Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION COPY
__________________________________________________________
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
among
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM
CORPORATION,
PILGRIM ACQUISITION
CORPORATION,
and
PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS
INCORPORATED
Dated as of December 20,
2006
__________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I
|
|
THE OFFER
|
|
|
|
Section 1.1.
|
|
The Offer
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 1.2.
|
|
Company Consent; Schedule 14D-9
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 1.3.
|
|
Stockholder Lists
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 1.4.
|
|
Directors
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 1.5.
|
|
Top-Up Option
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II
|
|
THE MERGER
|
|
|
|
Section 2.1.
|
|
The Merger
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.2.
|
|
Closing; Effective Time
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.3.
|
|
Effects of the Merger
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.4.
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.5.
|
|
Directors and Officers
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.6.
|
|
Special Meeting
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.7.
|
|
Merger Without Meeting of
Stockholders
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III
|
|
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS
|
|
|
|
Section 3.1.
|
|
Conversion of Securities
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 3.2.
|
|
Treatment of Equity Awards and ESPP
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 3.3.
|
|
Dissenting Shares
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 3.4.
|
|
Surrender of Shares
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 3.5.
|
|
Withholding Taxes
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
COMPANY
|
|
|
|
Section 4.1.
|
|
Organization and Qualification; No
Subsidiaries
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.2.
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.3.
|
|
Capitalization
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.4.
|
|
Authority
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.5.
|
|
No Conflict; Required Filings and
Consents
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.6.
|
|
Compliance
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i
|
Section 4.7.
|
|
SEC Filings; Financial Statements
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.8.
|
|
Absence of Certain Changes or Events
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.9.
|
|
Absence of Litigation
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.10.
|
|
Employee Benefit Plans
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.11.
|
|
Labor and Employment Matters
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.12.
|
|
Insurance
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.13.
|
|
Properties
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.14.
|
|
Tax Matters
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.15.
|
|
Schedule 14D-9; Offer Documents; Proxy
Statement
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.16.
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.17.
|
|
Environmental Matters
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.18.
|
|
Contracts
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.19.
|
|
Affiliate Transactions
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.20.
|
|
Opinion of Financial Advisors
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.21.
|
|
Brokers; Certain Fees
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.22.
|
|
Takeover Laws; Rights Agreement
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND
PURCHASER
|
|
|
|
Section 5.1.
|
|
Organization
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.2.
|
|
Authority
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.3.
|
|
No Conflict; Required Filings and
Consents
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.4.
|
|
Absence of Litigation
|
|
33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.5.
|
|
Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9; Proxy
Statement
|
|
33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.6.
|
|
Brokers
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.7.
|
|
Financing
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI
|
|
COVENANTS
|
|
|
|
Section 6.1.
|
|
Conduct of Business of the Company Pending the
Merger
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.2.
|
|
Access to Information;
Confidentiality
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.3.
|
|
Acquisition Proposals
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.4.
|
|
Employment and Employee Benefits
Matters
|
|
41
|
ii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.5.
|
|
Directors’ and Officers’
Indemnification and Insurance
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.6.
|
|
Further Action; Efforts
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.7.
|
|
Takeover Laws
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.8.
|
|
Proxy Statement
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.9.
|
|
Subsequent Filings
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.10.
|
|
Public Announcements
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.11.
|
|
Notification
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.12.
|
|
Approval of Compensation Actions
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.13.
|
|
Dispositions
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.14.
|
|
Plenaxis® Disposition
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VII
|
|
CONDITIONS OF MERGER
|
|
|
|
Section 7.1.
|
|
Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to Effect
the Merger
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII
|
|
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
|
|
|
|
Section 8.1.
|
|
Termination by Mutual Agreement
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.2.
|
|
Termination by Either Parent or the
Company
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.3.
|
|
Termination by the Company
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.4.
|
|
Termination by Parent
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.5.
|
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.6.
|
|
Expenses
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.7.
|
|
Amendment
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.8.
|
|
Waiver
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IX
|
|
GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
|
|
|
Section 9.1.
|
|
Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties,
Covenants and Agreements
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.2.
|
|
Notices
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.3.
|
|
Certain Definitions
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.4.
|
|
Severability
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.5.
|
|
Entire Agreement; Assignment
|
|
52
|
iii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.6.
|
|
Parties in Interest
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.7.
|
|
Governing Law
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.8.
|
|
Headings
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.9.
|
|
Counterparts
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.10.
|
|
Specific Performance; Jurisdiction
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.11.
|
|
Interpretation
|
|
54
|
iv
INDEX OF DEFINED
TERMS
|
Acquisition Proposal
|
40
|
|
Environmental Laws
|
28
|
|
Affiliate
|
51
|
|
Environmental Permits
|
28
|
|
Agreement
|
1
|
|
ERISA
|
19
|
|
Alternative Acquisition Agreement
|
39
|
|
ERISA Affiliate
|
20
|
|
beneficial owner
|
52
|
|
ESPP
|
9
|
|
beneficially owned
|
52
|
|
ESPP Offering Period
|
14
|
|
Business Day
|
52
|
|
Exchange Act
|
2
|
|
Bylaws
|
13
|
|
Expiration Date
|
Exhibit A
|
|
Capitalization Date
|
13
|
|
FDA
|
16
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation
|
13
|
|
Financial Advisor
|
30
|
|
Certificate of Merger
|
7
|
|
Financial Statements
|
17
|
|
Certificates
|
10
|
|
Foreign Antitrust Laws
|
16
|
|
Change of Board Recommendation
|
39
|
|
FTC
|
44
|
|
Closing
|
7
|
|
GAAP
|
52
|
|
Closing Date
|
7
|
|
Governmental Entity
|
15
|
|
Code
|
20
|
|
HSR Act
|
16
|
|
Common Stock
|
1
|
|
Indemnified Parties
|
42
|
|
Company
|
1
|
|
Indemnified Party
|
42
|
|
Company Board
|
1
|
|
Independent Directors
|
5
|
|
Company Board Recommendation
|
15
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
25
|
|
Company Disclosure Schedule
|
12
|
|
Inventions
|
25
|
|
Company Employees
|
20
|
|
IRS
|
20
|
|
Company Plans
|
20
|
|
knowledge
|
52
|
|
Company Registered Intellectual
Property
|
26
|
|
Law
|
15
|
|
Company Requisite Vote
|
14
|
|
Licensed-In Agreement
|
29
|
|
Company Securities
|
14
|
|
Licensed-In Intellectual Property
|
29
|
|
Company Stock Plan
|
13
|
|
Liens
|
22
|
|
Company Subsidiary
|
12
|
|
Material Adverse Effect
|
12
|
|
Compensation Actions
|
19
|
|
Material Contract
|
30
|
|
Confidentiality Agreement
|
15
|
|
Materials of Environmental Concern
|
28
|
|
Continuing Directors
|
5
|
|
Merger
|
1
|
|
Contract
|
15
|
|
Merger Agreement
|
Exhibit A
|
|
control
|
52
|
|
Merger Consideration
|
8
|
|
controlled
|
52
|
|
Minimum Tender Condition
|
Exhibit A
|
|
controlled by
|
52
|
|
Nasdaq
|
2
|
|
Copyrights
|
25
|
|
Notice Period
|
39
|
|
Current Employees
|
41
|
|
Offer
|
1
|
|
DGCL
|
1
|
|
Offer Conditions
|
2
|
|
Dissenting Shares
|
10
|
|
Offer Documents
|
3
|
|
DOJ
|
44
|
|
Offer Price
|
1
|
|
Effective Time
|
7
|
|
Option
|
9
|
|
employee benefit plan
|
19
|
|
Outside Date
|
48
|
|
Environmental Claim
|
28
|
|
Owned Intellectual Property
|
25
|
|
owns beneficially
|
52
|
|
SEC Reports
|
16
|
|
Parent
|
1
|
|
Securities Act
|
6
|
|
Parent Disclosure Schedule
|
31
|
|
September 30 Balance Sheet
|
18
|
|
Patents
|
25
|
|
Shares
|
1
|
|
Paying Agent
|
10
|
|
Special Meeting
|
8
|
|
Permits
|
16
|
|
Subsidiary
|
52
|
|
Person
|
52
|
|
Superior Proposal
|
40
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
13
|
|
Surviving Corporation
|
7
|
|
Proceeding
|
19
|
|
Takeover Laws
|
31
|
|
Proxy Statement
|
25
|
|
Tax
|
24
|
|
Purchase Time
|
9
|
|
Top-Up Option
|
6
|
|
Purchaser
|
1
|
|
Top-Up Shares
|
6
|
|
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect
|
32
|
|
Trade Secrets
|
25
|
|
Release
|
28
|
|
Trademarks
|
25
|
|
Rights
|
1
|
|
under common control with
|
52
|
|
Rights Agreement
|
1
|
|
USRPHC
|
24
|
|
Schedule 14D-9
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule TO
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
SEC
|
2
|
|
|
|
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated
as of December 20, 2006 (this “ Agreement ”),
among SMITHKLINE BEECHAM CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation
(“ Parent ”), PILGRIM ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent
(“ Purchaser ”), and PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS
INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company
”).
WHEREAS, Parent and the Board of
Directors of each of Purchaser and the Company has approved the
acquisition of the Company by Parent on the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein, Purchaser has agreed to commence a
tender offer (the “ Offer ”) to purchase all
outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
the Company (the “ Common Stock ”), including
the associated preferred stock purchase rights (the “
Rights ”) issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
dated as of January 24, 2001, between the Company and American
Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the “
Rights Agreement ”) (the shares of Common Stock,
together with the Rights, being referred to collectively as the
“ Shares ”), at a price of $5.00 per Share, net
to the seller in cash (such price, or any higher price as may be
paid in the Offer in accordance with this Agreement, the “
Offer Price ”);
WHEREAS, following consummation of
the Offer, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein Purchaser shall merge with and into the Company (the “
Merger ”) and each Share that is issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than
Shares held in the treasury of the Company or owned by Parent,
Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of
Parent or the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time,
which will be canceled with no consideration issued in exchange
therefor, and other than Dissenting Shares) will be canceled and
converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to the
Offer Price, all upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “ Company Board ”) has, on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, unanimously
(i) determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
are fair to, and in the best interests of, the stockholders of the
Company, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the
Merger, in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the “ DGCL ”), and (iii) determined to
recommend that the Company’s stockholders accept the Offer
and tender their Shares to Purchaser and, to the extent applicable,
adopt the “agreement of merger” (as such term is used
in Section 251 of the DGCL) set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
Purchaser has, on the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein, unanimously approved and declared advisable this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Offer and the Merger, and Parent or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
Parent (in each case, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of
Purchaser) has adopted the “agreement of merger” set
forth in this Agreement in each case, in accordance with the DGCL;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent,
Purchaser and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.1. The Offer
. (a) (i) Provided that this Agreement shall not have been
terminated in accordance with Article VIII and that none of the
events set forth in Paragraph (2) of Exhibit A hereto shall exist
or have occurred and be continuing, Purchaser shall, and Parent
shall cause Purchaser to, promptly (but in no event later than
January 9, 2007) commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act ”)) the Offer to purchase all outstanding
Shares, at the Offer Price. The obligations of Purchaser to,
and of Parent to cause Purchaser to, accept for payment and to pay
for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be subject to
only those conditions set forth in Exhibit A (the “
Offer Conditions ”). The initial expiration date
of the Offer shall be the twentieth Business Day following (and
including the day of) the commencement of the Offer.
Purchaser expressly reserves the right (but shall not be obligated)
at any time or from time to time in its sole discretion to waive
any Offer Condition or modify or amend the terms of the Offer,
except that, without the prior written consent of the Company,
Purchaser shall not (A) decrease the Offer Price or change the
form of the consideration payable in the Offer, (B) decrease
the number of Shares sought pursuant to the Offer, (C) amend
or waive the Minimum Tender Condition (as defined in Exhibit A),
(D) add to the conditions set forth on Exhibit A, (E) modify
the conditions set forth on Exhibit A in a manner adverse to the
holders of Shares, (F) extend the expiration of the Offer
except as required or permitted by Section 1.1(a)(ii) or (iii), or
(G) make any other change in the terms or conditions of the
Offer which is adverse to the holders of Shares.
(ii)
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Purchaser of the Offer
Conditions as of the time of any scheduled expiration of the Offer,
Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause Purchaser to, accept for
payment and pay for Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn
pursuant to the Offer as soon as practicable after such scheduled
expiration and Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause Purchaser
to, immediately accept and promptly pay for all Shares as they are
validly tendered during any subsequent offer period.
Purchaser may, without the consent of the Company, (A) extend the
Offer for one or more periods of time of up to twenty Business Days
per extension if at any scheduled expiration of the Offer any of
the Offer Conditions are not satisfied, until such time as such
Offer Conditions are satisfied or waived, (B) extend the Offer for
any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or
position of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
SEC ”) or the staff thereof or the Nasdaq National
Market (“ Nasdaq ”) applicable to the Offer, or
(C) elect to provide a subsequent offering period for the
Offer in accordance with Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange Act,
provided that Purchaser shall not extend the Offer pursuant to
clause (A) of this Section beyond the Outside Date without the
consent of the Company. The Offer Price may be increased, and
the Offer may be extended to the extent required by law in
connection with such increase in the Offer Price, in each case
without the consent of the Company.
2
(iii)
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser
shall extend the Offer on one or more occasions for periods
determined by Purchaser of up to twenty Business Days per extension
if, at any scheduled expiration of the Offer, any of the Offer
Conditions have not been satisfied or waived; provided ,
that (A) if all Offer Conditions other than the Minimum Tender
Condition are satisfied or waived as of any scheduled expiration of
the Offer, Purchaser shall not be obligated to extend the Offer
unless required by applicable Law or any applicable rule or
regulation of any stock exchange (but shall be entitled to extend
the Offer), and (B) if at any scheduled expiration of the
Offer (x) the Offer Condition set forth in Paragraph 2(a) of
Exhibit A has not been satisfied or waived (other than by
reason of a judgment, injunction or order that is not final or
remains subject to appeal) or (y) the Offer Condition set forth in
Paragraph 2(d) of Exhibit A has not been satisfied or waived
by Purchaser and, in the case of clause (y), the breach or failure
to perform or comply that has caused such non-satisfaction is not
capable of being cured within 25 days after receipt by the Company
of notice of such breach or failure (it being understood that a
willful failure to comply with Section 6.3 shall not be deemed
capable of being cured) or, if capable of being cured within such
period, has not been cured within such period, then Purchaser shall
not be obligated (but shall be entitled) to extend the Offer;
provided , further , that Purchaser shall not, and
shall not be required to, extend the Offer (1) beyond the Outside
Date or (2) at any time that it is permitted to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Article VIII.
(b)
On the date of commencement of the Offer, Parent and Purchaser
shall file or cause to be filed with the SEC a Tender Offer
Statement on Schedule TO (together with all amendments and
supplements thereto, the “ Schedule TO ”) with
respect to the Offer which shall contain the offer to purchase and
related letter of transmittal and summary advertisement and other
ancillary Offer documents and instruments pursuant to which the
Offer will be made (collectively with any supplements or amendments
thereto, the “ Offer Documents ”). The
Company and its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to
review and comment on the Offer Documents prior to their filing
with the SEC. Parent and Purchaser agree (i) to provide
the Company with, and to consult with the Company regarding, any
comments that may be received from the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Offer Documents promptly after receipt thereof and
prior to responding thereto and (ii) to provide the Company
with any comments or responses thereto. If at any time prior
to the Closing, any information relating to the Offer, the Merger,
the Company, Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective
Affiliates, directors or officers, should be discovered by the
Company or Parent which should be set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the Offer Documents, so that the Offer Documents
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 are made, not misleading, the party
which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other
party, and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such
information shall be filed with the SEC and disseminated to the
stockholders of the Company, as and to the extent required by
applicable Law or any applicable rule or regulation of any stock
exchange.
(c)
Parent shall provide or cause to be provided to Purchaser on a
timely basis the funds necessary to purchase any Shares that
Purchaser becomes obligated to purchase pursuant to the Offer and
Purchaser shall maintain such funds exclusively for such
purpose.
3
SECTION 1.2. Company
Consent; Schedule 14D-9 . (a) The Company hereby approves
of and consents to the Offer.
(b)
On the date the Offer Documents are filed, the Company shall file
with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule
14D-9 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the
“ Schedule 14D-9 ”) containing, subject to
Section 6.3(d), the recommendations of the Company Board described
in Section 4.4(b). The Company hereby consents to the
inclusion of the recommendations of the Company Board described in
Section 4.4(b) in the Offer Documents (it being understood that
such consent shall not be deemed to limit the Company Board’s
rights under Section 6.3(d)) and to the inclusion of a copy of the
Schedule 14D-9 with the Offer Documents mailed or furnished to the
Company’s stockholders. Parent and Purchaser shall be
given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the
Schedule 14D-9 prior to its filing with the SEC. The Company
agrees (i) to provide Parent and Purchaser with, and to
consult with Parent and Purchaser regarding, any comments that may
be received from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Schedule
14D-9 promptly upon receipt thereof and prior to responding thereto
and (ii) to provide Parent and Purchaser with any comments or
responses thereto. If at any time prior to the Closing, any
information relating to the Offer, the Merger, the Company, Parent,
Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates, directors or
officers, should be discovered by the Company or Parent which
should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Schedule
14D-9, so that the Schedule 14D-9 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
are made, not misleading, the party which discovers such
information shall promptly notify the other party, and an
appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information
shall be filed with the SEC and disseminated to the stockholders of
the Company, as and to the extent required by applicable Law or any
applicable rule or regulation of any stock exchange.
SECTION 1.3. Stockholder
Lists . In connection with the Offer, the Company shall
cause its transfer agent to, promptly (but in any event on or
before January 3, 2007), furnish Parent and Purchaser with 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 the latest practicable date and shall
furnish Parent and Purchaser with such information and assistance
(including periodic updates of such information) as Parent or
Purchaser or their agents may reasonably request in communicating
the Offer to the record and beneficial holders of the Shares.
Subject to the requirements of applicable Law, and except for such
actions as are reasonably necessary to disseminate the Offer
Documents and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder,
Purchaser shall hold all information and documents provided to it
under this Section 1.3 in confidence in accordance with the
Confidentiality Agreement, and shall use such information and
documents only in connection with the Offer, and if this Agreement
shall have been terminated Parent and Purchaser shall deliver to
the Company all such information and documents (and all copies
thereof).
SECTION 1.4. Directors
. (a) Promptly upon the purchase by Purchaser pursuant
to the Offer of such number of Shares as represents at least a
majority of the then-outstanding Shares, and from time to time
thereafter, Purchaser shall be entitled to designate such number of
directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the Company
Board as will give Purchaser
4
representation on the Company Board
equal to the product of (x) the total number of directors on the
Company Board (after giving effect to any increase in the number of
directors pursuant to this Section 1.4) and (y) the percentage that
such number of Shares so purchased bears to the total number of
Shares outstanding, and the Company shall, upon request by
Purchaser, promptly increase the size of the Company Board or use
its reasonable best efforts to secure the resignations of such
number of directors as is necessary to provide Purchaser with such
level of representation and shall cause Purchaser’s designees
to be so elected or appointed. The Company shall also use its
reasonable best efforts to cause individuals designated by
Purchaser to constitute the same percentage of each committee of
the Company Board as the percentage of the entire Company Board
represented by individuals designated by Purchaser. The
Company’s obligations to appoint designees to the Company
Board shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the Exchange
Act. At the request of Purchaser, the Company shall take all
actions necessary to effect any such election or appointment of
Purchaser’s designees, including mailing to its stockholders
the information required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act
and Rule 14f-l promulgated thereunder which, unless Purchaser
otherwise elects, shall be so mailed together with the Schedule
14D-9. Parent and Purchaser will supply to the Company all
information with respect to themselves and their respective
officers, directors and Affiliates required by Section 14(f)
of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-l promulgated
thereunder.
(b)
Following the election or appointment of Purchaser’s
designees pursuant to Section 1.4(a) and prior to the Effective
Time, any amendment or termination of this Agreement requiring
action by the Company Board, any extension of time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of Parent or
Purchaser under this Agreement, any waiver of compliance with any
of the agreements or conditions under this Agreement that are for
the benefit of the Company, any exercise of the Company’s
rights or remedies under this Agreement, any action to seek to
enforce any obligation of Parent or Purchaser under this Agreement
(or any other action by the Company Board with respect to this
Agreement or the Merger if such other action adversely affects, or
could reasonably be expected to adversely affect, any of the
holders of Shares other than Parent or Purchaser) may only be
authorized by, and will require the authorization of, a majority of
the directors of the Company then in office who are directors of
the Company on the date hereof or their successors as appointed by
such continuing directors (the “ Continuing Directors
”); provided , however , that if there shall be
no Continuing Directors as a result of such individuals’
deaths, disabilities, resignations or refusal to serve, then such
actions may be effected by majority vote of the Independent
Directors, or, if no Independent Directors are then in office, by a
majority vote of the Company Board.
(c)
In the event that Parent’s designees are elected or appointed
to the Company Board pursuant to Section 1.4(a), until the
Effective Time, (i) the Company Board shall have at least such
number of directors as may be required by the Nasdaq rules or the
federal securities Laws who are considered independent directors
within the meaning of such rules and Laws (“ Independent
Directors ”) and (ii) each committee of the Company Board
that is required (or a majority of which is required) by the Nasdaq
rules or the federal securities Laws to be composed solely of
Independent Directors shall be so composed; provided ,
however , that in such event, if the number of Independent
Directors shall be reduced below the number of directors as may be
required by such rules or Laws for any reason whatsoever, the
remaining Independent Director(s) shall be entitled to designate
persons to fill such vacancies who shall be deemed to be
Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement or, if no
other Independent Director then
5
remains, the other directors shall
designate such number of directors as may be required by the Nasdaq
rules and the federal securities Laws, to fill such vacancies who
shall not be stockholders or Affiliates of Parent or Purchaser, and
such Persons shall be deemed to be Independent Directors for
purposes of this Agreement.
SECTION 1.5. Top-Up
Option . (a) The Company hereby irrevocably grants
to Purchaser an option (the “ Top-Up Option ”),
exercisable only after the acceptance by Purchaser of, and payment
for, Shares tendered in the Offer, to purchase that number (but not
less than that number) of Shares (the “ Top-Up Shares
”) as is equal to the lowest number of Shares that, when
added to the number of Shares owned directly or indirectly by
Parent or Purchaser at the time of such exercise, shall constitute
one share more than 90% of the total Shares then outstanding
(assuming the issuance of the Top-Up Shares) at a price per Share
equal to the Offer Price; provided , however , that
(i) the Top-Up Option shall be exercisable only once, at such time
as Parent and Purchaser, directly or indirectly, own at least 85%
of the total number of Shares then outstanding and on or prior to
the 20 th Business Day after the Expiration Date or
the expiration date of any subsequent offering period, (ii) in no
event shall the Top-Up Option be exercisable for a number of Shares
in excess of the Company’s then authorized and unissued
shares of Common Stock (including as authorized and unissued shares
of Common Stock, for purposes of this Section 1.5, any Shares held
in the treasury of the Company), (iii) Purchaser shall,
concurrently with the exercise of the Top-Up Option, give written
notice to the Company that as promptly as practicable following
such exercise, Purchaser intends to (and Purchaser shall, and
Parent shall cause Purchaser to, as promptly as practicable after
such exercise) consummate the Merger in accordance with Section 253
of the DGCL as contemplated by Section 2.7, and (iv) the
Top-Up Option may not be exercised if any provision of applicable
Law or any judgment, injunction, order or decree of any
Governmental Entity shall prohibit, or require any action, consent,
approval, authorization or permit of, action by, or filing with or
notification to, any Governmental Entity or the Company’s
stockholders in connection with the exercise of the Top-Up Option
or the delivery of the Top-Up Shares in respect of such exercise,
which action, consent, approval, authorization or permit, action,
filing or notification has not theretofore been obtained or made,
as applicable.
(b)
Any certificates evidencing Top-Up Shares may include any legends
required by applicable securities laws.
(c)
Parent and Purchaser understand that the Shares that Purchaser may
acquire upon exercise of the Top-Up Option will not be registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities Act ”), and will be issued in reliance upon
an exemption thereunder for transactions not involving a public
offering. Parent and Purchaser represent and warrant to the
Company that Purchaser is, and will be upon exercise of the Top-Up
Option, an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule
501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act).
Purchaser agrees that the Top-Up Option and the Top-Up Shares to be
acquired upon exercise thereof are being and will be acquired for
the purpose of investment and not with a view to or for resale in
connection with any distribution thereof within the meaning of the
Securities Act.
6
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.1. The Merger
. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time,
Purchaser shall be merged with and into the Company. As a
result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Purchaser
shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving
corporation of the Merger (the “ Surviving Corporation
”).
SECTION 2.2. Closing;
Effective Time . Subject to the provisions of Article
VII, the closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”)
shall take place at the offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen &
Hamilton LLP, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York, as soon as
practicable, but in no event later than the second Business Day,
after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article VII (excluding conditions that, by their terms, cannot be
satisfied until the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of such conditions at the Closing), or at such other place
or on such other date as Parent and the Company may mutually
agree. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is
hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing Date
”. At the Closing, the parties hereto shall cause the
Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate of merger (the
“ Certificate of Merger ”) with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware, in such form as required by, and
executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the DGCL
(the date and time of the filing of the Certificate of Merger with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or such later time
as is specified in the Certificate of Merger and as is agreed to by
the parties hereto, being hereinafter referred to as the “
Effective Time ”) and shall make all other filings or
recordings required under the DGCL in connection with the
Merger.
SECTION 2.3. Effects of the
Merger . The Merger shall have the effects set forth
herein and in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject thereto, at
the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges,
immunities, powers and franchises of the Company and Purchaser
shall vest in the Surviving Corporation and all debts, liabilities
and duties of the Company and Purchaser shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.4. Certificate of
Incorporation; Bylaws . (a) At the Effective
Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Company shall, by
virtue of the Merger, be amended and restated in its entirety to
read as the certificate of incorporation of Purchaser in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time (except that Article I
thereof shall read as follows: “The name of the
Corporation is Praecis Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.”) and,
as so amended, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with
its terms and as provided by law.
(b)
At the Effective Time, and without any further action on the part
of the Company and Purchaser, the bylaws of the Company shall be
amended and restated in their entirety so as to read as the bylaws
of Purchaser as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
(except that such bylaws shall be amended to reflect that the name
of the Surviving Corporation shall be Praecis Pharmaceuticals
Incorporated), and, as so amended, shall be the
7
bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
until thereafter amended in accordance with their terms and the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and as
provided by law.
SECTION 2.5. Directors and
Officers . The directors and officers of Purchaser
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors and
officers, respectively, of the Surviving Corporation, in each case
until the earlier of his or her resignation or removal or until his
or her successors are duly elected and qualified.
SECTION 2.6. Special
Meeting . Unless the Merger is consummated in accordance
with Section 253 of the DGCL as contemplated by Section 2.7,
and subject to applicable law, the Company, acting through its
Board of Directors, shall, in accordance with applicable law, duly
call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting (the
“ Special Meeting ”) of its stockholders as soon
as practicable following the consummation of the Offer for the
purpose of adopting the “agreement of merger” (as such
term is used in Section 251 of the DGCL) set forth in this
Agreement and include in the Proxy Statement the Company Board
Recommendation; provided , that nothing herein shall be
deemed to limit Section 6.3(d). Parent and Purchaser each
agree that, at the Special Meeting, all of the Shares acquired
pursuant to the Offer or otherwise owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc,
Parent or Purchaser or any of their respective controlled
Affiliates will be voted in favor of the Merger.
SECTION 2.7. Merger Without
Meeting of Stockholders . If, following the Offer and any
subsequent offering period or the exercise of the Top-Up Option,
Parent, Purchaser, or any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of
Parent, shall hold at least 90 percent of the outstanding shares of
each class of capital stock of the Company, each of Parent,
Purchaser and the Company shall (subject to Section 7.1) take all
necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become
effective, as soon as practicable after the consummation of the
Offer, without a meeting of stockholders of the Company, in
accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL.
ARTICLE III
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK
OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS
SECTION 3.1. Conversion of
Securities . At the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of Purchaser, the Company
or the holders of any of the following securities, the following
shall occur:
(a)
each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than any Shares to be canceled pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) and any Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into
the right to receive the Offer Price in cash without interest (the
“ Merger Consideration ”), payable to the holder
thereof upon surrender of such Shares in the manner provided in
Section 3.4, less any required withholding Taxes;
(b)
each Share held in the treasury of the Company and each Share owned
by Parent, Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Parent or the Company immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be canceled and retired without any conversion
thereof, and no payment or distribution shall be made with respect
thereto; and
8
(c)
each share of common stock of Purchaser issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one
share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 3.2. Treatment of
Equity Awards and ESPP . (a) Substantially
concurrently with the approval of this Agreement, the Compensation
Committee of the Company Board has taken all actions so that each
option to acquire Shares granted under any Company Stock Plan (an
“ Option ”), whether vested or unvested, that is
outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the purchase of
Shares pursuant to the Offer (the “ Purchase Time
”) shall, by virtue of the occurrence of the Purchase Time
and without any action on the part of Purchaser, the Company or the
holder thereof, be terminated and shall solely represent the right
to receive from the Company in exchange, at the Purchase Time or as
soon as practicable thereafter, an amount in cash equal to the
product of (i) the number of Shares subject to such Option and
(ii) the excess, if any, of the Offer Price, without interest,
over the exercise price per Share subject to such Option, less any
required withholding Taxes. For the avoidance of doubt,
pursuant to such action of the Compensation Committee of the
Company Board, if the exercise price per Share of an Option is
equal to or greater than the Offer Price, then by virtue of the
occurrence of the Purchase Time and without any action on the part
of Purchaser, the Company or the holder thereof, the Option will be
cancelled without payment of any consideration to the
holder.
(b)
Substantially concurrently with the approval of this Agreement, the
Compensation Committee of the Company Board or the Company Board
has taken any and all actions with respect to the Company’s
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”) as
are necessary to provide that: (i) all offering periods under
the ESPP will be suspended following the close of the offering
period that is in effect as of the date of this Agreement (it being
understood that such current offering period ends on December 31,
2006), such that no further offering periods will commence prior to
the Purchase Time, and (ii) the ESPP will terminate, effective
immediately as of the Purchase Time, except that all administrative
and other rights and authorities granted under the ESPP to the
Company, the Company Board or any committee or designee thereof
shall remain in effect and reside with the Company following the
Purchase Time.
(c)
The Company Stock Plan shall terminate as of the Purchase Time, and
any and all rights under any provisions in any other plan, program
or arrangement, including any Company Plan, providing for the
issuance or grant of any other interest in respect of the capital
stock of the Company (other than the ESPP, which is addressed in
Section 3.2(b) and the right to receive the payment contemplated by
Section 3.2(a)) shall be canceled as of the Purchase Time, except
that all administrative and other rights and authorities granted
under the Company Stock Plan to the Company, the Company Board or
any committee or designee thereof shall remain in effect and shall
reside with the Company following the Purchase Time.
(d)
The Company shall take any actions reasonably necessary to
effectuate the provisions of this Section 3.2; it being understood
that the intention of the parties is that immediately following the
Purchase Time no holder of an Option or any participant in any
Company Plan or other employee benefit arrangement of the Company
shall have any right thereunder to acquire any capital stock
(including any “phantom” stock or stock
appreciation
9
rights) of the Company, the
Surviving Corporation or any of their Subsidiaries pursuant to such
Company Plan or other arrangement. Any notice which the
Company shall deliver to the holders of Options or the participants
in any other Company Plan setting forth such holders’ rights
pursuant to this Agreement shall be reasonably acceptable to
Parent.
SECTION 3.3. Dissenting
Shares . (a) Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, Shares that are issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by
holders of Shares that have properly demanded and perfected their
rights to be paid the fair value of such Shares in accordance with
Section 262 of the DGCL (the “ Dissenting Shares
”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the
Merger Consideration, and the holders thereof shall be entitled to
only such rights as are granted by Section 262 of the DGCL;
provided, however, that if any such holder shall fail to perfect or
shall effectively waive, withdraw or lose such holder’s
rights under Section 262 of the DGCL, such holder’s Shares
shall not constitute Dissenting Shares and instead shall thereupon
be deemed to have been converted, at the Effective Time, into the
right to receive the Merger Consideration, as set forth in Section
3.1 of this Agreement, without any interest thereon.
(b)
The Company shall give Parent (i) notice of any appraisal
demands received by the Company, withdrawals thereof and any other
instruments served pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL and received
by the Company and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations
and proceedings with respect to the exercise of appraisal rights
under Section 262 of the DGCL. The Company shall not, except
with the prior written consent of Parent or as otherwise required
by applicable Law, make any payment with respect to any such
exercise of appraisal rights or offer to settle or settle any such
rights.
SECTION 3.4. Surrender of
Shares . (a) Prior to the Effective Time,
Parent shall deposit (or cause to be deposited) with a bank or
trust company designated by Parent and reasonably acceptable to the
Company (the “ Paying Agent ”) sufficient funds
to timely make, and shall cause the Paying Agent to timely make,
all payments pursuant to Section 3.4(b). Such funds may be
invested by the Paying Agent as directed by Purchaser or, after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation; provided, that such
investments shall be in short-term obligations of the United States
of America with maturities of no more than 30 days or guaranteed by
the United States of America and backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States of America or in commercial paper
obligations rated A-1 or P-1 or better by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Corporation,
respectively. Any interest or income produced by such
investments will be payable to the Surviving Corporation or Parent,
as Parent directs. Such funds so deposited with the Paying
Agent shall not be used for any other purpose.
(b)
Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
cause to be mailed 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 be in customary form and 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
Paying Agent) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender
of the Certificates for payment of the Merger Consideration
therefor. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a
Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions
thereto, and such other documents as may be
10
required pursuant to such
instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration for each
Share formerly represented by such Certificate, and such
Certificate shall then be canceled. No interest shall be paid
or accrued for the benefit of holders of the Certificates on the
Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Certificates.
If payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a Person
other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is
registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate
so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in
proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such
payment shall have paid any transfer and other Taxes required by
reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration to a Person other
than the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or shall
have established to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation
that such Tax either has been paid or is not applicable.
Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.4(b), each
Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the
applicable Merger Consideration as contemplated by this Article
III.
(c)
At any time following the date that is six months after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to
require the Paying Agent to deliver to it any funds (including any
interest received with respect thereto) which have been made
available to the Paying Agent and which have not been disbursed to
holders of Certificates and thereafter such holders shall be
entitled to look to the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned
property, escheat or other similar laws) only as general creditors
thereof with respect to the Merger Consideration payable upon due
surrender of their Certificates. The Surviving Corporation
shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Paying
Agent, in connection with the exchange of Shares for the Merger
Consideration.
(d)
After the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company
shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further
registration of transfers of Shares that were outstanding prior to
the Effective Time. After the Effective Time, Certificates
presented to the Surviving Corporation for transfer shall be
canceled and exchanged for the consideration provided for, and in
accordance with the procedures set forth in, this Article
III.
(e)
In the event that any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the holder’s compliance with the replacement
requirements established by the Paying Agent, including, if
necessary, the posting by the holder of a bond in customary amount
as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with
respect to the Certificate, the Paying Agent will deliver in
exchange for the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the
applicable Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Shares
represented by such Certificate pursuant to this Article
III.
SECTION 3.5. Withholding
Taxes . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Parent, the Surviving Corporation and the Paying Agent
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
otherwise payable to pursuant to the Offer, the Merger or otherwise
pursuant to this Agreement any amount as may be required to be
deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment
under applicable Tax Laws. To the extent that amounts are so
properly withheld by the Paying Agent, the Surviving Corporation or
Parent, as the case may be, and are paid to the appropriate
Governmental Entity in accordance with applicable Law, such
withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement
11
as having been paid to the holder of
the Shares or other Person in respect of which such deduction and
withholding was made by the Paying Agent, the Surviving Corporation
or Parent, as the case may be.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the
correspondingly numbered Section of the disclosure schedule
delivered by the Company to Parent and Purchaser prior to the
execution of this Agreement (the “ Company Disclosure
Schedule ”) (provided, however, that a matter disclosed
with respect to one representation or warranty shall also be deemed
to be disclosed with respect to each other representation or
warranty to which the matter disclosed reasonably relates, but only
to the extent such relationship is reasonably apparent on the face
of the disclosure contained in the Company Disclosure Schedule with
respect to such matter), the Company hereby represents and warrants
to Parent and Purchaser as follows (it being understood that
references in the representations and warranties contained in this
Article IV (excluding Sections 4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.2, 4.3, 4.7(a) and
4.7(b)) to the Company shall be deemed also to refer to PRAECIS
Europe Limited (the “ Company Subsidiary ”) and
any other Subsidiary of the Company) but only with respect to the
periods of time such entities were or are Subsidiaries of the
Company:
SECTION 4.1. Organization
and Qualification; No Subsidiaries . (a) The Company is a
duly organized and validly existing corporation in good standing
(where applicable) under the Laws of the State of Delaware, with
all corporate or other entity power and authority to own its
properties and conduct its business as currently conducted and is
duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation
authorized to do business in each of the jurisdictions in which the
character of the properties owned or held under lease by it or the
nature of the business transacted by it makes such qualification
necessary, except as would not constitute, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. “ Material
Adverse Effect ” means any change, effect, event or
occurrence that has, or would reasonably be expected to have, a
material adverse effect on (i) the business, financial condition,
or results of operations of the Company or (ii) the ability of the
Company, on or before the Outside Date, to perform its obligations
under this Agreement that are required to be performed on or before
the Outside Date or to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement to be consummated on or before the Outside Date;
provided , however , that, in the case of clause (i)
only, none of the following shall be deemed to be, and shall not be
taken into account in determining whether there has been, a
Material Adverse Effect: (A) the fact, in and of itself, of
diminishment in the Company’s cash balance or financial
investments to the extent resulting from operations not in breach
of the Company’s covenants and agreements hereunder or (B)
any change, effect, event or occurrence to the extent resulting
from (1) general changes after the date hereof in capital
markets, general economic conditions or the industries in which the
Company operates, or any outbreak or escalation after the date
hereof of hostilities or war, (2) the announcement, pendency or
performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby, (3) changes after the date hereof in any laws or
regulations or applicable accounting regulations or principles or
the interpretations thereof, (4) the incurrence or payment of fees
and expenses (including the fees and expenses of the
Company’s Financial Advisor, counsel and accountants) in
connection with (x) this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby or
12
(y) the Company’s efforts
to dispose of Plenaxis®, (5) actions taken by the Company at,
and in accordance with, the written direction or request of Parent,
or (6) provided that the Company complies in all
material respects with Section 6.14, the failure of the
Company to dispose of its Plenaxis® related assets, unless, in
the case of clause (1) or (3), such change, effect, event or
occurrence has a materially disproportionate effect on the Company
compared with other companies operating in the industries in which
the Company operates.
(b)
The Company does not own directly or indirectly, beneficially or of
record, any equity interest in any Person other than the Company
Subsidiary. During the period from January 1, 2006, through
the date hereof, the only Subsidiaries of the Company were the
Company Subsidiary and 830 Winter Street LLC, which was dissolved
on August 30, 2006. The Company Subsidiary has conducted
no business and has no liabilities except for those incidental to
(i) applying for, receiving and holding the certificate of
registration with respect to Plenaxis® received by the company
Subsidiary from Bundesinstitut Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte on
September 27, 2005 to market Plenaxis® in Germany, (ii) as a
party to the Contracts listed on Section 4.1(b) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, complete and correct copies of which have been
made available to Parent prior to the date hereof, and
(iii) as an obligor on intercompany indebtedness payable by
the Company Subsidiary to the Company.
(c)
The Compensation Committee of the Company Board is (and at all
times since January 1, 2006 was, and at all times from the date of
this Agreement to the first date on which the Purchaser’s
designees constitute a majority of the Company Board pursuant to
Section 1.4 will be) composed solely of Independent
Directors.
SECTION 4.2. Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws . The Company has heretofore
made available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company as currently
in effect, including all amendments thereto (respectively, the
“ Certificate of Incorporation ” and “
Bylaws ”). The Certificate of Incorporation and
the Bylaws are in full force and effect and no other organizational
documents are applicable to or binding upon the Company. The
Company is not in violation of any provisions of its Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws.
SECTION 4.3.
Capitalization . (a) The authorized capital
stock of the Company consists of (i) 200,000,000 Shares, and
(ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), of which
1,600,000 of such shares of Preferred Stock are designated as
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and have been
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Rights distributed
to the holders of Common Stock pursuant to the Rights
Agreement.
(b)
As of the close of business on December 19, 2006 (the “
Capitalization Date ”): (i) 10,708,417 Shares
were issued and outstanding, all of which were validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and were issued free of preemptive
rights; (ii) an aggregate of 2,576,483 Shares were reserved
for issuance upon or otherwise deliverable in connection with the
grant of equity-based awards or the exercise of outstanding Options
issued pursuant to the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated
1995 Stock Plan or any predecessor plan thereto (collectively, the
“ Company Stock Plan ”); (iii) 77,355
Shares were reserved for issuance upon or otherwise deliverable
pursuant to the terms of the ESPP; (iv) no shares of Preferred
Stock were
13
outstanding; and (v) 40,872
Shares and no shares of Preferred Stock were held in the treasury
of the Company. From the close of business on the
Capitalization Date until the date of this Agreement, no options or
other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock
have been granted and no shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock
have been issued or sold from treasury, except for Shares issued
pursuant to the exercise of Options in accordance with their terms
or rights or Shares issued pursuant to the terms of the ESPP (and
the issuance of Rights attached to such Shares). Section
4.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the
Capitalization Date, each Option or other equity-based award
outstanding under any Company Plan (other than the ESPP), the
number of Shares issuable thereunder and the expiration date and
exercise or conversion price relating thereto. Section 4.3(b)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the
Capitalization Date, the number of Shares that will be issuable
under the ESPP in the offering period that ends on December 31,
2006 (“ ESPP Offering Period ”), assuming that
the trading price of the Shares at the end of the ESPP Offering
Period will be greater than or equal to the trading price at the
beginning of the ESPP Offering Period and that no participant in
the ESPP exercises his or her right to withdraw from the ESPP
pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) of the ESPP, such number of Shares
being subject to increase if the trading price of the Shares is
lower at the end of the ESPP Offering Period than the trading price
at the beginning of the ESPP Offering Period.
(c)
Except as set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 4.3
(including Shares described therein as reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of Options or under the ESPP) and for the
Company’s obligations under this Agreement, (i) there are not
outstanding or authorized any (A) shares of capital stock or other
voting securities of the Company, (B) securities of the Company
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or
voting securities of the Company, or (C) options or other rights to
acquire from the Company, or any 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 (collectively, “ Company
Securities ”); (ii) there are no outstanding obligations
of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
Company Securities; and (iii) there are no other options, calls,
warrants or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments
of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock
of the Company to which the Company is a party.
SECTION 4.4. Authority
. (a) The Company has all necessary corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its
obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other
corporate proceeding on the part of the Company is necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions so
contemplated (other than adoption of the “agreement of
merger” (as such term is used in Section 251 of the DGCL)
contained in this Agreement by the holders of at least a majority
in combined voting power of the outstanding Shares (the “
Company Requisite Vote ”), and the filing with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of
Merger as required by the DGCL). This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the
due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Parent and
Purchaser, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization,
14
moratorium and other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, general
equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law) and any implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing.
(b)
The making of any offer and proposal and the taking of any other
action by Parent or Purchaser in accordance with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby have been consented to by the
Company Board under provisions of the confidentiality agreement,
dated November 10, 2006, between Parent and the Company (the
“ Confidentiality Agreement ”). The
Company Board (at a meeting or meetings duly called and held) has
unanimously: (i) determined that this Agreement, the Offer and
the Merger are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of,
the Company and its stockholders; (ii) adopted and approved
this Agreement and the “agreement of merger” (as such
term is used in Section 251 of the DGCL) contained in this
Agreement; (iii) directed that the “agreement of
merger” (as such term is used in Section 251 of the DGCL)
contained in this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the
Company for adoption (unless the Merger is consummated in
accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL as contemplated by
Section 2.7); and (iv) resolved to recommend acceptance
of the Offer and adoption of the “agreement of merger”
(as such term is used in Section 251 of the DGCL) contained in this
Agreement by the stockholders of the Company (the “
Company Board Recommendation ”), which actions and
resolutions have not, as of the date hereof, been subsequently
rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way.
SECTION 4.5. No Conflict;
Required Filings and Consents . (a) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, the consummation of the Offer, and the consummation by the
Company of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by Article
III, do not and will not, (i) conflict with or violate the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company,
(ii) assuming that all consents, approvals and authorizations
contemplated by clauses (i) through (v) of subsection (b) below
have been obtained, and all filings described in such clauses have
been made, conflict with or violate any federal, state, local or
foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment,
decree or legal requirement (“ Law ”) or any
Nasdaq rule or regulation applicable to the Company or by which any
of its properties are bound or (iii) (A) result in any
breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an event which
with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default), or
(B) result in the loss of a benefit under, or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of,
or (C) result in the creation of any Lien on any of the
properties or assets of the Company under any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit or other
instrument or obligation (each, a “ Contract ”)
to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of
its properties are bound, except, in the case of clauses
(ii) and (iii), for any such conflict, violation, breach,
default, loss, right or other occurrence which would not
constitute, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect.
(b)
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby, do not and will not require any consent,
approval, authorization or permit of, action by, filing with or
notification to, any federal, state, local or foreign governmental
or regulatory (including stock exchange) authority, agency, court,
commission, or other governmental body (each, a “
Governmental Entity ”), except for (i) applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (including the filing of the Proxy
Statement), and state
15
securities, takeover and “blue
sky” laws, (ii) the applicable requirements of the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended
(the “ HSR Act ”), (iii) the applicable
requirements of Nasdaq, (iv) the filing with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Merger as
required by the DGCL, (v) the applicable requirements of
antitrust or other competition laws of jurisdictions other than the
United States or investment laws relating to foreign ownership
(“ Foreign Antitrust Laws ”), and (vi) any such
consent, approval, authorization, permit, action, filing or
notification the failure of which to make or obtain would not
constitute, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.6. Compliance
. (a) The Company is, and since January 1, 2002 the
Company has been, in compliance in all material respects with all
Laws applicable to the Company or by which any of its properties
are bound, including Laws enforced by the United States Food and
Drug Administration (“ FDA ”) and comparable
foreign Governmental Entities, except as would not constitute,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect.
(b)
The Company has all material registrations, applications, licenses,
requests for exemptions, permits and other regulatory
authorizations (“ Permits ”) from Governmental
Entities required to conduct their respective businesses. The
Company is in compliance in all material respects with all such
Permits. Except as would not constitute, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, any third party that is
or since November 1, 1996 was a manufacturer or contractor for the
Company has been since November 1, 1996, and is, in compliance in
all material respects with all Permits from the FDA and comparable
foreign Governmental Entities insofar as the same are required for
or pertain to the manufacture or handling of product components or
products for the Company.
(c)
The Company is not and has not been (and, except as would not
constitute, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect, no employee of the Company is or has been) debarred from
participation in any program related to pharmaceutical products
pursuant to 21 U.S.C. Section 335a (a) or (b).
(d)
Each product of the Company is, and since November 1, 1996 has
been, developed, tested, manufactured and stored by or on behalf of
the Company (and the business of the Company is, and since January
1, 2002 has been, otherwise conducted) in compliance in all
material respects with the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act, as amended, and applicable regulations promulgated thereunder,
and all applicable similar Laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction,
including those requirements relating to good manufacturing
practice, good laboratory practice (except for preclinical studies
designed and conducted as non-GLP studies) and good clinical
practice.
SECTION 4.7. SEC Filings;
Financial Statements . (a) The Company has filed
all forms, reports, statements, certifications and other documents
(including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto)
required to be filed by it with the SEC since January 1, 2004
(such documents filed since January 1, 2004, the “
SEC Reports ”). As of their respective dates,
each of the SEC Reports complied as to form in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, each as
in effect on the date so filed. Except to the extent amended
or superseded by a subsequent filing with the SEC made
16
prior to the date hereof, as of
their respective dates (and if so amended or superseded, then on
the date of such subsequent filing), none of the SEC Reports
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated or incorporated by
reference therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(b)
The audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements
(including the related notes thereto) of the Company included (or
incorporated by reference) in the Company SEC Reports, as amended
or supplemented prior to the date of this Agreement (the “
Financial Statements ”), have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP in all material respects applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present in all material
respects in conformity with GAAP the consolidated financial
position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries at the
respective dates thereof and the consolidated statements of
operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity
for the periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of
unaudited financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end
audit adjustments which are not, individually or in the aggregate,
material in amount or significance, in each case as permitted by
GAAP and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the
SEC).
(c)
The records, systems, controls, data and information of the Company
are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means
(including any electronic, mechanical or photographic process,
whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership
and direct control of the Company or its accountants (including all
means of access thereto and therefrom), except for any nonexclusive
ownership and nondirect control that has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
material adverse effect on the system of internal accounting
controls described below in this Section 4.7(c). The Company
(i) has implemented and maintains a system of internal control over
financial reporting (as required by Rule 13a-15(a) under the
Exchange Act) that is designed to provide reasonable assurances
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of its financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with GAAP, and, (ii) to the knowledge of the Company,
such system of internal control over financial reporting is
effective. For purposes of this Section 4.7(c),
“knowledge of the Company” means the actual knowledge
of the Chief Executive Officer; the Chief Financial Officer; the
Vice President, Legal and Secretary of the Company; and the Senior
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Project Management of the
Company, and shall not have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
9.3(f). The Company has implemented and maintains
disclosure controls and procedures (as required by Rule 13a-15(a)
of the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or
submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time frames specified by the SEC’s
rules and forms (and such disclosure controls and procedures are
effective), and (ii) has disclosed, based on its most recent
evaluation of its system of internal control over financial
reporting prior to the date of this Agreement, to the
Company’s outside auditors and the audit committee of the
Company’s Board of Directors (A) any significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses known to it in the design or
operation of its internal control over financial reporting (as
defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that would
reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Company’s
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information and (B) any fraud known to it, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the
Company’s internal
17
controls over financial
reporting. A true, correct and complete summary of any such
disclosures made by management to the Company’s auditors and
the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors has
been provided to Parent and, if prior to the date hereof, is set
forth as Section 4.7(c) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule.
(d)
Since December 31, 2001, (i) neither the Company nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, auditor,
accountant or representative of the Company has received or
otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint,
allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding
the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or
methods of the Company or their respective internal accounting
controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion
or claim that the Company has engaged in questionable accounting or
auditing practices, and (ii) no attorney representing the Company,
whether or not employed by the Company, has reported evidence of a
material violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or
similar violation by the Company or any of its officers, directors,
employees or agents to the Company Board or any committee thereof
or to any director or officer of the Company.
(e)
To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, no employee
of the Company has provided or is providing information to any law
enforcement agency regarding the commission or possible commission
of any crime or the violation or possible violation of any
applicable Law of the type described in Section 806 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act by the Company. Neither the Company nor,
to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee,
contractor, subcontractor or agent of the Company has discharged,
demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner
discriminated against an employee of the Company in the terms and
conditions of employment because of any lawful act of such employee
described in Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(f)
The Company has no liabilities of any nature, whether accrued,
absolute, fixed, contingent or otherwise, known or unknown, whether
due or to become due and whether or not required to be recorded or
reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP, that would constitute,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, other
than liabilities (i) as and to the extent reflected or reserved
against on the September 30 Balance Sheet or in the notes thereto,
(ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice since the September 30, 2006, or (iii) arising
from contractual obligations to be performed after the date hereof
under Contracts set forth in Section 4.18 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule or other Contracts not required to be listed therein (but
excluding any obligations or liabilities that arise in connection
with any Contract as a result of any breach or default at or prior
to the Purchase Time under such Contract, except for breaches or
defaults to the extent disclosed on Section 4.18(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule). The “ September 30 Balance
Sheet ” means the consolidated balance sheet of the
Company dated as of September 30, 2006 included in the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine-month
period ended September 30, 2006 filed with the SEC prior to the
date hereof.
SECTION 4.8. Absence of
Certain Changes or Events .
(a)
Since December 31, 2005 through the date of this Agreement, the
Company has conducted its business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice, and the
18
Company has not taken any action
since September 30, 2006 through the date hereof that, if taken
after the date of this Agreement without the prior written consent
of Parent, would constitute a breach of Section 6.1.
(b)
Since December 31, 2005 through the date of this Agreement, the
Company has not suffered any Material Adverse Effect, and there has
not been (and, as of the date hereof, there is not) any change,
condition, event or development that would constitute, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(c)
Since January 1, 2006 through the date of this Agreement, the
Company has not done any of the following except as has been
approved, as an employment compensation, severance or other
employee benefit arrangement, by the Compensation Committee of the
Company Board (and, to the extent any of the following was so
approved after the date of the first discussion of a possible
tender offer by the Company with Parent, the Compensation Committee
of the Company Board was, at the time of each such approval, aware
of the status of such potential tender offer): (i) any granting by
the Company to any of its present or former directors, officers or
employees of any increase in compensation or benefits in any form;
(ii) any granting to any present or former director, officer or
employee of the right to receive any severance or termination
compensation or benefit; or (iii) any entry by the Company into any
employment, consulting, indemnification, termination, change of
control, non-competition or severance agreement or arrangement with
any present or former director, officer or employee of the Company,
or any amendment to or adoption of any Company Plan (the matters
described in foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively,
“ Compensation Actions ”).
SECTION 4.9. Absence of
Litigation . There is no claim, action, suit, proceeding,
arbitration, mediation or investigation by or before any
Governmental Entity (each, a “ Proceeding ”)
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
relating to the Company or any properties or assets of the Company,
other than any such Proceeding that (i) does not involve an
amount in controversy in excess of $50,000, (ii) does not seek
material injunctive or other non-monetary relief, and (iii) that
would not constitute, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its properties
or assets, is subject to any outstanding order, writ, injunction or
decree. To the knowledge of the Company, no officer or
director of the Company is a defendant in any Proceeding in
connection with his or her status as an officer or director of the
Company, and since January 1, 2004 no such Proceeding has been
threatened. As of the date hereof, Section 4.9 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth an accurate and complete list of
each Proceeding resolved or settled since January 1, 2004 and
requiring payment by the Company in excess of $50,000 or involving
the imposition on the Company of material injunctive or other
non-monetary relief.
SECTION 4.10. Employee
Benefit Plans . (a) Section 4.10(a) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of each
material “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”)) and each other
employment, bonus, vacation, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock or
other equity-based, incentive, deferred compensation, profit
sharing, savings, retirement, retiree medical or life insurance,
supplemental retirement, severance, fringe benefit, retention,
change of control or other benefit plans, programs, agreements,
contracts, policies or arrangements contributed to, sponsored or
maintained by the Company as of the date
19
hereof for the benefit of any
current, former or retired employee, officer, consultant,
independent contractor or director of the Company (collectively,
the “ Company Employees ”) or to which the
Company is a party or with respect to which the Company has or
would reasonably be expected to have any liability (such plans,
programs, policies, agreements and arrangements, including the
Company Stock Plan and the ESPP, collectively, “ Company
Plans ”).
(b)
With respect to each Company Plan, the Company has made available
to Parent a current, accurate and complete copy thereof (or, if a
plan is not written, a written description thereof) and, to the
extent applicable, (i) any related trust agreement or other
funding instrument, (ii) the most recent determination letter
received from the Internal Revenue Service (the “ IRS
”) for each Company Plan that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “ Code ”), (iii) the most
recent summary plan description and any summaries of any material
modification of such Company Plan, (iv) all prospectuses prepared
in connection with any such Plan, (v) any material participant
communications made since January 1, 2006, and (vi) for the
most recent year (A) the Form 5500 and attached schedules,
(B) audited financial statements, and (C) actuarial
valuation reports, if any.
(c)
Each Company Plan has been established and administered in all
material respects in accordance with its terms and in compliance
with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and other
applicable laws, rules and regulations. No “prohibited
transaction,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code
or Sections 406 or 407 of ERISA, and not otherwise exempt under
Section 408 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any Company
Plan. All material contributions, premiums and other payments
required to be made with respect to each Company Plan have been
made on or before their due dates under applicable Law and the
terms of such Company Plan.
(d)
Neither the Company nor any other person or entity that, together
with the Company, is or was treated as a single employer under
Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (each, together
with the Company, an
“ ERISA Affiliate
”), is now contributing to or has any liability to, or
has at any time within the past six years (and in the case of any
such other person or entity, only during the period within the past
six years that such other person or entity was an ERISA Affiliate)
contributed to or had any liability to (i) a pension plan
(within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to
Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA; (ii) a
multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) or
4001(a)(3) of ERISA) ; or (iii) a single employer
pension plan (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of
ERISA) for which an ERISA Affiliate would reasonably be expected to
incur liability under Section 4063 or 4064 of
ERISA.
(e)
No Proceedings (other than routine claims for benefits in the
ordinary course) are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened with respect to any Company Plan.
(f)
Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any
liability under Title IV of ERISA that has not been satisfied in
full and, to the knowledge of the Company, no condition exists that
presents a risk to the Company of incurring any such liability
other than liability for premiums due the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
20
(g)
No Company Plan provides post-termination welfare benefits, and the
Company does not have any obligation to provide any
post-termination welfare benefits, in each case, other than health
care continuation as required by Section 4980B of the Code or
similar Law of any state or foreign jurisdiction.
(h)
Each Company Plan which is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter
from the Internal Revenue Service and, to the knowledge of the
Company, no circumstances exist which would materially and
adversely affect such favorable determination.
(i)
Neither the execution by the Company of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (either
alone or upon occurrence of any additional or subsequent events)
(i) constitute an event under any Company Plan or any trust or loan
related to any of those plans or agreements that will or may result
in any payment, acceleration, forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting,
distribution, increase in benefits or obligation to fund benefits
with respect to any Company Employee, (ii) result in the triggering
or imposition of any restrictions or limitations on the right of
the Company to amend or terminate any Company Plan or (iii) result
in the failure of any amount to be deductible by reason of Section
280G of the Code.
(j)
All Options and other equity-based awards under Company Plans
(i) have been granted in compliance with the terms of the
applicable Company Plans, with applicable Laws, and with the
applicable provisions of the Company’s certificate of
incorporation and bylaws as in e