AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,
2008,
HANOVER CAPITAL MORTGAGE HOLDINGS,
INC.
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Page
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
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2
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ARTICLE 2 THE
MERGER
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11
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2.1
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Distribution
and Merger
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11
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2.2
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Effect on Stock
and Limited Liability Company Interests
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12
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2.3
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Cancellation of
Stock
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12
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2.4
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Closing
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13
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2.5
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Effective
Time
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13
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2.6
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Effects of the
Merger
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13
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2.7
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Closing of
Transfer Books
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13
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2.8
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Exchange of
Certificates
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13
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2.9
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Employee Stock
Options and Other Equity Awards
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15
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ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF WALTER
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18
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3.1
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Organization,
Qualification, Etc.
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18
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3.2
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Corporate
Authority; No Violation, Etc.
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18
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3.3
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Brokers or
Finders
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19
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3.4
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Walter Reports
and Financial Statements
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19
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3.5
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No Other
Representations and Warranties
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20
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ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SPINCO
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20
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4.1
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Organization,
Qualification, Etc.
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20
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4.2
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Capitalization
and Other Matters
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21
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4.3
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Authority; No
Violation, Etc .
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22
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4.4
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Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries Financial Statements
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22
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4.5
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Undisclosed
Liabilities
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23
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4.6
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Absence of
Material Adverse Effect
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23
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4.7
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Actions;
Litigation
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23
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4.8
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Licenses;
Compliance with Laws
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23
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4.9
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Proxy
Statement/Prospectus; Registration Statement
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24
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4.10
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Environmental
Matters
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24
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4.11
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Tax
Matters
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24
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4.12
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Benefit
Plans
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25
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4.13
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Labor
Matters
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26
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4.14
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Intellectual
Property
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26
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4.15
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Material
Contracts
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27
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4.16
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Vote
Required
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27
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4.17
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Assets
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27
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4.18
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Insurance
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27
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4.19
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No Other
Representations and Warranties
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28
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Page
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ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HANOVER
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29
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5.1
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Organization,
Qualification, Etc.
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29
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5.2
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Stock and Other
Matters
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29
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5.3
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Corporate
Authority; No Violation, Etc.
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30
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5.4
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Affiliate
Transactions
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31
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5.5
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Hanover Reports
and Financial Statements
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31
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5.6
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Absence of
Certain Changes or Events
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32
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5.7
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Sarbanes-Oxley
Compliance; Internal Controls
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33
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5.8
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Actions;
Litigation
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33
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5.9
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Licenses;
Compliance with Laws
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33
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5.10
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Proxy
Statement/Prospectus; Registration Statement
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34
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5.11
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Environmental
Matters
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34
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5.12
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Tax
Matters
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35
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5.13
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Benefit
Plans
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37
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5.14
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Labor
Matters
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39
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5.15
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Intellectual
Property
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39
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5.16
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Material
Contracts
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40
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5.17
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Brokers or
Finders
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40
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5.18
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Board
Approval
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40
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5.19
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Vote
Required
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41
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5.20
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Certain
Payments
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41
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5.21
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Opinion of
Hanover Financial Advisor
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42
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5.22
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Rights
Agreement
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42
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5.23
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Takeover
Statutes
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42
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5.24
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Title to
Assets
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42
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5.25
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Insurance
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43
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5.26
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Investment
Company Act
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43
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5.27
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No Other
Representations and Warranties
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43
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ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
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44
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6.1
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Conduct of
Spinco Business Pending the Merger
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44
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6.2
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Conduct of
Business by Hanover Pending the Merger
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45
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6.3
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Preparation of
Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Stockholders
Meetings
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49
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6.4
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No
Solicitation
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50
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6.5
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Reasonable Best
Efforts
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52
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6.6
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Cooperation of
Third Parties
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52
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6.7
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Consummation of
the Distribution
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52
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6.8
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Interim
Financial Information
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52
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6.9
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License
Agreement
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53
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ARTICLE 7
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
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53
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7.1
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WARN
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53
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7.2
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Cooperation
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53
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7.3
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Proxy
Statement/Prospectus
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54
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ii
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Page
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7.4
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Tax-Free
Reorganization Treatment; IRS Ruling; REIT Status; Closing
Agreement and REIT Determination; Investment Company
Status
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54
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7.5
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Employee
Matters and Employee Benefit Plans
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56
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7.6
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Investigation
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57
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7.7
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Reasonable Best
Efforts; Further Assurances, Etc.
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57
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7.8
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Director and
Officer Indemnification; Insurance
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58
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7.9
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Public
Announcements
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60
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7.10
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Defense of
Litigation
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60
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7.11
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Accounting
Matters
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60
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7.12
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Amendment and
Restatement of Hanover’s Charter and Bylaws
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60
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7.13
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Board of
Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation
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61
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7.14
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Post Closing
Cooperation
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61
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ARTICLE 8
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
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61
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8.1
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Conditions to
the Obligations of Spinco, Walter and Hanover to Effect the
Merger
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61
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8.2
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Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Walter and Spinco
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62
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8.3
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Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Hanover
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64
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ARTICLE 9
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVERS
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64
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9.1
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Termination
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64
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9.2
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Effect of
Termination
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66
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9.3
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Fees and
Expenses
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66
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9.4
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Amendment
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68
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9.5
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Waivers
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68
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ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
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68
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10.1
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Non-Survival of
Representations and Warranties and Agreements
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68
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10.2
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Notices
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68
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10.3
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Certain
Construction Rules
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69
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10.4
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Severability
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70
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10.5
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Assignment;
Binding Effect
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70
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10.6
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No Third Party
Beneficiaries
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70
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10.7
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Limited
Liability
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70
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10.8
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Entire
Agreement
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70
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10.9
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Governing
Law
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71
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10.10
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Jurisdiction.
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71
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10.11
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Counterparts
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72
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10.12
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Specific
Performance; Remedies
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72
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iii
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Exhibit A Amended
and Restated Bylaws of Hanover
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Exhibit B Articles
of Amendment and Restatement of Hanover
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Exhibit C Form
of Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP Tax Opinion
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Exhibit D Form
of Officer’s Certificate for Tax Opinion
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Exhibit E Form
of Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP 40 Act Opinion
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iv
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
THIS
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of September 30, 2008,
is among Walter Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Walter”), JWH Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company wholly-owned by Walter
(“Spinco”), and Hanover Capital Mortgage Holdings,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Hanover”) (Walter,
Spinco and Hanover, collectively, the “Parties” and
each a “Party”).
WHEREAS,
prior to the Effective Time on the Closing Date, Walter shall
distribute all of the issued and outstanding limited liability
company interests in Spinco (the “Spinco Interests”) on
a pro rata basis (the “Distribution”) to the holders as
of the Walter Record Date of the outstanding common stock, par
value $1.00 per share, of Walter (“Walter Common
Stock”), in accordance with Section 2.1(a);
WHEREAS,
at the Effective Time, the parties intend to effect a merger of
Spinco into Hanover, with Hanover being the Surviving Corporation
(as defined herein) (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS,
the Parties to this Agreement intend that (i) the Distribution
qualify under Section 355 of the Code, (ii) the Merger qualify
as a “reorganization” under Section 368 of the
Code and (iii) this Agreement constitute a plan of
reorganization as that term is defined in Section 368 of the
Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g);
and
WHEREAS,
prior to or simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement,
(i) the Parties and the Key Stockholders have entered into a
Voting Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Voting
Agreement”), (ii) Hanover has entered into Exchange
Agreements, dated as of the date hereof, with each of
(a) Taberna Preferred Funding I, Ltd. and (b) Amster
Trading Company and Ramat Securities, Ltd (the “Exchange
Agreements”), (iii) Hanover and Spinco have entered into
a software license agreement (the “License Agreement”),
dated as of the date hereof, (iv) Hanover and Spinco have
entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of
September 26, 2008 (the “REIT Asset Credit
Facility”), and (v) certain key employees of Hanover
have entered into amendments to existing employee retention
agreements with Hanover (collectively, the “Executed
Transaction Agreements”).
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally
bound hereby, agree as follows:
“2008
Tax Year” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 8.2(c).
“Action”
shall mean any action, claim, arbitration, proceeding, review,
audit, hearing, investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil,
criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced,
brought or heard by or before any Governmental Authority or
arbitrator.
“Affiliate”
shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person
that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with, such specified Person. For purposes of
this definition, “control” (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under
common control with”), as used with respect to any Person,
shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
“40
Act” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.26.
“Agreement”
shall mean this Agreement and Plan of Merger, together with all
exhibits attached hereto and the Disclosure Letters.
“Amended
and Restated Bylaws” shall mean the amended and restated
bylaws of Hanover substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
“Amended
and Restated Charter” shall mean the charter of Hanover, as
amended and restated as set forth in the Articles of Amendment and
Restatement.
“AMEX”
shall mean the American Stock Exchange.
“Approved
for Listing” shall mean, with respect to the shares of
Hanover Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, that such shares
have been approved for listing on the AMEX, subject to official
notice of issuance.
“Articles
of Amendment and Restatement” shall mean the Articles of
Amendment and Restatement of Hanover substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B.
“Bylaws”
shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.3.
“Change
in the Hanover Board Recommendation” shall have the meaning
specified in Section 6.4(b).
“Charter”
shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.3.
“Closing”
shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.4.
“Closing
Date” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.4.
“Closing
Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 8.2(h).
“Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and, as
the context requires, the Treasury regulations promulgated
thereunder.
2
“Confidentiality
Agreement” shall mean the Confidentiality Agreement, dated
May 15, 2008, between Walter and Hanover.
“Contract”
shall mean any written loan or credit agreement, note, bond,
debenture, indenture, mortgage, guarantee, deed of trust, lease,
franchise, permit, authorization, license, contract, instrument,
employee benefit plan or practice or other binding agreement,
obligation, arrangement, understanding or commitment.
“Current
Spinco Employee” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(b).
“Delaware
Certificate of Merger” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.5.
“Delaware
Secretary of State” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.5.
“Disclosure
Letters” shall mean, collectively, the Walter Disclosure
Letter, the Spinco Disclosure Letter and the Hanover Disclosure
Letter.
“Distribution”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Distribution
Certificate” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.1(a).
“Distribution
Date” shall mean the date and time that the Distribution
shall become effective.
“DLLCA”
shall mean the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
“Effective
Time” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.5.
“Environmental
Claim” shall mean any claim, action, notice, letter, demand
or request for information (in each case in writing) by any person
or entity alleging potential liability (including potential
liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental
response costs, natural resources damages, property damages,
personal injuries or penalties) arising out of, based on or
resulting from any violation of Environmental Law or the release,
emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Hazardous Material
at any location.
“Environmental
Law” shall mean any and all foreign, federal, state or local
statute, rule, regulation or ordinance, as well as any order,
decree, determination, judgment or injunction issued, promulgated,
approved or entered thereunder by any Governmental Authority,
including requirements of common law, relating to pollution or the
protection, cleanup or restoration of the environment, or to the
protection of human health as relating to exposure to any Hazardous
Material, including the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Clean
Water Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the
Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act and the Federal Toxic Substances Control
Act.
“ERISA”
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
3
“ERISA
Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other
Person or any trade or business, whether or not incorporated, that,
together with such first Person would be deemed a “single
employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b) of
ERISA.
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, together with the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder.
“Exchange
Agent” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.1(a).
“Exchange
Agreements” shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble
hereof.
“Exchange
Fund” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.8(a).
“Exchange
Ratio” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.2(a).
“Exchange
Share Issuance” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.18.
“Executed
Transaction Agreements” shall have the meaning specified in
the Preamble hereof.
“GAAP”
shall mean United States generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the relevant periods.
“Governmental
Authority” shall mean any nation or government or any agency,
public of regulatory authority, instrumentality, department,
commission, court, arbitrator, ministry, tribunal or board of any
nation or government or political subdivision thereof, in each
case, whether foreign or domestic and whether national,
supranational, federal, tribal, provincial, state, regional, local
or municipal.
“Hanover”
shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble hereof.
“Hanover
Acquisition Agreement” shall mean a letter of intent,
agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, exclusivity
agreement or other document or agreement related to any Hanover
Acquisition Proposal.
“Hanover
Acquisition Proposal” shall mean, other than in connection
with the Merger or as otherwise specifically contemplated by this
Agreement, any inquiry, proposal or offer relating to (i) any
merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination,
recapitalization or other similar transaction or series of related
transactions directly or indirectly involving Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries other than the Merger; (ii) any sale, lease,
exchange, transfer or other disposition (including by way of
merger, consolidation or exchange), in a single transaction or a
series of related transactions, of the assets of Hanover or any of
its Subsidiaries constituting 10% or more of the consolidated
assets of Hanover or accounting for 10% or more of the consolidated
revenues of Hanover; (iii) any tender offer, exchange offer or
similar transactions or series of related transactions made by any
Person directly or indirectly involving Hanover Common Stock or the
common stock of any Subsidiary of Hanover constituting 5% or more
of Hanover’s common stock or the common stock of any
Subsidiary of Hanover; (iv) the acquisition by any Person
(other than Walter or any of its Affiliates) of beneficial
ownership (as
4
determined
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) or the formation
of any group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) to
acquire beneficial ownership (as determined pursuant to
Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of
Hanover’s common stock or the common stock of any Subsidiary
of Hanover; or (v) any other substantially similar transaction
or series of related transactions that would reasonably be expected
to result in the acquisition of a controlling interest in Hanover,
or that would be inconsistent in any material respect with, or
hinder or delay in any material respect the consummation of, the
transactions contemplated by, or otherwise defeat in any material
respect the purpose of, the Merger Agreement or the other Executed
Transaction Agreements.
“Hanover
Benefit Plans” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.13(a).
“Hanover
Board Recommendation” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.18.
“Hanover
Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of Hanover.
“Hanover
Disclosure Letter” shall mean the Disclosure Letter prepared
and delivered by Hanover to Walter and Spinco prior to the
execution of this Agreement.
“Hanover
Employee” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.13(a).
“Hanover
Options” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(a).
“Hanover
Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.2(a).
“Hanover
Rights” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.2(p).
“Hanover
SEC Documents” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.5.
“Hanover
Stock Plans” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(a).
“Hanover
Stockholders Meeting” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.3(b).
“Hanover
Stockholder Shares” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(d).
“Hanover
Termination Fee” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9.3(a)(i).
“Hanover
Voting Debt” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.2(a).
“Hazardous
Material” shall mean chemicals, pollutants, contaminants,
hazardous materials, hazardous substances and hazardous wastes,
medical waste, toxic substances, petroleum and petroleum products
and by-products, asbestos-containing materials, PCBs, and any other
chemicals, pollutants, substances or wastes, in each case
regulated, or that could result in liability, under Environmental
Law.
5
“HSR
Act” shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended.
“Initial
Submission(s)” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.12(n).
“Intellectual
Property” shall mean all intellectual property rights of any
nature or forms of protection of a similar nature or having
equivalent or similar effect to any of these, including all:
(i) patents, inventions, discoveries, processes, designs,
techniques, developments, technology, algorithms, models, formulae,
improvements and know-how, (ii) copyrightable works (including
Software); (iii) trademarks, service marks, trade names,
service names, brand names, corporate names, domain names, logos,
trade dress or other source indicators and all goodwill associated
therewith; (iv) trade secrets and proprietary or confidential
information and content; and (v) all registrations,
applications, divisions, provisionals, continuations,
continuations-in-part, re-issues, re-examinations, renewals or
equivalent rights and all international and foreign counterparts
thereto.
“IRS”
shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“IRS
Ruling” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 7.4(f).
“Key
Stockholders” shall mean each of the stockholders of Hanover
party to the Voting Agreement.
“Knowledge”
shall mean (i) when used with respect to Spinco, the actual
knowledge of Mark O’Brien, Charles Cauthen, Joseph Troy and
Kimberly Perez and (ii) when used with respect to Hanover, the
actual knowledge of John Burchett, Irma Tavares and Harold
McElraft.
“Law”
means applicable statutes, common laws, rules, regulations, codes,
licensing requirements, judgments, injunctions, writs, decrees,
Licenses, governmental guidelines, standards or interpretations
having the force of law, rules and bylaws, in each case, of or
administered by a Governmental Authority.
“License
Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals
hereto.
“Licenses”
shall mean any license, ordinance, authorization, permit,
certificate, easement, variance, exemption, consent, order,
franchise or approval from any Governmental Authority, domestic or
foreign.
“Lien”
shall mean, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage,
easement, lien, pledge (including any negative pledge), charge,
option, right of first or last refusal or offer, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such property or
asset.
“Material
Adverse Effect,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any
change, effect or circumstance that is materially adverse to the
business, results of operations or financial condition of such
Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the ability of
such Person to perform its obligations hereunder or under the
Executed Transaction Agreements, excluding any such effect to the
extent resulting from or arising in connection with
(i) changes or
6
conditions
generally affecting the industries or segments in which such Person
operates or (ii) changes in general economic, market or
political conditions which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is not
specifically related to, or does not have a materially
disproportionate effect (relative to other industry participants)
on, such Person, (iii) events adverse to such Person that
occurred and were publicly disclosed or were disclosed in writing
to the other Parties hereto, prior to the date hereof or are
contemplated by any of this Agreement and the Executed Transaction
Agreements, or (iv) actions taken or not taken with the
express prior written consent of Walter or Spinco, in the case of
Hanover, or Hanover, in the case of Walter or Spinco. When used
with respect to Spinco, such term, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall refer to Spinco after giving effect to the
Distribution.
“Material
Software” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.15(b).
“Merger”
shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Merger
Share Issuance” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.18.
“MGCL”
shall mean the Maryland General Corporation Law.
“Maryland
Articles of Merger” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.5.
“Newco
Option” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(a).
“Parties”
shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.
“Party”
shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.
“past
practice” when used with respect to Walter and Spinco shall
mean, unless otherwise specified, the past practice of the Spinco
Business.
“PBGC”
shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Person”
shall mean a natural person, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, limited partnership or other entity,
including a Governmental Authority.
“Plan
Amendment” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.18.
“Proxy
Statement/Prospectus” shall mean the proxy
statement/prospectus to be distributed to the Hanover stockholders
and the Walter stockholders in connection with the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any
preliminary proxy statement/prospectus or definitive proxy
statement/prospectus filed with the SEC in accordance with the
terms and provisions hereof and prepared in accordance with
applicable Law. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall constitute a
part of the Registration Statement.
“Record
Date” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.3(b).
“Registration
Statement” shall mean the Registration Statement on Form S-4
to be filed by Hanover with the SEC to effect the registration
under the Securities Act of the issuance
7
of shares of
Hanover Common Stock to holders of Spinco Interests pursuant to the
Merger and prepared in accordance with applicable Law.
“REIT
Asset Credit Facility” shall have the meaning specified in
the Recitals.
“REIT
Determination” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 8.2(h).
“Requisite
Approvals” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.19.
“Requisite
Exchange Approval” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.19.
“Requisite
Charter Approval” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.19.
“Requisite
Merger Approval” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.19.
“Requisite
Plan Amendment Approval” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.19.
“RSUs”
shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.9(d).
“Ruling”
means any award, decision, injunction, decree, stipulation,
settlement, determination, writ, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena
or verdict entered, issued, made or rendered by or pursuant to any
Governmental Authority or arbitrator.
“SDAT”
shall mean the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of
Maryland.
“SEC”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
together with the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder.
“Software”
shall mean software, applications, code, databases, systems,
networks, documentation, websites and related items.
“Spinco”
shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble hereof.
“Spinco
Assets” shall mean any and all of the assets, properties,
goodwill and rights of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries, wherever
located, relating primarily to or used primarily in the Spinco
Business as of the Distribution Date
“Spinco
Benefit Plans” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.12(a).
“Spinco
Business” shall mean the business currently conducted by each
of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries.
“Spinco
Disclosure Letter” shall mean the Disclosure Letter prepared
and delivered by Spinco to Hanover prior to the execution of this
Agreement.
8
“Spinco
Employee” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.12(a).
“Spinco
Interest Holders” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(d).
“Spinco
Interests” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals
hereto.
“Spinco
LTIP” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(d).
“Spinco
Option” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(d).
“Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries” shall mean all direct and indirect
Subsidiaries of Spinco immediately after the Distribution, which
shall include each of the entities set forth on Section 4.1 of the
Spinco Disclosure Letter.
“Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries Financial Statements” shall have the
meaning specified in Section 4.4.
“Spinco
Voting Debt” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.2(a).
“Stockholder
Protection Rights Agreement” shall mean the Stockholder
Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of April 11, 2000,
between Hanover and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as amended
September 26, 2001, by and among Hanover, State Street Bank
and Trust Company and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A., and as amended
June 10, 2002, by and between Hanover and EquiServe Trust
Company, N.A.
“Subsidiaries”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, another Person (i) of
which 50% or more of the capital stock, voting securities, other
voting ownership or voting partnership interests having voting
power under ordinary circumstances to elect directors or similar
members of the governing body of such corporation or other entity
(or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the
equity interests) are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly,
by such first Person or (ii) of which such first Person is a
general partner.
“Superior
Proposal” shall mean a written Hanover Acquisition Proposal
from a third-party that is not obtained in violation of
Section 6.4(a) hereof for a majority of the voting power of
Hanover or a majority of the assets of Hanover and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and which the Board of Directors of
Hanover determines in good faith would, if consummated, result in a
transaction that is more favorable from a financial point of view
to the holders of Hanover Common Stock than the transactions
contemplated hereby (including any proposed alterations of the
terms hereof submitted by Walter and Spinco in response to such
Superior Proposal) (x) after receiving the advice of its
financial advisor (which shall be Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
or another nationally recognized investment banking firm),
(y) after taking into account the likelihood of consummation
of such transaction on the terms set forth therein (as compared to
the terms herein) and (z) after taking into account all
appropriate legal (with advice of outside counsel), financial
(including the financing terms of any such proposal), regulatory or
other aspects of such proposal, including the identity of the
Person making the proposal.
“Surviving
Corporation” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.1(b).
9
“Tax”
or “Taxes” shall mean any foreign or U.S. federal,
state, local or municipal taxes, charges, fees, levies, imposts,
duties, or other assessments of a similar nature, including,
income, alternative or add-on minimum, gross receipts, excise,
employment, sales, use, transfer, license, payroll, franchise,
severance, stamp, occupation, windfall profits, withholding, Social
Security, unemployment, disability, ad valorem, estimated, highway
use, commercial rent, capital stock, paid up capital, recording,
registration, property, real property gains, value added, business
license, custom duties, or other tax or governmental fee of any
kind whatsoever, imposed or required to be withheld by any taxing
authority including any interest, additions to tax, or penalties
applicable thereto.
“Tax
Return” shall mean any return, declaration, report or similar
statement required to be filed with respect to any Tax (including
any attached schedules), including any amendment
thereto.
“Termination
Date” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9.1(b)(i).
“Voting
Agreement” shall mean the Voting Agreement, dated as of the
date hereof, between the Parties and each of the Key
Stockholders.
“Walter”
shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.
“Walter
Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the
Recitals hereto.
“Walter
Disclosure Letter” shall mean the Disclosure Letter prepared
and delivered by Walter to Hanover prior to the execution of this
Agreement.
“Walter
Employee” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(b).
“Walter
Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(c).
“Walter
Option” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(b).
“Walter
Record Date” shall mean the close of business on the date to
be determined by the Board of Directors of Walter as the record
date for determining stockholders of Walter entitled to receive the
Distribution.
“Walter
SEC Documents” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 3.4(a).
“Walter
Stock Plans” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(b).
“Walter
Termination Fee” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9.3(b).
“WARN”
shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.13(a).
10
2.1
Distribution and Merger . (a) Prior to the Effective
Time, on the Closing Date, Walter and Spinco shall, subject to
Section 6.7 hereof, on behalf of and as agent for holders as
of the Walter Record Date of Walter Common Stock, effect the
Distribution and deliver or cause to be delivered, to such bank or
trust company as shall be selected by Walter and be reasonably
acceptable to Hanover (the “Exchange Agent”), a
certificate (the “Distribution Certificate”)
representing that number of Spinco Interests that is equal to the
number of shares of Walter Common Stock that are outstanding as of
the Walter Record Date (other than treasury shares, if any). Until
the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall hold the Spinco
Interests represented by the Distribution Certificate on behalf of
and as agent for holders as of the Walter Record Date of Walter
Common Stock. Until the Effective Time, the Spinco Interests
represented by the Distribution Certificate shall not be
transferred and the Exchange Agent shall not deliver any Spinco
Interests represented by the Distribution Certificate to any
stockholder of Walter.
(b) Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in
accordance with the MGCL and the DLLCA, at the Effective Time:
(i) Spinco shall be merged into Hanover, the separate
existence of Spinco shall cease and Hanover shall continue as the
surviving corporation (referred to herein as the “Surviving
Corporation”) and shall succeed to and assume all the rights
and obligations of Spinco in accordance with the MGCL and the DLLCA
and (ii) the charter of Hanover and bylaws of Hanover as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the charter
and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation in effect immediately
following the Effective Time, which, in accordance with
Section 7.12, shall be the Amended and Restated Charter and
the Amended and Restated Bylaws, respectively.
(c) From
and after the Effective Time, the directors of the Surviving
Corporation shall be divided equally (or as nearly as possible)
into approximately three classes and shall consist of seven
directors. One director of the Surviving Corporation, John
Burchett, has been designated by Hanover. Six directors of the
Surviving Corporation, and the class of each director of the
Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective Time (including
the director designated by Hanover), shall be designated by Spinco,
in its sole discretion, prior to the Effective Time by providing
written notice thereof to Hanover, and in any event no later than
such time as would reasonably be required for Hanover to include
such designations in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Spinco may
change in its sole discretion any or all of its six designees at
any time prior to the Effective Time by providing written notice
thereof to Hanover. Hanover may change its designee prior to the
Effective Time with the prior written consent of Spinco, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The officers of
Spinco immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and
after the Effective Time, be the initial officers of the Surviving
Corporation; provided that John Burchett and Irma Tavares
will serve as senior officers of the Surviving Corporation or one
or more of its Subsidiaries after the Effective Time. Such
directors and officers shall serve until the expiration of their
respective terms of office and until their successors have been
duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier
death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving
Corporation’s charter and bylaws.
11
(d) From
and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation’s
executive headquarters will be located in Tampa,
Florida.
(e) Immediately
following the Effective Time, Hanover’s name shall be Walter
Investment Management Corporation.
(f) The
Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Article 2 and
the applicable provisions of the DLLCA and the MGCL.
2.2
Effect on Stock and Limited Liability Company Interests . At
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of any holder of any stock of Hanover or limited
liability company interests in Spinco:
(a) All
of the Spinco Interests outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be automatically converted into the right to
receive a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of the
Surviving Corporation’s Common Stock equal to the Exchange
Ratio. The “Exchange Ratio” shall equal 13.921986406;
provided that if Hanover makes distributions or dividends in
accordance with Section 6.2(b)(i)(B), the Exchange Ratio shall
be adjusted in accordance with such Section 6.2(b)(i)(B);
provided , further , that the Exchange Ratio shall be
adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any stock split,
reverse stock split, stock dividend (including any dividend or
distribution of securities convertible into Walter Common Stock
that is entitled to receive Spinco Interests in the Distribution),
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
repurchase or other like change with respect to the Walter Common
Stock occurring after the date hereof and up to and including the
Walter Record Date, such that, immediately following the Effective
Time, (a) 1.5% of the outstanding shares of common stock of
the Surviving Corporation (after giving effect to the issuance of
shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation in settlement
of all restricted stock units of Hanover outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time) shall be held by the holders of
Hanover Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time and
(b) 98.5% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation (after giving effect to the isssuance of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation in settlement of RSUs (as
defined in Section 2.9(d))) shall be held by the holders of
Spinco Interests immediately prior to the Effective Time. The
Exchange Ratio shall be rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth of a
share of Hanover Common Stock.
(b) Each
share of Hanover Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (including the shares of Hanover Common
Stock issued pursuant to the Exchange Share Issuance) shall be
combined into fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock
of the Surviving Corporation at a rate of 50 shares of Hanover
Common Stock for every one share of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
(c) No
dissenting shareholders’ or appraisal rights shall be
available with respect to the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated hereby.
2.3
Cancellation of Stock . Each Spinco Interest issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, when converted
in accordance with Section 2.2, shall no longer be outstanding
and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist. Each
holder of shares of Walter Common Stock as of the Walter Record
Date shall cease to have any
12
rights with
respect to such Spinco Interests, except the right to receive the
shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation to which such
holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.2, the amount of
dividends or other distributions thereon with a record date after
the Effective Time and a payment date prior to the delivery of such
shares by the Exchange Agent and any cash in lieu of fractional
shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation payable in
accordance with Section 2.8(d), without interest.
2.4 Closing
. Unless the transactions herein contemplated shall have been
abandoned and this Agreement terminated pursuant to
Section 9.1, the closing of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall
take place at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP,
425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, as promptly as
practicable after the later to occur of (i) January 1,
2009, and (ii) the last of the conditions set forth in Article
8 is satisfied or waived (except for those conditions that, by the
express terms thereof, are not capable of being satisfied until the
Effective Time, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those
conditions) (the “Closing Date”), or at such other time
and place as Walter and Hanover shall agree in writing.
2.5 Effective
Time . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, as soon as practicable at or after the Closing,
(i) a certificate of merger or other appropriate documents (in
any such case, the “Delaware Certificate of Merger”)
shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
(the “Delaware Secretary of State”) with respect to the
Merger, in such form as is required by, and executed in accordance
with, the applicable provisions of the DLLCA, (ii) articles of
merger or other appropriate documents (in any such case, the
“Maryland Articles of Merger”) shall be filed with the
SDAT with respect to the Merger, in such form as is required by,
and executed in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the
MGCL and (iii) all other filings or recordings required under
the MGCL and the DLLCA, in each case necessary to effect the Merger
shall be made. The Merger shall become effective at the time of
filing of the Delaware Certificate of Merger with the Delaware
Secretary of State in accordance with the DLLCA and upon the filing
and acceptance for record by the SDAT of the Maryland Articles of
Merger in accordance with the MGCL, or at such later time as the
parties hereto may agree and as is provided in the Delaware
Certificate of Merger and the Maryland Articles of Merger that is
not more than 30 days after the acceptance of the Maryland Articles
of Merger for record by the SDAT. The date and time at which the
Merger shall so become effective is herein referred to as the
“Effective Time.”
2.6 Effects of
the Merger The Merger shall have the effects set forth in
Section 3-114 of the MGCL and Section 18-209 of the
DLLCA.
2.7 Closing of
Transfer Books . From and after the Effective Time, the unit
transfer books of Spinco shall be closed and no transfer shall be
made of any interests in Spinco that were outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time.
2.8 Exchange of
Certificates . (a) Exchange Agent . As soon as
practicable after the Effective Time (but no later than five
(5) business days after the Closing Date), the Surviving
Corporation shall deposit with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit
of the Walter stockholders as of the Walter Record Date and for the
purpose of exchanging the Distribution Certificate for that number
of shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation that is to
be
13
issued in the
Merger in accordance with this Article 2, the shares of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation (such shares of common stock of
the Surviving Corporation, together with any dividends or
distributions thereon having a record date after the Effective Time
and a payment date prior to the delivery of such shares by the
Exchange Agent and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation payable in accordance with
Section 2.8(d), being hereinafter referred to as the
“Exchange Fund”) issuable pursuant to Section 2.2
in exchange for outstanding Spinco Interests. The Exchange Agent
shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, deliver to the Walter
stockholders as of the Walter Record Date the shares of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation contemplated to be issued
pursuant to Section 2.2 from the shares of stock held in the
Exchange Fund. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other
purpose. The Surviving Corporation shall deliver all such dividends
referred to above to the Exchange Agent. Walter stockholders shall
not be entitled to receive interest on any funds in the Exchange
Fund.
(b)
Exchange Procedures . As promptly as practicable after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Exchange
Agent to mail or deliver to the Walter stockholders as of the
Walter Record Date (i) the number of whole shares of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation that such holder has the right
to receive pursuant to this Article 2 (and cash in lieu of any
fractional shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation, as
contemplated by Section 2.8(d)) and (ii) the amount of
dividends and other distributions, if any, with a record date after
the Effective Time which theretofore became payable with respect to
such shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation, and the
Distribution Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. The
Surviving Corporation shall be entitled, and may instruct the
Exchange Agent, to deduct and withhold from the consideration
otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts required
to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such
payments under the Code or any provision of U.S., state or local or
foreign tax Law. Any withheld amounts shall be treated for all
purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the applicable
Walter stockholder.
(c)
No Further Ownership Rights in Spinco Interests . All shares
of common stock of the Surviving Corporation issued pursuant to
Sections 2.8(a) and (b) and any cash paid pursuant to
Section 2.8(d) shall be deemed to have been issued in full
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Spinco Interests that
were converted in the Merger in accordance with
Section 2.2.
(d)
No Fractional Shares . Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, no certificate or scrip representing fractional
shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation shall be issued
in the Merger, and, to the extent the Merger would otherwise result
in any Walter stockholder as of the Walter Record Date or any
holder of Hanover Common Stock immediately before the Effective
Time being entitled to receive a fractional share of common stock
of the Surviving Corporation, such fractional share interests will
not entitle any such stockholder to vote or to any rights as a
stockholder of the Surviving Corporation. All fractional interests
in common stock of the Surviving Corporation that would otherwise
be issuable as a result of the Merger shall be aggregated and, if a
fractional interest results from such aggregation, the holder
otherwise entitled thereto shall be entitled to receive, in lieu
thereof, an amount in cash determined by multiplying (i) the
closing sale price per share of Hanover Common Stock on the AMEX
(or, if Hanover Common Stock is not then listed on the AMEX, on
Pink OTC Markets’
14
Pink Quote
inter-dealer quotation service, the OTC Bulletin Board, or a
comparable over-the-counter securities electronic quotation
service, as contemplated by Section 7.2(b)) on the business
day preceding the Effective Time, if the stock is being traded on
such date, appropriately adjusted to take into account any reverse
stock split or similar transaction consummated following such date
and prior to the Effective Time, or, if the stock is not being
traded on such date, the closing sale price per share of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation on the AMEX (or, if Hanover
Common Stock is not then listed on the AMEX, on Pink OTC
Markets’ Pink Quote inter-dealer quotation service, the OTC
Bulletin Board, or a comparable over-the-counter securities
electronic quotation service, as contemplated by
Section 7.2(b)) on the first business day that such stock is
traded, by (ii) the fraction of a share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation to which such holder would otherwise have
been entitled. The Surviving Corporation shall timely make
available to the Exchange Agent any cash necessary to make payments
in lieu of fractional shares as aforesaid. Alternatively, the
Surviving Corporation shall have the option of instructing the
Exchange Agent to aggregate all fractional interests in common
stock of the Surviving Corporation resulting from the Merger, sell
shares representing such aggregate interests in the public market
and distribute to the Walter stockholders as of the Walter Record
Date who otherwise would have been entitled to fractional shares a
pro rata portion of the proceeds of such sale.
(e)
Termination of Exchange Fund . Any portion of the Exchange
Fund and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of common stock of
the Surviving Corporation made available to the Exchange Agent that
remains undistributed on the one-year anniversary of the Effective
Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation, upon demand,
and any Walter stockholder as of the Walter Record Date and any
holder of the Hanover Common Stock shall thereafter look only to
the Surviving Corporation for payment of such claim for common
stock of the Surviving Corporation and any cash in lieu of
fractional shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation and
any dividends or distributions with respect to common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.
(f)
No Liability . Neither Hanover nor the Surviving Corporation
shall be liable to any Walter stockholder as of the Walter Record
Date or any holder of shares of Hanover Common Stock or common
stock of the Surviving Corporation for shares of common stock of
the Surviving Corporation (or dividends or distributions with
respect thereto or with respect to Spinco Interests) or cash in
lieu of fractional shares of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation delivered to a public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
2.9
Employee Stock Options and Other Equity Awards . (a) In
accordance with the terms of the Hanover 1999 Equity Incentive Plan
and the Hanover 1997 Executive and Non-Employee Director Stock
Option Plan (collectively, the “Hanover Stock Plans”),
the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) of Hanover shall
take any action necessary to ensure that each outstanding option to
acquire shares of Hanover Common Stock, whether or not exercisable
(a “Hanover Option”) (i) shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect the occurrence of the transactions contemplated
hereby (each option to acquire a share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation, a “Newco Option”) and
(ii) to the extent unexercisable as of the Effective Time,
shall, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, become vested or exercisable. With respect to each other
outstanding incentive award denominated in or related to
15
Hanover Common
Stock, whether or not exercisable, granted to a Hanover Employee
under the Hanover Stock Plans, such awards (i) shall be
similarly adjusted to reflect the occurrence of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) to the extent
unexercisable as of the Effective Time, shall, as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, become vested or
exercisable.
(b) In
accordance with the terms of the 2002 Long-Term Incentive Award
Plan and the 1995 Long-Term Incentive Award Plan and any other
stock option or stock incentive compensation plan maintained by
Walter for its employees, officers or directors (a “Walter
Employee”), as each such plan has from time to time been
amended (collectively, the “Walter Stock Plans”), each
outstanding option to acquire shares of Walter Common Stock,
whether or not exercisable (each, a “Walter Option”),
granted to a Spinco Employee who is employed by Spinco as of the
Effective Time (each a “Current Spinco Employee”)
(x) shall be appropriately adjusted into a Newco Option and
(y) to the extent unexercisable as of the Effective Time,
shall not, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, become vested or exercisable. With respect to each other
outstanding incentive award denominated in or related to Walter
Common Stock, whether or not exercisable, granted to a Current
Spinco Employee under the Walter Stock Plans, such awards (i) shall
be similarly adjusted to reflect the occurrence of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) to the extent
unexercisable as of the Effective Time, shall not, as a result of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, become vested or
exercisable.
(c) All
Walter Options held by the Current Spinco Employees to be adjusted
pursuant to Section 2.9(b) shall be converted into a right to
acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to
such Walter Options prior to the Effective Time:
(i)
that number of shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation
determined by multiplying the number of shares of Walter Common
Stock subject to such Walter Options by the Walter Exchange Ratio
(defined below), rounded down, if necessary, to a whole share of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation,
(ii)
at a price per share (rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest
whole penny) equal to the per share exercise price specified in
such Walter Option divided by the Walter Exchange Ratio.
For
purposes of this Section 2.9(c), the Walter Exchange Ratio
shall mean a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the fair
market value (as defined in the Walter Stock Plans) in dollars per
share of Walter Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective
Time and the denominator of which shall be the value in dollars per
share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation immediately
after the Effective Time.
(d) Each
outstanding award to acquire Spinco Interests, whether or not
exercisable (each a “Spinco Option”), granted under the
2007 Long-Term Incentive Award Plan of JWH Holding Company, LLC
(the “Spinco LTIP”) shall, as of the Effective Time, by
action of Spinco, be replaced (except for Spinco Options the
treatment of which in the Merger is hereafter separately agreed to
by Spinco and the holder of such Spinco Options, which Spinco
Options shall be treated as so agreed, provided that such treatment
does not involve the issuance
16
by the
Surviving Corporation of any consideration that results in Hanover
Stockholder Shares (as defined below) representing less than 1.5%
of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation (after giving effect to the issuance of shares of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation in settlement of all
restricted stock units of Hanover outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time) immediately following the Effective Time) with
an equity award denominated in common stock of the Surviving
Corporation and appropriately adjusted to reflect the occurrence of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided ,
that such equity award shall not result in the total number of
shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation held by Hanover
Stockholders immediately following the Effective Time (the
“Hanover Stockholder Shares”) representing less than
1.5% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation (after giving effect to the issuance of shares of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation in settlement of all
restricted stock units of Hanover outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time) immediately following the Effective
Time.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the foregoing, it is acknowledged and
agreed that Spinco and the holders of Spinco Options who are listed
on Section 2.9(d)(i) of the Spinco Disclosure Letter may agree
separately that, as of the Effective Time, by action of Spinco,
their Spinco Options shall be cancelled and cease to be
outstanding. In consideration for their efforts in connection with
the contemplated transactions and for no consideration being paid
with respect to the cancellation of their Spinco Options, such
holders shall be entitled to receive from the Surviving Corporation
as soon as practicable after the Effective Time an aggregate number
of restricted stock units that corresponds to notional shares of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation (the “RSUs”).
The number of RSUs shall be determined by multiplying (a)
(x) the total number of shares of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation that, absent such grant of RSUs, would be
held by the holders of Spinco Interests immediately following the
Effective Time (“Spinco Interest Holders”) and
(y) the Hanover Stockholder Shares, by (b) 0.03333;
provided, however, that such number of RSUs (and the shares of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation used to settle such RSUs)
shall reduce the number of shares of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation held by Spinco Interest Holders immediately following
the Effective Time, but shall not reduce the number of Hanover
Stockholder Shares. Each such RSU shall be paid out with a single
share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation no earlier than
the third anniversary of the Effective Date. The details of the
payment of the RSUs and the shares of the common stock of the
Surviving Corporation shall be as specified on Section 2.9(d)(ii)
of the Spinco Disclosure Letter.
(e) As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Surviving Corporation
shall deliver to the holders of Newco Options or other outstanding
awards denominated in or related to common stock of the Surviving
Corporation (pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Section 2.9) appropriate notices setting forth such
holders’ rights thereunder (which, for the avoidance of
doubt, shall have the same terms and conditions applicable to those
awards prior to the Effective Time, except for such adjustments and
changes permitted under the terms of the applicable plans to
effectuate the provisions of this Agreement).
17
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
WALTER
Except
(i) as set forth in the Walter Disclosure Letter (it being
agreed that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the
Disclosure Letter, disclosure of any item in any section of a
Party’s Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with
respect to any other section to such Party’s Disclosure
Letter to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent
on its face), (ii) as disclosed in the Walter SEC Documents
(other than any disclosures included in such filings that are
predictive, speculative or forward-looking in nature, including any
disclosures in any “Risk Factors” sections thereof) or
(iii) as expressly contemplated by the Executed Transaction
Agreements, Walter represents and warrants to Hanover as
follows:
3.1
Organization, Qualification, Etc. Walter is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware. Walter and its Subsidiaries have all
requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
the properties owned, leased or operated by the Spinco Business and
to carry on the Spinco Business as now being conducted. Each of
Walter and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
property owned, leased or operated by the Spinco Business, or the
nature of the Spinco Business conducted by it, makes such
qualification necessary, except in such jurisdictions where the
failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
3.2
Corporate Authority; No Violation, Etc. Walter has the
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and each Executed Transaction Agreement to which Walter
is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
The execution, delivery and performance by Walter of this Agreement
and each Executed Transaction Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of Walter.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Walter and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Hanover and
Spinco, constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of Walter,
enforceable against Walter in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
of general application relating to or affecting creditors’
rights and to general equity principles. Each Executed Transaction
Agreement to which Walter is a party has been duly executed and
delivered by Walter and, subject to due authorization, execution
and delivery thereof by the other parties thereto, constitutes a
legal, valid and binding agreement of Walter, enforceable against
Walter in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
application relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to
general equity principles. None of the execution and delivery by
Walter of this Agreement or any Executed Transaction Agreement, the
consummation by Walter of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or compliance by Walter with any of the provisions hereof
or thereof (i) violates or conflicts with any provisions of
Walter’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws,
(ii) requires any consent, approval, authorization or permit
of, registration, declaration or filing with, or notification to,
any Governmental Authority or any other Person, (iii) results
in a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or
both, would
18
become a
default) or gives rise to any right of termination or buy-out by
any third party, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any
obligation or the loss of any benefit under, any Contract to which
Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries is a party or by
which Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries or any of
the Spinco Assets is or will be bound or affected,
(iv) results in the creation of a Lien on any of the Spinco
Interests, capital stock of any Spinco Retained Subsidiary or on
any of the Spinco Assets or (v) violates or conflicts with any
Law applicable to Walter or any of its Subsidiaries (including
Spinco and its Subsidiaries), or any of the properties, businesses
or assets of any of the foregoing, other than such exceptions in
the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and
(v) above as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Walter.
3.3
Brokers or Finders . Except as set forth on Section 3.3
of the Walter Disclosure Letter, no agent, broker, investment
banker, financial advisor or other similar Person is or will be
entitled, by reason of any agreement, act or statement by Walter or
any of its Subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, to any
financial advisory, broker’s, finder’s or similar fee
or commission from, to reimbursement of expenses by or to
indemnification or contribution by, in each case, Walter, Spinco or
any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Executed
Transaction Agreements.
3.4
Walter Reports and Financial Statements (a) . (a) As of
their respective dates, all reports, prospectuses, forms,
schedules, registration statements, proxy statements or information
statements required to be filed by Walter under the Securities Act
or under the Exchange Act (the “Walter SEC Documents”)
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and none of
such Walter SEC Documents when filed contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Since January 1, 2007, Walter has timely filed all
reports, registration statements and other filings required to be
filed with the SEC under the rules and regulations of the SEC. The
books and records of Walter and its Subsidiaries have been, and are
being, maintained in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable
legal and accounting requirements. Each of the foregoing
representations in this Section 3.4 is made only with respect
to information relating to the Spinco Business and with
“materiality” being defined by reference to Walter as a
whole and not by reference to Spinco or the Spinco
Business.
(b) Each
of the consolidated financial statements of Walter and its
Subsidiaries included (or incorporated by reference) in the Walter
SEC Documents (including the related notes and schedules, where
applicable) fairly present (subject, in the case of the unaudited
statements, to normal year-end auditing adjustments, none of which
are expected to be material in nature or amount), in all material
respects, the results of the consolidated operations and changes in
stockholders’ equity and cash flows and consolidated
financial position of Walter and its Subsidiaries for the
respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set
forth. Each of such consolidated financial statements (including
the related notes and schedules, where applicable) complied, as of
the date of filing, in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and with the published rules and
regulations of the SEC applicable thereto and each
19
of such
financial statements (including the related notes and schedules,
where applicable) were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in
the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the rules and
regulations of the SEC) consistently applied during the periods
involved, except in each case as indicated in such statements or in
the notes thereto.
3.5
No Other Representations and Warranties . Except for the
representations and warranties contained in this Article 3 and
except for any representations and warranties specifically set
forth in the Executed Transaction Agreements, Hanover acknowledges
that neither Walter nor any other Person makes any express or
implied representation or warranty with respect to Walter and its
Subsidiaries or otherwise or with respect to any other information
provided to Hanover, whether on behalf of Walter or such other
Persons. Neither Walter nor any other Person will have or be
subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to Hanover
or any other Person to the extent resulting from the distribution
to Hanover or Hanover’s use of, any information related to
Walter and any other information, document, financial information
or projections or material made available to Hanover in certain
“data rooms,” management presentations or any other
form in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
SPINCO
Except
(i) as set forth in the Spinco Disclosure Letter (it being
agreed that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the
Disclosure Letter, disclosure of any item in any section of a
Party’s Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with
respect to any other section to such Party’s Disclosure
Letter to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent
on its face), (ii) as disclosed in the Walter SEC Documents
(other than any disclosures included in such filings that are
predictive, speculative or forward-looking in nature, including any
disclosures in any “Risk Factors” sections thereof) or
(iii) as expressly contemplated by the Executed Transaction
Agreements, Spinco represents and warrants to Hanover as follows
and in each case after giving effect to the Distribution (unless
otherwise explicitly stated):
4.1
Organization, Qualification, Etc. Spinco is a limited
liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Spinco has or
will have at the Effective Time all requisite power and authority
to own or lease and operate and use the Spinco Assets and carry on
the Spinco Business as presently conducted and is or will be at the
Effective Time duly qualified and licensed to do business and is or
will be at the Effective Time in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which the ownership or leasing of any Spinco Assets or the
conduct of the Spinco Business requires such qualification, except
for jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified or to be
in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
Each of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries is or will be at the
Effective Time a corporation or (as indicated in Section 4.1
of the Spinco Disclosure Letter) other legal entity duly organized,
validly existing and, to the extent such concept or similar concept
exists in the relevant jurisdiction, in good standing under the
laws of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or
other organization, has or will have at the Effective Time all
requisite power and
20
authority to
own or lease and operate and use its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as presently conducted and is or will be duly
qualified and licensed to do business and is or will be at the
Effective Time in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
ownership or leasing of its property or the conduct of its business
requires such qualification, except for jurisdictions in which the
failure to be so qualified or to be in good standing would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
4.2
Capitalization and Other Matters . (a) The Spinco
Interests as of the date hereof consist of one limited liability
company interest, which is held by Walter. Immediately following
the Distribution, (i) there will be outstanding a number of
Spinco Interests equal to the number of shares of Walter Common
Stock outstanding as of the Walter Record Date, (ii) no Spinco
Interests will be held by Spinco in its treasury and (iii) no
bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Spinco or any of
the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries having the right to vote (or
convertible into securities having the right to vote) on any
matters on which holders of limited liability company interests in
Spinco (including Spinco Interests) may vote (“Spinco Voting
Debt”) will be issued or outstanding. All outstanding Spinco
Interests are, and all Spinco Interests which may be issued will
be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
not subject to preemptive rights. Except as set forth in this
Section 4.2, as of the date of this Agreement there are not
outstanding (i) any Spinco Interests, Spinco Voting Debt or
other voting securities of Spinco, (ii) any securities of Spinco or
any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries convertible into or
exchangeable for Spinco Interests, Spinco Voting Debt or other
voting securities of Spinco or (iii) except as specified in
Section 2.9 and Section 7.5, any options, warrants,
calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or other
Contracts (other than this Agreement and the Executed Transaction
Agreements) to which Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries is a party or by which Spinco or any of the Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries will be bound obligating Spinco or any of the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries to issue, deliver, sell, purchase,
redeem or acquire, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold,
purchased, redeemed or acquired, or otherwise relating to, Spinco
Interests, Spinco Voting Debt or other voting securities of Spinco
or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries or obligating Spinco or
any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter
into any such option, warrant, call, right, commitment or Contract.
Section 4.2 of the Spinco Disclosure Letter contains a true
and complete list of each entity that will be a material Subsidiary
of Spinco at the Effective Time, including its jurisdiction of
organization, Spinco’s interest therein and a brief
description of the principal line or lines of business conducted by
each such material Subsidiary. All the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in,
each Spinco Retained Subsidiary are owned by Spinco, by another
wholly-owned Spinco Retained Subsidiary or by Spinco and another
wholly-owned Spinco Retained Subsidiary, free and clear of all
Liens and are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(b) Except
for the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Spinco, there are no
stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other Contracts to which
Spinco is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting or
transfer of any Spinco Interests. Except for the shares of capital
stock of, or other equity interest in, its Subsidiaries, as of the
date of this Agreement, Spinco does not own, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock of, or other equity interest or
voting interests in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, limited liability company or other entity.
21
4.3
Authority; No Violation, Etc . Spinco has the
requisite limited liability company power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and each Executed Transaction Agreement to
which Spinco is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder
and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by
Spinco of this Agreement and each such Executed Transaction
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite
limited liability company action on the part of Spinco. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Spinco and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Hanover and Walter, constitutes a legal, valid and
binding agreement of Spinco, enforceable against Spinco in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equity principles. Each Executed Transaction Agreement to which
Spinco is a party has been duly executed and delivered by Spinco
and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
by each of the other parties thereto, constitutes a legal, valid
and binding agreement of Spinco, enforceable against Spinco in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equity principles. None of the execution and delivery by Spinco of
this Agreement or any Executed Transaction Agreement, the
consummation by Spinco of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or compliance by Spinco with any of the provisions hereof
or thereof (i) violates or conflicts with any provisions of
Spinco’s or any Spinco Retained Subsidiary’s
organizational documents, (ii) requires any consent, approval,
authorization or permit of, registration, declaration or filing
with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority or any other
Person, (iii) results in a default (or an event that, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) or gives
rise to any right of termination or buy-out by any third party,
cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any obligation or the
loss of any benefit under any Contract to which Spinco or any of
the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries is a party or by which Spinco or
any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries or any of the Spinco Assets
is bound or affected, (iv) results in the creation of a Lien
on any of the Spinco Interests, capital stock of any Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries or on any of the Spinco Assets or
(v) violates or conflicts with any Law applicable to Spinco or
any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries, or any of the properties,
businesses or assets of any of the foregoing, other than such
exceptions in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii),
(iv) and (v) above as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Spinco.
4.4
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries Financial Statements .
Section 4.4 of the Spinco Disclosure Letter sets forth:
(a) the unaudited consolidated statement of income of the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30,
2008; and (b) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2008
(collectively, the “Spinco Retained Subsidiaries Financial
Statements”). The Spinco Retained Subsidiaries
Financial Statements have been prepared from books and records
maintained in good faith by Spinco consistent with past practice.
The Spinco Retained Subsidiaries Financial Statements (including
related footnotes) fairly present, in all material respects, the
results of operations and financial position of the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries for such fiscal periods or as of the date therein set
forth. The Spinco Retained Subsidiaries Financial Statements
(including related footnotes) have been prepared from the financial
records of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries and are consistent with
the segment information presented in the consolidated financial
statements of
22
Walter in the
Walter SEC Documents. As of the Effective Time, Spinco and the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries will own the Spinco Business and the
Spinco Assets, as reflected in the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries
Financial Statements, with only such changes that have occurred in
the ordinary course of business since the date of such
statements.
4.5
Undisclosed Liabilities . Except as set forth in the Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries Financial Statements, Spinco and the Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries do not have any liability or obligation of
any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise)
other than (i) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary
course of business since June 30, 2008, (ii) liabilities or
obligations not required to be disclosed on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP or in the notes thereto,
(iii) liabilities that have been discharged or paid in full
prior to the date hereof in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice or (iv) liabilities or obligations
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
4.6
Absence of Material Adverse Effect . Except (i) as
specifically contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the
Executed Transaction Agreements, (ii) as set forth in the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries Financial Statements or (iii) for
changes resulting from the announcement of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, since June 30, 2008, the
Spinco Business has been conducted in all material respects in the
ordinary course, and there has not been any event that would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
4.7
Actions; Litigation . (a) No Action against Walter, any
of Walter’s Subsidiaries, Spinco, any Spinco Subsidiary or
the Spinco Business is pending or, to Spinco’s Knowledge,
threatened, except with respect to such Actions the outcome of
which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
(b) There
is no Ruling against Walter, any of Walter’s Subsidiaries,
Spinco, any Spinco Subsidiary or the Spinco Business, that would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
4.8
Licenses; Compliance with Laws . (a) Spinco and the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries hold all Licenses that are required
for the conduct of the Spinco Business as currently conducted and
are in material compliance with the terms of all such Licenses so
held, except, in the case of each of the foregoing, as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Spinco.
(b) Except
with respect to Environmental Laws, tax matters, employee benefits,
and labor matters (which are addressed in Sections 4.10, 4.11,
4.12 and 4.13 respectively), Spinco and the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Laws of any Governmental
Authority applicable to any of them or their respective operations,
except to the extent such noncompliance would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Spinco.
23
4.9
Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Registration Statement . None of
the information regarding Walter or its Subsidiaries or Spinco or
the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries or the Spinco Business provided by
Walter or Spinco for inclusion in, or incorporation by reference
into, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement
filed by Spinco, if any, will, in the case of the definitive Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, at the
time of the mailing of the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto and at the time of the
Hanover Stockholders Meeting, or, in the case of the Registration
Statement, at the time it becomes effective, at the time of the
Hanover Stockholders Meeting and at the Effective Time, contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading.
4.10
Environmental Matters . (a) Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Spinco:
(i) Each
of Spinco and the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries has obtained all
Licenses under Environmental Laws required for the conduct and
operation of the Spinco Business and is in compliance with the
terms and conditions contained therein, and is in compliance with
all Environmental Laws applicable to the Spinco
Business;
(ii) None
of Spinco and the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries is subject to any
contractual environmental indemnification obligation regarding the
Spinco Business or the Spinco Assets;
(iii) There
are no Environmental Claims pending or, to Spinco’s
Knowledge, threatened against Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries with respect to the Spinco Business;
(iv) There
is no condition on, at or under any property (including the air,
soil and ground water) currently or, to Spinco’s Knowledge,
formerly owned, leased or used by Spinco or any of the Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries (including off-site waste disposal
facilities) or created by Spinco’s or any Spinco Retained
Subsidiary’s operations that would create liability for
Spinco or any Spinco Retained Subsidiary under applicable
Environmental Laws; and
(v) There
are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, events
or incidents (including the release, emission, discharge, presence
or disposal of any Hazardous Material) with respect to Spinco or
any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries that are reasonably
expected to form the basis of a claim against Spinco or any of the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries under Environmental Laws or create
liability for Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries
under applicable Environmental Laws.
(b) Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this
Section 4.10 constitutes the sole and exclusive
representations and warranties of Spinco relating to Environmental
Laws, Environmental Claims or Hazardous Materials.
4.11
Tax Matters . (a) (i) All material Tax Returns relating
to Spinco, the Spinco Business and the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries
required to be filed on or prior to the
24
Closing Date
have been timely filed or will be timely filed (including those for
which appropriate extensions have been obtained), (ii) all
such Tax Returns, to the extent they relate to Spinco, the Spinco
Business and the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries, are correct and
complete in all material respects, (iii) all material Taxes
relating to Spinco, the Spinco Business or any Spinco Retained
Subsidiary required to be paid on or prior to the Closing Date have
been timely paid or reserved for and (iv) all material Taxes
relating to Spinco, the Spinco Business and the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries for any taxable period (or a portion thereof)
beginning on or prior to the Closing Date (which are not yet due
and payable) are properly provided for in Spinco’s books and
records.
(b) No
audits or other administrative proceedings or court proceedings are
presently pending with regard to any material Taxes or material Tax
Return of Walter, Spinco or any Spinco Retained Subsidiary relating
to the Spinco Business as to which any taxing authority has
asserted in writing any claim.
(c) Neither
Spinco nor any Spinco Retained Subsidiary (i) is a party to or
bound by or has any obligation under any written Tax allocation,
sharing or similar agreement or arrangement other than with respect
to the group for which Walter is the common parent or (ii) is
or has been a member of any consolidated, combined or unitary group
for purposes of filing Tax Returns or paying Taxes (other than
groups which include members of the Walter consolidated
group).
(d) Neither
Walter, its Subsidiaries, Spinco nor any of the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries has taken any action or knows of any fact or
circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the
Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
4.12
Benefit Plans . (a) Section 4.12(a) of the Spinco
Disclosure Letter lists each material “employee benefit
plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) ERISA), and
each severance, change in control or employment plan, program or
agreement, and vacation, incentive, bonus, stock option, stock
purchase, and restricted stock plan, program or policy sponsored or
maintained by Spinco, in which any individual who is currently or
has been an officer, director or employee of Spinco (a
“Spinco Employee”) participates (collectively, the
“Spinco Benefit Plans”).
(b) The
Spinco Benefit Plans are in compliance with all applicable
requirements of ERISA, the Code, and other applicable laws and have
been administered in all material respects in accordance with their
terms and such laws, except where the failure to so comply would
not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Spinco Benefit Plan that
is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401
of the Code has received a favorable determination letter as to its
qualification and no event has occurred or condition is known to
exist that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect such
qualification.
(c) There
are no pending or, to the Knowledge of Spinco, threatened claims
with respect to any Spinco Benefit Plans, other than ordinary and
usual claims for benefits by participants and
beneficiaries.
25
4.13
Labor Matters . (a) (i) Neither Spinco nor any Spinco
Retained Subsidiary is a party to, or bound by, any
(A) collective bargaining agreement or (B) other Contract
with a labor union or labor organization, nor is any such Contract
presently being negotiated; (ii) neither Spinco nor any of the
Spinco Retained Subsidiaries is the subject of any proceeding
asserting that Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries
has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it to
bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of
employment, nor, to Spinco’s Knowledge, is such proceeding
threatened; (iii) there is no strike, work stoppage, lockout
or other labor dispute involving Spinco or any of the Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries pending or, to Spinco’s Knowledge,
threatened; (iv) there have been no claims initiated by any
labor organization to represent any employees of Spinco not
currently represented by a labor organization within the past five
years, nor, to Spinco’s Knowledge, are there any campaigns
being conducted to solicit cards from employees to authorize
representation by any labor organization; and (v) Spinco and
the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries are in compliance with its
obligations pursuant to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act of 1988, as amended (“WARN”), and all
other notification and bargaining obligations arising under any
collective bargaining agreement, statute or otherwise.
(b) Spinco
is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable U.S.
and non-U.S. laws relating to employment practices, terms and
conditions of employment, and the employment of former, current,
and prospective employees, independent contractors and
“leased employees” (within the meaning of Section
414(n) of the Code) of Spinco including all such U.S. and non-U.S.
laws, agreements and contracts relating to wages, hours, collective
bargaining, employment discrimination, immigration, disability,
civil rights, human rights, fair labor standards, occupational
safety and health, workers’ compensation, pay equity,
wrongful discharge and violation of the potential rights of such
former, current, and prospective employees, independent contractors
and leased employees, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Spinco.
4.14
Intellectual Property . Except as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Spinco, (i) Spinco or the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries own all right, title, and interest in or have the
valid right to use all the Intellectual Property that is used in
the Spinco Business as currently conducted, free of all Liens;
(ii) no Action or Ruling is asserted, pending or, to
Spinco’s Knowledge, is threatened (including “cease and
desist” letters or invitations to take a patent license)
against Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries by any
Person with respect to Intellectual Property; (iii) the material
Intellectual Property owned by Spinco and the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries is subsisting and unexpired, valid and enforceable,
and is not being infringed or violated by any Person;
(iv) Spinco and the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries’
conduct of the Spinco Business as currently conducted does not
infringe or violate the rights of any Person; (v) Spinco and
the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries take all reasonable actions to
protect and maintain (x) their Intellectual Property
(including any that is confidential in nature) and (y) the
security, integrity and continuous and proper operation of their
Software (including any data processed or stored therein or
transmitted thereby); and (vi) Spinco and the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries have caused all Persons who created, invented or
contributed to any material proprietary Intellectual Property to
assign in writing to Spinco all of their rights therein that do not
vest with Spinco initially by operation of law.
26
4.15
Material Contracts . Neither Spinco nor any of the Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by (a) any
“material contract” as defined in Item 601(b)(10)
of Regulation S-K of the SEC or any agreement, contract or
commitment that would be such a “material contract” but
for the exception for contracts entered into in the ordinary course
of business or (b) any non-competition agreement or any other
agreement or obligation that materially limits or will materially
limit Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries from
engaging in the Spinco Business. Except as would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect on Spinco, each of the material contracts
referred to in the preceding sentence is valid and in full force
and effect and neither Spinco nor any of the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries has violated any provisions of, or committed or failed
to perform any act that, with or without prejudice, lapse of time,
or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of any
such material contract.
4.16
Vote Required . The affirmative vote of Walter, as the sole
member of Spinco prior to the Distribution, is not required to
effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Executed Transaction Agreements. The approval of Spinco’s
members after the Distribution Date will not be required to effect
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Executed
Transaction Agreements. The approval of Walter’s stockholders
is not required to effect the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Executed Transaction Agreements.
4.17
Assets . (a) After the Distribution, Spinco or one of
the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries will have good, valid and
marketable title to, or in the case of leased properties and
assets, valid leasehold interests in, all of the Spinco Assets
except where the failure to have such good, valid and marketable
title or valid leasehold interests would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Spinco, in each case subject to no Liens, except for
(i) Liens reflected in the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries
Financial Statements, (ii) Liens consisting of zoning or
planning restrictions, easements, permits and other restrictions or
limitations on the use of real property or irregularities in title
thereto which do not materially detract from the value of, or
materially impair the use of, such property as it is presently used
in connection with the Spinco Business, (iii) Liens for
current Taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on
property not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and
for which appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been
created, (iv) mechanic’s, materialmen’s and similar
Liens arising in the ordinary course of business or by operation of
law, (v) any conditions that are shown on any surveys
previously delivered to Hanover of such real property and
(vi) Liens which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Spinco.
(b) Section 4.17
of the Spinco Disclosure Letter lists all material services
currently provided to the Spinco Business by Walter or any of its
Affiliates (other than Spinco or the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries).
4.18
Insurance . As of the date hereof and until the
Distribution, (a) Spinco and the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries
are insured under insurance policies maintained by Walter with
reputable and financially sound insurers against such risks and in
such amounts as is sufficient to comply with applicable Law,
consistent with industry practice and which the management of
Spinco reasonably has determined to be prudent, (b) Spinco and
the Spinco Retained
27
Subsidiaries
are in material compliance with such insurance policies relating to
the Spinco Business and the Spinco Assets and are not in default
under any of the material terms thereof, (c) each such policy is
outstanding and in full force and effect and Spinco or one or more
of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries is included as an insured party
under such policy or has full rights as a loss payee, (d) no
written notice of cancellation or termination has been received
with respect to any such policy and (e) all premiums and other
payments due under any such policy have been paid, and all claims
thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion.
4.19
No Other Representations and Warranties . (a) Except
for the representations and warranties contained in this
Article 4 and except for any representations and warranties
specifically set forth in the Executed Transaction Agreements,
Hanover acknowledges that neither Spinco nor any other Person makes
any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to
Spinco or the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries, the Spinco Business or
otherwise or with respect to any other information provided to
Hanover, whether on behalf of Walter, Spinco or such other Persons,
including as to (i) merchantability or fitness for any
particular use or purpose, (ii) the use of the Spinco Assets
and the assets of the Spinco Business and the operation of the
Spinco Business after the Closing in any manner or (iii) the
success or profitability of the ownership, use or operation of the
Spinco Business after the Closing. Neither Walter, Spinco nor any
other Person will have or be subject to any liability or
indemnification obligation to Hanover or any other Person to the
extent resulting from the distribution to Hanover, or
Hanover’s use of, any information related to the Spinco
Business and any other information, document or material made
available to Hanover in certain “data rooms,”
management presentations or any other form in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Executed
Transaction Agreements.
(b) In
connection with Hanover’s investigation of the Spinco
Business, Hanover may have received or may receive from or on
behalf of Walter, Spinco or any of their respective Subsidiaries
certain projections or forward-looking statements, including
projected statements of operating revenues and income from
operations. Hanover acknowledges that there are uncertainties
inherent in attempting to make such estimates, projections and
other forecasts and plans, that Hanover is familiar with such
uncertainties, that Hanover is taking full responsibility for
making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all
estimates, projections and other forecasts and plans so furnished
to it (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying
such estimates, projections and forecasts), and that Hanover, in
the absence of fraud, shall have no claim against Walter, Spinco or
any of their respective Subsidiaries or any other Person acting on
their behalf with respect thereto. Accordingly, neither Walter,
Spinco nor their respective Subsidiaries make any representation or
warranty with respect to such estimates, projections,
forward-looking statements and other forecasts and plans (including
the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates,
projections and other forecasts and plans).
28
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
HANOVER
Except
(i) as set forth in the Hanover Disclosure Letter (it being
agreed that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the
Disclosure Letter, disclosure of any item in any section of a
Party’s Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with
respect to any other section to such Party’s Disclosure
Letter to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent
on its face), (ii) as disclosed in the Hanover SEC Documents
(other than any disclosures included in such filings that are
predictive, speculative or forward-looking in nature, including any
disclosures in any “Risk Factors” sections thereof) or
(iii) as expressly contemplated by the Executed Transaction
Agreements, Hanover represents and warrants to Walter and Spinco as
follows:
5.1
Organization, Qualification, Etc . Hanover is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Maryland. Hanover has all requisite power and
authority to own or lease and operate and use its properties and
assets and carry on its business as presently conducted and is duly
qualified and licensed to do business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the ownership or leasing of its property
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except
for jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified or to be
in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Hanover. Each of the Hanover Subsidiaries is a corporation or (as
indicated in Section 5.1 of the Hanover Disclosure Letter)
other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and, to the
extent such concept or similar concept exists in the jurisdiction
specified in Section 5.1 of the Hanover Disclosure Letter, in
good standing under the laws of the state or other jurisdiction of
its incorporation or other organization, has all requisite power
and authority to own or lease and operate and use its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and
is duly qualified and licensed to do business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership or leasing of
its property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except for jurisdictions in which the failure to be
so qualified or to be in good standing would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Hanover.
5.2
Stock and Other Matters . (a) The authorized stock of
Hanover consists of 90,000,000 shares of Hanover Common Stock and
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share
(“Hanover Preferred Stock”). At the close of business
on the date hereof, (i) (A) 8,654,562 shares of Hanover Common
Stock were issued and outstanding, 529,376 shares of Hanover Common
Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Hanover Stock
Plans, options to purchase 74,234 shares of Hanover Common Stock
were outstanding and 6,762,793 shares of Hanover Common Stock were
reserved for issuance in the Exchange Share Issuance and
(B) no shares of Hanover Preferred Stock were outstanding, and
(ii) no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of
Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries having the right to vote (or
convertible into securities having the right to vote) on any
matters on which holders of shares of capital stock of Hanover
(including Hanover Common Stock) may vote (“Hanover Voting
Debt”) were issued or outstanding. All outstanding shares of
Hanover Common Stock are, and all shares thereof which may be
issued will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and not subject to preemptive rights. Except as set forth in
this Section 5.2, there are
29
not outstanding
(i) any shares of stock of Hanover, Hanover Voting Debt,
Hanover Common Stock or other voting securities of Hanover,
(ii) any securities of Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of
Hanover, Hanover Voting Debt, Hanover Common Stock or other voting
securities of Hanover or (iii) any options, warrants, calls,
rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or other
Contracts (other than this Agreement and the Executed Transaction
Agreements) to which Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries will be bound
obligating Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver,
sell, purchase, redeem or acquire, or cause to be issued,
delivered, sold, purchased, redeemed or acquired, or otherwise
relating to, shares of stock of Hanover, Hanover Voting Debt,
Hanover Common Stock or other voting securities of Hanover or any
of its Subsidiaries or obligating Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such option,
warrant, call, right, commitment or Contract. Section 5.2 of
the Hanover Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list of
each Subsidiary of Hanover at the Effective Time, including its
jurisdiction of organization, Hanover’s interest therein and
a brief description of the principal line or lines of business
conducted by each such Subsidiary. All the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in,
each Subsidiary of Hanover are owned by Hanover, by another
wholly-owned Subsidiary of Hanover or by Hanover and another
wholly-owned Subsidiary of Hanover, free and clear of all Liens,
and are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(b) Other
than the Voting Agreement, there are no stockholder agreements,
voting trusts or other Contracts to which Hanover is a party or by
which it is bound relating to the voting or transfer of any shares
of stock of Hanover. Except for the shares of capital stock of, or
other equity interest in, its Subsidiaries, as of the date of this
Agreement, Hanover does not own, directly or indirectly, any
capital stock of, or other equity interest or voting interests in,
any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited
liability company or other entity.
5.3
Corporate Authority; No Violation, Etc. Hanover has the
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and each Executed Transaction Agreement to which it is a
party and, subject in the case of this Agreement, to obtaining the
Requisite Approvals, to perform its obligations hereunder and
thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Hanover of
this Agreement and the Executed Transaction Agreements to which it
is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite
corporate action on the part of Hanover, subject, in the case of
the performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated, to obtaining the Requisite Approvals.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Hanover and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Walter and Spinco, constitutes a legal, valid and
binding agreement of Hanover, enforceable against Hanover in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equity principles. Each Executed Transaction Agreement to which
Hanover is a party has been duly executed and delivered by Hanover
and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
by each of the other parties thereto, constitutes a legal, valid
and binding agreement of Hanover, enforceable against Hanover in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equity principles. None of the execution
30
and delivery by
Hanover of this Agreement or of any Executed Transaction Agreement
to which it is a party, the consummation by Hanover of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or compliance by
Hanover with any of the provisions hereof or thereof
(i) violates or conflicts with any provisions of
Hanover’s current charter (the “ Charter
”) or bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”) or will
violate or conflict with any provisions of the Amended and Restated
Charter or the Amended and Restated Bylaws, (ii) requires any
consent, approval, authorization or permit of, registration,
declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental
Authority or any other Person, other than the Requisite Approvals,
(iii) results in a default (or an event that, with notice or
lapse of time or both, would become a default) or gives rise to any
right of termination or buy-out by any third party, cancellation,
amendment or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of any
benefit under any Contract to which Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or properties is
bound or affected, (iv) results in the creation of a Lien on
any of the issued and outstanding shares of Hanover Common Stock or
capital stock of any Subsidiaries or on any of the assets of
Hanover or its Subsidiaries or (v) violates or conflicts with
any Law applicable to Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of
the properties, businesses or assets of any of the foregoing, other
than such exceptions in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii),
(iv) and (v) above as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Hanover.
5.4
Affiliate Transactions . There are no transactions,
agreements, arrangements or understandings between (i) Hanover
or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and (ii) Hanover’s
Affiliates (other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries of Hanover) and
other Persons, on the other hand, of the type that are required to
be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act.
5.5
Hanover Reports and Financial Statements . (a) Hanover
has filed all forms, reports, statements, certifications and other
documents (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements
thereto) required to be filed by it with the SEC since
January 1, 2007 (all such forms, reports, statements,
certificates and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC
since January 1, 2007, with any amendments thereto,
collectively, the “ Hanover SEC Documents ”),
each of which, including any financial statements or schedules
included therein, as finally amended prior to the date hereof, has
complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and Exchange Act as of the date
filed with the SEC. None of Hanover’s Subsidiaries is
required to file periodic reports with the SEC. None of the Hanover
SEC Documents contained, when filed with the SEC and, if amended
prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date of such
amendment, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated or incorporated by
reference therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, there are
no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received
from the SEC staff with respect to the Hanover SEC Documents. To
the Knowledge of Hanover, none of the Hanover SEC Documents is the
subject of ongoing SEC review, outstanding SEC comment or
outstanding SEC investigation.
(b) Each
of the consolidated financial statements of Hanover and its
Subsidiaries included (or incorporated by reference) in the Hanover
SEC Documents (including the related
31
notes and
schedules, where applicable) fairly present (subject, in the case
of the unaudited statements, to normal year-end auditing
adjustments, none of which are expected to be material in nature or
amount), in all material respects, the results of the consolidated
operations and changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows
and consolidated financial position of Hanover and its Subsidiaries
for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates
therein set forth. Each of such consolidated financial statements
(including the related notes and schedules, where applicable)
complied, as of the date of filing, in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and
regulations of the SEC applicable thereto and each of such
financial statements (including the related notes and schedules,
where applicable) were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in
the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the rules and
regulations of the SEC) consistently applied during the periods
involved, except in each case as indicated in such statements or in
the notes thereto.
(c) Except
(i) for those liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved
against on the consolidated balance sheet of Hanover and its
consolidated Subsidiaries included in the most recent consolidated
financial statements of Hanover included in Hanover’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
June 30, 2008, (ii) for liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since
June 30, 2008, (iii) for liabilities that have been
discharged or paid in full prior to the date hereof in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or (iv) for
liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Hanover, neither Hanover nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred
any liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued
or contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become
due).
5.6
Absence of Certain Changes or Events . (a) Except
(i) as specifically contemplated or permitted by this
Agreement and the Executed Transaction Agreements, (ii) as set
forth in the financial statements as of and for the six months
ended June 30, 2008, and as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2007, in each case, included in the Hanover SEC
Documents and (iii) for changes resulting from the announcement of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, since
June 30, 2008, the business of Hanover has been conducted in
all material respects only in the ordinary course, and there has
not been any event that would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Hanover.
(b) Since
June 30, 2008, there has not been (i) any declaration,
setting aside or payment of or dividend on, or other distribution
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of
Hanover’s or any of its Subsidiaries capital stock or other
equity or voting interests, except for dividends by a wholly owned
Subsidiary of Hanover to its stockholders, (ii) any purchase,
redemption or other acquisition by Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries of any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or
voting interests in, Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries or any
options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire such shares or other
interests, (iii) other than in connection with the amendment
and restatement of Hanover’s Charter as set forth in the
Articles of Amendment and Restatement, any split, combination or
reclassification of any of Hanover’s stock or other equity or
voting interests or any issuance or the authorization of any
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for shares of stock of, or other equity or voting
interest in, Hanover, (iv) other than as would be permitted by
Section 6.2, any change by Hanover or its Subsidiaries in its
accounting principles, practices or methods or (v)
32
any increase in
the compensation payable by Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries to
officers or key employees or any material amendment of any of the
Hanover Benefit Plans except for increases or amendments
(A) required by applicable Law, (B) in the ordinary and
usual course of business consistent with past practice or
(C) permitted by Section 6.2.
5.7
Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance; Internal Controls . Hanover has
made all certifications and statements required by
Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as
amended, and the related rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder with respect to Hanover’s filings pursuant to the
Exchange Act. Hanover has established and maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the
Exchange Act) designed to ensure that material information relating
to Hanover, including its Subsidiaries, is made known on a timely
basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of
Hanover’s filings with the SEC and other public disclosure
documents. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Hanover, (a) Hanover has
established and maintains a system of internal accounting control
over financial reporting sufficient to comply with all legal and
accounting requirements applicable to Hanover and its Subsidiaries,
(b) Hanover has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation
of internal controls, to Hanover’s auditors and its audit
committee, (i) any significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses in the design or operation of its internal accounting
controls which are reasonably likely to materially and adversely
affect Hanover’s ability to record, process, summarize, and
report financial information, and (ii) any fraud known to
Hanover that involves management or other employees who have a
significant role in internal controls, and (c) Hanover has not
received any complaint, allegation, assertion, or claim in writing
regarding the accounting practices, procedures, methodologies, or
methods of Hanover or its internal accounting controls over
financial reporting, including any such complaint, allegation,
assertion, or claim that Hanover has engaged in questionable
accounting or auditing practices.
5.8
Actions; Litigation . (a) No material Action against
Hanover or any of Hanover’s Subsidiaries, is pending or, to
Hanover’s Knowledge, threatened, except with respect to such
Actions the outcome of which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Hanover.
(b) There
is no Ruling against Hanover, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of
its or their businesses or properties that (i) would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Hanover or (ii) would prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the Merger or Hanover’s
ability to observe and perform its obligations
hereunder.
(c) There
is no reasonable or credible basis for any Action to be brought
against Hanover or any of Hanover’s Subsidiaries or any
employee thereof alleging fraud or misrepresentation in connection
with, or breach of, any Contract in existence on July 31,
2008.
5.9
Licenses; Compliance with Laws . (a) Hanover and its
Subsidiaries hold all Licenses that are required for the conduct of
the businesses of Hanover and its Subsidiaries as currently
conducted and are, and at all times have been, in compliance with
the terms of all such Licenses so held, except, in the case of each
of the foregoing, as has not had, and as would not
33
reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Hanover.
(b) Except
with respect to Environmental Laws, tax matters, employee benefits
and labor matters (which are addressed in Sections 5.11, 5.12,
5.13 and 5.14, respectively), Hanover and its Subsidiaries are, and
at all times have been, in compliance with all Laws of any
Governmental Authority applicable to any of them or their
respective operations, except to the extent such noncompliance has
not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Hanover.
5.10
Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Registration Statement . None of
the information included in, or incorporated by reference into, the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement will, in
the case of the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, at the time of the mailing of the
definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, and at the time of the Hanover Stockholders
Meeting, or, in the case of the Registration Statement, at the time
it becomes effective, at the time of the Hanover Stockholders
Meeting and at the Effective Time, other than in each case, as to
information supplied in writing by Walter or Spinco or any of their
Affiliates expressly for inclusion therein, as to which no
representation is made, contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Registration Statement will comply in all material
respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and any other applicable Law as of the date of such
filing.
5.11
Environmental Matters . (a) Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Hanover:
(i) Each
of Hanover and its Subsidiaries has obtained all Licenses under
Environmental Laws required for the conduct and operation of its
business and is in compliance with the terms and conditions
contained therein, and is in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws;
(ii) None
of Hanover and its Subsidiaries is subject to any contractual
environmental indemnification obligation regarding businesses
currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by Hanover or any
of its Subsidiaries or regarding properties or facilities currently
or formerly owned, leased or operated by Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(iii) There
are no Environmental Claims pending or, to Hanover’s
Knowledge, threatened against Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(iv) There
is no condition on, at or under any property (including the air,
soil and ground water) currently or, to Hanover’s Knowledge,
formerly owned, leased or used by Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries (including off-site waste disposal facilities) or
created by Hanover’s or any Hanover Subsidiary’s
operations that would create liability for Hanover under applicable
Environmental Laws; and
34
(v) There
are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, events
or incidents (including the release, emission, discharge, presence
or disposal of any Hazardous Material) with respect to Hanover or
any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to form
the basis of a claim under Environmental Laws or create liability
under applicable Environmental Laws.
(b) Hanover
has made available to Walter and Spinco all material site
assessments, compliance audits and environmental studies or reports
in its possession, custody or control relating to (i) the
environmental conditions on, under or about the properties or
assets currently or formerly owned, leased, operated or used by
Hanover, any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor in interest
thereto, and (ii) any Hazardous Materials used, managed,
handled, transported, treated, generated, stored, discharged,
emitted, or otherwise released by Hanover, any of its Subsidiaries
or any other Person on, under, about or from any of the properties
currently or formerly owned or leased by, or otherwise in
connection with the use or operation of any of the properties owned
or leased by, or otherwise in connection with the use or operation
of any of the properties and assets of, Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries, or their respective businesses and
operations.
(c) Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this
Section 5.11 constitutes the sole and exclusive
representations and warranties of Hanover relating to Environmental
Laws, Environmental Claims or Hazardous Materials.
5.12
Tax Matters . Assuming the Closing Agreement has been
entered into or a REIT Determination has been issued by the
IRS:
(a)
(i) All material Tax Returns relating to Hanover and the
Hanover Subsidiaries required to be filed on or prior to the
Closing Date have been timely filed or will be timely filed
(including those for which appropriate extensions have been
obtained), (ii) all such Tax Returns are true, correct and
complete in all material respects, (iii) all material Taxes
relating to Hanover or any Hanover Subsidiary required to be paid
on or prior to the Closing Date have been timely paid or reserved
for in accordance with GAAP, (iv) all material Taxes relating
to Hanover and the Hanover Subsidiaries for any taxable period (or
a portion thereof) beginning on or prior to the Closing Date (which
are not yet due and payable) have been properly reserved for in the
Hanover SEC Documents, and (v) Hanover and the Hanover
Subsidiaries have duly and timely withheld all material Taxes
required to be withheld and such withheld Taxes have been either
duly and timely paid to the proper Governmental Authority or
properly set aside in accounts for such purpose and will be duly
and timely paid to the proper Governmental Authority.
(b)
(i) No audits or other administrative proceedings or court
proceedings are presently pending with regard to any material Taxes
or material Return of Hanover or any Hanover Subsidiary as to which
any taxing authority has asserted in writing any claim,
(ii) no Governmental Authority has asserted in writing any
deficiency or claim for material Taxes or any adjustment to
material Taxes (whether in connection with the Closing Agreement, a
REIT Determination, or otherwise) with respect to which Hanover or
any Hanover Subsidiary may be liable with respect to income and
other material Taxes which have not been fully paid or finally
settled and (iii) no written claim has ever been made by any
Governmental Authority in a
35
jurisdiction
where neither Hanover nor any of its Subsidiaries files Tax Returns
that it is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(c) None
of Hanover or any Hanover Subsidiary (i) is a party to or
bound by or has any obligation under any written Tax allocation,
sharing or similar agreement or arrangement other than with respect
to the group of which Hanover is the common parent, (ii) is or
has been a member of any consolidated, combined or unitary group
for purposes of filing Tax Returns or paying Taxes (other than the
group of which Hanover is the common parent) or (iii) has any
liability for Taxes of any Person arising from the application of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous provision of
Law or as a transferee or successor by Contract or
otherwise.
(d) Hanover
has not been a party to a spin-off transaction that could give rise
to a Tax liability under Section 355(e) of the Code.
(e) No
closing agreement pursuant to section 7121 of the Code (or any
similar provision of state, local or foreign law) has been entered
into by or with respect to Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(f) To
the Knowledge of Hanover, Hanover will not be required to include
amounts in income, or exclude items of deduction, in a taxable
period beginning after the Closing Date as a result of (i) a change
in method of accounting occurring prior to the Closing Date,
(ii) an installment sale or open transaction arising in a
taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing
Date, (iii) a prepaid amount received, or paid, prior to the
Closing Date or (iv) deferred gains arising prior to the
Closing Date.
(g) Neither
Hanover nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or knows
of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to
prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(h) Hanover,
(i) for all taxable years commencing with its taxable year
ending 1997 through December 31, 2007, has been subject to
taxation as a REIT within the meaning of Section 856 of the
Code and has been organized and operated in conformity with the
requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for such
years and if the merger is not consummated prior to
December 31, 2008, for the taxable year that will end on
December 31, 2008, (ii) has operated since
January 1, 2008 to the date hereof in a manner that will
permit it to qualify as a REIT for the taxable year that includes
the date hereof, and (iii) intends to continue to operate in
such a manner as to permit it to continue to qualify as a REIT for
the taxable year that will end with the merger. To the Knowledge of
Hanover, no challenge to its status as a REIT is pending or has
been threatened in writing. No Subsidiary, excluding any Subsidiary
in which Hanover holds 10% or less by both vote and value, within
the meaning of Code Section 856(c)(4)(B)(iii), is a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than a
corporation that qualifies as a “qualified REIT
subsidiary,” within the meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of
the Code, or as a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” within the
meaning of Section 856(1) of the Code.
(i) Hanover
and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any liability for material
Taxes under sections 857(b), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code which have
not been previously paid and (ii)
36
neither Hanover
nor any Subsidiary has incurred any material liability for Taxes
that have become due and that have not been previously paid other
than in the ordinary course of business. Neither Hanover nor any
Subsidiary (other than a “taxable REIT subsidiary” or
any subsidiary of a “taxable REIT subsidiary”) has
engaged at any time in any “prohibited transactions”
within the meaning of Section 857(b)(6) of the Code. To the
Knowledge of Hanover, neither Hanover nor any Subsidiary has
engaged in any transaction that would give rise to
“redetermined rents, redetermined deductions and excess
interest” described in section 857(b)(7) of the Code. To the
knowledge of Hanover, no event has occurred, and no condition or
circumstance exists, which presents a material risk that any
material Tax described in the preceding sentences will be imposed
on Hanover or any Subsidiary.
(j) As
of the date hereof, Hanover does not have any earnings and profits
attributable to Hanover or any other corporation in any non-REIT
year within the meaning of Section 857 of the Code.
(k) Each
Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture, or limited
liability company and which has not elected to be a “taxable
REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Code
Section 856(1) (i) has been since its formation treated
for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership or
disregarded entity, as the case may be, and not as a corporation or
an association taxable as a corporation and (ii) has not since
the later of its formation or the acquisition by Hanover of a
direct or indirect interest therein owned any assets (including
securities) that have caused Hanover to violate
Section 856(c)(4) of the Code or would cause Hanover to
violate Section 856(c)(4) of the Code on the last day of any
calendar quarter after the date hereof.
(l) To
its Knowledge based on current estimates, Hanover does not believe
that it will be required to pay any dividends prior to the Closing
Date in order to maintain its status as a REIT within the meaning
of Section 856 of the Code.
(m) Neither
Hanover nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
“reportable transaction” as defined in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b).
(n) Attached
as Exhibit 5.12(n) to the Hanover Disclosure Letter is a true
and complete copy of the submissions, including any exhibits or
attachments thereto (each, an “ Initial Submission
”, and collectively, the “ Initial Submissions
”), delivered to the IRS on August 25, 2008 requesting
that the IRS enter into the Closing Agreement, which constitute the
only submissions or materials delivered by Hanover to the IRS as of
the date hereof relating to the Closing Agreement.
5.13
Benefit Plans . (a) Section 5.13(a) of the Hanover
Disclosure Letter lists each material “employee benefit
plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), and all
other material employee benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred
compensation, stock option (or other equity-based), severance,
change in control, welfare (including post-retirement medical and
life insurance) and fringe benefit plans, programs and
arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA and, whether written
or oral (i) sponsored, maintained or contributed to or
required to be contributed to by Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries
or to which Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and
(ii) in which any individual who is currently or has been an
officer,
37
director or
employee of Hanover (a “Hanover Employee”) is a
participant (the “Hanover Benefit Plans”). Neither
Hanover, any of its Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate thereof
has any commitment or formal plan, whether legally binding or not,
to create any additional employee benefit plan or modify or change
any existing Hanover Benefit Plan that would affect any Hanover
Employee except in the ordinary course of business. Hanover has
heretofore delivered or made available to Walter and Spinco true
and complete copies of each Hanover Benefit Plan and any amendments
thereto (or if the plan is not a written plan, a description
thereof), any related trust or other funding vehicle, the most
recent annual reports or summaries required to be prepared or filed
under ERISA or the Code and the most recent determination letter
received from the IRS with respect to each such plan intended to
qualify under Section 401 of the Code and the three most
recent years (A) the Form 5500s and attached Schedules,
(B) audited financial statements and (C) actuarial valuation
reports.
(b) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a material liability to Hanover,
(i) neither Hanover nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has
incurred any liability under Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA
or under Section 412 of the Code that has not been satisfied
in full, and (ii) no condition exists that would reasonably be
expected to result in Hanover incurring any such
liability.
(c)
(i) No Hanover Benefit Plan is a “multiemployer pension
plan,” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA and
(ii) none of Hanover, or any ERISA Affiliate thereof has made
or suffered a “complete withdrawal” or a “partial
withdrawal,” as such terms are respectively defined in
Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA, the liability for which would
reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to
Hanover.
(d) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a material liability to Hanover, each Hanover
Benefit Plan has been operated and administered in all respects in
accordance with its terms and applicable law, including, but not
limited to, ERISA, the Code and the laws of any applicable foreign
jurisdiction. Except as would not result in a material liability to
Hanover, all contributions required to be made with respect to any
Hanover Benefit Plan have been timely made. There are no pending
or, to Hanover’s Knowledge, threatened claims by, on behalf
of or against any of the Hanover Benefit Plans or any assets
thereof, other than routine claims for benefits under such plans,
that, if adversely determined could, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect on Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries and no matter is
pending (other than routine qualification determination filings,
copies of which have been furnished to Walter and Spinco or will be
promptly furnished to Walter and Spinco when made) with respect to
any of the Hanover Benefit Plans before the IRS, the United States
Department of Labor or the PBGC that would, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a material liability
to Hanover.
(e) Each
Hanover Benefit Plan intended to be “qualified” within
the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a
determination letter from the IRS stating that they and the trusts
maintained thereunder are exempt from taxation under Section 401(a)
of the Code, respectively, and each trust maintained under any
Hanover Benefit Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 501(c)(9) of the Code has satisfied such requirements
and, in any such
38
case, no event
has occurred or condition is known to exist that would reasonably
be expected to adversely affect such tax-qualified status for any
such Hanover Benefit Plan or any such trust.
(f) No
Hanover Benefit Plan is maintained outside the jurisdiction of the
United States, or covers any employee residing or working outside
the United States.
(g) Except
as otherwise provided in or contemplated by this Agreement or any
Executed Transaction Agreement, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not result by
itself or with the passage of time in the payment or acceleration
of any amount, the accrual or acceleration of any benefit or any
increase in any vested interest or entitlement to any benefit or
payment by any employee, officer or director under domestic or
foreign law that would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to
Hanover.
5.14
Labor Matters . (a) (i) Neither Hanover nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by, any (A) collective
bargaining agreement or (B) other Contract with a labor union
or labor organization, nor is any such Contract presently being
negotiated; (ii) neither Hanover nor any of its Subsidiaries
is the subject of any proceeding asserting that Hanover or any of
its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking
to compel it to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or
conditions of employment, nor, to Hanover’s Knowledge, is
such proceeding threatened; (iii) there is no strike, work
stoppage, lockout or other labor dispute involving Hanover or any
of its Subsidiaries pending or, to Hanover’s Knowledge,
threatened; (iv) there have been no claims initiated by any labor
organization to represent any employees of Hanover not currently
represented by a labor organization within the past five years,
nor, to Hanover’s Knowledge, are there any campaigns being
conducted to solicit cards from employees to authorize
representation by any labor organization; and (v) Hanover and
its Subsidiaries are in compliance with its obligations pursuant to
WARN, and all other notification and bargaining obligations arising
under any collective bargaining agreement, statute or otherwise,
except, in the case of this clause (v), as would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Hanover.
(b) Hanover
is in compliance with all applicable U.S. and non-U.S. laws
relating to employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment, and the employment of former, current, and prospective
employees, independent contractors and “leased
employees” (within the meaning of Section 414(n) of the Code)
of Hanover including all such U.S. and non-U.S. laws, agreements
and contracts relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining,
employment discrimination, immigration, disability, civil rights,
human rights, fair labor standards, occupational safety and health,
workers’ compensation, pay equity, wrongful discharge and
violation of the potential rights of such former, current and
prospective employees, independent contractors and leased
employees, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Hanover.
5.15
Intellectual Property . (a) Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Hanover, (i) Hanover or its
Subsidiaries own all right, title, and interest in or have the
valid right to use all the Intellectual Property that is used in
their businesses as currently conducted, free of all Liens;
(ii) no Action or Ruling is asserted, pending or, to
Hanover’s Knowledge, is threatened (including “cease
and
39
desist”
letters or invitations to take a patent license) against Hanover or
its Subsidiaries with respect to Intellectual Property;
(iii) the material Intellectual Property that Hanover and its
Subsidiaries own, or, to Hanover’s Knowledge, have licensed
rights to, is subsisting and unexpired, valid and enforceable, and
is not being infringed or violated by any Person; (iv) Hanover and
its Subsidiaries’ conduct of their business as currently
conducted does not infringe or violate the rights of any Person;
(v) Hanover and its Subsidiaries take all reasonable actions
to protect and maintain (x) their Intellectual Property
(including any that is confidential in nature) and (y) the
security, integrity and continuous and proper operation of their
Software (including any data processed or stored therein or
transmitted thereby); and (vi) Hanover and its Subsidiaries
have caused all Persons who created, invented or contributed to any
material proprietary Intellectual Property to assign (or, in the
case of Software any portions that are not customized for or
specific to Hanover or its Subsidiaries, perpetually license) in
writing to Hanover all of their rights therein that do not vest
with Hanover initially by operation of law.
(b) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Hanover, the material
proprietary Software that Hanover and the Hanover Subsidiaries own,
or have licensed rights to, (including Asset Manager, Asset OnSite,
LP RSS, Hanover Collateral Reporting System, STARS, Busch
Analytics, Auction Platform, Hanover LP/Intex Vector Converter and
HDMF Pricing Module) (“Material Software”) as provided
is fully operational, performs in material compliance with its
documentation and, to Hanover’s Knowledge, is materially free
of all material bugs, errors, defects, viruses and other
corruptants, and the use and enjoyment of the Material Software (as
provided) after Closing in a manner consistent with past practice
will not, to Hanover’s Knowledge, infringe or violate the
rights of any Person
5.16
Material Contracts . Neither Hanover nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by (a) any “material
contract” as defined in Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K of the SEC or any agreement, contract or
commitment that would be such a “material contract” but
for the exception for contracts entered into in the ordinary course
of business or (b) any non-competition agreement or any other
agreement or obligation that materially limits or will materially
limit Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries from engaging in the
business of Hanover. Each of the “material contracts”
(as defined above) of Hanover and the Hanover Subsidiaries is valid
and in full force and effect and neither Hanover nor any of its
Subsidiaries has violated any provisions of, or committed or failed
to perform any act that, with or without prejudice, lapse of time,
or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of any
such “material contract”.
5.17
Brokers or Finders . Except as set forth on
Section 5.17 of the Hanover Disclosure Letter, no agent,
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other similar
Person is or will be entitled, by reason of any agreement, act or
statement by Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries, directors,
officers or employees, to any financial advisory, broker’s,
finder’s or similar fee or commission from, to reimbursement
of expenses by or to indemnification or contribution by, in each
case, Hanover or its Subsidiaries in connection with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Executed
Transaction Agreements.
5.18
Board Approval . The Board of Directors of Hanover, at a
meeting duly called and held, has unanimously (i) determined
that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby are
advisable and in the best interests of Hanover, (ii) approved
the Merger,
40
the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) approved each of
the Executed Transaction Agreements to which Hanover is a party,
(iv) determined that the amendment and restatement of
Hanover’s Charter as set forth in the Articles of Amendment
and Restatement is advisable and in the best interests of Hanover,
(v) adopted the Amended and Restated Bylaws as the Bylaws of
Hanover, to take effect at the time the Articles of Amendment and
Restatement are accepted for record by the SDAT, (vi) approved any
issuance of Hanover Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange
Agreements (the “Exchange Share Issuance”),
(vii) adopted an amendment to Hanover’s 1999 Equity
Incentive Plan to increase the total number of shares of Hanover
Common Stock that may be issued thereunder from 550,710 to
3,000,000 (the “Plan Amendment”), (viii) resolved
to recommend that the Hanover stockholders entitled to vote thereon
approve (A) this Agreement and the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance
of the Hanover Common Stock in the Merger (the “Merger Share
Issuance”), (B) the amendment and restatement of
Hanover’s Charter as set forth in the Articles of Amendment
and Restatement, (C) the Plan Amendment, (D) the Exchange
Share Issuance, subject to Section 6.4(b) (collectively, the
“Hanover Board Recommendation”) and (ix) directed that
such matters be submitted for consideration of the Hanover
stockholders at the Hanover Stockholders Meeting.
5.19
Vote Required . The only vote of the Hanover stockholders
required for (i) (x) the approval and adoption of this Agreement
and the Merger is the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Hanover Common Stock and
(y) approval of the Merger Share Issuance is, to the extent
required by the applicable regulations of the AMEX, the affirmative
vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares of Hanover
Common Stock present in person and voting on the matter or
represented by proxy and voting on the matter at the Hanover
Stockholders Meeting (together, the “Requisite Merger
Approval”), (ii) the approval of the amendment and
restatement of Hanover’s Charter as set forth in the Articles
of Amendment and Restatement is the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of Hanover Common Stock
(the “Requisite Charter Approval”), (iii) the
approval of the Plan Amendment is the affirmative vote of a
majority of the voting power of the shares of Hanover Common Stock
present in person and voting on the matter or represented by proxy
and voting on the matter at the Hanover Stockholders Meeting (the
“Requisite Plan Amendment Approval”) and (iv) the
approval of the Exchange Share Issuance is, to the extent required
by the applicable regulations of the AMEX, the affirmative vote of
a majority of the voting power of the shares of Hanover Common
Stock present in person and voting on the matter or represented by
proxy and voting on the matter at the Hanover Stockholders Meeting
(the “Requisite Exchange Approval” and, together with
the Requisite Merger Approval, the Requisite Charter Approval and
the Requisite Plan Amendment Approval, the “Requisite
Approvals”).
5.20
Certain Payments . Except as set forth in Section 5.20
of the Hanover Disclosure Letter, no Hanover Benefit Plan and no
other contractual arrangements between Hanover and any third party
exist that will, as a result of the transactions contemplated
hereby and by the Executed Transaction Agreements, (a) result
in the payment (or increase of any payment) by Hanover or any of
its Subsidiaries to any current, former or future director,
officer, stockholder, employee or consultant of Hanover or any of
its Subsidiaries or of any other Person in which Hanover or any of
its Subsidiaries has an equity or similar interest of any money or
other property or rights (other than payments for the fees and
expenses of Hanover’s
41
accountants,
legal advisors, investment bankers and similar professional
advisors), or (b) accelerate or provide any other rights or
benefits to any such individual, whether or not (i) such
payment, increase, acceleration or provision would constitute a
“parachute payment” (within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code) or (ii) the passage of time or
some other subsequent action or event would be required to cause
such payment, acceleration or provision to be triggered.
5.21
Opinion of Hanover Financial Advisor . Hanover has received
an opinion of Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc. to the effect that
as of the date hereof, the consideration to be received by the
Hanover stockholders in the Merger is fair, from a financial point
of view, to such holders.
5.22
Rights Agreement . Concurrently with its approval of this
Agreement, Hanover’s Board of Directors has approved adoption
of, and Hanover and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor
to EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.), have executed and delivered, an
Amendment to the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, providing
that neither Walter nor Spinco shall become an “Acquiring
Person” thereunder as a result of the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the Executed Transaction
Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and
that neither Amster Trading Company nor Ramat Securities, Ltd,
shall become an “Acquiring Person” thereunder until and
through the Effective Time solely as a result of the execution,
delivery and performance of the Executed Transaction Agreements to
which it is a party, and the transactions contemplated
thereby.
5.23
Takeover Statutes . The Board of Directors of Hanover has
taken all necessary action to ensure that the Maryland Business
Combination Act, the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act, any
provision of the Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL and any other
takeover, anti-takeover, moratorium, “fair price”,
“control share” or other similar Law enacted under any
Law applicable to Hanover do not and will not apply to this
Agreement, the Executed Transaction Agreements, the Merger, the
acquisition by any Person of shares of Hanover Common Stock in the
Merger or in any Exchange Share Issuance or the other transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
5.24
Title to Assets . As of the date hereof, Hanover has good,
valid and marketable title to, or in the case of leased properties
and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all of the tangible
assets of Hanover except where the failure to have such good, valid
and marketable title or valid leasehold interests would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Hanover, in each case subject to no
Liens, except for (i) Liens reflected in the Hanover SEC
Documents, (ii) Liens consisting of zoning or planning
restrictions, easements, permits and other restrictions or
limitations on the use of real property or irregularities in title
thereto which do not materially detract from the value of, or
materially impair the use of, such property by Hanover or any of
its Subsidiaries, (iii) Liens for current Taxes, assessments
or governmental charges or levies on property not yet due or which
are being contested in good faith and for which appropriate
reserves in accordance with GAAP have been created,
(iv) mechanic’s, materialmen’s and similar Liens
arising in the ordinary course of business or by operation of law,
(v) Liens in connection with equipment leases, (vi) any
conditions that are shown on the surveys previously delivered to
Walter of such
42
real property
and (vii) Liens which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Hanover.
5.25
Insurance . Hanover and its Subsidiaries are insured with
reputable and financially sound insurers against such risks and in
such amounts as is sufficient to comply with applicable Law, is
consistent with industry practice and which the management of
Hanover reasonably has determined to be prudent. Section 5.25
of the Hanover Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and
complete list of all insurance policies covering Hanover and the
Subsidiaries. Hanover and its Subsidiaries are in material
compliance with its insurance policies and are not in default under
any of the material terms thereof. Each such policy is outstanding
and in full force and effect and Hanover or one or more of its
Subsidiaries is included as an insured party under such policy or
has full rights as a loss payee. No written notice of cancellation
or termination has been received with respect to any such policy.
All premiums and other payments due under any such policy have been
paid, and all claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely
fashion. Such policies will not be terminable or cancelable by
reason of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
5.26
Investment Company Act . Neither Hanover nor any of its
Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “40
Act”).
5.27
No Other Representations and Warranties . (a) Except
for the representations and warranties contained in this
Article 5 and except for any representations and warranties
specifically set forth in the Executed Transaction Agreements,
Walter and Spinco acknowledge that neither Hanover nor any other
Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty with
respect to Hanover and its Subsidiaries or otherwise or with
respect to any other information provided to Walter or Spinco,
whether on behalf of Hanover or such other Persons. Neither Hanover
nor any other Person will have or be subject to any liability or
indemnification obligation to Walter or Spinco or any other Person
to the extent resulting from the distribution to Walter or Spinco,
or Walter or Spinco’s use of, any information related to
Hanover and any other information, document or material made
available to Walter or Spinco in certain “data rooms,”
management presentations or any other form in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) In
connection with each of Walter’s and Spinco’s
investigation of the business of Hanover, Walter and Spinco may
have received or may receive from or on behalf of Hanover or its
Subsidiaries certain projections or forward-looking statements,
including projected statements of operating revenues and income
from operations. Each of Walter and Spinco acknowledges that there
are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such estimates,
projections and other forecasts and plans, that each of Walter and
Spinco is familiar with such uncertainties, that each of Walter and
Spinco is taking full responsibility for making its own evaluation
of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates, projections and
other forecasts and plans so furnished to it (including the
reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates,
projections and forecasts), and that each of Walter and Spinco, in
the absence of fraud, shall have no claim against Hanover or any
Subsidiaries of Hanover or any other Person acting on their behalf
with respect thereto. Accordingly, Hanover and its Subsidiaries
make no representation or warranty with respect to such estimates,
projections, forward-looking
43
statements and
other forecasts and plans (including the reasonableness of the
assumptions underlying such estimates, projections and other
forecasts and plans).
6.1
Conduct of Spinco Business Pending the Merger . Following
the date of this Agreement and prior to the earlier of the
Effective Time or the Termination Date, except as specifically
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the Executed
Transaction Agreements, as may be necessary or appropriate in order
to consummate the Distribution, as described in Section 6.1 of the
Spinco Disclosure Letter, or to the extent that Hanover shall
otherwise consent in writing, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, Walter and Spinco agree, as to
themselves and their respective Subsidiaries, in each case solely
with respect to the Spinco Business:
(a)
Ordinary Course . Each of Walter and Spinco shall conduct
the Spinco Business, and Walter and Spinco shall each cause its
respective Subsidiaries to conduct the Spinco Business, only in the
ordinary course of business and shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain the material rights, licenses and
permits of the Spinco Business, to keep available the services of
the key employees of the Spinco Business and preserve relationships
with third parties having business dealings with the Spinco
Business in such a manner that the goodwill and ongoing businesses
of the Spinco Business are not impaired in any material respect as
of the Effective Time.
(b)
Dividends; Changes in Stock . Except as contemplated in
respect of the Distribution, neither Walter nor Spinco shall, nor
shall either of them permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to,
nor shall they or any of their Subsidiaries propose to,
(i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make other
distributions in respect of any shares of the capital stock or
other equity interests of Spinco or the Spinco Retained
Subsidiaries (whether in cash, securities or property or any
combination thereof), except for the declaration and payment of
cash dividends or distributions paid on or with respect to a class
of capital stock or partnership interests all of which shares of
capital stock or other equity interests (with the exception of
directors’ qualifying equity interests and other similarly
nominal holdings required by law to be held by Persons other than
Spinco or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries), as the case may be, of
the applicable corporation or partnership are owned directly or
indirectly by Spinco; (ii) split, combine or reclassify any of
the equity interests or capital stock of Spinco or the Spinco
Retained Subsidiaries or issue or authorize or propose the issuance
of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of, or in
substitution for, shares of the capital stock or other equity
interests of Spinco or the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries; or
(iii) amend the terms or change the period of exercisability
of, purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit
Spinco or any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries to amend the
terms or change the period of exercisability of, purchase,
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any of its securities or
any securities of any of the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries,
including Spinco Interests, or any option, warrant or right,
directly or indirectly, to acquire any such securities or propose
to do any of the foregoing.
44
(c)
Issuance of Securities . Except in connection with the
Distribution, neither Walter nor Spinco shall, nor shall either of
them permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, issue, sell,
pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale,
pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any Spinco Interests or
capital stock of any Spinco Retained Subsidiary of any class, or
any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of
any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock, or any other
ownership interest, in Spinco or any Spinco Retained Subsidiary,
other than pursuant to Section 2.9 of this
Agreement.
(d)
Governing Documents . Neither Walter nor Spinco shall amend
or propose to amend or otherwise change Spinco’s
organizational documents, nor shall Spinco permit any of its
Subsidiaries to amend or propose to amend or otherwise change its
organizational documents, in any manner that is reasonably likely
to materially impair Spinco’s ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and the Executed Transaction
Agreements.
(e)
Dispositions . Neither Walter nor Spinco shall, nor shall
Walter or Spinco permit the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries to, in a
single transaction or a series of related transactions, sell
(including sale-leaseback), lease, pledge, encumber or otherwise
dispose of, or agree to sell (or engage in a sale-leaseback), lease
(whether such lease is an operating or capital lease), pledge,
encumber or otherwise dispose of, any of any Spinco Assets, other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or such that are not material to the Spinco Business or in
connection with obtaining a credit facility. In furtherance of the
foregoing, Walter shall not consummate any “spin-off”
of all or part of the Spinco Assets (other than the Distribution)
prior to the Effective Time.
(f)
Accounting Methods . Neither Walter nor Spinco shall make
any material change in Spinco’s or the Spinco Business’
methods of accounting or procedures in effect at June 30, 2008
(including procedures with respect to revenue recognition, payments
of accounts payable and collection of accounts receivable), except
(i) as required by changes in GAAP as concurred with by
Walter’s or Spinco’s independent auditors, (ii) as
may be made in response to SEC guidance or (iii) as may be required
to separate Spinco and the Spinco Retained Subsidiaries from
Walter’s consolidated group, so long as any such changes are
in accordance with GAAP, and neither Walter nor Spinco shall change
Spinco’s fiscal year, except as aforesaid.
(g)
Agreements . Neither of Walter nor Spinco shall, nor shall
Walter or Spinco permit their respective Subsidiaries to, agree in
writing or otherwise to take any action inconsistent with the
foregoing.
(h)
Tax Matters . Spinco will use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the Merger to constitute a
“reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the
Code.
6.2
Conduct of Business by Hanover Pending the Merger .
Following the date of this Agreement and prior to the earlier of
the Effective Time or the Termination Date, except as specifically
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the Executed
Transaction Agreements, as described in Section 6.2 of the
Hanover Disclosure Letter or to the extent that Walter shall
otherwise consent in writing, Hanover agrees as to itself and its
Subsidiaries that:
45
(a)
Ordinary Course . Hanover shall conduct its business, and
shall cause the businesses of its Subsidiaries to be conducted,
only in the ordinary course of business and shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its material rights,
licenses and permits, keep available the services of its key
employees and preserve its relationships with third parties having
business dealings with it in such a manner that its goodwill and
ongoing businesses are not impaired in any material respect as of
the Effective Time.
(b)
Dividends; Changes in Stock . Hanover shall not, nor shall
it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, nor shall Hanover or any of
its Subsidiaries propose to, (i) declare, set aside, or pay
any dividends on or make other distributions in respect of any
shares of its capital stock or partnership interests (whether in
cash, securities or property or any combination thereof), except
for (A) the declaration and payment of cash dividends or
distributions paid on or with respect to a class of capital stock
or partnership interests all of which shares of capital stock or
partnership interests (with the exception of directors’
qualifying shares and other similarly nominal holdings required by
law to be held by Persons other than Hanover or its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries), as the case may be, of the applicable corporation or
partnership are owned directly or indirectly by Hanover or
(B) those distributions estimated in good faith by Hanover to
be required in order to permit Hanover to continue to qualify as a
REIT under the Code or to avoid paying any income or excise taxes
otherwise payable (provided that, with respect to such
distributions described in this clause (B): (x) prior written
notice thereof is given to Walter and Spinco and (y) the
Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted, such adjustment to be determined
in good faith by mutual agreement of the Parties or, in the absence
of agreement within five (5) business days, by determination
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Parties, which determination shall be binding on the Parties and
the fees and expenses of which shall be shared equally by each of
Walter and Hanover, to reflect the reduction in value attributable
to the Hanover Common Stock as a result of any such distribution);
(ii) other than in connection with the amendment and
restatement of Hanover’s Charter as set forth in the Articles
of Amendment and Restatement, split, combine or reclassify any of
its capital stock or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of
any other securities in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution
for, shares of its capital stock; or (iii) amend the terms or
change the period of exercisability of, purchase, repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit any Subsidiary to amend the
terms or change the period of exercisability of, purchase,
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any of its securities or
any securities of any of its Subsidiaries, including shares of
Hanover Common Stock, or any option, warrant or right, directly or
indirectly, to acquire any such securities or propose to do any of
the foregoing.
(c)
Issuance of Securities . Hanover shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue, sell, pledge, dispose of
or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition
or encumbrance of, any shares of its stock or the capital stock of
any Hanover Subsidiary of any class, or any options, warrants,
convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any
shares of capital stock, or any other ownership interest (including
any phantom interest), in Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries, other
than the 1997 Executive and non-employee Director Option Plan and
1999 Equity Incentive Plan, in each case in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice.
(d)
Governing Documents . Hanover shall not amend or propose to
amend or otherwise change its Charter or Bylaws or other
organizational documents, nor shall it permit
46
any of its
Subsidiaries to amend or propose to amend or otherwise change its
charter or bylaws or other organizational documents, except to the
extent required to comply with Hanover’s obligations
hereunder.
(e)
Acquisitions . Hanover shall not, nor shall it permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, in a single transaction or a series of
transactions, acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing any equity interest in or
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation,
partnership, association or other business organization or division
thereof; provided that Hanover may acquire assets not to exceed
$100,000 in aggregate value (calculated with respect to any
individual asset at the time of acquisition) solely to maintain its
REIT status or its exemption from the registration requirements of
the 40 Act.
(f)
Dispositions . Hanover shall not, nor shall it permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions, sell (including sale-leaseback), lease, pledge,
encumber or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell (or engage in a
sale-leaseback), lease (whether such lease is an operating or
capital lease), pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of, any of
its assets (other than Contracts, which are governed by
Section 6.2(l)), other than dispositions in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice that are not
material to Hanover and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided
that Hanover may take those actions described in this
Section 6.2(f) in respect of assets valued, in the aggregate,
not in excess of $100,000 solely to maintain its REIT status or its
exemption from the registration requirements of the 40 Act
.
(g)
Indebtedness; Leases . Hanover shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) incur any indebtedness
for borrowed money or guarantee or otherwise become contingently
liable for any such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt
securities or warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of
Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities
of others or enter into any lease (whether such lease is an
operating or capital lease) other than in connection with operating
leases in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice; (ii) issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee
or endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible
for, the obligations of any Person; (iii) make any loans,
advances, capital contributions or investments in any Person except
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
or (iv) authorize capital expenditures or purchases of fixed
assets other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice.
(h)
Employee Arrangements . Except as set forth in
Section 5.20 of the Hanover Disclosure Letter, and except as
required (i) pursuant to any collective bargaining agreements
in effect as of the date hereof, (ii) as contemplated by this
Agreement or (iii) by applicable laws, Hanover shall not, nor
shall it permit its Subsidiaries to:
(A) grant
any increases in the compensation of any of its current, former or
prospective directors, officers, consultants or
employees;
(B) pay
or agree to pay to any current, former or prospective director,
officer, consultant or key employee of Hanover or its Subsidiaries,
whether past or present, any pension,
47
retirement
allowance or other material employee benefit not required or
contemplated by any of the existing Hanover Benefit Plans as in
effect on the date hereof;
(C) enter
into any new, or amend any existing employment, severance or
termination agreement or arrangement with any current, former or
prospective director, officer, consultant or key employee or
current or prospective employee of Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries; or
(D) become
obligated under any collective bargaining agreement, new pension
plan, welfare plan, multiemployer plan, employee benefit plan,
severance plan, benefit arrangement or similar plan or arrangement
of Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries that was not in existence on
the date hereof, including any plan that provides for the payment
of bonuses or incentive compensation, trust, fund, policy or
arrangement for the benefit of any current or former directors,
officers, employees or consultants or any of their beneficiaries,
or amend any such plan or arrangement in existence on the date
hereof.
(i)
No Liquidation or Dissolution . Hanover shall not adopt a
plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution,
merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other
material reorganization or any other transaction that would
preclude or be inconsistent in any material respect with, or hinder
or delay in any material respect, the consummation of, the
transactions contemplated by the Executed Transaction
Agreements.
(j)
Accounting Methods . Hanover shall not make any material
change in its methods of accounting or procedures in effect at
June 30, 2008 (including procedures with respect to revenue
recognition, payments of accounts payable and collection of
accounts receivable), except (i) as required by changes in
GAAP as concurred with by Hanover’s independent auditors or
(ii) as may be made in response to SEC guidance, and Hanover
shall not change its fiscal year, except as aforesaid.
(k)
Affiliate Transactions . Hanover shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or amend any
agreement or arrangement with any of their respective affiliates
(as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)
other than with wholly-owned Subsidiaries of Hanover, which
agreement or arrangement would be required to be disclosed in
accordance with such Rule 405.
(l)
Contracts . Except as set forth in Section 5.20 of the
Hanover Disclosure Letter, Hanover shall not, nor shall it permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, except in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, modify, amend or terminate
any “material contract”, as defined in
Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC, to which
Hanover or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or waive, release or
assign any material rights or claims of Hanover or any of its
Subsidiaries. Hanover shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, enter into any such “material
contract” not in the ordinary course of business involving
total consideration of $10,000 or more with a term longer than one
year which is not terminable by Hanover or any Subsidiary of
Hanover without penalty upon no more than 30 days’ prior
notice.
(m)
Tax Matters . (a) Hanover shall not (i) make or
rescind any express or deemed election relating to Taxes (unless
such election or rescission is required by law or
48
necessary
(x) to preserve the status of Hanover as a REIT under the Code
or (y) to qualify or preserve the status of any Hanover
Subsidiary as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or as a
qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary pursuant to
the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the
case may be, provided that in such events Hanover shall notify
Walter and Spinco of such election and shall not fail to make such
election in a timely manner); (ii) file an amendment to any
material tax return; (iii) except with respect to the Closing
Agreement, settle or compromise any material federal, state, local
or foreign Tax liability, or waive or extend the statute of
limitations in respect of such material Taxes; (iv) take any
action that would reasonably be expected to (x) cause Hanover
to no longer qualify as a REIT, (y) prevent the Surviving
Corporation from continuing to qualify as a REIT after the Closing
or (z) prevent Hanover and the IRS from executing the Closing
Agreement or receiving a REIT Determination; or (v) fail to take
any action necessary to ensure that (x) Hanover maintains its
status as a REIT, and (y) the Surviving Corporation continues
to qualify as a REIT after the Closing.
(b) Hanover
will use all reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to
constitute a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of
the Code.
(n)
Settlement of Litigation . Hanover shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, settle any litigation,
investigation, arbitration, proceeding or other claim if Hanover or
any of its subsidiaries would be required to pay in excess of
$10,000 individually or in the aggregate or if such settlement
would obligate Hanover to take any material action or restrict
Hanover in any material respect from taking any action at or after
the Effective Time.
(o)
Restrictive Agreements . Hanover shall not enter into any
agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts Hanover
or any of its Subsidiaries, or that would, after the Effective
Time, limit or restrict the Surviving Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries from engaging in any business in any geographic
location.
(p)
Rights Agreement . Except as specifically contemplated
hereby, Hanover shall not amend, modify or waive any provision of
the Hanover Rights Agreement or take any action to redeem the
rights issued thereunder (the “Hanover Rights”) or
render the Hanover Rights inapplicable to any transaction other
than the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Voting
Agreement unless, and only to the extent that, Hanover is required
to do so by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(q)
Intellectual Property . Hanover shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, license,
abandon, let lapse, encumber or otherwise dispose of any material
Intellectual Property, except, solely with respect to Intellectual
Property other than the Material Software, for non-exclusive
licenses in the ordinary course of business.
(r)
Agreements . Hanover shall not, nor shall it permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, agree in writing or otherwise to take any
action inconsistent with the foregoing.
6.3
Preparation of Form S-4
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