AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
SPRINT NEXTEL
CORPORATION,
IRELAND ACQUISITION
CORPORATION
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 18,
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I THE
OFFER AND THE MERGER
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
The
Offer
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
Company
Actions
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
The
Merger
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
Effective Time;
Closing
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of the
Merger
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of
Company Common Stock
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Options
and Restricted Stock
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
Surrender of
Shares of Company Common Stock; Stock Transfer Books
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
Top-Up
Option
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II THE
SURVIVING CORPORATION
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate of
Incorporation
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Bylaws
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and
Officers
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Organization
and Standing
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalization
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
Authority for
Agreement
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
No
Conflict
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
Required
Filings and Consents
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Compliance
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Licenses and
Permits
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
Reports;
Financial Statements; Internal Controls
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
Absence of
Certain Changes or Events
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
Title to
Assets
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Change of
Control Agreements
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Litigation
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
Contracts and
Commitments
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
Information
Supplied
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
Labor and
Employment Matters
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
Environmental
Compliance
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Intellectual
Property
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
Brokers
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
Related Party
Transactions
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anti-Takeover
Provisions
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
Company
Indentures
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND BUYER
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
Organization
and Standing
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
Authority for
Agreement; Enforceability
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
No
Conflict
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
Required
Filings and Consents
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
Information
Supplied
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
Brokers
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
No Prior
Activities
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Available
Funds
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Ownership of
Company Common Stock; Affiliates and Associates
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Conduct of the
Business Pending the Merger
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Access to
Information; Confidentiality
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
Notification of
Certain Matters
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
|
|
Further
Assurances
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
Board
Recommendations
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholder
Litigation
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
|
Indemnification
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
|
Public
Announcements
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition
Proposals
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ Meeting; Proxy
Statement
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
Director
Resignations
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits
Continuation; Severance
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
Section 16
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
Rule 14d-10(d) Matters
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
Conditions to
the Obligation of Each Party
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of
Termination
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
Amendments
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
Waiver
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
No Third Party
Beneficiaries
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
Entire
Agreement
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
Succession and
Assignment
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
Counterparts
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
Governing Law;
Venue; Service of Process, Waiver of Jury Trial
|
|
|
48
|
|
ii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severability
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
Specific
Performance
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
Construction
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Survival of
Representations and Warranties and Agreements
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
Certain
Definitions
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
Fees and
Expenses
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
Notices
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
Cross-References to Certain Terms Defined
Elsewhere in This Agreement
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conditions to
the Offer
|
|
|
|
Certificate of
Incorporation
|
|
|
|
Bylaws
|
iii
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “ Agreement ”), dated
as of October 18, 2009, by and among SPRINT NEXTEL
CORPORATION, a Kansas corporation (“ Parent ”),
IRELAND ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“
Buyer ”) and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and
IPCS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company
”).
WHEREAS, the
parties to this Agreement desire to effect the acquisition of the
Company by Buyer;
WHEREAS, in
furtherance of the foregoing, Parent shall cause Buyer to make a
tender offer to purchase for cash all the outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “
Company Common Stock ”), at a price per share of
Company Common Stock of $24.00 (such amount, or any other higher
amount per share of Company Common Stock paid pursuant to the Offer
and this Agreement, the “ Offer Price ”) subject
to any required withholding Taxes as described in
Section 1.10(e) and without interest, on the terms and subject
to the conditions of this Agreement (as it may be amended from time
to time as permitted under this Agreement, the “ Offer
”);
WHEREAS, also in
furtherance of the foregoing, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”),
following the consummation of the Offer, Buyer shall merge with and
into the Company (the “ Merger ”) in accordance
with the provisions of the DGCL, with the Company as the surviving
corporation;
WHEREAS,
concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and
as a condition and inducement to Parent’s entering into this
Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company have entered into a
stockholders agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “
Stockholders Agreement ”), pursuant to which, among
other things, such stockholders have agreed to tender their shares
of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer and to vote their
respective shares of Company Common Stock in favor of the Merger,
subject to the terms and conditions contained therein;
WHEREAS,
concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and
as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and the
Company’s entering into this Agreement, Parent and the
Company and certain of their respective subsidiaries have entered
into a settlement agreement and mutual release, dated as of the
date hereof (the “ Settlement Agreement ”),
pursuant to which, among other things, the parties thereto have
agreed to compromise and settle certain claims among them, subject
to the terms and conditions contained therein;
WHEREAS, the Board
of Directors of the Company has unanimously approved this
Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby , which approval was based in part on (1) the opinion
of UBS Securities LLC (“ UBS ”), an independent
financial advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company, that,
based on the assumptions, qualifications and limitations contained
therein, the Offer Price to be received by the holders of
Company
Common Stock in
the Offer is, as of the date of such opinion, fair, from a
financial point of view, to such holders, and (2) the opinion
of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“ Morgan
Stanley ” and, together with UBS, the “
Independent Advisors ”), an independent financial
advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company, that based on the
assumptions, qualifications and limitations contained therein, the
consideration to be received by the Company’s stockholders
for their shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement
is, as of the date of such opinion, fair, from a financial point of
view, to those stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board
of Directors of the Company has unanimously (i) determined
that this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to and in the best
interests of the Company and the holders of shares of Company
Common Stock (the “ Company Stockholders ”),
(ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the
Settlement Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including the Offer and the Merger and
(iii) recommended that the Company Stockholders accept the
Offer, tender their shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the
Offer and, to the extent applicable, adopt this Agreement and
approve the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement
and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:
(a)
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as promptly as
practicable but in no event later than October 28, 2009, Buyer
shall, and Parent shall cause Buyer to, commence the Offer within
the meaning of the applicable rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC
”). The obligations of Buyer to, and of Parent to cause Buyer
to, accept for payment, and pay for, any shares of Company Common
Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be subject only to the
conditions set forth in Exhibit A . The initial
expiration date of the Offer shall be the 20th business day
following the commencement of the Offer (determined using
Rule 14d-1(g)(3) of the SEC). Buyer expressly reserves the
right to waive any condition to the Offer or modify the terms of
the Offer, except that, without the consent of the Company, Buyer
shall not (i) reduce the number of shares of Company Common
Stock subject to the Offer, (ii) reduce the Offer Price,
(iii) amend or waive the Minimum Tender Condition,
(iv) add to the conditions set forth in Exhibit A
or modify any condition set forth in Exhibit A ,
(v) extend the Offer (except as set forth in the following two
sentences), (vi) change the form of consideration payable in
the Offer or (vii) otherwise amend or modify the Offer in any
manner adverse to the holders of Company Common Stock (it being
agreed that a waiver by Buyer of any condition, in its sole
discretion, shall not be deemed to be adverse to the holders of
Company Common Stock). Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject
to the terms and conditions contained herein, Buyer may, but shall
not be obligated to, without the consent of the Company,
(i) extend the Offer if, at the scheduled expiration date of
the Offer, any of the conditions to Buyer’s obligation to
purchase shares of Company Common Stock are not satisfied, until
such time as such conditions are satisfied or waived, in increments
of not more than five business days
2
each,
(ii) extend the Offer for any period required by any rule,
regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or the staff
thereof applicable to the Offer and (iii) extend the Offer for
a period of time not to exceed ten business days if, at the
scheduled expiration date of the Offer, the Board of Directors of
the Company shall have withdrawn, qualified or modified, or
proposed publicly to withdraw, qualify or modify, its approval or
recommendation of the Offer or the Merger; provided, however
, that if at the scheduled expiration date of the Offer
(A) the only condition to Buyer’s obligation to purchase
shares of Company Common Stock that is not satisfied is the
condition set forth in clause (g) of Exhibit A (the
“ Outstanding Condition ”) and (B) none of
the matters set forth in the foregoing clauses (ii) or
(iii) are applicable, then (x) Buyer shall be permitted
to extend the Offer for up to two additional five business day
periods (but in no event to a date later than the business day
immediately prior to the Outside Date) as contemplated by the
foregoing clause (i) (the last of such periods being, the “
Final Extension Period ”) in order to provide
additional time for the Outstanding Condition to be satisfied and
(y) if the Outstanding Condition is not satisfied by the last
day of the Final Extension Period then (1) if so directed by
Buyer, the Company will abandon the license or authorization that
is the subject of the Outstanding Condition and (2) Buyer
shall waive the Outstanding Condition and consummate the Offer on
the last day of the Final Extension Period (assuming that all other
conditions on Exhibit A remain satisfied at such time).
In addition, if at the otherwise scheduled expiration date of the
Offer any condition to the Offer is not satisfied, Buyer shall, and
Parent shall cause Buyer to, extend the Offer at the request of the
Company for such periods as the Company may request;
provided that Parent and Buyer shall not be obligated to
extend the Offer beyond January 31, 2010 (the “
Outside Date ”), provided further that if on
January 31, 2010, all of the conditions set forth in
Exhibit A are satisfied or waived other than any condition set
forth in clause (f) or clause (g) of Exhibit A, the
Outside Date shall be March 15, 2010. In addition, Buyer may
and, if requested by the Company, Buyer shall, make available a
“subsequent offering period”, in accordance with
Rule 14d-11 of the SEC, of not less than 10 business days. On
the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer and this
Agreement, Buyer shall, and Parent shall cause Buyer to, accept for
payment and pay for all shares of Company Common Stock validly
tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer promptly after the
expiration of the Offer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any
time consummation of the Offer is not practicable due to
(A) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on
prices for, securities on any national securities exchange or in
the over-the-counter market or (B) the declaration of any
banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of
banks or any material limitation (whether or not mandatory) on the
extension of credit by lending institutions in the United States,
consummation of the Offer will be delayed until such time as such
events no longer make it impracticable to consummate the Offer.
Buyer shall not terminate the Offer prior to any scheduled
expiration date without the prior written consent of the Company,
except if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Article VII. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Article VII, Buyer shall, and Parent shall cause Buyer to,
promptly (and in any event within 24 hours of such termination)
terminate the Offer and shall not acquire any shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant thereto. If the Offer is terminated by Buyer,
or this Agreement is terminated prior to the acquisition of shares
of Company Common Stock in the Offer, Buyer shall promptly return,
and shall cause any depositary acting on behalf of Buyer to return,
in accordance with applicable Law, all tendered shares of Company
Common Stock that have not then been purchased in the Offer to the
registered holders thereof.
3
(b)
On the date of commencement of the Offer, Parent and Buyer shall
file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with
respect to the Offer, which shall contain an offer to purchase and
a related letter of transmittal and such other ancillary documents
pursuant to which the Offer will be made (such Schedule TO and
the documents included therein pursuant to which the Offer will be
made, together with any supplements or amendments thereto and such
other ancillary documents, the “ Offer Documents
”). The Offer Documents will contain all information which is
required to be included therein in accordance with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act
”), and the rules and regulations thereunder and any other
applicable Laws. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Law
” means any United States federal, state or local or any
foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, order,
judgment, decree or any other requirement or rule of law. Each of
Parent, Buyer and the Company shall promptly correct any
information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to
the extent that such information shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect, and each of Parent and Buyer
shall take all steps necessary to amend or supplement the Offer
Documents and to cause the Offer Documents as so amended or
supplemented to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to the
Company Stockholders, in each case as and to the extent required by
applicable federal securities Laws and any other applicable Laws.
The Company and its counsel shall be given the opportunity to
review and comment on the Offer Documents and any supplements or
amendments thereto prior to the filing thereof with the SEC and
Parent and Buyer shall give due consideration to any such comments
proposed by the Company. Parent and Buyer shall provide the Company
and its counsel in writing with any comments Parent, Buyer or their
counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the
Offer Documents promptly after the receipt of such
comments.
(c)
Parent shall provide or cause to be provided to Buyer on a timely
basis the funds necessary to purchase any shares of Company Common
Stock that Buyer becomes obligated to purchase pursuant to the
Offer.
Section 1.2.
Company Actions .
(a)
The Company hereby consents to the Offer, and on the date the Offer
Documents are filed with the SEC, the Company shall simultaneously
file with the SEC a Tender Offer Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the Offer (such
Schedule 14D-9, as amended from time to time, the “
Schedule 14D-9 ”) describing the recommendations
referred to in Section 3.3(b) and shall mail the
Schedule 14D-9 to the Company Stockholders. Each of the
Company, Parent and Buyer shall promptly correct any information
provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9 if and to the
extent that such information shall have become false or misleading
in any material respect, and the Company shall take all steps
necessary to amend or supplement the Schedule 14D-9 and to
cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so amended or supplemented to be
filed with the SEC and disseminated to the Company Stockholders, in
each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal
securities Laws and any other applicable Laws. Parent and Buyer and
their counsel shall be given the opportunity to review and comment
on the Schedule 14D-9 and any supplements or amendments
thereto prior to the filing thereof with the SEC and the Company
shall give due consideration to any such comments proposed by
Parent and Buyer. The Company shall provide Parent and its counsel
in writing with any comments or other communications the Company or
its counsel may
4
receive from
the SEC or its staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9
promptly after the receipt of such comments or other
communications.
(b)
Parent and Buyer will take all steps necessary to cause the Offer
Documents to be disseminated to the Company Stockholders in
accordance with applicable state and federal Laws. In connection
with the Offer, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to
furnish Buyer promptly, but in any event within three business days
after the date of this Agreement, with mailing labels containing
the names and addresses of the record holders of Company Common
Stock as of a recent date and of those persons becoming record
holders subsequent to such date, together with copies of all lists
of stockholders, security position listings and computer files and
all other information in the Company’s possession or control
regarding the beneficial owners of Company Common Stock, and shall
furnish to Buyer such information and assistance (including updated
lists of stockholders, security position listings and computer
files) as Parent may reasonably request in communicating the Offer
to the Company Stockholders. Subject to the requirements of
applicable Law, and except for such steps as are necessary to
disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents necessary
to consummate the Offer, Parent and Buyer shall, and shall cause
their agents to, hold in confidence the information contained in
any such labels, listings and files, shall use such information
only in connection with the Offer and the Merger and, if this
Agreement shall be terminated, shall, upon request, promptly
deliver to the Company all copies of such information then in their
possession or under their control.
(a)
Promptly after the acceptance for payment of shares of Company
Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer representing at least a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock on a
fully diluted basis (the time of such acceptance being, “
Appointment Time ”) and, from time to time thereafter,
as shares of Company Common Stock are accepted for payment by
Buyer, Buyer shall be entitled to designate such number of members
of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Buyer
Designees ”), rounded up to the nearest whole number, as
will give Buyer representation on the Board of Directors of the
Company equal to the product of the total number of members of the
Board of Directors of the Company (after giving effect to any
increase in the number of the directors elected pursuant to this
sentence) multiplied by the percentage that the number of shares of
Company Common Stock beneficially owned by Parent or Buyer at such
time (including shares of Company Common Stock so accepted for
payment) bears to the total number of shares of Company Common
Stock then outstanding. In furtherance thereof, the Company shall,
upon the request of, and as specified by, Buyer, promptly either
increase the size of the Board of Directors of the Company or
secure the resignations of such number of the Company’s
incumbent directors, or both, as is necessary to enable Buyer
Designees to be so elected or appointed to the Board of Directors
of the Company and the Company shall take all actions available to
the Company to cause Buyer Designees to be so elected or appointed.
At such time, if requested by Buyer, the Company shall also take
all action necessary to cause persons designated by Buyer to
constitute at least the same percentage (rounded up to the next
whole number) as is on the Board of Directors of the Company of
each committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, to the
extent permitted by applicable Law and the rules of any stock
exchange or trading market on which the Company Common Stock is
listed and traded. The provisions of this Section 1.3 are in
addition to and shall
5
not limit any
rights which Buyer, Parent or any of their affiliates (as such term
is defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”)) may
have as a holder or beneficial owner of shares of Company Common
Stock as a matter of applicable Law with respect to the election of
directors or otherwise.
(b)
The Company’s obligation to appoint the Buyer Designees to
the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with
Section 1.3(a) shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act. The Company shall take all actions required in order
to fulfill its obligations under Section 1.3(a), including mailing
to its stockholders the information required by Section 14(f) of
the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder as part
of the Schedule 14D-9; provided , however , that
Parent and Buyer shall supply to the Company in writing prior to
the filing with the SEC of the Schedule 14D-9 any information
with respect to Parent and Buyer and Buyer Designees to the extent
required by such Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1.
(c)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 1.3, the
parties hereto shall use their respective reasonable best efforts
to ensure that at least two of the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company shall, at all times following the
Appointment Time and prior to the Effective Time, be directors of
the Company who (i) were directors of the Company on the date
hereof, (ii) are not officers of the Company and
(iii) are independent directors for purposes of continuing
listing requirements of NASDAQ (the “ Continuing
Directors ”); provided , however , that, if
at any time there shall be in office less than two Continuing
Directors for any reason, the Board of Directors of the Company
shall cause the person meeting the foregoing criteria and
designated by the remaining Continuing Director to fill such
vacancy and such person shall be deemed to be a Continuing Director
for all purposes of this Agreement, or if no Continuing Directors
then shall remain, the other directors of the Company then in
office shall designate two persons meeting the foregoing criteria
to fill such vacancies who will not be directors, officers,
employees or affiliates of Parent or Buyer and such persons shall
be deemed to be Continuing Directors for all purposes of this
Agreement. From and after the time, if any, that Buyer Designees
constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company and
prior to the Effective Time, subject to the terms hereof, any
amendment or modification of this Agreement, any termination of
this Agreement by the Company, any extension of time for
performance of any of the obligations of Parent or Buyer hereunder,
any waiver of any condition to the Company’s obligations
hereunder or any of the Company’s rights hereunder and any
other action of the Company hereunder which adversely affects the
Company Stockholders (other than Parent or Buyer) may be effected
only if (in addition to the approval of the Board of Directors of
the Company as a whole) there are in office one or more Continuing
Directors and such action is approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then in office. Following the Appointment Time
and prior to the Effective Time, neither Parent nor Buyer shall
take any other action to remove any Continuing Director.
Section 1.4.
The Merger . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective
Time, Buyer shall be merged with and into the Company. As a result
of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Buyer shall
cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation
following the Merger (the “ Surviving Corporation
”). The corporate existence of the Company, with all its
purposes, rights, privileges, franchises, powers and objects, shall
continue unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger and, as the
Surviving Corporation, it shall be governed by the DGCL.
6
Section 1.5.
Effective Time; Closing . As promptly as practicable (and in
any event within five business days) after the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those
conditions which by their terms can only be satisfied at the
Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such
conditions at the Closing), the parties shall cause the Merger to
be consummated by filing a certificate of merger or a certificate
of ownership and merger, as applicable (the “ Certificate
of Merger ”), with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and by making all other filings or recordings required
under the DGCL in connection with the Merger, in such form as is
required by, and executed in accordance with the relevant
provisions of, the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such
time as the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware, or at such other time (but not
earlier than the time that the Certificate of Merger is filed) as
the parties agree shall be specified in the Certificate of Merger
(the date and time the Merger becomes effective, the “
Effective Time ”). On the date of such filing, a
closing (the “ Closing ”) shall be held at
10:00 a.m. Eastern time, at the offices of King & Spalding
LLP, 1180 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, or at such
other time and location as the parties shall otherwise
agree.
Section 1.6.
Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of
the Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of the
DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject
thereto, at the Effective Time all the property, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Buyer shall
vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities,
obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Company
and Buyer shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations,
restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Surviving
Corporation.
Section 1.7.
Conversion of Company Common Stock . At the Effective Time,
by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Buyer, the Company or the holders of any of the securities
described in this Section 1.7:
(a)
Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares canceled
pursuant to Section 1.7(b) and Dissenting Shares, if any)
shall be canceled and, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder thereof, shall be converted
automatically into the right to receive the Offer Price (the
“ Merger Consideration ”), subject to any
required withholding Taxes as described in Section 1.10(e) and
without interest, payable to the holder of such share of Company
Common Stock, upon surrender of the certificate that formerly
evidenced such share of Company Common Stock in the manner provided
in Section 1.10;
(b)
Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time that is owned by Parent or
Buyer and each share of Company Common Stock that is owned by the
Company as treasury stock shall be canceled and retired and cease
to exist and no payment or distribution shall be made with respect
thereto;
(c)
All shares of the Company Common Stock converted pursuant to
Section 1.7(a) shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate (“ Certificate
”)
7
representing
any such shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have any
rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger
Consideration in accordance with Section 1.7(a);
and
(d)
Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Buyer
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
of the Surviving Corporation and shall constitute the only
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
Section 1.8.
Dissenting Shares .
(a)
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shares
of Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time and which are held by the Company
Stockholders who have demanded and perfected their demands for
appraisal of such shares of Company Common Stock in the time and
manner provided in Section 262 of the DGCL and, as of the
Effective Time, have neither effectively withdrawn nor lost their
rights to such appraisal and payment under the DGCL (the “
Dissenting Shares ”) shall not be converted as
described in Section 1.7(a), but shall, by virtue of the
Merger, be entitled to only such rights as are granted by
Section 262 of the DGCL; provided , however ,
that if such holder shall have failed to perfect or shall have
effectively withdrawn or lost such holder’s right to
appraisal and payment under the DGCL, such holder’s shares of
Company Common Stock shall thereupon be deemed to have been
converted, at the Effective Time, as described in
Section 1.7(a), as applicable, into the right to receive the
Merger Consideration set forth in such provisions, without any
interest thereon.
(b)
The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands
for appraisal pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL received by
the Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments
served pursuant to the DGCL with respect to demands for appraisal
and received by the Company and (ii) the opportunity to direct
all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for
appraisal under the DGCL. The Company shall not, except with the
prior written consent of Parent or as otherwise required by
applicable Law, make any payment with respect to any such demands
for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such
demands.
Section 1.9.
Stock Options and Restricted Stock .
(a)
The Company shall ensure that all outstanding options to acquire
Company Common Stock (the “ Company Options ”)
granted under the Horizon PCS, Inc. Amended and Restated 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan and the iPCS, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2004
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “ Company Stock Option
Plans ”) that are not exercised prior to the Appointment
Time shall terminate and be canceled at the Appointment Time, and
the Surviving Corporation shall pay such holder, immediately after
the Effective Time, in exchange for the cancellation of such
holder’s Company Options, an amount in cash determined by
multiplying (a) the excess, if any, of the Merger
Consideration over the applicable exercise price per share of the
Company
8
Option by
(b) the number of shares of Company Common Stock such holder
had the right to purchase at the Appointment Time, less any
withholding Taxes as described in Section 1.10(e) and without
interest. The parties agree that the Appointment Time shall
constitute a change in control for purposes of the Company Stock
Plans; provided , however , that for purposes of this
Section 1.9(a), no holder’s right to exercise a Company
Option shall accelerate and fully vest at the Appointment Time
unless he or she is employed (either as an employee, director or
consultant) by the Company or a Subsidiary at the Appointment Time
unless otherwise required by the terms of any award agreement
evidencing a Company Stock Option or any Employment Agreement
between the Company (or any of its affiliates) and an optionholder.
The committee for each of the Company Stock Option Plans shall not
exercise any discretion to take any action with respect to any
Company Option except for the action expressly called for in this
Section 1.9(a).
(b)
Immediately after the Appointment Time, each outstanding share of
restricted common stock of the Company granted under the Company
Stock Option Plans (“ Restricted Stock ”), the
restrictions of which have not lapsed immediately prior to the
Appointment Time, shall become fully vested; provided ,
however , the committee for each of the Company Stock Option
Plans shall not exercise any discretion to take any action with
respect to any Restricted Stock.
Section 1.10.
Surrender of Shares of Company Common Stock; Stock Transfer
Books .
(a)
Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate a bank or trust
company, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to act as agent (the
“ Paying Agent ”) for the Company Stockholders
to receive the funds necessary to make the payments to the Company
Stockholders pursuant to Section 1.7 upon surrender of the
Company Stockholders’ Certificates. Parent shall, at or prior
to the Effective Time, deposit with the Paying Agent the aggregate
Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company
Common Stock (the “ Fund ”). The Fund shall be
invested by the Paying Agent as directed by Parent. Any net profit
resulting from, or interest or income produced by, such
investments, shall be payable to Parent. Parent shall replace any
monies lost through any investment made pursuant to this
Section 1.10(a). The Paying Agent shall make the payments
provided in Section 1.7.
(b)
Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause to be mailed
to each person who was, at the Effective Time, a holder of record
of shares of Company Common Stock entitled to receive the Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 1.7 (i) a form of
letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be
effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall
pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying
Agent) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the
surrender of the Certificates pursuant to such letter of
transmittal. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a Certificate,
together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and
validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and
such other documents as may be required pursuant to such
instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
receive, in exchange therefor, the Merger Consideration for each
share of each series of Company Common Stock formerly evidenced by
such Certificate, and such Certificate
9
shall then be
canceled. Until so surrendered, each such Certificate shall, at and
after the Effective Time, represent for all purposes only the right
to receive such Merger Consideration. No interest shall accrue or
be paid to any beneficial owner of shares of Company Common Stock
or any holder of any Certificate with respect to the Merger
Consideration payable upon the surrender of any Certificate. If
payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a person other
than the person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is
registered on the stock transfer books of the Company, it shall be
a condition of payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be
endorsed in blank or to the Paying Agent or otherwise be in proper
form for transfer, in the sole discretion of the Paying Agent, and
that the person requesting such payment shall have paid all
transfer and other Taxes required by reason of the payment of the
Merger Consideration to a person other than the registered holder
of the Certificate surrendered or shall have established to the
satisfaction of Parent that such Taxes either have been paid or are
not applicable. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if
required by Parent, the posting by such person of a bond, in such
reasonable amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any
claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate,
the Paying Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificate the applicable Merger Consideration such
holder is entitled to receive pursuant to
Section 1.7.
(c)
At any time following the date that is six months after the
Effective Time, Parent shall be entitled to require the Paying
Agent to deliver to it any portion of the Fund that had been made
available to the Paying Agent and not disbursed to the Company
Stockholders (including all interest and other income received by
the Paying Agent in respect of all amounts held in the Fund or
other funds made available to it), and thereafter each such holder
shall be entitled to look only to Parent (subject to abandoned
property, escheat and other similar Laws), and only as general
creditors thereof, with respect to any Merger Consideration that
may be payable upon due surrender of the Certificates held by such
holder. If any Certificates representing shares of Company Common
Stock shall not have been surrendered immediately prior to such
date on which the Merger Consideration in respect of such
Certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of
any Governmental Entity, any such cash, shares, dividends or
distributions payable in respect of such Certificate shall become
the property of Parent, free and clear of all claims or interest of
any person previously entitled thereto. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, none of the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Buyer or the
Paying Agent shall be liable to any Company Stockholder for any
Merger Consideration delivered in respect of such share of Company
Common Stock to a public official pursuant to any abandoned
property, escheat or other similar Law.
(d)
At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company
shall be closed, and thereafter there shall be no further
registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock on the
records of the Company. From and after the Effective Time, except
for Parent and Buyer, the Company Stockholders holding shares of
Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares of
Company Common Stock except as otherwise provided herein or by
applicable Law, and the Merger Consideration paid
10
pursuant to
this Article I upon the surrender or exchange of Certificates
shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all
rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock theretofore
represented by such Certificates.
(e)
Parent, Buyer, the Surviving Corporation and the Paying Agent, as
the case may be, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
Merger Consideration and any other amount otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any Company Stockholder or any holder
of a Company Option or Restricted Stock (each, a “
Payee ”) such amounts that Parent, Buyer, the
Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “ Code ”),
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any provision
of state, local or foreign Tax Law. Any amounts so withheld shall
be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid
to Payee.
Section 1.11.
Top-Up Option .
(a)
The Company hereby grants to the Buyer an irrevocable option (the
“ Top-Up Option ”), exercisable only upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to purchase
at the Offer Price an aggregate number of shares of Company Common
Stock (the “ Top-Up Shares ”) equal to the
lowest number of shares of Company Common Stock that, when added to
the number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent, Buyer
and their affiliates at the time of such exercise, shall constitute
one share of Company Common Stock more than 90% of the outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock on a fully diluted basis;
provided, however , that in no event shall the Top-Up Option
be exercisable for a number of shares of Company Common Stock in
excess of the number of authorized but unissued shares of Company
Common Stock as of immediately prior to the issuance of the Top-Up
Shares (giving effect to shares of Company Common Stock reserved
for issuance under all outstanding stock options, restricted stock
and any other rights to acquire Company Common Stock as if such
shares of Company Common Stock were outstanding); provided further,
that the Top-Up Option shall terminate upon the earlier of:
(x) the fifth business day after the later of (1) the
expiration date of the Offer and (2) the expiration of any
“subsequent offering period”; and (y) the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. The
Top-Up Option shall not be exercisable until such time as Buyer
shall have accepted for payment the shares of Company Common Stock
tendered pursuant to the Offer and all shares tendered in any
“subsequent offering period” and in no event shall the
Top-Up Option be exercisable if the Minimum Tender Condition shall
have been waived.
(b)
The parties shall cooperate to ensure that the issuance of the
Top-Up Shares is accomplished consistent with all applicable legal
requirements of all Governmental Entities, including compliance
with an applicable exemption from registration of the Top-Up Shares
under the Securities Act.
(c)
To exercise the Top-Up Option, the Buyer shall send to the Company
a written notice (a “ Top-Up Exercise Notice ”)
specifying (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock
that shall be owned by Parent, Buyer and their affiliates
immediately preceding the purchase of the Top-Up Shares and
(ii) the place, time
11
and date (which
date shall be no later than the fifth business day following the
date of the Top-Up Exercise Notice) for the closing of the purchase
and sale of the Top-Up Shares (the “ Top-Up Closing
”). The Company shall, promptly after receipt of the Top-Up
Exercise Notice, deliver a written notice to the Buyer confirming
the number of Top-Up Shares and the aggregate purchase price
therefor (the “ Top-Up Notice Receipt ”). At the
Top-Up Closing, the Buyer shall pay the Company, in the manner set
forth in Section 1.11(d) hereof, the aggregate price required
to be paid for the Top-Up Shares, in an aggregate principal amount
equal to that specified in the Top-Up Notice Receipt, and the
Company shall cause to be issued and delivered to the Buyer a
certificate or certificates representing the Top-Up Shares or, at
the Buyer’s request or otherwise if the Company does not then
have certificated shares of Company Common Stock, the applicable
number of uncertificated shares represented by book entry (“
Book-Entry Shares ”). Such certificates or Book-Entry
Shares may include any legends that are required by applicable
Law.
(d)
Buyer may pay the Company the aggregate price required to be paid
for the Top-Up Shares either (i) entirely in cash or
(ii) at Buyer’s election, by (x) paying in cash an
amount equal to not less than the aggregate par value of the Top-Up
Shares and (y) executing and delivering to the Company a
promissory note having a principal amount equal to the balance of
the aggregate purchase price pursuant to the Top-Up Option less the
amount paid in cash pursuant to the preceding clause (x) (a “
Promissory Note ”). Any such Promissory Note shall be
full recourse against Parent and the Buyer and (i) shall bear
interest at the rate of 2% per annum, (ii) shall mature on the
first anniversary of the date of execution and delivery of such
Promissory Note and (iii) may be prepaid, in whole or in part,
without premium or penalty.
(e)
Parent and Buyer acknowledge that the shares of Company Common
Stock which Buyer may acquire upon exercise of the Top-Up Option
shall not be registered under the Securities Act and shall be
issued in reliance upon an exemption for transactions not involving
a public offering. Parent and Buyer represent and warrant to the
Company that Buyer is, or shall be upon any purchase of Top-Up
Shares, an “ accredited investor ,” as defined
in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
Buyer agrees that the Top-Up Option, and the Top-Up Shares to be
acquired upon exercise of the Top-Up Option, if any, are being and
shall be acquired by Buyer for the purpose of investment and not
with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution
thereof (within the meaning of the Securities Act).
THE SURVIVING
CORPORATION
Section 2.1.
Certificate of Incorporation . The certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended as of
the Effective Time to be substantially the same as the certificate
of incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit B , until
the same shall thereafter be altered, amended or repealed in
accordance with applicable Law or such certificate of
incorporation.
12
Section 2.2.
Bylaws . The bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be
amended as of the Effective Time to be substantially the same as
the bylaws attached hereto as Exhibit C , until the
same shall thereafter be altered, amended or repealed in accordance
with applicable Law, the certificate of incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation or such bylaws.
Section 2.3.
Directors and Officers . From and after the Effective Time,
until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their
respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified
in accordance with applicable Law, (a) the directors of Buyer
at the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving
Corporation and (b) the officers of Buyer at the Effective
Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE COMPANY
Except as
disclosed in (a) a publicly available final registration
statement, prospectus, report, form, schedule or proxy statement
filed since January 1, 2009 by the Company with the SEC
pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively,
the “ Company SEC Reports ”) and prior to the
date hereof, but excluding any risk factor disclosure contained in
any such Company SEC Report under the heading “Risk
Factors” or “Forward-Looking Statements” or
similar heading, or (b) the disclosure letter (the “
Company Disclosure Letter ”) delivered by the Company
to the other parties hereto concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement (which letter sets forth items of disclosure with
specific reference to the particular Section or subsection of this
Agreement to which the information in the Company Disclosure Letter
relates; provided, however , that any information set forth
in one section of the Company Disclosure Letter will be deemed to
apply to each other Section or subsection of this Agreement to
which its relevance is reasonably apparent; provided,
further , that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the inclusion of an item in such letter as an
exception to a representation or warranty will not be deemed an
admission that such item represents a material exception or
material fact, event or circumstance or that such item has had or
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect),
the Company represents and warrants to each of the other parties as
follows:
Section 3.1.
Organization and Standing . Each of the Company and each
direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company (a “
Subsidiary ”) (a) is a corporation, limited
liability company or partnership duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization or formation, (b) has full corporate or other
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
assets and to conduct its business as presently conducted and
(c) is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign
corporation or other entity and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or
operated by it or the nature of its business makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, except where failure to have
such approvals or to be so qualified or licensed has not had, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished or
made available to Parent true and complete copies of the
Company’s certificate of incorporation (the “
Company Certificate of Incorporation ”) and the
Company’s bylaws (the “ Company Bylaws ”)
and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent
organizational documents) of each Subsidiary, each as
13
amended to
date. Such certificates of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent
organizational documents) are in full force and effect, and neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any provision of
its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or equivalent
organizational documents).
Section 3.2.
Capitalization . The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 75,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and
25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the “ Company Preferred Stock ”). As of
October 13, 2009 with respect to subsections (a) and
(b) of this sentence and as of the date hereof for all other
subsections of this sentence, (a) 17,262,954 shares of Company
Common Stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights,
(b) 689,263 shares of Company Common Stock (which are included
in clause (a)) are held in the treasury of the Company,
(c) 1,701,736 Company Options are outstanding pursuant to the
Company Stock Option Plans, each such option entitling the holder
thereof to purchase one share of Company Common Stock, (d) no
shares of Company Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding,
(e) 143,850 shares of Restricted Stock (which are included in
clause (a)) are issued and outstanding and (f) no shares of
Company Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of
outstanding stock options or otherwise, except for shares reserved
for issuance pursuant to Company Options. During the period from
October 13, 2009 through the date of this Agreement, the
Company has not issued or redeemed any shares of Company Common
Stock except pursuant to a previously announced 10b5-1 plan of the
Company. Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets
forth a true and complete list of the outstanding Company Options,
with the exercise price of each such Company Option. Except as set
forth above, there are no options, warrants, convertible
securities, subscriptions, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock
plans or stock equivalents or other rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments (contingent or otherwise) of any
character issued or authorized by the Company or any Subsidiary
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company or
any Subsidiary or obligating the Company or any Subsidiary to issue
or sell any shares of capital stock of, or options, warrants,
convertible securities, subscriptions or other equity interests in,
the Company or any Subsidiary. All shares of Company Common Stock
subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and
conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are
issuable, shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of
the Company or any Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any shares of Company Common Stock or any capital stock of
any Subsidiary or to pay any dividend or make any other
distribution in respect thereof or to provide funds to, or make any
investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
otherwise) in, any person. Each outstanding share of capital stock
of each Subsidiary is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights. The Company
owns (either directly or indirectly) beneficially and of record all
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary,
free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims, pledges,
options, rights of first refusal, agreements, limitations on the
Company’s or such other Subsidiary’s voting rights,
charges and other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever and does
not own an equity interest in any other corporation, partnership or
entity, other than in the Subsidiaries. No bonds, debentures, notes
or other indebtedness of the Company or the Subsidiaries having the
right to vote on any matter on which stockholders may vote are
issued or outstanding.
Section 3.3.
Authority for Agreement .
14
(a)
The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and, subject to obtaining necessary stockholder approval,
to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement, and the consummation by the Company of
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action (including the unanimous approval of the Board of Directors
of the Company), and no other corporate proceedings on the part of
the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (other than, with respect to the Merger, the
adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of holders of a
majority of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock and the filing and recordation of
the Certificate of Merger as required by the DGCL). This Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Buyer,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. The
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is the only vote of the
Company’s equity holders necessary to adopt this Agreement
and approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(b)
At a meeting duly called and held on October 18, 2009, the
Board of Directors of the Company unanimously (i) determined
that this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Offer and the Merger, are, on the terms and subject
to the conditions contained herein, fair to and in the best
interests of, the Company Stockholders, (ii) approved,
authorized and declared advisable this Agreement and approved and
authorized the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby and (iii) resolved to recommend that the Company
Stockholders accept the Offer, tender their shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer and, to the extent applicable,
adopt this Agreement. UBS has delivered to the Board of Directors
of the Company its opinion, dated as of the date of this Agreement,
that based on the assumptions, qualifications and limitations
contained therein, the Offer Price to be received by the holders of
Company Common Stock in the Offer is, as of the date of such
opinion, fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
Morgan Stanley has delivered to the Board of Directors of the
Company its opinion, dated as of the date of this Agreement, that
based on the assumptions, qualifications and limitations contained
therein, the consideration to be received by the Company’s
stockholders for their shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to
this Agreement is, as of the date of such opinion, fair, from a
financial point of view, to those stockholders. Correct and
complete copies of the UBS and Morgan Stanley fairness opinions
have been delivered to Parent.
Section 3.4.
No Conflict . The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by the Company do not, and the performance of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Stockholders
Agreement will not, (a) conflict with or violate the Company
Certificate of Incorporation or the Company Bylaws or equivalent
organizational documents of any of the Subsidiaries,
(b) subject to Section 3.5, conflict with or violate any
Law applicable to the
15
Company or any
of the Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries is bound or affected, or
(c) result in a breach of or constitute a default (or an event
which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default)
under, give to others any right of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, result in triggering any payment
or other obligations, or result in the creation of a lien or other
encumbrance on any property or asset of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other
instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries or any property or asset of any of them is bound or
affected, except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) above
for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other
occurrences that have not had, and would not reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate , a Material Adverse
Effect. “ Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean,
with respect to the Company, any change, event or effect that, when
taken together with all other adverse changes, events or effects
that have occurred, (i) is or would reasonably be expected to
be materially adverse to the business, results of, operations or
financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a
whole ( provided, however , that with respect to this clause
(i), Material Adverse Effect will be deemed not to include effects
to the extent resulting from (A) changes, after the date hereof, in
(x) U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“
GAAP ”), (y) the accounting rules and regulations
of the SEC or (z) Law, (B) the public announcement of the
Offer or the Merger, (C) any action or failure to act by
Parent or any of its affiliates under agreements between Parent or
any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries, on the other hand, (D) failure of the
Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or
estimates of revenues or earnings or published industry analyst
expectations of financial performance (it being understood that the
underlying cause of any such failure shall not be included within
the exception contained in this clause (D)), (E) any action
taken, or failure to act, by Parent or any of its affiliates,
(F) changes in or relating to the United States economy or
United States financial, credit or securities markets in general,
(G) changes in or relating to the industries in which the
Company or the Subsidiaries operate or the markets for any of such
entity’s products or services in general or (H) acts of
war, armed hostility or terrorism, which changes in the case of
clauses (F), (G) and (H) do not affect the Company or any
Subsidiary to a materially disproportionate degree relative to
other entities operating in such markets or industries or serving
such markets) or (ii) does or would reasonably be expected to
prevent or materially delay the performance by the Company of any
of its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Offer
or the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 3.5.
Required Filings and Consents . The execution and delivery
of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the performance of
this Agreement by the Company will not, require any consent,
approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or
notification to, any United States federal, state or local or any
foreign government or any court, administrative or regulatory
agency or commission or other governmental authority or agency,
domestic or foreign (a “ Governmental Entity ”)
or any consent, approval or authorization of, or notification to,
any other person, except (a) for applicable requirements, if
any, of the Exchange Act, including the filing of the
Schedule 14D-9 and, if required by applicable Law, a Proxy
Statement relating to the adoption by the Company Stockholders of
this Agreement, (b) for applicable requirements, if any, of
state securities or “blue sky” Laws (“ Blue
Sky Laws ”) and filing and recordation of the Certificate
of Merger as required by the DGCL, (c) for those required by
the
16
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976 (the “ HSR Act ”), (d) for those
required by the Federal Communications Commission or any successor
entity (the “ FCC ”) under the Communications
Act of 1934 and the rules, regulations and policies of the FCC
promulgated thereunder (the “ FCC Filings ”),
(e) for such filings and approvals as are required to be made
or obtained with or from any state public service or public utility
commission or similar state regulatory bodies in connection with
the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (f) where failure to obtain
such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make
such filings or notifications, has not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.6.
Compliance . Subject to Section 3.7, each of the
Company and the Subsidiaries has been operated at all times in
compliance with all Laws applicable to the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries or by which any property, business or asset of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries is bound or affected, except for
any such failures to comply or violations that have not had, and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.7.
Licenses and Permits .
(a)
Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has any Licenses or
authorizations issued or granted by the FCC other than the License
granted by the FCC under call sign KNLF580 (BTA080 Chillicothe, OH)
(the “ FCC License ”) and the International
Section 214 authorization (File Number
ITC-214-19970306-00135).
(b)
The Company and each of the Subsidiaries each has all governmental
permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders issued
or granted by a Governmental Entity and all other authorizations,
consents, certificates of public convenience and/or necessity and
approvals issued or granted by a Governmental Entity (collectively,
“ Licenses ”) necessary to conduct its business
as presently conducted, except those the absence of which have not
had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (the “ Company
Material Licenses ”). Each Company Material License is
listed on Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure
Letter.
(c)
Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with
(i) its obligations under each of the Company Licenses and
(ii) the rules and regulations of the Governmental Entity
issuing such Company Licenses, except, in either case, for such
failures to be in compliance as have not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened by or before the FCC, the Federal
Aviation Administration (the “ FAA ”) or any
other Governmental Entity, any proceeding, notice of violation,
order of forfeiture or complaint or investigation against the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries relating to any of the Company
Material Licenses, except as have not had, and would not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect. The term “ Company Licenses ”
means, to the extent not otherwise Company Material Licenses, all
Licenses issued or granted to the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries by a Governmental Entity of any state of the
United
17
States
regulating telecommunications businesses and all Licenses issued or
granted to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries by foreign
Governmental Entities regulating telecommunications businesses. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Knowledge
” means the actual knowledge of the following officers of the
Company: Tim Yager (President and Chief Executive Officer), Steb
Chandor (Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Assistant Secretary), Conrad Hunter (Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer), Jeff Baker (Vice President —
Finance), James Ingold (Controller), John Peterman (Senior Vice
President of Sales), David Zylka (Senior Vice President of
Engineering and Network Operations) and Brian O’Neil (Senior
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary).
Section 3.8.
Reports; Financial Statements; Internal Controls
.
(a)
The Company and each of the Subsidiaries have timely filed all
reports, registrations, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents, together with any amendments required to be made with
respect thereto (each, a “ Report ”), that they
were required to file since January 1, 2007 with (i) the
FCC, (ii) the SEC, (iii) any state or other federal
regulatory authority (other than any taxing authority, which is
dealt with exclusively in Section 3.10) and (iv) any
foreign regulatory authority (other than any taxing authority,
which is dealt with exclusively in Section 3.10), and have
paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection
therewith, except in each case where the failure to file such
Report, or to pay such fees and assessments, has not had, and would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. No Report of the Company made
with the SEC, as of the date of such Report, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances in which
they were made, not misleading, except that information as of a
later date (but before the date of this Agreement) shall be deemed
to modify information as of an earlier date. Since January 1,
2007, as of their respective dates, all Reports of the Company made
with the SEC complied as to form in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act,
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ SOX Act ”)
and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect thereto. No
executive officer of the Company has failed in any respect to make
the certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or
906 of the SOX Act, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no
enforcement action has been initiated against the Company by the
SEC relating to disclosures contained in any Report of the Company
made with the SEC.
(b)
The Company has previously made available to Parent copies of
(i) the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity
and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended
December 31, 2008, as reported in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008, including any amendments thereto filed with the SEC
(collectively, the “ Company 2008 10-K ”), filed
with the SEC under the Exchange Act, accompanied by the audit
report by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered
public accounting
18
firm with
respect to the Company for such periods (such balance sheets and
statements, the “ Audited Company Financial Statements
”) and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of
the Company and the Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2009 and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’
equity and cash flows for the six-month period ended June 30,
2009, as reported in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009, including
any amendments (collectively, the “ Company 10-Q
”) (such balance sheets and statements, the “
Unaudited Company Financial Statements ” and, together
with the Audited Company Financial Statements, the “
Company Financial Statements ”). The consolidated
balance sheets of the Company (including the related notes, where
applicable) included in the Company Financial Statements fairly
present in all material respects the consolidated financial
position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the dates
thereof, and the other financial statements included in the Company
Financial Statements (including the related notes, where
applicable) fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated results of the operations and changes in
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and the
Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods therein set forth,
subject in the case of the Unaudited Company Financial Statements
to any year-end audit adjustments that are consistent with past
experience; each of such statements (including the related notes,
where applicable) complies in all material respects with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto;
and each of the Company Financial Statements (including the related
notes, where applicable) has been prepared in all material respects
in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods
involved, except, in each case, as indicated in such statements or
in the notes thereto.
(c)
The Company and the Subsidiaries have designed and maintain a
system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) sufficient
to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of
financial reporting. The Company (i) has designed and
maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure
that material information required to be disclosed by the Company
in the Reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time
periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is
accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure
and (ii) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation of
such disclosure controls and procedures prior to the date hereof,
to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company (A) any significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably
likely to adversely affect in any material respect the
Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information and (B) any identified fraud, whether or
not material, that involves management or other employees who have
a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over
financial reporting.
Section 3.9.
Absence of Certain Changes or Events . Except as
contemplated by this Agreement, (a) since December 31,
2008, there has not been any event or occurrence of any condition
that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) since
December 31, 2008 through the date of this
Agreement,
19
the Company and
the Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all
material respects in the ordinary course and consistent with prior
practice and there has not been (i) any declaration, setting
aside or payment of any dividend or any other distribution with
respect to any of the capital stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary, (ii) any material change in accounting methods,
principles or practices employed by the Company, (iii) any
material change in the Company’s internal controls over
financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and
15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), (iv) any action of the type
described in Section 5.1(b) or Section 5.1(c) that had
such action been taken after the date of this Agreement would be in
violation of any such Section or (v) any adoption of, or any
amendment to, any plan or agreement which provides for any payments
as a result of a change in control of the Company or a termination
of employment by any employee of the Company.
Section 3.10.
Taxes . (a) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries
have timely filed all material Tax Returns required to be filed by
any of them; (b) all such Tax Returns are true, correct and
complete in all material respects; (c) all Taxes of the
Company and the Subsidiaries that are (i) shown as due on such
Tax Returns, (ii) otherwise due and payable or
(iii) claimed or asserted by any Governmental Entity to be
due, have been paid, except for those Taxes being contested in good
faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in the
Company Financial Statements; (d) there are no liens for any
Taxes upon the assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
other than statutory liens for real estate Taxes not yet due and
payable and liens for Taxes contested in good faith; (e) the
Company does not have any Knowledge of any proposed or threatened
Tax claims or assessments that, if upheld, would, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; (f) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries
has waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed
to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or
deficiency; (g) the Company and each Subsidiary has withheld
and paid over to the relevant Governmental Entity all Taxes
required to have been withheld and paid in connection with payments
to employees, independent contractors, creditors, stockholders or
other third parties, except for such Taxes that individually or in
the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; (h) except as would not reasonably be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material
Adverse Effect, the unpaid Taxes of the Company and the
Subsidiaries did not exceed the accrual for Tax liability
(disregarding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect
timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the
face of the balance sheet in the most recent Company Financial
Statement (disregarding any notes thereto); (i) neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary (A) has been a member of any other
affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return
(except the affiliated group of which the Company is the common
parent) or (B) has any liability for the Taxes of any person
under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or
successor, by contract, or otherwise; (j) all Tax Returns
filed by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary have been
examined by the relevant Governmental Entity or the statute of
limitations with respect to such Tax Returns has expired; (k) no
claim has been made by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction in
which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries does not file a Tax
Return that the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is or may be
subject to Tax by such jurisdiction; (l) neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Tax allocation or
sharing agreement; (m) no closing agreement pursuant to
Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign Tax law), private letter rulings, technical advice
memoranda or similar agreement or ruling has been entered
into
20
by or with
respect to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries; (n) neither
the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is a party to any
agreement, contract, arrangement or plan that has resulted or could
result, separately or in the aggregate, in the payment of any
amount that will not be fully deductible as a result of Section
162(m) of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local
or foreign Tax law); (o) neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has entered into, or otherwise participated (directly or
indirectly) in, any “reportable transaction” within the
meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b) or has
received a written opinion from a Tax advisor that was intended to
provide protection against a Tax penalty; and (p) the Company
has not made any distribution of stock, and no distribution of
stock of the Company has been made, in a transaction described in
Section 355 of the Code. For purposes of this Agreement,
“ Tax ” (and, with correlative meaning, “
Taxes ”) means any federal, state, local or foreign
income, gross receipts, property, sales, use, license, excise,
franchise, employment, payroll, premium, withholding, alternative
or added minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other
tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or
charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or
penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, imposed by
any Governmental Entity; and “ Tax Return ”
means any return, report or similar statement required to be filed
with respect to any Tax (including any attached schedules),
including any information return, claim for refund, amended return
or declaration of estimated Tax.
Section 3.11.
Title to Assets . The Company and each of the Subsidiaries
have good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest
in, all of their real and personal properties and assets reflected
in the Company 2008 10-K or acquired after December 31, 2008
(other than assets disposed of since December 31, 2008 in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or
otherwise used in the conduct of business of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all title defects,
liens, encumbrances and restrictions, except for (a) liens,
encumbrances or restrictions that secure indebtedness that are
reflected in the Company 10-Q; (b) liens for Taxes accrued but
not yet payable; (c) liens arising as a matter of Law in the
ordinary course of business with respect to obligations incurred
after December 31, 2008; provided that the obligations
secured by such liens are not delinquent; and (d) such title
defects, liens, encumbrances and restrictions, if any, as
individually or in the aggregate, have not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (each a
“ Company Permitted Lien ”). The Company and
each of the Subsidiaries either own, or have valid leasehold
interests in, all properties and assets used by them in the conduct
of their business, except where the absence of such ownership or
leasehold interest has not had, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 3.12.
Change of Control Agreements . Neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will (either
alone or in conjunction with any other event) result in, cause the
accelerated vesting or delivery of, or increase the amount or value
of, any payment or benefit to any director, officer or employee of
the Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no
amount paid or payable by the Company in connection with or by
reason of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including accelerated vesting of options (either solely
as a result thereof or as a result of such transactions in
conjunction with any other event) will be an “excess
parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of
the Code.
21
Section 3.13.
Litigation . Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all claims,
suits, actions, governmental investigations, indictments or
administrative, arbitration or other legal proceedings (“
Litigation ”) pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
No Litigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has had,
or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except for such matters which
have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, there
are no judgments, orders, injunctions, decrees, stipulations or
awards (whether rendered by a court, administrative agency, or by
arbitration, pursuant to a grievance or other procedure) against or
relating to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
Section 3.14.
Contracts and Commitments .
(a)
As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of
the Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any contract,
arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral)
(i) that is a “material contract” (as such term is
defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated under
the Securities Act) to be performed after the date of this
Agreement that has not been filed or incorporated by reference in
the Reports filed prior to the date hereof, (ii) that
materially restricts the conduct of any material line of business
by the Company, or the ability of the Company to operate in any
geographic area or upon consummation of the Merger will materially
restrict the ability of the Surviving Corporation to engage in any
line of business material to the Company or to operate in any
geographical area, (iii) with or to a labor union or guild
(including any collective bargaining agreement), (iv) relating
to the borrowing of money or any guarantee in respect of any
indebtedness of any person (other than the endorsement of
negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of
business), (v) that extends “most favored nations”
or similar pricing to the counterparty to such contract or
(vi) between the Company and any of the Subsidiaries, on the
one hand, and any of the Company’s stockholders (in their
capacity as such), on the other hand. In addition, neither the
Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any
written employment contract (“ Employment Agreements
”). Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
of the type described in the preceding two sentences of this
Section 3.14(a), whether or not set forth in the Company
Disclosure Letter, is referred to as a “ Material
Contract ,” and neither the Company nor any of the
Subsidiaries has Knowledge of any violation of any Material
Contract by any of the other parties thereto that has had, or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
With such exceptions that have not had, or would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect, (i) each Material Contract is valid and
binding on the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, as applicable,
and is in full force and effect, (ii) the Company or the
applicable Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be
performed by it to date under each Material Contract, and
(iii) no event or condition exists that constitutes or, after
notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute, a default on the
part of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries under any such
Material Contract.
22
Section 3.15.
Information Supplied . Neither the Schedule 14D-9 nor
the proxy statement to be mailed to the Company Stockholders in
connection with the meeting (the “ Stockholders’
Meeting ”) to be called to consider the Merger (the
“ Proxy Statement ”) (nor the information
supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for the
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Offer Documents)
will, at the date such documents are first published, sent or
delivered to Company Stockholders or, unless promptly corrected, at
any time during the pendency of the Stockholders’ Meeting, as
the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Schedule 14D-9 and the Proxy Statement filed
with the SEC will comply as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no representation or warranty is made by the Company
with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference
therein based on information supplied by Parent or Buyer for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the foregoing
documents.
Section 3.16.
Employee Benefit Plans . All employee benefit plans (as
defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“ ERISA ”)) and all other
agreements, plans, programs and policies which provide compensation
or benefits to current or former employees or directors or
independent contractors of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
and with respect to which the Company or any Subsidiary has any
material liability, whether contingent or otherwise, and all
Employment Agreements, separation agreements and other agreements
which provide for change in control payments or benefits under or
with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
any liability (individually a “ Company Benefit Plan
” and collectively the “ Company Benefit Plans
”), are identified in Section 3.16 of the Company
Disclosure Letter by the name shown on their plan documents, and
there are no Company Benefit Plans other than the Company Benefit
Plans identified in Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure
Letter. A true and complete copy of each Company Benefit Plan as
currently in effect, any related trust agreement, any ERISA
required summary plan description and any Form 5500 filed for
2008, 2007 and 2006 (together with all related schedules, exhibits
and attachments) have been made available to Parent. No Company
Benefit Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Code
Section 412. Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, (a) each Company Benefit Plan complies by its terms
and in its operation with all the applicable requirements of ERISA,
the Code (including Section 409A of the Code) and other
applicable Law, (b) no Company Benefit Plan is under audit or
investigation by any government agency and to the Knowledge of the
Company no such audit or investigation is pending or threatened,
(c) each Company Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and each such plan has
received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service or a favorable opinion letter from the Internal Revenue
Service regarding the status of such plan as an approved prototype
plan, (d) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor
any ERISA Affiliate has any liability, contingent or otherwise,
under any benefit plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code or is described in Section 413 of
the Code or Section 3(37) or Section 3(40) of ERISA,
(e) neither any Company Benefit Plan nor the Company nor any
Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate has any liability under
Chapter 43 of the Code or Section 409 or Section 502(i)
of ERISA which has not been satisfied in full or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, has engaged in any transaction that would
reasonably be expected to result in any such liability,
(f) all contributions which are required under the terms of
any Company Benefit Plan or ERISA or the
23
Code or other
applicable Law have been timely made in full on or before the
deadline for making such contributions, (g) there is no
Litigation against or otherwise involving any of the Company
Benefit Plans and no Litigation (excluding claims for benefits
incurred in the ordinary course of Company Benefit Plan activities)
has been brought against or with respect to any such Company
Benefit Plan and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such
Litigation is pending or threatened and (h) except as required
by Law, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has any
liability, contingent or otherwise, under any Company Benefit Plan
to provide life insurance or medical or other employee welfare
benefits to any current or former
|