EX-99.1 3 dex991.htm VOTING AGREEMENT Voting Agreement

EXHIBIT 99.1

EXECUTION COPY

VOTING AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.,

CONTIGROUP COMPANIES, INC.

AND

(SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 5.2 HEREOF)

PREMIUM STANDARD FARMS, INC.

DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2006


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

ARTICLE I General

   1
        1.1.    Defined Terms    1
ARTICLE II VOTING    3
        2.1.    Agreement to Vote    3
        2.2.    No Inconsistent Agreements    4
        2.3.    Proxy    4
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    5
        3.1.    Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder    5
ARTICLE IV OTHER COVENANTS    7
        4.1.    Prohibition on Transfers, Other Actions    7
        4.2.    Stock Dividends, etc.    7
        4.3.    No Solicitation    7
        4.4.    Notice of Acquisitions, Proposals Regarding Prohibited Transactions    8
        4.5.    Stockholder Profit    8
        4.6.    Waiver of Appraisal Rights    10
        4.7.    Further Assurances    10
        4.8.    Piggy-back Registration Rights    10
ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS    10
        5.1.    Termination    10
        5.2.    Legends; Stop Transfer Order    10
        5.3.    No Ownership Interest    11
        5.4.    Notices    11
        5.5.    Interpretation    13
        5.6.    Counterparts    13
        5.7.    Entire Agreement    13
        5.8.    Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial    13
        5.9.    Amendment; Waiver    14
        5.10.    Remedies    14
        5.11.    Severability    14
        5.12.    Successors and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries    15
        5.13.    Stockholder Capacity    15
Schedule 1:  Stockholder Information   

 

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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

 

     Page

Affiliate

   1

Agreement

   1

Beneficial Ownership

   2

Beneficially Own

   2

Beneficially Owned

   2

Common Stock

   1

Company

   1

control

   2

Covered Shares

   2

Encumbrance

   2

Existing Shares

   2

Grantees

   4

Merger

   1

Merger Agreement

   1

Merger Sub

   1

Permitted Transfer

   2

Person

   3

Prohibited Activity

   9

Representatives

   3

Saturn

   1

Specified Rights

   5

Stockholder

   1

Subsidiary

   3

Traded Securities

   9

Transfer

   3

Valuation Period

   9

 

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VOTING AGREEMENT

VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of September 17, 2006 (this “Agreement”), by and among Smithfield Foods, Inc., a Virginia corporation (“Parent”), ContiGroup Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Stockholder”), and, solely for the purposes of Section 5.2 hereof, Premium Standard Farms, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent, KC2 Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub), and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and each outstanding share of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration specified therein.

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner, in the aggregate, of 12,428,592 outstanding shares of Common Stock, all of which such shares Stockholder controls the right to vote.

WHEREAS, as a material inducement to Parent entering into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that the Stockholder agree, and the Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this agreement and abide by the covenants and obligations with respect to the Covered Shares (as hereinafter defined) set forth herein.

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Parent, the Company and the Stockholder have entered into the Missouri Sale Agreement.

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

ARTICLE I

GENERAL

1.1. Defined Terms. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such specified Person.


Beneficial Ownership” by a Person of any securities includes ownership by any Person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; and shall otherwise be interpreted in accordance with the term “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, a Person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any securities which such Person has, at any time during the term of this Agreement, the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise (irrespective of whether the right to acquire such securities is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time, including the passage of time in excess of 60 days, the satisfaction of any conditions, the occurrence of any event or any combination of the foregoing). The terms “Beneficially Own” and Beneficially Ownedshall have a correlative meaning.

control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or any other means.

Covered Shares” means, with respect to the Stockholder, the Stockholder’s Existing Shares, together with any shares of Common Stock or other voting capital stock of the Company and any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock or other voting capital stock of the Company, in each case that the Stockholder acquires Beneficial Ownership of on or after the date hereof.

Encumbrance” means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien (statutory or other), charge, option to purchase, lease or other right to acquire any interest or any claim, restriction, covenant, title defect, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement or other encumbrance of any kind or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement), excluding restrictions under securities laws.

Existing Shares” means, with respect to the Stockholder, the number of shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned (and except as may be set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, owned of record) by the Stockholder, as set forth opposite the Stockholder’s name on Schedule 1 hereto.

Permitted Transfer” means a Transfer by the Stockholder to a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Stockholder, provided that such transferee Subsidiary executes and delivers to Parent a written agreement, in form and substance acceptable to Parent, to assume all of Stockholder’s obligations hereunder in respect of the securities subject to such Transfer and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, with respect to the securities subject to such Transfer, to the same extent as the Stockholder is bound hereunder and to make each of the representations and warranties hereunder in respect of the securities transferred as the Stockholder shall have made hereunder.

 

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Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity, or any group comprised of two or more of the foregoing.

Representatives” means the officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and Affiliates of a Person.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, (i) of which such Person or any other Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner, or (ii) at least a majority of the securities or other interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries.

Transfer” means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of (by merger (including by conversion into securities or other consideration), by tendering into any tender or exchange offer, by testamentary disposition, by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the voting of or sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of (by merger, by tendering into any tender or exchange offer, by testamentary disposition, by operation of law or otherwise).

ARTICLE II

VOTING

2.1. Agreement to Vote. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that during the term of this Agreement, at the Company Stockholders’ Meeting and at any other meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, and in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company, the Stockholder shall, in each case to the fullest extent that such matters are submitted for the vote or written consent of the Stockholder and that the Covered Shares are entitled to vote thereon or consent thereto:

(a) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause the Covered Shares as to which the Stockholder controls the right to vote to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum; and

(b) vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, or deliver (or cause to be delivered) a written consent covering, all of the Covered Shares as to which the Stockholder controls the right to vote (i) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and any related

 

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proposal in furtherance thereof, as reasonably requested by Parent, submitted for the vote or written consent of stockholders; (ii) against any action or agreement submitted for the vote or written consent of stockholders that is in opposition to, or competitive or materially inconsistent with, the Merger or that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company contained in the Merger Agreement, or of the Stockholder contained in this Agreement; and (iii) against any Takeover Proposal and against any other action, agreement or transaction submitted for the vote or written consent of stockholders that would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage, frustrate the purposes of or adversely affect the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Merger Agreement or by the Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement. The obligations of the Stockholder specified in this Section 2.1(b) shall, subject to Section 2.1(c), apply whether or not the Merger or any action described above is recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Company Adverse Recommendation Change (as defined in the Merger Agreement) made in compliance with the Merger Agreement, other than a Company Adverse Recommendation Change not made in connection with a Superior Proposal, the obligation of the Stockholder to vote Covered Shares as to which the Stockholder controls the right to vote in the manner set forth in this Section 2.1 shall only apply to an aggregate number of Covered Shares entitled to vote in respect of such matter that is equal to thirty-two percent (32%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock entitled to vote in respect of such matter and the Stockholder shall cause all remaining Covered Shares so entitled to vote to be voted in a manner that is proportionate to the manner in which all shares of Common Stock (other than shares voted by the Stockholder) which are voted in respect of such matter, are voted.

2.2. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that, except for this Agreement, the Stockholder (a) has not entered into, and shall not enter into at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to the Covered Shares, (b) has not granted, and shall not grant at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, a proxy (except pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof), consent or power of attorney with respect to the Covered Shares and (c) has not taken and shall not knowingly take any action that would make any representation or warranty of the Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling the Stockholder from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement.

2.3. Proxy. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints as its proxy and attorney-in-fact, Michael Cole and Richard Poulson, in their respective capacities as officers of Parent, and any individual who shall hereafter succeed to any such officer of Parent, and any other Person designated in writing by Parent (collectively, the “Grantees”), each of them individually, with full power of substitution, to vote or execute written consents with respect to the Covered Shares as to which the Stockholder controls the right to vote in accordance with Section 2.1 hereof and, in the discretion of the Grantees, with respect to any proposed postponements or adjournments of any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which any of the matters described in Section 2.1(a) was to be considered. This proxy is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable, and the Stockholder will take such further action or execute such other

 

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instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and hereby revokes any proxy previously granted by the Stockholder with respect to the Covered Shares. Parent may terminate this proxy with respect to the Stockholder at any time at its sole election by written notice provided to the Stockholder.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

(a) Organization; Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary Action. The Stockholder is duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. The Stockholder has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by the Stockholder of this Agreement, the performance by it of its obligations hereunder and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Stockholder and no other actions or proceedings on the part of the Stockholder or any stockholder thereof are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement, the performance by it of its obligations hereunder or the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and the availability of equitable remedies (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(b) Ownership. The Stockholder’s Existing Shares are, and all of the Covered Shares owned by the Stockholder from the date hereof through and on the Closing Date will be, Beneficially Owned and owned of record by the Stockholder, except to the extent such Covered Shares are Transferred after the date hereof pursuant to a Permitted Transfer or constitute any warrants, options, conversion rights or similar rights with respect to Common Stock (collectively, “Specified Rights”) that expire after the date hereof. The Stockholder has good and marketable title to the Stockholder’s Existing Shares, free and clear of any Encumbrances. As of the date hereof, the Stockholder’s Existing Shares constitute all of the shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned or owned of record by the Stockholder. Except (i) to the extent Covered Shares are transferred after the date hereof pursuant to a Permitted Transfer or constitute Specified Rights that expire after the date hereof or (ii) as set forth on Schedule 1, the Stockholder has and will have at all times through the Closing Date sole voting power (including the right to control such vote as contemplated herein), sole power of disposition, sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Article II hereof, and sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all of the Stockholder’s Existing Shares and with respect to all of the Covered Shares owned by the Stockholder at all times through the Closing Date (subject, in the case of Covered Shares underlying Specified Rights acquired after the date hereof, to the terms of such Specified Rights).

 

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(c) No Violation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the performance by the Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other comparable governing documents, as applicable, of the Stockholder, (ii) conflict with or violate any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity applicable to the Stockholder or by which any of its assets or properties is bound, or (iii) conflict with, result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance on the properties or assets of the Stockholder pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Stockholder is a party or by which the Stockholder or any of its assets or properties is bound, except for any of the foregoing as could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

(d) Consents and Approvals. Other than compliance with applicable securities laws and Antitrust Laws (including any filing under the HSR Act), the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the performance by the Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, require the Stockholder to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or to make any filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity.

(e) Absence of Litigation. There is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against or affecting the Stockholder or any of its Affiliates before or by any Governmental Entity that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

(f) Finder’s Fees. Except as disclosed pursuant to the Merger Agreement, no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary is entitled to a fee or commission from Parent, Merger Sub or the Company in respect of this Agreement based upon any arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Stockholder.

(g) Reliance by Parent and Merger Sub. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations and warranties of Stockholder contained herein.

 

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ARTICLE IV

OTHER COVENANTS

4.1. Prohibition on Transfers, Other Actions. The Stockholder hereby agrees not to (i) Transfer any of the Covered Shares, Beneficial Ownership thereof or any other interest specifically therein unless such Transfer is a Permitted Transfer; (ii) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Person, or take any other action, that violates or conflicts with or would reasonably be expected to violate or conflict with, or result in or give rise to a violation of or conflict with, the Stockholder’s representations, warranties, covenants and obligations under this Agreement; or (iii) take any action that could restrict or otherwise affect the Stockholder’s legal power, authority and right to comply with and perform its covenants and obligations under this Agreement. Any Transfer in violation of this provision shall be void.

4.2. Stock Dividends, etc. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Common Stock by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, the terms “Existing Shares” and “Covered Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

4.3. No Solicitation. The Stockholder hereby agrees that during the term of this Agreement it shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates or Representatives to, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any Takeover Proposal or the making or consummation thereof, (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any information in connection with, or otherwise cooperate in any way with any Takeover Proposal, (iii) waive, terminate, modify or fail to enforce any provision of any “standstill” or similar obligation of any person other than Parent, (iv) make or participate in, directly or indirectly, a “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) or powers of attorney or similar rights to vote, or seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to the voting of, any shares of Common Stock in connection with any vote or other action on any matter, other than to recommend that stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or to otherwise vote or consent with respect to Covered Shares in a manner that would not violate Section 2.1, (v) vote, approve, adopt or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, adopt or recommend, or allow any of its Subsidiaries to execute or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other similar Contract constituting or related to, or that is intended to or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal, or (vi) agree or publicly propose to do any of the foregoing. The Stockholder hereby agrees immediately to cease and cause to be terminated all discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore with any Person other than Parent with respect to any Takeover Proposal, and will take commercially reasonable steps to inform its Affiliates and Representatives of the obligations undertaken by the Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, including this Section 4.3. The Stockholder also agrees that any violation of this Section 4.3 by any of its Affiliates or Representatives shall be deemed to be a violation by the Stockholder of this Section 4.3.

 

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4.4. Notice of Acquisitions, Proposals Regarding Prohibited Transactions. The Stockholder hereby agrees to notify Parent as promptly as practicable (and in any event within 24 hours after receipt) in writing of (i) the number of any additional shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company of which the Stockholder acquires Beneficial Ownership on or after the date hereof, (ii) any inquiries or proposals which are received by, any information which is requested from, or any negotiations or discussions which are sought to be initiated or continued with, the Stockholder or any of its Affiliates with respect to any Takeover Proposal or any other matter referred to in Section 4.3 (including the material terms thereof and the identity of such person(s) making such inquiry or proposal, requesting such information or seeking to initiate or continue such negotiations or discussions, as the case may be) and (iii) any proposed Permitted Transfers of the Covered Shares, Beneficial Ownership thereof or other interest specifically therein. The Stockholder will keep Parent informed on a reasonably current basis of material developments with respect to any such Takeover Proposal.

4.5. Stockholder Profit.

(a) In the event that the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated under circumstances in which a Termination Fee is payable or may be payable by the Company to Parent with respect to such termination upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the Merger Agreement, but in each case subject to such Termination Fee actually becoming payable under the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder shall pay to Parent an amount equal to 50% of the Stockholder’s profit (determined in accordance with Section 4.5(b) below) (A) from the sale or other Transfer of any Covered Shares pursuant to a Takeover Proposal (including a Superior Proposal) so long as the agreement with respect to such Takeover Proposal is entered into or consummated within 12 months of the termination of this Agreement, or (B) from the sale or other Transfer of any Covered Shares (including a distribution to a Stockholder’s shareholders, unless such distributee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement) within 12 months of the termination of this Agreement. Payment shall be made promptly upon the receipt of the proceeds from such sale or other disposition and shall only be required to be paid if such sale or other disposition is completed or, if later, when the Termination Fee is paid.

(b) For purposes of this Section 4.5, the profit of the Stockholder shall equal (A) the aggregate consideration received by the Stockholder for or on account of the Covered Shares that were sold or otherwise Transferred as described in Section 4.5(a) (including extraordinary distributions directly or indirectly made in connection with any Takeover Proposal, valuing any non-cash consideration (including any residual interest in the Company) at its fair market value on the date of such consummation, less (B) any exercise price or similar expense with respect to Specified Rights constituting Covered Shares and reasonable costs or expenses incurred by the Stockholder or its Affiliates in connection with such sale or other Transfer, and less (C) the product of (x) the per share closing price of the Parent Common Stock on the last trading day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement, as such price is reported on the NYSE Composite Transaction Tape (as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets or such other source as the parties shall agree in writing), (y) the Exchange Ratio and (z) the number of Covered Shares so sold or otherwise Transferred (on an as-exercised or as-converted basis, as

 

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applicable, with respect to Specified Rights constituting Covered Shares). With respect to a distribution of Covered Shares to shareholders of a Stockholder at such time as a Takeover Proposal is pending with respect to which a payment is required under Section 4.5(a) above, the aggregate consideration shall be deemed to be the amount proposed to be paid pursuant to the Takeover Proposal as of the date of such distribution, and with respect to a distribution of Covered Shares to shareholders of a Stockholder at such other time during such period when a Takeover Proposal is not pending, the aggregate consideration shall be deemed to be the fair market value of the Covered Shares distributed to the shareholders, as of the date of such distribution, plus the fair market value as of such date of any consideration required to be paid (and actually paid) by such shareholder to the Stockholder in order to receive such distribution.

(c) For purposes of this Section 4.5, the fair market value of any non-cash consideration consisting of:

(i) securities listed on a national securities exchange or traded or quoted on the Nasdaq (“Traded Securities”) shall be equal to the average closing price per share of such security as reported on the composite trading system of such exchange or by Nasdaq for the five trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date of the value determination (the “Valuation Period”); and

(ii) consideration which is other than cash or securities of the form specified in clause (i) of this Section 4.5(c) shall be determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Stockholder within ten Business Days of the event requiring selection of such banking firm; provided, however, that if the parties are unable to agree within two Business Days after the date of such event as to the investment banking firm, then the parties shall each select one firm, and those firms shall select a third investment banking firm, which third firm shall make such determination; provided further, that the fees and expenses of such investment banking firm shall be borne equally by Parent and the Stockholder. The determination of the investment-banking firm shall be binding upon the parties.

(d) Any payment of profit under this Section 4.5 shall be paid in the same proportion of cash and non-cash consideration as the aggregate consideration received by the Stockholder in the Takeover Proposal or other disposition.

(e) The Stockholder shall not engage in any transaction with respect to the Covered Shares with the primary purpose of depriving Parent of the intended benefits of this Agreement.

(f) Neither the Stockholder nor Parent shall, or shall permit any of their respective Affiliates to engage in any Prohibited Activity with respect to any subject Traded Securities during an applicable Valuation Period. “Prohibited Activity” means (i) any acquisition or disposition, in open market transactions, private transactions or otherwise, during the Valuation Period of any of the subject Traded Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or derivative of the subject Traded Securities or (ii) any other action taken intentionally for the purpose of manipulating the price of the subject Traded Securities during the Valuation Period.

 

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4.6. Waiver of Appraisal Rights. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Stockholder hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger that it may have under applicable law.

4.7. Further Assurances. From time to time, at Parent’s request and without further consideration, the Stockholder shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Stockholder hereby authorizes Parent to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by the SEC and in the Proxy Statement the Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Covered Shares and the nature of the Stockholder’s obligations under this agreement.

4.8. Piggy-back Registration Rights. Prior to the Effective Time Parent and the Stockholder will negotiate and enter into a piggy-back registration rights agreement in customary form and substance and including the terms and conditions set forth in Annex A hereto.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1. Termination. This Agreement shall remain in effect until the earlier to occur of (i) the Closing, (ii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms and (iii) the delivery of written notice of termination by the Stockholder to Parent, following any amendment to the Merger Agreement effected without the prior written consent of the Stockholder which would reduce or change the form of consideration to be paid in the Merger, and after the occurrence of such applicable event this Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 4.5, this Section 5.1, the last sentence of Section 5.2(a) and Sections 5.4 through 5.12 shall survive any termination of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 5.1 and no termination of this Agreement shall relieve or otherwise limit any party of liability for willful breach of this Agreement.

5.2. Legends; Stop Transfer Order.

(a) In furtherance of this Agreement, the Stockholder hereby authorizes and instructs the Company to instruct its transfer agent to enter a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Covered Shares held of record by the Stockholder and to legend the share certificates. The Company agrees that as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement it shall give such stop transfer instructions to the transfer agent for the Common Stock and to legend the share certificates. The Company agrees that, promptly following the termination of this Agreement, the Company will cause any stop transfer instructions imposed pursuant to this Section 5.2 to be lifted and any legended certificates delivered pursuant to this Section 5.2 to be replaced with certificates not bearing such legend.

(b) In the event that the Stockholder intends to undertake a Permitted Transfer of Covered Shares held of record by the Stockholder, the Stockholder shall provide notice thereof to the Company and Parent and shall authorize the Company to instruct its transfer agent to (i) lift the stop transfer order in order to effect such Permitted Transfer only upon certification

 

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by Parent that the written agreement to be entered into by the transferee agreeing to be bound by this Agreement pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Transfer” is satisfactory to Parent and (ii) re-enter the stop transfer order upon completion of the Permitted Transfer. The Company agrees that as promptly as practical after the receipt of such notice of a contemplated Permitted Transfer together with a duly executed copy of the applicable written agreement of the proposed transferee agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and written acknowledgement from Parent of its approval of such written agreement (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), it shall instruct the transfer agent for the Common Stock to (x) lift such stop transfer order with respect to such Covered Shares in order to effect such Permitted Transfer and (y) re-enter the stop transfer order upon completion of the Permitted Transfer; provided that the Company shall not permit such Transfer to be registered by the transfer agent or such stop transfer restrictions to be lifted if Parent has not so approved, and received a copy of, such duly executed written agreement of the proposed transferee.

(c) Each certificate representing Covered Shares held of record by the Stockholder shall bear the following legend on the face thereof:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING, TRANSFER AND CERTAIN OTHER LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN VOTING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2006, AMONG SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC., CONTIGROUP COMPANIES, INC., AND, SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 5.2 THEREOF, PREMIUM STANDARD FARMS, INC., AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, COPIES OF WHICH VOTING AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF PREMIUM STANDARD FARMS, INC..”

The Stockholder will cause all of its Existing Shares held of record by the Stockholder and any securities that become Covered Shares held of record by the Stockholder after the date hereof to be delivered to the Company for the purpose of applying such legend (if not so endorsed upon issuance). The Company shall return to the delivering party, as promptly as possible, any securities so delivered. The delivery of such securities by the delivering party shall not in any way affect such party’s rights with respect to such securities.

5.3. No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Covered Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Covered Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Stockholder, and Parent shall have no authority to direct the Stockholder in the voting or disposition of any of the Covered Shares, except as otherwise provided herein.

5.4. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (upon telephonic confirmation of receipt), on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next day courier service or on the third Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, post prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

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  (a) if to Parent to:

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

200 Commerce Street

Smithfield, VA 23430

Fax: (757) 757-365-3025

Attention: C. Larry Pope

 

       with a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Fax: (212) 455-2502

Attention: Robert E. Spatt

                    Maripat Alpuche

 

  (b) if to the Company (for purposes of Section 5.2) to:

Premium Standard Farms, Inc.

805 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 200

Kansas City, MO 64105

Fax: (816) 472-5837

Attention: Gerard J. Schulte

 

       with a copy to:

Sidley Austin LLP

One South Dearborn Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Fax: (312) 853-7036

Attention: John J. Sabl

                    Dennis V. Osimitz

 

  (c) if to the Stockholder, to:

ContiGroup Companies, Inc. 277 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10172

Attention: Michael J. Zimmerman

Fax: (212) 207-5193

 

       with a copy to:

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019-6064

Fax: (212) 757-3990

Attention: Robert B. Schumer

 

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5.5. Interpretation. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement is the product of negotiation by the parties having the assistance of counsel and other advisers. It is the intention of the parties that this Agreement not be construed more strictly with regard to one party than with regard to the others.

5.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

5.7. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and, to the extent referenced herein, the Merger Agreement, together with the several agreements and other documents and instruments referred to herein or therein or annexed hereto or thereto, embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written and oral, that may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

5.8. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (and any appellate court of the State of Delaware) and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (and any appellate court of the State of Delaware) and the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or a Federal court of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware.

 

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(b) Each party hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such party would not, in the event of any action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement, by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 5.8.

5.9. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by Parent and the Stockholder, provided that any amendment to Section 5.2 shall also require the consent of the Company. Each party may waive any right of such party hereunder by an instrument in writing signed by such party and delivered to Parent and the Stockholder.

5.10. Remedies. (a) Each party hereto acknowledges that monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any covenant or agreement in this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof. Each party hereto agrees not to oppose the granting of such relief in the event a court determines that such a breach has occurred, and to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy.

(b) All rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any thereof by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such party.

5.11. Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction, and if any provision of this Agreement is determined to be so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable, in all cases so long as neither the economic nor legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is affected in any manner adverse to any party or its stockholders. Upon any such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible and to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby shall be fulfilled to the maximum extent possible.

 

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5.12. Successors and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries. Except in connection with a Permitted Transfer as provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations of any party under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part (by operation of law or otherwise), by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

5.13. Stockholder Capacity. The restrictions and covenants of the Stockholder hereunder shall not be binding, and shall have no effect, with respect to any director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in such Person’s capacity as such a director or officer.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed (where applicable, by their respective officers or other authorized Person thereunto duly authorized) as of the date first written above.

 

SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Richard J.M. Poulson

Name:   Richard J. M. Poulson
Title:   Executive Vice President
CONTIGROUP COMPANIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Paul J. Fribourg

Name:   Paul J. Fribour
Title:  

Chairman, President and Chief

Executive Officer

PREMIUM STANDARD FARMS, INC.
(solely for purposes of Section 5.2)
By:  

/s/ John M. Meyer

Name:   John M. Meyer
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President