Back to top

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Agreement and Plan of Merger

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER | Document Parties: CBS Corporation | CNET NETWORKS, INC | Ten Acquisition Corp You are currently viewing:
This Agreement and Plan of Merger involves

CBS Corporation | CNET NETWORKS, INC | Ten Acquisition Corp

. RealDealDocs™ contains millions of easily searchable legal documents and clauses from top law firms. Search for free - click here.
Title: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 5/15/2008
Industry: Computer Services     Law Firm: Weil Gotshal     Sector: Technology

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, Parties: cbs corporation , cnet networks  inc , ten acquisition corp
50 of the Top 250 law firms use our Products every day

Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION COPY

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

CNET NETWORKS, INC.,

CBS CORPORATION

and

TEN ACQUISITION CORP.

Dated as of May 15, 2008

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
  ARTICLE I   
  DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.01

  Definitions    2
  ARTICLE II   
  THE OFFER   

Section 2.01

  The Offer    11

Section 2.02

  Actions of Parent and Purchaser    13

Section 2.03

  Actions by the Company    14

Section 2.04

  Board of Directors    15

Section 2.05

  Actions by Directors    17

Section 2.06

  Top-Up Option    17
  ARTICLE III   
  THE MERGER   

Section 3.01

  Merger    18

Section 3.02

  Charter and Bylaws    18

Section 3.03

  Effective Time of the Merger    19

Section 3.04

  Closing    19

Section 3.05

  Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation    19
  ARTICLE IV   
  EFFECTS OF THE MERGER   

Section 4.01

  Effects of the Merger on Company Securities    19

Section 4.02

  Effects of the Merger on Purchaser Securities    21

Section 4.03

  Payment of Merger Consideration; Stock Transfer Books    21

Section 4.04

  Company Dissenting Shares    23

Section 4.05

  Withholding Rights    23

Section 4.06

  Adjustments to Prevent Dilution    24
  ARTICLE V   
  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY   

Section 5.01

  Organization and Qualification; Authority    24

Section 5.02

  Company Subsidiaries    25

Section 5.03

  Capitalization    25

Section 5.04

  Authority; Validity and Effect of Agreements    27

Section 5.05

  No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents    27

Section 5.06

  Permits; Compliance with Laws    28

Section 5.07

  SEC Filings; Financial Statements    29

Section 5.08

  Absence of Certain Changes or Events    31

Section 5.09

  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities    31

 


         Page

Section 5.10

  Absence of Litigation    31

Section 5.11

  Employee Benefit Plans    31

Section 5.12

  Information Supplied    34

Section 5.13

  Intellectual Property    34

Section 5.14

  Taxes    36

Section 5.15

  Environmental Matters    37

Section 5.16

  Material Contracts    37

Section 5.17

  Real Property    38

Section 5.18

  Interested Party Transactions    39

Section 5.19

  Brokers    39

Section 5.20

  Opinion of Financial Advisor    39

Section 5.21

  Amendment of Rights Plan    39

Section 5.22

  Anti-Takeover Provisions    39
  ARTICLE VI   
  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES   

Section 6.01

  Organization    40

Section 6.02

  Ownership of Purchaser; No Prior Activities    40

Section 6.03

  Authority; Validity and Effect of Agreements    40

Section 6.04

  No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents    41

Section 6.05

  Information Supplied    41

Section 6.06

  Absence of Litigation    41

Section 6.07

  Availability of Funds    42

Section 6.08

  No Ownership of Company Capital Stock    42

Section 6.09

  Other Agreements or Understandings    42

Section 6.10

  Brokers    42

Section 6.11

  No Additional Representations    42
  ARTICLE VII   
  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER   

Section 7.01

  Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger    42

Section 7.02

  Conduct of Business by Buyer Parties Pending the Merger    46
  ARTICLE VIII   
  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS   

Section 8.01

  Company Proxy/Information Statement; Other Filings; Stockholders’ Meeting    46

Section 8.02

  Access to Information; Confidentiality    48

Section 8.03

  Solicitation    49

Section 8.04

  Employee Benefits Matters    50

Section 8.05

  Section 16 Matters    52

Section 8.06

  Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance of the Surviving Corporation    53

Section 8.07

  Further Action; Commercially Reasonable Efforts    54

Section 8.08

  State Takeover Laws    55

Section 8.09

  Public Announcements    55

 

ii

 


         Page

Section 8.10

  Notification of Certain Matters    55
  ARTICLE IX   
  CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER   

Section 9.01

  Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party    55

Section 9.02

  Conditions to the Obligations of the Company    56

Section 9.03

  Frustration of Conditions    56
  ARTICLE X   
  TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER   

Section 10.01

  Termination    56

Section 10.02

  Effect of Termination    58

Section 10.03

  Fees and Expenses    58

Section 10.04

  Waiver    59
  ARTICLE XI   
  GENERAL PROVISIONS   

Section 11.01

  Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties    59

Section 11.02

  Notices    59

Section 11.03

  Severability    60

Section 11.04

  Amendment    60

Section 11.05

  Entire Agreement; Assignment    61

Section 11.06

  Performance Guaranty    61

Section 11.07

  Specific Performance    61

Section 11.08

  Parties in Interest    61

Section 11.09

  Governing Law; Forum    61

Section 11.10

  Waiver of Jury Trial    62

Section 11.11

  Headings    62

Section 11.12

  Counterparts    62

Section 11.13

  Waiver    62

Exhibit A

  Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation   

Exhibit B

  Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation   

Annex I

  Conditions to the Offer   

 

iii

 


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of May 15, 2008, by and among CNET Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), CBS Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), and Ten Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“ Purchaser ” and, together with Parent, the “ Buyer Parties ”).

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company have each approved the acquisition of the Company by Parent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, Purchaser has agreed to commence a tender offer (such tender offer, as it may be amended and supplemented from time to time as permitted under this Agreement, the “ Offer ”) to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “ Company Common Shares ”), at a price of $11.50 per Company Common Share, in cash without interest (such price, or any higher price as may be paid in the Offer in accordance with this Agreement, the “ Offer Price ”), subject to any applicable withholding of Taxes;

WHEREAS, following the consummation of the Offer, the parties intend that Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company (the “ Merger ”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), and each Company Common Share that is not tendered and accepted pursuant to the Offer, except for certain Company Common Shares as provided in Section 4.01 , will thereupon be cancelled and converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to the Offer Price, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the Merger, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) adopted resolutions approving and declaring the advisability of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the Merger, and (iii) on the terms and subject to the terms set forth herein, adopted resolutions recommending that the stockholders of the Company accept the Offer, tender their Company Common Shares pursuant to the Offer, and, if required by applicable Law, adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger; and

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Parent and Purchaser have approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the Merger.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent, Purchaser and the Company hereby agree as follows:

 


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions .

(a) For purposes of this Agreement:

Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement ” means a confidentiality agreement that contains provisions that are no less favorable to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement.

Action ” means any claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation, inquiry or investigation.

Affiliate ” or “ affiliate ” of a specified person means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified person; provided , however , that, with respect to either Parent or Purchaser, “Affiliate” or “affiliate” means any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries is controlled by Parent.

beneficial owner ” or “ beneficial ownership ”, or phrases of similar meaning, with respect to any Company Common Shares, has the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 13d-3(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Business Day ” or “ business day ” means any day on which the principal offices of the SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings and on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York, New York.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Company Acquisition Proposal ” means any proposal or offer for, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, any (a) merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, but substituting 15% for references to 10% therein), (b) sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction, of any assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary representing 15% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, (c) issuance, sale or other disposition by the Company of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into such securities) representing 15% or more of the outstanding voting interests in the Company, (d) tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) offers to acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 15% or more of the outstanding Company Common Shares, or (e) transaction which is similar in form, substance or purpose to any of the foregoing

 

2

 


transactions; provided , however , that the term “Company Acquisition Proposal” shall not include (i) the Transactions or (ii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction solely among the Company and one or more Company Subsidiaries or among Company Subsidiaries.

Company Bylaws ” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time.

Company Charter ” means the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time.

Company Disclosure Schedule ” means the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Parent concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.

Company Stock Option ” means an option to purchase Company Common Shares issued pursuant to any Incentive Plan or otherwise issued by the Company.

Company Superior Proposal ” means any bona fide written offer, obtained after the date hereof and not in breach of this Agreement, to acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration consisting of cash and/or securities, ninety percent (90%) or more of the equity securities of the Company or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, which offer is on terms that the Company Board determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation and outside counsel), taking into account all relevant factors, (A) would, if consummated, result in a transaction that is more favorable to the holders of Company Common Shares from a financial point of view than the Transactions (including the terms of any proposal by the Parent to modify the terms of the Transactions) and (B) is reasonably capable of being completed on the terms proposed.

control ” (including the terms “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan ” means the Company’s 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

Environmental Law ” means any Law relating to the environment or natural resources, or to the safety or health of human beings or other living organisms (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Substances), including the manufacture, distribution in commerce and use or Release of Hazardous Substances.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States.

 

3

 


Governmental Authority ” means any foreign or domestic national, state, provincial, municipal or local government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.

Hazardous Substances ” means any pollutant, contaminant, hazardous substance, hazardous waste, medical waste, special waste, toxic substance, petroleum or petroleum-derived substance, waste or additive, radioactive material, or other compound, element, material or substance in any form whatsoever (including products) regulated, restricted or addressed by or under any applicable Environmental Law.

Incentive Plans ” means all employee, director or executive share option or compensation plans or arrangements of the Company.

Intellectual Property ” means all worldwide intellectual property rights, including: (a) patents, patent applications and invention registrations of any type, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, service names, d/b/a’s, corporate names, internet domain names and other source identifiers, together with the goodwill associated with the foregoing, and all registrations and applications for registration of the foregoing, (c) copyrightable works, copyrights, and registrations and applications for registration and rights of renewal thereof, and (d) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets and know-how (collectively, “ Trade Secrets ”).

knowledge of the Company ” or “ knowledge ” when used in reference to the Company means the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on Section 1.01(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

Law ” means any national, state, provincial, municipal or local statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order.

Liens ” means with respect to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, claim, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.

Material Adverse Effect ” means, with respect to the Company, any effect, event, occurrence, development, state of facts or change that, individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events, occurrences, developments, state of facts or changes, is materially adverse to the business, assets, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), results of operations or financial condition of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any effect, event, occurrence, development, state of facts or change arising out of or resulting from (a) any changes in the market price or trading volume of Company Common Shares ( provided that this clause (a) shall not preclude any effect, event, occurrence, development, state of facts or change that may have contributed to or caused such changes from being taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred), (b) changes in conditions in the U.S. or global economy or capital or financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates (except to the extent that the Company or such Company Subsidiary is disproportionately adversely affected relative to other participants in the industries in which the Company or such Company Subsidiary participates), (c) changes in general legal, tax, regulatory, political or business conditions in the countries in which the Company or such Company

 

4

 


Subsidiary does business (except to the extent the Company or such Company Subsidiary is disproportionately adversely affected relative to other participants in the industries in which the Company or such Company Subsidiary participates in such countries), (d) general market or economic conditions in the industries in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary participates (except to the extent that the Company or such Company Subsidiary is disproportionately adversely affected relative to other participants in such industries), (e) changes in Law following the date hereof, (f) changes in GAAP or other accounting standards following the date hereof, (g) the negotiation, execution, announcement, pendency or performance of this Agreement or the Transactions or the consummation of the Transactions, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, vendors, lenders, investors or employees (it being understood that any legal or contractual consequences (other than any legal or contractual consequences contemplated in this Agreement or the Company Disclosure Schedule) of the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions shall not be precluded by this clause (g) from being taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred), (h) acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this Agreement (except to the extent the Company or such Company Subsidiary is disproportionately adversely affected relative to other participants in the industries in which the Company or such Company Subsidiary participates), (i) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters (except to the extent the Company or such Company Subsidiary is disproportionately adversely affected relative to other participants in the industries in which the Company or such Company Subsidiary participates), (j) changes in any analyst’s recommendation, any financial strength rating or any other recommendation or rating as to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, including, in and of itself, any failure to meet analyst projections ( provided that this clause (j) shall not preclude any effect, event, occurrence, development, state of facts or change that may have contributed to or caused such changes from being taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred), (k) the failure, in and of itself, of the Company to meet any expected or projected financial or operating performance target publicly announced prior to the date of this Agreement, as well as any change, in and of itself, by the Company in any expected or projected financial or operating performance target as compared with any target publicly announced prior to the date of this Agreement ( provided that this clause (k) shall not preclude any effect, event, occurrence, development, state of facts or change that may have contributed to or caused such changes from being taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred), (l) any action by Parent or any of its Affiliates or the omission of an action that was required to be taken by Parent or any of its Affiliates, or (m) any action taken by the Company at the request or with the consent of any of the Buyer Parties.

NASD ” means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

Other Filings ” means any document, other than the Proxy/Information Statement, to be filed with the SEC in connection with this Agreement.

Parent Material Adverse Effect ” means any effect, event, development or change that would reasonably be expected to prevent, or materially hinder or delay, Parent or Purchaser from consummating any of the Transactions.

 

5

 


Permitted Liens ” means (a) Liens for Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments that are not yet due and payable and Liens for Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings ( provided , in each case, an appropriate reserve has been made in the Company Financial Statements), (b) inchoate mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, warehousemen’s, carriers’ and materialmen’s Liens securing payments not due and payable or payments that are being contested in good faith that are incurred in the ordinary course of the business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (c) zoning restrictions, survey exceptions, utility easements, rights of way and similar Liens that are imposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction thereof or otherwise are typical for the applicable property type and locality and, in each case, do not detract from the use, value or operation of the property subject thereto, (d) interests of any lessor or lessee to any leased property that are reflected in the Company SEC Reports, (e) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property, (f) transfer restrictions imposed by applicable securities Laws and (g) Liens set forth in Section 1.01(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

person ” or “ Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association, entity or Governmental Authority, but shall exclude the Company Subsidiaries.

Release ” means any release, pumping, pouring, emptying, injecting, escaping, leaching, migrating, dumping, seepage, spill, leak, flow, discharge or emission.

Rights Agreement ” means the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2008, by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933.

Software ” means any and all computer programs, whether in source code or object code; databases and compilations, whether machine readable or otherwise; descriptions, flow-charts and other work product used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing; and all documentation including user manuals and other training documentation related to any of the foregoing.

subsidiary ” or “ subsidiaries ” of the Company, Parent or any other person means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other organization of which: (a) such person or any other subsidiary of such person is a general partner (in the case of a partnership) or managing member (in the case of a limited liability company), (b) voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such organization is held by such person or by any one or more of such person’s subsidiaries or (c) at least 50% of the equity interests is controlled by such person.

Tax ” or “ Taxes ” means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.

 

6

 


Tax Return ” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

Technology ” means, collectively, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures, methods, techniques, ideas, know-how, Software, tools, data, inventions, apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses, and other writings, and any other embodiments of the above, in any form whether or not specifically listed herein, and all related technology, that are used, incorporated or embodied in or displayed by any of the foregoing or used in the design, development, reproduction, sale, marketing, maintenance or modification of any of the foregoing.

Termination Fee ” means Thirty Five Million Dollars ($35,000,000).

Transactions ” means the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Voting Debt ” shall mean bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of equity interests in the Company or any Company Subsidiary may vote.

(b) The following terms have the meaning set forth in the Sections set forth below:

 

Defined Term

  

Location of Definition

Acceptance Time

       Section 2.04(a)

Adverse Recommendation Change

       Section 8.03(c)

Agreement

       Preamble

Buyer Parties

       Preamble

Certificate of Merger

       Section 3.03

Closing

       Section 3.04

Closing Date

       Section 3.04

Company

       Preamble

Company Board

       Section 2.03(a)

Company Board Recommendation

       Section 2.03(a)

Company Common Share Certificates

       Section 4.03(c)

Company Common Shares

       Recitals

Company Dissenting Shares

       Section 4.04

Company Employees

       Section 8.04(a)

Company Financial Advisor

       Section 2.03(a)

Company Financial Statements

       Section 5.07(b)

Company Intellectual Property

       Section 5.13(a)

 

7

 


Defined Term

  

Location of Definition

Company Material Contract        Section 5.16(a)
Company Paying Agent        Section 4.03(a)
Company Preferred Shares        Section 5.03(a)
Company SEC Reports        Section 5.07(a)
Company Stockholder Approval        Section 5.04
Company Stockholders        Section 2.03(a)
Company Stockholders’ Meeting        Section 8.01(d)
Company Subsidiaries        Section 5.02(a)
Confidentiality Agreement        Section 8.02(c)
Continuing Directors        Section 2.04(a)
Converted Option        Section 4.01(c)
Delaware Courts        Section 11.09(b)
DGCL        Recitals
D&O Insurance        Section 8.06(b)
ERISA        Section 5.11(a)
ERISA Affiliate        Section 5.11(e)
Excluded Party        Section 8.03(b)
Executive Plan        Section 8.04(c)
Extended Expiration Date        Section 2.01(d)
FCPA        Section 5.07(f)
Foreign Plan        Section 5.11(k)
Governmental Order        Section 10.01(c)
HSR Act        Section 5.05(b)
Indemnified Parties        Section 8.06(a)
Independent Directors        Section 2.04(b)
Initial Expiration Date        Section 2.01(d)
IRS        Section 5.11(a)
Inquiry        Section 8.03(a)
Merger        Recitals
Merger Consideration        Section 4.01(b)
Merger Effective Time        Section 3.03
Merger Shares        Section 4.01(b)
Minimum Condition        Annex I
Nasdaq        Section 5.05(b)
New Plans        Section 8.04(b)
Non-Executive Plan        Section 8.04(c)
Offer        Recitals
Offer Commencement Date        Section 2.01(a)
Offer Conditions        Section 2.01(b)
Offer Documents        Section 2.02(a)
Offer Price        Recitals
Old Plans        Section 8.04(b)
Option Ratio        Section 4.01(c)
Outside Date        Section 10.01(b)
Owned Company Intellectual Property        Section 5.13(a)

 

8

 


Defined Term

  

Location of Definition

Parent

       Preamble

Parent Common Shares

       Section 4.01(c)

Permits

       Section 5.06(a)

Plans

       Section 5.11(a)

Pro-Rata Payments

       Section 8.04(c)

Proxy/Information Statement

       Section 2.03(a)

Purchaser

       Preamble

Regulatory Condition

       Annex I

Representatives

       Section 8.03(a)

Rights

       Section 5.03(a)

Rights Agreement

       Section 5.03(a)

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

       Section 5.07(d)

Schedule 14D-9

       Section 2.03(b)

SEC

       Section 5.07(a)

Section 16

       Section 8.05

Section 262

       Section 4.04

Solicited Person

       Section 8.03(a)

Surviving Corporation

       Section 3.01

Surviving Corporation Fund

       Section 4.03(a)

Termination Date

       Section 10.01

Top-Up Amount

       Section 2.06(a)

Top-Up Exercise Event

       Section 2.06(b)

Top-Up Option

       Section 2.06(a)

Trade Secrets

       Section 1.01(a)

Uncertificated Shares

       Section 4.03(c)

(c) The parties hereto agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation, drafting, preparation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any Law or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document. In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(1) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Annex, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Annex, Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

(2) the table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;

(3) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

9

 


(4) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;

(5) references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute, rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under said statutes) and to any section of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to said section;

(6) all terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein;

(7) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;

(8) references to a person are also to its successors and permitted assigns;

(9) the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise;

(10) references to monetary amounts are to the lawful currency of the United States;

(11) words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing gender include all genders;

(12) time is of the essence in the performance of the parties’ respective obligations; and

(13) time periods within or following which any payment is to be made or act is to be done shall be calculated by excluding the day on which the period commences and including the day on which the period ends and by extending the period to the next Business Day following if the last day of the period is not a Business Day.

(d) It is understood and agreed that (i) disclosure of any fact or item in any Section of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to be disclosed with respect to any other applicable Section only to the extent it is reasonably apparent from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other Section, (ii) nothing in the Company Disclosure Schedule is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the Company made herein and (iii) neither the specifications of any dollar amount in this Agreement nor the inclusion of any specific item in the Company Disclosure Schedule is intended to imply that such amounts or higher or lower amounts, or the items so included or other items, are or are not material, and neither party shall use the fact of setting of such amounts or the fact of the inclusion of such item in the Company Disclosure Schedule in any dispute or controversy between the parties as to whether any obligation, item or matter is or is not material for purposes hereof.

 

10

 


ARTICLE II

THE OFFER

Section 2.01 The Offer .

(a) Provided that (i) none of the events set forth in paragraphs (b) and (d) of Annex I to this Agreement shall have occurred and be existing, (ii) the Company shall have complied with its obligations under Section 2.03(c) and Section  2.03(d) and (iii) this Agreement shall not have previously been validly terminated in accordance with Section 10.01 , as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than twelve (12) business days (as defined in Rule 14d-1(g)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act) after the date of this Agreement, Parent shall cause Purchaser to, and Purchaser shall, commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act) the Offer for all of the outstanding Company Common Shares (other than Company Common Shares described in Section 4.01(a) ) for a price per Company Common Share equal to the Offer Price (as adjusted as provided in Section 2.01(f) ). The date on which Purchaser commences the Offer, within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, is referred to in this Agreement as the “ Offer Commencement Date ”.

(b) As promptly as practicable on the later of: (i) the earliest date as of which Purchaser is permitted under applicable Law to accept for payment Company Common Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer and (ii) the earliest date as of which each of the conditions set forth in Annex I (the “ Offer Conditions ”) shall have been satisfied or waived, Purchaser shall (and Parent shall cause Purchaser to), except as contemplated by Section 2.01(d)(iv) , accept for payment all Company Common Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer (and not validly withdrawn). The obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment Company Common Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be subject only to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the Offer Conditions (and shall not be subject to any other conditions). Promptly after the acceptance for payment of any Company Common Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, Purchaser shall pay for such Company Common Shares.

(c) Parent and Purchaser expressly reserve the right to increase the Offer Price, waive any Offer Condition or amend, modify or supplement any of the Offer Conditions or terms of the Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither Parent nor Purchaser shall (without the prior written consent of the Company):

(i) change or waive the Minimum Condition (as defined in Annex I );

(ii) decrease the number of Company Common Shares sought to be purchased by Purchaser in the Offer;

(iii) reduce the Offer Price;

(iv) extend or otherwise change the expiration date of the Offer (except to the extent permitted or required pursuant to Section 2.01(d) );

 

11

 


(v) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer; or

(vi) amend, modify or supplement any of the Offer Conditions or terms of the Offer in a manner that adversely affects, or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect, the holders of Company Common Shares.

(d) Unless extended as provided in this Agreement, the Offer shall expire on the date (the “ Initial Expiration Date ”) that is twenty (20) business days (calculated as set forth in Rule 14d-1(g)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act ) after the Offer Commencement Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Purchaser shall extend the Offer for any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or Nasdaq that is applicable to the Offer; provided , that in no event shall Purchaser be required to extend the Offer beyond the Outside Date, (ii) if, on the Initial Expiration Date or any subsequent date as of which the Offer is scheduled to expire (an “ Extended Expiration Date ”), the Minimum Condition or the Regulatory Condition is not satisfied, then, to the extent requested in writing by the Company no less than two (2) business days prior to the applicable expiration date, Purchaser shall extend the Offer for one or more periods ending no later than the Outside Date, to permit either of such Offer Conditions to be satisfied; provided , that no individual extension shall be for a period of more than ten (10) business days and, provided further that Purchaser shall not be required to extend the Offer under this clause (ii) to a date beyond the date which is twenty (20) business days after the date on which the Regulatory Condition is satisfied, (iii) if, on the Initial Expiration Date or any Extended Expiration Date, any Offer Condition is not satisfied and this Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms, Purchaser may, in its discretion, extend the Offer for one or more periods, (iv) if the Company shall have requested in writing no less than two (2) business days prior to the Initial Expiration Date, Purchaser shall extend the Offer for the period of time stated in the Company’s written request (which period shall not exceed ten (10) business days beyond the Initial Expiration Date) notwithstanding the satisfaction or waiver of all of the Offer Conditions on or prior to the Initial Expiration Date and (v) Purchaser may, in its discretion, elect to provide for a subsequent offering period (and one or more extensions thereof) in accordance with Rule 14d-11 promulgated under the Exchange Act following the Acceptance Time, and, if immediately following the Acceptance Time, Parent, Purchaser and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates own more than 80% but less than 90% of the Company Common Shares outstanding at that time (which shares beneficially owned shall include shares tendered in the Offer and not withdrawn), to the extent reasonably requested by the Company, Purchaser shall provide for a subsequent offering period of at least ten (10) business days. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Offer, Parent shall cause Purchaser to, and Purchaser shall, accept for payment and pay for all Company Common Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn during such subsequent offering period as promptly as practicable after any such Company Common Shares are tendered during such subsequent offering period and in any event in compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(e) The Offer may be terminated prior to its expiration date (as such expiration date may be extended and re-extended in accordance with this Agreement), but only if this Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with Section 10.01 .

 

12

 


(f) The Offer Price shall be adjusted to the extent appropriate to reflect the effect of any stock split, division or subdivision of shares, stock dividend, reverse stock split, consolidation of shares, reclassification, recapitalization or other similar transaction with respect to Company Common Shares occurring or having a record date on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the payment by Purchaser for the Company Common Shares; provided that this subsection (f) shall not affect or supersede the provisions of Section 5.01(b) hereof.

Section 2.02 Actions of Parent and Purchaser .

(a) On the Offer Commencement Date, Parent and Purchaser shall: (i) cause to be filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with respect to the Offer, which will contain Purchaser’s offer to purchase and related letter of transmittal (the forms of which shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company) and the related form of summary advertisement (such Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto being referred to collectively in this Agreement as the “ Offer Documents ”) and (ii) cause the Offer Documents to be disseminated to holders of Company Common Shares as required by applicable Law.

(b) Parent and Purchaser shall cause the Offer Documents to (i) comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and (ii) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that no covenant is made by Parent or Purchaser with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Offer Documents.

(c) The Company and its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Offer Documents (including any amendment or supplement thereto) prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. Parent and Purchaser shall (i) promptly provide the Company and its counsel with a copy of any written comments or a description of any oral comments received by Parent or Purchaser (or by counsel to Parent or Purchaser) from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents and (ii) give the Company and its counsel a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any response formulated in connection with such comments prior to filing thereof with the SEC. Each of Parent and Purchaser shall respond as promptly as practicable to any comments of the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents or the Offer.

(d) To the extent required by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act: (i) each of Parent, Purchaser and the Company shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect and (ii) each of Parent and Purchaser shall take all steps necessary to promptly cause the Offer Documents, as supplemented or amended to correct such information, to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to holders of Company Common Shares.

(e) Parent shall cause to be provided to Purchaser all of the funds necessary to purchase any Company Common Shares that Purchaser becomes obligated to purchase pursuant to the Offer, and shall cause Purchaser to perform, on a timely basis, all of Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

13

 


Section 2.03 Actions by the Company .

(a) The Company hereby approves of and consents to the Offer and represents that the board of directors of the Company (the “ Company Board ”), at a meeting duly called and held, unanimously duly adopted resolutions (i) approving and declaring the advisability of this Agreement, (ii) approving this Agreement and the Transactions (such approval having been made in accordance with the DGCL, including for purposes of Section 203 thereof), (iii) determining this Agreement and the Transactions to be advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders of the Company (the “ Company Stockholders ”) and (iv) recommending that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company Stockholders accept the Offer, tender their Company Common Shares pursuant to the Offer and adopt this Agreement and the Transactions, if required (the “ Company Board Recommendation ”); provided , however , that the Company Board may withdraw, modify or amend the Company Board Recommendation as provided by Section 8.03 . The Company hereby consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the Company Board Recommendation to the extent such Company Board Recommendation is not withheld or withdrawn in accordance with Section 8.03 . To the extent the foregoing recommendation has been amended or modified in accordance with Section 8.03 , the Company hereby consents to the inclusion of such recommendation, as so amended or modified, in the Offer Documents. The Company also represents and warrants that (A) the Company Board has received the opinion of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the “ Company Financial Advisor ”), dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, and subject to the various assumptions and qualifications set forth therein, the consideration to be received by the Company Stockholders in the Offer and the Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of view and (B) the Company has obtained or will timely obtain all necessary consents (including the authorization of the Company Financial Advisor) to permit the inclusion of such opinion in its entirety and references thereto in the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and the proxy statement or information statement relating to the Merger (as amended, supplemented or modified, the “ Proxy/Information Statement ”), subject to prior review and consent by the Company Financial Advisor (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Company has been advised by each of its directors and executive officers that each such person intends to tender all Company Common Shares owned by such person pursuant to the Offer and that the Offer Documents may so state.

(b) On the Offer Commencement Date, the Company shall file with the SEC and (contemporaneously with the initial dissemination of the Offer Documents to holders of Company Common Shares to the extent required by applicable federal securities Laws) disseminate to holders of Company Common Shares a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “ Schedule 14D-9 ”) that, subject to Section 8.03 , shall contain the Company Board Recommendation. Except in connection with an Adverse Recommendation Change made in accordance with Section 8.03 , Parent and its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Schedule 14D-9 (including any amendment or supplement thereto) prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. The Company shall: (x) as promptly as reasonably practicable provide Parent and its

 

14

 


counsel with a copy of any written comments and a description of any oral comments received by the Company (or its counsel) from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9, (y) except with respect to any disclosure made relating to an Adverse Recommendation Change in accordance with Section 8.03 , give Parent and its counsel a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any response formulated in connection with such comments prior to the filing thereof with the SEC and (z) respond promptly to any such comments. The Company agrees that the Schedule 14D-9 shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and, on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first published, sent or given to the Company Stockholders, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , that no covenant is made by the Company with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Purchaser for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Schedule 14D-9. To the extent required by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act: (A) each of Parent, Purchaser and the Company shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9 if such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect and (B) the Company shall take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9, as supplemented or amended to correct such information, to be filed with the SEC and, if required, to be disseminated to holders of Company Common Shares. Parent and Purchaser shall promptly furnish to the Company all information concerning Parent or Purchaser that may be reasonably requested in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 2.03(b) . To the extent requested by the Company, Parent shall cause the Schedule 14D-9 to be mailed or otherwise disseminated to the Company Stockholders together with the Offer Documents disseminated to the Company Stockholders.

(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company shall instruct its transfer agent to furnish to Purchaser a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the record holders of Company Common Shares and their addresses, as well as mailing labels containing such names and addresses. The Company will furnish Purchaser with such additional information (including any security position listings in the Company’s possession or reasonably obtainable by the Company) and assistance as Purchaser may reasonably request for purposes of communicating the Offer to the record holders and beneficial holders of Company Common Shares. All information furnished in accordance with this Section 2.03(c) shall be held in confidence by Parent and Purchaser in accordance with the requirements of the Confidentiality Agreement, and shall be used by Parent and Purchaser only in connection with the communication of the Offer and the dissemination of any Proxy/Information Statement relating to the Merger to the holders of Company Common Shares.

(d) The Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable furnish to Parent and Purchaser all information concerning the Company that may be required by applicable securities Laws or reasonably requested by Parent or Purchaser for inclusion in the Schedule TO and the Offer Documents.

Section 2.04 Board of Directors .

(a) After the first time that Purchaser accepts for payment any Company Common Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer (the “ Acceptance Time ”), and at all times

 

15

 


thereafter, the Company will, upon Parent’s request and subject to compliance with applicable Law, take all actions reasonably necessary to cause persons designated by Parent to become directors of the Company so that the total number of such persons equals that number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, determined by multiplying: (i) the total number of directors on the Company Board (after giving effect to the directors elected or designated by Parent in accordance with this Section 2.04(a) ) by (ii) the percentage that the number of Company Common Shares beneficially owned by Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates bears to the total number of Company Common Shares outstanding at the Acceptance Time (determined on a fully-diluted basis but disregarding any unvested stock option and other unvested rights to acquire Company Common Shares). The Company will take all actions reasonably necessary to permit Parent’s designees to be elected to the Company Board in accordance with this Section 2.04(a) , including using commercially reasonable efforts to secure the resignation of directors, promptly filling vacancies or newly created directorships on the Company Board, increasing the size of the Company Board, and/or amending the Company Bylaws; provided , however , that prior to the Merger Effective Time, the Company Board shall always have at least three (3) Continuing Directors. Notwithstanding the proviso to the preceding sentence, at all times from the election of Parent’s designees in accordance with this Section 2.04(a) through the Merger Effective Time, Parent’s designees shall constitute a majority of the Company Board. The Company shall, upon Parent’s request following the Acceptance Time, and at all times thereafter, also cause persons designated by Parent to constitute the same percentage (rounded up to the next whole number) as is on the Company Board of (i) each committee of the Company Board, (ii) each board of directors (or similar body) of each Company Subsidiary and (iii) each committee (or similar body) of each such board, in each case, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and the rules of Nasdaq. For purposes of this Section 2.04(a) , any and all members of the Company Board immediately prior to the Acceptance Time who remain on the Company Board after such designation by Parent pursuant to this Section 2.04(a) shall be referred to as “ Continuing Directors ”.

(b) In the event that Parent’s designees are elected or appointed to the Company Board pursuant to Section 2.04(a) hereof, until the Merger Effective Time, the Company Board shall have at least such number of directors as may be required by the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules or the federal securities laws who are considered independent directors within the meaning of such rules and laws (“ Independent Directors ”); provided , however , that in such event, if the number of Independent Directors shall be reduced below the number of directors as may be required by such rules or securities laws for any reason whatsoever, the remaining Independent Director(s) shall be entitled to designate persons to fill such vacancies who shall be deemed to be Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement or, if no other Independent Director then remains, the other directors shall designate such number of directors as may be required by the rules of Nasdaq and the federal securities laws, to fill such vacancies who shall not be stockholders or Affiliates of Parent or Purchaser, and such Persons shall be deemed to be Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (b), at all times from the election of Parent’s designees in accordance with Section 2.04(a) through the Merger Effective Time, Parent’s designees shall constitute a majority of the Company Board.

(c) The Company’s obligation to cause Parent’s designees to be elected or appointed to the Company Board shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule

 

16

 


14f-1 thereunder. The Company shall promptly take all actions, and shall include in the Schedule 14D-9 such information with respect to the Company and its officers and directors, as Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 thereunder require in order to fulfill its obligations under this Section 2.04 , so long as Parent shall have timely provided to the Company all information with respect to Parent and its designees, officers, directors and Affiliates required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 thereunder. Parent shall promptly supply to the Company in writing, and shall be solely responsible for, all such information.

Section 2.05 Actions by Directors . Following the election or appointment of Parent’s designees to the Company Board pursuant to Section 2.04(a) , and until the Merger Effective Time, the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors shall be required to authorize: (a) any amendment to or termination of this Agreement by the Company; (b) any amendment to the Company Charter or Company Bylaws; (c) any extension of time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of Parent or Purchaser; (d) any enforcement or waiver of compliance with any covenant of Parent or Purchaser or any condition to any obligation of the Company or any exercise, enforcement or waiver of any right of the Company under this Agreement; and (e) any other consent or action by the Company or the Company Board with respect to this Agreement or any of the Transactions. The authorization of any such matter by a majority of the Continuing Directors shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, constitute the authorization of such matter by the Company Board, and no other action on the part of the Company or any other director of the Company shall be required to authorize such matter.

Section 2.06 Top-Up Option .

(a) The Company hereby grants to Purchaser an option, for so long as this Agreement has not been terminated pursuant to Section 10.01 (the “ Top-Up Option ”), to purchase from the Company up to a number of newly-issued Company Common Shares (such number of Company Common Shares, the “ Top-Up Amount ”) that, when added to the number of Company Common Shares owned by Purchaser at the time of exercise of the Top-Up Option, constitutes one (1) Company Common Share more than 90% of the number of Company Common Shares that would be outstanding immediately after the issuance of all Company Common Shares issued pursuant to the Top-Up Option; provided that the Top-Up Option shall not be exercisable unless (i) immediately prior to such exercise, Purchaser owns a majority of the Company Common Shares then outstanding on a fully diluted basis as a result of the consummation of the Offer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) immediately after such exercise Purchaser would own more than ninety percent (90%) of the Company Common Shares then outstanding.

(b) Subject to there being no statute, rule or regulation having been enacted or promulgated by any Governmental Authority which prohibits the consummation of the Merger and no order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect preventing consummation of the Top-Up Option or the Merger, Purchaser may, in its sole discretion, exercise the Top-Up Option, in whole but not in part, at any one time after the occurrence of a Top-Up Exercise Event and prior to the Merger Effective Time. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Top-Up Exercise Event ” shall occur if (i) the Acceptance Date shall have occurred and (ii) the Company has a number of authorized but unissued Company Common Shares at least equal to

 

17

 


the Top-Up Amount. The aggregate purchase price payable for the Company Common Shares being purchased by Purchaser pursuant to the Top-Up Option shall be payable, at the option of Parent, either in cash or by delivery of a promissory note having a principal amount equal to such aggregate purchase price. The aggregate amount payable to the Company in respect of the Company Common Shares being purchased by Purchaser pursuant to the Top-Up Option shall be determined by multiplying the number of such Company Common Shares by the Offer Price.

(c) In the event that Purchaser wishes to exercise the Top-Up Option, Purchaser shall deliver to the Company a notice setting forth (i) the number of Company Common Shares that Purchaser intends to purchase pursuant to the Top-Up Option, (ii) the place and time at which the closing of the purchase of such Company Common Shares by Purchaser is to take place and (iii) the form of payment for the purchase of such Company Common Shares, as elected by Purchaser in accordance with Section 2.06(b) . At the closing of the purchase of such Company Common Shares, Purchaser shall cause to be delivered to the Company the consideration required to be delivered in exchange for such Company Common Shares, and the Company shall cause to be issued to Purchaser a certificate representing such Company Common Shares. The closing of the purchase of the Company Common Shares issuable pursuant to Purchaser’s exercise of the Top-Up Option shall occur within three (3) Business Days following the notice delivered by Purchaser in accordance with this Section 2.06(c) .

ARTICLE III

THE MERGER

Section 3.01 Merger . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, Purchaser shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate corporate existence of Purchaser 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. At the Merger Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Merger Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Purchaser shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Purchaser shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 3.02 Charter and Bylaws .

(a) At the Merger Effective Time, the Company Charter shall be amended as set forth in Exhibit A hereto and, as so amended, such Company Charter shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter further amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

(b) At the Merger Effective Time, the Company Bylaws shall be amended as set forth in Exhibit B hereto and, as so amended, shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

 

18

 


(c) The Company Charter and Company Bylaws, as amended pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above, respectively, shall include any provisions required by Section 8.06 .

Section 3.03 Effective Time of the Merger . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as soon as practicable on the Closing Date, the Company shall file a certificate of merger or such other applicable documents as contemplated by the DGCL (in any such case, the “ Certificate of Merger ”), together with any required related certificates, filings or recordings, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, in such form as required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later date and time as the Company and Parent may agree upon and as is set forth in such Certificate of Merger (such time, the “ Merger Effective Time ”).

Section 3.04 Closing . Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with Section 10.01 , the closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) shall occur as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than the third (3rd) Business Day) after all of the conditions set forth in Article IX (other than conditions which by their terms are required to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) shall have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit of the same, or at such other time and on a date as agreed to by the parties (the “ Closing Date ”). The Closing shall take place at the offices of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as agreed to by the parties hereto.

Section 3.05 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation .

(a) From and after the Merger Effective Time, the directors of Purchaser immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal.

(b) If requested by Parent prior to the Merger Effective Time, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such directors of the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries, as specified by Parent, to tender their resignations as directors, effective as of the Merger Effective Time and to deliver to Parent written evidence of such resignations at the Merger Effective Time.

ARTICLE IV

EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

Section 4.01 Effects of the Merger on Company Securities . At the Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company or the holders of any capital stock of the Company (other than any requisite adoption of this Agreement by the Company Stockholders in accordance with the DGCL):

(a) Each Company Common Share held in treasury and each Company Common Share that is owned by Parent or Purchaser immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist, without any conversion thereof and no payment or distribution shall be made with respect thereto.

 

19

 


(b) Each Company Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (other than Company Dissenting Shares, Company Common Shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 4.01(a) and the Company Common Shares held by N Holdings I, Inc., a subsidiary of Parent), shall be converted and exchanged automatically into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price (the “ Merger Consideration ”), payable to the holder thereof in accordance with Section 4.03 . At the Merger Effective Time, all such Company Common Shares which have been converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of any such Company Common Share immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest. The Company Common Shares that are to be so converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration are referred to herein as the “ Merger Shares ”.

(c) The Company shall take all requisite action such that (i) in the case of each Company Stock Option (whether vested or unvested) having an exercise price per share that is less than the Merger Consideration, each such Company Stock Option shall be cancelled, as of the Merger Effective Time, in exchange for the right to receive an amount in cash (without interest and less any applicable Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 4.05 with respect to such payment) determined by multiplying (x) the excess of the Merger Consideration over the applicable exercise price per share of such Company Stock Option by (y) the number of Company Common Shares subject to such Company Stock Option (the “ Option Consideration ”); and (ii) in the case of each Company Stock Option having an exercise price per share equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration, each such Company Stock Option shall be assumed by Parent as of the Merger Effective Time and, accordingly, will cease to represent a right to acquire Company Common Shares and shall be converted as of the Merger Effective Time into an option (a “ Converted Option ”) to purchase shares of common stock of Parent (“ Parent Common Shares ”). The number of Parent Common Shares subject to each Converted Option shall be equal to the product of the number of Company Common Shares subject to such Company Stock Option multiplied by the Option Ratio (as defined below); provided , that any fractional shares of Company Common Shares resulting from such multiplication shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share. The exercise price per share of each Converted Option shall equal the quotient of the exercise price per share under the corresponding Company Stock Option divided by the Option Ratio; provided , that such exercise price shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. Each such Converted Option will otherwise have substantially the same terms and conditions (including vesting terms) as the corresponding Company Stock Option. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the conversion of options under this Section 4.01(c) shall be made in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code. For purposes hereof, “ Option Ratio ” shall mean the price of the last trade of the Company Common Shares immediately prior to the Closing divided by the price of the first trade of the Parent Common Shares immediately following the Closing. Following the Merger Effective Time, Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of Parent Common Shares for delivery upon exercise of the Converted Options in accordance with this Section 4.01(c) . As soon as practicable following the

 

20

 


Merger Effective Time, Parent shall file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form) or another appropriate form with respect to the Parent Common Shares subject to the Converted Options and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement on Form S-8 (and maintain current the status of the prospectus contained therein) for so long as the Converted Options remain outstanding. Payment of the Option Consideration shall be made as soon as practicable after the Merger Effective Time but in any event within three (3) Business Days following the Merger Effective Time.

Section 4.02 Effects of the Merger on Purchaser Securities . At the Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by Purchaser or Parent, as the holder of all outstanding capital stock of Purchaser (other than the requisite approval by Parent as the sole stockholder of Purchaser in accordance with the DGCL, which approval will be effected immediately following execution of this Agreement), each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 4.03 Payment of Merger Consideration; Stock Transfer Books .

(a) Prior to the Merger Effective Time, the Company shall appoint as paying agent a bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to Parent (the “ Company Paying Agent ”). Prior to the Merger Effective Time, Parent shall deposit or cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit with the Company Paying Agent, for the benefit of the holders of Merger Shares and Company Stock Options, cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration required to be paid plus cash in an amount sufficient to pay holders of Company Stock Options in accordance with this Agreement (such cash being hereinafter referred to as the “ Surviving Corporation Fund ”). The Surviving Corporation Fund shall not be used for any other purpose.

(b) The Surviving Corporation Fund shall be invested by the Company Paying Agent in (i) direct obligations of the United States of America, (ii) obligations for which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide for payment of all principal and interest, (iii) commercial paper obligations receiving the highest rating from either Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, or (iv) such other investments, or a combination of the foregoing, as directed by and for the benefit of Parent; provided , however , that no gain or loss thereon shall affect the amounts payable to the holders of Merger Shares or Company Stock Options following completion of the Merger pursuant to this Article IV and Parent shall take all actions necessary to ensure that the Surviving Corporation Fund includes at all times cash sufficient to satisfy Parent’s obligation under this Article IV . Any and all interest and other income earned on the Surviving Corporation Fund shall promptly be paid to Parent.

(c) As promptly as practicable after the Merger Effective Time, but in no event more than three (3) Business Days following the Merger Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Company Paying Agent to mail to each person who was, as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, a holder of record of the Merger Shares (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall be in customary form approved by the Company and shall

 

21

 


specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates representing the Merger Shares (the “ Company Common Share Certificates ”) or uncertificated Merger Shares represented by book entry (“ Uncertificated Shares ”) shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Company Common Share Certificates or transfer of the Uncertificated Shares to the Company Paying Agent) and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of the Company Common Share Certificates or transfer of the Uncertificated Shares in exchange for the Merger Consideration.

(d) Upon (i) surrender to the Company Paying Agent of Company Common Share Certificates for cancellation, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions or (ii) compliance with the reasonable procedures established by the Company Paying Agent for delivery of Uncertificated Shares, the holder of such Company Common Share Certificates or Uncertificated Shares shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, in cash, the aggregate Merger Consideration in respect thereof, and the Company Common Share Certificates or Uncertificated Shares so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled.

(e) In the event of a transfer of ownership of Merger Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, payment of the Merger Consideration in respect of the applicable Merger Shares may be made to a person other than the person in whose name the Company Common Share Certificates so surrendered or the Uncertificated Shares so transferred is registered if such Company Common Share Certificates shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer or such Uncertificated Shares shall be properly transferred and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration in respect thereof or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered or transferred, as the case may be, as contemplated by this Section 4.03 , each Company Common Share Certificate or Uncertificated Share shall be deemed at all times after the Merger Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration. No interest shall be paid or will accrue on any cash payable to holders of Company Common Share Certificates or Uncertificated Shares pursuant to the provisions of this Article IV .

(f) Any portion of the Surviving Corporation Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Merger Shares for six (6) months after the Merger Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation, upon demand, and any holders of Merger Shares who have not theretofore complied with this Article IV shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for, and the Surviving Corporation shall remain liable for, payment of their claim for the Merger Consideration. Any portion of the Surviving Corporation Fund remaining unclaimed by holders of Merger Shares as of a date which is immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto. None of Parent, the Company Paying Agent or the Surviving Corporation shall be liable to any holder of Merger Shares for any such shares (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto), or cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.

 

22

 


(g) If any Company Common Share Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Company Common Share Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Company Common Share Certificate, the Company Paying Agent shall pay in respect of Merger Shares to which such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Common Share Certificate relate the Merger Consideration to which the holder thereof is entitled.

(h) At the Merger Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers of Merger Shares thereafter on the records of the Company. From and after the Merger Effective Time, the holders of Company Common Share Certificates or Uncertificated Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, or by applicable Law.

Section 4.04 Company Dissenting Shares . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Company Common Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time and that are held by any Person who is entitled to demand, and who properly demands, appraisal of such Company Common Shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, Section 262 of the DGCL (such Section, “ Section 262 ” and, such Company Common Shares, “ Company Dissenting Shares ”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 4.01(b) , but rather, the holders of Company Dissenting Shares shall be entitled only to payment of the fair value of such Company Dissenting Shares in accordance with Section 262 (and, at the Merger Effective Time, such Dissenting Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and such holders shall cease to have any right with respect thereto, except the right to receive the fair value of such Dissenting Shares in accordance with Section 262); provided , that if any such holder shall fail to perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to appraisal under Section 262, then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s Company Dissenting Shares shall cease and such Company Dissenting Shares shall be deemed to have been converted as of the Merger Effective Time into, and to have become exchangeable solely for, the right to receive the Merger Consideration (without interest thereon) as provided in Section 4.01(b) . The Company shall notify Parent as promptly as reasonably practicable of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of any Company Common Shares, and Parent shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. Prior to the Merger Effective Time, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands, or agree to do any of the foregoing. Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Company Paying Agent pursuant to Section 4.03(a) to pay for Company Dissenting Shares shall be returned to Parent upon demand.

Section 4.05 Withholding Rights . The Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Company Paying Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Company Common Shares or Company Stock Options such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with

 

23

 


respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld or paid over to or deposited with the relevant Governmental Authority, including any taxing authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Company Common Shares and Company Stock Options in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Company Paying Agent, as applicable.

Section 4.06 Adjustments to Prevent Dilution . In the event that, notwithstanding Section 7.01(b) , the Company changes (or establishes a record date for changing) the number of Company Common Shares issued and outstanding prior to the Merger Effective Time as a result of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, subdivision, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction with respect to the outstanding Company Common Shares, at any time during the period from the date hereof to the Merger Effective Time then the Merger Consideration and Option Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to reflect such transaction.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule or the Company SEC Reports (excluding disclosure contained in the “risk factors” section or constituting “forward-looking statements,” in each case, to the extent such disclosure is cautionary, predictive or speculative in nature), the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer Parties as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as follows:

Section 5.01 Organization and Qualification; Authority .

(a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company (i) is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation and is, to the extent applicable, in good standing under the laws of any other jurisdiction (whether federal, state, local or foreign) in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary and (ii) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate, lease and encumber its properties and carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect

(b) The copies of the Company Charter and Company Bylaws which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 are complete and correct copies of such documents and contain all amendments thereto as in effect on the date of this Agreement. The Company Charter and Company Bylaws are in full force and effect and the Company is not in violation of any of their respective provisions. The Company has provided or made available to the Buyer Parties correct and complete copies of the minutes and, in the case of action by the Company Board or the committees thereof, written consents (or, in the case of minutes or written consents that have not yet been finalized, drafts thereof) of all meetings of Company Stockholders and meetings of or

 

24

 


action by the Company Board and each committee thereof since January 1, 2007. Such minutes and written consents provided or made available to the Buyer Parties contain true, complete and correct records, in all material respects, of all meetings and other material corporate actions held or taken from January 1, 2007 through the date of this Agreement by the Company Stockholders, the Company Board and committees thereof.

Section 5.02 Company Subsidiaries .

(a) Each of the Company’s subsidiaries (the “ Company Subsidiaries ”), together with the jurisdiction of organization of each such Company Subsidiary, is set forth on Section 5.02(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Except as described in Section 5.02(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any membership interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest, other equity interest or any other capital stock of any Person, and there are no silent partnerships, sub-partnerships and/or similar rights with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary. Each material Company Subsidiary is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other organization that is duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and, to the extent applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization. Each of the material Company Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate, limited partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of the Company Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction (whether federal, state, local or foreign) where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the conduct or nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as set forth on Section 5.02(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is, directly or indirectly, the record and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each of the Company Subsidiaries. All of such shares and other equity interests so owned by the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by it free and clear of any Liens or limitations on voting rights, and are free of preemptive rights. There are no subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible securities or other agreements or commitments of any character relating to the issuance, transfer, sales, delivery, voting or redemption (including any rights of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security or other instrument) for any of the capital stock or other equity interests of, or other ownership interests in, any Company Subsidiary. There are no agreements requiring the Company or any Company Subsidiary to make material contributions to the capital of, or lend or advance material funds to, any Company Subsidiary.

Section 5.03 Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 400,000,000 Company Common Shares and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“ Company Preferred Shares ”). As of the close o


 
SITE SEARCH

AGREEMENTS / CONTRACTS

Document Title:

Entire Document: (optional)

Governing Law:(optional)


Try our advanced search >>
 

CLAUSES

Search Contract Clauses >>

Browse Contract Clause Library>>

Get Email Updates
Email:
This is only a partial view of this document. We have millions of legal documents and clauses drafted by top law firms. learn more search for free browse for free learn more