Exhibit 2.1
[EXECUTION VERSION]
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
AT&T CORP.,
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC.
and
TAU MERGER SUB CORPORATION
Dated as of January 30, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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THE MERGER; CLOSING; EFFECTIVE
TIME
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1.1.
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The
Merger
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1
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1.2.
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Closing
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2
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1.3.
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Effective
Time
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2
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ARTICLE II
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CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND
BY-LAWS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
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2.1.
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The Certificate
of Incorporation
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2
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2.2.
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The
By-Laws
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2
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ARTICLE III
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DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
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3.1.
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Directors
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2
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3.2.
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Officers
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2
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3.3.
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Parent’s
Board of Directors
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3
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ARTICLE IV
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EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL
STOCK; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
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4.1.
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Effect on
Capital Stock
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3
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(a)
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Merger
Consideration
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3
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(b)
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Cancellation of
Shares
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4
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(c)
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Merger
Sub
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4
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4.2.
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Exchange of
Certificates for Shares
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4
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(a)
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Exchange
Agent
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4
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(b)
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Exchange
Procedures
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4
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(c)
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Distributions
with Respect to Unexchanged Shares; Voting
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5
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(d)
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Transfers
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6
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(e)
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No Fractional
Shares
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6
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(f)
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Termination of
Exchange Fund
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6
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(g)
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Lost, Stolen or
Destroyed Certificates
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6
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(h)
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Uncertificated
Shares
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6
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4.3.
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No
Dissenters’ Rights
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7
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4.4.
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Adjustments to
Prevent Dilution
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7
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4.5.
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Company Stock
Based Plans
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7
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-i-
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Page
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ARTICLE V
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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5.1.
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Representations
and Warranties of the Company
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9
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(a)
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Organization,
Good Standing and Qualification
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9
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(b)
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Capital
Structure
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10
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(c)
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Corporate
Authority; Approval and Fairness
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11
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(d)
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Governmental
Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts
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11
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(e)
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Company
Reports; Financial Statements
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13
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(f)
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Absence of
Certain Changes
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14
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(g)
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Litigation and
Liabilities
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16
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(h)
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Employee
Benefits
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17
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(i)
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Compliance with
Laws; Licenses
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19
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(j)
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Material
Contracts
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21
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(k)
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Real
Property
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22
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(l)
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Right-of-Way
Agreements
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23
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(m)
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Takeover
Statutes
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23
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(n)
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Environmental
Matters
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24
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(o)
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Taxes
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25
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(p)
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Labor
Matters
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26
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(q)
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Intellectual
Property and IT Assets
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26
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(r)
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GSA
Action
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28
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(s)
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Export Controls
and Trade Sanctions
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28
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(t)
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Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act
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30
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(u)
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Brokers and
Finders
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30
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5.2.
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Representations
and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub
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31
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(a)
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Organization,
Good Standing and Qualification
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31
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(b)
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Capital
Structure of Parent
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31
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(c)
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Capitalization
of Merger Sub
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32
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(d)
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Corporate
Authority; Approval and Fairness
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32
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(e)
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Governmental
Filings; No Violations; Etc.
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32
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(f)
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Parent Reports;
Financial Statements
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33
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(g)
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Litigation and
Liabilities
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35
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(h)
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Compliance with
Laws
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36
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(i)
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Absence of
Changes
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36
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ARTICLE VI
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COVENANTS
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6.1.
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Interim
Operations
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36
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6.2.
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Acquisition
Proposals
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43
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6.3.
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Information
Supplied
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45
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6.4.
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Shareholders
Meeting; Subsidiary Preferred Stock
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45
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6.5.
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Filings; Other
Actions; Notification
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46
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6.6.
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Access and
Reports
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48
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-ii-
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Page
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6.7.
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Publicity
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49
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6.8.
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Employee
Benefits
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49
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6.9.
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Expenses
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51
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6.10.
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Indemnification; Directors’ and
Officers’ Insurance
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51
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6.11.
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Takeover
Statutes
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54
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6.12.
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Regulatory
Compliance
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54
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6.13.
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Potential Sale
of Interests
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54
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6.14.
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Transfer
Taxes
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55
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6.15.
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Taxation
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55
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6.16.
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Stock Exchange
Listing and De-listing
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55
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6.17.
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GSA
Action
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55
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6.18.
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Special
Dividend
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55
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ARTICLE VII
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CONDITIONS
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7.1.
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Conditions to
Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger
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56
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(a)
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Shareholder
Approval
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56
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(b)
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Regulatory
Consents
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56
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(c)
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Litigation
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57
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(d)
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S-4
Registration Statement
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57
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(e)
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NYSE
Listing
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57
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7.2.
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Conditions to
Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
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57
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(a)
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Representations
and Warranties
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57
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(b)
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Performance of
Obligations of the Company
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58
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(c)
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Certain
Litigation
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58
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(d)
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Governmental
Consents
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58
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(e)
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Consents Under
Agreements
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59
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(f)
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Tax
Opinion
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59
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7.3.
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Conditions to
Obligation of the Company
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59
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(a)
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Representations
and Warranties
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59
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(b)
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Performance of
Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
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59
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(c)
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Tax
Opinion
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60
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ARTICLE VIII
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TERMINATION
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8.1.
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Termination by
Mutual Consent
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60
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8.2.
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Termination by
Either Parent or the Company
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60
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8.3.
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Termination by
the Company
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61
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8.4.
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Termination by
Parent
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61
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8.5.
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Effect of
Termination and Abandonment
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61
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-iii-
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Page
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ARTICLE IX
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MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
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9.1.
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Survival
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63
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9.2.
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Modification or
Amendment
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63
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9.3.
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Waiver of
Conditions
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63
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9.4.
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Counterparts
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63
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9.5.
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GOVERNING LAW
AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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63
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9.6.
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Notices
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64
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9.7.
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Entire
Agreement
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65
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9.8.
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Third Party
Beneficiaries
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65
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9.9.
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Obligations of
Parent and of the Company
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65
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9.10.
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Definitions
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66
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9.11.
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Severability
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66
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9.12.
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Interpretation;
Construction
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66
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9.13.
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Assignment
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66
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Annex
A
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Defined
Terms
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A-1
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Exhibit A
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Charter
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E-1
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-iv-
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN
OF MERGER (hereinafter called this “ Agreement
”), dated as of January 30, 2005, among AT&T Corp.,
a New York corporation (the “ Company ”),
SBC Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (“
Parent ”), and Tau Merger Sub Corporation, a
New York corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
(“ Merger Sub ,” the Company and Merger
Sub sometimes hereinafter being referred to together as the “
Constituent Corporations ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the
respective Boards of Directors of each of the Company, Parent and
Merger Sub have, by resolutions duly adopted, declared that the
merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “
Merger ”) upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are advisable, the Board of
Directors of Parent has approved this Agreement and the Board of
Directors of each of the Company and Merger Sub has adopted this
Agreement;
WHEREAS, it is
intended that, for federal income tax purposes, the Merger shall
qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “
Code ”); and
WHEREAS, the
Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection
with this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises, and of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
The Merger; Closing; Effective
Time
1.1.
The Merger . Upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the
Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3) Merger Sub shall be
merged with and into the Company and the separate corporate
existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease. The Company shall be
the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter
referred to as the “ Surviving Corporation
”), and the separate corporate existence of the Company, with
all its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises,
shall continue unaffected by the Merger, except as set forth in
Article II. The Merger shall have the effects specified in
Section 906 of the New York Business Corporation Law, as
amended (the “ NYBCL ”).
1.2.
Closing . The closing of the
Merger (the “ Closing ”) shall take place
(i) at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, 125 Broad
Street, New York, New York at 9:00 A.M. on the fifth business day
following the day on which the last to be satisfied or waived of
the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those
conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing,
but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions)
shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement or
(ii) at such other place and time or on such other date as the
Company and Parent may agree in writing (the “ Closing
Date ”).
1.3.
Effective Time . As soon as
practicable following the Closing, the Company and Parent will
cause a Certificate of Merger (the “ New York
Certificate of Merger ”) to be executed, acknowledged
and delivered to the Department of State of the State of New York
as provided in Section 904 of the NYBCL. The Merger shall
become effective on the date on which the New York Certificate of
Merger has been filed by the Department of State of the State of
New York or at such later time as may be agreed by the parties in
writing and specified in the New York Certificate of Merger (the
“ Effective Time ”).
ARTICLE II
Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws
of the Surviving Corporation
2.1.
The Certificate of
Incorporation . At the Effective Time, the certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (the “
Charter ”) shall be amended in its entirety to
read as set forth on Exhibit A hereto, until thereafter duly
amended as provided therein or by applicable Laws (as defined in
Section 5.1(i)).
2.2.
The By-Laws . The by-laws of
Merger Sub in effect at the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of
the Surviving Corporation (the “ By-Laws
”), until thereafter amended as provided therein or by
applicable Laws.
ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
3.1.
Directors . The directors of
Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall, from and after the
Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until
their successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and
qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in
accordance with the Charter and the By-Laws.
-2-
3.2.
Officers . The officers of
Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall, from and after the
Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until
their successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and
qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in
accordance with the Charter and the By-Laws.
3.3.
Parent’s Board of
Directors . As of the Effective Time, (a) Parent shall
increase the size of its Board of Directors to enable it to appoint
David W. Dorman plus two other members of the Board of Directors of
the Company selected by mutual agreement of Parent and the Company
(the “ Director Designees ”) as members
of such Board of Directors and (b) the Parent Board of
Directors shall appoint each of the Director Designees to such
Board of Directors, to serve in such capacities until their
successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualified
or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance
with the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of
Parent.
ARTICLE IV
Effect of the Merger on Capital
Stock;
Exchange of Certificates
4.1.
Effect on Capital Stock . At
the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder of any capital stock of the
Company:
(a)
Merger Consideration . (i) Each share of Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (a “
Share ” and, collectively, the “
Shares ”) issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) Shares owned by
Parent or any direct or indirect Subsidiary (as defined in
Section 5.1(a)) of Parent and (ii) any Shares owned by
the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company
except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), for any such
Shares held on behalf of third parties (each, an “
Excluded Share ” and collectively, “
Excluded Shares ”)) (each such Share not
constituting an Excluded Share, an “ Outstanding
Share ” and, collectively, the “
Outstanding Shares ”) shall be converted into,
and become exchangeable for, 0.77942 (the “ Exchange
Ratio ”) common shares (the “ Per Share
Merger Consideration ”), par value $1.00 per share,
of Parent (“ Parent Common Stock ”). At
the Effective Time, all of the Shares shall cease to be
outstanding, shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and each certificate (a “ Certificate
”) formerly representing any of the Shares (other than
Excluded Shares) shall thereafter represent only the right to
receive the Per Share Merger Consideration and the right, if any,
to receive pursuant to Section 4.2(e) cash in lieu of
fractional shares into which such Shares have been converted
pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) and any dividend or
distribution with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant
to Section 4.2(c).
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(ii) Each
Substitute Preferred Share (as defined in Section 6.4(b))
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be converted into, and become exchangeable for, one Parent
Preferred Share (as defined in Section 5.2(b)) having
(A) a value substantially equivalent, in the judgment of
Parent, to such Substitute Preferred Share as of the Effective
Time, (B) such other terms as are necessary to ensure that
such Parent Preferred Shares would not constitute
“non-qualified preferred stock” under Section 351(g) of
the Code and (C) such other terms, if any, as are reasonably
necessary so that the terms of such Parent Preferred Shares do not
prevent the delivery of the tax opinions set forth in
Sections 7.2(f) and 7.3(c) (collectively, the “
New Parent Preferred Shares ”). At the
Effective Time, all of the Substitute Preferred Shares shall cease
to be outstanding, shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease
to exist, and each certificate formerly representing such shares
shall thereafter represent only the right to receive New Parent
Preferred Shares in accordance with the foregoing.
(b)
Cancellation of Shares . Each Excluded Share shall, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, cease to be outstanding, shall be cancelled and
retired without payment of any consideration therefor and shall
cease to exist.
(c)
Merger Sub . At the Effective Time, each share of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Surviving Corporation.
4.2.
Exchange of Certificates for
Shares .
(a)
Exchange Agent . As of the Effective Time, Parent shall
deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with an exchange agent
selected by Parent with the Company’s prior approval, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed (the “
Exchange Agent ”), for the benefit of the
holders of Outstanding Shares, certificates representing the shares
of Parent Common Stock to be exchanged for Outstanding Shares in
respect of the Per Share Merger Consideration to be paid in the
Merger and, after the Effective Time, if applicable, any cash and
dividends or other distributions with respect to the Parent Common
Stock to be paid or to be issued pursuant to Section 4.2(e) or
4.2(c) in exchange for Outstanding Shares (such certificates for
shares of Parent Common Stock, together with the amount of any cash
payable pursuant to Section 4.2(e) in lieu of fractional
shares and dividends or other distributions payable with respect
thereto pursuant to Section 4.2(c), being hereinafter referred
to as the “ Exchange Fund ”).
(b)
Exchange Procedures . Appropriate transmittal materials, to
be reasonably agreed upon by Parent and the Company, shall be
provided as soon as practicable after the Effective Time by the
Exchange Agent to holders of record of Outstanding Shares converted
in the Merger, advising such holders of the effectiveness of the
Merger and the procedure for surrendering the Certificates to the
Exchange Agent. Upon the surrender of a Certificate (or affidavit
of loss in lieu thereof) to the Exchange
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Agent in accordance with the
terms of such transmittal materials, the holder of such Certificate
shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (1) a
certificate representing that number of whole shares of Parent
Common Stock that such holder is entitled to receive pursuant to
this Article IV, (2) a check in the amount (after giving
effect to any required tax withholdings) of (A) any cash
payable pursuant to Section 4.2(e) in lieu of fractional
shares plus (B) any unpaid non-stock dividends and any other
dividends or other distributions that such holder has the right to
receive pursuant to Section 4.2(c), and, in each case, the
Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. No
interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable upon due
surrender of the Certificates. In the event of a transfer of
ownership of Shares that is not registered in the transfer records
of the Company, a certificate representing the proper number of
shares of Parent Common Stock, together with a check for any cash
to be paid upon due surrender of the Certificate and any other
dividends or distributions in respect thereof, may be issued and/or
paid to such a transferee if the Certificate formerly representing
such Shares is presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all
documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and to
evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid or
are not applicable. If any certificate for shares of Parent Common
Stock is to be issued in a name other than that in which the
Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it
shall be a condition of such exchange that the Person (as defined
below) requesting such exchange shall pay any transfer or other
taxes required by reason of the issuance of certificates for shares
of Parent Common Stock in a name other than that of the registered
holder of the Certificate surrendered, or shall establish to the
satisfaction of Parent or the Exchange Agent that such tax has been
paid or is not applicable.
For
the purposes of this Agreement, the term “
Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation
(including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association,
organization, Governmental Entity (as defined in Section 5.1(d)(i))
or other entity of any kind or nature.
(c)
Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares; Voting .
(i) All shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to
the Merger shall be deemed issued and outstanding as of the
Effective Time and whenever a dividend or other distribution is
declared by Parent in respect of the Parent Common Stock, the
record date for which is after the Effective Time, that declaration
shall include dividends or other distributions in respect of all
shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement. No dividends or other
distributions in respect of the Parent Common Stock shall be paid
to any holder of any unsurrendered Certificate until such
Certificate is surrendered for exchange in accordance with this
Article IV. Subject to the effect of applicable laws,
following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be issued
and/or paid to the holder of the certificates representing whole
shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange therefor, without
interest, (A) at the time of such surrender, the dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
theretofore payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent
Common Stock and not paid and (B) at the appropriate payment
date, the dividends or other distributions payable with respect to
such whole
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shares of Parent Common Stock
with a record date after the Effective Time but with a payment date
subsequent to surrender.
(ii) Holders
of unsurrendered Certificates shall be entitled to vote after the
Effective Time at any meeting of Parent stockholders the number of
whole shares of Parent Common Stock represented by such
Certificates, regardless of whether such holders have exchanged
their Certificates.
(d)
Transfers . After the Effective Time, there shall be no
transfers on the stock transfer books of the Company of the
Outstanding Shares.
(e)
No Fractional Shares . Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement, no fractional shares of Parent Common Stock will
be issued and any holder of Shares entitled to receive a fractional
share of Parent Common Stock but for this Section 4.2(e) shall
be entitled to receive a cash payment in lieu thereof, which
payment shall be calculated by the Exchange Agent and shall
represent such holder’s proportionate interest in a share of
Parent Common Stock based on the average of the per share closing
prices of Parent Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc. (the “ NYSE ”) composite
transactions reporting system for the 20 trading days ending on the
fifth trading day prior to the Closing Date.
(f)
Termination of Exchange Fund . Any portion of the Exchange
Fund (including the proceeds of any investments thereof and any
shares of Parent Common Stock) that remains unclaimed by the
shareholders of the Company for 180 days after the Effective
Time shall be delivered to Parent. Any shareholders of the Company
who have not theretofore complied with this Article IV shall
thereafter look only to Parent for delivery of any cash or any
shares of Parent Common Stock and payment of any cash, dividends
and other distributions in respect thereof payable or deliverable
pursuant to Section 4.1, Section 4.2(c) and
Section 4.2(e) upon due surrender of their Certificates (or
affidavits of loss in lieu thereof), in each case, without any
interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Parent,
the Surviving Corporation, the Exchange 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 applicable
abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws (as defined in
Section 5.1(i)(i)).
(g)
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . In the event any
Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such
Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond in customary amount
and upon such terms as may be required by Parent as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against it or the Surviving
Corporation with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent
will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate the cash or the shares of Parent Common Stock and any
cash, unpaid dividends or other distributions in respect thereof
that would be payable or deliverable pursuant to this Agreement had
such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate been
surrendered.
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(h)
Uncertificated Shares . In the case of any shares of Company
Common Stock that are not represented by certificates, the Exchange
Agent shall issue at the Effective Time Parent Common Stock to the
holders of such shares without any action by such holders, and the
parties shall make appropriate adjustments to this Section 4.2
to assure the equivalent treatment thereof.
4.3.
No Dissenters’ Rights .
In accordance with Section 910 of the NYBCL, no appraisal
rights shall be available to holders of Shares in connection with
the Merger.
4.4.
Adjustments to Prevent
Dilution . In the event that the Company changes the number of
Shares or securities convertible or exchangeable into or
exercisable for Shares, or Parent changes the number of shares of
Parent Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into
or exercisable for shares of Parent Common Stock, issued and
outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a
reclassification, stock split (including a reverse stock split),
stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger,
subdivision, issuer tender or exchange offer, or other similar
transaction, the Exchange Ratio shall be equitably
adjusted.
4.5.
Company Stock Based Plans
.
(a) At
the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase Shares (a
“ Company Option ”) under the
Company’s stock-based benefit plans and under individual
employment agreements to which the Company is a party (the “
Company Stock Plans ”), whether vested or
unvested, shall be converted into an option to acquire a number of
shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the product (rounded up to
the nearest whole number) of (x) the number of Shares subject
to the Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and
(y) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share
(rounded down to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the
exercise price per Share of such Company Option immediately prior
to the Effective Time divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio;
provided , however , that the exercise price and the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the
Company Options shall be determined in a manner consistent with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code; provided ,
further , that in the case of any Company Option to which
Section 422 of the Code applies, the exercise price and the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable pursuant to
such option shall be determined in accordance with the foregoing,
subject to such adjustments as are necessary in order to satisfy
the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. Except as
specifically provided above, following the Effective Time, each
Company Option shall continue to be governed by the same terms and
conditions as were applicable under such Company Option immediately
prior to the Effective Time. At or prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall adopt appropriate amendments to the Company Stock
Plans, if applicable, and the Board of Directors of the Company
shall adopt appropriate resolutions, if applicable, to effectuate
the provisions of this Section 4.5(a). Parent shall take all
actions as are necessary for the assumption of the Company Stock
Plans pursuant to this Section 4.5, including the
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reservation, issuance (subject to
Section 4.5(c)) and listing of Parent Common Stock as
necessary to effect the transactions contemplated by this
Section 4.5.
(b) At
the Effective Time, each right of any kind, contingent or accrued,
to acquire or receive Shares or benefits measured by the value of
Shares, and each award of any kind consisting of Shares that may be
held, awarded, outstanding, payable or reserved for issuance under
the Company Stock Plans and any other Compensation and Benefits
Plans, other than Company Options (the “ Company
Awards ”), shall be deemed to be converted into the
right to acquire or receive benefits measured by the value of (as
the case may be) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal
to the product of (x) the number of Shares subject to such
Company Award immediately prior to the Effective Time and
(y) the Exchange Ratio, and each such right shall otherwise be
subject to the terms and conditions applicable to such right under
the relevant Company Stock Plan or other Compensation and Benefit
Plan. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall adopt
appropriate amendments to the Company Stock Plans and such
Compensation and Benefits Plans, if applicable, and the Board of
Directors of the Company shall adopt appropriate resolutions, if
applicable, to effectuate the provisions of this
Section 4.5(b).
(c) If
registration of any interests in the Company Stock Plans or other
Compensation and Benefit Plans or the shares of Parent Common Stock
issuable thereunder is required under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the “ Securities Act ”),
Parent shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“ SEC ”) prior to the Effective Time a
registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the case may be
(or any successor form), or another appropriate form with respect
to such interests or Parent Common Stock, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to have such registration statement
declared effective by the SEC as of the Effective Time and to
maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement (and
maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses
contained therein and comply with any applicable state securities
or “blue sky” laws) for so long as the relevant Company
Stock Plans or other Compensation and Benefit Plans, as applicable,
remain in effect and such registration of interests therein or the
shares of Parent Common Stock issuable thereunder (and compliance
with any such state laws) continues to be required. As soon as
practicable after the registration of such interests or shares, as
applicable, Parent shall deliver to the holders of Company Options
and Company Awards appropriate notices setting forth such
holders’ rights pursuant to the respective Company Stock
Plans and agreements evidencing the grants of such Company Options
and Company Awards, and stating that such Company Options and
Company Awards and agreements have been assumed by Parent and shall
continue in effect on the same terms and conditions (subject to the
adjustments required by this Section 4.5 after giving effect
to the Merger and the terms of the Company Stock Plans).
(d) Without
limiting the applicability of the preceding paragraph, the Company
and Parent shall take all necessary action to ensure that the
Surviving Corporation will not be required to deliver Shares or
other capital stock of the Company
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to any Person pursuant to or in
settlement of Company Options or Company Awards after the Effective
Time. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall adopt
appropriate amendments to all Company Stock Plans conferring any
rights to Shares or other capital stock of the Company, if
applicable, and the Board of Directors of the Company shall adopt
appropriate resolutions, if applicable, to effectuate the
provisions of this Section 4.5(d).
(e) The
Board of Directors of the Company (or a committee thereof to the
extent applicable) shall take all necessary actions to ensure that
the terms of the Company Options and Company Awards then
outstanding under each Company Stock Plan are equitably adjusted to
take into account the payment of the Special Dividend pursuant to
Section 6.18 of this Agreement, and that any applicable
performance goals with respect to Company Options, Company Awards
and other Company compensation are, if impacted by the Special
Dividend, equitably adjusted.
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties
5.1.
Representations and Warranties of
the Company . Except as set forth in the disclosure letter
(subject to Section 9.12(c) of this Agreement) delivered to
Parent by the Company prior to entering into this Agreement (the
“ Company Disclosure Letter ”) or, to the
extent the qualifying nature of such disclosure with respect to a
specific representation and warranty is readily apparent therefrom,
as set forth in the Company Reports (as defined in
Section 5.1(e)) filed on or after January 1, 2004 and
prior to the date hereof (excluding any disclosures included in any
such Company Report that are predictive or forward-looking in
nature), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and
Merger Sub that:
(a)
Organization, Good Standing and Qualification . Each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries 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 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 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 result in a Material
Adverse Effect (as defined below). The Company has made available
to Parent complete and correct copies of the Company’s
certificate of incorporation and by-laws, each as amended to date,
and each as so delivered is in full force and effect. As used in
this Agreement, the term (i) “ Subsidiary
” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of
which at least a majority of the securities or ownership interests
having by their terms ordinary voting
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power to elect a majority of the
board of directors or other persons performing similar functions is
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by one
or more of its respective Subsidiaries or by such Person and any
one or more of its respective Subsidiaries, provided ,
however , that Cingular LLC shall be considered a Subsidiary
of Parent solely for purposes of Sections 5.2(a), 5.2(e),
5.2(f)(iv) (subject to the limitation set forth in
Section 5.2(f)(iv)), 5.2(g), 5.2(h), 5.2(i) and 6.1(iii)
(subject to the limitation set forth in Section 6.1(iii)), and
(ii) “ Material Adverse Effect ” means
(x) a material adverse effect on the financial condition,
assets, liabilities, business or results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, excluding any such
effect resulting from (I) changes in political or regulatory
conditions generally, (II) changes or conditions generally
affecting the U.S. economy or financial markets or generally
affecting any of the segments of the telecommunications industry in
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates or
(III) the announcement or consummation of this Agreement, or
(y) an effect that would prevent, materially delay or
materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Any determination of “ Material Adverse Effect
” with respect to the Company shall exclude the matters set
forth in Section 5.1(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter.
(b)
Capital Structure . The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of (x) 2,500,000,000 Shares, of which 799,007,457
Shares were outstanding as of the close of business on
January 27, 2005, and (y) 100,000,000 preferred shares,
par value $1.00 per share (the “ Company Preferred
Shares ”), of which 2,000,000 shares were designated
Subsidiary Exchangeable Preferred Stock, Series 2 (the “
Subsidiary Preferred Shares ”). 768,391.4
Subsidiary Preferred Shares were outstanding as of the close of
business on January 28, 2005. Each of the outstanding
Subsidiary Preferred Shares is held by a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Company, and the Subsidiaries of the Company hold no other
shares of capital stock of the Company, or securities or
obligations convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for
such capital stock. All of the outstanding Shares have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
The Company has no Shares or Company Preferred Shares reserved for
issuance, except that, as of January 27, 2005, there were an
aggregate of 30,733,276 Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
the Company Stock Plans. Section 5.1(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter contains a correct and complete list as of
December 31, 2004 of (i) the number of outstanding
Company Options under each of the Company Stock Plans, the exercise
prices of all Company Options and the number of Shares issuable at
each such exercise price and (ii) the number of outstanding
Company Awards under each of the Company Stock Plans, the date of
grant and number of Shares subject thereto. From December 31,
2004 to the date hereof the Company has not issued any shares of
Common Stock except pursuant to the exercise of Company Options and
the settlement of Company Awards outstanding on December 31,
2004 in accordance with their terms, and except for issuances under
the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan. From
December 31, 2004 through the date hereof, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has granted or issued any Company
Options or Company Awards. Each of the outstanding shares of
capital stock or other securities of each of the
Company’s
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Subsidiaries has been duly
authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable
and, to the extent owned by the Company or by a direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, is owned free and clear of
any lien, charge, pledge, security interest, claim or other
encumbrance (each, a “ Lien ”). Except as
set forth above, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no
preemptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants,
conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights,
repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements, calls, commitments or
rights of any kind that obligate the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue or sell any shares of capital stock or other
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
securities or obligations convertible or exchangeable into or
exercisable for, or giving any Person a right to subscribe for or
acquire, any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
and no securities or obligations evidencing such rights are
authorized, issued or outstanding. Upon any issuance of any Shares
in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, such
Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and free and clear of any Lien. The Company does not
have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations
the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or
exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the
shareholders of the Company on any matter. Section 5.1(b) of the
Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list of each
Person in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, any
voting interest that may require a filing by Parent or any “
Affiliate ” (as defined in Rule 12b-2
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act ”)) of Parent under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended
(the “ HSR Act ”).
(c)
Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness . (i) The
Company has all requisite corporate power and authority and has
taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute, deliver
and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate
the Merger, subject only to adoption of this Agreement by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote on
such matter at a shareholders’ meeting duly called and held
for the purpose (the “ Company Requisite Vote
”). This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and
to general equity principles (the “ Bankruptcy and
Equity Exception ”).
(ii) The
Board of Directors of the Company has (A) declared that the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby are advisable
and has adopted this Agreement; (B) received the opinions of
its financial advisors, Credit Suisse First Boston Inc. and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated to the effect that the Per Share
Merger Consideration, together with the Special Dividend, is fair
from a financial point of view to the holders of Shares (other than
Excluded Shares); (C) resolved to recommend adoption of this
Agreement to the holders of Shares (such recommendations being the
“ Directors’ Recommendation ”); and
(D) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the holders
of Shares for their adoption.
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(d)
Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts .
(i) Other than the notices, reports, filings, consents,
registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations (A) pursuant to
Section 1.3; (B) required under the HSR Act, European
Union Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2000 of January 20,
2004 (the “ EC Merger Regulation ”) (if
applicable), the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (C) with
or to the Federal Communications Commission (the “
FCC ”); (D) with or to those State public
service or public utility commissions or similar State regulatory
bodies (“ State Commissions ”) set forth
in Section 5.1(d)(i)(D) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(E) with or to those foreign Governmental Entities regulating
competition and telecommunications businesses or the use of radio
spectrum or regulating or limiting investment set forth in
Section 5.1(d)(i)(E) of the Company Disclosure Letter; and
(F) with or to those State agencies or departments or local
governments that have issued competitive access provider or other
telecommunications franchises or any other similar authorizations,
no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made by the
Company with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals,
permits or authorizations required to be obtained by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries from, any domestic or foreign governmental
or regulatory authority, agency, commission, body, court or other
legislative, executive or judicial governmental entity (each a
“ Governmental Entity ”), in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby, or in connection with
the continuing operation of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries following the Effective Time, except those that the
failure to make or obtain would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(ii) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby will not, constitute
or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under,
the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or the
comparable governing documents of any of its Subsidiaries;
(B) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or
violation of, a termination (or right of termination) or default
under, the creation or acceleration of any obligations under or the
creation of a Lien on any of the assets of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries pursuant to any agreement, lease, license,
contract, note, mortgage, indenture or other legally binding
obligation (a “ Contract ”) binding upon
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, assuming (solely with
respect to performance of this Agreement and consummation by the
Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby) compliance with the matters referred to in
Section 5.1(d)(i), any Law or governmental or non-governmental
permit or license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is subject; or (C) any change in the rights or obligations of
any party under any Material Contract (as defined in
Section 5.1(j)(i)(I)) binding upon the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any change in pricing,
put or call rights, rights of first offer, rights of first refusal,
tag-along or drag-along rights or any similar rights or obligations
which may be exercised in connection with the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby), except, in the case of clause
(B) or (C) above, for any
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such breach, violation,
termination, default, creation, acceleration or change that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. Section 5.1(d)(ii) of the
Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of
Material Contracts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pursuant to which consents or waivers are or may be required prior
to consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(iii) As
of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries holds claims, as creditor or claimant, of greater than
$10,000,000 with respect to any one debtor or debtor-in-possession
subject to proceedings under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United
States Code.
(e)
Company Reports; Financial Statements . (i) The Company
has made available to Parent each registration statement, report,
proxy statement or information statement prepared by it since
December 31, 2003 (the “ Audit Date
”) and filed with the SEC, including the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2003 and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly periods ending March 31, June 30 and
September 30, 2004, each in the form (including exhibits,
annexes and any amendments thereto) filed with the SEC. The Company
has filed or furnished all forms, statements, reports and documents
required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC pursuant to
applicable securities statutes, regulations, policies and rules
since the Audit Date (the forms, statements, reports and documents
filed or furnished with the SEC since the Audit Date and those
filed or furnished with the SEC subsequent to the date of this
Agreement, if any, including any amendments thereto, the “
Company Reports ”). Each of the Company
Reports, at the time of its filing, complied or will comply in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and complied in all
material respects with the then applicable accounting standards. As
of their respective dates (or, if amended, as of the date of such
amendment), the Company Reports did not, and any Company Reports
filed with the SEC subsequent to the date hereof will not, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which
they were made, not misleading. The Company Reports included or
will include all certificates required to be included therein
pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, as amended (the “ SOX Act ”), and
the internal control report and attestation of the Company’s
outside auditors required by Section 404 of the SOX
Act.
(ii) Each
of the consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by
reference into the Company Reports (including the related notes and
schedules) fairly presents, or, in the case of Company Reports
filed after the date hereof, will fairly present, the consolidated
financial position of the Company and any other entity included
therein and their respective Subsidiaries as of its date, and each
of the consolidated statements of income, changes in
shareowners’ equity and cash flows included in or
incorporated by reference into the Company Reports (including any
related notes and
-13-
schedules) fairly presents, or in
the case of Company Reports filed after the date hereof, will
fairly present, the net income, total shareowners’ equity and
net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, as the
case may be, of the Company and any other entity included therein
and their respective Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to notes and normal
year-end audit adjustments that will not be material in amount or
effect), in each case in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles (“ GAAP ”)
consistently applied during the periods involved, except as may be
noted therein.
(iii) The
management of the Company has (x) implemented disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the
Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to the
Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to
the management of the Company by others within those entities, and
(y) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to the
Company’s outside auditors and the audit committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company (A) all significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial data and (B) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Company’s
internal controls over financial reporting. Since the Audit Date,
any material change in internal control over financial reporting
required to be disclosed in any Company Report has been so
disclosed.
(iv) Since
the Audit Date, (x) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the officers of the Company,
any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or
representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral,
regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures,
methodologies or methods of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or their respective internal accounting controls relating to
periods after the Audit Date, including any material complaint,
allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing
practices (except for any of the foregoing after the date hereof
which have no reasonable basis), and (y) no attorney
representing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not
employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported
evidence of a material violation of securities Laws, breach of
fiduciary duty or similar violation, relating to periods after the
Audit Date, by the Company or any of its officers, directors,
employees or agents to the Board of Directors of the Company or any
committee thereof or, to the knowledge of the officers of the
Company, to any director or officer of the Company.
(f)
Absence of Certain Changes . Since the Audit Date the
Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective
businesses only in, and have not engaged in any material
transaction other than in accordance with, the ordinary course
of
-14-
such businesses. Since the Audit
Date, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect or any event,
occurrence, discovery or development which would, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Since the Audit Date and prior to the date hereof,
there has not been:
(i) any
recapitalization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
merger or consolidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
with any other Person (other than any such transaction involving
only wholly-owned Subsidiaries);
(ii) any
acquisition of any (A) business from any other Person having a
value in excess of $50,000,000 or (B) assets from any other
Person having a value in excess of $50,000,000 other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(iii) any
creation or incurrence of any material Liens on any assets used in
the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries having an
aggregate value in excess of $50,000,000;
(iv) any
making of any material loan, advance or capital contribution to, or
investment in, any Person other than (A) loans, advances or
capital contributions to, or investments in, wholly-owned
Subsidiaries of the Company and (B) loans, advances or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other Person in an amount
not in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate;
(v) any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or
distribution (whether in cash, stock, property or any combination
thereof) with respect to any shares of capital stock of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries (except for the Company’s regular
quarterly cash dividend and dividends or distributions by any
direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary to the Company or any
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, and except for dividends or
distributions by other Subsidiaries of the Company for which the
portion of such dividends or distributions not payable to a direct
or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company did not exceed
$10,000,000 in value in the aggregate for all such dividends and
distributions, or any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly,
of any outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(vi) any
incurrence of indebtedness for borrowed money or issuance of any
guarantee of indebtedness of another Person by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or issuance or sale of any debt securities or
warrants or other rights to acquire any debt security of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, other than
refinancing on ordinary commercial terms and other than involving
an aggregate principal amount or guaranteed amount not in excess of
$50,000,000;
-15-
(vii) any
issuance of Shares or other equity securities of the Company except
pursuant to the Company Stock Plans and except pursuant to the
Company’s dividend reinvestment program;
(viii) any
material change with respect to accounting policies or procedures
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any such
change required by changes in GAAP or by applicable Law;
(ix) (A) any
increase in the compensation payable or to become payable to its
officers or employees (except for increases in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practice in salaries or wages
of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who are not
among the officers of the Company for purposes of Section 16
of the Exchange Act (“ Section 16 Officers
”) or (B) except for the AT&T Corp. 2004 Long Term
Incentive Program, any establishment, adoption, entry into or
amendment of any collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing,
thrift, compensation, employment, termination, severance or other
plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit
of any director, officer or group of employees, except to the
extent required by applicable Laws;
(x) any
sale, lease, license or other disposition of any assets of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, except for (A) obsolete assets
and (B) sales, leases, licenses or other dispositions of
assets in the ordinary course of business or for a purchase price
not in excess of, or with a fair market value not in excess of,
$50,000,000 in any single transaction or series of related
transactions; or
(xi) any
agreement to do any of the foregoing.
(g)
Litigation and Liabilities . (i) There are no
(A) civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims,
hearings, arbitrations, investigations or proceedings pending or,
to the knowledge of the officers of the Company, threatened against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or
(B) litigations, arbitrations, investigations or other
proceedings, or injunctions or final judgments relating thereto,
pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of the Company,
threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates before any Governmental Entity, including, without
limitation, the FCC, except in the case of either clause
(A) or (B), for those that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates is a party to or subject to the provisions of any
judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any
Governmental Entity which would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(ii) There
are no liabilities or obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise and
whether or not required to be disclosed, or any other facts or
circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any
obligations or liabilities of, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than:
-16-
(A)
liabilities or obligations to the
extent (I) reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the
Company or (II) readily apparent in the notes thereto, in each
case included in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q
for the period ended September 30, 2004;
(B)
liabilities or obligations incurred
in the ordinary course of business since September 30,
2004;
(C)
performance obligations under
contracts required in accordance with their terms, or performance
obligations, to the extent required under applicable Law, in each
case to the extent arising after the date hereof; or
(D)
liabilities or obligations that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(h)
Employee Benefits .
(i) All
benefit and compensation plans, programs, contracts, policies or
arrangements covering current or former employees of the Company
and its Subsidiaries and current or former directors of the
Company, including, but not limited to, the Company Stock Plans,
“employee benefit plans” within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), and
deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit-sharing, thrift,
savings, employee stock ownership, stock bonus, stock purchase,
restricted stock, stock option, stock appreciation rights,
performance share, performance unit, incentive compensation,
performance-based compensation, stock-based compensation, bonus,
employment, retention, termination, severance, other compensation,
medical, health, fringe benefit or other plans, programs,
contracts, policies or arrangements (the “ Compensation
and Benefit Plans ”) other than those that did not
require the payment of in excess of $500,000 per annum for the year
ending December 31, 2004 individually or the payment of in
excess of $2,500,000 per annum for the year ending
December 31, 2004 in the aggregate (unless more than 500
employees are eligible to participate in the plan, program,
contract, policy or arrangement or the plan, program, contract,
policy or arrangement contains a change-in-control or similar
provision) are listed in Section 5.1(h)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, except for Compensation and Benefit Plans
exclusively covering current or former employees of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and current or former directors of the Company, in
each case located in jurisdictions other than the United States of
America (a list of which shall be provided to Parent within
30 days following the date of this Agreement) and each
Compensation and Benefit Plan that has received a favorable opinion
letter from the Internal Revenue National Office, including any
master or prototype plan, has been separately identified. True and
complete copies of all Compensation and Benefit Plans listed in
Section 5.1(h)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, including any
trust agreement or other trust instrument, insurance contract
forming a part of such Compensation and Benefit Plans, and, with
respect to any employee stock ownership plan, any
associated
-17-
loan or credit agreement, and all
amendments thereto, have been made available to Parent prior to the
date hereof.
(ii) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, all Compensation
and Benefit Plans are in compliance with all applicable Laws,
including the Code and, to the extent applicable, ERISA. Each
Compensation and Benefit Plan that is an “employee pension
benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of
ERISA (a “ Pension Plan ”) and that is
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has
received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service (the “ IRS ”) covering all tax
law changes prior to the Economic Growth and Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2001, or has applied to the IRS for such
favorable determination letter within the applicable remedial
amendment period under Section 401(b) of the Code, and the Company
is not aware of any circumstances likely to result in the loss of
the qualification of such Pension Plan under Section 401(a) of the
Code. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
(A) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened litigation relating to the Compensation and Benefit
Plans, (B) any voluntary employees’ beneficiary
association within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the
Code which provides benefits under a Compensation and Benefit Plan
has received an opinion letter from the IRS recognizing its exempt
status under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code, has timely filed
notice under Section 505(c) of the Code, and the Company is not
aware of circumstances likely to result in the loss of such exempt
status under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code, (C) neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred or reasonably
expects to incur a tax or penalty imposed by Section 4980F of the
Code or Section 502 of ERISA, and (D) neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction with
respect to any Compensation and Benefit Plan that, assuming the
taxable period of such transaction expired as of the date hereof,
would subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a tax or
penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code or
Section 502 of ERISA.
(iii) No
liability under Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA has been or is
expected to be incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary with
respect to any ongoing, frozen or terminated “single-employer
plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of
ERISA, currently or formerly maintained by any of them, or the
single-employer plan of any entity which is considered one employer
with the Company under Section 4001 of ERISA or
Section 414 of the Code (an “ ERISA
Affiliate ”). The Company and its Subsidiaries have
not contributed, or been obligated to contribute, to a
multiemployer plan under Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA at any
time within the past six years, and no notice of a
“reportable event”, within the meaning of
Section 4043 of ERISA, for which the 30-day reporting
requirement has not been waived, has been required to be filed for
any Pension Plan or by any ERISA Affiliate within the 12-month
period ending on the date hereof or will be required to be filed in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
-18-
(iv) All
contributions required to be made under the terms of any
Compensation and Benefit Plan as of the date hereof have been
timely made and all obligations in respect of each Compensation and
Benefit Plan have been properly accrued and reflected on the most
recent consolidated balance sheet filed or incorporated by
reference in the Company Reports to the extent required by GAAP. As
of the date of this Agreement, neither any Pension Plan nor any
single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate has an
“accumulated funding deficiency” (whether or not
waived) within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or
Section 302 of ERISA. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries
has provided, or is required to provide, security to any Pension
Plan or to any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate pursuant
to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.
(v) Under
each Pension Plan which is a single-employer plan, as of the last
day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date of this
Agreement, the actuarially determined present value of all
“benefit liabilities”, within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA (as determined on the basis of
the actuarial assumptions contained in the Pension Plan’s
most recent actuarial valuation), did not exceed the then current
value of the assets of such Pension Plan, and there has been no
material adverse change in the financial condition of such Pension
Plan since the last day of the most recent plan year.
(vi) Except
as set forth in Section 5.1(h)(vi) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
obligations for retiree health or life benefits under any
Compensation and Benefit Plan other than as required by applicable
law or the continuation of health or life benefits after a
severance event pursuant to any severance plan, program,
arrangement or agreement.
(vii) The
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement will not (w) entitle any employees of the
Company or its Subsidiaries to severance pay or any increase in
severance pay upon any termination of employment after the date
hereof; (x) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or
result in any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or
otherwise) or trigger any payment of compensation or benefits
under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other material
obligation pursuant to, any of the Compensation and Benefit Plans;
(y) limit or restrict the right of the Company or, after
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Parent to
merge, amend or terminate any of the Compensation and Benefit
Plans; or (z) result in any breach or violation of, or default
under, any of the Compensation and Benefit Plans.
(viii) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) all
Compensation and Benefit Plans covering current or former non-U.S.
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries comply with
applicable local Laws and (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries have
no unfunded liabilities with respect to any Pension Plan that
covers such non-U.S. employees and that are not set forth in the
Financial Statements.
-19-
(i)
Compliance with Laws; Licenses . (i) The businesses of
each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been conducted in
violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute or
ordinance, common law, or any rule, regulation, standard, judgment,
order, writ, injunction, decree, arbitration award, agency
requirement, license or permit of any Governmental Entity
(collectively, “ Laws ”), except for such
violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No
investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the
knowledge of the officers of the Company, threatened, nor has any
Governmental Entity indicated an intention to conduct the same,
except for any such investigations or reviews that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has obtained and is in substantial compliance with all
permits, licenses, certifications, approvals, registrations,
consents, authorizations, franchises, variances, exemptions and
orders issued or granted by a Governmental Entity (“
Licenses ”) necessary to conduct its business
as presently conducted, except for any failures to have or to be in
compliance with such Licenses which would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ii) Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all
material respects with each FCC License and State License (each as
defined in Section 6.1(ii) and, collectively, the “
Communications Licenses ”). Each of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with (A) its obligations
under each of the Company Licenses (as defined in
Section 6.1(ii)) and (B) the rules and regulations of the
Governmental Entity issuing such Company Licenses, except for any
failures to be in compliance which would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. There is not pending or, to the knowledge of the
officers of the Company, threatened before the FCC, the Federal
Aviation Administration (“ FAA ”) or any
other Governmental Entity any material proceeding, notice of
violation, order of forfeiture or complaint or investigation
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to any of
the Company Licenses, except, in the case of Company Licenses other
than Communications Licenses, for any of the foregoing that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. The actions of the applicable
Governmental Entities granting all Company Licenses have not been
reversed, stayed, enjoined, annulled or suspended, and there is not
pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of the Company,
threatened, any material application, petition, objection or other
pleading with the FCC, the FAA or any other Governmental Entity
which challenges or questions the validity of or any rights of the
holder under any Company License, except, in the case of Company
Licenses other than Communications Licenses, for any of the
foregoing that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(iii) All
of the microwave paths of the Company and its Subsidiaries in
respect of which a filing with the FCC or the FAA was required have
been constructed and are currently operated in all respects as
represented to the FCC or the FAA in
-20-
currently effective filings, and
modifications to such microwave paths have been preceded by the
submission to the FCC or the FAA of all required filings, in each
case, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(iv) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a non- de minimis adverse effect on
the operation of transmission towers by the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (A) all transmission towers
located on property owned or leased by the Company and its
Subsidiaries are obstruction-marked and lighted to the extent
required by, and in accordance with, the rules and regulations of
the FAA (the “ FAA Rules ”), and (B)
appropriate notification to the FAA has been made for each
transmission tower located on property owned or leased by the
Company and its Subsidiaries.
(j)
Material Contracts . (i) Except as set forth in
Schedule 5.1(j)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the
date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by:
(A)
any lease of real or personal
property providing for annual rentals of $15,000,000 or
more;
(B)
any agreement or agreements involving
more than $5,000,000 individually or $10,000,000 in the aggregate
to acquire (I) a License, or an interest in an entity holding
a License, that upon acquisition by the Company would become a
Communications License or (II) any interest in an entity that
holds a License that upon acquisition of such entity by the Company
would become a Foreign License;
(C)
any partnership, joint venture or
other similar agreement or arrangement relating to the formation,
creation, operation, management or control of any partnership or
joint venture material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owns any interest
valued at more than $10,000,000 without regard to percentage voting
or economic interest (unless pursuant to such agreement or
arrangement the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have a future
funding obligation reasonably likely to require funding of more
than $15,000,000 in the aggregate);
(D)
any Contract (other than among direct
or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company) relating to
indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of
property (in either case, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or
secured by any asset) in excess of $50,000,000;
(E)
any Contract required to be filed as
an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act;
-21-
(F)
any non-competition Contract or other
Contract that (I) purports to limit in any material respect
either the type of business in which the Company or its
Subsidiaries (or, after the Effective Time, Parent or its
Affiliates) may engage or the manner or locations in which any of
them may so engage in any business or (II) could require the
disposition of any material assets or line of business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries or, after the Effective Time, Parent or
its Affiliates;
(G)
any Contract (other than (I) a
Contract with respect to compensation or similar arrangements not
involving a director of the Company or one of the Section 16
Officers and (II) any Contract entered into in the ordinary
course of business) between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
and any director or officer of the Company or any Person
beneficially owning, as of the date hereof, five percent or more of
the outstanding Shares;
(H)
any Contract that contains a put,
call or similar right pursuant to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries could be required to purchase or sell, as applicable,
any equity interests of any Person or assets that have a fair
market value or purchase price of more than $25,000,000;
and
(I)
any other Contract or group of
Contracts with a single counterparty that, if terminated or subject
to a default by any party thereto, would, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect (the Contracts described in clauses (A) – (I),
together with all exhibits and schedules to such Contracts, being
the “ Material Contracts ”).
(ii) A
true and complete copy of each Material Contract has previously
been delivered or made available to Parent (subject to applicable
confidentiality restrictions) and each such Contract is a valid and
binding agreement of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, as the
case may be, and is in full force and effect, and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the
officers of the Company, any other party thereto is in material
default or breach under the terms of any such Material
Contract.
(k)
Real Property . (i) Except in any such case as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to the real
property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the “
Owned Real Property ”), (A) the Company or
one of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, has good and marketable
title to the Owned Real Property, free and clear of any
Encumbrance, and (B) there are no outstanding options or
rights of first refusal to purchase the Owned Real Property, or any
portion thereof or interest therein.
(ii) With
respect to the real property leased or subleased to the Company or
its Subsidiaries (the “ Leased Real Property
”), (A) the lease or sublease for such property is
valid, legally binding, enforceable and in full force and effect,
and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in breach of
or default under such lease or sublease, and no event has occurred
which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would
-22-
constitute a breach or default by
any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or permit termination,
modification or acceleration by any third party thereunder, and
(B) no third party has repudiated or has the right to
terminate or repudiate such lease or sublease (except for the
normal exercise of remedies in connection with a default thereunder
or any termination rights set forth in the lease or sublease) or
any provision thereof, except in each case, for such invalidity,
failures to be binding, unenforceability, ineffectiveness,
breaches, defaults, terminations, modifications, accelerations,
repudiations and rights to terminate or repudiate that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) For
purposes of this Section 5.1(k) only, “
Encumbrance ” means any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, easement, covenant, or other restriction
or title matter or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset
except for (A) specified encumbrances described in
Section 5.1(k)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(B) encumbrances for current Taxes or other governmental
charges not yet due and payable; (C) mechanics’,
carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like
encumbrances arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice relating to obligations as to which
there is no default on the part of Company, or the validity or
amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings; and (D) other encumbrances that do not, individually
or in the aggregate, materially impair the continued use,
operation, value or marketability of the specific parcel of Owned
Real Property or Leased Real Property to which they relate or the
conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as
presently conducted.
(l)
Right-of-Way Agreements . (i) Except in any such case
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) each
right-of-way agreement, license agreement or other agreement
permitting or requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
lay, build, operate, maintain or place cable, wires, conduits or
other equipment and facilities over land or underground (each, a
“ Right-of-Way Agreement ”) is valid,
legally binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, and none
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in breach of or
default under any Right-of-Way Agreement, (B) no event has
occurred which, with notice or lapse of time, would constitute a
breach or default by any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or
permit termination, modification or acceleration by any third party
thereunder and (C) no third party has repudiated or has the
right to terminate or repudiate any Right-of-Way
Agreement.
(ii) To
the knowledge of the officers of the Company, the Company is not in
violation of any Laws which, individually or in combination with
any others, would materially and adversely affect the ability of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to use any of the rights
associated with the Right-of-Way Agreements, taken as a whole, in
the manner and scope in which such rights are now being
used.
(m)
Takeover Statutes . No “fair price,”
“moratorium,” “control share acquisition”
or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation (each a
“ Takeover
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Statute
”) is applicable to the
Company, the Shares, the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Board of Directors of the
Company has taken all action so that Parent will not be prohibited
from entering into a “business combination” with the
Company or any of its Affiliates as an “interested
shareholder” (in each case as such term is used in
Section 912 of the NYBCL) as a result of the execution of this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(n)
Environmental Matters . Except for such matters as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company and its
Subsidiaries have complied at all times with all applicable
Environmental Laws (as defined below); (ii) no property
currently owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (including soils, groundwater, surface water,
buildings or other structures) is contaminated with any Hazardous
Substance (as defined below) in a manner that is or could be
required to be Remediated or Removed (as such terms are defined
below), that is in violation of any Environmental Law, or that is
reasonably likely to give rise to any Environmental Liability;
(iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have no information that any
property formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries was contaminated with any Hazardous Substance
during or prior to such period of ownership, leasehold, or
operation; (iv) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries nor any prior owner or operator has incurred in the
past or is now subject to any Environmental Liabilities (as defined
below); (v) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has received any notice, demand, letter, claim or request for
information alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
may be in violation of or subject to liability under any
Environmental Law; (vi) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any order, decree, injunction or
agreement with any Governmental Entity, or any indemnity or other
agreement with any third party, concerning liability or obligations
relating to any Environmental Law or otherwise relating to any
Hazardous Substance or any environmental, health or safety matter;
and (vii) there are no other circumstances or conditions
involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that could
reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental
Liability.
As
used herein, the term “ Environmental Laws
” means all Laws (including any common law) relating to:
(A) the protection, investigation or restoration of the
environment, health, safety, or natural resources, (B) the
handling, use, presence, disposal, Release or threatened release of
any Hazardous Substance or (C) noise, odor, indoor air,
employee exposure, electromagnetic fields, wetlands, pollution,
contamination or any injury or threat of injury to persons or
property relating to any Hazardous Substance.
As
used herein, the term “ Environmental Liability
” means (i) any obligations or liabilities (including
any notices, claims, complaints, suits or other assertions of
obligations or liabilities) that are: (A) related to
environment, health or safety issues (including on-site or off-site
contamination by Hazardous Substances of surface or subsurface soil
or water, and occupational safety and health); and
(B) based
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upon (I) any provision of
Environmental Laws or (II) any order, consent, decree, writ,
injunction or judgment issued or otherwise imposed by any
Governmental Entity. The term “Environmental
Liabilities” includes, without limitation: (A) fines,
penalties, judgments, awards, settlements, losses, damages
(including consequential damages), costs, fees (including
attorneys’ and consultants’ fees), expenses and
disbursements relating to environmental, health or safety matters;
(B) defense and other responses to any administrative or
judicial action (including notices, claims, complaints, suits and
other assertions of liability) relating to environmental, health or
safety matters; and (C) financial responsibility for
(x) cleanup costs and injunctive relief, including any
Removal, Remedial or Response actions, and natural resource
damages, and (y) other Environmental Laws compliance or remedial
measures.
As
used herein, the term “ Hazardous Substance
” means any “hazardous substance” and any
“pollutant or contaminant” as those terms are defined
in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“ CERCLA
”); any “hazardous waste” as that term is defined
in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“
RCRA ”); and any “hazardous
material” as that term is defined in the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq .),
as amended (including as those terms are further defined,
construed, or otherwise used in rules, regulations, standards,
orders, guidelines, directives, and publications issued pursuant
to, or otherwise in implementation of, said Laws); and including,
without limitation, any petroleum product or byproduct, solvent,
flammable or explosive material, radioactive material, asbestos,
lead paint, polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs), dioxins,
dibenzofurans, heavy metals, radon gas, mold, mold spores, and
mycotoxins.
As
used herein, the term “ Release ” means
any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,
discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, placing,
discarding, abandonment, or disposing into the environment
(including the placing, discarding or abandonment of any barrel,
container or other receptacle containing any Hazardous Substance or
other material).
As
used herein, the term “ Removal, Remedial or
Response ” actions include the types of activities
covered by CERCLA, RCRA, and other comparable Environmental Laws,
and whether such activities are those which might be taken by a
Governmental Entity or those which a Governmental Entity or any
other person might seek to require of waste generators, handlers,
distributors, processors, users, storers, treaters, owners,
operators, transporters, recyclers, reusers, disposers, or other
persons under “removal,” “remedial,” or
other “response” actions.
(o)
Taxes . Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect: the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) have
prepared in good faith and duly and timely filed (taking into
account any extension of time within which to file) all Tax Returns
(as defined below) required to be filed by any of them and all such
filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material
respects; and (ii) have paid all Taxes (as defined below) that
are
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required to be paid or that the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from
amounts owing to any employee, creditor or third party, except with
respect to matters contested in good faith or for which adequate
reserves have been established. As of the date hereof, except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to result in an increase in Taxes that is material to the Company,
there are no audits, examinations, investigations or other
proceedings, in each case, pending or threatened in writing, in
respect of Taxes or Tax matters. The Company has made available to
Parent true and correct copies of the United States federal income
Tax Returns filed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for each of
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000.
None of the Company or its Subsidiaries has been a
“distributing corporation” or “controlled
corporation” in any distribution occurring during the last
30 months that was purported or intended to be governed by
Section 355 of the Code (or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign law).
As
used in this Agreement, (i) the term “ Tax
” (including, with correlative meaning, the term “
Taxes ”) includes all federal, state, local and
foreign income, profits, franchise, gross receipts, environmental,
customs duty, capital stock, severances, stamp, payroll, sales,
employment, unemployment, disability, use, property, withholding,
excise, production, value added, occupancy and other taxes, duties
or assessments of any nature whatsoever, together with all
interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such
amounts and any interest in respect of such penalties and
additions, and (ii) the term “ Tax Return
” includes all returns and reports (including elections,
declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information
returns) required to be supplied to a Tax authority relating to
Taxes.
(p)
Labor Matters . Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise bound by any collective
bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor union or labor
organization, nor (except for proceedings involving individual
employees arising in the ordinary course of business) is the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries the subject of any material
proceeding asserting that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it to
bargain with any labor union or labor organization. There is not
pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of the Company,
threatened, nor has there been for the past five years, any labor
strike, dispute, walk-out, work stoppage, slow-down or lockout
involving more than 100 employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the officers of the Company,
there are no organizational efforts with respect to the formation
of a collective bargaining unit presently being made or threatened
involving more than 100 employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(q)
Intellectual Property and IT Assets . Except for such
matters as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:
(i) All
patents, patent applications, trademark and copyright registrations
and applications for registration, and Internet domain name
registrations
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claimed to be owned by the
Company are owned exclusively by the Company and are valid,
subsisting and, to the knowledge of the officers of the Company,
enforceable.
(ii) The
Company and/or each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed or
otherwise possesses legally enforceable rights to use, all
Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, all of which
rights shall survive unchanged the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereunder.
(iii) The
conduct of the business as currently conducted by the Company and
its Subsidiaries and for the three (3) year period immediately
preceding the date of this Agreement does not and did not infringe,
misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property
rights of any third Person. There is no claim, action or proceeding
asserted, or to the knowledge of the officers of the Company
threatened, against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any
indemnities thereof concerning the ownership, validity,
registerability, enforceability, infringement, use or licensed
right to use any Intellectual Property claimed to be owned or held
by the Company or its Subsidiaries or used or alleged to be used in
the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(iv) To
the knowledge of the officers of the Company, no third Person has
for the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date of
this Agreement infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated the
Intellectual Property rights of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
There are no claims, actions or proceedings asserted or threatened
by the Company, or decided by the Company to be asserted or
threatened, that (A) a third Person infringes, misappropriates
or otherwise violates, or for the three (3) year period
immediately preceding the date of this Agreement infringed,
misappropriated or otherwise violated, the Intellectual Property
rights of the Company or its Subsidiaries; or (B) a third
Person’s owned or claimed Intellectual Property interferes
with, infringes, dilutes or otherwise harms the Intellectual
Property rights of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(v) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures to
protect the confidentiality of all material Trade Secrets that are
owned, used or held by the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the
knowledge of the officers of the Company, such material Trade
Secrets have not been used, disclosed to or discovered by any
Person except pursuant to valid and appropriate non-disclosure
and/or license agreements which have not been breached.
(vi) The
IT Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries operate and perform
in all material respects in accordance with their documentation and
functional specifications and otherwise as required by the Company
and its Subsidiaries for the operation of their
respective
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