0000950149-01-501608.txt : 20011107
0000950149-01-501608.hdr.sgml : 20011107
ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950149-01-501608
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20011101
ITEM INFORMATION: Other events
ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE: 20011102
FILER:
COMPANY DATA:
COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ODWALLA INC
CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000892058
STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CANNED, FRUITS, VEG & PRESERVES, JAMS & JELLIES [2033]
IRS NUMBER: 770096788
STATE OF INCORPORATION: CA
FISCAL YEAR END: 0831
FILING VALUES:
FORM TYPE: 8-K
SEC ACT: 1934 Act
SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-23036
FILM NUMBER: 1773508
BUSINESS ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 120 STONE PINE ROAD
STREET 2: DRAWER O
CITY: HALF MOON BAY
STATE: CA
ZIP: 94019
BUSINESS PHONE: 4157261888
8-K
1
f76673e8-k.txt
FORM 8-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
---------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: November 2, 2001
----------------
(Date of earliest event reported: October 29, 2001)
ODWALLA, INC.
---------------
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
California 0-23036 77-0096788
---------------------------- ----------- ----------------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation) file number) identification no.)
120 Stone Pine Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 726-1888
--------------
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On October 29, 2001, Odwalla, Inc. (the "Company") entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with The Coca-Cola Company
("TCCC") and TCCC Acquisition Corp. (formerly known as Perry Phillip Corp.), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of TCCC ("Merger Sub"). Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Merger Sub
will commence a cash tender offer (the "Offer") for all of the issued and
outstanding shares of common stock, no par value per share (the "Shares"), of
the Company, at a purchase price of $15.25 per share. As soon as practicable
after the consummation of the Offer, Merger Sub will merge with and into the
Company (the "Merger") and the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TCCC. In the Merger, the remaining common shareholders of the Company will
become entitled to receive the per share consideration paid in the Offer.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, and in order to induce Parent
and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement, shareholders owning
approximately 57% of the Company's outstanding common stock, including the
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Company, concurrently with the
execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, entered into Tender Agreements,
each dated October 29, 2001 (the "Tender Agreements"), with TCCC and Merger
Sub, pursuant to which such shareholders agreed, among other things, to tender
the Shares held by them in the Offer and with respect to shareholders
representing approximately 54% of the Company's outstanding common stock, to
grant TCCC a proxy with respect to the voting of such Shares, all upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in such Tender Agreements. The
Tender Agreements terminate upon the earlier of (1) the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to Sections 8.1(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of the
Merger Agreement or (2) six months after the termination of the Merger
Agreement pursuant to Sections 8.1(f), (g) or (h) of the Merger Agreement.
Also in connection with the Merger Agreement, and in order to induce
Parent and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Company entered
into a Stock Option Agreement, dated October 29, 2001 (the "Option Agreement"),
with TCCC and Merger Sub, pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other
things, to grant to Merger Sub an irrevocable option (the "Top-Up Stock Option")
to purchase that number of Shares equal to the number of Shares that, when added
to the number of Shares owned by Merger Sub, TCCC and any other subsidiary of
TCCC immediately following the consummation of the Offer, shall constitute 90.1%
of the Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis, which would permit Merger
Sub to effect a short-form merger. The Top-Up Stock Option, however, may not be
exercised if the number of shares subject to the Top-Up Stock Option exceeds the
number of authorized shares of common stock of the Company available for
issuance or is subject to legal or regulatory prohibition.
The obligation of Merger Sub to accept for payment and pay for Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer is subject to a number of conditions described in
the Merger Agreement including that at least 90% of the outstanding Shares be
validly tendered in the Offer. In the event that more than 50% and less than 90%
of Shares then outstanding are tendered pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn,
Merger Sub will, under certain circumstances described in the Merger Agreement,
either exercise the Top-Up Stock Option or reduce the number of Shares subject
to the Offer to a number equal to 49.9% of the Shares then outstanding.
On October 30, 2001, the Company and TCCC issued a press release
announcing the Merger Agreement under which TCCC will acquire the Company. The
Merger Agreement, the Option Agreement and the press release are attached hereto
as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety. The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement,
the Tender Agreements and the Option Agreement do not purport to be complete and
are qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
99.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 29, 2001, by and among The
Coca-Cola Company, TCCC Acquisition Corp. (formerly known as Perry
Phillip Corp.) and Odwalla, Inc.
1
99.2 Stock Option Agreement, dated October 29, 2001, by and among The
Coca-Cola Company, TCCC Acquisition Corp. (formerly known as Perry
Phillip Corp.) and Odwalla, Inc.
99.3 Press Release issued by Odwalla, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company, dated
October 30, 2001.
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ODWALLA, INC.
By: /s/ James R. Steichen
-------------------------------------
James R. Steichen
Senior Vice President - Finance,
and Chief Financial Officer
Dated: November 2, 2001
3
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
99.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 29, 2001, by and
among The Coca-Cola Company, TCCC Acquisition Corp. (formerly
known as Perry Phillip Corp.) and Odwalla, Inc.
99.2 Stock Option Agreement, dated October 29, 2001, by and among The
Coca-Cola Company, TCCC Acquisition Corp. (formerly known as
Perry Phillip Corp.) and Odwalla, Inc.
99.3 Press Release issued by Odwalla, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company,
dated October 30, 2001.
4
EX-99.1
3
f76673ex99-1.txt
EXHIBIT 99.1
EXHIBIT 99.1
EXECUTION COPY
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AMONG
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY,
PERRY PHILLIP CORP.
AND
ODWALLA, INC.
DATED OCTOBER 29, 2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
-----
ARTICLE I THE OFFER.....................................................................2
Section 1.1. The Offer..................................................................2
Section 1.2. Company Action.............................................................3
Section 1.3. SEC Actions................................................................4
Section 1.4. Directors..................................................................5
ARTICLE II THE MERGER....................................................................7
Section 2.1. The Merger.................................................................7
Section 2.2. Effective Time; Closing....................................................7
Section 2.3. Effect of the Merger.......................................................8
Section 2.4. Conversion of Company Common Stock.........................................8
Section 2.5. Dissenting Shares..........................................................9
Section 2.6. Stock Option Plans.........................................................9
Section 2.7. Company Warrants..........................................................10
Section 2.8. Surrender of Shares of Company Common Stock; Stock Transfer Books.........11
Section 2.9. Shareholders Meeting......................................................13
Section 2.10. Subsequent Actions........................................................14
ARTICLE III THE SURVIVING CORPORATION....................................................15
Section 3.1. Articles of Incorporation.................................................15
Section 3.2. Bylaws....................................................................15
Section 3.3. Directors and Officers....................................................15
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY................................15
Section 4.1. Organization and Standing.................................................15
Section 4.2. Capitalization............................................................16
Section 4.3. Authority for Agreement...................................................17
Section 4.4. No Conflict...............................................................18
Section 4.5. Required Filings and Consents.............................................19
Section 4.6. Compliance................................................................19
Section 4.7. SEC Filings, Financial Statements.........................................19
Section 4.8. Absence of Certain Changes or Events......................................20
Section 4.9. Taxes.....................................................................20
Section 4.10. Assets....................................................................21
Section 4.11. Change of Control Agreements..............................................22
Section 4.12. Litigation................................................................22
i
Section 4.13. Contracts and Commitments.................................................22
Section 4.14. Employee Benefit Plans....................................................24
Section 4.15. Labor and Employment Matters..............................................25
Section 4.16. Environmental Compliance and Disclosure...................................27
Section 4.17. Intellectual Property Rights..............................................28
Section 4.18. Products..................................................................29
Section 4.19. Brokers...................................................................30
Section 4.20. Formulae and Trade Secrets................................................30
Section 4.21. Insurance Policies........................................................30
Section 4.22. Notes and Accounts Receivable.............................................30
Section 4.23. Transactions with Affiliates..............................................31
Section 4.24. No Existing Discussions...................................................31
Section 4.25. Shareholder Rights Agreement..............................................31
Section 4.26. Major Suppliers, Customers and Distributors...............................31
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB.............................32
Section 5.1. Organization and Standing.................................................32
Section 5.2. Sub.......................................................................32
Section 5.3. Authority for Agreement...................................................32
Section 5.4. No Conflict...............................................................33
Section 5.5. Required Filings and Consents.............................................33
Section 5.6. Brokers...................................................................33
Section 5.7. Financing.................................................................34
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS....................................................................34
Section 6.1. Conduct of the Business Pending the Merger................................34
Section 6.2. Access to Information; Confidentiality....................................36
Section 6.3. Notification of Certain Matters...........................................36
Section 6.4. Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances; Cooperation.......................37
Section 6.5. Board Recommendations.....................................................38
Section 6.6. Shareholder Litigation....................................................39
Section 6.7. Indemnification...........................................................40
Section 6.8. Public Announcements......................................................41
Section 6.9. Competing Acquisition Proposals...........................................41
Section 6.10. Undertakings of Parent....................................................42
Section 6.11. Director Resignations.....................................................42
Section 6.12. Shareholders' Rights Agreement............................................42
Section 6.13. Employee Benefits.........................................................42
Section 6.14. Environmental Assessments.................................................42
Section 6.15. Settlement Fee............................................................43
Section 6.16. Conveyance Taxes..........................................................43
Section 6.17. Shareholder Rights Plan...................................................43
Section 6.18. Actions by Company Board..................................................43
Section 6.19. Loans to Permit Exercise of Company Options...............................43
ii
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS...................................................................44
Section 7.1. Conditions to the Obligation of Each Party................................44
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER............................................44
Section 8.1. Termination...............................................................44
Section 8.2. Effect of Termination.....................................................46
Section 8.3. Amendments................................................................46
Section 8.4. Waiver....................................................................47
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS...........................................................47
Section 9.1. No Third Party Beneficiaries..............................................47
Section 9.2. Entire Agreement..........................................................47
Section 9.3. Succession and Assignment.................................................47
Section 9.4. Counterparts..............................................................47
Section 9.5. Headings..................................................................47
Section 9.6. Governing Law.............................................................47
Section 9.7. Severability..............................................................48
Section 9.8. Specific Performance......................................................48
Section 9.9. Construction..............................................................48
Section 9.10. Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties and Agreements.............48
Section 9.11. Certain Definitions.......................................................48
Section 9.12. Fees and Expenses.........................................................50
Section 9.13. Notices...................................................................50
Section 9.14. Waiver of Jury Trial......................................................51
ANNEX I CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER........................................................I-1
EXHIBIT A .........................................................................A-1
iii
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") dated October 29,
2001 by and among The Coca-Cola Company, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"),
Perry Phillip Corp., a California corporation ("Sub") and wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent, and Odwalla, Inc., a California corporation (the
"Company").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to effect the acquisition
of the Company by Parent pursuant to a tender offer (the "Offer") by Sub for any
and all the issued and outstanding shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, no par
value, of the Company ("Company Common Stock") followed by a merger (the
"Merger") of Sub with and into the Company with the Company as the surviving
corporation in accordance with the California General Corporation Law (the
"CGCL");
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Parent and Sub to enter into this
Agreement, Parent, Sub and the Company have entered into a Stock Option
Agreement (the "Option Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company has granted to
Sub an option to purchase newly issued shares of Company Common Stock under
certain circumstances;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
and as a condition and inducement to Parent entering into this Agreement, each
of the persons and entities set forth on Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the
"Principal Shareholders") has entered into a tender and/or voting agreement,
dated as of the date hereof (collectively, the "Tender Agreements"), pursuant to
which, among other things, each of the Principal Shareholders has agreed to
tender its shares of Company Common Stock to Sub in the Offer;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent and Sub have each unanimously
approved this Agreement, the Option Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously
determined that this Agreement, the Option Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and
the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, are fair to and in the best interests of the holders of the
Company Common Stock (the "Company Shareholders"); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously resolved
to recommend that the Company Shareholders approve this Agreement, the Option
Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby to
which the Company is a party.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
Section 1.1. The Offer.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Parent shall cause
Sub, no later than November 8, 2001, to commence (within the meaning of
Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) the Offer, at a price of $15.25 per share, net to the
seller in cash, without interest (or at such higher price as Sub in its
sole discretion elects to offer) (the "Offer Price"), but subject to any
withholding required by law. The obligation of Parent and Sub to accept
and pay for Shares tendered shall be subject only to the condition that
there shall be validly tendered prior to the expiration date of the
Offer and not withdrawn a number of Shares which, when added to the
shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent, represent at least 90.1%
of the Shares issued and outstanding on a fully diluted basis (including
for purposes of such calculation all shares of Company Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of all Company Options (as defined in Section
2.6) that vest (or upon consummation of the Offer will vest) (but
excluding shares of Company Common Stock that are issuable upon the
exercise of Company Options that are cancelled pursuant to Section
2.6(a) hereof or upon the exercise of Company Warrants that are
cancelled pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof) and the exercise of all
outstanding Company Warrants (as defined in Section 2.7)) (the "Minimum
Condition") and to the other conditions set forth in Annex I
(collectively, the "Offer Conditions"). Parent and Sub expressly reserve
the right to waive any of the Offer Conditions (except that Parent and
Sub may not waive the Minimum Condition except with the consent of the
Company or as and to the extent provided in this Agreement), to increase
the price per share payable in the Offer and to make any other change or
changes in the terms or conditions of the Offer, including without
limitation extending the expiration date, except that, without the
consent of the Company, Parent and Sub shall not (i) reduce the number
of Shares subject to the Offer, (ii) reduce the Offer Price, (iii)
impose any other conditions to the Offer other than the Offer Conditions
or modify the Offer Conditions (other than to waive any Offer Conditions
to the extent permitted by this Agreement) in a manner adverse to the
holders of the Company Common Stock, (iv) except as provided in Section
1.1(b), extend the Offer, (v) change the form of consideration payable
in the Offer, or (vi) amend any other term of the Offer in a manner
adverse to the Company Shareholders.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Offer shall
expire at midnight, San Francisco time, on the date twenty business days
(as defined under the Exchange Act) after the date the Offer is
commenced, provided, that Sub may, without the consent of the Company,
(i) extend the Offer, if at the scheduled or extended expiration date of
the Offer any of the Offer Conditions shall not be satisfied or waived,
until such time as such conditions are satisfied or waived, subject in
each case to any right of Parent, Sub or the Company to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof or (ii) extend the Offer for any
period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or the staff thereof
applicable to the Offer. If, at any scheduled expiration date of the
Offer, the conditions set forth in paragraph 5(g) of Annex I are
satisfied, but any of the conditions
2
set forth in paragraphs 2 or 5(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of Annex I
are not satisfied, then at the request of the Company, Sub shall extend
the Offer from time to time, subject to any right of Parent, Sub or the
Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, in the
event the Minimum Condition is not satisfied on any scheduled expiration
date of the Offer, at the request of the Company, subject to any right
of Parent or Sub to terminate this Agreement pursuant to the terms
hereof, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, take any of the
actions set forth in the following clauses (x), (y) or (z) (provided
that Sub shall have complete discretion as to which actions among the
three clauses to take) as follows: (x) extend the Offer pursuant to
Section 1.1(b), (y) amend the Offer in contemplation of the exercise of
the Option Agreement (to the extent the Option Agreement is exercisable
at such time) to reduce the Minimum Condition to that number of shares
(the "Option Exercise Minimum Number") equal to the number of shares
which, when combined with the number of shares issued upon exercise of
the Option Agreement, equals 90.1% of the shares of Company Common Stock
on a fully diluted basis (but excluding shares of Company Common Stock
that are issuable upon the exercise of Company Options that are
cancelled pursuant to Section 2.6(a) hereof or upon the exercise of
Company Warrants that are cancelled pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof) or
(z) amend the Offer to provide that, in the event (i) the Minimum
Condition is not satisfied at the next scheduled expiration date of the
Offer (after giving effect to the issuance of any shares of Company
Common Stock theretofore acquired by Parent or Sub) and (ii) the number
of shares of Company Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer and not
withdrawn as of such next scheduled expiration date is more than 50% of
the then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, Sub shall waive the
Minimum Condition and amend the Offer to reduce the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to the Offer to 49.9% of the shares of
Company Common Stock then outstanding (the "Revised Minimum Number")
and, subject to the prior satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions
of the Offer, purchase, on a pro rata basis, the Revised Minimum Number
of shares (it being understood that Sub shall not in any event be
required to accept for payment, or pay for, any shares of Company Common
Stock if less than the Revised Minimum Number of shares are tendered
pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn at the expiration date).
(d) Sub shall, on the terms and subject to the prior satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions of the Offer, accept for payment shares of
Company Common Stock validly tendered as soon as practicable (and in any
event within five business days) after such satisfaction or waiver of
all conditions of the Offer, and pay for accepted shares of Company
Common Stock as promptly thereafter as reasonably practicable, and in
any event in compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act.
Parent shall provide, or cause to be provided to Sub on a timely basis
the funds necessary to pay for any shares of Company Common Stock Sub
accepts or becomes obligated to accept for payment.
Section 1.2. Company Action.
(a) The Company hereby approves and consents to the Offer and to the
inclusion in the Offer and the related documents thereto of the
recommendation of the
3
Board of Directors of the Company described in Section 4.3(b) and the
opinion of the Independent Advisor described in Section 4.3(c).
(b) The Company will promptly, and in any event within three (3)
business days after the execution of this Agreement, instruct its
transfer agent to furnish Sub with a list of its shareholders, mailing
labels and any available listing or computer file containing the names
and addresses of all record holders of outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock and lists of securities positions of outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock held in stock depositories, and to provide to Sub
such additional information (including, without limitation, updated
lists of shareholders, mailing labels and lists of securities positions)
and such other assistance as Parent or Sub or any of their respective
agents may reasonably request in connection with the Offer and Merger.
Subject to the requirements of applicable Law (as defined in Section
4.4), and except for such steps as are necessary to disseminate the
Offer Documents (as defined below) and any other documents necessary to
consummate the Merger, Parent and Sub shall, and shall cause their
agents to, hold in confidence and otherwise in conformity with the
provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement dated September 7, 2001, as
amended (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), the information contained in
any such labels, listings and files, use such information only in
connection with the Offer and the Merger and, if this Agreement shall be
terminated, upon request, promptly deliver to the Company all copies of
such information then in their possession or control.
Section 1.3. SEC Actions.
(a) On the date of commencement of the Offer, Parent and Sub shall
file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with respect
to the Offer (including all supplements and amendments thereto, the
"Schedule TO"), which shall contain an offer to purchase, a related
letter of transmittal and summary advertisement (such Schedule TO and
all other documents required to be filed by Parent and Sub with the SEC
in connection with the Offer and the Merger, are collectively referred
to as the "Offer Documents").
(b) On or as soon as practicable after the date the Offer Documents
are filed with the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (including all
supplements and amendments thereto, the "Schedule 14D-9"). The Schedule
14D-9 shall (except as specifically provided in Section 6.5 hereof)
contain the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors of the
Company in favor of the Offer and the Merger.
(c) (i) Parent and Sub will take all steps necessary to ensure that
the Offer Documents, and the Company will take all steps necessary to
ensure that the Schedule 14D-9 and all other documents required to be
filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the Offer and the
Merger (collectively, the "Company Disclosure Documents"), comply or
complies in all material respects with the provisions of applicable
federal securities laws and, on the date filed with the SEC and on the
date first published, sent or given to the Company's shareholders, do
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made,
4
not misleading, provided, that Parent and Sub make no representation
with respect to information furnished by the Company for inclusion in
the Offer Documents and provided further that the Company makes no
representation with respect to information furnished by Parent or Sub
for inclusion in the Company Disclosure Documents.
(ii) The Company will ensure that the information with respect to
the Company that the Company furnishes to Parent in writing specifically
for inclusion in the Offer Documents does not, at the time of the filing
of the Offer Documents, at the time of any distribution thereof and at
the time of the consummation of the Offer, contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. Parent and Sub will ensure that the
information with respect to Parent and Sub that (x) Parent or Sub
furnishes to the Company in writing specifically for inclusion in the
Company Disclosure Documents, (y) is incorporated in the Company
Disclosure Documents by reference to any of the Offer Documents (other
than any information set forth in any of the Offer Documents that is
furnished by the Company for inclusion therein), or (z) is set forth in
the Schedule TO (other than any information set forth in the Schedule TO
that is furnished by the Company for inclusion therein), does not, at
the time of the filing of the Offer Documents, at the time of any
distribution thereof and at the time of the consummation of the Offer,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each of Parent
and Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, will
promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Offer
Documents and the Company Disclosure Documents, as the case may be, if
and to the extent that it shall have become false and misleading in any
material respect.
(iii) Each of Parent and Sub will take all steps necessary to cause
the Offer Documents, and the Company will take all steps necessary to
cause the Company Disclosure Documents, in each case including all
amendments thereto, to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to
holders of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as and to the
extent required by applicable federal securities laws.
(iv) Each of the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and Sub on the
other hand, will give the other, and their respective counsel, the
opportunity to review and provide comments with respect to the Company
Disclosure Documents and the Offer Documents, as the case may be, before
they are filed with the SEC, in each case including all amendments
thereto. In addition, each such party will provide the other such
parties and their counsel with any comments, whether written or oral,
which it may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Company Disclosure Documents or the Offer Documents
promptly after the receipt of such comments.
Section 1.4. Directors.
5
(a) Effective upon the purchase by Sub of such number of shares of
Company Common Stock as shall constitute satisfaction of the Minimum
Condition, the Option Exercise Minimum Number or the Revised Minimum
Number, as the case may be, and subject to compliance with Section 14(f)
of the Exchange Act, Sub shall be entitled, at its option, to designate
the number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the
Company Board for the period following such purchase (the
"Post-Acceptance Board") that equals the product of (i) the total number
of available seats on the Post-Acceptance Board (giving effect to the
election of any additional directors, the resignation of any existing
directors and/or the increase in the number of members of the Company's
Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 1.4) and (ii) the percentage
that the number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by Sub
(including shares of Company Common Stock accepted for payment) and
Parent bears to the total number of shares of Company Common Stock
issued and outstanding; provided that, prior to or upon the purchase by
Sub of Company Common Stock in the Offer, the Company shall increase the
number of directors on the Company's Board of Directors from seven to
eight and shall maintain the number of directors at eight until the
Effective Time. The Company shall take all action necessary to cause
Sub's designees to be elected or appointed to the Post-Acceptance Board,
including, without limitation, increasing the number of directors and
seeking and accepting resignations of incumbent directors. The Company
will use its reasonable best efforts to cause individuals designated by
Sub to constitute the same percentage as such individuals represent on
the Post-Acceptance Board of each committee of such Post-Acceptance
Board (other than any committee of such Post-Acceptance Board
established to take action under this Agreement). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure
that prior to the Effective Time, the Post-Acceptance Board shall
include at least four directors in office as of the date hereof (any
such director remaining in office being a "Continuing Director"). In the
event that the number of Continuing Directors shall be reduced below
four for any reason whatsoever, any remaining Continuing Directors (or
Continuing Director, if there shall only be one remaining) shall be
entitled to designate persons to fill such vacancies who shall be deemed
to be Continuing Directors for purposes of this Agreement. If no
Continuing Directors remain, the other directors shall designate four
persons to fill such vacancies and such persons shall be deemed to be
Continuing Directors for purposes of this Agreement. The provisions of
this Section 1.4(a) are in addition to and shall not limit any rights
which Parent or Sub or any of their Affiliates may have as a holder or
beneficial owner of shares of Company Common Stock as a matter of Law
with respect to the election of directors or otherwise.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, upon any
request by Sub following the purchase by Sub of such number of Shares as
shall constitute satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, the Option
Exercise Minimum Number or the Revised Minimum Number, as the case may
be, the Company shall promptly take all actions required in order to
fulfill its obligations under this Section 1.4, including without
limitation, in the case of satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, all
actions required pursuant to Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule
14f-1 promulgated thereunder, which shall include without limitation
filing with the SEC and transmitting to the record shareholders of the
Company such information with respect to the Company and its officers
and directors and Sub's designees as is necessary to enable Sub's
designees to be
6
elected to the Post-Acceptance Board. Parent or Sub will supply to the
Company any information with respect to itself and such nominees,
officers, directors and Affiliates required by such Section 14(f) and
Rule 14f-1, and Parent and Sub jointly and severally represent to the
Company that such information will not, at the time of the filing with
the SEC of any document required to be filed pursuant to this Section
1.4, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
that the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, are not misleading.
(c) Following the election or appointment of Sub's designees
pursuant to Section 1.4(a) and prior to the Effective Time, Parent and
Sub shall not cause the Company to take any action with respect to any
amendment, or waiver of any term or condition, of this Agreement, the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company or the Bylaws of the Company,
any termination or rescission of this Agreement by the Company, any
extension by the Company of the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of Sub or Parent or waiver or assertion of any
of the Company's rights hereunder, or any other consent or action by the
Board of Directors of the Company with respect to this Agreement or the
Offer (including any action which would cause the Company to breach this
Agreement), without the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing
Directors and the concurrence of a majority of the directors who are not
Continuing Directors.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
Section 2.1. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, and in accordance with the CGCL, at the Effective Time (as
defined in Section 2.2), Sub shall be merged with and into the Company. As a
result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease and
the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation following the Merger
(the "Surviving Corporation"). The corporate existence of the Company, with all
its purposes, rights, privileges, franchises, powers and objects, shall continue
unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger and, as the Surviving Corporation, it
shall be governed by the Laws of the State of California.
Section 2.2. Effective Time; Closing. As promptly as practicable (and in
any event within three (3) business days) after the conditions set forth in
Article VII hereof are satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by
their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing), the parties hereto shall cause
the Merger to be consummated by filing an agreement of merger pursuant to
Section 1103 of the CGCL (the "Agreement of Merger"), with the Secretary of
State of the State of California and by making all other filings or recordings
required under the CGCL in connection with the Merger, in such form as is
required by, and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of, the
CGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Agreement of Merger
is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of California, or at such
other time as the parties hereto agree shall be specified in the Agreement of
Merger (the date and time the Merger becomes effective, the "Effective Time").
On the date of such filing, a closing (the "Closing") shall be held at 1:00
p.m., local time, at the offices of King & Spalding,
7
191 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, or at such other time and location
as the parties hereto shall otherwise agree.
Section 2.3. Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of
the Merger, shall be as provided in the Agreement of Merger, the applicable
provisions of the CGCL and this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all the property,
rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Sub shall vest in
the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities, obligations,
restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Company and Sub shall become the
debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the
Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.4. Conversion of Company Common Stock.
(a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of Sub, the Company or the holders of any of the
following securities:
(i) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares
canceled pursuant to Section 2.4(a)(ii) and Dissenting
Shares (as defined in Section 2.5), if any) shall be
canceled and, subject to Section 2.5, shall by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the holder
thereof be converted automatically into the right to receive
an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price or any higher
price paid for each outstanding share of Company Common
Stock in the Offer payable, without interest, to the holder
of such share of Company Common Stock, upon surrender of the
certificate that formerly evidenced such share of Company
Common Stock in the manner provided in Section 2.8 (together
with amounts payable under Section 2.6(b), the "Merger
Consideration"); and
(ii) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time that is owned by
Parent or Sub or any of their direct or indirect
subsidiaries and each share of Company Common Stock that is
owned by the Company as treasury stock shall be canceled and
retired and cease to exist and no payment or distribution
shall be made with respect thereto.
(b) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of Sub, the Company or the holders of any of the
following securities, each share of common stock, no par value per
share, of Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable share of common stock, no par value per share, of the
Surviving Corporation and all such shares together shall constitute the
only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.
8
(c) At the Effective Time, all shares of the Company Common Stock
converted pursuant to Section 2.4(a)(i) shall no longer be outstanding
and shall automatically be canceled and retired and cease to exist, and
each holder of a certificate ("Certificate") representing any such
shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration in
accordance with Section 2.4(a)(i).
Section 2.5. Dissenting Shares.
(a) If and only to the extent that any holders of shares of Company
Common Stock are entitled under Section 1300(b)(1) of the CGCL to be
paid the "fair market value" of such shares of Company Common Stock,
then notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shares
of Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time and which are held by Company Shareholders
who have demanded and perfected their demands for appraisal of such
shares of Company Common Stock in the time and manner provided in
Section 1300 of the CGCL and, as of the Effective Time, have neither
effectively withdrawn nor lost their rights to such appraisal and
payment under the CGCL (the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted
as described in Section 2.4(a)(i), but shall, by virtue of the Merger,
be entitled to only such rights as are granted by Section 1300 of the
CGCL; provided, however, that if such holder shall have failed to
perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost his, her or its
right to appraisal and payment under the CGCL, such holder's shares of
Company Common Stock shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted,
at the Effective Time, as described in Section 2.4(a)(i), into the right
to receive the Merger Consideration set forth in such provisions,
without any interest thereon.
(b) The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands
for appraisal pursuant to Section 1300 of the CGCL received by the
Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served
pursuant to the CGCL and received by the Company and (ii) the
opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
demands for appraisal under the CGCL. The Company shall not, except with
the prior written consent of Parent or as otherwise required by
applicable Law, make any payment with respect to any such demands for
appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands.
Section 2.6. Stock Option Plans.
(a) In connection and simultaneously with the Offer, the Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that each holder of
outstanding options (whether vested or unvested) to acquire Company
Common Stock (the "Company Options") granted under the Company's Stock
Option Plan adopted in 1993, the Company's 1994 Non-Employee Directors'
Stock Option Plan and the Company's Amended and Restated 1997 Stock
Option/Stock Issuance Plan (collectively, the "Company Stock Option
Plans") shall execute an agreement to exchange immediately prior to the
consummation of the Offer such holder's Company Options to the Company
for an amount in cash determined by multiplying (A) the excess, if any,
of the Offer Price over the applicable exercise price per share of the
Company Option (regardless of the exercise price) by (B) the number of
shares of Company Common Stock subject to the Company Options
9
(whether vested or unvested) held by such holder (such amount, the
"Option Consideration"). Upon the expiration date of the Offer, each
holder of Company Options immediately prior to the consummation of the
Offer, who has exchanged such Company Options in accordance with this
Section 2.6 shall become entitled to the Option Consideration, and all
rights of such holder associated with the Company Options shall be
terminated and canceled. The obligation of the Company to accept and pay
for the Company Options so exchanged shall be subject to the
satisfaction, or waiver by Sub, of the conditions set forth in Annex I.
On or prior to the expiration date of the Offer, the Purchaser shall, or
shall cause Sub to, lend to the Company on commercially reasonable terms
an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the Option Consideration. The
Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Option
Consideration otherwise payable to any holder of Company Options such
amount that the Company is required to deduct and withhold with respect
to the making of such payment under the Code, the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax
Law. The Company shall promptly pay or cause to be paid any amounts
withheld pursuant to this Section 2.6 for applicable foreign, federal,
state and local taxes to the appropriate Governmental Entity on behalf
of such holders of Company Options.
(b) As of the Effective Time, either (i) each Company Option not so
exchanged immediately prior to the consummation of the Offer shall be
canceled, and in consideration for such cancellation the holder thereof
shall become entitled to receive an amount in cash (subject to Section
2.8(f)) equal to the Option Consideration, or (ii) the Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to ensure that each holder of a Company
Option shall execute an agreement which provides that such Company
Option shall be canceled, and in consideration for such cancellation the
holder thereof shall become entitled to receive an amount in cash
(subject to Section 2.8(f)) equal to the product of (i) the number of
shares subject to the Company Options, whether vested or unvested, held
by such holder and (ii) the excess of the Merger Consideration per share
over the per share exercise price of each such Company Option.
Section 2.7. Company Warrants. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to provide that each of the issued and outstanding warrants to purchase
shares of Company Common Stock (the "Company Warrants") shall be exercised in
full immediately prior to the consummation of the Offer. In addition, the
Company shall, by written notice to each holder of Company Warrants, offer to
pay such holder upon the consummation of the Offer, in exchange for the
cancellation of such holder's Company Warrants (regardless of exercise price)
upon the consummation of the Offer, an amount in cash determined by multiplying
(A) the excess, if any, of the Offer Price over the applicable exercise price
per share of the Company Warrant by (B) the number of shares of Company Common
Stock such holder could have purchased had such holder exercised such Company
Warrant in full immediately prior to the consummation of the Offer (the "Warrant
Consideration"). The Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
Warrant Consideration otherwise payable to any holder of Company Warrants such
amount that the Company is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the
making of such payment under the Code, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax Law. The Company
shall promptly pay or cause to be paid any amounts withheld pursuant to this
Section 2.7 for applicable foreign, federal, state and local taxes to the
appropriate Governmental Entity on behalf of such holders of Company Warrants.
10
Section 2.8. Surrender of Shares of Company Common Stock; Stock Transfer
Books.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate a bank or
trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent (the
"Paying Agent") for the holders of shares of Company Common Stock to
receive the funds necessary to make the payments to such holders
provided for in Section 2.4 upon surrender of their Certificates and for
the holders of Company Options to receive the payments provided for in
Section 2.6(b) upon surrender and cancellation of the Company Options.
Parent will, on or prior to the Effective Time, deposit with the Paying
Agent the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of
Company Common Stock and Company Options (the "Fund"). The Fund shall be
invested by the Paying Agent as directed by Parent; provided that such
investments shall be in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United
States of America or any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States of America, in commercial paper obligations
rated A-1 or P-1 or better by Moody's Investor Services, Inc., or
Standard and Poor's Corporation, respectively, or in deposit accounts,
certificates of deposit or banker's acceptances of, or repurchase or
reverse repurchase agreements with, or Eurodollar time deposits
purchased from, commercial banks with capital, surplus and undivided
profits aggregating in excess of US$100 million (based upon the most
recent financial statements of such bank which are then publicly
available). Any net profit resulting from, or interest or income
produced by, such investments, shall be placed in the Fund and be
payable to the Surviving Corporation upon demand of non-disbursed funds
pursuant to Section 2.8(d) hereof. Parent shall promptly replace any
monies lost through any investment made pursuant to this Section 2.8(a),
and Parent shall in any event be liable for the payment of the Merger
Consideration, notwithstanding any losses in the Fund. The Fund shall
not be used for any purpose except as expressly provided in this
Agreement. The Paying Agent shall make the payments provided for in
Sections 2.4 and 2.6(b).
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
shall cause to be mailed to each person who was, at the Effective Time,
a holder of record of shares of Company Common Stock entitled to receive
the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.4 a form of letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper
delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent) and instructions for
use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates pursuant to such
letter of transmittal. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a
Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed
and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and
such other documents as may be reasonably required pursuant to such
instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration for each share of
Company Common Stock formerly evidenced by such Certificate, and such
Certificate shall then be canceled. Until so surrendered, each such
Certificate shall, at and after the Effective Time, represent for all
purposes, only the right to receive such Merger Consideration. No
interest shall accrue or be paid to any beneficial owner of shares of
Company Common Stock or any holder of any Certificate with respect to
the Merger Consideration payable upon the surrender of any Certificate.
If payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a person other
than the person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered
on the stock transfer books of the Company, it shall be a condition of
payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be endorsed in blank
11
or to the Paying Agent or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and
that the person requesting such payment shall have paid all transfer and
other taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger
Consideration to a person other than the registered holder of the
Certificate surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of
the Surviving Corporation that such taxes either have been paid or are
not applicable. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if
required by the Surviving Corporation or Parent, the posting by such
person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation
or Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will issue
in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the
applicable Merger Consideration such holder is entitled to receive
pursuant to Section 2.4.
(c) The Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Paying
Agent to pay the amounts payable to each holder of a Company Option
pursuant to Section 2.6(b) as soon as reasonably practicable following
the Effective Time.
(d) At any time following the sixth month after the Effective Time,
the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to require the Paying Agent
to deliver to it any portion of the Fund which had been made available
to the Paying Agent and not disbursed to holders of shares of Company
Common Stock (including, without limitation, all interest and other
income received by the Paying Agent in respect of all amounts held in
the Fund or other funds made available to it), and thereafter each such
holder shall be entitled to look only to Parent (subject to abandoned
property, escheat and other similar Laws), and only as general creditors
thereof, with respect to any Merger Consideration that may be payable
upon due surrender of the Certificates held by such holder. If any
Certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock shall not have
been surrendered immediately prior to such date on which the Merger
Consideration in respect of such Certificate would otherwise escheat to
or become the property of any Governmental Entity (as defined in Section
4.5), any such cash, shares, dividends or distributions payable in
respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by applicable
Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of
all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Surviving Corporation,
Parent, or the Paying Agent shall be liable to any holder of a share of
Company Common Stock for any Merger Consideration delivered in respect
of such share of Company Common Stock to a public official pursuant to
any abandoned property, escheat or other similar Law.
(e) At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company
shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of
transfers of shares of Company Common Stock on the records of the
Company. From and after the Effective Time, except for Parent, the
holders of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to
such shares of Company Common Stock except as otherwise provided herein
or by applicable Law, and all cash paid pursuant to this Article II upon
the surrender or exchange of Certificates shall be deemed to have been
paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
Company Common Stock theretofore represented by such Certificate.
12
(f) Parent, Sub, the Surviving Corporation and the Paying Agent, as
the case may be, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
Merger Consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any
holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Company Options such amounts
that Parent, Sub, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent is
required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such
payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any
provision of state, local or foreign tax Law. To the extent that amounts
are so withheld by Parent, Sub, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying
Agent, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement
as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock
or Company Options in respect of which such deduction and withholding
was made by Parent, Sub, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent.
The Surviving Corporation or Parent shall promptly pay or cause to be
paid any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 2.8(f) for applicable
foreign, federal, state and local taxes to the appropriate Governmental
Entity on behalf of such holders of Company Common Stock or Company
Options.
(g) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Surviving
Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses including those of the
Paying Agent, in connection with the exchange of cash for shares of
Company Common Stock.
Section 2.9. Shareholders Meeting.
(a) Subject to Section 2.9(d), if required by applicable Law in
order to consummate the Merger, the Company, acting through the
Post-Acceptance Board, shall, in accordance with applicable Law:
(i) duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special
meeting of the Company Shareholders (the "Shareholders Meeting"), as
promptly as practicable following the acceptance for payment and
purchase of shares of Company Common Stock by Sub pursuant to the
Offer, for the purpose of obtaining the approval of the Merger and
this Agreement;
(ii) prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement
or information statement (the "Proxy Statement") relating to the
Merger and this Agreement, and use its reasonable best efforts (x)
to obtain and furnish the information required to be included by
applicable Law in the preliminary Proxy Statement and, after
consultation with Parent, to respond promptly to any comments made
by the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement, and (y) to cause the
Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto, to be
mailed to the Company Shareholders, provided, that the Company (1)
will promptly notify Parent of its receipt of any comments from the
SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its staff for
amendments or supplements of the Proxy Statement or for additional
information; (2) will promptly provide Parent with copies of all
correspondence between the Company or any of its representatives, on
the one hand, and the SEC or its staff, on the other hand, with
respect to the Proxy Statement or the Merger and (3) will not amend
or supplement the Proxy Statement without first consulting with
Parent and its counsel, and (z) to obtain
13
the necessary approvals of the Merger and this Agreement by its
shareholders to the extent required by the CGCL;
(iii) prepare and revise the Proxy Statement so that, at the
date mailed to Company shareholders and at the time of the
Shareholders Meeting, the Proxy Statement will (x) not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order that the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, are not misleading (except that the Company shall not
be responsible under this clause (iii) with respect to statements
made therein based on information supplied by Parent or Sub
expressly for inclusion in the Proxy Statement), and (y) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder;
(iv) include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of the
Board of Directors of the Company that the Company Shareholders vote
in favor of the approval of the Merger and the adoption of this
Agreement; and
(v) solicit proxies from the Company Shareholders in favor of
the approval of the Merger and the adoption of this Agreement and
take all other action necessary, or in the reasonable judgment of
Parent, helpful to secure the vote or consent of such holders
required by the CGCL or this Agreement to effect the Merger.
(b) Parent shall furnish to the Company such information concerning
itself and Sub, for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, as may be
requested by the Company and required to be included in the Proxy
Statement. Such information provided by Parent and Sub in writing
expressly for inclusion in the Proxy Statement will not, at the date the
Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC, and mailed to Company
shareholders and (including any corrections or modifications made by
Parent or Sub to such information) at the time of the Shareholders
Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order that the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, are not misleading.
(c) Parent shall vote or cause to be voted all shares of the Company
Common Stock purchased pursuant to the Offer and all other shares
beneficially owned by Parent or Sub in favor of adoption of the Merger
and the Merger Agreement.
(d) In the event that Parent or Sub, collectively, shall acquire at
least 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock,
the Company, Parent and Sub shall take all appropriate and necessary
action to cause the Merger to become effective as soon as practicable
after the expiration or termination of the Offer, without a meeting of
shareholders of the Company, in accordance with Section 1110 of the
CGCL.
Section 2.10. Subsequent Actions. If, at any time after the Effective
Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds,
bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are
necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or
14
otherwise in the Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or
under any of the rights, properties or assets of either Sub or the Company
acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in
connection with, the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement and the
Merger, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation are hereby
authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each of Sub or
the Company or otherwise, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and
assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of Sub or the
Company or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may be necessary or
desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in,
to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving Corporation or
otherwise to carry out this Agreement and the Merger.
ARTICLE III
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
Section 3.1. Articles of Incorporation. The Articles of Incorporation of
the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until, subject to
Section 6.7(a), the same shall thereafter be altered, amended or repealed in
accordance with applicable Law or such Articles of Incorporation.
Section 3.2. Bylaws. The Bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation,
until, subject to Section 6.7(a), the same shall thereafter be altered, amended
or repealed in accordance with applicable Law, the Articles of Incorporation of
the Surviving Corporation or such Bylaws.
Section 3.3. Directors and Officers. From and after the Effective Time,
until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with
applicable Law, (i) the directors of Sub at the Effective Time shall be the
directors of the Surviving Corporation, and (ii) the officers of Sub at the
Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub (except as set
forth in the written disclosure letter (which letter shall in each case
specifically identify by reference to Sections of this Agreement any exceptions
to each of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement)
delivered by the Company to Parent and Sub in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Letter")) as follows:
Section 4.1. Organization and Standing. Each of the Company and each
Subsidiary (as defined in Section 4.2(c)) (i) is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization, (ii) has the necessary corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business as presently
conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign
15
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of
the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its business
makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except, in the case of this
clause (iii), where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or be in such
good standing is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect
(as defined in Section 9.11(a)). The Company has furnished or made available to
Parent true and complete copies of its articles of incorporation (including any
certificates of designations attached thereto, the "Company Articles of
Incorporation") and bylaws (the "Company Bylaws") and the articles of
incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of each
Subsidiary, each as amended to date. Such articles of incorporation, bylaws or
equivalent organizational documents are in full force and effect, and neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any provision of its articles
of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents.
Section 4.2. Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
15,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, no par value per share (the "Preferred Stock"). As of
October 25, 2001, (i) 11,103,321 shares of Company Common Stock are
issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, (ii) no shares of Company
Common Stock are held in the treasury of the Company, (iii) Company
Options (as defined in Section 1.6) to purchase 1,737,699 shares of
Company Common Stock are outstanding pursuant to the Company Stock
Option Plans, and an additional 188,886 shares of Company Common Stock
are authorized and reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Company
Stock Option Plans that have not yet been awarded, (iv) no shares of
Preferred Stock are issued or outstanding, and (v) Company Warrants to
purchase 31,806 shares of Company Common Stock are outstanding and
31,806 shares of Company Common Stock are reserved for future issuance
pursuant to the Company Warrants. Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure
Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the outstanding Company
Options and Company Warrants together with the exercise prices thereof.
During the period from October 25, 2001 through the date of this
Agreement, the Company has not issued any shares of capital stock of the
Company or any other securities of the Company or any options or
warrants to acquire any such shares or other securities, other than
issuances of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of
Company Options or Company Warrants outstanding as of October 25, 2001.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.2(a) of this Agreement or in
Section 4.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no options,
warrants, convertible securities, subscriptions, stock appreciation
rights, phantom stock plans or stock equivalents or other similar
rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments (contingent or
otherwise) of any character issued or authorized by the Company or any
Subsidiary relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary or obligating the Company or any Subsidiary to
issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or options, warrants,
convertible securities, subscriptions or other equity interests in, the
Company or any Subsidiary. All shares of Company Common Stock subject to
issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions
specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will
be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. There
are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary to
16
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common
Stock or any capital stock of any Subsidiary or to pay any dividend or
make any other distribution in respect thereof or to provide funds to,
or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
otherwise) in, any person.
(c) Section 4.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a
correct and complete list of each corporation, association, subsidiary,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the
Company owns of record or beneficially, directly or indirectly, 30% or
more of the outstanding equity interests (each a "Subsidiary" and
collectively, the "Subsidiaries"). The Company owns beneficially and of
record all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
Subsidiary and does not own an equity interest in any other corporation,
association, partnership, limited liability company or other entity,
other than in the Subsidiaries. Each outstanding share of capital stock
of each Subsidiary is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and each such share owned by the Company or another
Subsidiary is free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims,
pledges, options, rights of first refusal, agreements, limitations on
the Company's or such other Subsidiary's voting rights, charges and
other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever, except for liens for Taxes
accrued but not yet payable.
Section 4.3. Authority for Agreement.
(a) The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the Option Agreement, to perform
its obligations hereunder and thereunder and, subject to obtaining
necessary shareholder approval (if required by applicable Law), to
consummate the Merger and the other transactions to which the Company is
a party contemplated by this Agreement and the Option Agreement. The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and
the Option Agreement, and the consummation by the Company of the Merger
and the other transactions to which the Company is a party contemplated
by this Agreement and the Option Agreement, have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action (including, without limitation, the
unanimous approval of the Board of Directors of the Company) and no
other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to
authorize this Agreement and the Option Agreement or to consummate the
Merger or the other transactions to which the Company is a party
contemplated by this Agreement and the Option Agreement (other than,
with respect to the Merger, the approval and adoption of this Agreement
and the Merger by the affirmative vote of a majority of the then
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (if required by applicable
Law) and the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as
required by the CGCL). Each of this Agreement and the Option Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the
due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Sub, constitutes
a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the qualification,
however, that enforcement of the rights and remedies created hereby is
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar Laws of general application related to or
affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles. The
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock entitled to vote at a duly called and held meeting of
shareholders is the only vote of the
17
Company Shareholders necessary to approve this Agreement, the Merger and
the other transactions to which the Company is a party contemplated by
this Agreement.
(b) At a meeting duly called and held on October 29, 2001, the Board
of Directors of the Company unanimously (i) determined that, as of the
date of this Agreement, this Agreement, the Option Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby to which the Company is a
party, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to and in the best
interests of the Company and the Company Shareholders, (ii) approved,
authorized and adopted this Agreement, the Option Agreement, the Offer
and the Merger and the other transactions to which the Company is a
party contemplated hereby, and (iii) resolved, subject to the provisions
of this Agreement, to recommend approval, adoption and acceptance of
this Agreement, the Offer, and the Merger by the Company Shareholders.
No antitakeover or similar statute in California or New York, or to the
knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries in any other jurisdiction,
is applicable to Parent, Sub, the Company or the Surviving Corporation
in connection with the Merger, the Offer, this Agreement, the Option
Agreement, the Tender Agreements or any of the transactions to which the
Company is a party contemplated hereby or thereby.
(c) Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Inc. (the "Independent Advisor")
has delivered to the Board of Directors of the Company its opinion, as
of the date of this Agreement, that, as of such date and based on the
assumptions, qualifications and limitations contained therein, the
consideration to be received by the Company Shareholders in the Offer
and the Merger is fair to the Company Shareholders from a financial
point of view. The Company will provide to Parent and Sub a copy of the
written opinion of the Independent Advisor promptly after the date
hereof.
Section 4.4. No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the Option Agreement by the Company do not, and the performance of this
Agreement and the Option Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the
Merger, the Offer and the other transactions to which the Company is a party
contemplated by this Agreement and the Option Agreement will not, (i) conflict
with or violate the Company Articles of Incorporation or Company Bylaws or
equivalent organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) subject to
Section 4.5, conflict with or violate any United States federal, state or
material local or any material foreign statute, law, rule, regulation,
ordinance, code, order, judgment, decree or any other material requirement or
rule of law (a "Law") applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by
which any material property or material group of properties or material asset or
material group of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or
affected, or (iii) result in a material breach of or constitute a material
default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
material default) under, give to others any right of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, result in triggering any payment or other
obligations, or result in the creation of a lien or other encumbrance on any
material property or material group of properties or material asset or material
group of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit,
franchise or other instrument or obligation or Material Contract (as defined in
Section 4.13) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any property or asset of any of
them is bound or affected.
18
Section 4.5. Required Filings and Consents. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the Option Agreement by the Company do not, and the
performance of this Agreement and the Option Agreement by the Company will not,
require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or
notification to, any United States federal, state or local or any foreign
government or any court, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or
other governmental entity or agency, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental
Entity"), except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act
(including relating to the Offering Documents and, if necessary, the Proxy
Statement) and state securities or "blue sky" laws ("Blue Sky Laws"), (ii) for
those required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the "HSR Act"), (iii) for filings contemplated by Article II hereof,
and (iv) for other immaterial approvals, authorizations, consents, orders,
filings, registrations or notifications.
Section 4.6. Compliance. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i)
has been operated at all times in compliance in all material respects with all
Laws applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any
property, business or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound
or affected and (ii) is not in material default or material violation of any
notes, bonds, mortgages, indentures, contracts, agreements, leases, licenses,
permits, franchises, or other instruments or obligations or Material Contract to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or any material property or material group of
properties or material asset or material group of assets of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected.
Section 4.7. SEC Filings, Financial Statements.
(a) The Company and each Subsidiary, as necessary, has filed all
forms, reports, statements and documents required to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") since August 28, 1999
(collectively, including all exhibits thereto, the "SEC Reports"), each
of which has complied in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the
Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, each
as in effect on the date so filed. None of the SEC Reports as of their
filing dates or, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment,
contained 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.
(b) All of the financial statements included in the SEC Reports, in
each case, including any related notes thereto, as filed with the SEC
(collectively referred to as the "Company Financial Statements") have
been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout
the periods involved (except as noted therein, and, in the case of the
unaudited statements, as may be permitted by the applicable rules and
regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act
and subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year end
adjustments permitted by GAAP and consistent with the Company's past
practices) and fairly present the consolidated financial position of the
19
Company and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates thereof and the
consolidated results of its operations and changes in cash flows for the
periods indicated.
(c) There are no liabilities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether or not accrued and whether
or not contingent or absolute, that are material to the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (i) liabilities disclosed or
provided for in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries at September 2, 2000, including the notes thereto, (ii)
liabilities disclosed in the SEC Reports, and (iii) liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since
September 2, 2000, none of which is, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably likely to be material to the Company.
(d) The Company has heretofore furnished or made available to Parent
a complete and correct copy of any amendments or modifications which
have not yet been filed with the SEC to agreements, documents or other
instruments which previously had been filed by the Company with the SEC
as exhibits to the SEC Reports pursuant to the Securities Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 4.8. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement or to the extent specifically disclosed in the
SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since September 2, 2000, the Company
and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the
ordinary course and consistent with prior practice and there has not been (i)
any event or occurrence of any condition that has had or would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with other events,
occurrences or conditions, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or any other distribution
with respect to any of the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii)
any change in accounting methods, principles or practices employed by the
Company, except as may have been required by changes in GAAP or applicable Law
that are not material and except for any changes to comply with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 and No. 142, or (iv) any action of the
type described in Sections 6.1(b) (i) or (ii) or 6.1(c) (ii), (iii), (iv), (v),
(vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (xi), (xii), (xiii) or (xiv) which had such action
been taken after the date of this Agreement would be in violation of any such
Section.
Section 4.9. Taxes. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely
filed all Tax Returns (as defined below) required to be filed by any of them.
All such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects.
All Taxes (as defined below) of the Company and its Subsidiaries which are (i)
shown as due on such Tax Returns, (ii) otherwise due and payable or (iii)
claimed or asserted by any taxing authority to be due, have been paid, except
for those Taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves
have been established in the financial statements included in the SEC Reports in
accordance with GAAP. There are no liens for any Taxes upon the assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than statutory liens for Taxes not yet
due and payable and liens for real estate Taxes contested in good faith. The
Company does not know of any proposed or threatened Tax claims or assessments
that, if upheld, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have
a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has made an election under Section 341(f) of the Code. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any statute of limitations in
respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax
20
assessment or deficiency, which waiver or extension remains in effect. The
Company and each Subsidiary has withheld and paid over to the relevant taxing
authority all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with
payments to employees, independent contractors, creditors, shareholders or other
third parties. The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the
current taxable period (A) did not, as of the most recent Company Financial
Statements, exceed the reserve for Tax liability set forth on the face of the
balance sheet in the most recent Company Financial Statements and (B) do not
exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing in
accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries
in filing their Tax Returns. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) "Tax" (and,
with correlative meaning, "Taxes") means any federal, state, local or foreign
income, gross receipts, property, sales, use, license, excise, franchise,
employment, payroll, premium, withholding, alternative or added minimum, ad
valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax, custom, duty, governmental
fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest or penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, imposed by any
Governmental Entity, and (b) "Tax Return" means any return, report or similar
statement required to be filed with respect to any Tax (including any attached
schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for
refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax.
Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth with reasonable
specificity: (i) all jurisdictions in which the Company or any Subsidiary
currently has a presence requiring it to pay Taxes measured by income or gross
receipts (a "Taxable Presence") and all jurisdictions in which the Company or
any Subsidiary has had a Taxable Presence since January 1, 1998, (ii) all Tax
Returns for Taxes measured by income or gross receipts filed or due to be filed
applicable to the three year period ending on the date hereof and (iii) all
material correspondence with any Tax authorities (including, without limitation,
all audits, notices and requests for information from or to taxing authorities)
since January 1, 1998.
Section 4.10. Assets.
(a) Except as set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended September 2, 2000 (the "10-K"), the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a
valid leasehold interest in, all of their real and personal properties
and assets reflected in the 10-K or acquired after September 2, 2000
(other than assets disposed of since September 2, 2000 in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or which had an
individual value of less than $200,000 or an aggregate value of less
than $1,000,000), in each case free and clear of all title defects,
liens, encumbrances and restrictions, except for (i) liens, encumbrances
or restrictions which secure indebtedness which are properly reflected
in the 10-K; (ii) liens for Taxes accrued but not yet payable; (iii)
liens arising as a matter of law in the ordinary course of business with
respect to obligations incurred after September 2, 2000, provided that
the obligations secured by such liens are not delinquent; and (iv) liens
that do not individually or in the aggregate, materially detract from
the value of the assets subject thereto or materially impact the
operation of the Company or any Subsidiary. Section 4.10 of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all
real property (i) owned or leased by the Company or a Subsidiary, (ii)
as to which the Company or a Subsidiary has a written, or to the
knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary any other, license, easement
or right of way to use, (iii) as to which the
21
Company or a Subsidiary has the option to purchase, lease, license or
acquire an easement or right of way pursuant to any written, or to the
knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary any other, agreement,
arrangement or understanding or (iv) in which the Company or a
Subsidiary has any other material interest.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any legal
obligation, absolute or contingent, to any other person to sell or
otherwise dispose of any of its assets (other than sales of products and
inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices) with an individual value in excess of $200,000 or an
aggregate value in excess of $500,000.
(c) The buildings, fixtures and equipment of the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in good operating condition and repair (ordinary wear
and tear excepted) and are adequate for the uses to which they are being
put and for the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as conducted at and prior to the Effective Time.
Section 4.11. Change of Control Agreements. Neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or in conjunction
with any other event) result in, cause the accelerated vesting or delivery of,
or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to any director,
officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, no amount paid or payable by the Company or any
Subsidiary in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, including accelerated vesting of options (either solely as a
result thereof or as a result of such transactions in conjunction with any other
event) will be an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G
of the Code.
Section 4.12. Litigation. Except to the extent specifically disclosed in
the SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, there are no claims, suits,
actions, investigations, indictments or information, or administrative,
arbitration or other proceedings ("Litigation") pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. Except to the extent specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports
filed prior to the date hereof, there are no judgments, orders, injunctions,
decrees, stipulations or awards (whether rendered by a court, administrative
agency, or by arbitration, pursuant to a grievance or other procedure) to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or to the knowledge of the
Company or any Subsidiary, is otherwise subject. To the knowledge of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, the Company has complied with and is in compliance with
the Settlement Agreement with the United States government dated July 23, 1998,
and there have been no written, or to the knowledge of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries any other, allegations by any person or entity, including any
Governmental Entity, that any of the Company or its Subsidiaries has failed to
so comply.
Section 4.13. Contracts and Commitments.
(a) Except for any contracts which have prior the date hereof been
terminated in accordance with their terms or been terminated by the
parties thereto, in each case with no continuing liabilities or
obligations on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary, Section 4.13
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete
list
22
of the following contracts to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a
party (including every amendment, modification or supplement to the
foregoing): (i) any contracts of employment, (ii) any contracts or
agreements which limit or restrict the Company or any Subsidiary (or, to
the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any employee) from
engaging in any business in any jurisdiction or limit the freedom of the
Company or any Subsidiary to compete in any line of business in any
geographic area or requiring the Company or any Subsidiary to share any
profits, (iii) agreements or arrangements for the purchase or sale of
any assets (other than purchases or sales of products and inventory in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices)
involving payments of more than $200,000 individually or $500,000 in the
aggregate, (iv) all bonds, debentures, notes, loans, credit or loan
agreements or commitments, mortgages, indentures or guarantees or other
agreements or contracts relating to the borrowing of money, in each case
individually involving remaining principal amounts in excess of
$200,000, (v) agreements with unions, (vi) independent contractor
agreements and leased or temporary employee agreements involving in each
case individually aggregate annual payments of more than $75,000 or
which are not terminable upon less than 30 days' notice, (vii) leases of
any real property involving in each case individually annual rent of
$75,000 or more or leases of personal property involving in each case
individually annual rent of $50,000 or more, (viii) agreements with
copackers, manufacturers, suppliers and trade partners, in each case
involving individually aggregate annual payments made or received by the
Company and its Subsidiaries of more than $25,000, (ix) all agreements
with bottlers and distributors and all franchise and licensing
agreements involving in each case individually aggregate annual payments
of more than $25,000, (x) any contract or agreement for the granting or
receiving of a license or sublicense or arrangement (other than
agreements or licenses for standard, packaged software products and
other than licenses to the Company or any Subsidiary involving in each
case individually annual payments of less than $75,000) under which any
person is obligated to pay or has the right to receive a royalty,
license fee or similar payment, and (xi) all other contracts, agreements
or commitments individually involving in each case individually payments
made by or to the Company or a Subsidiary of $250,000 or more
(individually, a "Material Contract" and collectively, "Material
Contracts"). The Company has delivered or made available to Parent true,
correct and complete copies of all Material Contracts, including all
amendments thereto.
(b) The Material Contracts are legal, valid, binding and enforceable
in accordance with their respective terms with respect to the Company
and to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to
each other party to any of such Material Contracts, except, in each
case, to the extent that enforcement of rights and remedies created by
any Material Contracts are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general
application related to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
equity principles. There are no existing material defaults or breaches
of the Company under any Material Contract (or events or conditions
which, with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a material
default or breach) and, to the knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, there are no such material defaults (or events or
conditions which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
a material default or breach) with respect to any third party to any
Material Contract. The Company and its Subsidiaries have no knowledge of
any pending or threatened bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding
with respect to any
23
party to any of such agreements. Section 4.13 of the Company Disclosure
Letter identifies each Material Contract set forth therein that requires
the consent of or notice to the other party thereto to avoid any breach,
default or violation of such contract, agreement or other instrument in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) The calculations of allowance for product returns for use in
connection with the preparation of the Company Financial Statements
contained in the SEC Reports conformed to GAAP. Set forth in Section
4.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter is a description of the Company's
policy regarding product returns.
Section 4.14. Employee Benefit Plans. All employee benefit plans,
compensation arrangements and other benefit arrangements covering employees of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the "Company Benefit Plans") and all
employee agreements providing for compensation, severance or other benefits to
any employee or former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are
listed in Section 4.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter. True, correct and
complete copies of the following documents with respect to each of the Company
Benefit Plans have been provided or made available by the Company to Parent: (i)
any plans and related trust documents and amendments thereto, (ii) summary plan
descriptions and material modifications thereto, (iii) written communications
made since January 1, 2000 to employees relating to the Company Benefit Plans
and (iv) written descriptions of all non-written agreements relating to the
Company Benefit Plans. To the extent applicable, the Company Benefit Plans
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and the Code, and any Company
Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has
received a determination letter or is a model prototype plan and continues to
satisfy the requirements for such qualification. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate of the Company maintains, contributes
to or has maintained or contributed in the past six (6) years to any benefit
plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. Neither
any Company Benefit Plan, nor the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any
liability or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA
in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate or engaged in any transactions that are
reasonably likely to result in any liabilities or penalties in excess of $10,000
in the aggregate. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any ERISA
Affiliate which maintains a "group health plan" within the meaning of Section
5000(b)(1) of the Code has complied with the notice and continuation
requirements of Section 4980B of the Code, Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of
ERISA and the regulations thereunder (COBRA), and the creditable coverage
certification requirements and limitations on pre-existing condition exclusion
requirements of Section 9801 of the Code, Part 7 of Subtitle B of Title I of
ERISA and the regulations thereunder (HIPAA). Each Company Benefit Plan has been
maintained and administered in compliance in all material respects with its
terms and with ERISA and the Code to the extent applicable thereto. There is no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened or
anticipated Litigation against or otherwise involving any of the Company Benefit
Plans and no Litigation (excluding claims for benefits incurred in the ordinary
course of Company Benefit Plan activities) has been brought against or with
respect to any such Company Benefit Plan. All contributions required to be made
to the Company Benefit Plans have been made or provided for. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries maintains or contributes to any plan or arrangement
which provides or has any liability to provide life insurance or medical or
other employee welfare benefits to any employee or former employee upon his
retirement or termination of employment, and neither the Company nor any of its
24
Subsidiaries has ever represented, promised or contracted (whether in oral or
written form) to any employee or former employee that such benefits would be
provided.
Any individual who performs services for the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than through a contract with an organization other than such
individual) and who is not treated as an employee for federal income tax
purposes by the Company or its Subsidiaries is not an employee for such
purposes. There are no agreements in effect between the Company or any
Subsidiary and any individual retained by the Company or any Subsidiary to
provide services as a consultant or independent contractor.
For purposes of this Agreement "ERISA Affiliate" means any business or
entity which is a member of the same "controlled group of corporations," an
"affiliated service group" or is under "common control" with an entity within
the meanings of Sections 414(b), (c) or (m) of the Code, is required to be
aggregated with the entity under Section 414(o) of the Code, or is under "common
control" with the entity, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, or
any regulations promulgated or proposed under any of the foregoing Sections.
Section 4.15. Labor and Employment Matters.
(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to,
or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or other contracts,
arrangements, agreements or understandings with a labor union or labor
organization that was certified by the National Labor Relations Board
("NLRB"). There is no existing, pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened (i) unfair labor practice
charge or complaint, labor dispute, labor arbitration proceeding or any
other matter before the NLRB or any other comparable state agency
against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
activity or proceeding by a labor union or representative thereof to
organize any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii)
certification or decertification question relating to collective
bargaining units at the premises of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or (iv) lockout, strike, organized slowdown, work stoppage
or work interruption with respect to such employees.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any
action that would constitute a "Mass Layoff" or "Plant Closing" within
the meaning of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
("WARN") Act or would otherwise trigger notice requirements or liability
under any state or local plant closing notice Law. No agreement,
arbitration or court decision or governmental order to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or to the knowledge of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is subject, in any way limits or restricts
any of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Parent from relocating or
closing any of the operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has failed in
any material respect to pay when due any wages (including overtime
wages), bonuses, commissions, benefits, taxes, penalties or assessments
or other monies, owed to, or arising out of the employment of or any
relationship or arrangement with, any officer, director, employee, sales
representative, contractor, consultant or other agent. The Company and
its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable Laws relating to
25
employment and the payment of wages and benefits. There are no, and the
Company has no reason to believe there would be any, citations,
investigations, administrative proceedings or formal complaints of
violations of any federal or state wage and hour Laws pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened before the
Department of Labor or any federal, state or administrative agency or
court against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance in
all material respects with all immigration Laws relating to employment
and have properly completed and maintained all applicable forms
(including but not limited to I-9 forms) and, to the knowledge of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, there are no citations, investigations,
administrative proceedings or formal complaints of violations of the
immigration Laws pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, threatened before the Immigration and Naturalization
Service or any federal, state or administrative agency or court against
or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) There are no investigations, administrative proceedings, charges
or formal complaints of discrimination (including discrimination based
upon sex, age, marital status, race, national origin, sexual preference,
disability, handicap or veteran status) pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened before the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission or any federal, state or local agency or court
against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No
discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and/or wrongful or
tortious conduct claim is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries under the 1866, 1877, 1964 or 1991 Civil Rights Acts, the
Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the
Fair Labor Standards Act, ERISA, or any other federal Law relating to
employment or any comparable state or local fair employment practices
act regulating discrimination in the workplace, and no wrongful
discharge, libel, slander, invasion of privacy or other claim (including
but not limited to violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as
amended, and any applicable whistleblower statutes) under any state or
federal law is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(f) If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Federal, State or
local contractor obligated to develop and maintain an affirmative action
plan, no discrimination claim, show-cause notice, conciliation
proceeding, sanctions or debarment proceedings is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, has been threatened
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with the Office of
Federal Contract Compliance Programs or any other Federal agency or any
comparable state or local agency or court and no desk audit or on-site
review is in progress.
(g) There are no citations, investigations, administrative
proceedings or formal complaints of violations of local, state or
federal occupational safety and health Laws pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened before the Occupational
Safety and Health Review Commission or any federal, state or local
agency or court against or involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
26
(h) No workers' compensation or retaliation claim is pending against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $50,000 in the
aggregate and the Company maintains insurance with respect to workers'
compensation claims pursuant to insurance policies that are currently in
force as is customary for businesses similar to the business of the
Company, or has accrued an adequate liability for such obligations,
including, without limitation, adequate accruals with respect to accrued
but unreported claims and retroactive insurance premiums.
Section 4.16. Environmental Compliance and Disclosure.
(a) As used in this Section 4.16, the following defined terms have
the meanings set forth below:
"Action" means any actual or threatened claim, demand, action, lawsuit,
hearing, or proceeding of any kind, whether judicial or administrative
in nature.
"Environment" means any surface water or groundwater, drinking supply
water, land or soil, surface or subsurface strata or medium, the ambient
air, or any other environmental medium.
"Environmental Condition" means any condition relating to the
Environment, whether on or off site, whether or not yet discovered, that
results or may result in any Action, removal or remedial action,
liability, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys',
consulting, engineering, and accounting fees), or losses of any kind
whatsoever, including, without limitation, any Release of any Hazardous
Materials.
"Environmental Laws" mean any international, regional, national,
federal, state, provincial, or local Laws, statutes, treaties,
directives, ordinances, rules, or regulations relating to the
Environment, or human health and safety, or the Release of any Hazardous
Materials.
"Hazardous Materials" mean any waste, pollutant, hazardous substance,
toxic, flammable, explosive, reactive, corrosive, infectious,
radioactive, carcinogenic or mutagenic substance, hazardous waste,
special waste, industrial substance, by-product, process intermediate
product or waste, petroleum or petroleum-derived substance or waste,
chemical liquids or solids, liquid or gaseous products, or any
constituent of any such substance or waste, the generation, use,
handling, storage, treatment, transport, or disposal of which is in any
way governed by or subject to any Environmental Laws, or any substance
that is or contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), radon gas, urea
formaldehyde, asbestos-containing materials (ACM) or lead.
"Release" means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching,
disposing, or dumping into the Environment.
(b) All plants, facilities and real and personal property owned,
leased, licensed or otherwise used by the Company or any Subsidiary
(collectively referred to as the "Facilities"), and the Company's and
any Subsidiary's business operations and activities at, on, or under any
of the Facilities or otherwise (collectively referred to as the
27
"Operations"), are and have been at all times during the period of such
ownership, lease, license, use, operation or activity by the Company or
any Subsidiary in compliance in all material respects with all
Environmental Laws and with all licenses, permits, consents or
authorizations required by Environmental Laws;
(c) There are not, and have not been at any time in the past, any
Actions, settlements, consent orders or decrees, judicial or
administrative orders or decrees, or judgments under any Environmental
Laws against or relating to the Company or any Subsidiary, any of the
Operations or, during the period of ownership, lease, license, use,
operation or activity by the Company or any Subsidiary, any of the
Facilities;
(d) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice or is
aware of any existing or potential liabilities, obligations, fines,
costs, fees or expenses relating to or arising out of any violation of
any Environmental Laws or the unauthorized Release of any Hazardous
Materials by the Company or any Subsidiary anywhere, including, without
limitation, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et
seq., (collectively referred to as "Environmental Liabilities"), and to
the Company's or any Subsidiary's knowledge, no facts, circumstances or
conditions exist that are related to, associated with or attributable to
any of the Facilities or the Operations that may result in any
Environmental Liabilities;
(e) No remediation, removal or cleanup of any Hazardous Materials is
being conducted or, to the Company's or any Subsidiary's knowledge, has
been conducted at any time in the past at, on or under the Facilities,
or caused by or associated with any of the Operations;
(f) To the Company's or any Subsidiary's knowledge, no Environmental
Condition of any kind is or has been at any time in the past at, on or
under the Facilities, or caused by or associated with any of the
Operations that has not been corrected or remediated at least to the
extent required under Environmental Laws and that, individually or in
the aggregate, is or could reasonably be expected to be material;
(g) Hazardous Materials of any kind are not being and, to the
Company's or any Subsidiary's knowledge, have not been at any time in
the past generated, used, stored, treated, disposed of or Released at,
on or under any of the Facilities, or as a result of or in association
with any of the Operations, except in compliance in all material
respects with applicable Environmental Laws; and
(h) To the Company's or any Subsidiary's knowledge, no underground
or aboveground storage tanks, solid waste management units, landfills or
other waste disposal areas, dikes, or impoundments of any kind are
located at, on, or under any of the Facilities.
Section 4.17. Intellectual Property Rights. Section 4.17 of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and accurate list and description of all
United States and foreign patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, trade
dress and domain names, whether the foregoing is in the form of registrations or
pending applications therefor, and all material common law rights, that are
owned by the Company or any Subsidiary (all such rights together with any
copyrights that are owned by the Company or any Subsidiary being hereinafter
referred
28
to as the "Intellectual Property Rights"). The Company is the sole legal owner
of its material common law Intellectual Property Rights, free and clear of any
liabilities, liens, encumbrances, restrictions or claims (except for liens for
Taxes accrued, but not yet payable or liens arising as a matter of Law in the
ordinary course of business, provided that the obligations secured by such liens
are not delinquent ("Permitted Liens")); and is the sole legal owner of, and has
good, valid and enforceable title to, all of its other Intellectual Property
Rights, free and clear of any liabilities, liens, encumbrances, restrictions,
claims or imperfections of title of any kind (except for Permitted Liens). The
Intellectual Property Rights have not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in
whole or in part, and any registrations thereof are in full force and effect. To
the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, no facts or circumstances
exist that might result in the invalidity or unenforceability of the
Intellectual Property Rights. To the knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, the Company's websites are operated in compliance with all
applicable privacy Laws, contest and sweepstakes Laws, rights of publicity Laws,
and trademark Laws. The Intellectual Property Rights are not subject to any
license (royalty bearing or royalty free) and are not subject to any other
arrangement requiring any payment to any person or the obligation to grant
rights to any person in exchange, and the Intellectual Property Rights are all
of the patent, copyright and trademark rights necessary to the conduct of the
business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as currently being conducted. The
validity of the Intellectual Property Rights and title thereto (i) have not been
questioned in any prior litigation; (ii) are not being questioned in any pending
litigation; and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are
not the subject(s) of any threatened or proposed litigation. To the knowledge of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, the business of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, as now conducted, does not infringe or conflict with and has not
been alleged to infringe or conflict with any copyrights, patents, trade
secrets, trademarks, trade names, service marks, trade dress or domain names of
others, whether or not such rights result from the common law or registration
rights of others. The Company, to its knowledge and to the knowledge of its
Subsidiaries, has not received any written or oral inquiries, threats or demands
by the Lemelson Medical, Education and Research Foundation asserting violation
of one or more of its patents by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries. To the
knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the loss or impairment of
any of the Intellectual Property Rights. To the knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, no person or entity currently engaging in any commercial activity
is infringing upon the Intellectual Property Rights.
Section 4.18. Products. Since August 28, 1999:
(a) No shipment or other delivery of products made by the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company (the "Products"), as of the date of such
shipment or delivery, is or has been (i) to the extent such Product is
subject to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended (the
"FD&C Act"), adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of Section 342
or Section 343, respectively, of the FD&C Act or is otherwise in
violation of the FD&C Act; (ii) an article which may not be introduced
into interstate commerce under the provisions of Section 344 of the FD&C
Act to the extent such Product has been introduced by the Company or any
Subsidiary into interstate commerce; or (iii) "adulterated" or
"misbranded" or is otherwise in violation of any applicable food law of
any jurisdiction.
(b) There have been no recalls or withdrawals related to the
Products.
29
(c) There have been no tampering incidents relating to the Products.
(d) No federal or state regulatory authority has issued any warning
letter or other formal notice of violation of any statute, ordinance or
regulation concerning the composition, production, storage, labeling or
advertising of the Products.
Section 4.19. Brokers. Except pursuant to the letter agreement dated
September 4, 2001 between the Company and the Independent Advisor (the
"Independent Advisor Engagement Letter"), no broker, finder or investment banker
is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection
with this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. Section
4.19 of the Company Disclosure Letter includes a complete and correct copy of
the Independent Advisor Engagement Letter.
Section 4.20. Trade Secrets. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
is, or will be on the Closing Date, the sole legal owner of, and has, or will on
the Closing Date have, good, valid and enforceable title to, all trade secrets
(including, without limitation, any processes entitled to trade secret
protection; and formulae) and proprietary information used in connection with
the manufacture of the Products, and the conduct of the operations and
businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively the "Trade
Secrets"), free and clear of any liabilities liens, encumbrances, restrictions,
claims or imperfections of title of any kind, other than Permitted Liens. To the
knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, neither the Company or any
Subsidiary nor any predecessor in interest thereof has disclosed, apart from any
information that does not extend beyond what is required by applicable Law to be
disclosed, any Trade Secrets. The Company has used, and to the knowledge of the
Company and its Subsidiaries the Company's predecessors in interest used,
commercially reasonable efforts to protect the Company's rights in its Trade
Secrets.
Section 4.21. Insurance Policies. The Company has delivered to Parent
prior to the date hereof a complete and accurate list of all insurance policies
in force naming the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or employees thereof as an
insured or beneficiary or as a loss payable payee or for which the Company or
any Subsidiary has paid or is obligated to pay all or part of the premiums.
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of any pending or
threatened cancellation or premium increase (retroactive or otherwise) with
respect thereto, and each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance
in all material respects with all conditions contained therein. There are no
material pending claims against such insurance policies by the Company or any
Subsidiary as to which insurers are defending under reservation of rights or
have denied liability, and there exists no material claim under such insurance
policies that has not been properly filed by the Company or any Subsidiary. The
insurance policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries are comparable in the
aggregate to the insurance policies held by other entities of similar size and
engaged in comparable businesses.
Section 4.22. Notes and Accounts Receivable.
(a) There are no notes receivable of the Company or any Subsidiary
owing by any director, officer, shareholder or employee of the Company
or any Subsidiary ("Affiliate Debt").
30
(b) All accounts receivable of the Company and any Subsidiary are
current or covered by adequate reserves for uncollectability, and there
are no material disputes regarding the collectibility of any such
accounts receivable.
Section 4.23. Transactions with Affiliates. Other than compensation and
benefits received in the ordinary course of business as an employee or director
of the Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Affiliate Transactions"),
no director, officer or other "affiliate" or "associate" (as hereinafter
defined) of the Company or any Subsidiary or any entity in which, to the
knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any such director, officer or
other affiliate or associate, owns any beneficial interest (other than a
publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities
exchange or in the over-the-counter market and less than 1% of the stock of
which is beneficially owned by any such persons) has any interest in: (i) any
contract, arrangement or understanding with, or relating to the business or
operations of Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any loan, arrangement,
understanding, agreement or contract for or relating to indebtedness of the
Company or any Subsidiary; (iii) any property (real, personal or mixed),
tangible, or intangible, used or currently intended to be used in, the business
or operations of the Company or any Subsidiary; or (iv) any Major Supplier,
Major Customer or Major Distributor (each as defined in Section 4.26). Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, there are no amounts due or payable by
the Company or any Subsidiary to any of the Principal Shareholders or any of
their affiliates or associates in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or the Tender Agreements or otherwise.
Section 4.24. No Existing Discussions. As of the date hereof, the
Company is not engaged, directly or indirectly, in any negotiations or
discussions with any other party with respect to a Competing Acquisition
Proposal (as defined in Section 6.5).
Section 4.25. Shareholder Rights Agreement. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has adopted a shareholder rights agreement or any similar plan or
agreement which limits or impairs the ability to purchase, or become the direct
or indirect beneficial owner of, shares of Company Common Stock or any other
equity or debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than
any shareholder rights plan or shareholder rights agreement that (a) is adopted
after the date of this Agreement, (b) does not impair the ability of the parties
to consummate the Offer or the Merger in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and (c) otherwise does not have an adverse effect on Parent or Sub or
on the rights of Parent or Sub under this Agreement or any of the Tender
Agreements.
Section 4.26. Major Suppliers, Customers and Distributors.
(a) Section 4.26(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a
list of each supplier of goods or services to Company and the
Subsidiaries (i) who is involved in contract manufacturing, copacking
arrangements or toll manufacturing (i.e., taking possession but not
title to inventory and finished goods for purposes of production
activities and receiving a fee in return for such production activities)
or a supplier of critical or key ingredients or (ii) to whom the Company
and the Subsidiaries paid in the aggregate more than $25,000 during the
12-month period ended September 1, 2001 (each a "Major Supplier" and,
collectively, "Major Suppliers"), together with in each case the amount
paid during such period. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is
engaged in any material dispute with any Major Supplier and, to the
knowledge of the Company and
31
its Subsidiaries, no Major Supplier intends to terminate, or materially
limit or reduce, its business relations with the Company or any
Subsidiary.
(b) Section 4.26(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a
list of each customer which accounted for net sales to the Company and
the Subsidiaries in the aggregate of more than $500,000 during the
12-month period ended September 1, 2001 (each a "Major Customer" and,
collectively, "Major Customers") together with the amount of net sales
produced during such period. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is
engaged in any material dispute with any Major Customer and, to the
knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, no Major Customer intends
to terminate, or materially limit or reduce, its business relations with
the Company or any Subsidiary.
(c) Section 4.26(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a
list of each distributor from whom the Company and its Subsidiaries
received, or to whom the Company and its Subsidiaries paid, in the
aggregate more than $500,000 during the 12-month period ended September
1, 2001 (each a "Major Distributor" and, collectively, "Major
Distributors") together in each case with the amount received or paid
during such period. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is engaged in
any material dispute with any Major Distributor and, to the knowledge of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, no Major Distributor intends to
terminate, or materially limit or reduce, its business relations with
the Company or any Subsidiary.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND SUB
Each of Parent and Sub, jointly and severally, represents and warrants
to the Company as follows:
Section 5.1. Organization and Standing. Such person is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business as
presently conducted.
Section 5.2. Sub.
(a) Since the date of its incorporation, Sub has not carried on any
business or conducted any operations other than the execution of this
Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder. Sub was
incorporated solely for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 100 shares of
common stock, no par value per share, all of which have been validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent free and
clear of any Liens.
Section 5.3. Authority for Agreement. Such person has all necessary
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform
its obligations hereunder and to
32
consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
The execution, delivery and performance by such person of this Agreement, and
the consummation by each such person of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and no other corporate proceedings on the part of such person
are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than, with respect to
the Merger, the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as
required by the CGCL). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
such person and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the
Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of such
person enforceable against such person in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar Laws of general application related to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles.
Section 5.4. No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by such person do not, and the performance of this Agreement by such person and
the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not, (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of such person, (ii) conflict with or violate any Law
applicable to such person or by which any property or asset of such person is
bound or affected, or (iii) result in any material breach of or constitute a
material default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would
become a material default) under, give to others any right of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien
or other encumbrance on any material property or material group of properties or
asset or material group of assets of such person pursuant to, any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or
other instrument or obligation to which such person is a party or by which such
person or any property or asset of either of them is bound or affected, except
in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) for any such conflicts, violations,
breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, prevent or materially delay the performance by such person of its
respective obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.5. Required Filings and Consents. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement by such person do not, and the performance of this Agreement
by such person will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit
of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except (i) for
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act (including relating to the Offering
Documents and, if necessary, the Proxy Statement), Blue Sky Laws and filing and
recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by the CGCL, (ii) for
those required by the HSR Act, (iii) for filings and consents contemplated by
Article II and (iv) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals,
authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not,
individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay the performance by
such person of any of its respective obligations under this Agreement or the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 5.6. Brokers. Except for Morgan, Stanley & Co., Incorporated, no
broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or
other fee or commission payable by such person in connection with this
Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such person.
33
Section 5.7. Financing. Parent and Sub will have the funds available as
is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance
with the terms hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
Section 6.1. Conduct of the Business Pending the Merger.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that between the date of this
Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of
this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1, unless Parent shall
otherwise expressly agree in writing (which agreement shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall be conducted only in, and the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall not take any action except in, the ordinary course of
business and in a manner consistent with prior practice, (ii) the
Company and its Subsidiaries shall use its reasonable best efforts to
preserve intact their business organizations, keep available the
services of their current officers and employees and preserve the
current relationships of the Company and its Subsidiaries with
customers, suppliers, distributors and other persons with which the
Company or its Subsidiaries has material business relations, and (iii)
the Company and its Subsidiaries will comply in all material respects
with all applicable Laws and regulations wherever its business is
conducted, including, without limitation, the timely filing of all
reports, forms or other documents with the SEC required pursuant to the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees that between the date of this
Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of
this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1 hereof, unless Parent
shall otherwise expressly agree in writing (which agreement shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Company shall not, nor shall the
Company permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) declare or pay any
dividends on or make other distributions (whether in cash, stock or
property) in respect of any of its capital stock, except for dividends
payable to the Company by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, (ii)
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; (iii)
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock;
(iv) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital stock or any securities
convertible into any such shares of its capital stock, or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire any such shares or convertible securities
or any stock appreciation rights, phantom stock plans or stock
equivalents, other than the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock
upon (A) the exercise of Company Options outstanding as of the date of
this Agreement or awarded in conformity with clause (v) below, and (B)
the exercise of warrants outstanding as of the date of this Agreement,
(v) award or grant, or authorize or propose the award or grant of, any
unvested Company Options, other than the award or grant of Company
Options to employees (other than executive officers of the Company) in
accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Option Plans and in the
ordinary
34
course of business and consistent with past practices for up to no more
than 100,000 shares of Company Common Stock in the aggregate for all
employees issued to employees who have not prior to the date hereof
received option grants in calendar year 2001; (vi) modify or adjust any
outstanding options to acquire shares of Company Common Stock, or (vii)
take any action that would, or could reasonably be expected to, result
in any of the conditions set forth in Article VII not being satisfied.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that between the date of this
Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of
this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1 hereof, unless Parent
shall otherwise expressly agree in writing (which agreement shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Company shall not, nor shall the
Company permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) amend its articles of
incorporation (including any certificate of designations attached
thereto) or bylaws or other equivalent organizational documents; (ii)
create, assume or incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guaranty
any such indebtedness of another person or mortgage or pledge any of its
assets or properties, other than in connection with (A) existing lines
of credit, (B) indebtedness owing to, or guaranties of indebtedness
owing to, the Company, (C) leasing contracts entered into in the
ordinary course of business with payments of less than $50,000 in the
aggregate on a monthly basis, (D) indebtedness incurred to make payments
specifically provided under or contemplated by Section 2.6(a), Section
4.19, Section 6.15 and Section 6.19 of this Agreement or (E) accounts
payable incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice; (iii) make any loans or advances to any other person other
than loans or advances between any Subsidiaries of the Company or
between the Company and any of its Subsidiaries and other than advances
of ordinary business expenses or to employees in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice in principal amounts of not more
than $10,000; (iv) merge or consolidate with any other entity in any
transaction, (v) sell any business or assets, other than sales of assets
(other than sales of products and inventory in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices) having a value of less than
$200,000 individually and $500,000 in the aggregate to the extent such
sales are in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices; (vi) change its accounting policies except as required by
GAAP or applicable Law; (vii) make any change in employment terms for
any of its directors or officers, except as expressly contemplated by
this Agreement; (viii) alter, amend or create any obligations with
respect to compensation, severance, benefits, change of control payments
or any other payments to employees, directors or affiliates of the
Company or its Subsidiaries or enter into any new, or amend any
existing, employment agreements, except (A) as required by applicable
Law or (B) severance agreements containing terms consistent with the
Company's policies and practices as of the date hereof in amounts not to
exceed $15,000 individually or $150,000 in the aggregate other than
severance agreements with key employees identified in Section 6.1(c) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, (ix) make any change to the Company
Benefit Plans, except as required by applicable Law, (x) amend or cancel
or agree to the amendment or cancellation of any Material Contract; (xi)
pay, loan or advance (other than the payment of compensation, directors'
fees or reimbursement of expenses in the ordinary course of business)
any amount to, or sell, transfer or lease any properties or assets
(real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) to, or enter into any
agreement with, any of its officers or directors or any "affiliate" or
"associate" of any of its officers or directors; (xii) form or commence
the operations of
35
any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, business
association or other business organization or division thereof; (xiii)
make any tax election or settle or compromise any tax liability
involving amounts in excess of $25,000 individually or $200,000 in the
aggregate; or (xiv) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any claims
litigation, liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued,
asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise) involving amounts in
excess of $75,000 individually or $200,000 in the aggregate. The Company
shall not amend, modify, terminate or rescind, or waive any provision
of, or otherwise alter in any way the Employment Agreement of even date
herewith between the Company and Stephen Williamson prior to the
Effective Time without the prior written consent of Parent.
In connection with the continued operation of the Company and its
Subsidiaries between the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Company will
confer in good faith on a regular and frequent basis with one or more
representatives of Parent designated to the Company regarding operational
matters and the general status of ongoing operations promptly and will notify
Parent of any event or occurrence that has had or may reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company acknowledges that Parent
does not and will not waive any rights it may have under this Agreement as a
result of such consultations. The Company shall not take any action that would,
or that could reasonably be expected to, result in any of the representations
and warranties of the Company sets forth in this Agreement becoming untrue.
Section 6.2. Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) From the date hereof to the Effective Time, the Company shall,
and shall cause the officers, directors, employees, auditors, attorneys,
financial advisors, lenders and other agents (collectively, the
"Representatives") of the Company to, afford the Representatives of
Parent and Sub reasonable access at all reasonable times and upon
reasonable notice to the officers, employees, agents, properties,
offices and other facilities, books and records of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and shall furnish Parent and Sub with all financial,
operating and other data and information as Parent or Sub, through its
Representatives, may reasonably request. Nothing in this Section 6.2
shall require the Company to provide access to or disclose information
where such access or disclosure would result in the loss of any
attorney-client privilege. The parties hereto shall make appropriate
substitute disclosure arrangements under circumstances in which the
restrictions of the preceding sentence apply. The Company shall furnish
to Parent and Sub financial and operating data and information for each
four or five week fiscal period in the form currently prepared by the
Company within seventeen (17) days following the end of each such
period. Parent and Sub will remain subject to the terms of the
Confidentiality Agreement.
(b) No investigation pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall limit or
modify in any way or affect any representation or warranty in this
Agreement of any party hereto or any condition to the obligations of the
parties hereto.
Section 6.3. Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give
prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of
(i) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or
non-occurrence of which would be reasonably likely to cause any representation
or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement to be materially untrue or
inaccurate so as to cause the condition set forth in paragraph 5(f)(A) of Annex
I to fail
36
to be satisfied, and (ii) any failure of the Company, Parent or Sub, as the case
may be, in any material respect to comply with or satisfy any covenant,
condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it so as to cause the
condition set forth in paragraph 5(f)(B) of Annex I to fail to be satisfied. If
any event or matter arises after the date of this Agreement which, if existing
or occurring at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set
forth or described in the Company Disclosure Letter or which is necessary to
make any representation and warranty true and correct on the Closing Date, then
the Company shall, for informational purposes only, promptly supplement, or
amend, and deliver to Parent the Company Disclosure Letter which it has
delivered pursuant to this Agreement. The disclosure of any matter in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6.3 shall not in any way limit or otherwise
affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such disclosure
(including for purposes of determining whether the conditions set forth in
paragraph 5(f) of Annex I have been satisfied).
Section 6.4. Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances; Cooperation.
(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, each of the
parties hereto will each use its commercially reasonable, good faith
efforts to perform its obligations set forth in this Agreement and to
take, or cause to be taken, and do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law to obtain all
consents required as described in Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure
Letter and all regulatory approvals (including, but not limited to those
identified in Sections 4.5 and 5.4) and to satisfy all conditions to
their respective obligations under this Agreement and to cause the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement to be effected as soon as
practicable after the date hereof, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and will cooperate fully with each other and their respective
officers, directors, employees, agents, counsel, accountants and other
designees in connection with any steps required to be taken as a part of
their respective obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Each of the parties hereto promptly will make their respective
filings and submissions and will use its commercially reasonable, good
faith efforts to take all actions necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable Laws and regulations to obtain any required approval of any
Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto will furnish all
information required for any application or other filing to be made
pursuant to the rules and regulations of any applicable Law in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any filing or
submission required or action to be taken by Parent to consummate the
Merger, (i) neither Parent nor any of its affiliates is required to
become subject to any requirement or condition that it divest or "hold
separate" any assets or businesses or any similar transaction or
restriction, (ii) neither Parent nor any of its affiliates is required
to divest or hold separate or otherwise take (or refrain from taking) or
commit to take (or refrain from taking) any action that limits its
freedom of action with respect to, or its ability to retain, any of the
businesses, product lines or assets of Parent or any of its affiliates,
and (iii) neither Parent nor any of its affiliates shall be required to
litigate or otherwise contest in any judicial proceeding any adverse
determination by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
37
(c) The Company will use its commercially reasonable, good faith
efforts to give any notices to third parties and use its commercially
reasonable, good faith efforts (in consultation with Parent) to obtain
any third party consents (i) necessary, proper or advisable to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii)
disclosed or required to be disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter,
including, without limitation, the consents described in Section 4.4 of
the Company Disclosure Letter, (iii) required to avoid a breach of or
default under any Material Contracts in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (iv) required to
prevent a Company Material Adverse Effect whether prior to or after the
Closing Date.
(d) The Company and its Board of Directors shall, if any state
takeover statute or similar statute is or becomes applicable to this
Agreement, the Offer, the Merger, the Tender Agreements or any other
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, take all action reasonably
necessary to ensure that the Offer, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Tender Agreements
may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated
hereby and thereby and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute
or regulation on this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger, the Tender
Agreements and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section 6.5. Board Recommendations.
(a) In connection with the Merger and the meeting of the Company
Shareholders to consider the approval and adoption of this Agreement and
the Merger (the "Shareholders Meeting"), the Board of Directors of the
Company shall (i) subject to Section 6.5(b), recommend to the Company
Shareholders to vote in favor of this Agreement and the Merger and use
its reasonable best efforts to obtain the necessary approvals by the
Company Shareholders of this Agreement and the Merger and (ii) otherwise
comply with all legal requirements applicable to such meeting.
(b) Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor any committee
thereof shall, except as expressly permitted by this Section 6.5(b), (i)
withdraw, qualify or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw, qualify or
modify, in any manner adverse to Parent or Sub, the approval or
recommendation of such Board of Directors or such committee of the
Offer, the Merger or this Agreement or otherwise seek in any manner to
abandon the Merger or this Agreement, (ii) endorse, approve, recommend
or submit to the Company Shareholders, or propose publicly to endorse,
approve, recommend or submit to the Company Shareholders, any
transaction involving a Competing Acquisition Proposal (as defined
below), or (iii) cause the Company to enter into any letter of intent,
agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, memorandum of
understanding or other similar agreement or understanding (each, an
"Acquisition Agreement") related to or with respect to any Competing
Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company has
complied fully with this Section 6.5 and Section 6.9 and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after it has received
a Superior Proposal (as hereinafter defined) in compliance with Section
6.9 and after taking into account advice from independent outside legal
counsel with respect to its fiduciary duties to Company Shareholders
under applicable California Law, that such action is required for the
Board of Directors of the Company to comply with its fiduciary
obligations to the
38
Company Shareholders under applicable California Law, the Board of
Directors of the Company may (subject to this and the following
sentences), but only prior to the consummation of the Offer, take any of
the actions described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section
6.5(b) (a "Subsequent Adverse Determination"), but only at a time that
is after the third business day following Parent's receipt of written
notice advising Parent that the Board of Directors of the Company
intends to make a Subsequent Adverse Determination; provided that the
Board of Directors of the Company may not at any time withdraw its
approval of the Offer, the Merger or this Agreement or seek to abandon
the Offer, the Merger or this Agreement. Such written notice shall
specify the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal (and
include a copy thereof with all accompanying documentation), identify
the person making such Superior Proposal and state that the Board of
Directors of the Company intends to make a Subsequent Adverse
Determination. During such three business day period, the Company shall
provide a full opportunity for Parent to propose such adjustments to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the Company to
proceed with its recommendation to its shareholders without a Subsequent
Adverse Determination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Competing
Acquisition Proposal" means any proposal from a third party with respect
to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, tender offer or similar
transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary, or any purchase or
other acquisition of 20% or more of the assets of the Company or any
Subsidiary or any purchase or other acquisition of any equity interest
in the Company or any Subsidiary. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Superior Proposal" means any bona fide proposal with respect to a
merger, consolidation, share exchange, tender offer, business
combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any
Subsidiary, or any purchase or other acquisition of 70% or more of the
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any
purchase or other acquisition of more than 50% of the equity interests
in the Company, in each case, which (w) is fully financed without any
financing condition, (x) does not contain a "right of first refusal" or
"right of first offer" with respect to any proposal that Parent may
make, (y) does not contain any "due diligence" condition and (z) the
Board of Directors determines in good faith after taking into account
advice from the independent financial advisor of the Company is more
favorable to the Company Shareholders than the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement from a financial point of view taking into account any
proposed changes to such transactions that may be proposed by Parent in
response to such proposal. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Company shall submit this Agreement to the Company
Shareholders whether or not the Board of Directors of the Company makes
a Subsequent Adverse Determination; provided that the Company,
concurrently with the submission of this Agreement and the Merger may
submit to the Company Shareholders other Competing Acquisition
Proposals, if the Company has complied with Section 6.5 and Section 6.9
with respect to such other Competing Acquisition Proposals.
Section 6.6. Shareholder Litigation. After consummation of the Offer,
the Company shall give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense or
settlement of any shareholder Litigation against the Company and its directors
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger
("Shareholder Litigation"); provided, however, that no such settlement (whether
made before or after the consummation of the Offer) shall be agreed to without
Parent's consent which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; provided,
further, that no such
39
settlement without Parent's consent shall be deemed to constitute a breach of
this Agreement unless such settlement is material or has a material impact on
Parent or Sub in relation to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.7. Indemnification.
(a) It is understood and agreed that all rights to indemnification
by the Company now existing in favor of each present and former director
and officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries (the "Indemnified
Parties") as provided in the Company Articles of Incorporation or the
Company Bylaws, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement,
or pursuant to any other agreements in effect on the date hereof, copies
of which have been provided to Parent, shall survive the Merger. Except
as required by applicable Law, Parent shall ensure that the Surviving
Corporation does not prior to the sixth anniversary of the Effective
Time rescind or otherwise amend the provisions of Article IV of the
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation in effect as of
the Effective Time with respect to the period prior to the Effective
Time or Article X of the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation in effect
as of the Effective Time with respect to the period prior to the
Effective Time. Parent shall (i) cause the Surviving Corporation to
continue in full force and effect for a period of at least six years
from the Effective Time and (ii) perform, or cause the Surviving
Corporation to perform, in a timely manner, the Surviving Corporation's
obligations with respect thereto. Parent and Sub agree that any claims
for indemnification hereunder as to which they have received written
notice prior to the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time shall
survive, whether or not such claims shall have been finally adjudicated
or settled.
(b) Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, and the
Surviving Corporation shall, maintain in effect for six years from the
Effective Time, the current directors' and officers' liability insurance
policies ("D&O Insurance") covered by such policies (provided that the
Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies of at least the
same coverage containing terms and conditions which are not less
favorable in any material respect) with respect to matters occurring
prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that in no event shall
the Surviving Corporation be required to expend pursuant to this Section
6.7(b) more than an amount per year equal to two hundred percent (200%)
of current annual premiums paid by the Company for such insurance. In
the event that, but for the proviso to the immediately preceding
sentence, the Surviving Corporation would be required to expend more
than two hundred percent (200%) of current annual premiums, the
Surviving Corporation shall obtain the maximum amount of such insurance
obtainable by payment of annual premiums equal to two hundred percent
(200%) of current annual premiums.
(c) If the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns
(i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation
or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties
and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper provision
shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving
Corporation shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.7.
40
(d) The provisions of this Section 6.7 are intended for the benefit
of, and may be enforced by, each person entitled to indemnification
under this Section 6.7.
Section 6.8. Public Announcements. Parent, Sub and the Company shall
consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any
public statements with respect to this Agreement or the Merger and shall not
issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such
consultation, except as may be required by Law or the requirements of any
securities exchange or trading system. Promptly following the execution of this
Agreement, the Company may issue a press release in the form agreed to by the
parties.
Section 6.9. Competing Acquisition Proposals. The Company shall not, nor
shall it authorize or permit any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives to,
directly or indirectly, (a) solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of any
Competing Acquisition Proposal or (b) participate in or encourage any discussion
or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information
with respect to, enter into any Acquisition Agreement with respect to, or take
any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of, any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Competing Acquisition
Proposal; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Board of
Directors of the Company, prior to the consummation of the Offer, from
furnishing information to, or entering into or participating in discussions or
negotiations with, any person or entity that makes an unsolicited Competing
Acquisition Proposal which did not result from a breach of Section 6.5 or this
Section 6.9 only if, and only to the extent that, (A) the Board of Directors of
the Company, after taking into account advice from independent outside legal
counsel and financial advisors, determines in good faith that such action is
required for the Board of Directors of the Company to comply with its fiduciary
obligations to the Company Shareholders under applicable California law, (B)
prior to taking such action, the Company receives from such person or entity an
executed agreement in reasonably customary form relating to the confidentiality
of information to be provided to such person or entity and including standstill
provisions no less favorable to the Company than those contained in the
Confidentiality Agreement and (C) the Board of Directors of the Company
concludes in good faith, after taking into account the advice of its independent
financial advisor, that the Competing Acquisition Proposal is a Superior
Proposal. The Company shall provide immediate oral and written notice to Parent
of (a) the receipt of any such Competing Acquisition Proposal or any inquiry
which could reasonably be expected to lead to any Competing Acquisition
Proposal, (b) the material terms and conditions of such Competing Acquisition
Proposal or inquiry, (c) the identity of such person or entity making any such
Competing Acquisition Proposal or inquiry and (d) the Company's intention to
furnish information to, or enter into discussions or negotiations with, such
person or entity. The Company shall continue to keep Parent fully informed of
the status and details of any such Competing Acquisition Proposal or inquiry.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company or any of
the officers, directors or employees of the Company from (i) referring a third
party to this Section 6.9 or (ii) complying with Rule 14(e)-2 promulgated under
the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the Company Shareholders if,
in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, based on
advice from its outside counsel, failure to so disclose would violate applicable
Law; provided, however, that neither the Company nor its Board of Directors nor
any committee thereof shall, except as specifically permitted by Section 6.5(b),
withdraw, qualify, or modify, or propose to withdraw, qualify or modify, its
position with respect to the Offer, the
41
Merger or this Agreement or approve or recommend, or propose to approve or
recommend a Competing Acquisition Proposal.
Section 6.10. Undertakings of Parent. Parent shall perform, or cause to
be performed, when due all obligations of Sub and the Surviving Corporation
under this Agreement.
Section 6.11. Director Resignations. The Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to Parent resignations
of all the directors of the Company's Subsidiaries to be effective upon the
consummation of the Merger.
Section 6.12. Shareholders' Rights Agreement. The Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to terminate, as of immediately prior to the
consummation of the Offer, the Shareholders' Rights Agreement dated as of May
22, 2000 between the Company, the Principal Shareholders and the other parties
named on the signature pages thereof (the "Shareholders' Rights Agreement"), and
the Company shall execute and deliver such agreements or certificates as Parent
may reasonably request to further evidence the termination of the Shareholders'
Rights Agreement. The Company hereby waives any rights that it may have under
the Shareholders' Rights Agreement relating to the execution and delivery of the
Merger Agreement and the Tender Agreements.
Section 6.13. Employee Benefits. As of the Effective Time and for a
period of at least one year after the Closing Date, Parent shall, or shall cause
the Surviving Corporation to, maintain compensation and benefit plans and
arrangements for employees of the Company who continue employment with the
Surviving Corporation or any subsidiary thereof after the Effective Time
("Continuing Employees") that, in the aggregate, are at least, in the case of
compensation plans and arrangements substantially comparable in value, and in
the case of benefit plans and arrangements otherwise substantially comparable,
to those currently provided by the Company to the Continuing Employees as of the
Effective Time (excluding any stock options or other stock-based compensation),
except as required by applicable Law (including as required to preserve any
favorable tax treatment afforded such benefits as of the Effective Time). Parent
shall give each Continuing Employee credit for past service for any benefit plan
or scheme (with the exception of any defined benefit pension plan) that may be
in place for Continuing Employees within a period of one year after the Closing
Date as if such service had been with Parent; provided that nothing in this
sentence shall obligate Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any subsidiary
thereof to establish or maintain any particular benefit plan or scheme for
Continuing Employees. Parent agrees that the Surviving Corporation shall be
responsible for providing all legally-mandated continuation coverage for
Continuing Employees and their covered dependents who experience a loss of
coverage due to a "qualifying event" (within the meaning of Section 603 of
ERISA) which occurs at any time on or after the Effective Time. Nothing in this
Section 6.13 is intended to create any employment obligation other than as
employees at will who may be terminated with or without cause.
Section 6.14. Environmental Assessments. On and after the date of this
Agreement and through the Closing Date, Parent and its agents and
representatives shall have the right to conduct, at Parent's sole cost,
environmental assessments (including reasonable on-site access during normal
business hours and at least meeting Phase I environmental assessment
requirements) ("Environmental Assessments") of the Facilities located in Dinuba,
California and Saco, Maine. The Company and the Subsidiaries shall cooperate in
good faith with Parent
42
regarding such Environmental Assessments and use their reasonable best efforts
to facilitate such Environmental Assessments. Parent shall give forty-eight (48)
business hours (two business days) advance notice to the Company of Parent's
intention to access the Facilities so that the Company may have the opportunity
to have a representative(s) present. Parent shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to minimize interference with the operations or activities of
the Facilities. Upon request, Parent shall give the Company a true and accurate
copy of any documentation or results of any such Environmental Assessments of
the Facilities. Any such documentation or results of the Environmental
Assessments of the Facilities shall be subject to and governed by the
Confidentiality Agreement. Parent acknowledges that prior to the signing of this
Agreement, Environmental Assessments were conducted by Parent's agents regarding
the Facilities located in Dinuba, California and Saco, Maine. Parent agrees that
additional Environmental Assessments will be conducted only if Parent has an
objective, reasonable basis for requesting the same based on information of
which Parent becomes aware after the date hereof and that was not reasonably
apparent from the reports prepared in connection with the Environmental
Assessments conducted prior to the date hereof.
Section 6.15. Settlement Fee. Prior to the consummation of the Offer,
the Company shall cause to be paid in full all unpaid fines, penalties and
interest owed to the United States government under the settlement agreement
with the United States government dated July 23, 1998 (the "Settlement Fee") and
the Company shall provide to the Food and Drug Administration's San Francisco
District Office not less than 10 days prior notice of the consummation of the
Offer. On or prior to the expiration date of the Offer, the Purchaser shall, or
shall cause Sub to, lend to the Company on commercially reasonable terms an
amount equal to the amount necessary to pay the Settlement Fee.
Section 6.16. Conveyance Taxes. Parent and the Company shall cooperate
in the preparation, execution and filing of all returns, questionnaires,
applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or gains,
sales, use, transfer, value added stock transfer and stamp taxes, any transfer,
recording, registration and other fees, and any similar Taxes which become
payable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby that are
required or permitted to be filed on or before the Effective Time.
Section 6.17. Shareholder Rights Plan. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary shall adopt any shareholder rights agreement or any similar plan or
agreement which limits or impairs the ability to purchase, or become the direct
or indirect beneficial owner of, shares of Company Common Stock or any other
equity or debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than
any shareholder rights plan or shareholder rights agreement that (a) does not
impair the ability of the parties to consummate the Offer or the Merger in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (b) otherwise does not have an
adverse effect on Parent or Sub or on the rights of Parent or Sub under this
Agreement or any of the Tender Agreements.
Section 6.18. Actions by Company Board. Prior to the consummation of the
Offer, the Board of Directors of the Company shall comply as applicable with the
provisions of the SEC's no-action letter dated January 12, 1999 addressed to
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP relating to Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act.
Section 6.19. Loans to Permit Exercise of Company Options. If and only
to the extent that Parent requires any of D. Stephen C. Williamson, James R.
Steichen and/or Theodore R.
43
Leaman (the "Executives") to exercise Company Options immediately prior to the
consummation of the Offer pursuant to Section 1.4 of the Executive's Tender
Agreements, the Company will loan to D. Stephen C. Williamson, James R. Steichen
and/or Theodore R. Leaman such funds as may be necessary to permit any of such
Executives to exercise such Company Options. In the event that the Company
becomes obligated to advance funds pursuant to the immediately preceding
sentence and the Company fails to advance such funds to any Executive, Parent
shall advance such funds to any Executive on commercially reasonable terms.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS
Section 7.1. Conditions to the Obligation of Each Party. The respective
obligations of Parent, Sub and the Company to effect the Merger are subject to
the satisfaction of the following conditions, unless waived in writing by all
parties:
(a) Sub shall have previously accepted for payment and paid for
Shares pursuant to the Offer, except that neither Parent, Sub nor the
Company shall be entitled to invoke this condition if, in breach of its
obligations under this Agreement, it shall have been the cause of the
failure of Sub to purchase pursuant to the Offer Shares validly tendered
and not withdrawn;
(b) This Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved and
adopted by the requisite vote of the Company Shareholders, if any, as
required by the CGCL, the Company Articles of Incorporation and the
Company Bylaws;
(c) No temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction
or other legal prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger
shall be in effect, provided that the party relying on this condition
shall have complied in all material respects with its obligations under
Section 6.4; and
(d) All actions by or in respect of or filings with any Governmental
Entity required to permit the consummation of the Offer and the Merger
shall have been obtained or made (including the expiration or
termination of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act).
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section 8.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before
or after approval of matters presented in connection with the Merger by the
Company Shareholders, only:
(a) By mutual written consent of duly authorized representatives of
Parent and the Company;
44
(b) By any of Parent, Sub or the Company if any court of competent
jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity shall have issued an order,
decree, ruling or taken any other action permanently restraining,
enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree,
ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable, except
if the party relying on such order, decree or ruling or other action has
not complied in all material respects with its obligations under Section
6.4;
(c) By any of Parent, Sub or the Company if (x) as a result of the
failure of any of the Offer Conditions the Offer shall have terminated
or expired in accordance with its terms without Sub, in accordance with
this Agreement, having accepted for payment any Shares pursuant to the
Offer within the time period for acceptance specified by this Agreement,
or (y) Sub, in accordance with this Agreement, shall not have accepted
for payment any Shares pursuant to the Offer by May 31, 2002; provided,
however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section
8.1(c) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any
obligation under this Agreement has been the primary cause of, or
resulted in, the expiration or termination of the Offer on or before
such date;
(d) By Parent or Sub if a Competing Acquisition Proposal shall have
been consummated or if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
made a Subsequent Adverse Determination;
(e) By the Company, if Parent or Sub shall breach in any material
respect any of their respective representations, warranties or
obligations hereunder and, within twenty (20) days after written notice
of such breach to Parent from the Company, such breach shall not have
been cured in all material respects or waived by the Company;
(f) By any of the Company, Parent or Sub, if this Agreement and the
Merger shall fail to be approved and adopted by the Company Shareholders
at a duly held Shareholders' Meeting or at any adjournment or
postponement thereof; provided, that neither Parent nor Sub may
terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(f) if the Company Common
Stock it is entitled to vote (whether by ownership, proxy or otherwise)
shall not have been voted in favor of this Agreement and the Merger;
(g) By Parent or Sub, if the Company shall breach any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or other obligations hereunder
which would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in
paragraph 5(f) of Annex I and, within twenty (20) days after written
notice of such breach to the Company from Parent, such breach shall not
have been cured, or waived by Parent or Sub; or
(h) By Parent or Sub, if, for any reason (i) the representations and
warranties of the Company in Section 4.2(a) of this Agreement or (ii)
the representations and warranties of any Principal Shareholder in
Section 2.1 of any Tender Agreement (clause (i) and clause (ii)
collectively being referred to as the "Capital Stock Representations")
shall not be true and correct in all respects; provided, that neither
Parent nor Sub may terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(h)
if, after giving effect to the failure of any Capital Stock
Representations to be true and correct, the number of shares of Company
Common Stock owned by the Principal Shareholders which is subject to the
Tender Agreements shall be equal to or greater than 54.0% of the sum of
(x) the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and (y)
the number of shares of
45
Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of vested Company
Options, and the number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by the
Principal Shareholders which is subject to the voting provisions
contained in the Tender Agreements shall be equal to or greater than
50.1% of the sum of (x) the issued and outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock and (y) the number of shares of Company Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of vested Company Options.
Section 8.2. Effect of Termination.
(a) In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.1 hereof, this Agreement shall forthwith be terminated and
have no further effect except as specifically provided herein and,
except as provided in this Section 8.2 and in Section 9.10 and Section
9.12, there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto,
provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for
any willful breach hereof.
(b) If Parent or Sub exercises its right to terminate this Agreement
under Section 8.1(d), the Company shall pay to Parent upon demand
$8,000,000 (the "Termination Fee"), payable in same-day funds, to
reimburse Parent for its time, expense, lost opportunity costs and other
costs and damages associated with pursuing the Merger.
(c) If within one year after termination of this Agreement (other
than a termination pursuant to Section 8.1(b), Section 8.1(c) (but only
if the termination pursuant to Section 8.1(c) results from a failure to
satisfy the Offer Conditions set forth in paragraph 2 of Annex I) or
Section 8.1(e)) the Company shall enter into any agreement relating to a
Competing Acquisition Proposal with a person or entity other than Parent
or Sub or a Competing Acquisition Proposal with a person or entity other
than Parent or Sub shall otherwise be consummated, then immediately
prior to, and as a condition of, the entering into of such agreement or
the consummation of such transaction, as the case may be, the Company
shall pay to Parent upon demand the Termination Fee, payable in same-day
funds, to reimburse Parent for its time, expense, lost opportunity costs
and other costs and damages associated with pursuing the Merger;
provided that no such amount shall be payable if the Termination Fee
shall have been paid in accordance with Section 8.2(b) of this
Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, if the Company fails promptly to pay to Parent any amounts
due under this Section 8.2, the Company shall pay the costs and expenses
(including reasonable legal fees and expenses) in connection with any
action, including the filing of any lawsuit or other legal action, taken
to collect payment, together with interest on the amount of any unpaid
fee or obligation at the publicly announced prime rate of Citibank, N.A.
in effect from time to time from the date such fee or obligation was
required to be paid.
Section 8.3. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto; provided,
however, that after approval of the Merger by the Company Shareholders, no
amendment may be made without the further approval of the Company Shareholders
if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the Merger Consideration or
change the form thereof, and no amendment may be made to Section 6.7 without the
consent of the third party beneficiaries of such Section.
46
Section 8.4. Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after the Shareholders Meeting, any party hereto, by action taken or
authorized by its board of directors, may (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the covenants, obligations or other acts of any other
party hereto or (ii) waive any inaccuracy of any representations or warranties
or compliance with any of the agreements, covenants or conditions of any other
party or with any conditions to its own obligations. Any agreement on the part
of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set
forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party by its duly
authorized officer. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of
its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of
such rights. The waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and
other circumstances shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts
and circumstances and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may
be asserted at any time and from time to time.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 9.1. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Other than the provisions of
Section 6.7 hereof, nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights or
remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto.
Section 9.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the
Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior
understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties, written
or oral, with respect to the subject matter hereof. No amendment, modification
or alteration of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or the Company
Disclosure Letter shall be binding unless the same shall be in writing and duly
executed by the parties hereto.
Section 9.3. Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties named herein and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. No party may assign either this Agreement or
any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written
approval of the other parties; provided, however, that each of Parent and Sub
may freely assign its rights to another direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent or Sub without such prior written approval but no such
assignment shall relieve Parent or Sub of any of its obligations hereunder. Any
purported assignment without such consent shall be void.
Section 9.4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 9.5. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9.6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, without regard
to principles of conflicts of Law thereof.
47
Section 9.7. Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that
is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions
hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in
any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is
invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making the
determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce
the scope, duration, or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words
or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a
term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to
expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and
this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the
time within which the judgment may be appealed.
Section 9.8. Specific Performance. Each of the parties acknowledges and
agrees that the other party would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or otherwise are breached. Accordingly, each of the parties agrees that
the other party shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to
prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
this Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof in any action instituted in
any court of the United States or any state thereof having jurisdiction over the
parties and the matter, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be
entitled, at law or in equity.
Section 9.9. Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual
intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation."
Section 9.10. Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties and
Agreements. The representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement
shall terminate at the Effective Time or upon the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1, as the case may be, except that (i) the agreements set
forth in Articles II and IX and Sections 6.6 and 6.7 shall survive the Effective
Time indefinitely and (ii) the agreements set forth in Sections 6.2 (with
respect to confidentiality), 6.6, 6.8 and 8.2 and in Article IX shall survive
the termination of this Agreement indefinitely.
Section 9.11. Certain Definitions.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, the terms "associate" and
"affiliate" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule l2b-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act, and the term "person" shall mean any
individual, corporation, partnership (general or limited), limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, joint venture,
joint-stock company, syndicate, association, entity, unincorporated
organization or government or any political subdivision, agency or
instrumentality thereof or any other entity. For purposes of this
Agreement, the phrase "Company Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, with
respect to the Company, any change, event or effect that, when taken
together with all other adverse changes, events or effects that have
occurred, (i) is materially adverse to the business, operations,
properties, condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities
48
(including, without limitation, contingent liabilities) of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) prevents or delays beyond
May 31, 2002 the consummation of the Offer or the Merger; provided,
however, that a Company Material Adverse Effect shall not include (x) in
and of itself failure by the Company to meet analysts' earnings
forecasts or estimates or changes in the market price of the Company
Common Stock in and of itself or (y) any effect resulting from any
change in general economic conditions, including any change in general
economic conditions due to any act of war, terrorism or threat of war or
terrorism, which changes do not disproportionately affect the Company
and its Subsidiaries (provided that it is understood and agreed that the
foregoing exclusion shall not exclude any change, event or effect that
would otherwise be a Company Material Adverse Effect caused by any act
of war or terrorism or threat of war or terrorism directed at the
beverage industry which disproportionately affects the Company and its
Subsidiaries as compared to the beverage industry as a whole) or (z) any
effect resulting solely in and of itself from the public announcement of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
consummation of such transactions (other than any Litigation or claims
the substance of which is not related to the public announcement of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
consummation of such transactions).
Subject to the provisions set forth below, for purposes of
determining whether any Litigation arising from a claim that is made
after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the date that is the
earlier of (i) the consummation of the Offer or (ii) the termination of
this Agreement is, or is reasonably likely to constitute or contribute
to a "Company Material Adverse Effect," the alleged claim amount by the
plaintiffs in such Litigation shall not be taken into account in making
such determination, but instead the relevant factors in determining the
materiality of such Litigation shall be (w) the relative merits of such
litigation, (x) the objective probability of success of such Litigation,
(y) the reasonably expected magnitude of any judgment, settlement and/or
defense costs associated with such Litigation, and (z) the benefit of
any insurance proceeds available to the Company to cover losses relating
to such Litigation. In the event of a dispute between the Parent and
Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, regarding
whether such Litigation constitutes or contributes to or is reasonably
likely to constitute or contribute to a Company Material Adverse Effect,
upon the request of Parent, Sub or the Company, the parties hereto shall
submit such dispute to a mutually agreed upon nationally recognized
United States law firm, and the determination of such law firm regarding
whether and to what extent such Litigation constitutes or contributes to
or is reasonably likely to constitute or contribute to a Company
Material Adverse Effect (the "Dispute Decision") shall be final and
binding on the parties hereto. The expenses of such determination shall
be borne equally by the Parent and the Company. The closing of the Offer
shall not take place until the second business day following the
rendering of the Dispute Decision, assuming the satisfaction, or waiver
by Parent and Sub, of the Offer Conditions. For the avoidance of doubt,
any Litigation arising in connection with those claims described in
Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall not constitute or
contribute to a Company Material Adverse Effect. Notwithstanding
anything else contained herein, any Shareholder Litigation shall be
excluded from Litigation subject to determination pursuant to this
paragraph and shall not in and of itself be taken into account in
determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or
would be reasonably expected to occur.
49
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the phrases "to the knowledge of
the Company," "known to the Company," and similar formulations shall
mean the actual knowledge of the Company's executive officers and other
officers having primary responsibility for such matter.
Section 9.12. Fees and Expenses. Except as provided in Section 8.2, all
costs and expenses incurred by the parties hereto in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such expenses.
Section 9.13. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by telecopy
or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested)
to the respective parties at the following addresses, or at such other address
for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this
Section 9.13:
If to Parent or Sub: The Coca-Cola Company
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
Telecopier: (404) 676-8621
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy (which does not constitute notice) to:
The Coca-Cola Company
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
Telecopier: (404) 676-6209
Attention: General Counsel
and with a copy to: King & Spalding
191 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telecopier: (404) 572-5100
Attention: C. William Baxley
If to the Company: Odwalla, Inc.
120 Stone Pine Road
Half Moon Bay, California 94019
Telecopier: (650) 712-5967
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to: Morrison & Foerster LLP
425 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94965
Telecopier: (415) 268-7522
Attention: Robert S. Townsend
50
Section 9.14. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF PARENT, SUB AND THE COMPANY
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL RIGHTS TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON
CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
51
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
By: /s/ DAVID M. TAGGERT
Name: David M. Taggert
Title: Vice President
PERRY PHILLIP CORP.
By: /s/ PAUL ETCHELLS
Name: Paul Etchells
Title: President
ODWALLA, INC.
By: /s/ D. STEPHEN C. WILLIAMSON
Name: D. Stephen C. Williamson
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
52
ANNEX I
CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER
Capitalized terms used in this Annex I shall have the meanings assigned
to them in this Agreement.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, and in addition to
(and not in limitation of) Sub's rights to extend and/or amend the Offer at any
time in its sole discretion (subject to the provisions of this Agreement), Sub's
obligations under this Agreement pursuant to the Offer shall be subject to the
following conditions, and if such conditions are not satisfied, Sub may delay
the acceptance for payment of or, subject to any applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, the
payment for, any tendered Shares, and may terminate or amend the Offer as to any
Shares not then paid for:
(1) at or prior to the expiration date of the Offer, the number of
Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn, together with any Shares then owned
by Parent or Sub, shall satisfy the Minimum Condition or, if applicable pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement, the Option Exercise Minimum Number or the
Revised Minimum Number;
(2) at or prior to the expiration date of the Offer, (a) any applicable
waiting period under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated, and (b)
all other actions by or in respect of or other filings with any Governmental
Entity required to permit the consummation of the Offer and the Merger shall
have been obtained or made, other than, in the case of clause (b), such actions
or filings the failure of which to make or obtain would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(3) the Shareholders' Rights Agreement shall have been terminated;
(4) the Settlement Fee shall have been paid in full immediately prior to
the consummation of the Offer, unless such failure to make payment of the
Settlement Fee is caused by the failure of Parent to meet its obligation under
Section 6.15 of this Agreement; and the Company shall have provided to the Food
and Drug Administration's San Francisco District Office not less than 10 days
prior notice of the consummation of the Offer; or
(5) at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to acceptance
for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer, none of the following events or
conditions shall occur or exist:
(a) there shall be instituted, pending or threatened any action or
proceeding by any Governmental Authority: (i) challenging or seeking to
permanently restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit the Offer or the
Merger; (ii) seeking to restrain or prohibit Parent's or Sub's full
rights of ownership or operation of any portion of the business or
assets of the Company, or to compel Parent or Sub to dispose of or hold
separate all or any portion of the business or assets of the Company;
(iii) seeking to impose limitations on the ability of Parent or Sub
effectively to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares acquired
pursuant to the Offer and the Merger, including, without limitation, the
right to vote any Shares acquired or owned by Parent or Sub on all
matters properly presented to the Company's shareholders; (iv) seeking
to require divestiture by Parent or Sub of any
B-1
Shares; or (v) that otherwise would reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect;
(b) there shall be enacted, enforced, promulgated, in force or
deemed applicable to the Offer or the Merger by any Governmental
Authority any statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or injunction
(other than the application of the routine waiting period provisions of
the HSR Act) that has, directly or indirectly, resulted, or is
reasonably likely to, directly or indirectly, result in any of the
consequences referred to in paragraph (a) above;
(c) an event shall have occurred that has resulted in, or would be
reasonably expected to result in, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(d) any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity
shall have issued an order, decree, ruling or taken any other action
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Offer or the Merger;
provided, that with respect to Shareholder Litigation, unless such
order, decree, ruling or other action shall be final and nonappealable,
this condition in and of itself shall not be a ground for termination
and shall only have the effect of delaying the consummation of the Offer
during the effective period of such order, decree, ruling or other
action;
(e) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of trading
in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any national securities
exchange or in the over-the-counter market, (ii) the declaration of any
banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks or
any material limitation (whether or not mandatory) on the extension of
credit by lending institutions in the United States, (iii) the
commencement of a war, material armed hostilities or other material
international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the
United States that has a significant adverse effect on the functioning
of the financial markets in the United States, or (iv) in the case of
any of the foregoing existing at the time of execution of the Agreement,
a material acceleration or worsening thereof; provided that this
condition in and of itself shall not be a ground for termination and
shall only have the effect of delaying the consummation of the Offer
during the effective period of such declaration or suspension or other
event;
(f) (A) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement shall not be true and correct in all respects as of the date
of this Agreement or as of the expiration of the Offer without giving
effect to any exceptions for "material" or "materiality" or "Company
Material Adverse Effect", except where the failure of such
representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually or
in the aggregate, does not have and is not reasonably likely to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect; (B) the Company shall not have
performed in all material respects all covenants, agreements and
obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement; (C) the
directors of the Company shall not have resigned as provided in Article
I; or (D) an officer of the Company shall not have delivered to Parent
and Buyer a certificate to the effect that each of the foregoing
conditions is satisfied in all respects; or
2
(g) this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its
terms or amended in accordance with its terms to provide for such
termination or amendment of the Offer.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and Sub and
may be asserted or waived by Parent or Sub, regardless of the circumstances
giving rise to any such condition (including any action or omission by Parent or
Sub), in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in their sole
discretion. The failure by Parent or Sub at any time to exercise any of the
foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right; the waiver of
any such right with respect to any particular facts and circumstances shall not
be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances; and each
such right shall be deemed an ongoing right and may be asserted at any time and
from time to time.
3
EX-99.2
4
f76673ex99-2.txt
EXHIBIT 99.2
EXHIBIT 99.2
EXECUTION COPY
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of October 29, 2001 (this "Agreement"),
is entered into among Odwalla, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"),
The Coca-Cola Company, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and Perry Phillip
Corp., a California corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the parties hereto are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement") which provides, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth therein, for (i) the commencement by Sub of a tender offer (the
"Offer") to purchase any and all of the outstanding shares of the common stock,
no par value (the "Shares"), of the Company at a price of $15.25 per Share in
cash, net to the seller (such price, or such greater amount which may be paid
pursuant to the Offer, the "Offer Price") and (ii) the subsequent merger of Sub
with and into the Company (the "Merger"), whereby each Share issued and
outstanding (other than Shares owned by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of
Parent and other than Shares which are held by shareholders exercising
dissenters' rights pursuant to Chapter 13 of the California General Corporation
Law (the "CGCL")) shall be converted into the right to receive the Offer Price;
WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of Parent and Sub to enter
into the Merger Agreement, Parent and Sub have required that the Company agree,
and in order to induce Parent and Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement, the
Company has agreed, to grant to Sub an option to purchase Shares upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
The Top-Up Option
.1. Grant of Top-Up Stock Option. Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein, the Company hereby grants to Sub an irrevocable option (the
"Top-Up Stock Option") to purchase that number of Shares (the "Top-Up Option
Shares") equal to the number of Shares that, when added to the number of Shares
owned by Sub, Parent and any other subsidiary of Parent immediately following
consummation of the Offer, shall constitute 90.1% of the Shares outstanding on a
fully diluted basis (assuming the issuance of the Top-Up Option Shares) and
shall permit Sub to effect the Merger pursuant to Section 1110 of the CGCL
(assuming the issuance of the Top-Up Option Shares) at a purchase price per
Top-Up Option Share equal to the Offer Price; provided, however, that the Top-Up
Stock Option shall not be exercisable if the
number of Shares subject thereto exceeds the number of authorized shares of
common stock of the Company available for issuance. The Company agrees to
provide Parent and Sub with information regarding the number of Shares available
for issuance on an ongoing basis.
.2. Exercise of Top-Up Stock Option.
(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.1, Sub may, at
its election, exercise the Top-Up Stock Option in whole, but not in
part, at any one time after the occurrence of a Top-Up Exercise Event
(as defined below) and prior to the Top-Up Termination Date (as defined
below).
(b) A "Top-Up Exercise Event" shall occur for purposes of this
Agreement upon Sub's acceptance for payment pursuant to the Offer of
Shares constituting, together with Shares owned directly or indirectly
by Sub, Parent and any other subsidiary of Parent, more than 50% of the
Shares then outstanding but less than 90% of the Shares then
outstanding on a fully diluted basis.
(c) Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 1.2(c),
the "Top-Up Termination Date" shall occur for purposes of this
Agreement upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the Effective Time; (ii)
the date which is 20 business days after the occurrence of a Top-Up
Exercise Event; (iii) the termination of the Merger Agreement; and (iv)
the date on which Sub reduces the Minimum Condition to the Revised
Minimum Number and accepts for payment a number of Shares equal to the
Revised Minimum Number.
(d) Notwithstanding the occurrence of the Top-Up Termination Date,
Sub shall be entitled to purchase the Top-Up Option Shares if it has
exercised the Top-Up Stock Option in accordance with the terms hereof
prior to such occurrence, and the occurrence of the Top-Up Termination
Date shall not affect any rights hereunder which by their terms do not
terminate or expire prior to or as of such date.
(e) In the event Sub wishes to exercise the Top-Up Stock Option,
Sub shall send to the Company a written notice (a "Top-Up Exercise
Notice," the date of which notice is referred to herein as the "Top-Up
Notice Date") specifying the denominations of the certificate or
certificates evidencing the Top-Up Option Shares which Sub wishes to
receive, the place for the closing of the purchase and sale pursuant to
the Top-Up Stock Option (the "Top-Up Closing") and a date not earlier
than one day nor later than ten business days after the Top-Up Notice
Date for the Top-Up Closing; provided, however, that (i) if the Top-Up
Closing cannot be consummated by reason of any applicable Laws or
orders, the period of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this
sentence shall run instead from the date on which such restriction on
consummation has expired or been terminated and (ii) without limiting
the foregoing, if prior notification to or approval of any Governmental
Entity is required in connection with such purchase, Sub and the
Company shall promptly file the required notice or application for
approval and shall cooperate in the expeditious filing of such notice
or application, and the period of time
2
that otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence shall run instead
from the date on which, as the case may be, (A) any required
notification period has expired or been terminated or (B) any required
approval has been obtained, and in either event, any requisite waiting
period has expired or been terminated. The Company shall, promptly
after receipt of the Top-Up Exercise Notice, deliver a written notice
to Sub confirming the number of Top-Up Option Shares and the aggregate
purchase price therefor.
ARTICLE II
Closing
.1. Conditions to Closing. The obligation of the Company to deliver
Top-Up Option Shares upon the exercise of the Top-Up Stock Option is subject to
the following conditions:
(a) any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act and any
applicable non-United States Laws regulating competition, antitrust,
investment or exchange controls relating to the issuance of the Top-Up
Option Shares hereunder shall have expired or been terminated;
(b) no provision of any applicable Law or regulation and no
judgment, injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the exercise of
the Top-Up Stock Option or the delivery of the Top-Up Option Shares in
respect of any such exercise; and
(c) delivery of the Top-Up Option Shares would not violate, or
otherwise cause a violation of the rule of the Nasdaq Stock Market set
forth in Section 4350(i)1(D) of the NASD Manual.
.2. Closing.
(a) At the Top-Up Closing (i) the Company shall deliver to Sub a
certificate or certificates evidencing the applicable number of Top-Up
Option Shares (in the denominations designated by Sub in the Top-Up
Exercise Notice) and (ii) Sub shall purchase each Top-Up Option Share
from the Company at the Offer Price. Payment by Sub of the purchase
price for the Top-Up Option Shares shall be made by delivery of
immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account designated
by the Company.
(b) The Company shall pay all expenses, and any and all federal,
state and local taxes and other charges, that may be payable in
connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of stock
certificates under this Section 2.2.
.3. Securities Law Compliance. Sub understands that the Shares which
Sub may acquire hereunder will not be registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") in reliance upon an exemption thereunder
for transactions not involving a public transaction. Sub is, or will be upon the
purchase of the Top-Up Option Shares, an accredited
3
investor for purposes of the federal securities laws. The Top-Up Stock Option
and the Top-Up Option Shares to be acquired upon exercise of the Top-Up Stock
Option are being and will be acquired by Sub without a view to public
distribution thereof otherwise than in compliance with the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws and will not be transferred or otherwise
disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from registration under
the Securities Act and in compliance with applicable state securities laws. Sub
will not effect any offer or sale of Top-Up Option Shares which would cause the
Company to violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act or the
registration or qualification requirements of the securities laws of any
jurisdiction. Sub will comply with all obligations under applicable securities
law in connection with the receipt of the Top-Up Stock Option or the purchase of
the Top-Up Option Shares or otherwise with respect to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
Additional Agreements
.1. Restrictive Legends. Certificates evidencing the Shares to be
delivered hereunder may include legends legally required including the legend in
substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY
STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS, AND MAY BE REOFFERED OR SOLD
ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION
IS AVAILABLE. SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK OPTION
AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2001, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER UPON REQUEST.
It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to the resale restrictions of
the Securities Act and state securities or blue sky laws in the foregoing legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if the Company or Sub, as the case may be, shall have delivered to the other
party a copy of a letter from the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the other party, to the effect that such legend is not required
for purposes of the Securities Act or such laws; (ii) the reference to the
provisions of this Agreement in the foregoing legend shall be removed by
delivery of substitute Certificate(s) without such reference if the Shares have
been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and
under circumstances that do not require the retention of such reference; and
(iii) the legend shall be removed in its entirety if the conditions in the
preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In addition, such
certificates shall bear any other legend as may be required by law.
4
.2. Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, Parent, Sub and the Company will use their reasonable best
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
.3. Further Assurances. Each party shall perform such further acts and
execute such further documents and instruments as may reasonably be required to
vest in Sub and Parent the power to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. If Sub shall exercise the Top-Up Stock Option granted hereunder
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, each party shall, without
additional consideration, execute and deliver all such further documents and
instruments and take all such further actions as any other party may reasonably
request to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
Miscellaneous
.1. Waiver of Conditions. The conditions to each of the parties'
obligations to consummate this Agreement are for the sole benefit of such party
and may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by
applicable law.
.2. Expenses. Each of the parties hereto shall pay its own expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto warrants
and covenants to the others that it will bear all claims for brokerage fees
attributable to action taken by it.
.3. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
representatives and permitted successors and assigns.
.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding
of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between
the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may be amended
only by a written instrument duly executed by the parties hereto.
.5. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Time is of the essence with respect to all
provisions of this Agreement.
.6. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties named herein and their respective successors and
permitted assigns. No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its
rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval
of the other parties; provided, however, that each of Parent and Sub may freely
assign its rights to another direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent or Sub without
5
such prior written approval but no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Sub
of any of its obligations hereunder. Any purported assignment without such
consent shall be void.
.7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but each of which together
shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
.8. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly given if so given) by delivery, telegram or telecopy,
or by mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested) or by any national courier service, provided that any notice
delivered as herein provided shall also be delivered by telecopy at the time of
such delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the respective
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice, provided that notices of a change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt thereof):
(a) If to Parent The Coca-Cola Company
or Sub: One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (404) 676-8621
With a copy
(which does
not constitute
notice) to: The Coca-Cola Company
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopy: (404) 676-6209
and with a King & Spalding
copy to: 191 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1763
Attention: C. William Baxley
Telecopy: (404) 572-5100
6
(b) If to
the Company: Odwalla, Inc.
120 Stone Pine Road
Half Moon Bay, California 94019
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (650) 712-5967
with a copy to: Morrison & Foerster LLP
425 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94965
Attention: Robert S. Townsend
Telecopy: (415) 268-7522
.9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.
.10. Enforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in
full force and effect.
.11. Remedies Not Exclusive. All rights, powers and remedies provided
under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in
equity will be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any thereof
by either party will not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any
other such right, power or remedy by such party.
.12. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND
ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
.13. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable
damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce
specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to
any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto on the date first
hereinabove written.
ODWALLA, INC.
By:/s/ D. STEPHEN C. WILLIAMSON
Name: D. Stephen C. Williamson
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
By:/s/ DAVID M. TAGGERT
Name: David M. Taggert
Title: Vice President
PERRY PHILLIP CORP.
By:/s/ PAUL ETCHELLS
Name: Paul Etchells
Title: President
8
EX-99.3
5
f76673ex99-3.txt
EXHIBIT 99.3
ODWALLA GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES MULTIPLY WITH COCA-COLA
Category Leading Brands Odwalla and Samantha will Reach New Markets Nationwide
Odwalla will Continue to be Led by Current Management Team
HALF MOON BAY, CA (October 30, 2001) -- Odwalla, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODWA)
today announced it has signed a definitive agreement with The Coca-Cola Company
(NYSE:KO) to become a separate business unit of The Minute Maid Company, The
Coca-Cola Company's juice division. Under the terms of the transaction, approved
today by the Boards of Directors of both companies, The Coca-Cola Company has
agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Odwalla common stock for $15.25 per
share in an all-cash tender offer.
After completion of the transaction, Odwalla will continue to be led by
its current management.
Stephen Williamson, who will remain chief executive officer of Odwalla,
said, "Our business is to provide people with easy access to great-tasting
nourishment. The Coca-Cola Company believes in our vision, our products and our
people. This opportunity is about sharing that vision and our products
everywhere as we grow this company together. I know the entrepreneurial spirit
of Odwalla will be nurtured by the opportunity for growth that this new
relationship represents."
Don Short, president and chief executive officer of The Minute Maid
Company, said, "Under the leadership of Stephen Williamson and his team,
Odwalla's talented and proven people have built unique brands with loyal
followings. Odwalla, as the North American leader in the super premium juice
category, is a key component of Coca-Cola's strategy for building category
leaders and profitable growth in new beverage categories. The innovation and
expertise of the Odwalla team coupled with our innovation and logistics network
are key to expanding the brands they have created and nurtured."
Short said that Williamson will report to Don Knauss, president and
chief executive officer of Minute Maid Americas.
The super premium juice category is one of the fastest growing beverage
categories. Odwalla offers an appealing range of juices, vegetable drinks,
fortified beverages, smoothies,
shakes, soy and lactic beverages; impressive chilled direct store distribution
capabilities; and a culture of innovation.
Under the terms of the agreement, The Coca-Cola Company will shortly
commence a tender offer for all outstanding shares of Odwalla common stock for
$15.25 per share in cash, or approximately $181 million on a fully diluted
basis. The companies said that certain principal shareholders of Odwalla,
representing approximately 57 percent of the shares outstanding, have committed
to tender their shares into the offer.
The tender offer will be followed by a merger, in which any remaining
shares will be converted into the right to receive $15.25 per share in cash. The
closing of the tender offer is conditioned upon receiving at least 90% of the
fully diluted shares of Odwalla's outstanding stock in the tender offer.
However, if more than 50% but fewer than 90% of such shares are tendered,
Coca-Cola may, under certain circumstances, reduce the number of shares subject
to the offer to 49.9% of the outstanding shares and subsequently pursue a merger
with Odwalla. The offer is also subject to the receipt of customary regulatory
approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.
Upon closing, the transaction is expected to be earnings-neutral in
year one, and accretive thereafter as a result of realizing growth opportunities
for Minute Maid and Odwalla.
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of
an offer to sell shares of Odwalla. At the time the offer is commenced,
Coca-Cola will file a tender offer statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") and Odwalla will file a solicitation/recommendation statement
with respect to the offer. Odwalla shareholders are advised to read the tender
offer statement regarding the acquisition of Odwalla referenced in this press
release, and the related solicitation/recommendation statement. The tender offer
statement (including an offer to purchase, letter of transmittal and related
tender documents) and the solicitation/recommendation statement will contain
important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made
with respect to the offer. These documents will be made available to all
shareholders of Odwalla at no expense to them. These documents will also be
available to all Odwalla shareholders at no charge on the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov.
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein acted as financial advisor to Odwalla,
Inc.
ABOUT ODWALLA
Odwalla, Inc., the nation's leading branded super-premium beverage company,
delivers nourishment coast to coast with the Odwalla and Samantha lines of
all-natural juices, smoothies, dairy-free shakes, pure spring water and natural
food bars. Its products are sold and distributed in over 5,000 retail locations,
including supermarkets, specialty retailers, natural food stores, warehouse
outlets, convenience stores, on-line grocers and food service operators through
a direct-store-delivery system. Principal shareholders include Bain Capital,
Catterton-Simon Partners and U.S. Equity Partners LP, a private equity fund
controlled by Wasserstein & Co. To learn more about the Odwalla and Samantha
brands, visit www.odwalla.com or www.freshsamantha.com.
ABOUT THE MINUTE MAID COMPANY
The Minute Maid Company is an operating unit of The Coca-Cola Company, the
world's leading marketer of juices and juice drinks. The Company sells products
under a number of brands, including Minute Maid, Simply Orange, Hi-C and Disney
Beverages. To learn more about The Minute Maid Company and its products, visit
www.minutemaid.com or www.simplyorangejuice.com
ABOUT THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company and is the leading
producer and marketer of soft drinks. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the
world's best-known brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft
drink brands, including diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. Through the world's largest
distribution system, consumers in nearly 200 countries enjoy the Company's
products at a rate of more than 1 billion servings each day. For more
information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit its website at
www.coca-cola.com
This press release contains statements, estimates or projections, not historical
in nature, that may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined under
U.S. federal securities laws. These statements, which speak only as of the date
given, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from Coca-Cola's or Odwalla's historical experience
and their present expectations or projections. These risks include, but are not
limited to, their ability to finance expansion plans, share repurchase programs
and general operating activities; changes in the non-alcoholic beverages
business environment, including actions of
competitors and changes in consumer preferences; regulatory and legal changes;
fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials; interest rate and
currency fluctuations; changes in economic and political conditions; their
ability to penetrate developing and emerging markets; the effectiveness of their
advertising and marketing programs; litigation uncertainties; adverse weather
conditions; and other risks discussed in Coca-Cola's and Odwalla's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including their Annual
Reports on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. Neither
Coca-Cola nor Odwalla undertakes any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements.
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