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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among

Agreement and Plan of Merger

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among | Document Parties: Cegedim SA | DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC | Dogwood Enterprises, Inc | Registrar and Transfer Company You are currently viewing:
This Agreement and Plan of Merger involves

Cegedim SA | DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC | Dogwood Enterprises, Inc | Registrar and Transfer Company

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Title: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among
Governing Law: New Jersey     Date: 3/2/2007
Industry: Software and Programming     Law Firm: Hodgson Russ;Dewey Ballantine;Lowenstein Sandler     Sector: Technology

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among, Parties: cegedim sa , dendrite international  inc , dogwood enterprises  inc , registrar and transfer company
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EXHIBIT 2.1

 

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

CEGEDIM SA

and

DOGWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.

Dated as of March 1, 2007

 




TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 1.01

 

Definitions

 

  1

Section 1.02

 

Interpretation and Rules of Construction

 

  8

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

 

THE MERGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 2.01

 

Merger

 

  9

Section 2.02

 

Charter and Bylaws

 

10

Section 2.03

 

Effective Time of the Merger

 

10

Section 2.04

 

Closing

 

10

Section 2.05

 

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

 

EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 3.01

 

Effects of the Merger on Company Securities

 

11

Section 3.02

 

Effects of the Merger on MergerCo Securities

 

12

Section 3.03

 

Payment of Merger Consideration; Stock Transfer Books

 

12

Section 3.04

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

14

Section 3.05

 

Withholding Rights

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

 

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 4.01

 

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries; Authority

 

15

Section 4.02

 

Organizational Documents

 

15

Section 4.03

 

Capitalization

 

16

Section 4.04

 

Authority Relative to this Agreement, Validity and Effect of Agreements

 

17

Section 4.05

 

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

 

18

Section 4.06

 

Permits; Compliance with Laws

 

19

Section 4.07

 

SEC Filings; Financial Statements

 

19

Section 4.08

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

 

21

Section 4.09

 

Absence of Litigation

 

21

Section 4.10

 

Employee Benefit Plans

 

21

Section 4.11

 

Information Supplied

 

23

Section 4.12

 

Intellectual Property

 

23

Section 4.13

 

Taxes

 

25

Section 4.14

 

Environmental Matters

 

26

Section 4.15

 

Material Contracts

 

27

Section 4.16

 

Interested Party Transactions

 

29

Section 4.17

 

Brokers

 

29

 

 

i




 

Section 4.18

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

 

29

Section 4.19

 

Amendment of Rights Plan; State Takeover Statute

 

29

Section 4.20

 

Insurance

 

30

Section 4.21

 

Labor Matters

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

 

 

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER PARTIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 5.01

 

Organization

 

31

Section 5.02

 

Ownership of MergerCo; No Prior Activities

 

31

Section 5.03

 

Power and Authority

 

31

Section 5.04

 

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

 

31

Section 5.05

 

Information Supplied

 

32

Section 5.06

 

Absence of Litigation

 

32

Section 5.07

 

Availability of Funds

 

33

Section 5.08

 

No Ownership of Company Capital Stock

 

33

Section 5.09

 

Other Agreements or Understandings

 

33

Section 5.10

 

Brokers

 

33

Section 5.11

 

No Additional Representations

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

 

 

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 6.01

 

Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger

 

34

Section 6.02

 

Conduct of Business by Buyer Parties Pending the Merger

 

37

Section 6.03

 

Tax Matters

 

37

Section 6.04

 

MergerCo

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 7.01

 

Company Proxy Statement; Other Filings; Shareholders’ Meeting

 

37

Section 7.02

 

Access to Information; Confidentiality

 

39

Section 7.03

 

No Solicitation of Transactions by the Company

 

40

Section 7.04

 

Employee Benefits Matters

 

41

Section 7.05

 

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

 

43

Section 7.06

 

Further Action; Best Efforts

 

46

Section 7.07

 

Public Announcements

 

48

Section 7.08

 

Notification

 

48

Section 7.09

 

Stockholder Litigation

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

 

 

 

CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 8.01

 

Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party

 

48

Section 8.02

 

Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and MergerCo

 

48

Section 8.03

 

Conditions to the Obligations of the Company

 

49

 

 

ii




 

Section 8.04

 

Frustration of Conditions

 

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

 

 

 

TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 9.01

 

Termination

 

50

Section 9.02

 

Effect of Termination

 

52

Section 9.03

 

Fees and Expenses

 

52

Section 9.04

 

Waiver

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

 

 

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 10.01

 

Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

53

Section 10.02

 

Notices

 

54

Section 10.03

 

Severability

 

55

Section 10.04

 

Amendment

 

55

Section 10.05

 

Entire Agreement; Assignment

 

55

Section 10.06

 

Performance Guaranty

 

55

Section 10.07

 

Specific Performance

 

55

Section 10.08

 

Parties in Interest

 

55

Section 10.09

 

Governing Law; Forum

 

56

Section 10.10

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

 

56

Section 10.11

 

Headings

 

56

Section 10.12

 

Counterparts

 

57

Section 10.13

 

Waiver

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation

 

 

 

iii




AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 1, 2007 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and among Dendrite International, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the “ Company ”), Cegedim SA, a company organized under the laws of France (“ Parent ”), and Dogwood Enterprises, Inc., a New Jersey corporation and an indirect subsidiary of Parent (“ MergerCo ” and, together with Parent, the “ Buyer Parties ”).

WHEREAS, the parties wish to effect a business combination through a merger of MergerCo with and into the Company (the “ Merger ”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with Title 14A of the New Jersey Statutes (the “ NJBCA ”);

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “ Company Board ”), and the boards of directors of each of Parent and MergerCo deem it advisable and in the best interests of their respective shareholders to consummate the Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and each of the Company Board and the boards of directors of Parent and MergerCo have approved this Agreement and declared its advisability and, in the case of the Company Board, recommended that this Agreement be adopted by the Company’s shareholders; and

WHEREAS, the Company has amended its Rights Agreement, dated February 21, 2001, between the Company and Registrar and Transfer Company (“ Rights Agreement ”), in accordance with its terms to render the Rights Agreement inapplicable to this Agreement and the transfers contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01           Definitions .

(a)           For purposes of this Agreement:

Action ” means any claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation or investigation as to which written notice has been provided to the applicable party.

Affiliate ” of a specified person means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person.

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




 

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

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company Acquisition Proposal ” means any proposal or offer for, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, or any public announcement providing for or contemplating, any (a) merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, but substituting 20% for references to 10% therein), (b) sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction, of any assets of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (c) issue, sale or other disposition by the Company of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding voting equity securities of the Company, (d) tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) offers to acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20% or more of the outstanding Company Common Shares, or (e) transaction which is similar in form, substance or purpose to any of the foregoing transactions; provided , however , that the term “Company Acquisition Proposal” shall not include (i) the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (ii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction solely among the Company and one or more Company Subsidiaries or among Company Subsidiaries; provided further , that the reference to the Company Subsidiaries in clause (b) hereof shall not be applicable for purposes of Section 9.03(b)(ii) of this Agreement.

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

Company Charter ” means the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended.

Company Common Shares ” means all the shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company.

Company Disclosure Schedule ” means the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Parent concurrently with the execution of this Agreement for which the disclosure of any fact or item in any Section of such disclosure schedule shall, should the existence of such fact or item be relevant to any other section, be deemed to be disclosed with respect to that other Section so long as the relevance of such disclosure to such other Section is reasonably apparent from the nature of such disclosure.  Nothing in

2




the Company Disclosure Schedule is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the Company made herein.

Company Superior Proposal ” means a bona fide Company Acquisition Proposal (on its most recently amended and modified terms, if amended and modified) made by a Third Party (i) that relates to securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 50% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding voting equity securities of the Company on a fully diluted basis or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) which the Company Board determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its outside financial and legal advisors and taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal and the likelihood of consummation) to be more favorable to the shareholders of the Company than the Merger and (iii) which, with respect to any cash portion of the total consideration required in connection with such Company Acquisition Proposal, is supported by financing or financing capability (including cash on hand, committed financing or borrowing capability) reasonably satisfactory to the Company Board.

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

Disclosure Schedules ” means, collectively, the Company Disclosure Schedule and the Parent Disclosure Schedule.

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

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

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

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

Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual property rights of any kind or nature, including all U.S. or foreign (i) patents, patent applications, patent disclosures, invention registrations of any type, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof (“ Patents ”),

3




(ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, slogans, trade names, corporate names, domain names and other source identifiers, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing (“ Trademarks ”), (iii) copyrightable works, copyrights, and registrations and applications for registration thereof (“ Copyrights ”), and (iv) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, know how, technical information, processes, formulae, models, and methodologies (“ Trade Secrets ”).

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

Law ” means any United States or foreign, national, state, provincial, municipal or local statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree, order or legal requirement.

Liens ” means with respect to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, claim, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or ownership or other similar  encumbrance of any kind or the filing of a financial statement in respect to such asset (including any restriction on (i) the voting of any security or the transfer of any security or other asset, (ii) the receipt of any income derived from any asset, and (iii) the use of any asset) other than any encumbrance arising (A) under applicable Laws with respect to Taxes not yet due and payable and (B) in the case of securities, under applicable state or federal securities Laws.

Material Adverse Effect ” means, with respect to the Company, any effect, event, fact, circumstance, condition, development, occurrence or change that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any effect, event, fact, circumstance, condition, development, occurrence or change arising out of or resulting from (a) a decrease in the market price of Company Common Shares (but not any effect, event, development or change underlying such decrease to the extent that such effect, event, development or change would otherwise constitute a Material Adverse Effect), (b) changes in conditions in the U.S. or global economy or capital or financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, (c) changes in general legal, tax, regulatory, political or business conditions that, in each case, generally affect the geographic regions or industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries conduct their business including without limitation the healthcare industry, the professional services industry and the software development industry (except to the extent such effect, event, fact, circumstance, condition, development, occurrence or change affects the Company or the Company Subsidiaries in a materially disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which the Company or the Company Subsidiaries conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, fact, circumstance, condition, development, occurrence or change), (d) changes in GAAP, (e) the negotiation, execution, announcement, pendency or performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the

4




consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, vendors, lenders, investors, venture partners or employees, (f) acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this Agreement, except to the extent that the effect, condition or change arising or resulting therefrom does not have a materially disproportionate effect on the Company or the Company Subsidiaries relative to other companies that participate in the industries in which the Company or the Company Subsidiaries participate and that operate in the geographical regions affected by such war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, (g) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters, or (h) any action taken by the Company at the request or with the consent of any of the Buyer Parties, provided further , that clause (e) shall not apply with respect to the matters described in Section 4.05 hereof (including for purposes of Section 8.02(a) hereof insofar as Section 4.05 is concerned).

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

Parent Disclosure Schedule ” means the disclosure schedule delivered by Parent and MergerCo to the Company concurrently with the execution of this Agreement for which the disclosure of any fact or item in any section of such disclosure schedule shall, should the existence of such fact or item be relevant to any other section, be deemed to be disclosed with respect to that other section so long as the relevance of such disclosure to such other section is readily apparent from the nature of such disclosure.  Nothing in the Parent Disclosure Schedule is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the Parent or MergerCo made herein.

Parent Material Adverse Effect ” means any effect, event, fact, circumstance, condition, development, occurrence or change that has had or would reasonably be expected to prevent, or materially hinder or materially delay Parent or MergerCo from consummating the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Permitted Liens ” means (i) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent and Liens for Taxes being contested in good faith and for which there are adequate reserves on the financial statements of the Company (if such reserves are required pursuant to GAAP), (ii) inchoate mechanics’ and materialmen’s Liens for construction in progress, (iii) inchoate workmen’s, repairmen’s, warehousemen’s and carriers’ Liens arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (iv) zoning restrictions, survey exceptions, utility easements, rights of way and similar Liens that are imposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction thereon or otherwise are typical for the applicable property type and locality, (v) Liens and obligations existing by virtue of the terms of any Company Material Contracts, (vi) matters that would be disclosed on current title reports or surveys that arise or have arisen in the ordinary course of business, which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (vii) other Liens being contested in good faith in the ordinary course of business or which would not reasonably be expected to

5




materially detract from the value of any material asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

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

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

Software ” means computer programs and software (whether in source code, object code, or other form).

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

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

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

Third Party ” means any party other than the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

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

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

6




 

Defined Term

 

Location of Definition

 

Agreement

 

Preamble

 

Benefits Continuation Period

 

§ 7.04(a)

 

Buyer Parties

 

Preamble

 

Capital Expenditures

 

§ 6.01(i)

 

Claim

 

§ 7.05(a)

 

Closing

 

§ 2.04

 

Closing Date

 

§ 2.04

 

Company

 

Preamble

 

Company Board

 

Recitals

 

Company Certificate of Merger

 

§ 2.03

 

Company Change in Recommendation

 

§ 7.01(b)

 

Company Common Share Certificates

 

§ 3.03(b)

 

Company Employees

 

§ 7.04(a)

 

Company Financial Advisor

 

§ 4.18

 

Company Intellectual Property

 

§ 4.12(a)

 

Company Material Contract

 

§ 4.15

 

Company Option Consideration

 

§ 3.01(c)

 

Company Paying Agent

 

§ 3.03(a)

 

Company Preferred Shares

 

§ 4.03(a)

 

Company Recommendation

 

§ 7.01(b)(i)

 

Company Restricted Shares

 

§ 3.01(d)

 

Company SEC Reports

 

§ 4.07(a)

 

Company Shareholder Approval

 

§ 4.04(a)(i)

 

Company Shareholders’ Meeting

 

§ 7.01(b)

 

Company Stock Awards

 

§ 4.03(b)

 

Company Stock-Based Awards

 

§ 3.01(e)

 

Company Stock Options

 

§ 3.01(c)

 

Company Subsidiaries

 

§ 4.01(b)

 

Confidentiality Agreement

 

§ 7.02(b)

 

Contract

 

§ 4.15(a)

 

Copyrights

 

§ 1.01

 

Environmental Permits

 

§ 4.14(a)

 

ERISA

 

§ 4.10(a)

 

ERISA Affiliate

 

§ 4.10(f)

 

Exchange Act

 

§ 4.05(b)(i)

 

Expenses

 

§ 7.05(a)

 

Governmental Order

 

§ 9.01(c)

 

HSR Act

 

§ 4.05(b)

 

Incentive Plans

 

§ 3.01(c)

 

Indemnified Parties

 

§ 7.05(a)

 

IRS

 

§ 4.10(a)

 

Merger

 

Recitals

 

Merger Consideration

 

§ 3.01(b)

 

Merger Effective Time

 

§ 2.03

 

Merger Shares

 

§ 3.01(b)

 

 

7




 

Defined Term

 

Location of Definition

 

MergerCo

 

Preamble

 

Nasdaq

 

§ 4.05(b)

 

New Jersey Courts

 

§ 10.09(b)

 

New Plans

 

§ 7.04(b)

 

NJBCA

 

Recitals

 

NJDOT

 

§ 2.03

 

Non-U.S. Plans

 

§ 4.10(a)

 

Old Plans

 

§ 7.04(b)

 

Outside Date

 

§ 9.01(b)

 

Owned Company Intellectual Property

 

§ 4.12(a)(ii)

 

Parent

 

Preamble

 

Patents

 

§ 1.01

 

Permits

 

§ 4.06(a)

 

Proxy Statement

 

§ 4.05(b)

 

Regulatory Law

 

§ 7.07(d)

 

Representatives

 

§ 7.02(a)

 

Rights Agreement

 

Recitals

 

SEC

 

§ 4.05(b)

 

Section 16

 

§ 7.04(d)

 

Securities Act

 

§ 4.03(c)(v)

 

Significant Company Subsidiary

 

§ 4.01(b)

 

SOP

 

§ 3.04

 

SOP Date

 

§ 3.04

 

Surviving Corporation

 

§ 2.01

 

Surviving Corporation Bylaws

 

§ 2.02(b)

 

Surviving Corporation Charter

 

§ 2.02(a)

 

Surviving Corporation Fund

 

§ 3.03(a)

 

Termination Date

 

§ 9.01

 

Termination Fee

 

§ 9.03(c)

 

Trademarks

 

§ 1.01

 

Trade Secrets

 

§ 1.01

 

U.S. Plans

 

§ 4.10(a)

 

Section 1.02           Interpretation and Rules of Construction .

In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

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

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

 

 

8




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE II
THE MERGER

Section 2.01           Merger .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with Sections 14A:10-4.1 and 14A:10-14 of the NJBCA, at the Merger Effective Time, MergerCo and the Company shall consummate the Merger pursuant to which (a) MergerCo shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate existence of MergerCo shall thereupon cease and (b) the Company shall be the

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surviving corporation in the Merger (the “ Surviving Corporation ”).  The Merger shall have the effects specified in the NJBCA, including Section 14A:10-6 thereof.

Section 2.02           Charter and Bylaws .

(a)           At the Merger Effective Time, the Company Charter shall be amended to read in its entirety as in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A; and, as so amended, such Certificate of Incorporation shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter further amended as provided therein or by Law (the “ Surviving Corporation Charter ”).

(b)           At the Merger Effective Time, the Company Bylaws shall be amended so as to contain the provisions, and only the provisions contained immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time in the Bylaws of MergerCo and shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law, by the Company Charter or by such Bylaws; provided , however , that, Article IV (Indemnification) of the Company Bylaws shall not be amended and shall continue to read as stated in the Company Bylaws in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (the “ Surviving Corporation Bylaws ”).

Section 2.03           Effective Time of the Merger .  Upon consummation of the Closing, the Company shall duly execute and file a certificate of merger with respect to the Merger, in such form as is required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the NJBCA (the “ Company Certificate of Merger ”) and reasonably satisfactory to Parent, with the Department of the Treasury of the State of New Jersey (the “ NJDOT ”) in accordance with the NJBCA.  The Merger shall become effective upon such time as the Company Certificate of Merger has been filed with the NJDOT, or such later time which the parties hereto shall have agreed upon and designated in such filing in accordance with the NJBCA as the effective time of the Merger (the “ Merger Effective Time ”).

Section 2.04           Closing .  Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with Section 9.01, the closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) shall occur as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than the third (3rd) Business Day) after all of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than conditions which by their terms are required to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) shall have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit of the same, or at such other time and on a date as agreed to by the parties (the “ Closing Date ”).  The Closing shall take place at the offices of Dewey Ballantine LLP, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as agreed to by the parties hereto.

Section 2.05           Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation .  From and after the Merger Effective Time, (a) the director(s) of MergerCo immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, as set forth on a schedule to be delivered by Parent to the Company prior to the Merger Effective Time, shall be the director(s) of the Surviving Corporation and (b) the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Merger

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Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation Charter and the Surviving Corporation Bylaws.

ARTICLE III
EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

Section 3.01           Effects of the Merger on Company Securities .  At the Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company or the holders of any capital stock of the Company (other than the requisite approval of the Merger by the shareholders of the Company in accordance with the NJBCA):

(a)           Each Company Common Share held in treasury and not outstanding and each Company Common Share that is owned by Parent or MergerCo immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, without any conversion thereof and no payment or distribution shall be made with respect thereto.

(b)           Each Company Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (other than Company Common Shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 3.01(a)), shall be converted and exchanged automatically into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $16.00 per Company Common Share (the “ Merger Consideration ”), payable to the holder thereof in accordance with Section 3.03.  The Company Common Shares that are to be so converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration are referred to herein as the “ Merger Shares ”.

(c)           Immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, each outstanding qualified or nonqualified option to purchase Company Common Shares (“ Company Stock Options ”) under any employee or director share option or compensation plan or arrangement of the Company (collectively, “ Incentive Plans ”), shall become fully vested and exercisable or payable, as the case may be (whether or not then vested or subject to any performance condition that has not been satisfied, and regardless of the exercise price thereof).  At the Merger Effective Time, each Company Stock Option not theretofore exercised shall be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the Merger Consideration over (ii) the exercise price per share of such Company Stock Option, multiplied by the total number of Company Common Shares subject to such Company Stock Option (the “ Company Option Consideration ”), without interest and less any applicable Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 3.06 with respect to such payment.  Payment of the Company Option Consideration shall be made as soon as practicable after the Merger Effective Time.

(d)           All restricted share awards, whether time-based or performance-based (“ Company Restricted Shares ”), granted pursuant to the Incentive Plans or otherwise that remain unvested, automatically shall become fully vested and free of any

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forfeiture or holding restrictions or performance or other conditions immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, and each Company Restricted Share shall be considered an outstanding Company Common Share for all purposes of this Agreement, including the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

(e)           At the Merger Effective Time, each right of any kind, contingent or accrued, to receive Company Common Shares or benefits measured in whole or in part by the value of a number of Company Common Shares granted under the Incentive Plans or otherwise (including performance shares, restricted stock, restricted stock units, phantom units, deferred stock units and dividend equivalents) other than Company Stock Options and Company Restricted Shares (each, other than Company Restricted Shares and Company Stock Options, “ Company Stock-Based Awards ”), whether vested or unvested, which is outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall cease to represent a right or award with respect to Company Common Shares, shall become fully vested and free of any forfeiture or holding restrictions or performance or other conditions and shall entitle the holder thereof to receive, at the Merger Effective Time, an amount in cash equal to the Merger Consideration in respect of each Company Common Share underlying a particular Company Stock-Based Award less such amounts as are required to be withheld or deducted under the Code or any provision of U.S. state or local tax law with respect to the making of such payment and less any payments required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Company Stock-Based Award.

Section 3.02           Effects of the Merger on MergerCo Securities .  At the Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by the MergerCo or Parent, as the holder of all outstanding capital stock of MergerCo (other than the requisite approval by Parent as a shareholder of MergerCo in accordance with the NJBCA, which approval has been obtained), each outstanding common share, no par value, of MergerCo issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable common share, no par value, of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 3.03           Payment of Merger Consideration; Stock Transfer Books .

(a)           Prior to the Merger Effective Time, Parent shall appoint as paying agent a bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the “ Company Paying Agent ”).  Immediately following completion of the Merger and the cancellation of the Company Stock Options, Parent shall deposit or cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Company Paying Agent, for the benefit of the holders of Merger Shares, Company Stock Options, Company Restricted Shares, and Company Stock-Based Awards, cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration required to be paid (such cash being hereinafter referred to as the “ Surviving Corporation Fund ”), and to cause the Company Paying Agent to make, and the Company Paying Agent shall make, payments of the Merger Consideration out of the Surviving Corporation Fund to the holders of Merger Shares, Company Stock Options, Company Restricted Shares, and Company Stock-Based Awards in accordance with this Agreement.  The Surviving Corporation Fund shall be invested by the Paying Agent in (i) direct obligations of the United States of America, (ii) obligations for which the full faith

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and credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide for payment of all principal and interest or (iii) commercial paper obligations receiving the highest rating from either Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, or a combination thereof, as directed by and for the benefit of the Surviving Corporation; provided , however , that no gain or loss thereon shall affect the amounts payable to the holders of Merger Shares, Company Stock Options, Company Restricted Shares, and Company Stock-Based Awards following completion of the Merger pursuant to this Article III.  Any and all interest and other income earned on the Surviving Corporation Fund shall promptly be paid to the Surviving Corporation.

(b)           As promptly as practicable after the Merger Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Company Paying Agent to mail to each person who was, as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, a holder of record of the Merger Shares:  (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall be in customary form and shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates representing the Merger Shares (the “ Company Common Share Certificates ”) shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Company Common Share Certificates to the Company Paying Agent) and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of the Company Common Share Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration.  Upon surrender to the Company Paying Agent of Company Common Share Certificates for cancellation, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Company Common Share Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, in cash, the Merger Consideration in respect thereof, and the Company Common Share Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled.  In the event of a transfer of ownership of Merger Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, payment of the Merger Consideration in respect of the applicable Merger Shares may be made to a person other than the person in whose name the Company Common Share Certificate so surrendered is registered if such Company Common Share Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration in respect thereof or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.  Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.03, each Company Common Share Certificate shall be deemed at all times after the Merger Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration.  No interest shall be paid or will accrue on any cash payable to holders of Company Common Share Certificates pursuant to the provisions of this Article III.

(c)           Any portion of the Surviving Corporation Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Merger Shares for one year after the Merger Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation, upon demand, and any holders of Merger Shares who have not theretofore complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for, and the Surviving Corporation shall remain liable for, payment of their claim for the Merger Consideration.  Any portion of the Surviving Corporation Fund remaining unclaimed by holders of Merger Shares as of a

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date which is immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.  None of Parent, the Company Paying Agent or the Surviving Corporation shall be liable to any holder of Merger Shares for any such shares (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto), or cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.

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

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

Section 3.04           Employee Stock Purchase Plan .  The Dendrite International Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ SOP ”) shall remain in full force and effect until immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (the “ SOP Date ”).   As of the SOP Date (i) all amounts held under the SOP shall be used to purchase Company Common Shares as if the SOP Date were a purchase date under the SOP and (ii) all offering and purchase periods pending under the SOP shall be terminated and no new offering or purchasing periods shall be commenced.  Following the date hereof, no new offering or purchase periods shall be commenced.

Section 3.05           Withholding Rights .  The Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Company Paying Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Company Common Shares, Company Stock Options and Company Stock-Based Awards, such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Company, the Surviving Corporation, or the Company Paying Agent, as applicable, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Company Common Shares, Company Stock Options or Company Stock-Based Awards, in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Company Paying Agent, as applicable.

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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as set forth in (A) the Company Disclosure Schedule or (B) the Company SEC Reports (other than the risk factors and forward looking statement sections therein) ( provided that (B) shall not apply to Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.17, 4.18 and 4.19 of this Agreement) the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer Parties as follows:

Section 4.01           Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries; Authority .

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

(b)           Each of the Company’s subsidiaries (the “ Company Subsidiaries ”, and each of the Company Subsidiaries that is a “significant subsidiary,” as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act, a “ Significant Company Subsidiary ”), together with the jurisdiction of organization of each such subsidiary, the percentage of the outstanding equity of each such subsidiary owned by the Company and each other subsidiary of the Company, is set forth on Section 4.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.  Each Company Subsidiary is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or trust duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, except where the failure to be so incorporated, organized, validly existing or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Each of the Significant Company Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate, limited partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power and authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Each of the Company Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing (to the extent applicable), in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the conduct or nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.02           Organizational Documents .  The Company has previously provided or made available copies of the Company Charter and Company Bylaws, as

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well as the organizational and governing documents for each Significant Company Subsidiary.  All such documents are in full force and effect, no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding the Company have been commenced, and the Company is not in violation of any provision of the Company Charter or Company Bylaws and no Significant Company Subsidiary is in violation of its organizational or governing documents, except, in the case of a Significant Company Subsidiary, such violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.03           Capitalization .

(a)           The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 150,000,000 Company Common Shares and 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, of the Company (“ Company Preferred Shares ”).  As of February 28, 2007, (i) 44,097,510 Company Common Shares were issued and outstanding (excluding shares held in treasury), all of which are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any shareholders’ preemptive rights and (ii) 2,861,303 Company Common Shares were held in the treasury of the Company.  As of March 1, 2007, there would be 53,984,195 Company Common Shares outstanding (excluding shares held in treasury), after giving effect to the exercise, exchange or conversion of all Company Stock Awards outstanding as of such date.  As of the date of this Agreement, no Company Preferred Shares are issued and outstanding.

(b)           As of February 28, 2007, 8,367,585 Company Common Shares were reserved for future issuance pursuant to outstanding Company Stock Options, 1,524,204 Company Common Shares were reserved for future issuance pursuant to outstanding Company Stock-Based Awards, and no Company Common Shares were reserved for future issuance pursuant to outstanding Company Restricted Shares (collectively, the “ Company Stock Awards ”).  As of February 28, 2007, 1,058,164 Company Common Shares were reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Incentive Plans.

(c)           Except as set forth in Section 4.03(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule:

(i)            each outstanding share of capital stock of, or other equity interest in, a Company Subsidiary owned by the Company or by another Company Subsidiary is owned free and clear of all Liens;

(ii)           except as set forth in the Company Charter, there are no options, warrants or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary;

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(iii)          there are no outstanding contractual obligations of, or other equity interest in, the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company;

(iv)          no Company Subsidiary owns any capital stock of the Company;

(v)           the Company is under no obligation, contingent or otherwise, by reason of any agreement to register the offer and sale or resale of any of its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”);

(vi)          except as set forth in the Company Charter, there are no agreements or understandings to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party with respect to the voting of any shares of capital stock of the Company or which restrict the transfer of any such shares, nor does the Company have knowledge of any third party agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of any such shares or which restrict the transfer of any such shares; and

(vii)         there is no Voting Debt of the Company or any Company Subsidiary outstanding.

Section 4.04           Authority Relative to this Agreement, Validity and Effect of Agreements .

(a)           The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Except for the approvals described in the following sentence, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company.  No other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than (i) the approval of this Agreement by the holders of shares representing a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting as one class, at a meeting of the shareholders of the Company duly called and held for such purpose (the “ Company Shareholder Approval ”) and (ii) the filing and recordation of the Company Certificate of Merger and other appropriate merger documents as required by the NJBCA.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of Parent and MergerCo, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles.

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(b)           The Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted at meetings duly called and held, has duly (i) determined that this Agreement and the Merger are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and declared its advisability in accordance with the NJBCA, (iii) recommended that the shareholders of the Company approve this Agreement, and (iv) directed that this Agreement be submitted for consideration by the shareholders of the Company at the Company Shareholders’ Meeting.

Section 4.05           No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents .

(a)           The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement do not, and the performance of its obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or violate the Company Charter or Company Bylaws or the analogous governance or organizational documents of any Significant Company Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions described in subsection (b) of this Section 4.05 have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in subsection (b) of this Section 4.05 have been made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, is bound, or (iii) require any consent or result in any violation or breach or termination of or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation) under, or result in the triggering of any payments or result in the creation of a Lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, pursuant to, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of  any Permit or Company Material Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which it or any of its respective properties or assets may be bound, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), such triggering of payments, Liens, encumbrances, filings, notices, permits, authorizations, consents, approvals, violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)           The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement does not, and the performance of its obligations hereunder will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, action by, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for (A) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), (B) if applicable, the pre-merger notification and waiting requirements of the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”) and any other applicable Regulatory Laws, (C) the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) of a proxy statement relating to the Merger to be sent to the Company’s shareholders (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Proxy Statement ”) and other written communications that may be deemed “soliciting materials” under Rule 14a-12, (D) any filings required under the rules and regulations of Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.’s Global Select Market (“ Nasdaq ”), and (E) the filing of the appropriate merger documents as required by the NJBCA, and (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications would not,

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individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.06           Permits; Compliance with Laws .

(a)           The Company and Company Subsidiaries are in possession of all registrations, franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, consents, certificates, approvals, other regulatory authorizations and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for them to own, lease and operate their properties or to carry on their business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the “ Permits ”), and all such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to obtain, maintain or possess, or the suspension or cancellation of, any of the Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)           None of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is in violation of any Laws or Permits applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which would constitute (i) a breach or default under, or would cause a revocation, or termination of any Permits applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (ii) a violation of any Laws applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except, in each case, for any such violation, breach, default, revocation or termination which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the knowledge of the Company, no investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary is pending or threatened, in each case, with respect to any alleged or claimed violation of Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound or affected, except, in each case, for any such investigation or inquiry which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.07           SEC Filings; Financial Statements .

(a)           Except as set forth in Section 4.07(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has timely filed all forms, reports and documents (including all exhibits) required to be filed by it with the SEC during the two years prior to the date of this Agreement (the “ Company SEC Reports ”).  The Company SEC Reports (including any financial statements or schedules included in the Company SEC Reports), each as amended prior to the date hereof, and each as of their respective dates (i) have been prepared in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with, the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) did not, when filed as amended prior to the date hereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or incorporated by reference therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

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(b)           Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in the Company SEC Reports, each as amended prior to the date hereof, was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and each fairly presented, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows and shareholders’ equity of the Company and its consolidated Company Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein except as otherwise noted therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year end adjustments).  None of the Company Subsidiaries is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act or required to file any form, report or other document with the SEC or Nasdaq.

(c)           The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have devised and maintain a system of internal accounting controls (within the meaning of Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.  Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (1) has designed disclosure controls and procedures (within the meaning of Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to such entity and its subsidiaries is made known to the management of such entity (or its general partner) by others within those entities as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications required by the Exchange Act with respect to the Company SEC Reports, and (2) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation made prior to the date of this Agreement, to its auditors and the audit committee of its Board of Directors, and has listed in Section 4.07(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect in any material respect its ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have disclosed to its auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in its internal controls and the Company has provided to Parent copies of documentation related to such disclosure contemplated in (A) or (B), except to the extent such documents are bound by privilege, which shall be determined solely by the Company.

(d)           The Company is in compliance in all material respects with (i) the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and (ii) the rules and regulations of Nasdaq that are applicable to the Company.  The Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (i) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Company’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.  For purposes of this paragraph, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

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(e)           Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any liabilities (whether known or unknown, accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due) of the type required to be disclosed on a balance sheet or in the related notes to the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, except liabilities that (i) were disclosed in the Company SEC Reports, (ii) were incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since September 30, 2006, or (iii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.08           Absence of Certain Changes or Events .  Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports, since September 30, 2006 through the date hereof, (a) the Company has conducted its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and (b) there has not been an event, occurrence, effect, fact, development or circumstance that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.09           Absence of Litigation .  There is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective properties or assets except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (y) have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  None of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is subject to any order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.10           Employee Benefit Plans .

(a)           Section 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all material employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”)) and all material bonus, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, deferred compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, supplemental retirement, severance or other benefit plans, programs or arrangements, and all material employment, termination, severance or other contracts or agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, with respect to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has any obligation or which are maintained, contributed to or sponsored by the Company or any Company Subsidiary for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director or consultant of the Company or any Company Subsidiary other than any such benefit plans, programs, arrangements, contracts or agreements maintained outside of the United States primarily for the benefit of current or former employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Company or any Company Subsidiary working outside of the United States or who worked outside of the United States (such plans hereinafter being referred to as “ Non-U.S. Plans ”) (collectively, the “ U.S. Plans ”), provided that with respect to employment agreements for non-executives, Section 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule will only include forms of employment agreement.  The Company has made available to Parent copies, which are correct and complete in all material respects, of the following:

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(i) the U.S. Plans, (ii) the annual reports (e.g., the complete Form 5500 series) prepared in connection with each U.S. Plan for the last two plan years, (iii) the most recently received Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”) determination letter of the IRS, if any, relating to a U.S. Plan, (iv) the most recently prepared actuarial report or financial statement, if any, relating to a U.S. Plan, and (v) the most recent summary plan description for such U.S. Plan (or other descriptions of such U.S. Plan provided to employees) and all material modifications thereto.

(b)           Except as disclosed in Section 4.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each U.S. Plan has been operated in all respects in accordance with its terms and the requirements of all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code, except for such noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, cause a material liability.  Each U.S.  Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or Section 401(k) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS, or is entitled to rely on a favorable opinion issued by the IRS, and to the knowledge of the Company no fact or event has occurred to adversely affect the qualified status of any such U.S. Plan or the exempt status of any such trust created thereunder that would, individually or in the aggregate, cause a material liability.

(c)           Except as disclosed in Section 4.10(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary sponsors or has sponsored any U.S. Plan that provides for any post-employment or post-retirement health, medical, prescription drug, disability, life or other similar insurance benefits for retired, former or current employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except as required by Section 4980B of the Code.  Except as set forth in Section 4.10(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company, no written communication has been made that would prevent the Company or any Company Subsidiary from amending or terminating any U.S. Plan providing health or medical benefits in respect of any retired, former or current employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

(d)           Full payment has been made, or otherwise properly accrued on the books and records of the Company and any Company Subsidiary, of all amounts that the Company and any Company Subsidiary are required under the terms of the U.S. Plans to have paid as contributions to such Plans on or prior to the date hereof (excluding any amounts not yet due).

(e)           Except as set forth in Section 4.10(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no U.S. Plan, either individually or collectively, provides for any payment by the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(f)            Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors or has sponsored in the past six years any U.S. Plan (or United States based pension plan in the case of an ERISA Affiliate) that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code.  For purposes of this Section 4.10, an entity is an “ ERISA Affiliate ” of the Company if it would have ever been considered a single employer with

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the Company under 4001(b) of ERISA or part of the same controlled group as the Company for purposes of Section 302(d)(8)(C) of ERISA.  Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has in the past six years maintained, adopted or established, contributed or been required to contribute to, or otherwise participate or been required to participate in, nor will they become obligated to do so through the Closing Date, any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA).

(g)           Section 4.10(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a list of each material Non-U.S. Plan.  Except as set forth on Section 4.10(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or as would not reasonably be expected to cause a material liability, each Non-U.S. Plan complies in all material respects with applicable Laws.  Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any material unfunded liabilities with respect to any such Non-U.S.Plan.  As of the date hereof, there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened material litigation relating to any Non-U.S. Plan.

(h)           There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened (A) claims, suits or other proceedings by any employees, former employees or plan participants or the beneficiaries, spouses or representatives of any of them, other than ordinary and usual claims for benefits by participants or beneficiaries, or (B) suits, investigations or other proceedings by any federal, state, local or other governmental agency or authority, of or against any U.S. Plan, the assets held thereunder, the trustee of any such assets, or the Company or any Company Subsidiary relating to any U.S. Plan that would, individually or in the aggregate, cause a material liability.  If any of the actions described in this subsection are initiated prior to the Closing Date, the Company will notify Parent of such action prior to the date of Closing.

Section 4.11           Information Supplied .  The information supplied by the Company relating to the Company and Company Subsidiaries to be contained in the Proxy Statement









 
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