AGREEMENT AND PLAN
OF MERGER
dated as of
August 29,
2005
among
SMISC, LLC,
MOTORSPORTS
AUTHENTICS, INC.,
and
ACTION PERFORMANCE
COMPANIES, INC.
AGREEMENT AND PLAN
OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this " Agreement ") dated as
of August 29, 2005, among SMISC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (" Parent "), Motorsports Authentics, Inc., an
Arizona corporation (" Sub ") and a wholly owned indirect
Subsidiary of Parent, Action Performance Companies, Inc., an
Arizona corporation (the " Company "), and, for purposes of
Section 3.02 and Section 8.12 only, the members of Parent listed on
the signature pages hereof (the " Guarantors ").
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of the Company and Sub has
adopted, and the Board of Managers of Parent has approved, this
Agreement and the merger of Sub with and into the Company (the "
Merger "), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, whereby each issued and outstanding share
of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company ("
Company Common Stock "), other than shares of Company Common
Stock directly owned by Parent, Sub or the Company, will be
converted into the right to receive $13 in cash;
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and as a condition to Parent's willingness to enter into
this Agreement, Parent and a certain shareholder of the Company
(the " Principal Shareholder ") have entered into an
agreement (the " Shareholder Agreement ") pursuant to which
the Principal Shareholder has agreed to vote for, approve and adopt
this Agreement and to take certain other actions in furtherance of
the consummation of the Merger upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Shareholder Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection
with the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the
Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement,
and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE MERGER
SECTION
1.01
The Merger . Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the
Arizona Business Corporation Act, A.R.S. ss.ss. 10-001 et seq. (the
" Arizona Code "), Sub shall be merged with and into the
Company at the Effective Time (as defined below). Following the
Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease
and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation of the
Merger (the " Surviving Corporation ") and shall succeed to
and assume all the rights and obligations of Sub in accordance with
the Arizona Code. The parties agree and acknowledge that Parent may
determine prior to the Closing Date to revise the structure or the
mechanics of the form of the merger of the Company with Sub in a
manner to be mutually agreed upon between the Company and Parent;
provided, however, such revised structure shall not reduce the
Merger Consideration or the Option and Warrant Consideration in any
way or change or revise any of the other covenants or conditions of
this Agreement in any meaningful way, except to the extent that
Parent agrees to make the Company and its stockholders whole for
any such change. Each of the parties agree to use commercially
reasonable efforts to take such actions as may be reasonably
requested of each such party to effect any such revisions to the
structure, including executing any amendments to this Agreement in
a form agreed upon among the parties.
SECTION
1.02
Closing . The closing of the Merger (the "
Closing ") will take place at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time
on a date to be specified by the parties, which shall be no later
than the second business day after satisfaction or (to the extent
permitted by law) waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article 6 (other than those conditions that by their terms are
to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or
(to the extent permitted by law) waiver of those conditions), at
the offices of Baker Botts L.L.P., 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20004, unless another time, date or place is
agreed to in writing by Parent and the Company; provided, however,
that if all the conditions set forth in Article 6 shall not
have been satisfied or (to the extent permitted by law) waived on
such second business day, then the Closing shall take place on the
first business day following the day on which all such conditions
shall have been satisfied or (to the extent permitted by law)
waived. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this
Agreement as the " Closing Date ".
SECTION
1.03
Effective Time . Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, as soon as practicable on the Closing Date, the parties
shall file with the Corporation Commission of the State of Arizona
articles of merger (the " Articles of Merger ") executed and
acknowledged by the parties in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the Arizona Code and, as soon as practicable on or
after the Closing Date, the Surviving Corporation shall make all
other filings or recordings required under the Arizona Code. The
Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Articles of
Merger with the Corporation Commission of the State of Arizona, or
at such other time as Parent and the Company shall agree and shall
specify in the Articles of Merger (the time the Merger becomes
effective being referred to in this Agreement as the " Effective
Time ").
SECTION
1.04
Effects of the Merger . The Merger shall have the
effects set forth in Article 10-1106(A) of the Arizona Code.
SECTION
1.05
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws .
(a)
The First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
Company (the " Company Charter "), as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended at the Effective Time
to be in the form of Exhibit A and, as so amended, such
Company Charter shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as
provided therein or by applicable law.
(b)
The Bylaws of Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable
law.
SECTION
1.06
Directors . Set forth on Schedule 1.06 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule is a list of persons who shall be the directors
of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation
or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected
and qualified, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 2
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
SECTION
2.01
Effect on Capital Stock . At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder of any shares of Company Common Stock or any member
interests of Parent or shares of capital stock of Sub:
(a)
Capital Stock of Sub . Each issued and outstanding
share of capital stock of Sub shall be converted into and become
one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(b)
Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Stock
. Each share of Company Common Stock that is directly owned by the
Company, Parent or Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange
therefor.
(c)
Conversion of Company Common Stock . Subject to
Section 2.02(e), each share of Company Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than
shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.01(b))
shall be converted into the right to receive $13.00 in cash,
without interest (the " Merger Consideration "). At the
Effective Time, all such shares of Company Common Stock shall no
longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and
retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate
which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such
shares of Company Common Stock (each, a " Certificate ")
shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the
right to receive the Merger Consideration. The right of any holder
of a Certificate to receive the Merger Consideration shall be
subject to and reduced by the amount of any withholding that is
required under applicable tax law.
(d)
Options and Warrants. In accordance with and as
provided in Section 5.04, each holder of Company Stock Options or
Warrants shall be entitled to receive the amounts specified in
Section 5.04(a) and Section 5.04(b), respectively (the " Option
and Warrant Consideration ").
SECTION
2.02
Exchange of Certificates .
(a)
Paying Agent . Prior to the Effective Time, Parent
shall appoint a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the
Company to act as paying agent (the " Paying Agent ") for
the payment of the Merger Consideration and the Option and Warrant
Consideration. At the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or
cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit, with the Paying Agent,
for the benefit of the holders of Certificates, Company Stock
Options and Warrants cash in an amount sufficient to pay the
aggregate Merger Consideration and Option and Warrant Consideration
required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.01(c) and Section
2.01(d), respectively (such cash being hereinafter referred to as
the " Exchange Fund ").
(b)
Exchange Procedures . As soon as reasonably
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Paying
Agent to mail to each holder of record of shares of Company Common
Stock entitled to receive the Merger Consideration (i) a form
of letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall
be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall
pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying
Agent and which shall contain other provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting
the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger
Consideration. Each holder of record of one or more Certificates
shall, upon surrender to the Paying Agent of such Certificate or
Certificates, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by
the Paying Agent, be entitled to receive in exchange
therefor the amount of cash which the number of shares of
Company Common Stock previously represented by such Certificate
shall have been converted into the right to receive pursuant to
Section 2.01(c), and the Certificates so surrendered shall
forthwith be cancelled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of
Company Common Stock which is not registered in the transfer
records of the Company, payment of the Merger Consideration in
accordance with this Section 2.02(b) may be made to a person
other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered
is registered if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or
otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting
such payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by
reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration to a person other
than the registered holder of such Certificate, or establish to the
reasonable satisfaction of Parent that such taxes have been paid or
are not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 2.02(b), each Certificate shall be deemed at any time
after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive
upon such surrender the Merger Consideration pursuant to the
provisions of this Article 2. No interest shall be paid or will
accrue on any cash payable to holders of Certificates pursuant to
the provisions of this Article 2. As soon as reasonably
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Paying
Agent to make any payments required pursuant to Section
2.01(d).
(c)
No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock.
All cash paid upon the surrender of Certificates in accordance with
the terms of this Article 2 shall be deemed to have been paid
in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificates. At
the close of business on the day on which the Effective Time
occurs, the share transfer books of the Company shall be closed,
and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the
share transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of
Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, any Certificate is
presented to the Surviving Corporation for transfer, it shall be
cancelled against delivery of the Merger Consideration to the
holder thereof as provided in this Article 2.
(d)
Termination of the Exchange Fund . Any portion of the
Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of the
Certificates for six months after the Effective Time shall be
delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any holders of the
Certificates who have not theretofore complied with this
Article 2 shall thereafter look only to Parent for, and Parent
shall remain liable for, payment of their claim for the Merger
Consideration.
(e)
No Liability . None of Parent, Sub, the Company, the
Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be liable to any
person in respect of any cash from the Exchange Fund delivered to a
public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property,
escheat or similar law. If any Certificate shall not have been
surrendered prior to two years after the Effective Time (or
immediately prior to such earlier date on which any Merger
Consideration would otherwise escheat to or become the property of
any Governmental Entity (as defined below)), any such Merger
Consideration shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
become the property of Parent, free and clear of all claims or
interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
(f)
Investment of Exchange Fund . The Paying Agent shall
invest the cash included in the Exchange Fund as directed by
Parent, in (i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed
or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of
the United States of America is pledged in support thereof), (ii)
U.S. dollar denominated (or foreign currency fully hedged) time
deposits, certificates of deposit, Eurodollar time deposits and
Eurodollar certificates of deposit of (y) any domestic commercial
bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of
$250,000,000 or (z) any bank whose short-term commercial paper
rating from Standard & Poor's (" S&P ") is at least
A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody's Investor Services,
Inc. (" Moody's ") is at least P-1 or the equivalent
thereof, (iii) U.S. dollar denominated deposits in and cash
management functions with banks domiciled in the United States of
America, (iv) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes
issued by or guaranteed by any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or
the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the
equivalent thereof) or better by Moody's, (v) repurchase agreements
with a bank or trust company or a recognized securities dealer
having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct
obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States of
America and (vi) U.S. Security Exchange Corporation registered or
unregistered money market funds with a rating from S&P that is
at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody's that is at
least P-1 or the equivalent thereof.
(g)
Lost Certificates . If 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 such amount as Parent may direct as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such
Certificate, the Paying Agent shall deliver in exchange for such
lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the applicable Merger
Consideration in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this
Article 2.
(h)
Withholding Rights . Parent, the Surviving
Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and
withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this
Agreement to any holder of Certificates such amounts as Parent, the
Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the " Code "), or
any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent
that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate
taxing authority by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying
Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of
this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the
Certificates in respect of which such deduction and withholding was
made by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
3.01
Representations and Warranties of the Company .
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule (with specific
reference to the particular Section or subsection of this Agreement
to which the information set forth in such disclosure schedule
relates) delivered by the Company to Parent prior to the execution
of this Agreement (the " Company Disclosure Schedule "), the
Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
(a)
Organization, Standing and Corporate Power . Each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries has been duly organized, and is
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as the case may be.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have all requisite power
and authority and possesses all governmental licenses, permits,
authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to use its
corporate or other name and to own, lease or otherwise hold and
operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its
business as presently conducted other than such corporate power and
authority, franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and
approvals the lack of which, individually and in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or
licensed to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership,
leasing or operation of its properties makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, such jurisdictions being set forth on Section
3.01(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, other than in such
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed
individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available
to Parent prior to the execution of this Agreement complete and
accurate copies of the Company Charter and its Bylaws (the "
Company Bylaws "), and the comparable organizational
documents of each of its Subsidiaries, in each case as amended to
the date hereof. The Company has made available to Parent complete
and accurate copies of the minutes (or, in the case of minutes that
have not yet been finalized, drafts thereof) of all meetings of the
shareholders of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, the Board
of Directors of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and the
committees of each such Board of Directors, in each case held since
October 1, 1999 and prior to the date hereof.
(b)
Subsidiaries . Section 3.01(b) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule lists each of the Subsidiaries of the Company
and, for each such Subsidiary, the state of incorporation or
formation and, as of the date hereof, each jurisdiction in which
such Subsidiary is qualified or licensed to do business. Except as
set forth in Section 3.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other
equity interests in, each such Subsidiary have been validly issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or
indirectly by the Company free and clear of all pledges, claims,
liens, charges, encumbrances or security interests of any kind or
nature whatsoever (collectively, " Liens "), and free of any
restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such
capital stock or other equity interests. Except for the capital
stock of, or voting securities or equity interests in, its
Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any
capital stock of, or other voting securities or equity interests
in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or
other entity.
(c)
Capital Structure .
(i)
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
62,500,000 shares of Company Common Stock and
5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share
(" Company Preferred Stock "). At the close of business on
August 29, 2005, (i) 18,858,711 shares of Company Common Stock
were issued and outstanding, (ii) 190,000 shares of Company
Common Stock were held by the Company in its treasury, (iii)
2,144,606 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to
outstanding Company Stock Options under the Company's 1993 Stock
Option Plan, 1998 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, 1999 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, and 2000 Stock Option Plan, each as
amended to the date hereof (such plans, collectively, the "
Company Stock Plans "), (iv) no shares of Company
Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding or were held by the
Company as treasury shares, and (v) warrants to acquire
565,000 shares of Company Common Stock from the Company
pursuant to the warrant agreements set forth on
Section 3.01(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and
previously delivered in complete and correct form to Parent (the "
Warrants ") were issued and outstanding.
(ii)
Except as set forth above in this Section 3.01(c), at the
close of business on August 29, 2005, no shares of capital stock or
other voting securities or equity interests of the Company were
issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. There are no
outstanding stock appreciation rights, "phantom" stock rights,
performance units, rights to receive shares of Company Common Stock
on a deferred basis or other rights (other than Company Stock
Options and the Warrants) that are linked to the value of Company
Common Stock (collectively, " Company Stock-Based Awards ").
Section 3.01(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and accurate list, as of August 29, 2005, of all
outstanding options to purchase shares of Company Common Stock
(collectively, " Company Stock Options ") under the Company
Stock Plans (including, but not limited to, the Company's 1999
Employee Stock Purchase Plan), and all outstanding Warrants, the
number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other stock) subject
thereto, the grant dates, expiration dates, exercise or base prices
(if applicable) and vesting schedules thereof and the names of the
holders thereof.
(iii)
There are no outstanding shares of Company Common Stock in respect
of which the Company has a right under specified circumstances to
repurchase such shares at a fixed purchase price.
(iv)
All outstanding Company Stock Options are evidenced by stock option
agreements, restricted stock purchase agreements or other award
agreements, in each case in the forms previously delivered or made
available to Parent, and no stock option agreement, restricted
stock purchase agreement or other award agreement contains terms
that are materially inconsistent with such forms.
(v)
Each Company Stock Option may, by its terms, be cancelled in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby for a lump sum
payment in accordance with and to the extent required by
Section 5.04(a). All Warrants may, by their terms, be
cancelled in exchange for a lump sum cash payment in accordance
with and to the extent required by Section 5.04(b).
(vi)
All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and all
shares which may be issued prior to the Effective Time pursuant to
the Company Stock Options or the Warrants will be when issued in
accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive
rights.
(vii)
There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the
Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any
matters on which shareholders of the Company may vote.
(viii) Except as
set forth above in this Section 3.01(c) or in Section 3.01(c)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (x) there are not issued,
reserved for issuance or outstanding (A) any shares of capital
stock or other voting securities or equity interests of the
Company, (B) any securities of the Company convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock or other
voting securities or equity interests of the Company, or
(C) any warrants, calls, options or other rights to acquire
from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no obligation of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock,
voting securities, equity interests or securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock or voting
securities of the Company and (y) there are not any
outstanding obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any such securities or
to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, any such securities. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any voting agreement with respect to the
voting of any such securities.
(ix)
Except as set forth above in this Section 3.01(c) or
Section 3.01(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are
no outstanding (1) securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
shares of capital stock or voting securities or equity interests of
any Subsidiary of the Company, (2) warrants, calls, options or
other rights to acquire from the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and no obligation of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock, voting securities, equity
interests or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for capital stock or voting securities of any
Subsidiary of the Company or (3) obligations of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any such outstanding securities or to issue, deliver or sell, or
cause to be issued, delivered or sold, any such securities.
(d)
Authority . The Company has all requisite corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and,
subject to receipt of the Shareholder Approval, to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of
the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject, in the
case of the consummation of the Merger, to the obtaining of the
Shareholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation 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 Board of Directors of the Company,
at a meeting duly called and held at which all directors of the
Company were present, duly and unanimously adopted resolutions
(i) adopting this Agreement and approving the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(ii) determining that it is in the best interests of the
shareholders of the Company that the Company enter into this
Agreement and consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, (iii) directing that
the adoption of this Agreement be submitted as promptly as
practicable to a vote at a meeting of the shareholders of the
Company and (iv) recommending that the shareholders of the
Company approve this Agreement, which resolutions have not been
subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way.
(e)
Noncontravention. Except as set forth in Section
3.01(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the execution and
delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement will not,
conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give
rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or to the loss of a benefit under, or result in the
creation of any Lien in or upon any of the properties or other
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under:
(i)
the Company Charter or the Company Bylaws or the comparable
organizational documents of any of the Company's Subsidiaries;
(ii)
any loan or credit agreement, bond, debenture, note, mortgage,
indenture, lease or other contract, agreement, obligation,
commitment, arrangement, understanding, instrument, permit,
franchise or license, whether oral or written (each, including all
amendments thereto, a " Contract "), to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or any of their respective
properties or other assets is subject; or
(iii)
subject to the governmental filings, the obtaining of the
Shareholder Approval and the other matters referred to in the
following sentence and in Section 3.01(f) below, any
(A) statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation or (B) order,
writ, injunction, decree, judgment or stipulation, in each case
applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their
respective properties or other assets;
other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such
conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, rights, losses or Liens
that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f)
Consents. Except as set forth in Section 3.01(f) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, no consent, approval, order or
authorization of, action by or in respect of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any Federal, state, local or foreign
government, any court, administrative, regulatory or other
governmental agency, commission or authority or any
non-governmental self-regulatory agency, commission or authority
(each, a " Governmental Entity ") is required to be obtained
or made by or with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company or the consummation of the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for:
(i)
the filing of a premerger notification and report form by the
Company under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "
HSR Act "), and the receipt, termination or expiration, as
applicable, of approvals or waiting periods required under the HSR
Act or any other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust
or similar law or regulation;
(ii)
the filing with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the " SEC ") of (A) a proxy statement
relating to the approval by the shareholders of the Company of this
Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the "
Proxy Statement ") and (B) such reports under Section
13(a), 13(d), 15(d) or 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the " Exchange Act "), as may be required
in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement;
(iii)
the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Corporation
Commission of the State of Arizona and appropriate documents with
the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is qualified to do business;
(iv)
any filings required under the rules and regulations of the New
York Stock Exchange; and
(v)
such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations and filings the failure of which to be
obtained or made individually or in the aggregate would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g)
Company SEC Documents . Except as set forth in
Section 3.01(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has
filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
(including exhibits and other information incorporated therein)
with the SEC required to be filed by the Company since October 1,
2002 (the " Company SEC Documents "). As of their respective
dates, the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the " Securities Act "), or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as the case may be, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable
to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company SEC
Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
Company SEC Documents identify all transactions required to be
disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K (" Related
Party Transactions " and any person described in Item 404 of
Regulation S-K, a " Related Party "). As of the date hereof,
management has not determined that it will have, as of September
30, 2005, a material weakness in its internal controls. Except to
the extent that information contained in any Company SEC Document
has been revised or superseded by a later-filed Company SEC
Document, none of the Company SEC Documents contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements
(including the related notes) of the Company included in the
Company SEC Documents comply as to form in all material respects
with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States (" GAAP ") (except, in the case of unaudited
statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the
consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the
periods shown (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to
normal and recurring year-end audit adjustments). None of the
Subsidiaries of the Company are, or have at any time been, subject
to the reporting requirements of Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of
the Exchange Act.
(h)
No Additional Liabilities. Except (i) as set forth in
the most recent financial statements included in the Company SEC
Documents filed or furnished by the Company during the past 12
months and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement
(the " Filed Company SEC Documents "), (ii) incurred since
June 30, 2005 in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) set
forth in Section 3.01(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities
or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise) which individually or in the aggregate would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i)
Information Supplied . None of the information
supplied or to be supplied by the Company specifically for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement
will, at the date it is first mailed to the shareholders of the
Company and at the time of the Shareholders' Meeting, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not misleading, except that no representation or
warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements made or
incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by
Parent or Sub in writing specifically for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement. The Proxy
Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
(j)
Absence of Certain Changes or Events . Except for
liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement or as set
forth in Section 3.01(j) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or
included in Filed Company SEC Documents, since June 30, 2005, the
Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective
businesses only in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice, and from such date until the date hereof there has not
been:
(i)
any event, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence
that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, including but not
limited to, other than as referenced in any Filed Company SEC
Document, any failure by the Company to preserve intact its current
business organizations, keep available the services of its
officers, employees and consultants and preserve its relationships
with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors and
others having business dealings with it;
(ii)
any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to
any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other
than dividends or distributions by a direct or indirect wholly
owned Subsidiary of the Company to its shareholders;
(iii)
any purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries of any shares of capital stock or any other
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any
options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire such shares or other
securities;
(iv)
any split, combination or reclassification of any capital stock of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any issuance or the
authorization of any issuance of any other securities in respect
of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of their respective
capital stock;
(v)
(A) any granting by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any
current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the
Company or its Subsidiaries of any increase in compensation, bonus
or fringe or other benefits or any granting of any type of
compensation or benefits to any current or former director,
officer, employee or consultant not previously receiving or
entitled to receive such type of compensation or benefit, except
for normal increases in cash compensation to non-executive
employees (including, with respect to new hires, cash bonus
opportunities and compensation) in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice or as was required under any Company
Benefit Agreement or Company Benefit Plan in effect as of the date
of the most recent financial statements included in the Filed
Company SEC Documents, (B) any granting by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries to any current or former director, officer,
employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
any right to receive any increase in severance or termination pay,
except (x) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice in connection with new hires to replace departed employees
and (y) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice in connection with promotions made in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice for non-executive
employees, (C) any entry into, adoption by, amendment by or
termination by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
(1) any employment, deferred compensation, severance, change
of control, termination or indemnification agreement or any other
agreement, plan or policy (including the Company Benefit Plans), or
any consulting agreement with aggregate amounts paid or payable in
excess of $50,000, with or involving any current or former
director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries other than any of the foregoing entered into,
adopted, amended or terminated in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice with respect to non-executive
employees, or (2) any agreement with any current or former
director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries the benefits of which are contingent, or the terms
of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a
transaction involving the Company of a nature contemplated by this
Agreement (all such agreements under this clause (C),
collectively, " Company Benefit Agreements "), or (D) any
payment of any benefit under, or the grant of any award under, or
any material amendment to, or termination of, any bonus, incentive,
performance or other compensation plan or arrangement, Company
Benefit Agreement or Company Benefit Plan (including in respect of
stock options, "phantom" stock, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock, "phantom" stock rights, restricted stock units,
deferred stock units, performance stock units or other stock-based
or stock-related awards or the removal or modification of any
restrictions in any Company Benefit Agreement or Company Benefit
Plan or awards made thereunder) except as required to comply with
applicable law or any Company Benefit Agreement or Company Benefit
Plan in effect as of the date of the most recent audited financial
statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents;
(vi)
any sale, lease, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any
assets material to the business and operations of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as presently conducted;
(vii)
any incurrence of indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee of
any such indebtedness of another person, other than the incurrence
of indebtedness under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of June 30, 2004 by and among the Company and certain
subsidiaries and affiliates, as guarantors, and Bank One, N.A., as
amended as of the date hereof;
(viii) any
transfer, assignment, disposition, material amendment, termination
or other material change to any Contract between the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company and any driver, team owner, sanctioning
body, automobile manufacturer or other material licensor;
(ix)
any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by
insurance, that individually or in the aggregate would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(x)
any change in accounting methods, principles or practices by the
Company materially affecting its assets, liabilities or businesses;
or
(xi)
any material tax election by the Company or any settlement or
compromise of any material income tax liability by the Company.
(k)
Litigation . Except as set forth in Section 3.01(k)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no suit, action or
proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened
against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
of their respective assets that individually or in the aggregate
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, nor
is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any
Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against, or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, investigation by any Governmental Entity
involving, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the
Company's Knowledge, any of their respective assets that
individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(l)
Contracts . Except as disclosed in the Filed Company
SEC Documents, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to, and none of their respective properties or other assets
is subject to, any contract or agreement that is of a nature
required to be filed as an exhibit to a report or filing under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder. None of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any party thereto
is in violation of or in default under (nor does there exist any
condition which upon the passage of time or the giving of notice or
both could cause such a violation of or default under) any Contract
to which it is a party or by, to the Knowledge of the Company,
which it or any of its properties or other assets is bound, except
for violations or defaults that individually or in the aggregate
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as set forth in Section 3.01(l) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
entered into any Contract with any Affiliate of the Company that is
currently in effect other than agreements that are disclosed in the
Filed Company SEC Documents. Except as set forth in Section 3.01(l)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement
or covenant restricting the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
ability to compete or by any agreement or covenant restricting in
any respect the license, marketing, co-promotion, manufacturing,
research, development, distribution, training, sale or supply of
products or services of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(m)
Compliance with Laws . Except with respect to
Environmental Laws, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (" ERISA ") and taxes, which are the
subjects of Sections 3.01(n), 3.01(p) and 3.01(r),
respectively, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in
compliance with all statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
judgments, orders and decrees of any Governmental Entity applicable
to it, its properties or other assets or its business or operations
(collectively, " Legal Provisions "), except for instances
of noncompliance or possible noncompliance that individually or in
the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has in
effect all approvals, authorizations, certificates, filings,
franchises, licenses, notices, permits and rights of or with all
Governmental Entities (collectively, " Permits ") necessary
for it to own, lease or operate its properties and other assets and
to carry on its business and operations as presently conducted,
except for such Permits the absence of which, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. No default has occurred under, and there has been
no violation of, any such Permit, except for any such default or
violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
consummation of the Merger would not cause the revocation or
cancellation of any such Permit, other than where such revocation
or cancellation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. To the Company's Knowledge, except as set forth in
Section 3.01(m) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, during the five
years immediately preceding the date hereof, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any employee of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, nor any other person acting on behalf of
the Company, any such Subsidiary or any such employee, has given or
agreed to give, directly or indirectly, any gift or similar benefit
to any dealer, supplier, customer, governmental employee or other
person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries (or assist the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with any actual or proposed
transaction), which might subject the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or
governmental litigation or proceeding and which, if not continued
in the future, would be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.01(m) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any director,
officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, has taken any action which would cause the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to be in violation of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977 or any applicable law of similar effect,
except for such violations that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to result in a criminal proceeding
against the Company.
(n)
Environmental Matters .
(i)
Except for those matters that individually or in the aggregate
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:
(A) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and has been,
in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and has
obtained and complied with all material Permits required under any
Environmental Laws to own, lease or operate its properties or other
assets and to carry on its business and operations as presently
conducted; (B) there have been no Releases or threatened
Releases of Hazardous Materials in, on, from, under or affecting
any properties currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that reasonably would be
expected to form the basis of any claim against, or liability or
other loss incurred by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
against or by any person whose liabilities for such claims the
Company or any Subsidiary has, or may have, retained or assumed,
either contractually or by operation of law; (C) no
investigation, suit, claim, action, allegation or proceeding is
pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to or
arising under Environmental Laws, and neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any such
investigation, suit, claim, action, allegation or proceeding; and
(D) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
retained or assumed by Contract or operation of law or otherwise,
any obligation or liability that would reasonably be expected to
form the basis of any claim, liability or other loss arising under
Environmental Laws.
(ii)
The term " Environmental Laws " means all Federal, state,
local and foreign laws (including the common law), statutes, rules,
regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments,
injunctions, notices, Permits, treaties or binding agreements
issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Entity,
relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation
of natural resources or threatened, endangered or other special
status species, the presence, management, Release or threat of
Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials, or to human health
and safety. The term " Hazardous Materials " means
(1) petroleum products and by-products, asbestos and
asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation,
medical or infectious wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas,
chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances or
(2) any chemical, material, substance, waste, pollutant or
contaminant for which the use, treatment, storage, management,
release or disposal is prohibited, limited or regulated by or
pursuant to any Environmental Law. The term " Release "
means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,
discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing or
migrating into or through the environment or any natural or
man-made structure.
(o)
Absence of Changes in Company Benefit Plans; Labor
Relations . Since the date of the most recent audited
financial statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents to
the date of this Agreement, there has not been any adoption or
amendment, in any material respect, by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of any collective bargaining agreement or material
employment, bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation,
incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock
appreciation, restricted stock, stock option, "phantom" stock,
performance, retirement, thrift, savings, stock bonus, paid time
off, perquisite, fringe benefit, vacation, severance, disability,
death benefit, hospitalization, medical, welfare benefit or other
plan, program, policy, arrangement or understanding (whether or not
legally binding) maintained, contributed to or required to be
maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any other person or entity that, together with the
Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Code (each, a " Commonly Controlled
Entity "), in each case providing benefits to any current or
former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the " Company Benefit
Plans "), or any material change in any actuarial or other
assumption used to calculate funding obligations with respect to
any Company Pension Plans, or any material change in the manner in
which contributions to any Company Pension Plans are made or the
basis on which such contributions are determined. Except as
disclosed in the Filed Company SEC Documents or in Section 3.01(o)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there exist no currently
binding Company Benefit Agreements. There are no collective
bargaining or other labor union agreements to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is bound. None of the employees of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries are represented by any union with
respect to their employment by the Company or such Subsidiary.
Since October 1, 2004, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has experienced any material labor disputes, union
organization attempts or work stoppages, slowdowns or lockouts due
to labor disagreements.
(p)
ERISA Compliance .
(i)
Section 3.01(p)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains
a complete and accurate list of each Company Benefit Plan that is
an "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(2)
of ERISA) (sometimes referred to herein as a " Company Pension
Plan "), each Company Benefit Plan that is an "employee welfare
benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and all
other material Company Benefit Plans. The Company has provided or
made available to Parent complete and accurate copies of
(A) each Company Benefit Plan (or, in the case of any
unwritten Company Benefit Plans, descriptions thereof),
(B) the two most recent annual reports on Form 5500
required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (the "
IRS ") with respect to each Company Benefit Plan (if any
such report was required), (C) the most recent summary plan
description for each Company Benefit Plan for which such a summary
plan description is required and (D) each trust agreement and
insurance or group annuity contract relating to any Company Benefit
Plan. Each Company Benefit Plan has been administered in all
material respects in accordance with its terms. The Company, its
Subsidiaries and all the Company Benefit Plans are all in
compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and
all other applicable laws, including laws of foreign jurisdictions,
and the terms of all collective bargaining agreements, except for
any instances of noncompliance that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ii)
All Company Pension Plans intended to be tax-qualified have
received favorable determination letters from the IRS with respect
to "TRA" (as defined in Section 1 of Rev. Proc. 93-39),
and have timely filed with the IRS determination letter
applications with respect to "GUST" (as defined in Section 1
of Notice 2001-42), to the effect that such Company Pension Plans
are qualified and exempt from Federal income taxes under
Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, no such
determination letter has been revoked (nor, to the Knowledge of the
Company, has revocation been threatened) and no event has occurred
since the date of the most recent determination letter or
application therefor relating to any such Company Pension Plan that
would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualification
of such Company Pension Plan or materially increase the costs
(individually or in the aggregate) relating thereto or require
security under Section 307 of ERISA. All Company Pension Plans
required to have been approved by any foreign Governmental Entity
have been so approved, no such approval has been revoked (nor, to
the Knowledge of the Company, has revocation been threatened) and
no event has occurred since the date of the most recent approval or
application therefor relating to any such Company Pension Plan that
would reasonably be expected to materially affect any such approval
relating thereto or materially increase the costs (individually or
in the aggregate) relating thereto. The Company has delivered to
Parent a complete and accurate copy of the most recent
determination letter received with respect to each Company Pension
Plan, as well as a complete and accurate copy of each pending
application for a determination letter, if any. The Company has
also provided to Parent a complete and accurate list of all
amendments to any Company Pension Plan as to which a favorable
determination letter has not yet been received.
(iii)
Neither the Company nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has
(A) maintained, contributed to or been required to contribute
to any Company Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV of
ERISA or (B) has any unsatisfied liability under Title IV
of ERISA.
(iv)
All reports, returns and similar documents with respect to all
Company Benefit Plans required to be filed with any Governmental
Entity or distributed to any Company Benefit Plan participant have
been duly and timely filed or distributed. None of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of, and to the
Knowledge of the Company, there are no investigations by any
Governmental Entity pending with respect to, termination
proceedings or other claims (except claims for benefits payable in
the normal operation of the Company Benefit Plans), suits or
proceedings against or involving any Company Benefit Plan or
asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Company
Benefit Plan that would give rise to any material liability
(individually or in the aggregate).
(v)
All contributions, premiums and benefit payments under or in
connection with the Company Benefit Plans that are required to have
been made as of the date hereof in accordance with the terms of the
Company Benefit Plans have been timely made or have been reflected
on the most recent consolidated balance sheet filed or incorporated
by reference into the Filed Company SEC Documents. Neither any
Company Pension Plan nor any single-employer plan of any Commonly
Controlled Entity has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such
term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of
the Code), whether or not waived.
(vi)
With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, (A) there has not
occurred any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) in
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective employees, or any trustee, administrator or other
fiduciary of such Company Benefit Plan, or any agent of the
foregoing, has engaged that would reasonably be expected to subject
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
employees, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, a trustee,
administrator or other fiduciary of any trust created under any
Company Benefit Plan, to the tax or penalty on prohibited
transactions imposed by Section 4975 of the Code or the
sanctions imposed under Title I of ERISA, except for any such
transactions that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and
(B) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to
the Knowledge of the Company, any trustee, administrator or other
fiduciary of any Company Benefit Plan nor any agent of any of the
foregoing, has engaged in any transaction or acted in a manner, or
failed to act in a manner, that could reasonably be expected to
subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, any trustee, administrator or other fiduciary, to
any liability for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA or any other
applicable law, except for any such transactions that, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. No Company Benefit Plan or related trust
has been terminated, nor has there been any "reportable event" (as
that term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) for which the
30-day reporting requirement has not been waived with respect to
any Company Benefit Plan, during the last five years, and no notice
of a reportable event will be required to be filed in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(vii)
Section 3.01(p)(vii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
discloses whether each Company Benefit Plan that is an employee
welfare benefit plan is (A) unfunded or self-insured,
(B) funded through a "welfare benefit fund", as such term is
defined in Section 419(e) of the Code, or other funding
mechanism or (C) insured. Each such employee welfare benefit
plan may be amended or terminated (including with respect to
benefits provided to retirees and other former employees) without
material liability (individually or in the aggregate) to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time after the Effective
Time. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries complies with the
applicable requirements of Section 4980B(f) of the Code or any
similar state statute with respect to each Company Benefit Plan
that is a group health plan, as such term is defined in
Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code or such state statute, except
for any instances of noncompliance that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
any material obligations (individually or in the aggregate) for
retiree health or life insurance benefits under any Company Benefit
Plan (other than for continuation coverage required under
Section 4980(f) of the Code).
(viii) Except as
set forth in Section 3.01(p)(viii) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Shareholder Agreement, the obtaining of the Shareholder Approval or
the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or the Shareholder Agreement
(including as a result of any termination of employment on or
following the Effective Time) will (A) entitle any current or
former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to severance or termination pay,
(B) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any
payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of,
compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable or
trigger any other material obligation (individually or in the
aggregate) pursuant to, any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit
Agreement or (C) result in any breach or violation of, or a
default under, any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit
Agreement. The Company has provided Parent with an estimate of the
total amount of all payments and the fair market value of all
non-cash benefits that may become payable or provided to any
director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries under the Company Benefit Agreements (assuming for
such purpose that such individuals' employment were terminated
immediately following the Effective Time as if the Effective Time
were the date hereof).
(ix)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability
or obligations, including under or on account of a Company Benefit
Plan, arising out of the hiring of persons to provide services to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and treating such persons as
consultants or independent contractors and not as employees of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any such liabilities
or obligations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x)
No deduction by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect
of any "applicable employee remuneration" (within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code) has been disallowed or is subject
to disallowance by reason of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(q)
No Excess Parachute Payments . Other than payments or
benefits that may be made to the persons listed in
Section 3.01(q) of the Company Disclosure Schedule ("
Primary Company Executives "), no amount or other
entitlement or economic benefit that could be received (whether in
cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Shareholder
Agreement, the obtaining of the Shareholder Approval, the
consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by
this Agreement or the Shareholder Agreement (including as a result
of termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) by
or for the benefit of any director, officer, employee or consultant
of the Company or any of its Affiliates who is a "disqualified
individual" (as such term is defined in proposed Treasury
Regulation Section 1.280G-1) under any Company Benefit
Plan, Company Benefit Agreement or otherwise would be set forth
therein as an "excess parachute payment" (as such term is defined
in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code), and no such disqualified
individual is entitled to receive any additional payment from the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Surviving Corporation or
any other person in the event that the excise tax required by
Section 4999(a) of the Code is imposed on such disqualified
individual (a " Parachute Gross Up Payment "). The Company
has provided Parent with a calculation, as Section 3.01(q) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, calculated as of the
date set forth therein of (i) the "base amount" (as such term
is defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) for (A) each
Primary Company Executive and (B) each other disqualified
individual (defined as set forth above) whose Company Stock Options
will vest pursuant to their terms in connection with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the Shareholder Agreement, the
obtaining of the Shareholder Approval, the consummation of the
Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or
the Shareholder Agreement (including as a result of any termination
of employment on or following the Effective Time) and (ii) the
estimated maximum amount, including any Parachute Gross Up Payment,
that could be paid or provided to each Primary Company Executive as
a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Shareholder Agreement, the obtaining of the Shareholder Approval,
the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction
contemplated by this Agreement or the Shareholder Agreement
(including as a result of any termination of employment on or
following the Effective Time), in each case subject to the
assumptions stated therein.
(r)
Taxes .
(i)
Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and each Company Consolidated
Group has filed or has caused to be filed in a timely manner
(within any applicable extension period) all material tax returns
required to be filed with any taxing authority pursuant to the Code
(and any applicable Treasury Regulations) or applicable state,
local or foreign tax laws. All such tax returns are complete and
accurate in all material respects and have been prepared in
substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and each Company Consolidated
Group has paid or caused to be paid (or the Company has paid on its
behalf) all material taxes (individually or in the aggregate) due
and owing, and, in accordance with GAAP, the most recent financial
statements contained in the Filed Company SEC Documents reflect an
adequate reserve (excluding any reserves for deferred taxes
established to reflect timing differences between book and tax
income) for all material taxes (individually or in the aggregate)
payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods
and portions thereof accrued through the date of such financial
statements.
(ii)
No tax return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
Company Consolidated Group is under audit or examination by any
taxing authority, and no written notice of such an audit or
examination has been received by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any Company Consolidated Group. Except as set forth
in Section 3.01(r)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there is
no assessed deficiency, refund litigation, proposed adjustment or
matter in controversy with respect to any material amount
(individually or in the aggregate) of taxes due and owing by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Consolidated
Group. Except as set forth in Section 3.01(r)(ii) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, each material assessed deficiency resulting
from any completed audit or examination relating to taxes by any
taxing authority has been timely paid (including payment of
applicable penalties or interest). No issues relating to any
material amount (individually or in the aggregate) of taxes were
raised by the relevant taxing authority in any completed audit or
examination that could reasonably be expected to recur in a later
taxable period. Except as set forth in Section 3.01(r)(ii) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no currently effective
agreement or other document extending, or having the effect of
extending, the period of assessment or collection of any material
taxes of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any Company
Consolidated Group, nor has any request been made by the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Consolidated Group for any
such extension, and no power of attorney (other than powers of
attorney authorizing employees of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any Company Consolidated Group to act on behalf of
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Consolidated
Group) with respect to any taxes has been executed or filed by the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Consolidated Group
with any taxing authority.
(iii)
None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will be required to
include in a taxable period ending after the Effective Time taxable
income attributable to income that accrued (for purposes of the
financial statements of the Company included in the Filed Company
SEC Documents) in a prior taxable period (or portion of a taxable
period) but was not recognized for tax purposes in any prior
taxable period as a result of (A) an open transaction
disposition made on or before the Effective Time, (B) a
prepaid amount received on or prior to the Effective Time,
(C) any method of accounting for tax purposes (including,
without limitation, the installment method or the long-term
contract method of accounting) or Section 481 of the Code or
(D) any comparable provisions of state or local tax law,
domestic or foreign, or for any other reason.
(iv)
The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with all applicable
statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations relating to the
payment and withholding of any material amount (individually or in
the aggregate) of taxes and have, within the time and the manner
prescribed by law, withheld from and paid over to the proper
governmental authorities all material amounts (individually or in
the aggregate) required to be so withheld and paid over under
applicable laws.
(v)
None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has constituted
either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation"
in a distribution of stock qualifying or intended to qualify for
tax-free treatment (in whole or in part) under Sections 355 or
361(c) of the Code.
(vi)
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) is or has been
a member of an affiliated group (within the meaning of Section 1504
of the Code) filing a cons