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EXHIBIT 2.3
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
DATED AS OF
APRIL 9, 2003
BY AND AMONG
WII HOLDINGS, INC.,
WOODCRAFT ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
AND
WOODCRAFT INDUSTRIES, INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PREAMBLE....................................................................................................1
ARTICLE 1 - THE
MERGER........................................................................................1
1.1 THE
MERGER...........................................................................................1
1.2 EFFECTS OF THE
MERGER................................................................................1
1.3
CLOSING..............................................................................................1
1.4 EFFECTIVE DATE AND
TIME..............................................................................2
1.5 ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION............................................................................2
1.6
BYLAWS...............................................................................................2
1.7 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
OF SURVIVING
CORPORATION......................................................2
1.8 EFFECT ON CAPITAL
STOCK..............................................................................2
1.9 OPTIONS AND
WARRANTS.................................................................................6
1.10 PAYMENT OF CASH FOR COMPANY
SECURITIES...............................................................7
1.11 DISSENTING
SHARES....................................................................................8
1.12 DEPOSIT TO
ESCROW....................................................................................8
1.13 APPLICATION OF
FUNDS.................................................................................8
1.14 NO FURTHER RIGHTS OR
TRANSFERS.......................................................................8
ARTICLE 2 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE
COMPANY.....................................................9
2.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING
AND
POWER.....................................................................9
2.2 CAPITAL
STRUCTURE...................................................................................10
2.3
SUBSIDIARIES........................................................................................11
2.4 AUTHORITY; NO
CONFLICTS; CONSENTS AND
APPROVALS.....................................................12
2.5 FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS................................................................................12
2.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED
MATERIAL
LIABILITIES.........................................................13
2.7 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS;
PERMITS AND
LICENSES..........................................................13
2.8
LITIGATION..........................................................................................14
2.9 TAX
MATTERS.........................................................................................14
2.10 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES
OR
EVENTS................................................................16
2.11 VOTE
REQUIRED.......................................................................................16
2.12 TITLE TO PROPERTIES,
CONDITION AND SUFFICIENCY OF
ASSETS............................................16
2.13 EMPLOYEES; LABOR
MATTERS............................................................................17
2.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLANS..............................................................................18
2.15 INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY...............................................................................20
2.16 ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND
SAFETY
MATTERS...........................................................20
2.17 BROKERS OR
FINDERS..................................................................................21
2.18 INSURANCE
POLICIES..................................................................................21
2.19 AFFILIATE
TRANSACTIONS..............................................................................22
2.20 CONTRACTS AND
COMMITMENTS...........................................................................22
2.21 PRODUCT
WARRANTIES..................................................................................24
2.22
INVENTORY...........................................................................................23
2.23 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND
ACCOUNTS
PAYABLE............................................................24
2.24 CUSTOMERS AND
DISTRIBUTORS..........................................................................24
2.25 ILLEGAL
PAYMENTS....................................................................................24
2.26 NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR
WARRANTIES..............................................................25
ARTICLE 3 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND MERGER
SUB..........................................25
3.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING
AND
POWER....................................................................26
3.2 AUTHORITY; NO
CONFLICTS; CONSENTS AND
APPROVALS.....................................................26
3.3 ACTIONS AND
PROCEEDINGS.............................................................................26
3.4 BROKERS OR
FINDERS..................................................................................26
3.5 MERGER
SUB..........................................................................................26
3.6 NO OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES.............................................................26
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ARTICLE 4 -
COVENANTS........................................................................................27
4.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
PENDING THE
CLOSING.............................................................26
4.2 NO
SOLICITATION.....................................................................................28
4.3 MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS.............................................................................30
4.4 ACCESS TO
INFORMATION...............................................................................29
4.5 HART-SCOTT-RODINO
ACT...............................................................................30
4.6 CONFIDENTIALITY
AGREEMENT...........................................................................30
4.7 DEPOSIT OF ESCROW
FUNDS.............................................................................30
4.8 PAYMENT OF
INDEBTEDNESS FOR BORROWED
MONEY..........................................................31
4.9 REASONABLE
EFFORTS..................................................................................31
4.10 INDEMNIFICATION; DIRECTORS'
AND OFFICERS'
INSURANCE.................................................31
4.11 PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENTS................................................................................32
ARTICLE 5 - CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT.............................................................................32
5.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH
PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE
MERGER..........................................32
5.2 CONDITIONS TO THE
OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB TO EFFECT THE
MERGER.........................32
5.3 CONDITIONS TO THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE MERGER
..................................34
ARTICLE 6 - TERMINATION AND
AMENDMENT........................................................................34
6.1 TERMINATION BY EITHER
THE COMPANY OR
PARENT.........................................................34
6.2 TERMINATION BY
PARENT...............................................................................35
6.3 TERMINATION BY THE
COMPANY..........................................................................35
6.4 EFFECT OF
TERMINATION...............................................................................35
6.5
AMENDMENT...........................................................................................35
6.6 EXTENSION;
WAIVER...................................................................................35
ARTICLE 7 - SURVIVAL,
INDEMNIFICATION........................................................................36
7.1 SURVIVAL OF
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY, PARENT AND MERGER
SUB....................35
7.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE
COMPANY OR SELLING
PARTIES...................................................35
7.3 INDEMNIFICATION BY
PARENT AND MERGER
SUB............................................................37
7.4 NOTICE OF THIRD-PARTY
CLAIMS........................................................................36
7.5 DEFENSE OF THIRD-PARTY
CLAIMS.......................................................................38
7.6 NOTICE OF OTHER
CLAIMS..............................................................................38
7.7 ACCESS AND
COOPERATION..............................................................................38
7.8 TERM OF
INDEMNITIES.................................................................................39
7.9 LIMITATIONS ON
LIABILITY............................................................................39
7.10 ESCROW AMOUNT AND
TERM..............................................................................41
7.11 LIMITATION ON
CONTRIBUTION..........................................................................40
ARTICLE 8 - GENERAL
PROVISIONS...............................................................................41
8.1
EXPENSES............................................................................................41
8.2
NOTICES.............................................................................................41
8.3
INTERPRETATION......................................................................................43
8.4
SCHEDULES...........................................................................................43
8.5
COUNTERPARTS........................................................................................44
8.6 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO
THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES;
LIABILITY...........................................44
8.7 GOVERNING
LAW.......................................................................................44
8.8
SEVERABILITY........................................................................................44
8.9
ASSIGNMENT..........................................................................................44
8.10
ENFORCEMENT.........................................................................................45
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EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A - ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
SURVIVING CORPORATION
EXHIBIT B - SAMPLE CALCULATION OF MERGER
CONSIDERATION PER SHARE
EXHIBIT C - FORM OF ESCROW AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT D - [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
EXHIBIT E - REQUIRED THIRD PARTY
CONSENTS
EXHIBIT F - FORM OF PUT/CALL AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT G - FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
EXHIBIT H - FORM OF GENERAL RELEASE
EXHIBIT I - FORM OF NON-FOREIGN PERSON
AFFIDAVIT
EXHIBIT J - FORM OF COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT
OF UNDERTAKINGS
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CROSS REFERENCES
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SECTION
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Aggregate
Deductible............................................................7.9(b)(i)
Aggregate Merger
Consideration..................................................1.8(e)(i)
Aggregate Option and Warrant Exercise
Amount....................................1.8(e)(ii)
Aggregate Preferred Stock Merger
Consideration..................................1.8(e)(iii)
Aggregate Shareholder Notes Payoff
Amount.......................................1.8(e)(iv)
Agreement.......................................................................Preamble
Annual Financial
Statements.....................................................2.5
Articles of
Merger..............................................................1.4
Bonds...........................................................................1.8(e)(x)
Brentwood.......................................................................1.8(e)(x)
Cash Consideration per
Share....................................................1.8(e)(v)
Certificate.....................................................................1.8(d)
Claim
Notice....................................................................7.4(a)
Closing.........................................................................1.3
Closing
Date....................................................................1.3
Code............................................................................2.9(a)
Common
Stock....................................................................1.8(c)
Common Stock
Certificate........................................................1.8(c)
Company.........................................................................Preamble
Company Benefit
Arrangements....................................................2.14(d)
Company Disclosure
Schedule.....................................................2
Company Employee
Plans..........................................................2.14(a)
Company ERISA
Affiliate.........................................................2.14(a)
Company
Stock...................................................................1.8(b)
Company Tax
Affiliate...........................................................2.9(a)
Company Tax
Affiliates..........................................................2.9(a)
Company Tax
Representations.....................................................7.1(a)(i)
Company Transaction
Documents...................................................2.4(a)
Company Transaction
Expenses....................................................1.8(e)(vi)
Company Voting
Debt.............................................................2.2(d)
Confidentiality
Agreement.......................................................4.6
Dissenting
Shares...............................................................1.11
Effective
Date..................................................................1.4
Effective
Time..................................................................1.4
Environmental
Laws..............................................................2.16(a)(i)
ERISA...........................................................................2.14(a)
Escrow
Agent....................................................................1.12
Escrow
Agreement................................................................1.12
Escrow Consideration per
Share..................................................1.8(e)(vii)
Escrow
Funds....................................................................1.8(e)(viii)
Expiration
Date.................................................................7.9(d)(i)
Facility
Leases.................................................................2.12(b)
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Fully Diluted Shares
Outstanding................................................1.8(e)(ix)
GAAP............................................................................2.5
General Expiration
Date.........................................................7.9(d)(ii)
Governmental
Entity.............................................................2.4(c)
Hazardous
Substance.............................................................2.16(a)(ii)
HSR
Act.........................................................................2.4(c)
Indebtedness for Borrowed
Money.................................................1.8(e)(x)
Indemnitee......................................................................7.9(d)(iii)
Indemnitor......................................................................7.9(d)(iv)
Intellectual
Property...........................................................2.15(a)
Latest Balance
Sheet............................................................2.5
Latest Balance Sheet
Date.......................................................2.6
Latest Financial
Statements.....................................................2.5
Liens...........................................................................2.2(c)
Loss,
Losses....................................................................7.9(d)(v)
Loss
Payment....................................................................7.11
MBCA............................................................................Recitals
Major Customers and
Distributors................................................2.24
Management
Shareholders.........................................................Recitals
Material Adverse
Effect.........................................................2.1(b)
Merger..........................................................................Recitals
Merger Consideration per
Share..................................................1.8(e)(xi)
Merger
Sub......................................................................Preamble
Multiemployer
Plan..............................................................2.14(b)
Net Merger
Consideration........................................................1.8(e)(xii)
Non-Voting Common
Stock.........................................................1.8(c)
Option..........................................................................1.9(a)
Option
Consideration............................................................1.9(a)
Options.........................................................................1.9(a)
Option
Plan.....................................................................1.9(a)
Ordinary
Course.................................................................2.6
Organizational
Documents........................................................2.1(c)
Parent..........................................................................Preamble
Parent/Merger Sub Transaction
Documents.........................................3.2(a)
Permits.........................................................................2.7
Preferred
Stock.................................................................1.8(d)
Preferred Stock
Certificate.....................................................1.8(d)
Preferred Stock Merger Consideration per
Share..................................1.8(d)
Primewood.......................................................................1.8(e)(x)
Purchase and Exchange
Agreement.................................................Recitals
Real
Property...................................................................2.12(a)
Requisite Shareholder
Vote......................................................2.11
Sale
Transaction................................................................4.2(a)
Scheduled
Contracts.............................................................2.20(a)
Selling
Parties.................................................................7.9(d)(vi)
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Selling Parties'
Representative.................................................7.9(d)(vii)
Series A Preferred
Stock........................................................1.8(d)
Series B Preferred
Stock........................................................1.8(d)
Series C Preferred
Stock........................................................1.8(d)
Shareholder
Notes...............................................................1.8(e)(xiii)
Shareholder Support
Agreement...................................................Recitals
Special
Assessments.............................................................1.8(e)(x)
Special
Meeting.................................................................6.1(d)
Subsidiary......................................................................2.1(d)
Surviving
Corporation...........................................................1.1
Tax, Taxes,
Taxable.............................................................2.9(a)
Tax Equalization
Payments.......................................................1.8(e)(xiv)
Tax Expiration
Date.............................................................7.9(d)(viii)
Tax
Returns.....................................................................2.9(a)
Terminating Company
Breach......................................................6.2(a)
Terminating Parent
Breach.......................................................6.3(a)
Third Party
Claims..............................................................7.9(d)(ix)
to the knowledge of the
Company.................................................8.3
Unpaid Consulting and Noncompetition
Fees.......................................1.8(e)(xv)
Unpaid Management
Fees..........................................................1.8(e)(xvi)
Violation.......................................................................2.4(b)
Voting Common
Stock.............................................................1.8(c)
Warrant
Agreement...............................................................1.9(b)
Warrant
Consideration...........................................................1.9(b)
Warrants........................................................................1.9(b)
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of April 9, 2003 (this
"AGREEMENT"), is made and entered into by
and among WII Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("PARENT"), Woodcraft
Acquisition Subsidiary, Inc., a
Minnesota corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent ("MERGER SUB"),
and Woodcraft Industries, Inc., a Minnesota
corporation (the "COMPANY").
WHEREAS, Parent,
Merger Sub and the Company intend to effect a merger of
Merger Sub with and into the Company (the
"MERGER") in accordance with this
Agreement and the relevant provisions of
the Minnesota Business Corporation Act
(the "MBCA"), and the surviving corporation
of the Merger shall be the Company;
WHEREAS, as of
the dated hereof, certain executives of the Company (the
"MANAGEMENT SHAREHOLDERS") will enter into
a Purchase and Exchange Agreement
(the "PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT")
with Parent and other parties identified
therein;
WHEREAS, as of
the date hereof, Marathon Fund Limited Partnership III will
enter into a Shareholder Support Agreement
with Parent and Merger Sub (the
"SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT");
WHEREAS, the
respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company have approved this Agreement and
the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements set forth herein, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE MERGER
1.1.
THE MERGER. Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, at the Effective Time
(as defined in Section 1.4), Merger Sub
shall be merged with and into the Company.
Following the Merger, the separate
corporate existence of Merger Sub shall
cease and the Company shall continue as
the surviving corporation (the "SURVIVING
CORPORATION").
1.2.
EFFECTS OF THE
MERGER. The Merger shall have the effects set forth
in this Agreement and in the applicable
provisions of the MBCA. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, and
subject thereto, at the Effective Time all
the property, rights, privileges, powers,
immunities and franchises of Merger
Sub and the Company shall vest in the
Surviving Corporation, and all debts,
liabilities, obligations and duties of
Merger Sub and the Company shall become
the debts, liabilities, obligations and
duties of the Surviving Corporation.
1.3.
CLOSING. The
closing of the Merger (the "CLOSING") will take place
as soon as practicable, but no later than
the fourth business day, after
satisfaction or waiver (as permitted by
this Agreement and applicable law) of
the conditions (excluding conditions that,
by their terms, cannot be satisfied
until the Closing) set forth in Article 5
(the "CLOSING DATE"), unless another
time or date is agreed to in writing by the
parties hereto. The Closing shall be
held at the offices of Goodwin
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Procter LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New
York, New York, 10022, unless another
place is agreed to in writing by the
parties hereto.
1.4.
EFFECTIVE DATE
AND TIME. Upon the Closing, the parties shall file
with the Secretary of State of the State of
Minnesota appropriate articles of
merger (the "ARTICLES OF MERGER") executed
in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the MBCA. The Merger shall
become effective as of the date and
time of such filings or such other time
after such filings as the parties hereto
shall agree to in the Articles of Merger
(the "EFFECTIVE TIME"). The date on
which the Effective Time shall occur is
referred to as the "EFFECTIVE DATE."
1.5.
ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION. At the Effective Time, the articles of
incorporation of the Company (as amended
and restated in substantially the form
set forth in EXHIBIT A hereto) shall be the
articles of incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation, until thereafter
amended as provided by the MBCA and the
provisions of such articles of
incorporation.
1.6.
BYLAWS. At the
Effective Time, the bylaws of Merger Sub, as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall become the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter
amended as provided by the MBCA, the
provisions of the articles of incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation and
such bylaws.
1.7.
OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS OF SURVIVING CORPORATION. The officers of the
Company immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be, from and after the
Effective Time, the officers of the
Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of
their resignation or removal or otherwise
ceasing to be an officer. The
directors of Merger Sub immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be, from
and after the Effective Time, 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.
1.8.
EFFECT ON
CAPITAL STOCK. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part
of the Parent, Merger Sub or the
Company:
(a) CAPITAL
STOCK OF MERGER SUB. Each share of capital stock of
Merger Sub issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be converted into and become one fully paid
and nonassessable share of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Surviving Corporation.
(b) CANCELLATION
OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB-OWNED STOCK. Each share
of the capital stock of the Company (the
"COMPANY STOCK") that is issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time and owned by Parent or
Merger Sub or any other direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent
shall be cancelled, extinguished and
retired, and no payment of any
consideration shall be made with respect
thereto.
(c) COMPANY
COMMON STOCK. Each share of the Company's Common
Stock, $.01 par value per share (the
"VOTING COMMON STOCK") and the Company's
Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, $.01 par
value per share (the "NON-VOTING
COMMON STOCK" and together with the Voting
Common Stock, the "COMMON STOCK")
issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (other than
shares to be cancelled in accordance with
Section 1.8(b) and any Dissenting
Shares (as defined in Section 1.11)) will,
by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder
thereof, be converted into the right to
receive the Cash Consideration per Share
(as defined below) and, subject to the
terms of Article 7, the Escrow
Consideration per Share
2
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(as defined below) without any interest
thereon. As of the Effective Time, all
such shares of Common Stock shall no longer
be outstanding and shall
automatically be cancelled and retired and
shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a stock certificate which immediately
prior to the Effective Time represented
any such shares of Common Stock (a "COMMON
STOCK CERTIFICATE") shall cease to
have any rights with respect thereto,
except the right to receive, upon the
surrender of such Common Stock Certificate
as provided in Section 1.10, the Cash
Consideration per Share and, subject to the
terms of Article 7, the Escrow
Consideration per Share.
(d) COMPANY
PREFERRED STOCK. Each share of the Company's Series A
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK"), the
Company's Series B Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "SERIES B
PREFERRED STOCK") and the Company's Series
C Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK", and
together with the Series A Preferred
Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock, the
"PREFERRED STOCK") issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than shares to be
cancelled in accordance with Section 1.8(b)
and any Dissenting Shares (as
defined in Section 1.11)) will, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action
on the part of the holder thereof, be
converted into the right to receive $8.00
per share plus all accumulated and unpaid
dividends on such share in cash (the
"PREFERRED STOCK MERGER CONSIDERATION PER
SHARE") without any interest thereon.
As of the Effective Time, all such shares
of Preferred Stock shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of a stock
certificate which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented any such shares
of Preferred Stock (a "PREFERRED
STOCK CERTIFICATE" and, together with a
Common Stock Certificate, a
"CERTIFICATE") shall cease to have any
rights with respect thereto, except the
right to receive, upon the surrender of
such Preferred Stock Certificate as
provided in Section 1.10, the Preferred
Stock Merger Consideration per Share.
(e) CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS. For
purposes of this Agreement:
(i)
"AGGREGATE MERGER CONSIDERATION" shall mean
$145,000,000.
(ii) "AGGREGATE
OPTION AND WARRANT EXERCISE AMOUNT" shall
mean an amount, as certified by the
Secretary of the Company to the reasonable
satisfaction of Parent, equal to the
aggregate exercise price of all Options and
Warrants (each as defined in Section 1.9),
vested or unvested, outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
(iii) "AGGREGATE
PREFERRED STOCK MERGER CONSIDERATION" shall
mean an amount, as certified by the
Secretary of the Company to the reasonable
satisfaction of Parent, equal to the
aggregate of the Preferred Stock Merger
Consideration per Share payable in
accordance with Section 1.8(d) with respect
to shares of Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time.
(iv) "AGGREGATE
SHAREHOLDER NOTES PAYOFF AMOUNT" shall mean
an amount, as certified by the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company to the
reasonable satisfaction of Parent, of the
aggregate outstanding principal and
accrued and unpaid interest due to the
Company under the Shareholder Notes.
(v) "CASH
CONSIDERATION PER SHARE" shall mean an amount
equal to the Merger Consideration per Share
minus the Escrow Consideration per
Share as determined pursuant to this
Section 1.8.
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(vi) "COMPANY
TRANSACTION EXPENSES" shall mean the sum, as
certified by the Chief Financial Officer of
the Company to the reasonable
satisfaction of Parent, of all unpaid
legal, financial advisory, accounting and
other fees and expenses incurred by the
Company in connection with the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(vii) "ESCROW
CONSIDERATION PER SHARE" shall mean an interest
in the Escrow Funds, rounded to six decimal
places, equal to (A) $8,250,000,
divided by (B) the amount, by which, (y)
Fully Diluted Shares Outstanding,
exceeds (z) the aggregate number of shares
of issued and outstanding Common
Stock owned by Parent or Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time
cancelled, extinguished and retired
pursuant to Section 1.8(b).
(viii) "ESCROW FUNDS" shall mean $8,250,000.
(ix) "FULLY
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING" shall mean the sum,
as certified by the Secretary of the
Company to the reasonable satisfaction of
Parent, of (A) the number of shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time,
plus (B) the number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of all Options
and Warrants ( each as defined in
Section 1.9), vested or unvested,
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
(x)
"INDEBTEDNESS FOR BORROWED MONEY" shall mean an amount
equal to the sum, without duplication,
of:
(A) the outstanding
principal and accrued and unpaid
interest (as well as prepayment, breakage
and similar charges payable) under
that certain Second Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement, as amended from time
to time, dated July 31, 2002, among the
Company, PrimeWood, Inc. ("PRIMEWOOD"),
Brentwood Acquisition Corp. ("BRENTWOOD"),
the Banks party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association as a Bank and agent
for the Banks and Antares Capital
Corporation, as a Bank and as co-agent for
the Banks as set forth in payoff
letters from such institutions;
(B) the outstanding
principal and accrued and unpaid
interest (as well as prepayment, breakage
and similar charges payable) under
that certain Senior Subordinated Note,
Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase
Agreement, as amended from time to time,
dated June 16, 1998 among the Company,
Primewood, Continental Illinois Venture
Corporation, MIG Partners VII and
certain other parties as set forth in
payoff letters from the holders of
indebtedness thereunder;
(C) the outstanding
principal and accrued and unpaid
interest under that certain Subordinated
Promissory Note, dated as of July 31,
2002, in the original principal amount of
$2,150,000 made by Brentwood, as
maker, to Brent E. Gabriel, as payee, as
set forth in a payoff letter from the
holder thereof;
(D) an amount equal to
the outstanding principal of,
and accrued and unpaid interest on, the
Industrial Development Revenue Bonds
(Woodcraft Industries, Inc. Project),
Series 1995 issued by the City of Bowling
Green, Kentucky in the original principal
amount of $6,900,000, as certified by
the Chief Financial Officer of the Company
to the reasonable satisfaction of
Parent (the "BONDS");
(E) the amount of
unpaid special real estate
assessments on the Company's property
located at 522 Lincoln Ave. S.E., St.
Cloud, Minnesota, as certified by the
Chief
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Financial Officer of the Company to the
reasonable satisfaction of Parent (the
"SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS"); and
(F) any other
indebtedness for money borrowed by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
the carrying value of capital lease
obligations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries set forth on the Latest Balance
Sheet as adjusted through the Closing Date,
any indebtedness for money borrowed
that is secured by the assets of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
indebtedness for borrowed money guaranteed
in any manner by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, and all accrued
and unpaid interest or fees,
penalties or other amounts due with respect
thereto.
(xi) "MERGER
CONSIDERATION PER SHARE" shall mean an amount,
rounded to six decimal places, equal to Net
Merger Consideration divided by
Fully Diluted Shares Outstanding. EXHIBIT B
illustrates the calculation of
Merger Consideration per Share based on the
capital structure of the Company as
of the date of this Agreement.
(xii) "NET MERGER
CONSIDERATION" shall mean an amount equal
to (x) the sum of (A) Aggregate Merger
Consideration, plus (B) Aggregate Option
and Warrant Exercise Amount, plus (C) the
Aggregate Shareholder Notes Payoff
Amount minus (y) the sum of (A)
Indebtedness for Borrowed Money immediately
prior to the Effective Time (after giving
effect to any application of cash to
reduce such Indebtedness for Borrowed Money
prior to the Effective Time), plus
(B) Company Transaction Expenses, plus (C)
Unpaid Consulting and Noncompetition
Fees, plus (D) the Aggregate Preferred
Stock Merger Consideration, plus (E)
Unpaid Management Fees, plus (F) the Tax
Equalization Payments.
(xiii) "SHAREHOLDER
NOTES" shall mean those certain four
Demand Promissory Notes, each dated
February 28, 1996, made payable to the order
of WII Acquisition Corp., from each of
Jerome A. Brannan, Stephen R. Jacobs, Jon
A. Knudson and Sheila M. Krogman in the
original principal amounts of $50,000,
$25,000, $50,000 and $37,500,
respectively.
(xiv) "TAX
EQUALIZATION PAYMENTS" shall mean an amount, as
certified by the Chief Financial Officer of
the Company to the reasonable
satisfaction of Parent, equal to the sum of
the tax equalization payments to be
made to certain shareholders of the Company
in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the
Agreement as set forth in such Chief
Financial Officer certification.
(xv) "UNPAID
CONSULTING AND NONCOMPETITION FEES" shall mean
an amount (which for purposes of this
Agreement shall not be considered
Indebtedness for Borrowed Money), as
certified by the Chief Financial Officer of
the Company to the reasonable satisfaction
of Parent, equal to the sum of (A)
amounts unpaid by the Company under that
certain Noncompetition and Proprietary
Information Agreement, dated as of June 16,
1998, between the Company, Primewood
and Edward F. Shorma, plus (B) amounts
unpaid by the Company under that certain
Consulting Agreement, dated as of June 16,
1998, between the Company and
PrimeBoard International, Inc.
(xvi) "UNPAID
MANAGEMENT FEES" shall mean an amount, as
certified by the Chief Financial Officer of
the Company to the reasonable
satisfaction of Parent, equal to fees
unpaid by the Company under that certain
Management Services Agreement, dated as of
February 28, 1996, as amended on May
10, 2002, between the Company and Goldner
Hawn Johnson & Morrison Incorporated.
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1.9 OPTIONS AND
WARRANTS.
(a) OPTIONS. At
the Effective Time, each option to acquire Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time under the Company's
1998 Stock Option Plan (the "OPTION PLAN"),
whether vested or unvested (each, an
"OPTION," collectively, the "OPTIONS"),
shall automatically become cancelled and
extinguished and each holder of an Option
shall only have the right to receive
(A) from the Surviving Corporation a cash
payment (less applicable federal,
state and local withholding taxes) in an
aggregate amount, rounded to the
nearest penny, equal to the positive
difference, if any, between (i) the Cash
Consideration per Share over (ii) the
applicable exercise price per share of
Common Stock applicable to such Option for
all shares of Common Stock covered by
such Option (the "OPTION CONSIDERATION")
and (B) subject to the provisions of
Article 7, the Escrow Consideration per
Share for all shares of Common Stock
covered by such Option if and when released
pursuant to the terms of the Escrow
Agreement (as defined in Section 1.12). All
payments with respect to the Option
Consideration shall be treated as
compensation.
(b) WARRANTS. At
the Effective Time, each warrant to acquire
Common Stock or any securities directly or
indirectly convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Stock (the
"WARRANTS") outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time under those certain
warrant agreements described in SECTION
2.2(b) OF THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE
(each a "WARRANT AGREEMENT") shall
automatically become cancelled and
extinguished and each holder thereof shall
only have the right to receive (A) from the
Surviving Corporation a cash payment
(less applicable federal, state and local
withholding taxes, if any) in an
aggregate amount, rounded to the nearest
penny, equal to the difference, if any,
between (i) the Cash Consideration per
Share and (ii) the applicable exercise
price per share of the Common Stock
applicable to such Warrant for all shares of
Common Stock subject to the Warrant (the
"WARRANT CONSIDERATION") and (B)
subject to the provisions of Article 7, the
Escrow Consideration per Share for
all shares of Common Stock subject to the
Warrant if and when released pursuant
to the terms of the Escrow Agreement (as
defined in Section 1.12).
(c) NOTICES. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
(including, without limitation, giving
requisite notices to holders of Options
and Warrants advising them of such
accelerated vesting and rights pursuant to
this Section 1.9) to fully advise holders
of Options and Warrants of their
rights under this Agreement, the Options
and the Warrants, to facilitate their
timely exercise of such rights and to
effectuate the provisions of this Section
1.9. From and after the Effective Time,
other than as expressly set forth in
this Section 1.9, no holder of an Option or
a Warrant shall have any other
rights in respect thereof other than to
receive payment for his, her or its
Options or Warrants as set forth in this
Section 1.9, and the Company shall take
all necessary actions to terminate
effective as of the Effective Time the
Company's Option Plan, stock option
agreements and similar arrangements.
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1.10
PAYMENT OF CASH
FOR COMPANY SECURITIES.
(a) At the
Effective Time, each holder of a Certificate or
Certificates representing shares of Common
Stock or Preferred Stock extinguished
at the Effective Time may surrender such
Certificate or Certificates to the
Company, to effect the exchange of such
Certificate or Certificates on such
holder's behalf. Until so surrendered and
exchanged, each outstanding
Certificate shall be deemed to represent
and evidence only the right to receive
the Merger Consideration per Share or the
Preferred Stock Merger Consideration
per Share, as the case may be, to be paid
as set forth in this Section 1.10 and
until such surrender and exchange, no cash
shall be paid to the holder of such
outstanding Certificate in respect
thereof.
(b) At the
Effective Time and after surrender to the Company of
any Common Stock Certificate, the Company
shall distribute to the person in
whose name the Certificate shall have been
registered, a check or wire transfer
in an amount, rounded to the nearest penny,
equal to (x) the Cash Consideration
per Share, multiplied by (y) the number of
shares of Common Stock represented by
such Common Stock Certificate. The Company
shall withhold from any distribution
hereunder to a maker of any of the
Shareholder Notes the outstanding principal
balance and accrued and unpaid interest on
such Shareholder Note. The holder of
such Common Stock Certificate shall,
subject to the provisions of Article 7,
retain such person's right to receive the
Escrow Consideration per Share if and
when released pursuant to the terms of the
Escrow Agreement.
(c) At the
Effective Time and after surrender to the Company of
any Preferred Stock Certificate, the
Company shall distribute to the person in
whose name the Certificate shall have been
registered, a check or wire transfer
in an amount, rounded to the nearest penny,
equal to (x) the Preferred Stock
Merger Consideration per Share, multiplied
by (y) the number of shares of
Preferred Stock represented by such
Preferred Stock Certificate.
(d) Promptly
after the Effective Time, but in any event within 10
days of the Effective Date, the Company
shall distribute to the person in whose
name an Option shall have been registered a
check or wire transfer in an amount
equal to the Option Consideration, rounded
to the nearest penny, attributable to
such Option. Payment of this aggregate
Option Consideration and the fulfillment
of the obligations contained herein by the
Surviving Corporation and the Company
shall be in full satisfaction of all other
rights pertaining to such Option,
except to the right to receive, subject to
the provisions of Article 7, the
Escrow Consideration per Share if and when
released pursuant to the terms of the
Escrow Agreement.
(e) At the
Effective Time, the Company shall distribute to the
person in whose name a Warrant shall have
been registered a check or wire
transfer in an amount equal to the Warrant
Consideration, rounded to the nearest
penny, attributable to such Warrant.
Payment of this aggregate Warrant
Consideration and the fulfillment of the
obligations contained herein by the
Surviving Corporation and the Company shall
be in full satisfaction of all other
rights pertaining to such Warrant, except
to the right to receive, subject to
the provisions of Article 7, the Escrow
Consideration per Share if and when
released pursuant to the terms of the
Escrow Agreement.
(f) If payment
of cash is to be made to a person other than the
person in whose name the Certificate
surrendered in exchange therefor is
registered, it shall be a condition to such
payment that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed and
otherwise in proper form for
transfer, and that the person requesting
such payment shall pay to the Company
any transfer and
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other taxes required by reason of such
payment to such other person or shall
have established to the satisfaction of the
Company that such tax either has
been paid or is not payable.
(g) No interest
shall accrue or be payable with respect to any
amounts which a holder of shares of Common
Stock, Preferred Stock, Options or
Warrants shall be so entitled to receive.
The Company shall be authorized to pay
the cash attributable to any Certificate
previously issued which has been lost
or destroyed, upon receipt of satisfactory
evidence of ownership of the shares
of the securities represented thereby and
of appropriate indemnification.
(h) The Company
shall have received an IRS W-9 (or other
applicable form) executed by the recipient
of the cash to be so distributed by
the Company pursuant to this Section 1.10
prior to the making of any such
distribution and shall withhold from any
distribution any applicable federal,
state or local withholding taxes required
to be withheld from such distribution.
1.11
DISSENTING
SHARES. Notwithstanding Section 1.8 hereof, shares of the
Common Stock and shares of the Preferred
Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and
held by a holder who has not voted
in favor of the Merger or consented thereto
in writing and who has properly
demanded and perfected such holder's right
to dissent from the Merger and to be
paid the fair value of such shares in
accordance with Sections 302A.471 and
302A.473 of the MBCA (and who has neither
effectively withdrawn nor lost his
right to dissent) ("DISSENTING SHARES"),
shall not be converted into a right to
receive the Merger Consideration per Share
or the Preferred Stock Merger
Consideration per Share, as the case may
be, pursuant to Section 1.8, and the
holder thereof shall be entitled to only
such rights as are granted by the MBCA.
If after the Effective Time such holder
fails to perfect or withdraws or
otherwise loses his right to dissent, such
shares of Common Stock and Preferred
Stock shall be treated as if they had been
converted as of the Effective Time
into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration per Share or the Preferred
Stock Merger Consideration per Share, as
the case may be, as provided in Section
1.8, without interest thereon. The Company
shall give Parent reasonably prompt
notice of any demands for payment received
by the Company under Sections
302A.471 and 302A.473 of the MBCA, and
Parent shall have the right to
participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to such demands.
1.12
DEPOSIT TO
ESCROW. At the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the
Escrow Funds to be deposited with an escrow
agent reasonably acceptable to
Parent and the Selling Parties'
Representative (the "ESCROW AGENT") under an
Escrow Agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as EXHIBIT C, but
including such changes as may be requested
by the Escrow Agent relating to the
Escrow Agent's obligations, liabilities and
responsibilities (the "ESCROW
AGREEMENT").
1.13
APPLICATION OF
FUNDS. At the Effective Time, Parent shall pay or
cause the Company to pay in full (A) the
Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of the
Company (other than with respect to the
Bonds, the Special Assessments and the
capital lease obligations of the Company)
in accordance with the written
instructions of the holders thereof, (B)
the Tax Equalization Payments in
accordance with the written instruction of
the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, (C) the Unpaid Management Fees to
Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison
Incorporated, and (D) the Company
Transaction Expenses in accordance with the
written instructions of the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company.
1.14
NO FURTHER
RIGHTS OR TRANSFERS. At the Effective Time, all shares of
Company Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be cancelled and cease to exist, and
each holder of a Certificate or
Certificates that represented shares of
Company Stock
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issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall cease to
have any rights as a shareholder with
respect to the shares of Company Stock
represented by such Certificate or
Certificates, except for the right to
surrender such Certificate or Certificates
in exchange for the payment provided
pursuant to Section 1.8 hereof or to
preserve and perfect such holder's right to
receive payment for such holder's shares
pursuant to Sections 302A.471 and
302A.473 of the MBCA and Section 1.11
hereof if such holder has validly
exercised and not withdrawn or lost such
right, and no transfer of shares of
Company Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be made on the stock transfer books
of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE 2
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company
represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that, except
as set forth in the disclosure schedule
delivered by the Company to Parent on
the date hereof (the "COMPANY DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE"):
2.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING
AND POWER.
(a) The Company
and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized and
validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of
organization and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to own or lease
and operate its properties and assets, and
to carry on its business as now
conducted. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is duly qualified and in
good standing to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its
business or the ownership or leasing of its
properties makes such qualification
necessary except for such jurisdictions
where the failure to be so qualified
would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
(b) For purposes
of this Agreement, "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT"
means, with respect to any entity, any
adverse change, circumstance or effect
that, individually or aggregated with other
changes, circumstances and effects,
is materially adverse to the business,
assets, liabilities, condition (financial
or otherwise), or results of operations of
such entity and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole; provided, however, that
Material Adverse Effect shall not be
deemed to include, nor shall any of the
following be considered when determining
if a Material Adverse Effect has occurred:
(i) any change, circumstance or
effect relating to general economic or
financial conditions or resulting from or
arising out of developments in credit,
financial or securities markets,
including, without limitation, caused by
acts of terrorism or war (whether or
not declared) (provided such change or
effect does not affect the Company or the
Parent in a materially disproportionate
manner to others in the industries in
which they respectively operate), (ii) any
change, circumstance or effect
generally affecting the industries in which
Parent or the Company, as the case
may be, operates, including, without
limitation, caused by acts of terrorism or
war (whether or not declared) (provided
such change or effect does not affect
the Company or the Parent in a materially
disproportionate manner to others in
the industries in which they respectively
operate), or (iii) any change,
circumstance or effect attributable to the
announcement of this Agreement.
(c) The copies of the
Organizational Documents, as amended to
date, of the Company and each Company
Subsidiary previously furnished by the
Company to Parent are complete and correct
and such instruments, as so amended,
are in full force and effect as of the
date
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hereof. For purposes of this Agreement,
"ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS" means, with
respect to any entity, the certificate or
articles of incorporation, bylaws
and/or other similar governing documents of
such entity.
(d) For purposes
of this Agreement, "SUBSIDIARY" when used with
respect to any party means any corporation
or other organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, (i) of
which such party or any other Subsidiary
of such party is a general partner
(excluding partnerships, the general
partnership interests of which held by such
party or any Subsidiary of such
party do not have a majority of the voting
and economic interests in such
partnership) or (ii) at least a majority of
the securities or other interests of
which having by their terms ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the
board of directors or others performing
similar functions with respect to such
corporation or other organization is
directly or indirectly owned or controlled
by such party or by any one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such party and
one or more of its Subsidiaries.
2.2 CAPITAL STRUCTURE.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
14,986,875 shares comprised of the
following:
(i)
CLASSES OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK. The following classes
of Common Stock:
(1) 5,000,000 shares
of Voting Common Stock, 979,500
of which are issued and outstanding,
803,125 of which are reserved for issuance
pursuant to outstanding Warrants and 14,250
of which are reserved for issuance
pursuant to outstanding Options described
under SECTION 2.2(b) OF THE COMPANY
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE as of the date of this
Agreement;
(2) 600,000 shares of
Non-Voting Common
Stock,
85,348 of which are issued and outstanding
and 472,542 of which are reserved for
issuance pursuant to outstanding Warrants
described under SECTION 2.2(b) OF THE
COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE as of the date
of this Agreement;
(ii) SERIES OF
COMPANY PREFERRED STOCK. The following
series of Preferred Stock:
(1) 750,000 shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, all of
which are issued and outstanding as of the
date of this Agreement;
(2) 803,125 shares of
Series B Preferred Stock, all of
which are issued and outstanding as of the
date of this Agreement;
(3) 1,000,000
shares of Series C
Preferred Stock,
550,000 of which are issued and outstanding
as of the date of this Agreement;
and
(4) 6,833,750
undesignated shares, none of which is
issued and outstanding.
As of the date of this Agreement, without
giving effect to the transaction
contemplated by the Purchase and Exchange
Agreement, the outstanding shares of
Company Stock are owned of record by the
persons and in the amounts set forth in
SECTION 2.2(a) OF THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE. All issued and outstanding
shares of the Company Stock are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and were not issued in
violation of any preemptive rights or any
applicable
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federal or state securities laws. No shares
of Company Stock are held in the
treasury of the Company or by any Company
Subsidiary. There are no outstanding
options, warrants or other rights
(including preemptive rights) relating to the
issuance by the Company of any shares of
its capital stock, including any right
of conversion or exchange under any
outstanding security or other instrument
except for Warrants to purchase up to
803,125 shares of Voting Common Stock,
Warrants to purchase up to 472,542 shares
of Non-Voting Common Stock, Options to
purchase up to 14,250 shares of Voting
Common Stock under the 1998 Stock Option
Plan and as set forth in that certain
Amended and Restated Shareholder
Agreement, dated June 16, 1998, among the
Company and various holders of the
Company's securities, as amended.
(b) SECTION
2.2(b) OF THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE sets forth a
complete and accurate list, as of the date
of this Agreement, of (i) the holder
of each outstanding Option, the number and
class of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of each Option and
the exercise price and expiration date
thereof and (ii) the holder of each
outstanding Warrant, indicating with respect
to each Warrant the Warrant Agreement or
other document under which it was
granted, the number of shares of the
Company's capital stock, and the class or
series of such shares, subject to such
Warrant, the exercise price, the date of
issuance and the expiration date
thereof.
(c) All of the
issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of
each Company Subsidiary are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned directly or
indirectly by the Company and are free
and clear of any liens, claims, pledges,
encumbrances, restrictions, preemptive
rights or any other claims of any third
party ("LIENS").
(d) No bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the
Company having, or convertible into other
securities having, the right to vote
on any matters on which shareholders may
vote ("COMPANY VOTING DEBT") are issued
or outstanding.
(e) Except as
set forth in SECTION 2.2(e) OF THE COMPANY
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE, there are no
securities, options, warrants, calls, rights,
commitments, agreements, arrangements or
undertakings of any kind to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a
party or by which any of them is bound
obligating the Company or any Company
Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or
cause to be issued, delivered or sold,
additional shares of capital stock or
other securities of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary or obligating the
Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue,
grant, extend or enter into any such
security, option, warrant, call, right,
commitment, agreement, arrangement or
undertaking. There are no outstanding
obligations of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any shares of capital
stock of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
Except for the Shareholder Support
Agreement and as set forth in SECTION
2.2(e) OF THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE,
there is no voting trust or other agreement
or understanding to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a
party or is bound, or, to the knowledge
of the Company, to which any shareholder of
such entity is a party or is bound,
with respect to the voting of the capital
stock or other voting securities of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The
Company has the ability to effect any
action requiring the approval of the
shareholders of any of its Subsidiaries and
to designate all of the members of the
board of directors of each of its
Subsidiaries.
2.3 SUBSIDIARIES.
(a) SECTION
2.3(a) OF THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE lists all
the Company's Subsidiaries, the states in
which such Subsidiaries are organized
and qualified to do business, the
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number and type of outstanding equity
securities of each Company Subsidiary and
a list of the holders thereof.
(b) The copies
of the Organizational Documents, as amended to
date, of all Subsidiaries of the Company
previously furnished to Parent are true
and complete and such instruments, as so
amended, are in full force and effect
as of the date hereof.
(c) Except for
the stock of the Company's Subsidiaries owned by
the Company, neither the Company nor any
Company Subsidiary owns any stock,
partnership interest, joint venture
interest or any other security issued by any
other corporation, organization or entity,
except readily marketable securities
owned by the Company or a Company
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business.
2.4 AUTHORITY; NO
CONFLICTS; CONSENTS AND APPROVALS.
(a) AUTHORITY.
The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and any other agreement,
document or instrument to be executed by
the Company in connection with the
Merger (the "COMPANY TRANSACTION
DOCUMENTS") and, subject to obtaining the
necessary approval of its shareholders in
accordance with the MBCA, to
consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Company
Transaction Documents by the Company
and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company, subject in the case of the
Merger to the approval and adoption
of this Agreement by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of
Voting Common Stock and Series B Preferred
Stock in accordance with the MBCA.
This Agreement and the Company Transaction
Documents have been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and constitute
valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable against it in
accordance with their terms.
(b) NO
CONFLICTS. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the Company Transaction Documents by the
Company does not, and the consummation
by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby and
compliance with the provisions hereof and
thereof will not, conflict with, or
result in any violation of, or constitute a
default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under, or give to
others a right of termination,
amendment, cancellation or acceleration of
any material obligation or the loss
of a material benefit under, or result in
the creation of a Lien on any assets
or properties of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary pursuant to (any such
conflict, violation, default, right of
termination, amendment, cancellation or
acceleration, loss or creation, a
"VIOLATION"): (i) any provision of the
Organizational Documents of the Company or
any Company Subsidiary or (ii) except
as disclosed in SECTION 2.4(b)(ii) OF THE
COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE, any loan
or credit agreement, note, mortgage, bond,
indenture, lease, benefit plan or
other material agreement, obligation,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise
or license binding upon or held by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary or any
judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to the Company, its Subsidiaries or their
respective properties or assets.
(c) CONSENTS AND
APPROVALS. No material consent, approval, order
or authorization of, or registration,
declaration, notice to or filing with, any
domestic (federal, state or local), foreign
or supranational court, commission,
governmental body, regulatory agency,
administrative agency or other
governmental or regulatory authority or
agency (a "GOVERNMENTAL
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ENTITY") is required by or with respect to
the Company or any Company Subsidiary
in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Company
Transaction Documents by the Company or the
consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby except for
(i) compliance with the provisions of
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
ACT"), (ii) the filing and recordation of
the appropriate merger documents as
required by the MBCA and (iii) compliance
with Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of
the MBCA regarding dissenters' rights.
2.5 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Attached to SECTION 2.5 OF THE COMPANY
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE are true and correct
copies of (i) the audited consolidated
balance sheets of the Company as of
December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 and the
audited consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive income,
shareholders' deficit and cash flows of the
Company for each of the years ended
December 31, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999
(collectively, the "ANNUAL FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS"); and (ii) an unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company as
of February 28, 2003 (the "LATEST BALANCE
SHEET") and the unaudited statement of
operations and comprehensive income and
cash flows for the two-month period then
ended (collectively with the Latest Balance
Sheet, the "LATEST FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS"). The Latest Financial
Statements and the Annual Financial
Statements are based upon information
contained in the books and records of the
Company and fairly present, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial
position and consolidated results of
operations and cash flows of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as of the respective
dates or for the respective periods
set forth therein, all in conformity with
generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") consistently applied
throughout the periods indicated
subject, in the case of the Latest
Financial Statements, to normal year-end
adjustments and the absence of notes (in
either case which will be, individually
or in the aggregate, immaterial).
2.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED
MATERIAL LIABILITIES. None of the Company and
its Subsidiaries has any liability (whether
accrued, absolute, contingent,
unliquidated or otherwise, whether due or
to become due, whether known or
unknown, and regardless of when asserted)
except for: (i) liabilities shown on
the Latest Balance Sheet, (ii) liabilities
incurred since the date of the Latest
Balance Sheet (the "LATEST BALANCE SHEET
DATE") in the Ordinary Course, (iii)
liabilities otherwise disclosed in the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (iv)
liabilities to Parent and Merger Sub
incurred pursuant to this Agreement or in
furtherance of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement, and (v)
liabilities that would not be required to
be reflected or reserved against on a
balance sheet prepared in accordance with
GAAP. For purposes of this Agreement,
"ORDINARY COURSE" means, with respect to
any entity, any actions taken in the
regular and ordinary course of that
entity's business, consistent in all
material respects with past practices.
2.7 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS;
PERMITS AND LICENSES. Except as set forth in
SECTION 2.7 OF THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE, the Company and its Subsidiaries
hold all material permits, licenses,
certificates, franchises, registrations,
variances, exemptions, orders and approvals
of all Governmental Entities
("PERMITS") which are necessary to each of
them to own, lease and operate its
properties or to carry on its business as
now being conducted, and all such
Permits are in full force and effect. The
Company and its Subsidiaries and the
Real Property (as defined in Section
2.12(a)) are in material compliance with
the terms of such Permits. Except as set
forth in SECTION 2.7 OF THE COMPANY
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE, the businesses of the
Company and its Subsidiaries are not
being and have not been conducted in
violation of any law, ordinance,
regulation, judgment, decree,
injunction,
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rule or order of any Governmental Entity,
except for violations which would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
2.8 LITIGATION. Except as
set forth in SECTION 2.8 OF THE COMPANY
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE, as of the date of this
Agreement there is (i) no material
litigation, arbitration, grievance, claim,
suit, action, investigation 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 and (ii) no judgment, award, decree,
injunction, rule or order of any
Governmental Entity or arbitrator
outstanding against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. There is no material
litigation, arbitration, grievance, claim,
suit, action, investigation or proceeding
pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened, against or adversely
affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective
assets and no judgment, award, decree,
injunction, rule or order of any
Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding
against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
2.9 TAX MATTERS.
Except as set
forth in SECTION 2.9 OF THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE:
(a) Each of (x)
the Company and (y) any Company Subsidiary and (z)
any consolidated, combined or unitary group
of which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is or was a member (each, a
"COMPANY TAX AFFILIATE" and,
collectively, the "COMPANY TAX
AFFILIATES"), and any Company Employee Plan (as
defined in Section 2.14 hereof), as the
case may be, has: (i) timely filed (or
has had timely filed on its behalf) all
material returns, estimated returns,
declarations, reports, estimates,
information returns, and statements, including
any schedules thereto or other information
("TAX RETURNS"), required to be filed
or sent by it in respect of any "TAXES" (as
defined below) and such Tax Returns
are true, correct and complete in all
material respects; (ii) timely and
properly paid (or has had paid on its
behalf) all Taxes due and payable whether
or not shown on such Tax Returns; (iii)
properly reserved for Taxes on the
Latest Balance Sheet in accordance with
GAAP and unpaid Taxes with respect to
periods ending on or before the Closing
Date will not exceed that reserve as
adjusted for operations and transactions
through the Closing Date in accordance
with the past custom and practice of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries
and Company Tax Affiliates; and (iv)
complied in all material respects with all
applicable laws, rules, and regulations
relating to the withholding of Taxes and
the payment thereof (including, without
limitation, withholding of Taxes under
Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE") or similar provisions under any
foreign laws), and timely and properly
withheld from individual employee wages or
payments to any independent
contractor, creditor, shareholder or other
third party and paid over to the
proper Governmental Entities all amounts
required to be so withheld and paid
under all appl