Exhibit 10.1
[EXECUTION COPY]
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
by and among
GREATBANC TRUST COMPANY,
solely as trustee of the
TRIBUNE EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP TRUST
which forms a part of the
TRIBUNE EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN,
TESOP CORPORATION,
TRIBUNE COMPANY
and
EGI-TRB, L.L.C.
(solely for the limited purposes of Section 8.12 hereof)
Dated as of April 1, 2007
Table of
Contents
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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THE MERGER
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2
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Section 1.1
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The Merger
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2
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Section 1.2
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Closing
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2
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Section 1.3
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Effective Time
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2
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Section 1.4
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Effects of the Merger
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2
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Section 1.5
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Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws of the Surviving Corporation
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3
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Section 1.6
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Directors
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3
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Section 1.7
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Officers
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3
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ARTICLE II
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CONVERSION OF SHARES; EXCHANGE OF
CERTIFICATES
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3
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Section 2.1
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Effect on Capital Stock
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3
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Section 2.2
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Exchange of Certificates
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5
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ARTICLE III
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
COMPANY
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7
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Section 3.1
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Qualification, Organization,
Subsidiaries, etc.
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7
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Section 3.2
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Capital Stock
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9
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Section 3.3
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Corporate Authority Relative to This
Agreement; No Violation
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11
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Section 3.4
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Reports and Financial
Statements
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13
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Section 3.5
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Internal Controls and
Procedures
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14
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Section 3.6
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No Undisclosed
Liabilities
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14
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Section 3.7
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Compliance with Law;
Permits
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14
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Section 3.8
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Environmental Laws and
Regulations
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16
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Section 3.9
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Employee Benefit Plans
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17
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Section 3.10
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Absence of Certain Changes or
Events
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19
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Section 3.11
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Investigations;
Litigation
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19
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Section 3.12
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Proxy Statement; Other
Information
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19
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Section 3.13
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Rights Plan
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20
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Section 3.14
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Tax Matters
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20
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Section 3.15
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Labor Matters
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21
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Section 3.16
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Intellectual Property
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21
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Section 3.17
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Real Property
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22
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Section 3.18
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Opinion of Financial
Advisor
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22
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Section 3.19
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Required Vote of the Company
Shareholders
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22
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Section 3.20
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Material Contracts
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23
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Section 3.21
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Finders or Brokers
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23
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Section 3.22
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Insurance
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23
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Section 3.23
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Affiliate Transactions
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23
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Section 3.24
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Indebtedness
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24
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Section 3.25
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Cable and Satellite
Matters
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24
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ESOP AND
MERGER SUB
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24
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Section 4.1
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Qualification, Organization;
Subsidiaries, etc.
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24
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ii
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Section 4.2
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Authority Relative to This
Agreement; No Violation
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24
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Section 4.3
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Investigations;
Litigation
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25
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Section 4.4
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Proxy Statement; Other
Information
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26
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Section 4.5
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Capitalization of Merger
Sub
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26
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Section 4.6
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Lack of Ownership of Company Common
Stock
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26
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Section 4.7
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Finders or Brokers
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26
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Section 4.8
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No Additional
Representations
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26
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ARTICLE V
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COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
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27
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Section 5.1
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Conduct of Business by the
Company
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27
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Section 5.2
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Investigation
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31
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Section 5.3
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No Solicitation
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32
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Section 5.4
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Proxy Statement; Company
Meeting
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35
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Section 5.5
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Stock Options and Other Stock-Based
Awards; Employee Matters
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36
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Section 5.6
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Reasonable Best Efforts
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39
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Section 5.7
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Takeover Statute
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42
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Section 5.8
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Public Announcements
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42
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Section 5.9
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Indemnification and
Insurance
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42
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Section 5.10
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Control of Operations
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44
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Section 5.11
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Financing
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44
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Section 5.12
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Specified Divestitures
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45
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Section 5.13
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FCC Matters
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45
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Section 5.14
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Company Offer
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46
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Section 5.15
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Eagles Exchange
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46
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ARTICLE VI
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CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
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47
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Section 6.1
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Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligation to Effect the Merger
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47
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Section 6.2
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Conditions to Obligation of the
Company to Effect the Merger
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47
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Section 6.3
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Conditions to Obligations of the
ESOP and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger
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48
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Section 6.4
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Frustration of Closing
Conditions
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49
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ARTICLE VII
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TERMINATION
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49
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Section 7.1
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Termination or
Abandonment
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49
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ARTICLE VIII
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MISCELLANEOUS
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51
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Section 8.1
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No Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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51
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Section 8.2
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Expenses
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51
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Section 8.3
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Counterparts;
Effectiveness
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51
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Section 8.4
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Governing Law
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51
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Section 8.5
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Jurisdiction; Enforcement
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51
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Section 8.6
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WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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52
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Section 8.7
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Notices
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52
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Section 8.8
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Assignment; Binding
Effect
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54
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Section 8.9
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Severability
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54
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Section 8.10
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Entire Agreement; Third-Party
Beneficiaries
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54
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Section 8.11
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Amendments; Waivers
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54
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Section 8.12
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Tribune Acquisition
Rights
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55
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iii
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Section 8.13
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Headings
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55
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Section 8.14
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Interpretation
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55
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Section 8.15
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No Recourse
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55
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Section 8.16
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Definitions
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56
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A – Certificate of
Incorporation
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Exhibit B – By-Laws
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Exhibit C – Exchange Agreement
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iv
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated
as of April 1, 2007 (the “ Agreement ”),
among GreatBanc Trust Company, not in its individual or corporate
capacity, but solely as trustee (the “ ESOP Fiduciary
”) of the Tribune Employee Stock Ownership Trust, which forms
a part of the Tribune Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “
ESOP ”), Tesop Corporation, a Delaware corporation all
of the common stock of which is owned by the ESOP (“
Merger Sub ”), Tribune Company, a Delaware corporation
(the “ Company ”), and EGI-TRB, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company (“ Tribune
Acquisition ”) (solely for the limited purposes of
Section 8.12 hereof).
W I T N E S
S E T H :
WHEREAS, the parties intend that
Merger Sub be merged with and into the Company (the “
Merger ”), with the Company surviving the
Merger.
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, the
Company, Tribune Acquisition and Samuel Zell have entered into a
Securities Purchase Agreement (the “ Tribune Purchase
Agreement ”) pursuant to which Tribune Acquisition has,
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Tribune
Purchase Agreement, agreed to purchase (a) 1,470,588 shares of
Company Common Stock (as defined below) and an unsecured
$200,000,000 subordinated exchangeable note (the “
Subordinated Exchangeable Note ”) prior to
consummation of the Merger and (b) an unsecured $225,000,000
subordinated promissory note (the “ Subordinated Note
”) and a warrant (the “ Warrant ”) to
purchase 43,478,261 shares of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation (as defined below) immediately following consummation
of the Merger.
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, the
ESOP Fiduciary, on behalf of the ESOP, and the Company have entered
into an Equity Purchase Agreement (the “ ESOP Purchase
Agreement ”) pursuant to which the ESOP has, on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in the ESOP Purchase
Agreement, agreed to purchase 8,928,571 shares of Company Common
Stock prior to consummation of the Merger.
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, the
Company has entered into a Voting Agreement with Chandler Trust No.
1 and Chandler Trust No. 2, pursuant to which Chandler Trust No. 1
and Chandler Trust No. 2 have agreed, among other things, to vote
in favor of this Agreement and the Merger.
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, the
Company, Tribune Acquisition and the ESOP Fiduciary, on behalf of
the ESOP, have entered into an Investor Rights Agreement (the
“ Investor Rights Agreement ”) pursuant to which
the parties thereto will have certain rights and obligations as the
Surviving Corporation and the stockholders of the Surviving
Corporation, as applicable.
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
the Company, acting upon the recommendation of a special committee
of independent directors of the Company (the “ Special
Committee ”), has (a) determined that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, and declared it
advisable, to enter into this Agreement, (b) approved the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions
1
contemplated hereby, including the
Merger, and (c) resolved to recommend to its shareholders approval
and adoption of this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the ESOP Fiduciary, on
behalf of the ESOP, and the board of directors of Merger Sub have
approved this Agreement and declared it advisable for the ESOP and
Merger Sub, respectively, to enter into this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the ESOP, Merger Sub and
the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements specified herein in connection with this
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the ESOP, Merger Sub and the Company agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section
1.1
The Merger . On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “
DGCL ”), at the Effective Time (as hereinafter
defined), Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, the
separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and the
Company will continue its corporate existence under Delaware law as
the surviving corporation in the Merger (the “ Surviving
Corporation ”).
Section
1.2
Closing . The closing of the Merger (the “
Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, 51 West 52 nd Street, New York, New
York at 10:00 a.m., local time, on a date to be specified by the
parties (the “ Closing Date ”) which shall be no
later than the third business day after the satisfaction or waiver
(to the extent permitted by applicable Law (as hereinafter
defined)) of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than
those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such
conditions), or at such other place, date and time as the Company
and the ESOP may agree in writing.
Section
1.3
Effective Time . Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, at the Closing, the Company will cause a certificate of
merger in a form reasonably satisfactory to the ESOP and Tribune
Acquisition (the “ Certificate of Merger ”) to
be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 251 of the
DGCL. The Merger will become effective at such time as the
Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware or at such later date or time as may
be agreed by the Company and Merger Sub in writing and specified in
the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL (the
effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the
“ Effective Time ”).
Section
1.4
Effects of the Merger . The Merger shall have the
effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions
of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time,
all property, rights,
2
privileges,
immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the
Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and
all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of
each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts,
liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving
Corporation. At and after the Effective Time, the officers
and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to
execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company, its
Subsidiaries or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments
or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the
Company, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub, any other actions and
things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the
Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to
and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company,
its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub.
Section
1.5
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving
Corporation . Subject to Section 5.9, at the Effective
Time, (a) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation shall be amended to read in its entirety as the
Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub read immediately prior
to the Effective Time, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A , except that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be
Tribune Company and the provision in the Certificate of
Incorporation of Merger Sub naming its incorporator shall be
omitted, and (b) the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be
amended so as to read in their entirety as the bylaws of Merger Sub
as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B , with such changes as may be
necessary to comply with any applicable Law or the rules and
regulations of any national securities exchange, in each case,
until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law, except
the references to Merger Sub’s name shall be replaced by
references to Tribune Company.
Section
1.6
Directors . Subject to applicable Law, the directors
of Merger Sub as of the Effective Time shall be the initial
directors of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office until
their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or
their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section
1.7
Officers . The officers of the Company as of the
Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving
Corporation and shall hold office until their respective successors
are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation
or removal.
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SHARES; EXCHANGE OF
CERTIFICATES
Section
2.1
Effect on Capital Stock . At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
Company, Merger Sub or the holders of any securities of the Company
or Merger Sub:
(a)
Conversion of Company Common Stock . Each share of
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (such shares, collectively,
“ Company Common Stock ,” and each, a “
Share ”), other than (i) Shares to be cancelled
pursuant to Section 2.1(b) and (ii) Dissenting Shares (as
hereinafter defined), shall be converted automatically into and
shall thereafter represent the right to receive
3
Thirty-four
Dollars ($34.00) in cash plus the Additional Per Share
Consideration (the “ Merger Consideration
”). The “ Additional Per Share
Consideration ” shall mean an amount per share, if any,
rounded to the nearest whole cent, equal to (1) Thirty-four Dollars
($34) multiplied by (2) eight percent (8%)
multiplied by (3) the Annualized Portion (as hereinafter
defined). The “ Annualized Portion ” shall
mean the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the number of days
actually elapsed from and excluding January 1, 2008 to and
including the Closing Date by (y) 365. All Shares that
have been converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration as provided in this Section 2.1 shall be
automatically cancelled and shall cease to exist, and the holders
of certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented such Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect
to such Shares other than the right to receive the Merger
Consideration.
(b)
ESOP and Merger Sub-Owned Shares . Each Share that is
owned, directly or indirectly, by the ESOP or Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time or held by the Company
immediately prior to the Effective Time (in each case, other than
any such Shares held on behalf of third parties) (the “
Cancelled Shares ”) shall be cancelled and retired and
shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in
exchange for such cancellation and retirement.
(c)
Treatment of Company Preferred Stock . Each share of
Series E Preferred Stock of the Company that is owned immediately
prior to the Effective Time by an Eagle Entity, which shares
constitute all the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock,
shall remain outstanding following the Merger in accordance with
their terms.
(d)
Conversion of Merger Sub Common Stock . All the shares
of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and become, in the aggregate, 56,521,739 validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation with the same
rights, powers and privileges as the shares so converted and,
together with the shares of Series E Preferred Stock referred to
above in Section 2.1(c), shall constitute the only outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation. From
and after the Effective Time, all certificates representing the
common stock of Merger Sub shall be deemed for all purposes to
represent the number of shares of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation into which they were converted in accordance with the
immediately preceding sentence.
(e)
Dissenters’ Rights . Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if required by the
DGCL (but only to the extent required thereby), Shares that are
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than Cancelled Shares) and that are held by holders of such
Shares who have not voted in favor of the adoption of this
Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who have properly
exercised appraisal rights with respect thereto in accordance with,
and who have complied with, Section 262 of the DGCL (the
“ Dissenting Shares ”) will not be converted
into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, and holders of
such Dissenting Shares will be entitled to receive payment of the
fair value of such Dissenting Shares in accordance with the
provisions of such Section 262 unless and until any such holder
fails to perfect or effectively waives, withdraws or loses its
rights to appraisal and payment under the DGCL. If, after the
Effective Time, any such holder fails to perfect or effectively
waives, withdraws or loses such right, such Shares shall not be
deemed Dissenting Shares and will thereupon be treated as if they
had been converted into and have become
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exchangeable for,
at the Effective Time, the right to receive the Merger
Consideration, without any interest thereon, and the Surviving
Corporation shall remain liable for payment of the Merger
Consideration for such Shares. At the Effective Time, any
holder of Dissenting Shares shall cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except the rights provided in Section 262 of the
DGCL and as provided in the previous sentence. Any portion of
the Merger Consideration made available to the Paying Agent
pursuant to Section 2.2 to pay for Dissenting Shares for which
appraisal rights have been perfected shall be paid to the Surviving
Corporation upon demand. The Company will give the ESOP (i)
prompt notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisals
of Shares, withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments
served pursuant to the DGCL and received by the Company that relate
to any such demand for dissenters’ rights and (ii) the
opportunity to participate in and direct all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to such notices and demands. The
Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of the
ESOP, make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal or
settle or offer to settle any such demands.
(f)
Adjustments . If at any time during the period between
the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company shall occur
as a result of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split
(including a reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or
readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend or stock distribution
is declared with a record date during such period, the Merger
Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to reflect such
change.
Section
2.2
Exchange of Certificates .
(a)
Paying Agent . At or prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with a U.S.
bank or trust company to act as a paying agent hereunder pursuant
to an agreement customary in form and substance (the “
Paying Agent ”), in trust for the benefit of holders
of the Shares, the Company Stock Options (as hereinafter defined)
and the Company Stock-Based Awards (as hereinafter defined), cash
in U.S. dollars sufficient to pay (i) the aggregate Merger
Consideration in exchange for all of the Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than the Cancelled
Shares), payable upon due surrender of the certificates that
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Shares (“
Certificates ”) (or effective affidavits of loss in
lieu thereof) or non-certificated Shares represented by book-entry
(“ Book-Entry Shares ”) pursuant to the
provisions of this Article II and (ii) the Option and Stock-Based
Consideration (as hereinafter defined) payable pursuant to Section
5.5 (such cash referred to in subsections (a)(i) and (a)(ii) being
hereinafter referred to as the “ Exchange Fund
”).
(b)
Payment Procedures .
(i)
As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time and in
any event not later than the second business day following the
Effective Time, the Paying Agent shall mail (x) to each holder of
record of Shares whose Shares were converted into the Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1, (A) a letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected,
and risk of loss and title to Certificates shall pass, only upon
delivery of Certificates (or effective affidavits of loss in lieu
thereof) or Book-Entry Shares to the Paying Agent and shall be in
such form and have such other provisions as the ESOP and the
Company
5
may mutually
agree), and (B) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
Certificates (or effective affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) or
Book-Entry Shares in exchange for the Merger Consideration and (y)
upon surrender of such documents as may reasonably be required by
the Paying Agent, to each holder of a Company Stock Option or a
Company Stock-Based Award, a check in an amount, if any, due and
payable to such holder pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof in respect of
such Company Stock Option or Company Stock-Based Award.
(ii)
Upon surrender of Certificates (or effective affidavits of loss in
lieu thereof) or Book-Entry Shares to the Paying Agent together
with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly
executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such
other documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent,
the holder of such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares shall be
entitled to receive in exchange therefor a check in an amount equal
to the product of (x) the number of Shares represented by such
holder’s properly surrendered Certificates (or effective
affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) or Book-Entry Shares multiplied
by (y) the Merger Consideration. No interest will be
paid or accrued on any amount payable upon due surrender of
Certificates or Book-Entry Shares. In the event of a transfer
of ownership of Shares that is not registered in the transfer
records of the Company, a check for any cash to be paid upon due
surrender of the Certificate may be paid to such a transferee if
the Certificate formerly representing such Shares is presented to
the Paying Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence
and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable stock
transfer Taxes (as hereinafter defined) have been paid or are not
applicable.
(iii)
The Paying Agent or the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable under
this Agreement to any holder of Shares or holder of Company Stock
Options or Company Stock-Based Awards, such amounts as are required
to be withheld or deducted under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(the “ Code ”) or any provision of applicable
Federal, state, local or foreign Tax Law with respect to the making
of such payment. To the extent that amounts are so withheld
or deducted and paid over to the applicable Governmental Entity (as
hereinafter defined), such withheld or deducted amounts shall be
treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to
the holder of the Shares or holder of the Company Stock Options or
Company Stock-Based Awards, in respect of which such deduction and
withholding were made.
(c)
Closing of Transfer Books . At the Effective Time, the
stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed, and there
shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer
books of the Surviving Corporation of the Shares that were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If,
after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Surviving Corporation for transfer, they shall be cancelled and
exchanged for a check in the proper amount pursuant to this
Article II.
(d)
Termination of Exchange Fund . Any portion of the
Exchange Fund (including the proceeds of any investments thereof)
that remains undistributed to the former holders of Shares for one
year after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving
Corporation upon demand, and any former holders of Shares who have
not surrendered their Shares in accordance with Section 2.2 shall
thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation as general
unsecured creditors of the Surviving Corporation for payment of
their claim for the Merger Consideration, without any interest
thereon, upon due surrender of their Shares.
6
(e)
No Liability . Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, none of the Company, the ESOP, Merger Sub, the Surviving
Corporation, the Paying Agent or any other person shall be liable
to any former holder of Shares for any amount properly delivered to
a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property,
escheat or similar Law.
(f)
Investment of Exchange Fund . The Paying Agent shall
invest all cash included in the Exchange Fund as reasonably
directed by the Company; provided , however , that
any investment of such cash shall be limited to direct short-term
obligations of, or short-term obligations fully guaranteed as to
principal and interest by, the U.S. government, or commercial paper
obligations receiving the highest rating from either Moody’s
Investor Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Corporation,
a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, or in certificates of
deposit, bank repurchase agreements or banker’s acceptances
of commercial banks with capital exceeding $1 billion (based on the
most recent financial statements of such bank that are then
publicly available), or a combination thereof. Any interest
and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to
the Surviving Corporation pursuant to Section 2.2(d).
(g)
Lost Certificates . In the case of any Certificate
that has been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to
be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving
Corporation, the posting by such person of a bond in customary
amount as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it
with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate a check in
the amount of the number of Shares represented by such lost, stolen
or destroyed Certificate multiplied by the Merger
Consideration.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE COMPANY
Except as disclosed in the Company
SEC Documents (as hereinafter defined) filed prior to the date
hereof, other than risk factor and similar cautionary disclosure
contained in the Company SEC Documents under the headings
“Risk Factors” or “Forward-Looking
Statements” or under any other similar heading, or as
disclosed in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to
the ESOP immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement (the
“ Company Disclosure Schedule ”), the Company
represents and warrants to the ESOP and Merger Sub as
follows:
Section
3.1
Qualification, Organization, Subsidiaries, etc.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of
the Company, each Company Joint Venture is a legal entity duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of
its respective jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite
corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease, hold and
operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as
presently conducted and is qualified to do business and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the
ownership, leasing, holding or operation of its assets or
properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so organized, validly existing,
qualified or in good standing, or to have such power or authority,
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As used in this
Agreement, “ Company Joint Venture ” means
CareerBuilder,
7
LLC, ShopLocal,
LLC, Topix LLC, Television Food Network, G.P., Comcast SportsNet
Chicago, LLC, Eagle New Media Investments, LLC (“ Eagle
New Media ”), and Eagle Publishing Investments, LLC
(“ Eagle Publishing ” and together with Eagle
New Media, the “ Eagle Entities ”). As
used in this Agreement, any reference to any facts, circumstances,
events or changes having a “ Company Material Adverse
Effect ” means any facts, circumstances, events or
changes that are materially adverse to the business, assets,
financial condition, results of operations on an ongoing basis or
continuing operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or that have a material adverse effect on the ability
of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or
to consummate the Merger and the other transactions to be performed
or consummated by the Company; provided , however
that “Company Material Adverse Effect” shall not
include facts, circumstances, events or changes resulting from (a)
changes in general economic or political conditions or the
securities, credit or financial markets in general,
(b) general changes or developments in the industries in which
the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, including general changes
in law or regulation across such industries, (c) the announcement
of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the Merger,
(d) compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action
required by, this Agreement or consented to by Tribune Acquisition
and the ESOP, (e) any acts of terrorism or war (other than any
of the foregoing that causes any damage or destruction to or
renders unusable any facility or property of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries), (f) the identity of Tribune Acquisition or the
ESOP or any of their affiliates as participants in the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the other agreements described in
the recitals hereof or (g) changes in GAAP or the
interpretation thereof by the Financial Accounting Standards Board,
the Accounting Principles Board, the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and other similar organizations
generally considered authoritative with respect to the
interpretation of GAAP, except, in the case of the foregoing
clauses (a) and (b), to the extent such facts, circumstances,
events, changes or developments referred to therein have a
disproportionate impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, relative to other companies in the industries or in the
geographic markets in which the Company conducts its businesses
after taking into account the size of the Company relative to such
other companies. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties
agree that any decline in the stock price of the Company Common
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange or any failure to meet
internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earning
predictions for any period shall not, in and of itself, constitute
a Company Material Adverse Effect, but the underlying causes of
such decline or failure shall be considered to the extent
applicable (and subject to the proviso set forth in the immediately
preceding sentence) in determining whether there is a Company
Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to
the ESOP prior to the date of this Agreement a true and complete
copy of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of
incorporation and by-laws and the charter and comparable
organizational documents of each Company Joint Venture, each as
amended through the date hereof. The amended and restated
certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company are in full
force and effect, and the certificate of incorporation and by-laws
or similar organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the
Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, each Company Joint
Venture are in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Company
Joint Venture is in material violation of any provision of its
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or similar organizational
documents.
8
Section
3.2
Capital Stock .
(a)
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
1,400,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 12,000,000 shares
of preferred stock, without par value (“ Company Preferred
Stock ”), of which 6,000,000 shares are designated as
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and 380,972 shares
are designated as Series D-1 Preferred Stock (the “ Series
D-1 Preferred Stock ”). At the close of business on
March 14, 2007, (i) 388,098,408 shares of Company Common
Stock were issued and outstanding (including 18,000 Restricted
Shares), (ii) 87,035,996 shares of Company Common Stock were
held in treasury, (iii) 60,671,319 shares of Company Common
Stock were held by the Eagle Entities, (iv) 32,853,240 shares
of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the
employee and director stock plans of the Company or of the former
Times Mirror Company (the “ Company Stock Plans
”) and (v) 137,643 shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock were
issued and outstanding and held by the Eagle Entities. All
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred
Stock, and all shares of Company Common Stock reserved for issuance
as noted in clause (iv), when issued in accordance with the
respective terms thereof, are or will be duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of pre-emptive
rights and all Liens. As of immediately prior to
the Effective Time, there will be (i) no shares of Series D-1
Preferred Stock issued and outstanding and (ii) issued and
outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock, all of which
will be held by the Eagle Entities, as contemplated by that certain
Exchange Agreement by and among the Company, Eagle New Media and
Eagle Publishing (the “ Exchange Agreement
”). Such Series E Preferred Stock, when issued in
accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement, will be fully
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free
of pre-emptive rights and all Liens.
(b)
Section 3.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth
as of March 14, 2007, a complete and correct list of all
outstanding Company Stock-Based Awards, Restricted Shares, Company
Stock Options and each right of any kind, contingent or accrued, to
receive shares of Company Common Stock or benefits measured in
whole or in part by the value of a number of shares of Company
Common Stock granted under the Company Stock Plans, Company Benefit
Plans or otherwise (including restricted stock units, phantom
units, deferred stock units and dividend equivalents), the number
of shares of Company Common Stock issuable thereunder or with
respect thereto and the exercise price (if any) and the Company has
granted no other such awards since March 14, 2007 and prior to
the date hereof. Each grant of a Company Stock Option was
duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such
Company Stock Option was by its terms to be effective by all
necessary corporate action, including any required shareholder
approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and
each such grant was made in all material respects in accordance
with the terms of the applicable compensation plan or arrangement
of the Company, the Exchange Act, and all other applicable Laws and
regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the New
York Stock Exchange. The per share exercise price of each
Company Stock Option was equal to the fair market value (as such
term is defined in the applicable Company Stock Plan) of a share of
Company Common Stock on the applicable grant date. The
Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no
Company policy or intentional practice to grant, Company Stock
Options prior to, or otherwise intentionally coordinate the grant
of Company Stock Options with, the release or other public
announcement of material information regarding
9
the Company or
its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects. No
outstanding Company Stock Option is intended to qualify as an
“incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the
Code.
(c)
All outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity
interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, were not issued in
violation of any preemptive or similar rights, purchase option,
call or right of first refusal or similar rights, and are owned by
the Company or by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, free
and clear of all Liens. To the knowledge of the Company, all
of the outstanding ownership interests in each of the Company Joint
Ventures are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and were not issued in violation of any preemptive
or similar rights, purchase option, call or right of first refusal
or similar rights. All the outstanding shares of capital
stock of, or other equity interests in, each Company Joint Venture
that are owned by the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company, are owned free and clear of all Liens.
(d)
Except as set forth in subsection (a) above, as of the date hereof,
(i) the Company does not have any shares of its capital stock or
other voting securities issued or outstanding other than shares of
Company Common Stock that have become outstanding after
March 14, 2007, which were reserved for issuance as of
March 14, 2007 as set forth in subsection (a) above with
respect to awards outstanding as of such date under Company Stock
Plans, and (ii) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options,
warrants, calls, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other
similar rights, undertakings, agreements or commitments of any kind
to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is
a party obligating the Company or any of the Company’s
Subsidiaries to (A) issue, transfer or sell, or cause to be
issued, transferred or sold, any shares of capital stock or other
equity interests of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or
equity interests, (B) issue, grant, extend or enter into any
such subscription, option, warrant, call, convertible securities or
other similar right, undertaking, agreement or arrangement,
(C) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any such shares of
capital stock or other equity interests, (D) provide a
material amount of funds to, or make any material investment (in
the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any
Subsidiary or Company Joint Venture or (E) give any person the
right to receive any economic benefit or right similar to or
derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring to holders
of Company Common Stock. Except for the issuance of shares of
Company Common Stock that were reserved for issuance as set forth
in subsection (a) above, and except for regular quarterly cash
dividends, from March 9, 2007 to the date hereof, the Company
has not declared or paid any dividend or distribution in respect of
the Company Common Stock, and has not issued, sold, repurchased,
redeemed or otherwise acquired any Company Common Stock, and its
Board of Directors has not authorized any of the
foregoing.
(e)
Except for awards to acquire or receive shares of Company Common
Stock under a Company Stock Plan, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other
obligations, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which
are convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right
to vote) with the shareholders of the Company on any
matter.
10
(f)
There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with
respect to the voting of the capital stock or other equity interest
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section
3.3
Corporate Authority Relative to This Agreement; No Violation
.
(a)
The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to receipt of the Company
Shareholder Approval (as hereinafter defined) in the case of the
Merger, to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby. The Board of Directors of the Company,
acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee, at a duly
held meeting has (i) determined that it is fair to and in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, and declared it
advisable, to enter into this Agreement, (ii) approved the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Merger, and (iii) resolved to recommend that the shareholders
of the Company approve the adoption of this Agreement (the “
Recommendation ”) and directed that this Agreement and
the Merger be submitted for consideration of the shareholders of
the Company at the Company Meeting (as hereinafter defined).
Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
ESOP and Merger Sub set forth in Section 4.9, (i) the
determinations, approvals and resolutions by the Board of Directors
of the Company are sufficient to render inapplicable to the ESOP
and Merger Sub and this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby the restrictions on
“business combinations” contained in Section 203
of the DGCL and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no other
“fair price,” “moratorium,” “control
share acquisition,” “business combination” or
other similar antitakeover statute or regulation enacted under
state or Federal laws in the United States applicable to the
Company is applicable to the ESOP and Merger Sub and this
Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
hereby. Except for the Company Shareholder Approval and the
filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, no other corporate proceedings on the part
of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding agreement of the ESOP and Merger Sub, constitutes the
legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms.
(b)
The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Company do not
and will not require any consent, approval, license, authorization,
order or permit of, action by, filing with or notification to any
Federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory agency,
commission, court, body, entity or authority (each, a “
Governmental Entity ”), other than (i) the filing of
the Certificate of Merger, (ii) compliance with the applicable
requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”),
(iii) compliance with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act ”), including the filing of the Proxy
Statement (as hereinafter defined) and the Schedule 13E-3 (as
hereinafter defined), (iv) compliance with the rules and
regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, (v) filings with the
Federal Communications Commission (the “ FCC ”),
the FCC Order (as hereinafter defined), and the state regulatory
bodies (the “ State Commissions ”)
set
11
forth on
Section 3.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
(vi) compliance with any applicable foreign or state
securities or blue sky laws, (vii) such of the foregoing as may be
required in connection with the Financing, and (viii) the
other consents and/or notices set forth on Section 3.3(b) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule (collectively, clauses (i) through
(viii), the “ Company Approvals ”), and other
than any consent, approval, authorization, permit, action, filing
or notification the failure of which to make or obtain would not
reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate,
(A) have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (B) prevent
or materially delay the consummation of the Merger. As used
herein, “ FCC Order ” means one or more orders
or decisions of the FCC (or its staff) which grant all consents or
approvals required under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended
(the “ Communications Act ”) or the rules,
regulations and published policies of the FCC promulgated
thereunder (the “ FCC Rules ”) for the transfer
of control or assignment of all FCC licenses, permits or other
authorizations held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
the ESOP, Merger Sub or an affiliate of the ESOP or Merger Sub and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, whether or not any (x) appeal or request for
reconsideration or review of such order is pending, or whether the
time for filing any such appeal or request for reconsideration or
review, or any sua sponte action by the FCC with similar effect,
has expired or (y) such order is subject to any condition or
provision of law or regulation of the FCC (whether such law or
regulation is now existing or is proposed in any proceeding pending
at the time of receipt of the FCC Order). There is not
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by or
before the FCC any proceeding, notice of violation, order of
forfeiture, complaint or investigation against or relating to the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a Company Station or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any Company Joint Venture, nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, is there any fact or circumstance related
to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any Company Joint Venture
or a Company Station, that would reasonably be expected to prevent
the FCC from issuing the FCC Order.
(c)
The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i)
contravene or conflict with the organizational or governing
documents of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Company
Joint Venture, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters
referenced in Section 3.3(b) and the receipt of the Company
Shareholder Approval, contravene or conflict with or constitute a
violation of any provision of any Law binding upon or applicable to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties or assets, (iii) assuming compliance with the
matters referenced in Section 3.3(b), conflict with, contravene,
result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any material
obligation or to the loss of a material benefit under, or to
increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed rights or
entitlements of any person (other than employees of the Company)
under, any loan, guarantee of indebtedness or credit agreement,
note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement, contract,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise, right or license to
which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any of their respective properties or assets is
bound, or (iv) result in the creation of any liens, claims,
mortgages, encumbrances, pledges, security interests, equities or
charges of any kind (each, a “ Lien ”), other
than any such Lien (A) for Taxes or governmental assessments,
charges or claims of payment not yet due, being contested in good
faith or for which adequate accruals or reserves have been
established on the most recent consolidated balance sheet included
in
12
Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, (B) which is a
carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’,
materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar lien
arising in the ordinary course of business, (C) which is disclosed
on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company or
notes thereto or securing liabilities reflected on such balance
sheet or (D) which was incurred in the ordinary course of
business since the date of the most recent consolidated balance
sheet of the Company (each of the foregoing, a “ Permitted
Lien ”), upon any of the properties or assets of the
Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, other than, in
the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such items that would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section
3.4
Reports and Financial Statements .
(a)
The Company has filed or furnished all forms, documents and reports
required to be filed or furnished prior to the date hereof by it
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC
”) since December 25, 2005 (the “ Company SEC
Documents ”). As of their respective dates, or, if
amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, the Company SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities Act ”), and the Exchange Act, as the case
may be, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and none of the Company SEC Documents contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. None of the Subsidiaries of
the Company is, or at any time since December 25, 2005 has
been, required to file any form or report with the SEC.
(b)
The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in
the Company SEC Documents (including all related notes and
schedules, where applicable) fairly present in all material
respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the respective dates thereof, and
the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated
cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the
case of the unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments and to any other adjustments described therein,
including the notes thereto), in conformity with United States
generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP
”) (except, in the case of the unaudited statements, as
permitted by the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the
periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the
notes thereto), and comply as to form with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC
with respect thereto. Since December 25, 2005, there has
been no material change in the Company’s accounting methods
or principles that would be required to be disclosed in the
Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP,
except as described in the notes to such Company financial
statements.
(c)
To the knowledge of the Company, there is no applicable accounting
rule, consensus or pronouncement that, as of the date of this
Agreement, has been adopted by the SEC, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board or the Emerging Issues Task Force that is not in
effect as of the date of this Agreement but that, if implemented,
could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
13
Section
3.5
Internal Controls and Procedures . The Company has
established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and
internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are
defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15
under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the
Exchange Act. The Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that all material
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports
that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such
material information is accumulated and communicated to the
Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications
required pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”). The
Company’s management has completed an assessment of the
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting in compliance with the requirements of Section
404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the year ended December 31, 2006,
and such assessment concluded that such controls were
effective.
Section
3.6
No Undisclosed Liabilities . Except (a) as
reflected or reserved against in the Company’s most recent
consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto) included in the
Company SEC Documents, (b) as expressly permitted or
contemplated by this Agreement, (c) for liabilities and
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since
December 31, 2006 and (d) for liabilities or obligations which
have been discharged or paid in full in the ordinary course of
business, as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary of the Company has any liabilities or obligations of any
nature, whether or not accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise,
that would be required by GAAP to be reflected on a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (or in the notes
thereto), other than those that would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
3.7
Compliance with Law; Permits .
(a)
The Company, each of the Company’s Subsidiaries, their
relevant personnel and operations and, to the knowledge of the
Company, each of the Company Joint Ventures are, and since
December 31, 2006, have been, in compliance with and are not
in default under or in violation of any applicable federal, state,
local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation,
judgment, order, injunction, decree or agency requirement of any
Governmental Entity (collectively, “ Laws ” and
each, a “ Law ”), except where such
non-compliance, default or violation would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Section 3.7(a), no representation or warranty shall be
deemed to be made in this Section 3.7(a) in respect of the
matters referenced in Sections 3.4 or 3.5, or in respect of
environmental, Tax, employee benefits or labor Law matters, each of
which matters is addressed by other sections of this
Agreement.
(b)
The Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge
of the Company, each of the Company Joint Ventures are in
possession of and have in effect all franchises, grants,
authorizations, licenses, permits (other than the Company FCC
Licenses), easements, variances, exceptions, consents,
certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Entity
necessary for the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries to
own, lease
14
and operate their
properties and assets or to carry on their businesses as they are
now being conducted (the “ Company Permits ”),
and no non-renewal, suspension, cancellation or materially adverse
modification of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened, except where the failure to
have any of the Company Permits or the suspension, cancellation or
materially adverse modification of any of the Company Permits would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and there has
occurred no violation of, default (with or without the lapse or
time or the giving of notice, or both) under, or event giving to
others any right of termination, amendment or cancellation of, with
or without notice or lapse of time or both, any such Company
Permit, except as would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect. All Company Permits are in full force and effect in
accordance with their terms and, to the Company’s knowledge,
there is no event which would reasonably be expected to result in
the revocation, cancellation, non-renewal or adverse modification
of any such Company Permit, except where the failure to be in full
force and effect, or where such revocation, cancellation,
non-renewal or adverse modification, would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(c)
Section 3.7(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth
(i) all main television and radio station licenses, permits,
authorizations and approvals issued by the FCC to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries for the operation of the Company Stations
(“ Company FCC Licenses ”) and the legal name of
the entity to which each such Company FCC License was issued and
(ii) all time brokerage agreements and joint sales agreements
between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any other
broadcast licensee with respect to any broadcast television or
radio station. The Company FCC Licenses are in full force and
effect in accordance with their terms in all material respects and
are not subject to any material conditions except for conditions
applicable to television or radio broadcast licenses generally or
as otherwise disclosed on the face of the Company FCC
Licenses. The Company and its Subsidiaries have constructed
and operated and currently are constructing and operating the
Company Stations in material compliance with the terms of the
Company FCC Licenses, the Communications Act, the FCC Rules and
applicable requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (the
“ FAA ”). Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries have timely
filed or made all applications, reports and other disclosures
required by the FCC or FAA to be filed or made with respect to the
Company Stations and have timely paid all FCC regulatory fees with
respect to the Company Stations, except for such noncompliance,
failure to file or failure to pay as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries hold all
Company FCC Licenses necessary for the Company and its Subsidiaries
to construct and operate the Company Stations as they are now being
constructed and operated, and no suspension, cancellation or
adverse modification of any of the Company FCC Licenses is pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, except where the
failure to have any of the Company FCC Licenses or the non-renewal,
suspension, cancellation or materially adverse modification of any
of the Company FCC Licenses would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. There is not pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened by or before the FCC any proceeding, notice
of violation, order of forfeiture, complaint or investigation
against or relating to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any
Company Station or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Company
Joint Venture, except for
15
any such
proceedings, notices, orders, complaints or investigations that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There is no order
of forfeiture or notice of liability issued by the FCC with respect
to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any Company Station or, to
the knowledge of the Company, any Company Joint Venture that has
not been satisfied. As used herein, “ Company
Station ” shall mean each radio broadcast and television
station currently owned and operated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, including full power radio and television broadcast
stations and low power television and television translator
stations.
(d)
The transmission towers and other transmission facilities of the
Company Stations have been maintained in a manner consistent in all
material respects with generally accepted standards of good
engineering practice. To the knowledge of the Company, no
Company Station causes interference in violation of the
Communications Act or the FCC Rules to the transmission of any
other broadcast station or communications facility.
(e)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has leased,
licensed, assigned, conveyed or otherwise encumbered any portion of
the digital spectrum of a Company Station or granted rights to any
party to broadcast on any portion of the digital spectrum of a
Company Station.
Section
3.8
Environmental Laws and Regulations .
(a)
Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the
Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective
businesses in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws (as
hereinafter defined), (ii) none of the properties owned,
leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
contains any Hazardous Substance (as hereinafter defined) as a
result of any activity of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
amounts exceeding the levels allowed or otherwise permitted by
applicable Environmental Laws, (iii) since December 31,
2006, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received
any notices, demand letters or requests for information from any
federal, state, local or foreign Governmental Entity indicating
that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be in violation of,
or liable under, any Environmental Law in connection with the
ownership or operation of its businesses or any of their respective
properties or assets, (iv) there have been no Releases or
transportation of any Hazardous Substance at, onto, or from any
properties presently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of any activity of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the time such
properties were owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries and (v) neither the Company, its Subsidiaries
nor any of their respective properties are subject to any
liabilities relating to any suit, settlement, court order,
administrative order, regulatory requirement, judgment, notice of
violation or written claim asserted or arising under any
Environmental Law. It is agreed and understood that no
representation or warranty is made in respect of environmental
matters in any Section of this Agreement other than this
Section 3.8.
(b)
As used herein, “ Environmental Law ” means any
Law relating to (x) the protection, preservation or
restoration of human health or the environment (including air,
water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply,
surface land, subsurface land, plant or
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animal life, or
any other natural resource), (y) the exposure to, or the use,
storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation,
processing, handling, labeling, production, Release or disposal of
Hazardous Substances, in each case as in effect at the date hereof,
or (z) the protection of worker health or safety.
(c)
As used herein, “ Hazardous Substance ” means
any substance, element, compound, mixture, solution, and/or waste
presently listed, defined, designated, identified, or classified as
hazardous, toxic, radioactive, or dangerous, or otherwise
regulated, under any Environmental Law. Hazardous Substance
includes any substance, element, compound, mixture, solution and/or
waste to which exposure is regulated by any Governmental Entity or
any Environmental Law, including but not limited to any toxic
waste, pollutant, contaminant, hazardous substance (including toxic
mold), toxic substance, hazardous waste, special waste, industrial
substance or petroleum or any derivative or byproduct thereof,
radon, radioactive material, asbestos, or asbestos containing
material, urea formaldehyde, foam insulation or polychlorinated
biphenyls.
(d)
As used herein, “ Release ” means any releasing,
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,
discharging, injecting, storing, escaping, leaching, migrating,
dumping, discarding, burying, abandoning or disposing into the
environment of a Hazardous Substance, in each case, in
violation of any Environmental Law or in a manner which has or may
give rise to any liability under any Environmental Law.
Section
3.9
Employee Benefit Plans .
(a)
Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all
material Company Benefit Plans. “ Company Benefit
Plans ” means all employee or director benefit plans,
programs, policies, agreements or other arrangements, including any
employee welfare plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ ERISA ”), any employee pension benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (whether or not such
plan is subject to ERISA), and any bonus, incentive, deferred
compensation, vacation, stock purchase, stock option or other
equity-based plan or arrangement, severance, employment, change of
control or fringe benefit plan, program or agreement (other than
any “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA and any other plan, program or arrangement
maintained by an entity other than the Company or a Company
Subsidiary pursuant to any collective bargaining agreements), in
each case that are sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of current or
former employees, directors or consultants of the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
(b)
Section 3.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all
“multiemployer plans” (as defined in Regulation 4001.2
under ERISA) to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate (as
defined below) is obligated to contribute currently or has been
obligated to contribute during the immediately preceding three
years. The Company has made available to the ESOP all
material written information which it has regarding potential
withdrawal liability under such multiemployer plans, and, subject
to, and in accordance with Section 5.2, the Company will use
reasonable best efforts to assist the ESOP and Merger Sub in
obtaining any additional, available material information regarding
such multiemployer plans as the ESOP or Merger Sub shall reasonably
request.
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(c)
The Company has heretofore made available to the ESOP true and
complete copies of each of the material Company Benefit Plans and
material related documents, including (i) each writing
constituting a part of such Company Benefit Plan, including all
amendments thereto, (ii) the three most recent Annual Reports
(Form 5500 Series) and accompanying schedules, if any, and
(iii) the most recent determination letter from the Internal
Revenue Services (the “ IRS ”) (if applicable)
for such Company Benefit Plan.
(d)
Except as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) each material
Company Benefit Plan has been maintained and administered in
compliance with its terms and with applicable Law, including ERISA
and the Code to the extent applicable thereto, and in each case the
regulations thereunder (ii) each of the Company Benefit Plans
intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of
Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination
letter from the IRS or is entitled to rely upon a favorable opinion
issued by the IRS, and there are no existing circumstances or any
events that have occurred that would reasonably be expected to
adversely affect the qualified status of any such plan,
(iii) with respect to each Company Benefit Plan that is
subject to Title IV of ERISA, the present value of the accrued
benefits under such Company Benefit Plan, based upon the actuarial
assumptions used for funding purposes in the most recent actuarial
report prepared for such Company Benefit Plan’s actuary with
respect to such Company Benefit Plan, did not, as of its latest
valuation date, exceed the then current value of the assets of such
Company Benefit Plan allocable to such accrued benefits, (iv) no
Company Benefit Plan provides benefits, including death or medical
benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to current or
former employees or directors of the Company or its Subsidiaries
beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than
(A) coverage mandated by applicable Law or (B) benefits under any
“employee pension plan” (as such term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA), (v) no liability under Title IV of ERISA
has been incurred by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliate of the Company that has not been satisfied in full (other
than with respect to amounts not yet due), and, to the knowledge of
the Company, no condition exists that presents a risk to the
Company, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of the Company of
incurring a liability thereunder, (vi) all contributions or
other amounts payable by the Company or its Subsidiaries as of the
date hereof with respect to each Company Benefit Plan in respect of
current or prior plan years have been paid or accrued in accordance
with GAAP, (vii) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has
engaged in a transaction in connection with which the Company or
its Subsidiaries reasonably could be subject to either a civil
penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a
material Tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code
and (viii) there are no pending, threatened or anticipated
claims (other than routine claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or
against any of the Company Benefit Plans or any trusts related
thereto which could individually or in the aggregate reasonably be
expected to result in any liability of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. “ ERISA Affiliate ” means,
with respect to any entity, trade or business, any other entity,
trade or business that is a member of a group described in
Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or
Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA that includes the first entity,
trade or business, or that is a member of the same
“controlled group” as the first entity, trade or
business pursuant to Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.
(e)
Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will, either alone or in combination with another event,
(i) entitle any current or former employee, consultant,
director
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or officer of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to severance pay, unemployment
compensation, forgiveness of indebtedness or any other payment,
except as expressly provided in this Agreement or as required by
applicable Law, (ii) result in any “excess parachute
payment” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code),
(iii) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under
any Company Benefit Plan, (iv) accelerate the time of payment
or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due any such
employee, consultant, director or officer, except as expressly
provided in this Agreement, (v) require the funding of any
such benefits or (vi) limit the ability to amend or terminate
any Company Benefit Plan or related trust.
Section
3.10
Absence of Certain Changes or Events .
(a)
From December 31, 2006 through the date of this Agreement, except
as otherwise contemplated, required or permitted by this Agreement,
the Tribune Purchase Agreement or the ESOP Purchase Agreement, (i)
the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been
conducted, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of
business, and (ii) there has not been any event, development or
state of circumstances that has had or would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
(b)
Since the date of this Agreement, there has not been any event,
development or state of circumstances that has had or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section
3.11
Investigations; Litigation . As of the date hereof,
(a) there is no investigation or review pending (or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened) by any Governmental Entity
with respect to the Company, any of the Company’s
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Company Joint
Venture which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (b) there
are no actions, suits, inquiries, investigations, arbitrations,
mediations or proceedings pending (or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened) against or affecting the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries, any of their respective properties or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any Company Joint Venture at law or in
equity (and, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no basis for
any such action, suit, inquiry, investigation or proceeding)
before, and there are no orders, judgments or decrees of, or
before, any Governmental Entity, in each case which would have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
3.12
Proxy Statement; Other Information . The proxy
statement (including the letter to shareholders, notice of meeting
and form of proxy, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the
“ Proxy Statement ”) and the Rule 13E-3
Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the “ Schedule
13E-3 ”) to be filed by the Company with the SEC in
connection with seeking the adoption of this Agreement by the
shareholders of the Company will not, at the time they are
concurrently filed with the SEC, or, in the case of the Proxy
Statement, at the time it is first mailed to the shareholders of
the Company or at the time of the Company Meeting, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. The Company will cause the
Proxy Statement and the Schedule 13E-3 to comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the
19
Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder applicable thereto as of the
date of such filing. No representation is made by the Company
with respect to statements made in the Proxy Statement or the
Schedule 13E-3 based on information supplied by the ESOP, Merger
Sub or any of their affiliates specifically for inclusion or
incorporation by reference therein.
Section
3.13
Rights Plan . The Board of Directors of the Company
has resolved to, and the Company promptly after the execution of
this Agreement will, take all action necessary to render the rights
to purchase shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
of the Company (“ Rights ”), issued pursuant to
the terms of the Rights Agreement, dated as of December 12, 1997,
as amended (the “ Rights Agreement ”), between
the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (formerly First
Chicago Trust Company of New York), as Rights Agent, inapplicable
to the Merger and the execution and operation of this
Agreement.
Section
3.14
Tax Matters .
(a)
Except in the case of clauses (i), (iv) or (v) as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries have prepared and timely filed (taking into
account any extension of time within which to file) all Tax Returns
required to be filed by any of them and all such filed Tax Returns
are complete and accurate, (ii) the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries have paid all material Taxes that are required to be
paid by any of them (whether or not shown on any Tax Return),
except, in the case of clause (i) or clause (ii) hereof,
with respect to matters contested in good faith or for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP,
(iii) the U.S. consolidated federal income Tax Returns of the
Company have been examined by the IRS (or the period for assessment
of the Taxes in respect of which such Tax Returns were required to
be filed has expired), (iv) as of the date of this Agreement,
there are not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened in writing, any audits, examinations, investigations or
other proceedings in respect of Taxes or Tax matters owed or
claimed to be owed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
(v) there are no Liens for Taxes on any of the assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than Permitted Liens,
(vi) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been a
“controlled corporation” or a “distributing
corporation” in any distribution occurring during the
two-year period ending on the date hereof that was purported or
intended to be governed, in whole or in part, by
Section 355(a) or 361 of the Code (or any similar provision of
state, local or foreign Law) and (vii) neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has ever entered into any “reportable
transaction,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.6011-4(b), required to be reported in a disclosure statement
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(a) (other than
transactions for which Form 8866 was filed with the Company’s
Tax Returns).
(b)
None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will be required to
include in a taxable period ending after the Effective Time taxable
income attributable to income that accrued (for purposes of the
financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC
Documents) in a prior taxable period (or portion of a taxable
period) but was not recognized for tax purposes in any prior
taxable period as a result of (i) the installment method of
accounting, (ii) the completed contract method of accounting,
(iii) the long-term contract method of accounting,
(iv) the cash method of accounting or Section 481 of the
Code or (v) any comparable provisions of state or local tax
law, domestic or foreign, or for any other reason, other than
any
20
amounts that are
specifically reflected in a reserve for taxes on the financial
statements of the Company included in the Company SEC
Documents.
(c)
As used in this Agreement, (i) “ Taxes ” means
any and all (whether or not disputed) domestic or foreign, federal,
state, local or other taxes of any kind (together with any and all
interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional amounts
imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any Governmental Entity,
including taxes on or with respect to income, franchises, windfall
or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, capital
stock, payroll, employment, unemployment, social security,
workers’ compensation or net worth, and taxes in the nature
of excise, withholding, ad valorem or value added, and including
liability for the payment of any such amounts as a result of being
either (A) a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined,
unitary or aggregate group or as a transferee or successor, or
(B) a party to any tax sharing agreement or as a result of any
express or implied obligation to indemnify any other person with
respect to any such amounts, and (ii) “ Tax Return
” means any return, report or similar filing (including the
attached schedules) required to be filed with respect to Taxes,
including any information return, claim for refund, amended return
or declaration of estimated Taxes.
Section
3.15
Labor Matters . Except for matters in the case of
clause (e) below which would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse
Effect, as of the date hereof, (a) there are no strikes or
lockouts with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (“ Employees ”) that, individually
or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse impact on the operations of, or result in material
liability to, the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
(b) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no union organizing
effort pending or threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on the
operations of, or result in material liability to, the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (c) there is no unfair
labor practice, labor dispute (other than routine individual
grievances) or labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on the
operations of, or result in material liability to, the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (d) there is no slowdown,
or work stoppage in effect or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened with respect to Employees that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
impact on the operations of, or result in material liability to,
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (e) the
Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable
Laws respecting (i) employment and employment practices,
(ii) terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours
and (iii) unfair labor practices. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liabilities under the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act of 1998 as a result of any
action taken by the Company (other than at the written direction of
the ESOP or as a result of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby) that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section
3.16
Intellectual Property . Except as would not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect, either the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company owns, or is licensed or otherwise possesses legally
enforceable rights to use, free and clear of all material Liens,
all domestic and foreign trademarks
21
(including call
signs), trade names, service marks, service names, assumed names,
registered and unregistered copyrights and applications for same,
domain names, patents and patent applications and registrations
used in their respective businesses as currently conducted,
including all rights associated therewith, whether registered or
unregistered and however docum
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