Exhibit 2.1
Execution
Version
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
DATED AS SEPTEMBER 30,
2009
BY AND BETWEEN
FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS,
INCORPORATED
AND
SAUNDERS ACQUISITION
CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
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1
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SECTION 1.1
Definitions
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1
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ARTICLE II THE MERGER
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7
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SECTION 2.1 The
Merger .
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7
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SECTION 2.2
Conversion of Shares
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8
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SECTION 2.3
Surrender and Payment
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9
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SECTION 2.4
Adjustments
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10
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SECTION 2.5
Withholding Rights
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11
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SECTION 2.6 Lost
Certificates
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11
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SECTION 2.7
Treatment of Restricted Stock
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11
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ARTICLE III CERTAIN GOVERNANCE
MATTERS
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11
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SECTION 3.1
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation
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11
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SECTION 3.2
Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation
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11
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SECTION 3.3
Directors and Officers of the Surviving
Corporation
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11
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE COMPANY
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12
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SECTION 4.1
Organization and Qualification
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12
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SECTION 4.2
Capitalization
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12
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SECTION 4.3
Corporate Authorization; Enforceability; Board
Action
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13
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SECTION 4.4
Consents and Approvals; No
Violations
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13
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SECTION 4.5 SEC
Filings and Financial Statements
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14
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SECTION 4.6
Absence of Certain Changes
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14
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SECTION 4.7
Undisclosed Liabilities
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15
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SECTION 4.8
Litigation
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15
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i
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SECTION 4.9
Compliance with Laws
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16
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SECTION 4.10 Employee Benefit
Plans
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16
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SECTION 4.11 Employee
Matters
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19
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SECTION 4.12
Taxes
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19
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SECTION 4.13 Certain
Contracts
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21
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SECTION 4.14 Intellectual
Property
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22
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SECTION 4.15 Properties and
Assets
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23
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SECTION 4.16 Environmental
Matters
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24
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SECTION 4.17 Transactions with
Related Parties
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24
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SECTION 4.18 Finders’ or
Advisors’ Fees
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25
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SECTION 4.19
Receivables
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25
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SECTION 4.20 Absence of
Sensitive Matters
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25
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SECTION 4.21 Bank
Accounts
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25
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
BUYER
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25
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SECTION 5.1
Organization and Qualification
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25
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SECTION 5.2
Corporate Authorization; Enforceability; Board
Action
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26
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SECTION 5.3
Consents and Approvals; No
Violations
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26
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SECTION 5.4
Finders’ or Advisors’
Fees
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27
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SECTION 5.5
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
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27
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SECTION 5.6
Capital Resources
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27
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ARTICLE VI COVENANTS
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27
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SECTION 6.1
Conduct of the Company
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27
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SECTION 6.2
Preparation of Proxy Statement, Shareholder
Meeting
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30
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SECTION 6.3
Access to Information
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32
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SECTION 6.4 No
Solicitation; Unsolicited Proposals; Change of Company
Recommendation
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32
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ii
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SECTION 6.5
Regulatory Filings
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35
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SECTION 6.6
Announcements
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36
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SECTION 6.7
Further Assurances
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36
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SECTION 6.8
Notification of Certain
Matters
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36
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SECTION 6.9
Director and Officer Liability
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36
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SECTION 6.10 Opinion of
Financial Advisor
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38
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SECTION 6.11 Employee Benefit
Matters
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38
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SECTION 6.12 Section 16
Matters
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39
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SECTION 6.13 Reasonable
Efforts
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39
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SECTION 6.14 Shareholder
Vote
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39
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ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER; CERTAIN
EXCEPTIONS TO CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES &
COVENANTS
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39
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SECTION 7.1
Conditions to the Obligations of Each
Party
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39
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SECTION 7.2
Conditions to the Obligations of
Buyer
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40
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SECTION 7.3
Conditions to the Obligations of the
Company
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41
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ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND
EXPENSES
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41
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SECTION 8.1
Termination
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41
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SECTION 8.2
Effect of Termination
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43
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SECTION 8.3 Fees
and Expenses
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43
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SECTION 8.4
Termination Fee and Reverse Termination
Fee
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43
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ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS
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44
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SECTION 9.1
Non-Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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44
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SECTION 9.2
Amendments; No Waivers
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44
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SECTION 9.3
Notices
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44
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SECTION 9.4
Successors and Assigns
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45
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SECTION 9.5
Governing Law
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46
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iii
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SECTION 9.6
Jurisdiction
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46
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SECTION 9.7
Waiver of Jury Trial
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46
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SECTION 9.8
Counterparts; Effectiveness
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46
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SECTION 9.9
Agreement
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46
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SECTION 9.10 Third Party
Beneficiaries
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46
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SECTION 9.11
Severability
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47
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SECTION 9.12 Specific
Performance
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47
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SECTION 9.13 Construction;
Interpretation; Disclosure Letters
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47
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A – Plan of Merger
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Exhibit B – Articles of Incorporation of
Buyer
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Exhibit C – Bylaws of Buyer
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iv
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
(this “Agreement”), dated as of September 30, 2009
is entered into by and between Franklin Electronic Publishers,
Incorporated, a Pennsylvania corporation (the
“Company”), and Saunders Acquisition Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (“Buyer”).
RECITALS:
A. A special committee of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”)
consisting solely of independent directors (the “Company
Special Committee”) [unanimously] has determined that the
merger of Buyer with and into the Company on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “Merger”)
is advisable and in the best interests of the Company and has
recommended that the Company Board approve and adopt this Agreement
and recommend that the Company’s shareholders vote for the
adoption of this Agreement;
B. The Company Board has determined
that the Merger is advisable and in the best interests of the
Company and has approved and adopted this Agreement and has
resolved to recommend that the Company’s shareholders vote
for the adoption of this Agreement;
C. Pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, Buyer has determined to acquire the Company by means of
the Merger; and
D. Buyer and certain shareholders of
the Company have previously entered into Exchange Agreements dated
as of May 29, 2009 and September 11, 2009, as each may be
amended from time to time, pursuant to which such shareholders have
agreed to contribute to Buyer, immediately following the approval
of this Agreement by the Board of Directors of the Company,
3,024,114 shares of Company Common Stock (as hereinafter defined)
owned beneficially or of record by such shareholders in exchange
for an equity interest in Buyer, and upon the Effective Time (as
hereinafter defined) such Rollover Shares shall be automatically
cancelled and shall cease to exist without any payment therefor
pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(iv) hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
in this Agreement, the adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged,
and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree
as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. When
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
respective meanings specified therefore below:
“ Acquisition Proposal
” as defined in Section 6.4(e)(i).
“ Action ” as
defined in Section 4.8(a).
1
“ Affiliate ”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is
Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person, including
without limitation any Subsidiary.
“ Agreement ” as
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Aggregate Merger
Consideration ” means the dollar amount resulting from
multiplying the Merger Consideration by the aggregate number of
shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time, other than the Rollover Shares.
“ Buyer ” as
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement and Plan of
Merger.
“Buyer Common
Stock” as defined
in Section 2.2(a)(iii).
“ Buyer Disclosure
Letter ” as defined in the first paragraph of Article
V.
“ Certificate ”
as defined in Section 2.2(a)(i).
“ Closing ” as
defined in Section 2.1(b).
“ Closing Date ”
as defined in Section 2.1(b).
“ Code ” means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Company ” as
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Company Balance Sheet
” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company
as of March 31, 2009 set forth in the Annual Report on Form
10-K filed by the Company with the SEC on June 29, 2009, as
supplemented by the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as
of June 30, 2009 set forth in the Quarterly Report on Form
10¬Q filed by the Company with the SEC on August 13,
2009.
“ Company Benefit Plan
” as defined in Section 4.10(a).
“ Company Board ”
as defined in the Recitals.
“ Company Change of
Recommendation ” as defined in
Section 6.4(c).
“ Company Common Stock
” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company.
“ Company Disclosure
Letter ” as defined in the first paragraph of Article
IV.
“ Company Financial
Statements ” as defined in
Section 4.5(a).
“ Company Options
” as defined in Section 2.2(a)(ii).
2
“ Company Permits
” means all Permits required for any business operated or
services furnished by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
“ Company
Recommendation ” as defined in
Section 6.2(a)(ii).
“ Company SEC Documents
” as defined in Section 4.5(a).
“ Company Shareholder
Approval ” as defined in Section 4.3.
“ Company Special
Committee ” as defined in the Recitals.
“ Company Subsidiaries
” means the Subsidiaries of the Company set forth in
Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
“ Contract ”
means, with respect to any Person, any agreement, arrangement,
undertaking, contract, commitment, obligation, promise, indenture,
deed of trust or other instrument or agreement (whether written or
oral and whether express or implied) by which that Person is bound
or subject.
“ Control ” means
with respect to any corporation or limited liability company the
right or power to exercise, directly or indirectly, more than fifty
percent (50%) of the voting power of shareholders, members or
owners and with respect to any individual, partnership, trust or
other entity or association other than a corporation or limited
liability company, the possession directly to cause the direction
of the management or actions of the controlled entity.
“ Copyrights ” as
defined in Section 4.14(a).
“ DGCL ” means
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
“ Effective Time
” as defined in Section 2.1(c).
“ Environmental Laws
” means federal, state, local and foreign statutes, Laws,
judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments,
orders, codes, injunctions, permits and governmental agreements
relating to the environment or the protection of human health as it
relates to the environment, including those relating to the
management or Release of Hazardous Materials.
“ ERISA ” as
defined in Section 4.10(a).
“ ERISA Affiliate
” as defined in Section 4.10(a).
“ Exchange Act ”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Exchange Agent
” as defined in Section 2.3(a).
“ Expense Reimbursement
” as defined in Section 8.4(b)
“ Foreign Plans ”
as described in Section 4.10(i)
3
“ GAAP ” as
defined in Section 4.5(a).
“ Governmental
Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or
other political subdivision thereof, including any domestic
(federal, state or local), foreign or supranational governmental or
regulatory authority, agency, department, board, commission,
administration or instrumentality, any court, tribunal or
arbitrator or any self-regulatory organization, including state
departments or divisions of insurance or insurance commissioners or
superintendents.
“ Hazardous Material
” means all substances or materials regulated as hazardous,
toxic, explosive, dangerous, flammable or radioactive under any
Environmental Law including (i) petroleum, asbestos or
polychlorinated biphenyls, and (ii) in the United States; all
substances defined as Hazardous Substances, Oils, Pollutants or
Contaminants in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan, 40 C.F.R. Section 300.5.
“ IP Licenses ”
as defined in Section 4.14(a).
“ Indemnified Parties
” as defined in Section 6.9(a).
“ Intellectual Property
” as defined in Section. 4.14(a).
“ Investment Assets
” means bonds, notes, debentures, mortgage loans, collateral
loans and all other instruments of indebtedness, stocks,
partnership or joint venture interests and all other equity
interests, real estate and leasehold and other interests therein,
certificates issued by or interests in trusts, cash on hand and on
deposit, personal property and interests therein and all other
assets acquired for investment purposes.
“ IRS ” as
defined in Section 4.10(b).
“ Law ” means any
law (including common law), ordinance, writ, directive, judgment,
order, decree, injunction, statute, treaty, rule, regulation,
regulatory requirement or determination of (or an agreement with) a
Governmental Authority.
“ Leased Real Property
” as defined in Section 4.15(b).
“ Liability ”
means any debt, liability, commitment, claim or obligation of any
kind whatsoever, whether due or to become due, known or unknown,
accrued or fixed, or absolute or contingent.
“ Lien ” means
any and all liens, charges, security interests, options, claims,
mortgages, pledges or restrictions on title or transfer of any
nature whatsoever.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means, with respect to any Person, any fact,
event, circumstance, change, condition or effect, individually or
in the aggregate, that is material and adverse to the business,
assets, properties, liabilities, financial condition or results of
operations of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
provided, however, that: “Material Adverse Effect”
shall not include any (i) decrease in the trading or market
prices of an entity’s capital stock or (ii) any change
or effect (A) resulting from changes or effects to the U.S. or
global economy in general, (B) with respect to the Company,
resulting primarily from the
4
identities of Buyer and its Affiliates or
statements or other actions by them, (C) resulting from
changes in law or GAAP or the interpretation thereof after the date
hereof, (D) resulting from acts of war, armed hostility or
terrorism, or (E) resulting from the announcement of
Buyer’s proposal to acquire the Company, the negotiation,
execution or announcement of this Agreement or the Merger or
regulatory approvals contemplated hereby including any litigation
resulting therefrom.
“ Material Contract(s)
” as defined in Section 4.13(a).
“ Merger ” as
defined in the Recitals.
“ Merger Consideration
” means an amount of cash per share of Company Common Stock
equal to $2.50.
“ Multiemployer Plan
” as defined in Section 4.10(f).
“ NYSE AMEX ” as
defined in Section 4.4(a).
“ Oppenheimer ”
as defined in Section 4.18.
“ Option Payments
” as defined in Section 2.7(a).
“ PBCL ” means
the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as
amended.
“ Patents ” as
defined in Section 4.15(a).
“ Permits ” means
any licenses, franchises, permits, certificates, approvals,
accreditations or other similar authorizations from any
Governmental Authority.
“ Permitted Liens
” means, collectively, (i) Liens for Taxes not yet
payable or the validity of which are being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves are
reflected in the Company SEC Documents, (ii) any minor
imperfection of title or similar Lien which does not and would not
reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect the
operations of the business of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and (iii) Liens incurred pursuant to actions of
Buyer or any of its Affiliates.
“ Person ” means
and includes an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a
corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an association,
an unincorporated organization, a Governmental Authority and any
other entity or group (as defined in the Exchange Act).
“ Proxy Statement
” as defined in Section 6.2(a)(ii).
“ Quarterly Statements
” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the quarterly
statements of such Person filed with the SEC.
“ Release ” means
any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking, pumping,
injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal, leaching or migration into
the indoor or outdoor environment
5
(including ambient air, surface water,
groundwater, and surface or subsurface strata) or into or out of
any property.
“ Representative
” means, with respect to any Person, (a) its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and (b) its, and its
Subsidiaries’ and Affiliates’ respective officers,
directors, employees, auditors, financial advisors, attorneys,
accountants, consultants, agents, advisors or
representatives.
“ Requisite Regulatory
Approvals ” as defined in Section 7.1(c).
“ Reverse Termination
Fee ” as defined in Section 8.4(c).
“ Rollover Shares
” means such number of shares of Company Common Stock as are
owned by Buyer at the Effective Time.
“ Schedule 13E-3
” as defined in Section 6.2(b).
“ SEC ” means the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Securities Laws
” means the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
“ Software ” as
defined in Section 4.15(a).
“ Special Meeting
” as defined in Section 6.2(a).
“ Subsidiary ”
when used with respect to any Person means another Person
Controlled by such first Person or another Subsidiary of such first
Person.
“ Superior Proposal
” as defined in Section 6.4(e)(ii).
“ Surviving Corporation
” as defined in Section 2.1(a).
“ Tax ” or
“ Taxes ” means any and all federal, state,
local, foreign or other taxes of any kind (together with any and
all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional amounts
imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any taxing authority,
including, taxes, fees, duties, levies, customs, tariffs, imposts,
assessments, obligations or other similar charges of any kind on or
with respect to income, franchises, premiums, windfall or other
profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, transfer, capital
stock, payroll, employment, social security, workers’
compensation, unemployment compensation or net worth, and taxes or
other similar charges of any kind in the nature of excise,
withholding, ad valorem or value added.
“ Tax Proceeding
” means any audit, administrative action, assessment, case,
deposition, examination, executive action, filing, hearing,
information request, injunction, inquiry, investigation, judgment,
levy, litigation, order, reassessment, review, seizure, subpoena,
suit,
6
summons, testimony, or other activity involving
or conducted by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority relating
to Tax.
“ Tax Return ”
means any return, report or similar statement (including any
attachment or supplements thereto) supplied to or required to be
supplied to any taxing authority, including, any information
return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of
estimated Tax.
“ Termination Date
” as defined in Section 8.1(b)(iii).
“ Termination Fee
” as defined in Section 8.4(a).
“ Third Party ”
means any Person (or group of Persons) other than the Company,
Buyer and their respective Subsidiaries.
“ Trademarks ” as
defined in Section 4.14(a).
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.1 The Merger
.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time,
Buyer shall be merged with and into the Company in accordance with
the requirements of the PBCL and DGCL, whereupon the separate
existence of Buyer shall cease, and the Company shall be the
corporation surviving the Merger (the “Surviving
Corporation”). The Merger will have the effects set forth in
Section 1929 of the PBCL and Section 259 of the DGCL.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject
thereto, from and after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall possess all the rights, privileges, franchises,
property, immunities, powers and purposes and assume and be liable
for all the debts, liabilities, obligations and penalties of the
Company and Buyer.
(b) The closing of the transactions
contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall take place at
the offices of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in New York City at 10:00
a.m. local time, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any
event within two (2) business days, after the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those
conditions that are to be satisfied at the Closing) (the actual
time and date of the Closing being referred to herein as the
“Closing Date”).
(c) As soon as reasonably
practicable following the Closing on the Closing Date, the Company
and Buyer shall execute and file articles of merger with the
Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a
certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, and make all other filings or recordings required by the
PBCL to be made in connection with the Merger. The articles of
merger shall have attached thereto a plan of merger in the form of
Exhibit A . The Merger shall become effective at such time
as articles of merger are duly filed with the Department of State
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a certificate of merger is
duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or,
if
7
agreed to by the Company and Buyer, at such
later time as is specified in the articles of merger (such time,
the “Effective Time”).
SECTION 2.2 Conversion of
Shares .
(a) At the Effective Time, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder
thereof:
(i) each share of Company Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall,
except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2(a)(vii), be
converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the
Merger Consideration, payable in cash upon surrender of the
certificate that formerly evidenced such share of Company Common
Stock (a “Certificate”) in the manner provided in
Section 2.3;
(ii) each outstanding and
unexercised option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock (the
“Company Options”) under any stock option plan of the
Company, including, without limitation, the Company’s 1998
and 2005 Stock Option Plans or any other similar plan, agreement or
arrangement outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time,
shall be cancelled and, in exchange therefore, each former holder
of any such Company Option shall be entitled to receive a payment
in cash (subject to any applicable withholding of Taxes) of an
amount equal to the product of (i) the total number of shares
of Company Common Stock previously subject to such Company Option
which have vested as of the Effective Time, and (ii) the
excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price
per share previously subject to such Company Option (such amounts
payable hereunder being referred to as the “Option
Payments”). From and after the Effective Time, any such
Company Option shall no longer be exercisable by the holder thereof
but shall only entitle such holder to the payment of the Option
Payment. If the exercise price per share with respect to any
Company Option is equal to or greater than the Merger
Consideration, such Company Option will be cancelled pursuant to
this Section 2.2(a)(ii) without consideration, as will that
portion of any Company Option that has not vested as of the
Effective Time.
(iii) each share of common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of Buyer (“Buyer Common
Stock”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be converted into and become one share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation with the same rights, powers and privileges
as the share so converted;
(iv) each share of Series A
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Buyer (“Buyer
Series A Preferred Stock”) outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one share of
Series A Preferred Stock of the Surviving
8
Corporation with the same rights,
powers and privileges as the share so converted;
(v) each share of Series B Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Buyer (“Buyer Series B
Preferred Stock”) outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be converted into and become one share of
Series B Preferred Stock of the Surviving Corporation with the same
rights, powers and privileges as the share so converted;
(vi) each share of Buyer Common
Stock, Buyer Series A Preferred Stock and Buyer Series B Preferred
Stock converted pursuant to Sections 2.2(a)(iii), 2.2(a)(iv) and
2.2(a)(v), as applicable, shall constitute the only outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation;
and
(vii) each share of Company Common
Stock held by the Company as treasury stock immediately prior to
the Effective Time and each of the Rollover Shares shall be
canceled, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto;
provided, that shares of Company Common Stock held by the Company
or its Subsidiaries in trust accounts, managed accounts, investment
accounts and the like shall not be cancelled and shall be treated
in accordance with Section 2.2(a)(i).
(b) From and after the Effective
Time, all shares of Company Common Stock converted pursuant to
Section 2.2(a)(i), all shares of Company Common Stock
cancelled in accordance with Section 2.2(a)(vii) and all
Company Options shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and
each holder of a Certificate shall cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except, in the case of shares of Company Common
Stock canceled pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(i), the right to
receive the Merger Consideration to which such holder is entitled
with respect to the shares of Company Common Stock represented by
the Certificate(s) surrendered by such holder pursuant to
Section 2.3(b), or in the case of a cancelled Company Option
the right to receive the Option Payments. From and after the
Effective Time, all certificates representing Buyer Common Stock,
Buyer Series A Preferred Stock or Buyer Series B Preferred Stock,
as the case may be, shall be deemed for all purposes to represent
only the number of shares of capital stock of the Surviving
Corporation into which such shares were converted in accordance
with Sections 2.2(a)(iii), 2.2(a)(iv) or 2.2(a)(v), as
applicable.
SECTION 2.3 Surrender and
Payment .
(a) Prior to the Effective Time,
Buyer shall appoint an exchange agent (the “Exchange
Agent”) reasonably acceptable to a majority of the
independent directors of the Company for the purpose of exchanging
Certificates for the Merger Consideration. At the Effective Time,
Buyer shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange
Agent cash sufficient to make the cash payments payable pursuant to
Section 2.2(a)(i). Promptly after the Effective Time, Buyer
will send, or cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of
record
9
of shares of Company Common Stock as of the
Effective Time, a letter of transmittal for use in such exchange
(which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and risk
of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the
Certificates to the Exchange Agent), which letter shall be in such
form as the Company and Buyer may reasonably agree to use in
effecting delivery of shares of Company Common Stock to the
Exchange Agent.
(b) Each holder of shares of Company
Common Stock that have been converted into the right to receive the
Merger Consideration as provided herein will be entitled to receive
the Merger Consideration in respect of the shares of Company Common
Stock represented by such Certificate only upon surrender to the
Exchange Agent of such Certificate. Until so surrendered, each such
Certificate so converted shall, after the Effective Time, represent
for all purposes only the right to receive such Merger
Consideration. No interest will be paid or accrued on any cash
payable as part of the Merger Consideration or in lieu of
fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.6.
(c) If any Merger Consideration is
to be paid to the name of a Person other than the Person in whose
name the applicable surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall
be a condition to the registration or payment of such Merger
Consideration that the surrendered Certificate shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer.
(d) After the Effective Time, there
shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of capital
stock of the Company on the stock records of, or relating to, the
Company. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented
to the Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation or Buyer, they
shall be canceled and, if applicable, exchanged for the Merger
Consideration payable in exchange therefor in accordance with the
procedures and limitations set forth, in this Article
II.
(e) Any portion of the Merger
Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to
Section 2.3(a) that remains unclaimed by the holders of shares
of Company Common Stock twelve (12) months after the Effective
Time shall be returned to Buyer and any such holder who has not
exchanged such holder’s shares of Company Common Stock for
the Merger Consideration payable in exchange therefor in accordance
with this Section 2.3 prior to that time shall thereafter look
only to Buyer for delivery of the Merger Consideration in respect
of such holder’s shares without any interest thereon.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer shall not be liable to any
Person for any Merger Consideration delivered to a public official
pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
Laws.
(f) The Exchange Agent shall invest
any cash made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to
Section 2.3(a) as directed by Buyer on a daily basis in
Treasury bills, Treasury notes, Treasury bonds or other short-term
instruments guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United
States. Any interest and other income resulting from such
investments shall promptly be paid to Buyer.
SECTION 2.4 Adjustments. If,
at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement
and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of
capital stock of Buyer or the Company shall occur by reason of any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination,
exchange or readjustment of shares, or any similar transaction; or
any stock
10
dividend thereon with a record date during such
period, the Merger Consideration shall be appropriately adjusted to
provide the holders of shares of Company Common Stock the same
economic effect, in the aggregate, as contemplated by this
Agreement prior to such event.
SECTION 2.5 Withholding
Rights. Each of the Surviving Corporation, Buyer and Exchange
Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this
Article II such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold
with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of
federal, state, local or foreign Tax Law including any withholding
from any payment that is treated as wages or compensation for the
performance of services. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes
of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of
which such deduction and withholding was made.
SECTION 2.6 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 the providing
of such security or indemnity as the Exchange Agent deems necessary
to save and hold the Company and Buyer harmless, the Exchange Agent
shall pay in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate the Merger Consideration payable in exchange for the
shares of Company Common Stock represented thereby.
SECTION 2.7 Treatment of
Restricted Stock . As of the Effective Time, the holder of each
vested share of restricted stock awarded under the 2005 Restricted
Stock Plan or any other similar plan, agreement or arrangement
shall be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration, without
interest, and subject to any withholding of Taxes. All unvested
shares of restricted stock will be cancelled without
consideration.
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN GOVERNANCE
MATTERS
SECTION 3.1 Articles of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation . At the Effective
Time, the articles of incorporation of the Company shall be amended
and restated so that the articles of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation (until amended in accordance with applicable Law) will
read in full as set forth on Exhibit B .
SECTION 3.2 Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation . At the Effective Time, the bylaws of
the Company shall be amended and restated so that the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation (until amended in accordance with applicable
Law) will read in full as set forth on Exhibit C
.
SECTION 3.3 Directors and
Officers of the Surviving Corporation . From and after the
Effective Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified in accordance with the bylaws and applicable Law,
(a) the directors of Buyer immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall become the directors of the Surviving Corporation, and
(b) the officers of the Company immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving
Corporation.
11
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE COMPANY
Except as disclosed in the most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q since such Annual Report on Form 10-K (including, in each
case, to the extent included in any document filed or incorporated
by reference as an exhibit thereto), in each case included in the
Company SEC Documents filed and publicly available prior to the
date hereof and except as set forth in the disclosure letter
delivered by the Company to Buyer simultaneously with the execution
of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”),
the Company represents and warrants to Buyer that the following
statements are true and correct in all material respects as of the
date hereof:
SECTION 4.1 Organization and
Qualification . The Company is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Each of the Company Subsidiaries is
duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of the state or country of such
Subsidiary’s incorporation or organization (such
jurisdictions being those listed on the Company Disclosure Letter).
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has the requisite power
and authority to own, operate and lease the properties that it
purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its business as
it is now being conducted, and is duly qualified as a foreign
entity to do business, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
where the character of its properties owned, operated or leased or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary
(such jurisdictions being those listed on the Company Disclosure
Letter), except for such failures to be so qualified and in good
standing that have not had, and would not reasonably be expected
to, have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.
SECTION 4.2 Capitalization
.
(a) The authorized capital stock of
the Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock,
of which, as of the date of this Agreement, 8,281,133 shares were
issued and outstanding and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of
which, as of the date of this Agreement, no shares were issued and
outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement there were no shares
of Company Common Stock held in treasury. All the outstanding
shares of the Company’s capital stock are in accordance with
the respective terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth in the Company
Disclosure Letter or as provided for in this Agreement, as of the
date of this Agreement: (A) there are no outstanding bonds,
debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have
the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exercisable for
securities having the right to vote) with the shareholders of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries on any matter, (B) there
are outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 2,511,086
shares of Company Common Stock, (C) there were no warrants,
calls, subscriptions, convertible securities, or other rights,
agreements or commitments which obligate the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital stock
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (D) there are no
outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares
of capital stock, partnership interests or any other securities of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (E) there are no
outstanding preemptive rights, rights of
12
first refusal, rights of co-sale, tag along
rights or drag along rights of or for the shareholders of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries on any matter. As of the date
hereof, there are no declared but unpaid dividends outstanding with
respect to the Company’s capital stock.
(b) Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, all of the outstanding capital stock of,
or other ownership interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company is,
directly or indirectly, owned by the Company, and all such capital
stock has been validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable
and owned by either the Company or one of its Subsidiaries free and
clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and free of any
other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the
right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or
other ownership interests) other than any restrictions imposed
under applicable federal and state securities Laws.
SECTION 4.3 Corporate
Authorization; Enforceability; Board Action . The Company has
the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company, subject to the approval and adoption by the
Company’s shareholders of this Agreement and the consummation
of the Merger in accordance with the Company’s articles of
incorporation and bylaws and the PBCL (the “Company
Shareholder Approval”). This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Company and, subject to Company Shareholder
Approval and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such
enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws, now or hereafter in
effect, affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general
equity principles.
SECTION 4.4 Consents and
Approvals; No Violations .
(a) Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, the execution, delivery and performance
by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Merger, require no consent, approval or action by or in respect of,
or notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority other than:
(i) the filing of articles of merger in connection with the
Merger in accordance with the PBCL, (ii) compliance with any
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, (iii) compliance with the
rules and regulations of the American Stock Exchange (“NYSE
AMEX”), and (iv) any other approvals the absence of
which would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the
aggregate, (A) materially impair or delay consummation of the
Merger or (B) have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
(b) Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution, delivery or
performance by the Company of this Agreement nor the consummation
by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, including
the Merger, nor compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries,
with any of the provisions hereof will (i) conflict with or
result in any breach of any provisions of the Company’s
articles of incorporation or the Company’s bylaws or the
organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries,
(ii) assuming
13
compliance with the matters referred to in
Section 4.4(a), conflict with or result in any violation of
any provision of any Law applicable to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (iii) require the consent, approval or
authorization of, or notice to or filing with, any Third Party,
with respect to, result in any violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation,
amendment, or acceleration of any right or obligation of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to a loss of any benefit to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled) under,
any provision of any Contract by which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is bound or subject, or (iv) result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on
any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in the
case of (ii) and (iii) for such conflicts, violations,
breaches, defaults, rights or losses, or the failure to obtain any
such consents or approvals or to provide such notices or make such
filings, that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or
in the aggregate, (A) materially impair or delay consummation
of the Merger or (B) have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
SECTION 4.5 SEC Filings and
Financial Statements . The Company has filed with the SEC all
forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required
to be filed or furnished by it and its Subsidiaries since
April 1, 2006 under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (as
such documents have been amended since the time of their filing
prior to the date hereof, collectively, the “Company SEC
Documents”). As of their respective dates or, if amended
prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the last such
amendment, the Company SEC Documents, including any financial
statements or schedules included therein (i) did not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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, and (ii) complied in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and the applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. Each of the
consolidated financial statements included in the Company SEC
Documents (the “Company Financial Statements”) has been
prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent
basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto) and fairly presents in all material respects, as
applicable, the consolidated financial position and the
consolidated results of operations and cash flows (and changes in
financial position, if any) of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof or for the periods presented
therein (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments and for the absence of
footnotes).
SECTION 4.6 Absence of Certain
Changes . Except (a) as set forth in the Company
Disclosure Letter or (b) as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, since March 31,
2009, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their
respective businesses and operations consistent with past practice
only in the ordinary and usual course thereof and there has not
occurred, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have
not:
(i) any fact, event, circumstance,
change, condition or effect (including the incurrence of any
Liabilities of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or
otherwise) that can reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company;
14
(ii) any material change by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in accounting principles or
methods other than those required by Law or GAAP;
(iii) taken any action or made any
omission, that, if taken or made on or after the date of this
Agreement, would be prohibited by Section 6.1;
(iv) suffered any material physical
damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance)
that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, affecting each
Company’s or any Subsidiary’s respective property or
business;
(v) entered into any material
transaction involving consideration or obligations in excess of
$500,000;
(vi) made or pledged to make any
material charitable contribution or capital
contribution;
(vii) accelerated, terminated,
modified or canceled any material Contract to which the Company is
a party or by which the Company or its assets are bound, except
where such acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; or
(viii) agreed or committed, whether
in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.
SECTION 4.7 Undisclosed
Liabilities . Except for Liabilities (a) set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter or reflected, disclosed or reserved
against in the Company Financial Statements (including the
footnotes thereto) included in the Company SEC Documents filed
prior to the date of this Agreement; (b) incurred in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or
(c) that individually or in the aggregate, have not or will
not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities of any
nature whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise, and whether
or not required to be discharged, nor are there any facts or
circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any
obligation or Liability.
SECTION 4.8 Litigation
.
(a) As of the date hereof, except as
set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter or as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company (i) there is no
litigation, suit, action, claim, charge or other proceeding (each,
an “Action”) by or before any Governmental Authority or
any other Person pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, against, by or affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than insurance claims litigation in the
ordinary course of business for which claims reserves that are
adequate in the aggregate have been established), or
15
any of its or their respective assets,
properties or business, and (ii) no investigation or inquiry
by or before any Governmental Authority is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.
(b) Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, there are no judgments, injunctions,
writs, orders or decrees binding on the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that have had, or would reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
SECTION 4.9 Compliance with
Laws .
(a) Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and its Subsidiaries have
been, since April 1, 2006, and their operations are currently
being, conducted in compliance with all applicable Laws and
Judgments, except where the failure to so comply would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole.
(b) Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries
possess all licenses, Permits and other authorizations required to
conduct their businesses as now conducted by them, except where the
failure to possess such licenses, permits and other authorizations
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company has not received notice
of pending cancellation or suspension thereof, nor to the knowledge
of the Company, is any cancellation thereof threatened.
SECTION 4.10 Employee Benefit
Plans .
(a) Company Benefit Plans .
The Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list of each
“employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3)
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”) (whether or not subject to ERISA), and any
other material plan, policy, program practice, agreement,
understanding or arrangement (whether written or oral) providing
compensation or other benefits to any current or former director,
officer, employee or consultant (or to any dependent or beneficiary
thereof of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate), which are now, or
were within the past 6 years, maintained, sponsored or contributed
to by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or under which the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any material obligation or
liability, whether actual or contingent, including, without
limitation, all incentive, bonus, deferred compensation, vacation,
holiday, cafeteria, medical, disability, stock purchase, stock
option, stock appreciation, phantom stock, restricted stock,
restricted stock unit, stock-based compensation,
change-in-control., retention, transaction, employment, consulting,
personnel or severance policies, programs, practices, Contracts or
arrangements (each a “Company Benefit Plan”). For
purposes of this Section 4.10, “ERISA Affiliate”
shall mean any entity (whether or not incorporated) other than the
Company that, together with the Company, is considered under common
control and treated as one employer under Sections 414(b), (c),
(m) or (o) of the Code. To the knowledge of the Company,
the Company has no express or implied commitment to modify, change
or terminate any Company Benefit Plan, other than with respect to a
modification, change or termination
16
required by ERISA or the Code and each Company
Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued
after the Effective Time in accordance with its terms.
(b) Deliveries . The Company
has made available to Buyer complete copies of each Company Benefit
Plan (or, if not written a written summary of its material terms),
including without limitation all plan documents, trust agreements,
annuity contracts, insurance contracts or other funding vehicles
and all amendments thereto.
(c) General Compliance .
Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, (i) each Company Benefit Plan
has been administered in accordance with its terms and all
applicable Laws and Orders, including ERISA and the Code,
including, without limitation, timely filing of all Tax, annual
reporting and other governmental filings required by ERISA and the
Code and timely contribution (or, if not yet due, proper financial
reporting) of any amounts required to be made under the terms of
any of the Company Benefit Plans as of the date of this Agreement,
(ii) no prohibited transaction (within the meaning of
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and
other than a transaction that is exempt under a statutory or
administrative exemption) has occurred with respect to any Company
Benefit Plan, and (iii) the Company and its ERISA Affiliates
have complied with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 2985, as amended, and the regulations thereunder
(“COBRA”), and any similar state law. None of the
assets of any Company Benefit Plan which is intended to qualify
under Section 401(a), Section 401(k), Section 401(m)
or Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code have been invested in any
equity interest issued by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary.
(d) Legal Actions . Except as
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company or as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, no
suit, administrative proceeding, action or other litigation has
been brought, or to the knowledge of the Company is threatened,
against or with respect to any such Company Benefit Plan, including
any audit or inquiry by the IRS or United States Department of
Labor (other than routine benefits claims) and any civil action
under Section 502 of ERISA.
(e) Title IV of ERISA . No
Company Benefit Plan is a multiemployer