated thereby, and to pay related fees and expenses (the
"Merger Funds"). The Company has received a true and complete copy of a letter
of commitment obtained by Parent from First Union National Bank to provide debt
financing pursuant to a credit facility described therein ("Financing
Commitment") that describes Parent's expected source of the Merger Funds.
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SECTION 3.7. Finders' Fees. Except for Gleacher & Co. LLC, whose fees
will be paid by Parent, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other
intermediary who might be entitled to any fee or commission in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of Parent or Merger Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.8. Delaware Law. As of the time immediately prior to the
execution of this Agreement, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries was an
"INTERESTED STOCKHOLDER", as such term is defined in Section 203 of DGCL.
SECTION 3.9. Ownership of Shares. Except pursuant to the Stockholders
Agreement, neither Parent nor, to its knowledge any of its Subsidiaries or
affiliates, (i) beneficially owns (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, or (ii) is party to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of, in each case, shares of capital stock of the Company.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule of the Company hereto
(the "COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE"), the Company hereby represents and warrants
to Parent and Merger Subsidiary as follows:
SECTION 4.1. Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware, and has the requisite corporate power to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
where the character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions
where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. For purposes of this Agreement (except paragraph (f) of Annex A hereto),
"Company Material Adverse Effect" means (i) a material adverse effect on the
financial condition, assets, liabilities, business, or results of operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) a material adverse
effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, provided that a
material adverse effect on the liabilities of the Company shall be deemed to be
a loss, casualty, damage, judgment, fine or other liability (net of any
corresponding asset), in each case whether contingent or realized, required in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to be
reflected on the Company's consolidated financial statements and that if so
reflected would reduce the Company's consolidated stockholders equity by more
than $2 million. The definition of Company Material Adverse Effect is not
intended to define, qualify or provide any basis for interpreting paragraph (f)
of Annex A hereto. The Company has heretofore delivered to
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Parent true and complete copies of the Company's certificate of incorporation
and bylaws as currently in effect.
SECTION 4.2. Corporate Authority. The Company has the requisite
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject
to any required approval of the Merger by the Company's stockholders, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by
the Company of this Agreement, and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized by its Board of
Directors, and except for any required approval of the Merger by the Company's
stockholders, no other corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary
to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been duly 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 except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally.
SECTION 4.3. Governmental Authorization. No consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Entity is required by the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i)
compliance with applicable requirements under the HSR Act, (ii) requirements
under the Exchange Act, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger pursuant
to the DGCL and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other
states in which the Company is qualified to do business and such filings to
satisfy applicable requirements of state securities or "BLUE SKY" laws; and (iv)
such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings the failure of which to be obtained or made would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.4. Non-contravention. The execution, delivery and performance
by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict
with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or the comparable
charter or organizational documents of any Subsidiary, (b) assuming compliance
with the matters referred to in Section 4.03, contravene or conflict with or
constitute a violation of any provision of any law, regulation, judgment,
injunction, order or decree binding upon or applicable to the Company or any
Subsidiary, (c) constitute a default under or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation of the Company or
any Subsidiary or to a loss of a material benefit to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is entitled under any provision of any agreement, contract or other
instrument binding upon the Company or any Subsidiary or any license, franchise,
permit or other similar authorization held by the Company or any Subsidiary, or
(d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company
or any Subsidiary, other than, in the case of clauses (b), (c) and (d), any such
conflict,
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violation, default, right, loss or Lien that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.5. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 18,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 140 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK") and
2,000,000 shares of Serial Preferred Stock, par value $.00l per share (the
"SERIAL PREFERRED STOCK") of which 300,000 shares have been designated as Series
B Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
dated as of May 29, 1998, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, LLC ("RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). As of April 30, 1999, there were outstanding
9,515,460 shares of Common Stock, zero shares of Series A Preferred Stock, zero
shares of Serial Preferred Stock and Stock Options to purchase an aggregate of
811,557 Shares (of which options to purchase an aggregate of 260,774 Shares were
exercisable). All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except
as set forth in this Section and in the Rights Agreement and the Stock Purchase
Plan, and except for changes since April 30, 1999 resulting from the exercise of
Stock Options outstanding on such date, there are outstanding (a) no shares of
capital stock or other voting securities of the Company, (b) no securities of
the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or
voting securities of the Company, and (c) no options or other rights to acquire
from the Company, and no obligation of the Company to issue, any capital stock,
voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital
stock or voting securities of the Company (the items in clauses (a), (b) and (c)
being referred to collectively as the "COMPANY SECURITIES"). There are no
outstanding obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any Company Securities.
SECTION 4.6. Subsidiaries. Section 4.06 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a list of each Subsidiary of the Company. Each Subsidiary of
the Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it
or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for
those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other
ownership interests in each of the Subsidiaries have been validly issued, and
are fully paid, non-assessable and are owned by the Company or another
Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens. There are no (i) securities of the
Company or any Subsidiary convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital
stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in any Subsidiary and
(ii) options or other rights to acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary, or
other obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to issue any capital stock,
voting securities or other ownership interests in, or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for any capital stock, voting securities or ownership
interests in, any Subsidiary (the items in clauses (i) and (ii) being referred
to collectively as the
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"SUBSIDIARY SECURITIES"). There are no outstanding obligations of the Company or
any Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding
Subsidiary Securities.
SECTION 4.7. Company SEC Documents and Other Reports. Except for the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 1998, since June 25, 1996
the Company has timely filed all required forms, reports and documents with the
SEC required to be filed by it pursuant to the federal securities laws and the
SEC rules and regulations (including under applicable extensions) thereunder
(collectively, the "COMPANY SEC DOCUMENTS"), all of which have complied as of
their respective filing dates in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
promulgated thereunder (the "SECURITIES ACT") and the Exchange Act. None of such
forms, reports or documents required by the Exchange Act at the time filed, nor
any of such forms, reports or documents required by the Securities Act as of the
date of their effectiveness contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, except to the extent that information contained
in any Company SEC Document has been revised or superseded by a later-filed
Company SEC Document filed and publicly available prior to the date hereof. The
financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents comply
as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except, in
the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied
on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto) and fairly present the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the
consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then
ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments).
SECTION 4.8. Proxy Statement. If a Proxy Statement is required for the
consummation of the Merger under applicable law, the Proxy Statement will comply
as to form in all material respects with the Exchange Act, except that no
representation is made by the Company with respect to information supplied by
Parent or any affiliate of Parent specifically for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement or incorporated by reference therein. None of the information supplied
by the Company specifically for inclusion in the Proxy Statement shall, at the
time the Proxy Statement is mailed or at the time of the Stockholder Action
Date, 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 were made,
not misleading.
SECTION 4.9. Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or
to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i)
the Offer Documents, (ii) the Schedule 14D-9 or (iii) the Information Statement,
will, at the respective times the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and the
Information Statement are filed with
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the SEC or first published, sent or given to the Company's stockholders, 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 Schedule 14D-9 and the Information Statement will comply as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, except
that no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to
statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information
supplied by Parent or Merger Subsidiary specifically for inclusion or
incorporation by reference therein.
SECTION 4.10. Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in the
Company SEC Documents or as contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31,
1998, until the date of acceptance and payment for the Shares under the Offer,
there has not been any material adverse change in the financial condition,
assets, liabilities, business or results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except for general economic changes, changes that
affect the industry of the Company or any Subsidiary generally, and changes in
the Company's business after the date hereof attributable solely to actions
taken by Parent or Merger Subsidiary. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents and Section 4.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since December
31, 1998, there has not been (a) any declaration, setting aside or payment of
any dividend or other distribution in respect of the capital stock of the
Company or any redemption or other acquisition by the Company of any Shares; (b)
any split, combination or reclassification of the Company's capital stock or any
issuance or the authorization of any issuance of any other securities in respect
of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock, (c) (i) any
granting by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to any officer or key
employee of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries of any increase in
compensation, except in the ordinary course of business or as was required under
employment agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent financial
statements included in the Company SEC Documents or (ii) any entry by the
Company or any Subsidiary into any employment, severance or termination
agreement with any such officer or key employee or granting by the Company or
any Subsidiary to any such officer or key employee of any increase in severance
or termination pay, except as was required under employment, severance or
termination agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent financial
statements included in the Company SEC Documents, (d) any damage, destruction or
loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that has or would have a Company
Material Adverse Effect, or (e) any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices by the Company or any Subsidiary materially affecting its assets,
liabilities or business, except insofar as may have been required by a change in
generally accepted accounting principles.
SECTION 4.11. Litigation. Except as disclosed in Section 4.11 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof there is no suit, action or
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the
Company or any Subsidiary before any court or arbitrator or before or by any
governmental body, agency or official that, individually or in the aggregate,
would be reasonably likely to result in a claim against the Company in excess of
$500,000.
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SECTION 4.12. Benefit Plans; ERISA. (a) Section 4.12 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete list of all "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS"
(as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended ("ERISA")), whether or not subject to ERISA, including, but not
limited to, any bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, incentive
compensation, excess benefit, stock, stock option, stock purchase, severance
pay, termination pay, unemployment benefit, vacation pay, savings, medical,
dental, post-retirement medical, accident, disability, weekly income, salary
continuation, health, life or other insurance fringe benefits, change in control
or other material employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements currently
maintained, or contributed to, or required to be maintained or contributed to,
by the Company or any other Person that, together with the Company, is treated
as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "CODE") (each a "COMMONLY CONTROLLED ENTITY"), for the benefit of
any current or former employees, officers, directors or independent contractors
of the Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity and with respect to which the
Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity has any unsatisfied liability
(collectively, the "BENEFIT PLANS"). Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule also includes a list of each written employment, severance,
compensation, termination or similar type of agreement between the Company or a
Commonly Controlled Entity and any current or former employees with respect to
which the Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity has any unsatisfied
liability (the "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS").
(b) Except as indicated in Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has delivered or made available to Parent true, complete
and correct copies of each Benefit Plan (including all amendments adopted since
the most recent restatement), and each Employment Agreement (including all
amendments or riders). Except as indicated in Section 4.12 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, with respect to each Benefit Plan that is subject to ERISA
(an "ERISA PLAN"), the Company has delivered or made available to Parent where
applicable (i) the most recent summary plan description (including all summaries
of material modifications prepared since the most recent summary plan
description); (ii) annual reports on Form 5500 for the three most recent years
such reports have been filed; (iii) each related trust agreement, (including all
amendments), (iv) the most recent Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS")
determination letter, and (v) any participation or collective bargaining
agreement referenced in any ERISA Plan. Except as set forth in Section 4.12 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has no unfunded liabilities with
respect to any ERISA Plan as of the end of the Company's most recent fiscal year
that are not reflected on the Company's financial statements for such fiscal
year.
(c) To the Company's knowledge, and except as indicated in Section 4.12
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each Benefit Plan, has been administered in
all material respects with its terms and with the applicable provisions of ERISA
and the Code. Except as may be provided under any collective bargaining
agreement or as may otherwise be required by law, the Company has no commitment,
whether or not legally binding, to create any
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additional Benefit Plan or to change the terms of any existing Benefit Plan.
Except as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not, solely as a result of their
consummation, increase or accelerate any amount due under any Employment
Agreement or a Benefit Plan, require assets to be set aside or other forms of
security to be provided with respect to any liability under any Employment
Agreement or Benefit Plan, or result in any "PARACHUTE PAYMENT" (within the
meaning of Code Section 280G) under any Benefit Plan.
(d) Each ERISA Plan, other than a "multiemployer plan", as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA (a "Multiemployer Plan) intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code has been the subject of a determination letter(s)
from the IRS to the effect that such ERISA Plan is qualified under Section
401(a), and its related trust is exempt from Federal income taxation under
Section 501(a) of the Code as amended at least through the statutory changes
implemented under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and no such determination letter
has been revoked nor, to the knowledge of the Company, has revocation been
threatened, nor has any such ERISA Plan been amended nor, to the knowledge of
the Company, has anything occurred since the date of its most recent
determination letter or application therefor in any respect that would adversely
affect its qualification. Except as indicated in Section 4.12 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, no Benefit Plan that is not a Multiemployer Plan is subject
to any ongoing audit, administrative proceeding or, to the knowledge of the
Company, any investigation by any governmental entity. Except as indicated in
Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of the
Company, no event or condition exists or is reasonably expected to occur in
connection with the administration of any Benefit Plan that would either (i)
subject the Company to any material liability, contingent or otherwise to the
IRS, the Department of Labor ("DOL") or the Pension Benefit Guarantee
Corporation (other than any liability for premiums payments to the Pension
Benefit Guarantee Corporation) or (ii) cause the imposition of any lien on the
assets of the Company under the Code or ERISA. Except as indicated in Section
4.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no ERISA Plan that is not a
Multiemployer Plan is the subject of any pending application for administrative
relief under any voluntary compliance program or closing agreement program of
the IRS or the DOL, and to the knowledge of the Company, no Multiemployer Plan
is subject to any such application for administrative relief. To the knowledge
of the Company, no Person has engaged in any "PROHIBITED TRANSACTION" (as such
term is defined in ERISA and the Code) with respect to any ERISA Plan (other
than any prohibited transaction with respect to which an exemption has been
granted). The Company has paid or remitted all contributions to each ERISA Plan
that is not a Multiemployer Plan within the time period required by applicable
law.
(e) No ERISA Plan that is a "SINGLE-EMPLOYER PLAN" (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA and which is subject to Title IV of ERISA ("SINGLE
EMPLOYER PLAN")) has incurred an "ACCUMULATED FUNDING DEFICIENCY" (as such term
is defined in Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not
waived.
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(f) No "REPORTABLE EVENT" (as that term is defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA) has occurred with respect to any Single Employer Plan, for which the
30-day notice requirement has not been waived (other than with respect to
transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
(g) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, with
respect to any Benefit Plan that is an employee welfare benefit plan (as defined
in Section 3(l) of ERISA), no such Benefit Plan provides benefits, including
without limitation, death or medical benefits, beyond termination of employment
or retirement other than (A) coverage mandated by law or (B) death or retirement
benefits under an ERISA Plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
(h) Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each
ERISA Plan that is a Multiemployer Plan. To the Company's knowledge, (i) each
such plan has been operated and administered, in all material respects, in
accordance with its terms and all applicable laws, (ii) each such plan is
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, (iii) all required material
contributions or other material payments of any type that the Company or any
Commonly Controlled Entity has been obligated to make to any such plan have been
duly and timely made, (iv) with respect to each such plan, no claims (other than
routine claims for benefits) are pending and (v) neither the Company nor any
Commonly Controlled Entity has made or incurred a "COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL" or
"PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL" as those terms are respectively defined in Sections 4203
and 4205 of ERISA from any Plan that would reasonably be expected to result in a
withdrawal liability (as determined in accordance with Section 4201(b) of ERISA)
that would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. With respect to any
Multiemployer Plan in which any employee of the Company participates, any
complete withdrawal from such plan by the Company and/or any Commonly Controlled
Entity would not result in a liability to the Company or any Commonly Controlled
Entity in excess of $2,000,000.
(i) Except as identified in Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, with respect to any Benefit Plan that is not a Multiemployer Plan, no
claims (other than routine claims for benefits) are pending, or to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened.
SECTION 4.13. Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Section
4.13 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or any non-compliances, violations or
environmental conditions or matters that are inconsistent with the following
representations and warranties and that individually or in the aggregate, would
not have a Company Material Adverse Effect:
(a) the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors in
interest, as well as the facilities owned, leased, used, or operated by the
Company, its Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors in interest, are,
and have at all times been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws, including without limitation, obtaining and maintaining in force all
permits, licenses, registrations, and other governmental authorizations (and
complying
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with all terms and conditions thereof), making all notifications, and involving
all governmental authorities in environmental activities, as required under the
Environmental Laws;
(b) the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors in
interest have not received any claim, notice, allegation, suggestion, or other
communication (whether in writing or otherwise) from any Person that alleges
that the Company is or was not in compliance with any Environmental Law or that
the Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in interest are
subject to liability or responsibility of any kind under or relating to any
Environmental Law;
(c) there are no facts, events, or circumstances (whether on
Company-owned property or off-site) that may prevent or interfere with the
Company's compliance with any Environmental Laws in the future, or that would
give rise to liability under any Environmental Law, or that would materially
restrict Parent from operating the Company and operating or using its properties
after the Effective Time;
(d) the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors in
interest, their agents, contractors, lessees, lessors, subtenants and third
parties have at all times received, handled, used, stored, treated, shipped,
transported, and disposed of all Hazardous Substances at or from such facilities
owned, leased, used, or operated by the Company, its Subsidiaries, or their
respective predecessors in interest in compliance with all Environmental Laws;
(e) there are no conditions at, on, about, under, adjacent to, or near
any real property currently or formerly owned, leased, used or operated by the
Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in interest, that
are in violation of the Environmental Laws;
(f) there are no conditions at, on, about, under, adjacent to, or near
any real property currently or formerly owned, leased, used or operated by the
Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in interest for
which remedial, response, removal, corrective action, abatement, or other
cleanup-related or corrective work is required under the Environmental Laws;
(g) there has been no release, discharge, deposit, placement, disposal,
or migration of Hazardous Substances at, on, about, under, adjacent to, or near
any real property currently or formerly owned, leased, used or operated by the
Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in interest, and no
real property currently or formerly owned, leased, used or operated by the
Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in interest is or
was otherwise contaminated by a Hazardous Substance, or has been used at any
time as a landfill or waste disposal site for Hazardous Substances or
non-hazardous wastes;
(h) neither the Company, its Subsidiaries, nor their respective
predecessors in interest, has disposed of or treated, or arranged for the
disposal or treatment of any Hazardous Substance at any site or location that
was not authorized or licensed to receive such materials
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for disposal or treatment, or at any site or location for which it has received
a notice of potential liability or request for information under the
Environmental Laws, or at any site or location which, pursuant to any
Environmental Law has been placed on the National Priorities List or state or
local equivalent cleanup priorities list, has been proposed by any person or
entity for consideration for or placement on such a list, or is the subject of a
claim, order, decree, request, settlement, or other demand from any person or
entity for removal, remedial, response, corrective action, abatement, or cleanup
or corrective work, or is the site or location of an event or occurrence in
violation of the Environmental Laws;
(i) neither the Company, its Subsidiaries, any of their respective
predecessors in interest, nor any third party uses, or has used, places, or has
placed, in any underground storage tanks, oil/water separators, septic tanks or
other subsurface process tanks or containment devices (whether or not presently
abandoned and whether or not on property now or previously occupied by the
Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in interest) as
defined in the Environmental Laws (whether or not such tanks are subject to any
exemption included in the Environmental Laws);
(j) neither the Company, its Subsidiaries, nor their respective
predecessors in interest are subject to any fine or penalty as a result of a
violation of any Environmental Law;
(k) no litigation, judicial or administrative proceeding,
investigation, order, judgment or decree is pending or threatened relating to
violation of or liability under or relating to any Environmental Law, including
without limitation violations or liabilities relating to any off-site disposal
or contamination, and/or the ownership, use, maintenance or operation of the
facilities currently or formerly owned, leased, used or operated by the Company,
its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in interest, nor is there any
basis for any such proceedings being instituted or filed;
(l) none of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective
predecessors in interest has entered into, has agreed to, or is subject to any
settlement, judgment, decree, order, agreement, or negotiation or other similar
obligation or proceeding under or relating to any Environmental Law;
(m) there are no environmental reports of which the Company has
knowledge and possession and no material environmental data, audits, or
assessments describing the condition of any property owned, leased, used or
operated by the Company, its Subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors in
interest that have not been provided (in true and correct form) to Parent; and
(n) the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors in
interest have exercised due diligence to determine the presence, location and
amount of asbestos-containing material and presumed asbestos-containing material
at the facilities currently owned, leased, used or operated by the Company, its
Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors, in full
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compliance with 29 C.F.R. 1919 et seq., and all documents concerning the
presence, location and quantity of asbestos-containing material and presumed
asbestos-containing material are identified on the Company Disclosure Schedule.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAW" means any and all applicable Federal, state, local,
or other law (including, without limitation, common law, tort principles, toxic
tort, contribution, and equity), statute, regulation, rule, code, guidance,
standard, ordinance, order, judgment, directive, permit, license, registration,
authorization, approval, injunction, decree or judicial opinion or other
governmental requirement relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, handling, emission, discharge, release, threatened
release, transport, or disposal of Hazardous Substances or relating to pollution
or protection of human health, natural resources, or the environment (including
air, surface water, groundwater, soil, ground, land surface, land subsurface
areas, and terms of similar import).
"HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" means any hazardous material, hazardous
substance, hazardous chemical, toxic chemical, toxic substance, hazardous waste,
solid waste, liquid waste, pollutant, contaminant, or substance or term of
similar import (including constituents thereof) that was, is now, or hereafter
becomes regulated by or under authority of any Environmental Law or that could
result in liability under any Environmental Law, or that is otherwise a danger
to human health, reproduction, natural resources, or the environment, including
without limitation, any petroleum products or by-products, asbestos or
asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorofluorocarbons,
flammables or explosives, lead paint, radioactive material, including radon gas,
and urea formaldehyde foam insulation.
SECTION 4.14. Taxes. (a) Except as disclosed in Section 4.14 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule: (i) all Tax Returns required to be filed by or with
respect to the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been filed and such Tax
Returns were true, correct, and complete in all material respects, and (ii) the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries has paid (or there has been paid on its
behalf) all Taxes that are due whether or not shown on any Tax Return, except
for Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been established in the Company's financial statements
(as of the date thereof) and other than, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii),
any such failure to file, inaccuracy, omission or failure to pay that
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) To the Company's knowledge, no claim has ever been made by an
authority in a jurisdiction where any of the Company and its Subsidiaries does
not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction. To the Company's knowledge, there are no security interests on any
of the assets of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries that arose in
connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax, except for any
lien for taxes not yet due. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has
withheld and paid all Taxes
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required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing
to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third
party other than any such failure to withhold or pay that individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Except as disclosed in Section 4.14 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, (i) currently is the
beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return; (ii)
has filed a consent under Section 341(f) of the Code concerning collapsible
corporations; (iii) has made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or
is a party to any agreement that under certain circumstances could obligate it
to make any payments that will not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code;
(iv) has been a United States real property holding corporation within the
meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the five-year period ending on
the date the Offer commences; (v) is a party to any tax allocation or sharing
agreement; (vi) has any liability for the taxes of any person (other than any of
the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or
successor, by contract, or otherwise; or (vii) has waived any statute of
limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect
to a tax assessment or deficiency.
(d) Section 4.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all federal,
state, local, and foreign Tax Returns filed with respect to any of the Company
and its Subsidiaries for taxable periods ending after December 31, 1993,
indicates those Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates those Tax
Returns that currently are the subject of audit. The Company has delivered to
Purchaser correct and complete copies of all Tax Returns, examination reports,
and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by any of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for taxable periods ending after December 31, 1993.
(e) The unpaid income Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) did
not, as of December 31, 1998, exceed by any material amount the reserve for
Income Tax liability (other than any reserve for deferred taxes established to
reflect timing differences between book and tax income) set forth on the face of
the December 31, 1998 audited balance sheet (other than in any notes thereto)
and (B) will not exceed by any material amount that reserve as adjusted for
operations and transactions through the Effective Time in accordance with the
past custom and practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries in filing their
income Tax Returns.
(f) The term "TAXES" shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies, or
other similar assessments or liabilities imposed by the United States of
America, or by any state, local, or foreign government, or any subdivision,
agency, or other similar person of the United States or any such government,
including without limitation (i) income, gross receipts, license, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits,
environmental (including taxes under Section 59A of the Code), customs duties,
capital stock franchise, profits, withholding, social security, unemployment,
disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer,
registration, value added, alternative or add-on
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minimum, and estimated taxes and (ii) any interest, penalties or additions
thereto, whether disputed or not.
(g) The term "TAX RETURNS" shall mean any report, return, declaration,
claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes,
including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment
thereof.
SECTION 4.15. Delaware Takeover Statute. The Board of Directors of the
Company has approved the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 203
of the DGCL.
SECTION 4.16. Fees and Commissions. Other than amounts payable to
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇ in accordance with the agreements
attached to the Company Disclosure Schedule, no Person is entitled to receive
from the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company any investment banking,
brokerage or finder's fee in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.17. Material Contracts. (a) Except as disclosed in the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is currently
a party to or bound by, and none of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary
is covered by or subject to, any of the following (whether oral or written):
(i) any lease (whether of real or personal property) providing
for annual rentals of $500,000 or more;
(ii) any agreement for the purchase of materials, software,
supplies, goods, services, equipment or other assets providing for either (A)
annual payments to be made by the Company and the Subsidiaries of $2,000,000 or
more or (B) aggregate payments to be made by the Company and the Subsidiaries of
$2,000,000 or more;
(iii) any sales, distribution or other similar agreement
providing for the sale by the Company or any Subsidiary of materials, supplies,
goods, services, equipment or other assets that provides for either (A) annual
payments to be made to the Company and the Subsidiaries of $2,000,000 or more or
(B) aggregate payments to be made to the Company and the Subsidiaries of
$2,000,000 or more;
(iv) any partnership, joint venture or other similar agreement
or arrangement;
(v) any agreement relating to the acquisition or disposition
of any business (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise)
under which the Company retains any rights or obligations including any such
agreement relating to any recapitalization of the Company or any predecessor;
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(vi) any agreement relating to indebtedness for borrowed money
or the deferred purchase price of property (in either case, whether incurred,
assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset), except any such agreement with an
aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $500,000 and which may be
prepaid on not more than 30 days notice without the payment of any penalty;
(vii) any material option to purchase or sell assets, license,
franchise or similar agreement;
(viii) any agency, dealer, sales representative, marketing or
other similar agreement (other than the Company's standard form of
dealer/distributor agreement);
(ix) any agreement that limits the freedom of the Company or
any Subsidiary to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any
geographic area or which would so limit the freedom of the Company or any
Subsidiary after the Effective Time;
(x) any agreement with (A) any Person directly or indirectly
owning, controlling or holding with power to vote, 5% or more of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any Person 5%
or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned,
controlled or held with power to vote by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xi) any agreement with any director or officer of the Company
or any Subsidiary or with any "ASSOCIATE" or any member of the "IMMEDIATE
FAMILY" (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-l of the
Exchange Act) of any such director or officer;
(xii) any material agreement (A) creating any obligation of
the Company or any Subsidiary to indemnify any person or (B) (other than
commercial insurance policies) creating any obligation of any other person to
indemnify the Company or any Subsidiary; or
(xiii) any escrow agreement relating to escrowed assets having
a value in excess of $100,000.
(b) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, each
agreement contract, plan, lease arrangement or commitment disclosed in the
Company Disclosure Schedule to this Agreement or required to be disclosed
pursuant to this Section 4.17 (collectively, the "MATERIAL CONTRACTS") is a
valid and binding agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be,
and is in full force and effect, and none of the Company, any Subsidiary or, to
the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto is in default or breach in
any material respect under the terms of any such Material Contract, and, to the
knowledge of the Company, no event or circumstance has occurred that, with
notice or lapse of time or
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both, would constitute an event of default thereunder. True and complete copies
of each such written Material Contract have been delivered to Parent.
SECTION 4.18. Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its
Subsidiaries possess rights to use, whether through ownership, licensing or
otherwise, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
trade secrets, licenses, information, proprietary rights and processes that are
necessary for their business as now conducted and that the failure to possess
would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect
(collectively, the "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS"). Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries have assigned, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered any of
the Intellectual Property Rights. Except as disclosed in Section 4.18 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) to the Company's knowledge, there are no
infringements by any other party of any of the Intellectual Property Rights and
(ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have entered into any
agreement to indemnify any other Person against any charge of infringement of
any of its Intellectual Property Rights except for such matters as would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in Section 4.18 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, to (i) the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have not since 1990 and do not violate or infringe any intellectual
property right of any other Person, (ii) without regard to the knowledge of the
Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not since 1990 and do not violate
or infringe any intellectual property right of any other Person where such
infringement would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, and (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not since 1990 received
any written communication alleging that it violates or infringes the
intellectual property right of any other Person where such infringement would
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company
and its Subsidiaries have not since 1990 received any written notice that it has
been sued for infringing any intellectual property right of another Person.
SECTION 4.19. Labor Matters. Except as set forth in Section 4.19 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no labor disputes pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened, between the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and any of their respective employees, which disputes are
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth
in Section 4.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is involved in or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened with any labor dispute, grievance, litigation, administrative
proceeding, petition or request relating to labor, safety or discrimination
matters involving any persons employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries,
(including, without limitation, charges of unfair labor practices or
discrimination complaints) that individually or in the aggregate would
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the
Company's knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged
in any unfair labor practices within the meaning of the National Labor Relations
Act within the past five years of the date hereof. Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or
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union contract with respect to any persons employed by the Company or its
Subsidiaries and no collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Section 4.19 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
any knowledge of any strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or lockouts, or threats
thereof, by or with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and there have been no such strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or
lockouts within the past three years of the date hereof.
SECTION 4.20. Year 2000 Compliance. The computer systems of the Company
and its Subsidiaries (including all software, hardware, workstations and related
components, automated devices, embedded chips and other date sensitive
equipment) are Year 2000 compliant or will be Year 2000 compliant by December
31, 1999 except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.21. Compliance with Laws. Except as to Environmental Laws, as
to which the only representation is exclusively in Section 4.13 hereof, and
except as to ERISA and the Code with respect to the Benefit Plans, as to which
the only representation is exclusively in Section 4.12 hereof, neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of, or has violated, any applicable
provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, judgments,
injunctions, orders or decrees, except for such violations which would not
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any
written notice to the effect that the Company or any Subsidiary is not in
compliance with any applicable law, statute, ordinance, regulation, judgment,
injunction, order or decree, except for such violations which would not
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.22. Insurance. Section 4.22 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule contains an accurate and complete list as of the date of this Agreement
of all material policies of fire, liability, workmen's compensation and other
forms of insurance policies (the "Insurance Policies") owned by the Company or
its Subsidiaries. All premiums due and payable on the Insurance Policies have
been paid in full. Except as set forth in Section 4.22 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, none of the Insurance Policies will terminate or lapse (in any way
which would cause a Company Material Adverse Effect) by reason of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has not received any
written notice that any insurer under any Insurance Policy has canceled or
disclaimed a significant liability under any such policy or, to the Company's
knowledge, indicated any intent to do so or not to renew any such policy. All
material pending claims under the Insurance Policies have been filed in a timely
fashion, except where the failure to so file would not reasonably be expected to
result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.23. The Rights Agreement. The Company's Board of Directors
has approved, and the Company agrees within two business days of the date hereof
to enter into
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with its rights agent, an amendment to the Rights Agreement (the "RIGHTS PLAN
AMENDMENT") to, among other things, (i) render the Rights Agreement inapplicable
to the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and (ii)
ensure that (y) neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is an Acquiring
Person pursuant to the Rights Agreement and (z) a Distribution Date (as defined
in the Rights Agreement) does not occur by reason of the execution of this
Agreement, the commencement or completion of the Offer, the consummation of the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.1. Conduct of Business of the Company. Except as contemplated
by this Agreement or as approved in writing by Parent, during the period from
the date of this Agreement to the acceptance of Shares for payment, the Company
and its Subsidiaries will each conduct its operations according to its ordinary
and usual course of business in accordance with past practices, including
substantial compliance with all applicable laws and the preservation, in
accordance with commercially reasonable practices, of the Company's material
business and assets (including its relationships with its significant customers
and suppliers). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary of the Company, without the prior written consent of Parent, will
(i) issue, sell or pledge, or authorize or propose the
issuance, sale or pledge of (A) additional shares of capital stock of
any class (including the Shares), or securities convertible into any
such shares, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such
shares or other convertible securities, or grant or accelerate any
right to convert or exchange any securities of the Company for shares,
other than (1) Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of outstanding
Stock Options, the Stock Purchase Plan and commitment to the extent
disclosed in Section 4.05, or (2) issuance of shares of capital stock
to the Company by a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, or (B) any
other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for
Shares outstanding on the date thereof or split, combine or reclassify
any of the Company's capital stock;
(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or propose to
purchase or otherwise acquire, any of its outstanding securities
(including the Shares);
(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other
distribution on any shares of capital stock of the Company, except that
a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company may pay a
dividend or distribution to its parent;
(iv) except as disclosed to Parent prior to the date hereof,
make any acquisition of any corporation or similar entity or a material
amount of the assets of any
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corporation or similar entity, or sell a material amount of its assets,
except in all instances for actions in the ordinary course of business;
(v) except in the ordinary course of business, (A) incur any
indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of
another Person or (B) make any loans, advances of capital contributions
to, or investments in, any other Person, other than to the Company or
any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company;
(vi) propose or adopt any amendments to the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of the Company;
(vii) except in the ordinary course of business and for any
labor or collective bargaining agreement, enter into any new
employment, severance or termination agreements with, or grant any
increase in severance or termination pay to, any officers, directors or
key employees or grant any material increases in the compensation or
benefits to officers, directors and key employees;
(viii) change any accounting methods, principles or practices
materially affecting their assets, liabilities or business, except
insofar as may be required by a change in generally accepted accounting
principles;
(ix) make any material tax election or settle or compromise
any material income tax liability;
(x) except for any labor or collective bargaining agreement,
permit any material amendment or waive any material rights with respect
to any Material Contract or permit any discretionary release of a
material amount of escrowed assets held pursuant to any escrow
agreement included within the definition of Material Contract;
(xi) without first consulting with Parent regarding any
material Company proposal, engage in any negotiations with officials or
representatives of any labor union with respect to such material
proposal regarding any possible modification, extension or replacement
of any union contract or collective bargaining agreement, provided that
the Company shall not be obligated to alter any such proposal after
consultation with Parent;
(xii) take or permit any action (over which it has control)
that would make any representation or warranty of the Company hereunder
inaccurate in any material respect or omit to take any action (which
action is commercially reasonable) necessary to prevent such
representation or warranty from being so inaccurate; or
(xiii) agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the
foregoing actions.
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SECTION 5.2. No Solicitation. (a) The Company shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any officer,
director, employee, agent or representative of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries ("COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES") to, directly or indirectly, (i)
solicit, initiate, or knowingly facilitate the submission of any Acquisition
Proposal or any inquiries regarding any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) participate
in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person
(including any parties with which the Company or any representative of the
Company has previously engaged in discussions or negotiations with respect to
any Acquisition Proposal) any information with respect to its business,
properties or assets, for the purpose of facilitating the consummation of, any
Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) enter into any agreement with respect to any
Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Company Representatives from,
prior to the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer, (A)
furnishing information pursuant to a confidentiality letter (provided for
informational purposes to Parent subject to the proviso in Section 5.02(c)),
with terms no less favorable than the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined in
Section 5.03) concerning the Company and its businesses, properties or assets to
a Person who has made an unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal, or (B)
engaging in discussions or negotiations with such Person who has made an
unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal, but in each case referred to in the
foregoing clauses (A) and (B) only to the extent that the Board of Directors of
the Company shall have concluded in good faith, after consultation with its
outside legal counsel, that such action is necessary in order for the Board of
Directors to comply with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Company
under applicable law. For purposes of this Agreement, "ACQUISITION PROPOSAL"
means any proposal or offer for, or any expression of interest (by public
announcement or otherwise) by any Person, other than Parent or its affiliates,
in a merger or other business combination involving the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company or any inquiry, proposal or offer to acquire in any
manner (including through a joint venture with the Company), directly or
indirectly, all or any significant portion of the assets or capital stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
(b) Except as permitted by this Section, neither the Board of Directors
of the Company nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify, or
publicly propose to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger
Subsidiary, the approval or recommendation by such Board of Directors or any
committee thereof of this Agreement or the Merger, (ii) approve or recommend, or
propose to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) cause the
Company or any Subsidiary to enter into any agreement with respect to any
Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Board of
Directors of the Company receives an unsolicited bona fide Acquisition Proposal
that is a Superior Proposal, the Board of Directors of the Company may, if it
shall have concluded in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal
counsel, that such action is necessary in order for the Board of Directors to
comply with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Company under
applicable law, withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the Offer,
this Agreement and the Merger taken together, or approve or recommend any such
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Superior Proposal, or terminate this Agreement in order to enter into an
agreement with respect to such a Superior Proposal or enter into any agreement
with respect to such a Superior Proposal, in each case after Parent's receipt of
written notice (a "NOTICE OF SUPERIOR PROPOSAL") advising Parent that the Board
of Directors of the Company has received a Superior Proposal and specifying the
material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Superior Proposal" means any bona fide written Acquisition
Proposal on terms which the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its
good faith judgment, after consultation with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or another financial
advisor of nationally recognized reputation, to be more favorable to the
Company's stockholders than the Offer and the Merger.
(c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in
paragraph (b) above, the Company shall promptly, and in any event prior to
taking any of the actions in clauses (A) and (B) of Section 5.02(a), advise
Parent of any request for nonpublic information or of any Acquisition Proposal,
and the material terms and conditions of such request or Acquisition Proposal;
provided, however, that the Company is not required to provide to Parent any
information if and to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company
determined in good faith and after consultation with outside counsel that in the
exercise of its fiduciary obligations it is necessary to refrain from furnishing
such information.
(d) Nothing contained in this Section 5.02 will prohibit the Company
from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule
14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the
Company's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of the Company, after consultation with outside counsel, the failure to so
disclose would violate applicable law.
SECTION 5.3. Access to Information. (a) Between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Time, the Company will upon reasonable notice (i)
give Parent and its authorized representatives reasonable access during regular
business hours to the Company's and each of its Subsidiary's plants, offices,
warehouses and other facilities and to its books and records, (ii) permit Parent
to make such inspections as it may require, and (iii) cause its officers,
employees and agents and those of its Subsidiaries to furnish Parent with such
financial and operating data and other information with respect to the business
and properties of the Company and the Subsidiaries as Parent may from time to
time reasonably request.
(b) Information obtained by Parent pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall
be subject to the provisions of the confidentiality agreement between the
Company and Parent, dated November 3, 1997, as amended on February 23, 1999 (the
"CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT"), which remains in full force and effect.
SECTION 5.4. Best Efforts. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, each of the parties hereto will use its best efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable under
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applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Such best efforts shall include,
without limitation, obtaining as promptly as practicable all necessary consents,
approvals or waivers from third parties and governmental authorities necessary
to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The Company agrees to provide, and will cause its
Subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees and advisors to provide,
all reasonable cooperation in connection with the arrangement of any financing
contemplated by Financing Commitment, including without limitation,
participation in meetings, due diligence sessions, and the preparation of any
necessary documents and financial statements. The Company will also provide
commercially reasonable assistance to Parent and the Merger Subsidiary in
connection with the execution and delivery of any agreements or instruments
necessary to obtain financing, or other certificates or documents as may be
requested by Parent or the Merger Subsidiary, provided that neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to enter into any written
agreement or other instrument in connection with providing such assistance.
(c) The Company and Merger Subsidiary will as promptly as
practicable file with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice
the notification and report forms required for the transactions contemplated
hereby and any supplemental information that may be reasonably requested in
connection therewith pursuant to the HSR Act, which notification and report
forms and supplemental information will comply in all materials respects with
the requirements of the HSR Act. Merger Subsidiary shall pay all filing fees
required with respect to the notification, report and other requirements of the
HSR Act.
(d) If at any time prior to the Effective Time any event or
circumstance relating to either the Company, Parent or Merger Subsidiary, or any
of their respective Subsidiaries, should be discovered by the Company or Parent,
as the case may be, and which should be set forth in an amendment to the Offer
Documents or Schedule 14D-9, the discovering parties will promptly inform the
other party of such event or circumstance.
SECTION 5.5. Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance. (a) From and
after the Effective Time, Parent and Surviving Corporation shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless each person who was, is now, or who becomes prior to
the Effective Time, an officer, director or employee of the Company against all
losses, expenses, claims, damage, liabilities, costs, expenses, judgments or
amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of the indemnifying party
(which approval will not be unreasonably withheld) arising out of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the fullest extent provided for
under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By Laws as in effect as of
the date hereof, including without limitation the advancement of expenses. All
rights to indemnification and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions
occurring at or prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of the current
or former directors or officers of the Company and its
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Subsidiaries as provided in their respective certificates of incorporation or
by-laws (or comparable organizational documents) and any indemnification
agreements of the Company shall be assumed by the Surviving Corporation in the
Merger, without further action, as of the Effective Time and shall survive the
Merger and shall continue in full force and effect (to the extent consistent
with applicable law) in accordance with their terms.
(b) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Surviving
Corporation to honor its commitments and obligations pursuant to this Section
5.05 and Parent hereby guarantees the due and prompt performance in full of the
Surviving Corporation's commitments and obligations pursuant to this Section
5.05. In the event that Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other
Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of
its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper
provision will be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the
Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, assume the obligations set forth in
this Section 5.05(b).
(c) For at least six years after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall provide officers' and directors' liability insurance in
respect of acts or omissions occurring prior to or at the Effective Time,
including but not limited to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
covering each person currently covered by the Company's officers' and directors'
liability insurance policy, or who becomes covered by such policy prior to the
Effective Time, on terms with respect to coverage and amount no less favorable
as a whole than those of such policy in effect on the date hereof; provided that
in satisfying its obligation under this Section 5.05 the Surviving Corporation
shall not be obligated to pay total premiums in excess of $400,000.
(d) The provisions of this Section 5.05 are (i) intended to be for the
benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each indemnified party, his or her heirs
and his or her representatives and (ii) in addition to, and not in substitution
or, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such person may
have by contract or otherwise.
SECTION 5.6. Employee Plans and Benefits and Employment Contracts. (a)
From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation
to honor in accordance with their terms all existing employment, severance,
consulting or other compensation agreements, plans or contracts between the
Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity of the Company and any officer,
director or employee of the Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity which are
specifically disclosed on the Company Disclosure Schedule, provided that the
Company shall implement the change of the Share Purchase Date under the Stock
Purchase Plan prior to the acceptance for payment of Shares under the Offer.
(b) For the one-year period immediately following the Effective Time,
Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to provide the employees of the
Surviving Corporation with
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benefits and coverage under such benefit plans, programs and arrangements that
are no less favorable to the employees in the aggregate than the Benefit Plans;
provided, however, to the extent that any such benefit plans, programs and
arrangements that are pension plans (whether qualified or nonqualified,
including, but not limited to, the Gradall Industries, Inc. Restoration Plan and
the Gradall Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan) are terminated or suspended at any time after the one-year
period immediately following the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the
Surviving Corporation to fully vest any participant in any such pension plans
and pay the full accrued benefit on an unreduced and nondiscounted basis under
the nonqualified plans (and with respect to the Gradall Industries, Inc. Benefit
Restoration Plan, as if the participant retired at age 62 with 30 years of
service under such Plan) to the participant at the time of the termination or
suspension.
SECTION 5.7. Meeting of the Company's Stockholders. (a) After
consummation of the Offer, to the extent required by applicable law, the Company
shall promptly take all action necessary in accordance with the DGCL and its
certificate of incorporation and bylaws to convene the Company Stockholder
Meeting to consider and vote on the Merger and this Agreement. At the Company
Stockholder Meeting, all of the Shares then owned by Parent, Merger Subsidiary
or any other Subsidiary of Parent shall be voted to approve the Merger and this
Agreement. Subject to its fiduciary duties and Section 5.02, the Board of
Directors of the Company shall recommend that the Company's stockholders vote to
approve the Merger and this Agreement if such vote is sought and shall use its
best efforts to solicit from stockholders of the Company proxies in favor of the
Merger.
(b) If required under applicable law, the Company and Parent shall
prepare the Proxy Statement, file it with the SEC under the Exchange Act as
promptly as practicable after Merger Subsidiary purchases Shares pursuant to the
Offer, and use all reasonable efforts to have it cleared by the SEC. As promptly
as practicable after the Proxy Statement has been cleared by the SEC, the
Company shall mail the Proxy Statement to the stockholders of the Company as of
the record date for the Company Stockholder Meeting. If, at any time prior to
the Effective Time, any event occurs relating to Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, affiliates, officers or directors that is required pursuant to
applicable law to be set forth in a supplement to the Proxy Statement, Parent
shall promptly inform the Company of such event.
(c) Parent and Merger Subsidiary shall not, and they shall cause their
Subsidiaries not to, sell, transfer, assign, encumber or otherwise dispose of
the Shares acquired pursuant to the Offer or otherwise prior to the Company
Stockholder Meeting; provided, however, that this Section 5.07(c) shall not
apply to the sale, transfer, assignment, encumbrance or other disposition of any
or all such Shares in transactions involving solely Parent, Merger Subsidiary
and/or one or more of their wholly-owned Subsidiaries.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Merger Subsidiary
shall acquire Shares representing at least 90% of the votes represented by all
outstanding Common Stock, the parties hereto agree, at the request of Merger
Subsidiary and subject to Article 6 hereof, to
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take all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become
effective, in accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL, as soon as reasonably
practicable after such acquisition, without a meeting of the stockholders of the
Company.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.07(a), in the event
that, pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, Parent or Merger Subsidiary shall
acquire in the aggregate a number of the outstanding shares of each class of
capital stock of the Company sufficient to enable Merger Subsidiary or the
Company to cause the Merger to become effective without a meeting of
stockholders of the Company, the parties hereto shall, at the request of Parent,
take all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become
effective as soon as practicable after such acquisition without a meeting of
stockholders of the Company, provided that the failure of such Merger to become
effective shall not constitute a breach of this provision.
SECTION 5.8. Public Announcements. Parent and the Company shall consult
with each other before issuing, and provide each other the opportunity to
review, comment upon and concur with, any press release or other public
statement with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including the Offer and the Merger, and shall not issue any such press release
or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as either
party may determine is required by applicable law or by obligations pursuant to
any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock
Market.
SECTION 5.9. Performance by Merger Subsidiary. Parent hereby agrees to
cause Merger Subsidiary to comply with its obligations hereunder and under the
Offer and to cause Merger Subsidiary to consummate the Merger as contemplated
herein.
SECTION 5.10. Notification of Certain Matters. Parent and the Company
shall promptly notify each other of 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 in any material respect or of any
material breach of a representation or warranty; provided, however, that no such
notification shall affect the representations or warranties of any party or the
conditions to the obligations of any party hereunder nor shall it limit or
otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such
notice.
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 6.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
Merger. The respective obligation of each party to consummate the Merger is
subject to the satisfaction or waiver, where permissible, prior to the Effective
Time, of the following conditions:
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(a) if required by applicable law, this Agreement shall have been
approved by the affirmative vote of the stockholders of the Company by the
requisite vote in accordance with applicable law;
(b) any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act (and any extension
thereof) relating to the Merger shall have expired or been earlier terminated;
(c) Merger Subsidiary shall have, pursuant to the Offer, accepted for
payment and paid for at least that number of Shares which would represent at
least a majority of the voting power represented by the Shares and other
securities entitled generally to vote in the election of directors of the
Company outstanding on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the exercise
or conversion of all options, rights and securities exercisable or convertible
into or exchangeable for Shares or such voting securities; provided, however,
that Parent may not invoke this condition if Merger Subsidiary shall have failed
to purchase Shares so tendered in violation of the terms of this Agreement;
(d) 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).
(e) 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.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER
SECTION 7.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective
Time (except with respect to 7.01(h) or (i) which shall be prior to acceptance
for payment of Shares under the Offer) and notwithstanding approval thereof by
the stockholders of the Company:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;
(b) by the Company, if the Offer has not been timely commenced in
accordance with Section 1.01, or if Parent or Merger Subsidiary shall have
breached any covenant in Section 1.01 or its representation in Section 3.06;
(c) by either the Company or Parent, if there shall be any law or
regulation of any competent authority that makes consummation of the Offer or
the Merger illegal or otherwise
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prohibited or if any judgment, injunction, order or decree of any competent
authority enjoining Parent or the Company from consummating the Offer or the
Merger is entered and such judgment, injunction, order or decree shall become
final and unappealable;
(d) by either the Company or Parent, if the Board of Directors of the
Company shall have (i) withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Parent and
Merger Subsidiary its approval or recommendation of the Offer or the Merger or
(ii) approved or recommended any Acquisition Proposal in respect of the Company
or (iii) resolved to take any of the foregoing actions, in each case in
compliance with the provisions contained in Section 5.02;
(e) by either Parent or the Company if the Merger has not been
consummated by September 30, 1999; provided, however, that the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this sentence will not be available to any
party whose failure to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement
results in the failure of the Merger to be consummated by such time;
(f) by either the Company or Parent, if the required approval of the
Company's stockholders shall not have been obtained at a Company Stockholders
Meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof,
subject to the provisions of Section 5.07;
(g) by either the Company or Parent if, without any material breach by
such terminating party of its obligations under this Agreement, the purchase of
Shares pursuant to the Offer shall not have occurred on or before September 30,
1999;
(h) by Parent or the Company prior to acceptance for payment of Shares
under the Offer, if the non-terminating party shall have breached in any
material respect or failed to perform in any material respect any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or other obligations under this Agreement
which breach or failure to perform cannot be or has not been cured within 10
days after the giving of written notice to the non-terminating party of such
breach or failure to perform (provided that the terminating party is not then in
breach in any material respect or failing to perform in any material respect any
of its representations, warranties, covenants or other obligations under this
Agreement that cannot be or has not been cured within 10 days after giving
written notice to the terminating party of such breach or failure to perform);
or
(i) by Parent prior to acceptance for payment of Shares under the
Offer, if MLGA Fund II, L.P. shall have breached in any material respect or
failed to perform in any material respect any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or other obligations under the Stockholders Agreement,
dated the date hereof, between the Company, Parent, Merger Subsidiary and the
Stockholders party thereto (the "Stockholders Agreement") which breach or
failure to perform cannot be or has not been cured within 10 days after the
giving of written notice to the breaching stockholder of such breach or failure
to perform (provided that Parent is not then in breach in any material respect
or failing to perform in any material respect any of
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its representations, warranties, covenants or other obligations under the
Stockholder's Agreement that cannot be or has not been cured within 10 days
after giving written notice to the Parent of such breach or failure to perform).
SECTION 7.2. Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this
Agreement by either Parent or the Company as provided in Section 7.01, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability
on the part of any party or its directors, officers or stockholders, other than
the provisions of Section 5.03(b), this Section 7.02 and Section 8.10, which
provisions will survive such termination, and except to the extent that such
termination results from the willful and material breach by a party of any of
its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this
Agreement.
SECTION 7.3. Amendment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this
Agreement may be amended by the parties at any time before or after approval of
this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that after
any such stockholder approval, no amendment shall be made which (a) by law
requires further approval of the Company's stockholders or (b) reduces the
Merger Consideration, in each case without the subsequent approval of such
stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
SECTION 7.4. Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, a party hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any
document delivered pursuant hereto by any other party or (c) subject to Section
7.03, waive compliance by any other party with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of any party to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to
assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute
a waiver of such rights.
SECTION 7.5. Procedure for Termination, Extension or Waiver. Subject to
Section 1.02(e), a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01, an
amendment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.03 or an extension or waiver
pursuant to Section 7.04 in order to be effective shall require, in the case of
Parent or the Company, action by its Board of Directors or, with respect to any
amendment of this Agreement, a duly authorized committee of its Board of
Directors.
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ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. None of
the representations and warranties made in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive after the Effective Time.
This Section 8.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties
hereto which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
SECTION 8.2. Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement (including
the Company Disclosure Schedule) and, to the extent contemplated in Section
5.03(b), the Confidentiality Agreement, (a) constitute the entire agreement
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof 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 and (b) shall
not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, provided that Parent or Merger
Subsidiary may assign any of their rights and obligations to any direct or
indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve
Parent or Merger Subsidiary of its obligations hereunder. Either Parent, Merger
Subsidiary or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent may
purchase Shares under the Offer.
SECTION 8.3. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 8.4. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered in person, by facsimile transmission with confirmation
of receipt, by overnight courier (with delivery confirmed), or by registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective
parties as follows:
(a) if to Parent or Merger Subsidiary:
JLG Industries, Inc.
▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
Fax No. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇. ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: W. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Fax No. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(b) if to the Company:
Gradall Industries, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
with copies to:
Proskauer Rose LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No. ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above
(provided that notice of any change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt thereof).
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.
SECTION 8.6. Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to
enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection
with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought
against any of the parties only in a federal court located in the State of
Delaware or a Delaware state court, and each of the parties hereto hereby
consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate
appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and waives
any objection to venue laid therein. Process in any such suit, action or
proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or
without the State of Delaware. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
each party hereto agrees that service of process upon such party at
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the address referred to in Section 8.04, together with written notice of such
service to such party, shall be deemed effective service of process upon such
party.
SECTION 8.7. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings herein are
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of or
affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.8. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person any
rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement
except Section 1.01 (which is intended to be for the benefit of the Company's
stockholders and may be enforced by them) and except for Sections 5.05 and 5.06
(which are intended to be for the benefit of the Persons entitled to therein,
and may be enforced by such Persons).
SECTION 8.9. 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.
SECTION 8.10. Fees and Expenses. (a) All fees, costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be paid by the party incurring such fees and expenses, whether or not the
Offer or the Merger is consummated; provided, however, that if this Agreement is
terminated as a result of the breach by Parent or Merger Subsidiary of any of
their covenants or representations and warranties in this Agreement, all fees,
costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by Parent.
(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Parent
(i) pursuant to Section 7.01(d), or
(ii) pursuant to Section 7.01 (h) or (i) hereof and within
six months thereafter, the Company enters into an
agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or
has completed a transaction pursuant to an
Acquisition Proposal,
the Company shall pay to Parent by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to an account designated by Parent (A) within two business days following such
termination referred to in the preceding clause (i) or (B) upon the Company
entering into such agreement or completing such transaction referred to in the
preceding clause (ii) an amount equal to $6,000,000 (the "TERMINATION FEE").
(c) The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this
Section 8.10 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and that, without these
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agreements, Parent would not enter into this Agreement. Accordingly, if the
Company fails to promptly pay any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.10, and,
in order to obtain such payment, the other party commences a suit which results
in a judgment against the Company for the fee or fees and expenses set forth in
this Section 8.10, the Company shall also pay to Parent its reasonable costs and
expenses incurred in connection with such litigation together with interest or
such unpaid amounts commencing on the date the Termination Fee became due at a
rate equal to the rate of interest announced by Citibank N.A. from time to time,
in the City of New York at such bank's prime or base rate.
SECTION 8.11. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement
(including Annex A hereto), the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed
to them below:
(a) "AFFILIATE" of a Person shall mean (i) a Person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with, the first-mentioned Person and (ii) an
"ASSOCIATE", as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the
Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(b) "BENEFICIAL OWNER" (including the term "BENEFICIALLY OWN" or
correlative terms) with respect to any securities means a Person who shall be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of such securities which (i) such Person or
any of its affiliates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, (ii) such
Person or any of its affiliates has, directly or indirectly, (A) the right to
acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage
of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the
exercise of consideration rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise, or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding or (iii) are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person with which such Person or any of its affiliates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any of such securities.
(c) "CONTROL" (including the terms "CONTROLLING", "CONTROLLED BY" and
"UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH" or correlative terms) shall mean the possession,
direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract, or otherwise.
(d) "FULLY DILUTED" in reference to the Shares means all outstanding
securities entitled generally to vote in the election of directors of the
Company on a fully diluted basis, after giving effect to the exercise or
conversion of all options, rights and securities exercisable or convertible into
such voting securities.
(e) "KNOWLEDGE" shall mean the actual knowledge of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, and ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇.
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(f) "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, when used with reference to a Person means
a corporation (or other entity) the majority of the outstanding voting
securities (or equity interests) of which are owned directly or indirectly by
such Person.
[END OF TEXT]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed on its behalf by its officer thereunto duly authorized, on the day and
year first above written.
JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ L. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
______________________
Name: L. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman & President & CEO
JLG ACQUISITIONS CORP.
By: /s/ L. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
______________________
Name: L. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman & President
GRADALL INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
______________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President & CEO
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ANNEX A
CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Merger Subsidiary
shall not be obligated to accept for payment or pay for, subject to Rule
14e-l(c) of the Exchange Act, any Shares not theretofore accepted for payment,
and, subject to the terms of the Agreement, may terminate or amend the Offer if
(i) that number of Shares which would represent at least a majority of the
voting power represented by the Shares and other securities entitled generally
to vote in the election of directors of the Company outstanding on a fully
diluted basis after giving effect to the exercise or conversion of all options,
rights and securities exercisable or convertible into or exchangeable for Shares
or such voting securities shall not have been validly tendered and not withdrawn
immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer (the "MINIMUM TENDER
CONDITION"), (ii) any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall not have
expired or been terminated prior to the expiration of the Offer or (iii) at any
time on or after the date of commencement of the Offer and before the acceptance
of such Shares for payment or the payment therefor, any of the following
conditions exist or shall occur and be continuing:
(a there shall be pending by any Governmental Entity any suit,
action or proceeding, (i) challenging the acquisition by Parent or
Merger Subsidiary of any Shares, seeking to restrain or prohibit the
making or consummation of the Offer or the Merger or the performance of
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii)
seeking to prohibit or limit the ownership or operation by the Company,
Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries of a material portion of
the business or assets of the Company or the Subsidiaries, or Parent or
its Subsidiaries, or to compel the Company or Parent to dispose of or
hold separate any material portion of the business or assets of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, or Parent or its Subsidiaries, as a result
of the Offer or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (iii) seeking to impose limitations on the ability of Parent
or Merger Subsidiary to acquire or hold, or exercise full rights of
ownership of, any Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer
including, without limitation, the right to vote the Shares accepted
for payment by it on all matters properly presented to the stockholders
of the Company, or (iv) seeking to prohibit Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries from effectively controlling in any material respect the
business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(b the Company shall have entered into an agreement concerning
any Superior Proposal, or the Board of Directors of the Company or any
committee thereof shall have resolved to enter into such an agreement;
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(c) any Person or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3)of the
Exchange Act) (other than Parent, Merger Subsidiary or any affiliate
thereof or the Stockholders described in the Stockholders Agreement)
shall have become the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of Shares representing a majority
of the total votes represented by all outstanding Shares;
(d) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in
accordance with its terms;
(e) there shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any
general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for,
securities on any national securities exchange or in the
over-the-counter market in the United States, (ii) a commencement and
continuation of a war or armed hostilities or other national or
international calamity directly or indirectly involving the United
States which would have a Company Material Adverse Effect (other than
the events in Yugoslavia and neighboring countries), (iii) a change in
general conditions in the market for syndicated bank credit facilities
which, based on the written advice of Gleacher & Co. LLC addressed to
Parent (with a copy to be provided to the Company), materially and
adversely affects the ability of financial institutions in the United
States to extend credit or syndicate loans, or (iv) in the case of any
of the foregoing existing at the time of commencement of the Offer, a
material acceleration or worsening thereof; and
(f) there shall have occurred any material adverse change in
the financial condition, assets, liabilities, business or results of
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except
for general economic changes, changes that affect the industry of the
Company or any Subsidiary generally and changes in the Company's
business attributable solely to actions taken by Parent or Merger
Subsidiary;
which, in the reasonable judgment of Parent and regardless of the circumstances
giving rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the
Offer or with such acceptance for payment, purchase of, or payment for Shares.
Unless otherwise defined in this Annex A, capitalized terms used in
this Annex A have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement among
the Parent, Merger Subsidiary and the Company to which this Annex A is attached.