-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, R1Ydk23bmiTBefKd9mSfk8GKF1lz37BldV17LWFxQG5xccfw5WfA4W2EBOEotoE0 F2B3FHkaVksHuFxRJA4VlQ== 0001047469-99-018645.txt : 19990510 0001047469-99-018645.hdr.sgml : 19990510 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-99-018645 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 14D9 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 FILED AS OF DATE: 19990507 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ABR INFORMATION SERVICES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000920985 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION [7374] IRS NUMBER: 593228107 STATE OF INCORPORATION: FL FISCAL YEAR END: 0731 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 14D9 SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-44917 FILM NUMBER: 99613213 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 34125 US HGHWY 19 N CITY: PALM HARBOR STATE: FL ZIP: 34684 BUSINESS PHONE: 7277852819 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 34125 US HGHWY 19 N CITY: PALM HARBOR STATE: FL ZIP: 34684 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ABR INFORMATION SERVICES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000920985 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION [7374] IRS NUMBER: 593228107 STATE OF INCORPORATION: FL FISCAL YEAR END: 0731 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 14D9 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 34125 US HGHWY 19 N CITY: PALM HARBOR STATE: FL ZIP: 34684 BUSINESS PHONE: 7277852819 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 34125 US HGHWY 19 N CITY: PALM HARBOR STATE: FL ZIP: 34684 SC 14D9 1 SCHEDULE 14-D9 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14D-9 SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(D)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. (NAME OF SUBJECT COMPANY) ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT) VOTING COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE (TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES) 00077R108 (CUSIP NUMBER OF CLASS OF SECURITIES) JAMES P. O'DROBINAK SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. 34125 U.S. HIGHWAY 19 NORTH PALM HARBOR, FL 34684-2141 (727) 785-2819 (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE NOTICE AND COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT) WITH COPIES TO: FRANCIS J. AQUILA, ESQ. SULLIVAN & CROMWELL 125 BROAD STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004 (212) 558-4000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 1. SECURITY AND SUBJECT COMPANY. The name of the subject company is ABR Information Services, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company" or "ABR"), and the address of the principal executive offices of the Company is 34125 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, Florida 34684-2141. The title of the class of equity securities to which this Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (this "Statement") relates is the voting common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares"). ITEM 2. TENDER OFFER OF THE BIDDER. This Statement relates to the tender offer by Spring Acquisition Corp. ("Purchaser"), a Florida corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ceridian Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), to purchase all of the issued and outstanding Shares at a price of $25.50 per Share net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 7, 1999 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and the related Letter of Transmittal (together, constituting the "Offer"). The Offer is being made in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 30, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement"), among the Company, Parent and Purchaser. The Merger Agreement provides that, as soon as practicable following the business day on which the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions to the Merger (as defined below) set forth in the Merger Agreement is satisfied or waived, Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"). Following consummation of the Merger, the Company will continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. A copy of the Merger Agreement is filed as Exhibit (c)(1) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. As set forth in the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 of Purchaser enclosed herewith (the "Schedule 14D-1"), the principal executive offices of each of Parent and Purchaser are located at 8100 34th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55425-1640. ITEM 3. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND. (a) The name and business address of the Company, which is the person filing this Statement, are set forth in Item 1 above. (b) Except as set forth in or incorporated by reference in this Item 3(b), to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, there are no material contracts, agreements, arrangements or understandings and actual or potential conflicts of interest between the Company or its affiliates and (i) its executive officers, directors or affiliates or (ii) the Purchaser, Parent or any of their respective executive officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates. The Company has entered into certain employment and severance agreements, incentive bonus plans, and savings plans, as described on pages 8 and 9 of the Proxy Statement dated November 16, 1998 for the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a copy of which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (c)(2) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. MERGER AGREEMENT The Merger Agreement provides for the commencement of the Offer as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five business days, after the first public announcement of the Merger Agreement. The obligations of Purchaser to consummate the Offer and accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer is subject only to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the condition requiring that by the Expiration Date (as defined in the Schedule 14D-1) a number of Shares which together with any Shares owned by Parent, Purchaser and the Parent Companies (as defined in the Merger Agreement), constitutue more than 50% of the outstanding Shares (on a fully diluted basis) be tendered (the "Minimum Condition"). The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), the Merger will be consummated and the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. At the Effective Time, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares owned by Parent, Purchaser or any other direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent or Shares that are owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and in each case not held on behalf of third parties or Shares owned by Dissenting Stockholders (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) will be canceled, extinguished and converted into the right to receive, without interest, an amount in cash equal to $25.50 per Share or such higher price per Share as shall have been paid in the Offer (the "Merger Consideration"). The Merger Agreement requires the Company to take all necessary actions to cause prior to the Effective Time each option to purchase Shares (each an "Option") pursuant to the Stock Plans (as defined in the Merger Agreement) that had not vested immediately prior to such time to become vested and fully exercisable. Certain executive officers of the Company have waived all vesting rights that they may have pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement with respect to all Options beneficially owned by them and issued pursuant to the Stock Plans. In addition, the Company is obligated to use its reasonable best efforts to cause each then outstanding Option, whether vested or unvested, to be canceled, with the holder thereof being entitled to receive, following the Effective Time, an amount equal to the difference, if any, between $25.50 (or such higher price per Share as shall have been paid in the Offer) and the exercise price of such Option. Any Options that are not exercised in full or surrendered for cancellation ("Remaining Options") will, at the Effective Time, in accordance with the terms of the Stock Plan pursuant to which such Option was issued, be deemed to constitute an option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such Remaining Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, (A) a number of shares of Parent's common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Parent Common Stock"), equal to the product (rounded up to the nearest whole number) obtained by multiplying (x) the number of Shares the holder of such Remaining Option would have been entitled to receive immediately prior to the Effective Time had such holder exercised such Remaining Option in full immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the quotient obtained by dividing $25.50 (or such higher price as shall have been paid in the Offer) by the average of the closing prices per share of Parent Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions tape for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of the Effective Time, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, New York City edition, and (B) at a price per share of Parent Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole cent) equal to (x) the aggregate exercise price for the Shares otherwise purchasable pursuant to such Remaining Option (assuming for such purposes that such Remaining Option was fully exercisable at such time) divided by (y) the number of full shares of Parent Common Stock deemed purchasable pursuant to such Remaining Option in accordance with clause (A) above. Parent has agreed that at the Effective Time it will file a registration statement on Form S-8, or, if unavailable, a registration statement on Form S-3 (or any successor forms), or another appropriate form with respect to the Parent Common Stock subject to Remaining Options, and has agreed to use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective, as well as comply with any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws, for so long as any Remaining Options remain outstanding. In addition, prior to the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of Parent (the "Parent Board") will use reasonable efforts to take all actions necessary to ensure that the options to purchase Parent Common Stock (resulting from Remaining Options) held by the officers and directors of the Company shall be exempt for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties by the Company regarding, among other things, its organization, its capitalization, its authority relative to the Merger Agreement, consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the Offer and the Merger, the Company's filings and reports with and to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the absence of certain changes in its business, the absence of litigation, certain employee matters, compliance with laws, 2 inapplicability of takeover statutes, environmental matters, taxes, labor matters, intellectual property, brokers and finders, year 2000 compliance, and by each of Parent and Purchaser regarding, among other things, its organization, its authority relative to the Merger Agreement and the Offer, and consents and approvals necessary for the Offer and the Merger. The obligations of the parties to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions: (i) the Merger Agreement and the plan of merger having been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the Shares; (ii) any waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") Act having expired or been earlier terminated; (iii) no court or governmental entity of competent jurisdiction having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction or other order ("Order") that is in effect and permanently enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the Merger; and (iv) Purchaser having purchased Shares in the Offer. The Company has agreed that, prior to the Effective Time, the Company and its subsidiaries will each conduct its operations in the ordinary and usual course, and to the extent consistent therewith, will each use their respective best reasonable efforts to preserve its business organization intact and maintain its existing relations and goodwill with customers, suppliers, distributors, creditors, lessors, employees and business associates. The Company further agreed that with respect to itself and its subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time: (i) it would not (A) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any capital stock owned by it in any of its subsidiaries; (B) amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws or the comparable governing instruments of any of its subsidiaries; (C) split, combine or reclassify its outstanding shares of capital stock; (D) declare, set aside or pay any dividend payable in cash, stock or property in respect of any capital stock other than dividends from its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries to it or a wholly owned subsidiary; or (E) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, except in connection with the Stock Plans, or permit any of its subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock; (ii) neither it nor any of its subsidiaries shall (A) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any shares of, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or options, warrants, calls, commitments or rights of any kind to acquire, any shares of its capital stock of any class or any voting debt or any other property or assets (other than Shares issuable pursuant to options (whether or not vested) currently outstanding under the Stock Plans); (B) other than in the ordinary and usual course of business, transfer, lease, license, guarantee, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of or encumber any other property or assets (including capital stock of any of its subsidiaries) or incur or modify any material indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness; or (C) by any means, make any significant acquisition of, or investment in, assets or stock (whether by way of merger, consolidation, tender offer, share exchange or other activity); (iii) neither it nor any of its subsidiaries shall terminate, establish, adopt, enter into, make any new grants or awards under, amend or otherwise modify, any compensation and benefit plans, or increase the salary, wage, bonus or other compensation of any employees except for grants or awards or increases under existing compensation and benefit plans occurring in the ordinary and usual course of business (which shall include normal periodic performance reviews and related compensation and benefit increases), annual reestablishment of compensation and benefit plans and the provision of individual compensation or benefit plans and agreements for newly hired or appointed officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries or except for actions necessary to satisfy existing contractual obligations under existing compensation and benefit plans or agreements; and (iv) neither it nor any of its subsidiaries shall authorize or enter into an agreement to do anything prohibited by the foregoing. 3 The Company has also agreed that none of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective officers and directors shall, and that it shall direct and cause its and its subsidiaries' employees, agents and other representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its subsidiaries) not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, encourage or otherwise facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer with respect to a merger, tender offer, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation or similar transaction involving, or any purchase of all or substantially all of the assets or any equity securities of, it or any of its subsidiaries (any such proposal or offer being an "Acquisition Proposal"). The Company has further agreed that, except as otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement, neither it nor any of its subsidiaries nor any of its or its subsidiaries' officers and directors shall, and that it shall direct and cause its and its subsidiaries' employees, agents and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or have any discussions with, any person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Company, its representatives and the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company Board") have the right to (i) comply with Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition Proposal or otherwise comply with the Exchange Act; (ii) provide information in response to a request therefor by a person who has made an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal; (iii) engage in any negotiations or discussions with any person who has made an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal or otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt to implement an Acquisition Proposal; and (iv) approve and recommend to its stockholders an Acquisition Proposal if in the cases of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) above the Company Board determines either (A) upon advice of outside legal counsel that the failure to take such action would constitute a breach of the directors' fiduciary duties under applicable law or (B) that such Acquisition Proposal contains terms such that if an agreement relating to such Acquisition Proposal were entered into, it would be, in the aggregate, more favorable to the Company than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (any such more favorable Acquisition Proposal being referred to as a "Superior Proposal"), taking into account, at the sole discretion of the Company Board, any of the matters described in Section 4.5 of the articles of incorporation of the Company. The Company also has agreed to notify Parent within 48 hours of receipt of an Acquisition Proposal that would be reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal (including the terms thereof and the identity of the offeror) and to keep Parent reasonably informed of the status of any such proposal. Parent has agreed that all rights to indemnification now existing in favor of the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company as provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or otherwise in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement shall survive the Merger and continue in full force and effect for a period of six years after the Effective Time. Parent has also agreed to maintain in effect for a period of six years after the Effective Time the current policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company (provided that Parent may substitute policies on materially similar terms) so long as the annual premium for such insurance is not in excess of 250% of the most recent annual premium paid (the "Current Premium"). If, however, the current policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance is terminated or canceled during such six-year period, Parent has agreed to use its best efforts to obtain as much insurance as can be obtained for the remainder of such period for a premium not in excess (on an annualized basis) of 250% of the Current Premium and has agreed to indemnify the directors and officers for any costs not covered by such insurance. The Merger Agreement provides that, if required by applicable law, the Company will promptly call a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of voting upon the Merger Agreement. In connection therewith, except as otherwise expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement, the Company will, through the Company Board, recommend to its stockholders approval of such matters and take all lawful action to solicit such approval, including without limitation preparing and filing a proxy statement or information statement under the Exchange Act. 4 The parties have also agreed to use their 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 on its part under the Merger Agreement and applicable laws and regulations to consummate the Offer and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as soon as practicable. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent has agreed to maintain for a period of one year after the Effective Time for the benefit of the employees of the Company, benefits under employee benefit plans that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided under the Company's current benefit plans; provided, however, that Parent will not be required to maintain any "change of control" or similar plans with respect to any change of control occurring after the Effective Time and excluding benefits provided pursuant to any plan covering one or a select group of current or former employees. Each employee of the Company as of the Effective Time will, for purposes of determining eligibility and vesting under any benefit plan of Parent, be given credit for all service with the Company prior to the Effective Time. In addition, Parent will cause to be waived any pre-existing condition limitations under the benefit plans of Parent and its subsidiaries in which the Company's and its subsidiaries' employees participate and cause to be credited to any deductible or out-of-pocket expense of Parent's benefit plans any deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such employees and their beneficiaries and dependents during the portion of the calendar year prior to participation in the benefit plans provided by Parent. Parent has also agreed to cause the Company to honor all of the Company's existing employee benefit obligations to current and former employees under all compensation and benefit plans, employee severance plans (or policies) and employment or severance agreements previously disclosed to Parent. The Merger Agreement provides that, if requested by Parent, the Company will to the extent permissible, promptly following the purchase by Purchaser of Shares pursuant to the Offer in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, take all actions necessary (including calling a special meeting of the Company Board or the stockholders of the Company for this purpose) to cause natural persons designated by Parent to become directors of the Company (including mailing to the Company's stockholders the information required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder) so that the total number of such natural persons equals that number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, which represents the product of the total number of directors on the Company Board multiplied by the percentage that such number of Shares so accepted for payment plus any Shares beneficially owned by Parent or Purchaser bears to the total number of Shares outstanding at the time of such acceptance for payment. At such time, the Company shall also cause persons designated by Parent to constitute the same percentage (rounded up to the next whole number) as is on the Company Board of (i) each committee of the Company Board; (ii) each board of directors (or similar body) of each subsidiary of the Company; and (iii) each committee (or similar body) of each such board. To implement the foregoing, the Company has agreed to increase the size of the Company Board or use its reasonable efforts to secure the resignation of directors, or both, as is necessary to permit Parent's designees to be elected to the Company Board; provided, however, that at all times prior to the Effective Time there shall be at least three members of the Company Board who are neither officers of Parent nor designees, stockholders or affiliates of Parent ("Parent Insiders"). In the event that Parent's designees are elected to the Company Board after the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer and prior to the Effective Time, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors of the Company who are not Parent Insiders will be required to (a) amend or terminate the Merger Agreement by the Company, (b) exercise or waive any of the Company's rights, benefits or remedies under the Merger Agreement, (c) extend the time for performance of Parent's and Purchaser's respective obligations under the Merger Agreement, or (d) take any other action by the Company Board under or in connection with the Merger Agreement which would adversely affect the ability of the Company's stockholders to receive the Merger Consideration. Parent has agreed to cause the Company to use its best efforts to cause the Shares to be removed from quotation on the Nasdaq National Market System and deregistered under the Exchange Act as 5 soon as practicable following the Effective Time. Unless required by the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., subsequent to Purchaser's payment for Shares and prior to the Effective Time, the Company has agreed not to take any action to cause the Shares to be removed from quotation on the Nasdaq National Market System and deregistered under the Exchange Act. The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether prior to or after approval by the stockholders of the Company of the Merger Agreement: (a) by mutual written consent of the Board of Directors of Parent (the "Parent Board"), the Board of Directors of Purchaser and the Company Board; (b) by either the Company or Parent, if any Order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger shall have become final and non-appealable after the parties have used their respective best efforts to have such order removed, repealed or overturned; or (c) by the Company if (i) the Company Board withdraws or adversely modifies its adoption of the Merger Agreement, its recommendation of the Offer or its recommendation that the Company's stockholders approve the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, taking no position in response to a tender offer by a person other than Parent, Purchaser or any of their affiliates), (ii) there has been a material breach by Parent or Purchaser of any material covenant or agreement contained in the Merger Agreement that is not curable or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (x) 30 days after written notice of such breach is given by the Company to the party committing such breach or (y) two business days prior to any date on which the Offer is scheduled to expire (so long as at such time specified in clause (y) neither the Company nor Parent has indicated that it intends to request (and has the right under the Merger Agreement to have such request honored) that the Offer be extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement), provided that Parent shall have been given notice of such breach at least two business days prior to termination, or (iii) Purchaser (or any of the Parent Companies) shall have (x) terminated the Offer, or (y) failed to pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer on a timely basis following the expiration of the Offer, if the Offer has not been extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement may be terminated by Parent (a) at any time prior to the Effective Time, by action of the Parent Board if due to an occurrence or circumstance which resulted in a failure to satisfy any of the Offer Conditions (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and Purchaser shall have terminated the Offer in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, (b) prior to the purchase of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer if (i) the Company Board withdraws or adversely modifies its adoption of the Merger Agreement, its recommendation of the Offer or its recommendation that the Company's stockholders approve the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, taking no position in response to a tender offer by a person other than Parent, Purchaser or any of their affiliates), (ii) there has been a material breach by the Company of any material covenant or agreement contained in the Merger Agreement that is not curable or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (x) 30 days after written notice of such breach is given by Parent to the party committing such breach or (y) two business days prior to any date on which the Offer is scheduled to expire; provided, however, that at such time specified in this clause (y) neither the Company nor Parent has indicated that it intends to request (and has the right under the Merger Agreement to have such request honored) that the Offer be extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement (provided that the Company shall have been given notice of such breach at least two business days prior to termination), or (iii) the Minimum Condition shall not have been satisfied by the expiration of the Offer (as it may have been extended from time to time), and at or prior to such time any person (other than Parent, Purchaser or any of their affiliates) shall have made a public announcement with respect to a bona fide Acquisition Proposal that contemplates a per Share consideration in excess of the Merger Consideration (a "Third Party Offer"). In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement by Parent as a result of a material breach by the Company of any material covenant or agreement contained in the Merger Agreement, then the Company shall promptly, but in no event later than two days after the date of such termination, pay Parent a termination fee of $29.4 million (the 6 "Termination Fee"). In the event that (i) (a) an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made to the Company or any person (other than Parent, Purchaser or any of their affiliates) shall have publicly announced an intention to make an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company and thereafter the Merger Agreement is terminated (x) by the Company as a result of the termination of the Offer by Purchaser or (y) by Parent due to an occurrence or circumstance which resulted in a failure to satisfy any of the Offer Conditions under circumstances that would have permitted Parent to terminate the Merger Agreement as a result of a material breach by the Company or (b) the Merger Agreement is terminated (x) by the Company or Parent as a result of the Company Board withdrawing or adversely modifying its adoption of the Merger Agreement, its recommendation of the Offer or its recommendation that the stockholders of the Company approve the Merger Agreement or (y) by Parent as a result of the Minimum Condition not having been satisfied by the Expiration Date and at or prior to such time the public announcement of a Third Party Offer and (ii) (a) the person making the Third Party Offer (the "Acquiring Party") has acquired, by purchase, merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, lease, transfer or otherwise, in one transaction or any related series of transactions within 12 months after a termination of the Merger Agreement, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company or (b) there has been consummated a merger, consolidation or similar business combination between the Company or one of its subsidiaries and the Acquiring Party within 12 months after the relevant termination of the Merger Agreement, then the Company shall pay Parent the Termination Fee. The foregoing description of the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Merger Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit (c)(1) to this Statement and is available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the SEC or may be viewed and printed from the SEC web site at HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. KEY EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS On April 30, 1999, ABR entered into Key Executive Employment and Severance Agreements (each a "KESA") with James E. MacDougald, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, James P. O'Drobinak, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, Robert M. Pariseau, a Senior Vice President of the Company, Dennis A. Sweeney, a Senior Vice President of the Company, William R. Povilus, a Senior Vice President of the Company, and Dorothy F. Watkins, a Senior Vice President of the Company (each an "executive"). With respect to Messrs. MacDougald and O'Drobinak, the KESA supersedes the KESA previously in effect between the executive and the Company. Each KESA provides that if a Change in Control (as defined in the KESA) of the Company occurs during the term of an executive's employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company shall (or shall cause the executive's employer to) continue to employ the executive for a period (the "Employment Period") commencing on the date of the Change in Control and ending on the third anniversary of the Change in Control (or, if earlier, the last day in the Company's fiscal year in which the executive attains age 65). The consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the KESAs. Pursuant to the KESAs, each executive will, in the same capacities and positions held by the executive at the time of the Change in Control, or in such other capacities and positions as may be agreed to by the Company and the executive in writing, devote the executive's best efforts and all of the executive's business time, attention and skill to the business and affairs of the executive's employer. During the Employment Period, the executive will receive an annual base salary in cash equivalent to not less than executive's annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, and an annual cash bonus in an amount not less than the average cash bonuses earned (whether or not yet paid) by the executive in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the Change in Control (or, if the executive has not been employed by the Company for such three-fiscal-year period, 7 in respect of such fiscal years during which the executive has been employed by the Company). In addition, the executive shall receive fringe benefits at least equal in value to those provided for the executive immediately prior to the Change in Control, and shall be reimbursed, at such intervals and in accordance with such standard policies as may be in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, for any and all monies advanced in connection with the executive's employment for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the executive on behalf of the Company, including travel expenses. Pursuant to each KESA, during the Employment Period the executive shall be included, to the extent eligible thereunder (which eligibility shall not be conditioned on the executive's salary grade or on any other requirement which excludes persons of comparable status to the executive unless such exclusion was in effect for such plan or an equivalent plan immediately prior to the Change in Control), in any and all plans providing benefits for salaried employees in general, including but not limited to group life insurance, hospitalization, medical, dental, pension and profit sharing plans; provided, that, in no event will the aggregate level of benefits under such plans in which the executive is included be less than the aggregate level of benefits under plans of the Company of the type referred to above in which the executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control. In addition, during the Employment Period, the executive will annually be entitled to not less than the amount of paid vacation and not fewer than the number of paid holidays to which the executive was entitled annually immediately prior to the Change in Control or such greater amount of paid vacation and number of paid holidays as may be made available annually to other executives of the Company of comparable status and position to the executive. During the Employment Period, the executive will also be included in all plans providing additional benefits to executives of the Company of comparable status and position to the executive, including but not limited to deferred compensation, split-dollar life insurance, supplemental retirement, stock option, stock appreciation, stock bonus and similar or comparable plans; provided, that, in no event shall the aggregate level of benefits under such plans be less than the aggregate level of benefits under plans of the Company of the type referred to above in which the executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control. In addition, the executive shall be included in a bonus plan of the Company which shall satisfy the standards described below (such plan, the "Bonus Plan"). Bonuses under the Bonus Plan shall be payable upon the achievement of such financial or other goals reasonably related to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as the Company shall establish, all of which shall be attainable, prior to the end of the Employment Period, with approximately the same degree of probability as the goals under the Company's bonus plan or plans as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control and in view of the Company's existing and projected financial and business circumstances applicable at the time. The amount of the bonus that the executive is eligible to earn under the Bonus Plan shall be no less than the amount of the executive's maximum award provided in such Bonus Plan, which shall be no less than the maximum award the executive is eligible to receive under the Company's existing bonus plan, and in the event the goals are not achieved such that the entire maximum award is not payable, the Bonus Plan shall provide for a payment of an amount equal to a portion of the maximum award reasonably related to that portion of the goals which were achieved. In the event an executive's employment is terminated during the Employment Period by the Company for Cause (as defined in his or her KESA) or by the executive other than for Good Reason (as defined in the KESA), the executive shall be entitled to receive only the following benefits under the KESA (the "Accrued Benefits"): (1) all base salary for the time period ending with the executive's date of termination; (2) reimbursement for any and all reasonable expenses incurred by the executive on behalf of the Company for the time period ending with the date of termination; and (3) any and all compensation or other cash earned through the date of termination and deferred at the election of the executive or pursuant to any deferred compensation plan then in effect. Payment shall be made promptly in accordance with the Company's prevailing practice with respect to clauses (1) and (2) above or, with respect to clause (3), pursuant to the terms of the benefit plan or practice establishing such benefits. 8 In the event an executive's employment is terminated during the Employment Period by the executive for Good Reason or by the Company other than by reason of death, disability or Cause, the executive shall be entitled to receive the following benefits under the KESA: (1) the Accrued Benefits; (2) a lump sum payment of the bonus or incentive compensation otherwise payable to the executive with respect to the year in which termination occurs under any bonus or incentive compensation plan in which the executive is a participant; (3) all other payments and benefits to which the executive (or in the event of the executive's death, the executive's surviving spouse or other beneficiary) may be entitled as compensatory fringe benefits or under the terms of any benefit plan of the Company, excluding severance payments under any Company severance policy, practice or agreement in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; (4) in lieu of further base salary for periods following the termination date, as liquidated damages and additional severance pay and in consideration of the executive's covenants regarding confidentiality and competition (described below), the "Termination Payment" (described below); (5) at the expense of the Company, outplacement services, on an individualized basis at a level of service commensurate with the executive's status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control (or, if higher, immediately prior to the termination of the executive's employment), provided by a nationally recognized executive placement firm selected by the Company; provided that the cost to the Company of such services shall not exceed 30% of the executive's annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; and (6) the Company shall continue to provide, until the expiration of the Employment Period (assuming that the executive had not incurred a termination of employment), executive (and executive's dependents, if applicable) with the same level of medical, dental, accident, disability and life insurance benefits upon substantially the same terms and conditions (including contributions required by the executive for such benefits) as existed immediately prior to the executive's date of termination (or, if more favorable to the executive, as such benefits and terms and conditions existed immediately prior to the Change in Control); provided, that, if the executive cannot continue to participate in the Company plans providing such benefits, the Company shall otherwise provide such benefits on the same after-tax basis as if continued participation had been permitted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the executive becomes reemployed with another employer and becomes eligible to receive welfare benefits from such employer, the welfare benefits described in clause (6) above shall be secondary to such benefits during the period of the executive's eligibility, but only to the extent that the Company reimburses the executive for any increased cost and provides any additional benefits necessary to give the executive the benefits provided hereunder. The "Termination Payment" is an amount equal to (x) the product of (A) the sum of (1) the executive's annual base salary, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, plus (2) the amount of the average annual bonus award (determined on an annualized basis for any bonus award paid for a period of less than one year and excluding any year for which the executive did not participate in any bonus plan) paid to the executive with respect to the three complete fiscal years (or portion thereof) preceding the date of termination (the sum of the amounts set forth in this clause (A) is "Annual Cash Compensation"), multiplied by (B) the number of years and fractional portion thereof remaining in the Employment Period determined as of the date of termination; provided, however, that such amount shall not be less than the greater of (i) the amount of the executive's Annual Cash Compensation or (ii) the severance benefits to which the executive would have been entitled under the Company's severance policies and practices in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; plus (y) the value of the additional Company contributions that would have been made during the period described by (B) above to the executive's account under the Company's tax-qualified defined contribution plan (assuming for such purpose that the executive had not terminated employment and would have earned annually during such period the Annual Cash Compensation). The Termination Payment shall be paid to the executive in a cash equivalent as soon as practicable but in no event later than ten business days after the executive's date of termination. Such lump sum payment shall not be reduced by any present value or similar factor, and the executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of 9 the Termination Payment by securing other employment or otherwise, nor will such Termination Payment be reduced by reason of the executive securing other employment or for any reason. The Termination Payment shall be in lieu of, and acceptance by the executive of the Termination Payment shall constitute the executive's release of any rights of the executive to, any other severance payments under any Company severance policy, practice or agreement of the Company. If each executive's employment was terminated on the date of the Change of Control under circumstances entitling such executive to the Termination Payment, and assuming for purposes of calculating the Termination Payment that (i) the applicable bonus amount was equal to the bonuses paid for the Company's 1998 fiscal year and (ii) current salary levels, the Termination Payments payable under the KESAs would be approximately equal to $1,020,000 for Mr. MacDougald, $825,000 for Mr. O'Drobinak, $645,000 for Mr. Pariseau, $615,000 for Mr. Povilus, $564,000 for Mr. Sweeney and $480,000 for Ms. Watkins. In the event it shall be determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution (or any acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) by the Company (or any of its affiliated entities) or any entity which effectuates a Change in Control to or for the benefit of the executive (whether pursuant to the terms of a KESA or otherwise, but determined without regard to any Gross-Up Payment (as defined below)) (the "Payments") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any interest or penalties are incurred by the executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Company shall pay to the executive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the executive of all taxes (including any Excise Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the sum of (x) the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments and (y) the product of any deductions disallowed because of the inclusion of the Gross-up Payment in the executive's adjusted gross income and the highest applicable marginal rate of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made. In addition, the Company shall bear the cost of up to $25,000 in the aggregate of reasonable fees and expenses of consultants and/or legal, tax or accounting advisors actually incurred by the executive to advise the executive as to matters relating to the Termination Payment, the Excise Tax, the Gross-Up Payment and all related determinations. Pursuant to each KESA, the executive agrees that, in the event of any termination of employment where the executive is entitled to the Termination Payment, the executive shall not, for a period expiring one year after the executive's date of termination, without the prior written approval of the Company Board, participate in the management of, be employed by or own any business enterprise the principal office of which is located within the Southeastern United States that engages in substantial competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, where such enterprise's revenues from such competitive activities amounted to 50% or more of such enterprise's net revenues and sales for its most recently completed fiscal year; provided, however, that nothing shall prohibit the executive from owning stock or other securities amounting to less than five (5) percent of the outstanding capital stock of any entity; and provided, further, that if for any reason the Company does not pay the executive the amounts and make available to the executive the benefits provided in and required by this Agreement, then the executive will have no further obligation to the Company in respect of such covenant not to compete. In addition, during and following the executive's employment by the Company, the executive shall hold in confidence and not directly or indirectly disclose or use or copy or make lists of any confidential information or proprietary data of the Company (including that of the executive's employer), except to the extent authorized in writing by the Company Board or required by any court or administrative agency, other than to an employee of the Company or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the executive of duties as an executive officer of the Company. The form of KESA is attached to this Statement as Exhibit (c)(3) and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of KESA. 10 AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT On April 30, 1999, the Company and Mr. MacDougald amended Mr. MacDougald's employment agreement with the Company (the "MacDougald Amendment"). In recognition of Mr. MacDougald's prior contributions and service to the Company, and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any agreement between Mr. MacDougald and the Company, the Company shall continue, following Mr. MacDougald's termination of employment, to keep in full force and effect (or otherwise provide) for the remainder of Mr. MacDougald's lifetime, all policies of medical insurance with respect to Mr. MacDougald and his dependents, with the same level of coverage, upon the same terms and otherwise to the same extent as such policies shall have been in effect immediately prior Mr. MacDougald's date of termination, and the Company and Mr. MacDougald shall share the costs of the continuation of such insurance coverage in the same proportion as such costs were shared immediately prior to Mr. MacDougald's date of termination. The MacDougald Amendment is attached to this Statement as Exhibit (c)(4) and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the MacDougald Amendment. AMENDMENT TO INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN The Company has amended its annual incentive bonus plan (the "Incentive Amendment") to provide that upon an occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan), each participant in the bonus plan shall be entitled to receive a payment in respect of the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurs in an amount equal to the product of (1) such particpant's target bonus for such calendar year under the bonus plan and (2) the fraction obtained by dividing (x) the number of days in the calendar year that have elapsed through the date on which the Change in Control occurs by (y) 365. Such amount shall be payable to the participants as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three days following the date on which the Change in Control occurs. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will constitute a Change in Control as defined in the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan. The text of the Incentive Amendment is attached to this Statement as Exhibit (c)(5) and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Incentive Amendment. RETENTION BONUS PLAN On April 30, 1999, the Company Board adopted the ABR Information Services, Inc. Retention Bonus Plan (the "Retention Bonus Plan") for the benefit of certain key employees of the Company to secure the continued services, dedication and objectivity of such employees in expectation of and following a Change in Control (as defined in the Retention Bonus Plan). Pursuant to the Retention Bonus Plan, in the event the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby which would result in a Change in Control, certain key employees designated by the Company who are continuously employed during the period (the "Benefit Period") commencing on the date such agreement is entered into and ending on a date specified by the Company shall be entitled to receive a special retention payment in an amount determined by the Company. Each such employee shall also be entitled to the special retention payment in the event his or her employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause (as defined in the Retention Bonus Plan). The special retention payment shall be payable in a single lump sum cash payment no later than 10 days following the expiration of the Benefit Period (or, in the event such employee's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause prior to the expiration of the Benefit Period, no later than 10 days following such employee's date of termination). The aggregate maximum amount payable to all participants under the Retention Bonus Plan is $1,000,000. The Retention Bonus Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit (c)(6) and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Retention Bonus Plan. 11 CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT On February 4, 1999, prior to receiving a copy of the Company's confidential memorandum and confidential information relating to the Company. Parent and Goldman Sachs, on behalf of the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement (the "Confidentiality Agreement"). Pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement, Parent agreed that for five years it would treat certain information furnished to it by the Company as confidential and further agreed that it would not and it would cause certain representatives of Parent not to propose to the Company or any other person any transaction between Parent and the Company and/or its security holders or involving any of its securities or security holders unless the Company had requested in writing that Parent make such a proposal, and that Parent would not (i) acquire, or assist, advise or encourage any other persons in acquiring, directly or indirectly, any of the Company's securities, businesses or assets (including rights or options to acquire such ownership) for a period of three years from February 4, 1999 unless the Company has consented in advance in writing to such acquisition, (ii) seek or propose to influence, advise, change or control the management, the Company Board, governing instruments or policies or affairs of the Company during such three-year period or (iii) make any public disclosure, or take any action which could require the Company to make any public disclosure (under any law, rule or regulation or rule or regulation of a national securities exchange), with respect to any of the matters set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement, or enter into any agreement related to any of the foregoing. A copy of the Confidentiality Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit (c)(7) and is incorporated herein by reference and the foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Confidentiality Agreement. ITEM 4. THE SOLICITATION OR RECOMMENDATION. (a) Recommendation of the Board of Directors; Background of the Transaction RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Company Board, at a meeting held on April 30, 1999, determined unanimously that the Offer and the Merger are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders and recommends that stockholders of the Company accept the Offer and tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. A letter to the stockholders of the Company communicating the recommendation of the Company Board is attached hereto as Exhibit (a)(2) and is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE TRANSACTION Throughout 1998, the Company received inquiries from companies, including Parent, seeking to enter into strategic transactions with the Company. As a result of those inquiries management of the Company believed that it would be in the best interests of the Company to retain experienced financial advisors. The Company determined to request that Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs") act as its financial advisor. The Company and Goldman Sachs entered into an engagement letter dated July 31, 1998 (the "Engagement Letter") pursuant to which Goldman Sachs agreed to act as financial advisor to assist the Company in its analysis and consideration of various financial alternatives, including investments, acquisitions, divestitures, financial restructuring, strategic alliances, public or private financing, the sale of all or a portion of the Company, or other operations involving the Company. During late January and throughout February 1999, Goldman Sachs contacted approximately 20 different companies to inquire as to the interests of those companies in engaging in a strategic transaction with the Company. Following those initial contacts by Goldman Sachs, six companies requested a confidential memorandum and entered into confidentiality agreements with respect to the Company. In connection with the distribution of the confidential memorandum, Goldman Sachs requested that initial indications of interests be submitted on February 26, 1999. Parent and one other potential bidder (the "Other Bidder") provided initial indications of interests on February 26, 1999. On March 1, 1999, the Company Board met with senior management of the Company and the Company's financial and legal advisors and discussed the initial indications of interest provided by Parent and the Other Bidder. 12 Beginning on March 16, 1999, Parent and the Other Bidder were permitted to conduct a due diligence investigation of the Company and began receiving management presentations from senior management of the Company. Management presentations and due diligence reviews continued with these two companies throughout March. On March 26, 1999, Mr. MacDougald, Lawrence Perlman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Parent and Ronald L. Turner, President and Chief Operating Officer of Parent met, at Mr. Turner's request, to discuss a potential transaction between the Company and Parent. At that meeting, Messrs. Perlman and Turner suggested that Parent might submit a proposal that provided for a structure that was different than the structure contemplated by the form of merger agreement. In early April 1999 a form of agreement and plan of merger contemplating a stock-for-stock transaction (reflecting the Company's and Goldman Sachs' belief that the bidders would prefer to consummate a stock transaction), in which the Shares would be converted into the right to receive securities of the counterparty, was provided to Parent and the Other Bidder together with an instructions letter from Goldman Sachs requiring definitive offers with respect to a transaction involving the Company by April 16, 1999, including any proposed revisions to the form of merger agreement. After the form of agreement was distributed, Mr. Turner again requested a meeting with Mr. MacDougald at which time he and Mr. Perlman reiterated that the proposed structure to be suggested by Parent would be different from the structure set forth in the form of merger agreement. On April 14, 1999, Mr. MacDougald met with and had discussions with representatives of the Other Bidder. On April 16, 1999, Parent provided to the Company a proposal for a strategic alliance between Parent and the Company which would not involve the payment of any consideration for Shares. The Other Bidder provided a proposal to the Company for a merger in which each Share would be converted into a fixed number of shares of the Other Bidder's stock, subject to "collars" providing that the value of the stock to be received by stockholders of the Company at the closing of that merger would not be greater or less than certain specified amounts. Between April 16, 1999 and April 19, 1999, Mr. MacDougald and Mr. O'Drobinak discussed with the Company's legal and financial advisors the terms of each of the proposals received. On April 20, 1999, the Company Board met in Palm Harbor, Florida with the Company's legal and financial advisors to discuss each of the proposals that had been received by the Company on April 16th. Following that meeting, the Company Board instructed Goldman Sachs to inform Parent that Parent's alliance proposal had been rejected and that Parent would have to provide a proposal contemplating a business combination with the Company in which consideration would be paid for Shares by no later than April 23rd. The Company Board also instructed representatives of Goldman Sachs to inform the Other Bidder that the issues raised by its proposal, including the value of the consideration offered, the range of the collars, the Company's ability to terminate its obligation with respect to that transaction if a more attractive proposal was received by the Company, certain of the conditions to consummating the transaction, as well as the conditional nature of the proposal submitted, were problematic for the Company. The Other Bidder was informed that it needed to consider those matters and would be expected to reply to the Company with a revised offer by no later than April 26th. During discussions with the Other Bidder, representatives of the Other Bidder clarified with representatives of Goldman Sachs its request with respect to the Company's year 2000 preparedness. On April 22nd and April 23rd, representatives of the Company and the Other Bidder had comprehensive discussions relating to the steps taken by the Company with respect to year 2000 preparedness. On April 23, 1999, Parent submitted a proposal to the Company, subject to approval from the Parent Board, contemplating an all cash offer for all of the outstanding Shares at a price of $24.00 per Share. Representatives of Parent indicated that this proposal might be conditioned upon obtaining financing. Representatives of Parent also indicated certain limited additional due diligence would be required. After discussing the proposal with representatives of the Company, at the direction of the 13 Company, representatives of Goldman Sachs contacted representatives of Parent and requested that Parent provide its comments on the proposed merger agreement to permit the Company to review any additional issues inherent in Parent's proposal. At such time, representatives of Goldman Sachs discussed with representatives of Parent whether Parent expected that the transaction would be subject to a financing condition and suggested based on suggestions made by the Company that such a condition would not be not be viewed favorably by the Company. Representatives of Goldman Sachs requested that Parent's revised merger agreement be provided to the Company by April 26th. On April 26th, Parent contacted the Company and provided suggested revisions to the proposed merger agreement. Parent indicated that it would not condition its transaction on obtaining financing, but that it wanted a "break-up" option to purchase 19.9% of the Shares from the Company which would be exercisable if the transaction was terminated for certain reasons (which option, the Company believed, would have the effect of making it difficult for other companies that might want to acquire the Company following the execution of the Merger Agreement in a "pooling of interests" transaction). The suggested revisions also indicated other issues which the parties would discuss. On April 27th, the Other Bidder submitted a revised proposal with a decreased exchange ratio, but increased nominal value as a result of increases in the per share market price of the Other Bidder's stock. This revised proposal also increased both the upper and lower ranges of the collar. The proposal was conditioned upon successful negotiation of a merger agreement, approval by the Other Bidder's board of directors (which would not be sought until the Company executed an exclusivity agreement with the Other Bidder), specified revisions to agreements with certain members of management of the Company, assumption of control by the Other Bidder during the period prior to the closing of a merger with the Other Bidder over portions of the Company's year 2000 preparedness process and suggestions that additional due diligence might be required. After discussion with the Company, representatives of Goldman Sachs informed representatives of the Other Bidder that the consideration offered by the Other Bidder needed to be increased and that the year 2000 proposal was unacceptable to the Company. From time to time on April 27th, Mr. MacDougald discussed with individual members of the Company Board and the Company Board as a group the two proposals as presented to the Company. Thereafter representatives of Goldman Sachs contacted representatives of both Parent and the Other Bidder to discuss increasing the considerations being offered. Late in the evening on April 27th in a conversation between Mr. Turner and Mr. MacDougald, Mr. Turner indicated that Parent would be willing to concede most of the contractual points raised by the Company in response to Parent's comments to the merger agreement and would be willing to pay $25.00 per Share in cash for all of the Shares, but, since it was aware there were other participants in the process it desired to conclude negotiations quickly. Mr. Turner advised Mr. MacDougald that there was going to be a meeting of the Parent Board in the afternoon of April 29, 1999. Mr. Turner and other representatives of Parent came to Palm Harbor, Florida on April 28th to conduct additional due diligence on the Company. On April 28, 1999, the Company Board and representatives of the Company discussed by telephone the various proposals available. The Company Board determined that the Company should provide Parent with a revised draft merger agreement early in the morning on April 29th following discussions between representatives of Parent and representatives of Goldman Sachs. The Company Board instructed Goldman Sachs to inform Parent that at that time the Company would consider entering into the transaction with Parent on the terms that had been discussed, including the proposed consideration, but that, because other matters and discussions were continuing, further discussions relating to the consideration to be paid for Shares might be necessary. The Company determined to take such actions if discussions between representatives of Goldman Sachs and the Other Bidder did not result in the Other Bidder increasing the consideration proposed by it, and instructed Goldman Sachs to contact the Other Bidder to determine whether it would increase the value of its proposed consideration. In subsequent discussions with representatives of Goldman Sachs, the Other Bidder indicated that it would consider raising the value of its consideration to $25.50 per Share and submitting a revised proposal in writing the following day, but that any such revised proposal would constitute its best and highest proposal. 14 On the afternoon of April 29th, shortly before the meeting of the Parent Board to discuss the proposed transaction, the Other Bidder submitted a written proposal to the Company contemplating a "stock-for-stock" merger in which each Share would be converted into stock of the Other Bidder with a value equal to $25.50 per Share, subject to a right for the Other Bidder to terminate the agreement if its stock price declined by a specified percentage. The revised proposal from the Other Bidder also reiterated that such transaction would not be presented to its board of directors until a merger agreement had been fully negotiated, which would not occur until an exclusivity arrangement had been entered into between the Other Bidder and the Company. The proposal further noted that it was subject to confirmation of various due diligence matters, including matters relating to contracts between the Company and its clients, intellectual property ownership and clarification of certain other items. As a result of the receipt of this proposal, Mr. MacDougald called Mr. Turner immediately prior to the meeting of the Parent Board to inform Mr. Turner that he did not believe that Parent's proposal would receive the support of the Company Board unless the price per Share was increased. During the afternoon and early evening of April 29th, the Parent Board met to discuss the proposed transaction. Following the meeting of the Parent Board, representatives of Parent indicated that the Company would be provided with a proposed merger agreement signed by Parent and that if the Company did not execute the agreement by 1:00 a.m. (eastern time) on April 30th then Parent's offer would expire and it would terminate its discussions with the Company. Parent later reiterated that it was unwilling to raise its offered consideration to an amount in excess of $25.00 per Share. The Company Board met several times by telephone late in the evening of April 29th (the last of such meetings concluding early in the morning of April 30th) to discuss the proposal from Parent and the proposal from the Other Bidder. The Company Board noted that while the value of the consideration offered by the Other Bidder was greater than the $25.00 in cash being offered by Parent, the Other Bidder's transaction was subject to significantly greater uncertainty both as a result of the suggested revisions to the proposed merger agreement and the additional information requested by the Other Bidder. Given the competitive nature of the bidding process, the Company was reluctant to provide either bidder with an exclusive negotiating arrangement, a condition precedent to the Other Bidder's obtaining approval of its board of directors for its offer. After discussions among the Company Board, senior management of the Company and legal and financial advisors of the Company, the Company Board determined that it was not prepared to enter into a transaction with Parent on the terms proposed and that the Other Bidder should be contacted in an effort to discuss the matters noted in that company's April 29th proposal. Following the completion of the last of the meetings of the Company Board, Mr. MacDougald called Mr. Turner to inform Mr. Turner that the Company could not proceed on the terms proposed by Parent. It was, however, indicated that certain officers would be willing to forego vesting of the Options owned by them at the Effective Time if Parent increased the value of its offer. Mr. Turner indicated that he was not prepared to increase the per Share price offered by Parent. Mr. MacDougald and Mr. Turner agreed, however, that it would be productive if their respective legal counsels began discussing the issues raised by Parent's suggested revisions to the proposed merger agreement. Legal counsel to Parent and the Company negotiated the terms of the Merger Agreement throughout the early morning hours of April 30th and came to agreement on substantially all of the issues (other than the consideration offered and certain employee issues). On the morning of April 30th, representatives of the Company, Goldman Sachs and the Company's legal counsel discussed by telephone the due diligence matters raised by the April 29th proposal from the Other Bidder with representatives of the Other Bidder and its legal counsel. The discussions focused on the provision of information to the Other Bidder with the Other Bidder suggesting that it would be willing to have representatives go to the Company's offices the next day to begin reviewing some of the documentary information that would be required to be produced in connection with its informational requests. While representatives of the Company and the Other Bidder were engaged in 15 such discussions, representatives of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., financial advisor to Parent telephoned representatives of Goldman Sachs to indicate that Parent would be willing to increase its offer to $25.50 per Share in cash, subject to successful negotiation of a merger agreement, but that it was imperative to Parent that the Merger Agreement be entered into that day. Mr. MacDougald and Mr. Turner then discussed the other remaining issues relating to the transaction which resulted in a proposal by Parent that Mr. MacDougald determined was sufficient to recommend to the Company Board. The Company convened a meeting of the Company Board later that day to consider and discuss the terms of the proposed merger agreement, including the consideration to be offered to its stockholders in the transaction and the proposal submitted by the Other Bidder. Mr. MacDougald discussed with the Company Board the proposal from Parent, and Goldman Sachs and the Company's legal counsel also discussed the transaction with the Company Board. Representatives of Goldman Sachs also made a presentation relating to its financial analyses of the proposed transaction with Parent and the most recent proposal of the Other Bidder and indicated that if the Merger Agreement was entered into on terms substantially similar to the terms previously reviewed by Goldman Sachs, that Goldman Sachs would be able to deliver an opinion to the effect that, as of April 30, 1999 and based upon and subject to specified considerations and limitations, the $25.50 per Share to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Merger was fair to the stockholders of the Company from a financial point of view (Goldman Sachs subsequently provided such opinion in writing dated April 30, 1999). The Company Board then authorized management to complete negotiation of and enter into an acceptable merger agreement on terms substantially similar to those presented to the Company Board. Early in the evening on April 30th the parties entered into the Merger Agreement. (b) Reasons for the Recommendation In reaching the recommendation referred to in Item 4(a), the Company Board took into account numerous factors, including but not limited to the following: 1. The familiarity of the Company Board with the financial condition, results of operations, competitive position, business and prospects of the Company, as reflected in the Company's historical and projected financial information, current economic and market conditions and the nature of the industry in which it operates. 2. The presentation of Goldman Sachs at the April 30, 1999 meeting of the Company Board and the opinion of Goldman Sachs dated April 30, 1999 (the "Opinion") to the effect that, as of the date of such Opinion and based upon and subject to the considerations and limitations set forth therein, the $25.50 in cash per Share to be received by the holders of Shares in the Offer and the Merger was fair to such holders from a financial point of view. The full text of the Opinion, setting forth the procedures followed, the matters considered, the scope of the review undertaken and the assumptions made by Goldman Sachs in arriving at the Opinion, is attached hereto as Exhibit (a)(1) and is incorporated herein by reference. Holders of Shares are urged to, and should, read such Opinion carefully and in its entirety. The Opinion was provided for the information and assistance of the Company Board in connection with its consideration of the Offer and the Merger. The Opinion addresses only the fairness from a financial point of view of the consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company in the Offer and the Merger and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to whether to tender shares in the Offer or to vote in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement. 3. The historical market prices of, and recent trading activity in, the Shares, particularly the fact that the Offer and the Merger will enable the stockholders of the Company to quickly realize a premium of approximately 46% over the closing price of the Shares on the last trading day prior 16 to the public announcement of the Merger Agreement on May 3, 1999 and a premium of approximately 61.8% over the average of the closing prices of the Shares during the thirty days preceding the date of the Merger Agreement. 4. The financial and other terms and conditions of the Offer, the Merger and the Merger Agreement including, the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, including (i) the provision permitting the Company Board to amend or withdraw its recommendation made above, if it determines that it is consistent with its fiduciary duties to do so, (ii) the provision permitting the Company Board to terminate the Merger Agreement if it withdraws or adversely modifies its recommendation referred to above, (iii) the provision which, while prohibiting the Company and its officers, directors and agents from directly or indirectly initiating, soliciting, encouraging or otherwise facilitating any Acquisition Proposal, permits the Company and its officers, directors and agents, to the extent that the Company Board had determined that it would be a breach of its fiduciary duties as advised by outside legal counsel to not do so or if the Company Board determines that an Acquisition Proposal contains terms which would result in a Superior Proposal, to engage in negotiations or discussions concerning, or provide any information, to any person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, and (iv) the amount of the Termination Fee and the circumstances under which it would become payable. 5. The fact that the obligations of Parent and Purchaser to consummate the Offer and the Merger pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement are not conditioned upon obtaining financing and that Parent and Purchaser have represented in the Merger Agreement that they will have the funds necessary to consummate the Offer and the Merger. 6. The fact that an alternative to the Offer and the Merger was a stock merger which would be expected to require a much greater amount of time than the Offer and the Merger. 7. The fact that (i) the proposed ability to terminate the proposed stock merger of the Other Bidder if the stock price of the Other Bidder declined by a certain percentage created a risk that the stock merger would not be consummated at all simply as a result of a decline in the stock markets generally and (ii) the other conditions to the stock transaction proposed by the Other Bidder made it a more difficult transaction to consummate. 8. The Company's prospects if it were to remain independent, including the risks of competing against companies which have far greater resources, distribution capacity, product offerings and market reach than the Company. 9. Parent's acceptance of the Company's rejection of an option to purchase 19.9% of the Shares, which the Company believed would adversely impact the ability of another company to engage in a pooling of interests transaction with the Company. 10. Parent's insistence of entering into an agreement on an expeditious basis and the uncertainty as to whether the Other Bidder's proposal would have resulted in a transaction on terms that would have been acceptable to the Company Board. The Company Board did not assign relative weights to the factors or determine that any factor was of particular importance. Rather, the Company Board viewed their position and recommendation as being based on the totality of the information presented to and considered by it. ITEM 5. PERSONS RETAINED, EMPLOYED OR TO BE COMPENSATED. Pursuant to the Engagement Letter, the Company engaged Goldman Sachs as the Company's financial advisor to assist the Company in its analysis and consideration of various financial alternatives. 17 Pursuant to the terms of the Engagement Letter, the Company paid Goldman Sachs a fee of $200,000 on the date of the Engagement Letter and will pay Goldman Sachs a fee equal to approximately $7,300,000 upon completion of the Offer. The Company has also agreed to reimburse Goldman Sachs for its reasonable expenses, including the fees and disbursements of Goldman Sachs's attorneys, plus any sales, use or similar taxes in connection with Goldman Sachs's engagement, and to indemnify Goldman Sachs against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws. Goldman Sachs, as part of its investment banking business, is continually engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. In the ordinary course of business, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may actively trade or hold the securities of the Company and Parent for their own accounts or for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. Except as disclosed herein, neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf currently intends to employ, retain or compensate any other person to make solicitations or recommendations to security holders on its behalf concerning the Offer or the Merger. ITEM 6. RECENT TRANSACTIONS AND INTENT WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES. (a) On March 10, 1999, Mr. MacDougald purchased 11,446 Shares pursuant to previously granted options to purchase Shares at a price of $4.09 per Share. On March 10, 1999, Suzanne M. MacDougald purchased 3,916 Shares pursuant to previously granted options to purchase Shares at a price of $4.09 per Share. Except as set forth in this Item 6, no transactions in the Shares have been effected during the past 60 days by the Company or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, by any executive officer, director, affiliate or subsidiary of the Company. (b) To the best of the Company's knowledge, except for Shares the sale of which may trigger liability for the holder(s) under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act each executive officer, director and affiliate of the Company currently intends to tender all Shares to the Purchaser over which he or she has sole dispositive power as of the expiration date of the Offer. ITEM 7. CERTAIN NEGOTIATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS BY THE SUBJECT COMPANY. (a) Except as set forth in this Statement and the Merger Agreement, no negotiation is being undertaken or is underway by the Company in response to the Offer which relates to or would result in (i) an extraordinary transaction, such as a merger or reorganization, involving the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; (ii) a purchase, sale, or transfer of a material amount of assets by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; (iii) a tender offer for or other acquisition of securities by or of the Company; or (iv) any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the Company. (b) Except as set forth in this Statement and the Merger Agreement, there are no transactions, resolutions of the Company Board, agreements in principle, or signed contracts in response to the Offer that relate to or would result in one or more of the events referred to in Item 7(a) above. ITEM 8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED. ANTITRUST Under the HSR Act, and the rules that have been promulgated thereunder by the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC"), certain acquisition transactions may not be consummated unless certain information has been furnished to the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice 18 (the "Antitrust Division") and the FTC and certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied. The acquisition of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer is subject to such requirements. Pursuant to the requirements of the HSR Act, Parent and the Company intend to file the required Notification and Report forms (the "Forms") with the Antitrust Division and the FTC as soon as reasonably practicable. The statutory waiting period applicable to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer is to expire at 11:59 P.M., New York City time, on the fifteenth day after Parent has filed its Form. However, prior to such date, the Antitrust Division or the FTC may extend the waiting periods by requesting additional information or documentary material relevant to the acquisition. If such a request is made, the waiting period will be extended until 11:59 P.M., New York City time on the tenth day after substantial compliance by the Parent with such request. Thereafter, such waiting periods can be extended only by court order. A request is expected to be made pursuant to the HSR Act for early termination of the applicable waiting period. There can be no assurance, however, that the waiting period will be terminated early. The Antitrust Division and the FTC frequently scrutinize the legality under the antitrust laws of transactions. At any time before or after the consummation of any such transaction, the Antitrust Division or the FTC could, notwithstanding termination of the waiting period, take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems necessary or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer or seeking divestiture of the Shares so acquired or divestiture of substantial assets of the Purchaser or the Company. Private parties may also bear legal actions under the antitrust laws. There can be no assurance that a challenge to the Offer on antitrust grounds will not be made, or if such a challenge is made, what the result will be. STATE TAKEOVER LAWS The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida. The Florida Business Corporation Act (the "FBCA") contains certain provisions relating to "affiliated transactions" which regulate, among other things, certain business combinations, including mergers and consolidations, involving a Florida corporation with any person who is the beneficial owner of more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting shares of such corporation (an "Interested Shareholder"). Under Section 607.0901 of the FBCA (the "Affiliated Transactions Statute"), with certain exceptions, a corporation incorporated under the laws of Florida shall not engage in such a transaction with an Interested Shareholder unless the transaction is approved by the holders of two-thirds of the voting shares other than the shares owned by the Interested Shareholder. Such exceptions include transactions approved by a majority of the corporation's directors who are not affiliated or associated with the Interested Shareholder. At a telephonic meeting held on April 30, 1999, the Company Board none of the members of which are affiliated or associated with Purchaser or Parent, unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, and determined that each of the Offer and Merger are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company. The FBCA also contains provisions relating to acquisitions of "control shares," which is defined as shares that entitle a person to exercise more than certain specified proportions of the voting power of a public corporation incorporated under the laws of Florida (commencing with the acquisition of 20% or more of the voting shares of such corporation). Section 607.0902 of the FBCA (the "Control Share Acquisitions Statute") limits the voting rights of control shares acquired in certain types of acquisitions (a "control-share acquisition") unless the acquisition of the control shares has been approved by the board of directors of such corporation or certain other statutory conditions have been met. At the meeting of the Company Board held on April 30, 1999, the Company Board unanimously approved the acquisition of the Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement (including the Offer and the Merger). 19 ITEM 9. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a)(1) Opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co., dated April 30, 1999* (a)(2) Letter to Stockholders, dated as of May 7, 1999* (c)(1) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 30, 1999, among the Company, Parent and Purchaser (c)(2) Proxy Statement, dated November 16, 1998, for the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders (incorporated by reference herein) (c)(3) Form of Key Executive Employment and Severance Agreement (c)(4) Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and James E. MacDougald (c)(5) Text of Amendment to ABR Information Services, Inc. Bonus Plan (c)(6) ABR Information Services, Inc. Retention Bonus Plan (c)(7) Confidentiality Agreement, dated February 4, 1999, between Parent and Goldman Sachs on behalf of the Company.
- ------------------------ * Included in the Schedule 14D-9 mailed to the Company's stockholders. 20 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: May 7, 1999 ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. By: /s/ JAMES E. MACDOUGALD ---------------------------------------- Name: James E. MacDougald Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
21 ANNEX I INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(F) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND RULE 14F-1 THEREUNDER GENERAL This Information Statement is being mailed on or about May 7, 1999, as part of the Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-9") of ABR Information Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), with respect to the tender offer by Spring Acquisition Corp., a Florida corporation ("Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ceridian Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), to the holders of record of the issued and outstanding voting common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company ("Shares"). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Schedule 14D-9. This Information Statement is being distributed in connection with the possible election of persons designated by Parent to a majority of the seats on the Company Board. The tender offer is being made by Purchaser for all of the outstanding Shares at a price of $25.50 per Share net to the Seller in cash, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated as of April 30, 1999, by and among the Company, Parent and Purchaser. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, following the purchase of Shares pursuant to Offer, at the effective time of the Merger, the Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company, and the Company will be the surviving corporation and become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent. The Merger Agreement provides that, if requested by Parent, the Company shall to the extent permissible, promptly following the purchase of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, take all action necessary to cause such number of persons designated by Parent to become directors of the Company so that the total number of such persons equals that number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the Company Board as will give Purchaser representation on the Company Board equal to the product of the total number of directors on the Company Board (giving effect to the directors to be elected pursuant to the Merger Agreement) multiplied by the percentage that the number of Shares beneficially owned by Purchaser or any affiliate of Purchaser bears to the total number of Shares then outstanding. At such time, the Company shall also cause persons designated by Parent to constitute the same percentage (rounded up to the next whole number) as is on the Company Board of (i) each committee of the Company Board (ii) each board of directors (or similar body) of each subsidiary of the Company, and (iii) each committee (or similar body) of each such board. In furtherance thereof, the Company will increase the size of the Company Board or use its reasonable efforts to secure the resignation of directors, or both, as is necessary to permit Parent's designees to be elected to the Company Board, in each case only to the extent permitted by law. This Information Statement is required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder. You are urged to read this Information Statement carefully. You are not, however, required to take any action in connection with this Information Statement. The Offer commenced on May 7, 1999 and is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on June 4, 1999, at which time, if all conditions to the Offer have been satisfied or waived and certain other circumstances do not exist, Purchaser will purchase all of the Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn. The information contained in this Information Statement concerning Purchaser, Parent and the Acquisition Designees (as defined below) has been furnished to the Company by Parent, and the Company assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any such information. I-1 At the close of business on April 29, 1999, there were 28,762,983 issued and outstanding Shares, which is the only class of securities the Company has outstanding. Each Share entitles its record holder to one vote. DESIGNEES TO THE COMPANY BOARD Purchaser has informed the Company that it currently intends to choose the designees (the "Acquisition Designees") it has the right to designate to the Company Board pursuant to the Merger Agreement from among the executive officers of Parent and Purchaser listed in Schedule A of the Offer to Purchase, a copy of which is being mailed to stockholders of the Company.
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION NAME AGE AND OTHER INFORMATION - --------------------------------------------- --------- ---------------------------------------------------------- EXECUTIVE OFFICERS: Lawrence Perlman............................. 61 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Parent. Mr. Perlman was appointed Chairman of Parent in November 1992, and has been Chief Executive Officer of Parent since January 1990. Mr. Perlman was President of Parent from January 1990 to April 1998. He is a director of Seagate Technology, Inc., The Valspar Corporation, Computer Network Technology Corporation and Amdocs Limited. Mr. Perlman has been a director of Parent since 1985. Ronald L. Turner............................. 52 President and Chief Operating Officer of Parent. Mr. Turner has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Parent since April 1998. He was Executive Vice President of Operations of Parent from March 1997 to April 1998; an Executive Vice President of Parent and President and Chief Executive Officer of Parent's Computing Devices International division from January 1996 to March 1997; and Vice President of Parent and President of Computing Devices International from January 1993 to January 1996. John R. Eickhoff............................. 59 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Parent. Mr. Eickhoff has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Parent since May 1995, and was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Parent from June 1993 to May 1995. Mr. Eickhoff was Vice President and Corporate Controller of Parent from July 1989 to June 1993. Gary M. Nelson............................... 47 Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Parent. Mr. Nelson has been Vice President and General Counsel of Parent since July 1997 and Secretary of Parent since October 1998. From 1983 to July 1997, Mr. Nelson was a partner in the Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP law firm.
I-2 It is expected that the first of the Acquisition Designees to assume office would assume office at any time following the purchase by Purchaser of a number of Shares in an amount equal to or greater than the number of Shares necessary to satisfy the Minimum Condition, which purchase cannot be earlier than June 4, 1999, and that, upon assuming office, the Acquisition Designees will thereafter constitute at least a majority of the entire Company Board. This step will be accomplished at a meeting or by written consent of the Company Board provided that the size of the Company Board will be increased and sufficient numbers of current directors will resign such that, immediately following such action, the number of vacancies to be filled by the Acquisition Designees will constitute at least a majority of the available positions on the Company Board or such greater percentage as may be required pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. It is currently not known which, if any, of the current directors of the Company will resign. Purchaser has informed the Company that each of the officers listed above has consented to act as a director of the Company, if so designated. None of the executive officers and directors of Parent or Purchaser currently is a director of, or holds any position or office with, the Company. Lawrence Perlman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Parent, and John R. Eickhoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Parent, own 2,000 and 500 Shares, respectively, together representing less than 1% of the outstanding Shares. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, the Company has been advised that, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, none of Parent's or Purchaser's directors or executive officers beneficially owns any equity securities, or rights to acquire any equity securities, of the Company and none has been involved in any transactions with the Company or any of its directors, executive officers, affiliates or associates which are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION NAME AGE AND OTHER INFORMATION - --------------------------------------------- --- ------------------------------------------------------------ Mark M. Goldman.............................. 56 Mr. Goldman has served as a Director of the Company (and its predecessors) since 1987. For the last five years, Mr. Goldman has served as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Phone Programs Financial Corp., Boca Raton, Florida, a consulting and management company. Mr. Goldman's current term as a director expires in 2001. James E. MacDougald.......................... 55 Mr. MacDougald has served as Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company (and its predecessors) since 1982. Mr. MacDougald's current term as a director expires in 1999 Thomas F. Costello........................... 57 Mr. Costello has served as a Director of the Company (and its predecessors) since 1989. For the last five years, Mr. Costello has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Costello Group, New York, New York, an insurance and real estate brokerage company. Mr. Costello's current term as a director expires in 1999. Suzanne M. MacDougald........................ 55 Mrs. MacDougald has served as Senior Vice President, Secretary and a Director of the Company
I-3
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION NAME AGE AND OTHER INFORMATION - --------------------------------------------- --- ------------------------------------------------------------ (and its predecessors) since 1982. Mrs. MacDougald's current term as a director expires in 2000. Peter A. Sullivan............................ 46 Mr. Sullivan has served as a director of the Company since September 1997. Mr. Sullivan has served as President of Arlen Corporation, Providence, Rhode Island, an insurance-related financial products sale and service company, since 1988. Mr. Sullivan's current term as a director expires in 2000. James P. O'Drobinak.......................... 38 Mr. O'Drobinak has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 1997. From 1995 to 1997, Mr. O'Drobinak served as Chief Financial Officer--North America for Danka Industries, Inc. From 1983 to 1995, Mr. O'Drobinak held various positions with Deloitte & Touche LLP, an international accounting and consulting firm, most recently as a Senior Manager in the Tampa, Florida office.
CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY GENERAL The Company Board has established the Audit Committee of the Company Board (the "Audit Committee"), the Compensation Committee of the Company Board (the "Compensation Committee") and the Stock Option Committee of the Company Board (the "Stock Option Committee"). The Audit Committee, which is comprised of Thomas F. Costello, Mark M. Goldman and Peter A. Sullivan, is responsible for recommending to the Company Board the appointment of independent auditors, reviewing with the independent auditors the scope of the annual audit engagement, and establishing and reviewing the Company's financial policies and control procedures. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised of James E. MacDougald and Messrs. Costello, Goldman and Sullivan, is responsible for establishing the compensation of the Company's directors, officers and other managerial personnel, including salaries, bonuses and other forms of compensation. The Stock Option Committee, which is comprised of Messrs. Costello, Goldman and Sullivan, is responsible for administering the Company's stock option plans. The Company Board held eight meetings during the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998. The Company Board also took certain actions by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting, as permitted by the FBCA. The Audit Committee met three times, the Compensation Committee met two times, and the Stock Option Committee met three times. All directors attended all meetings of the Company Board and all committees of the Company Board on which they served during the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION Directors who are executive officers of the Company receive no compensation for service as members of either the Company Board or committees thereof. Directors who are not executive officers of the Company receive an annual fee of $15,000, plus $1,000 for each meeting of the Company Board attended and $1,000 per committee meeting attended. I-4 SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998, the executive officers and directors of the Company filed with the SEC on a timely basis all required reports relating to transactions involving equity securities of the Company beneficially owned by them, except that a Form 5 reporting the grant to Peter A. Sullivan on September 12, 1997 of options to purchase 5,000 Shares under the Company's 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan was filed late. The Company has relied on the written representation of its executive officers and directors and copies of the reports they have filed with the SEC in providing this information. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth, as of April 29, 1999, certain information regarding stock ownership by beneficial owners of more than five percent of the Shares (based on reports filed by them with the SEC) and, as of April 29, 1999, by Directors and the executive officers and by all Directors and executive officers as a group, each of whom has sole voting and investment power, except as indicated.
NAME SHARES PERCENT - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------- James E. MacDougald(1)(2)(3)................................................................ 1,625,877 5.6% James P. O'Drobinak(1)(4)................................................................... 48,613 * Suzanne M. MacDougald(1)(5)(6).............................................................. 1,274,502 4.4 Thomas F. Costello(7)(8).................................................................... 636,374 2.2 Mark M. Goldman(9)(10)...................................................................... 280,474 1.0 Peter A. Sullivan(11)....................................................................... 47,100 * Capital Research Company(12)................................................................ 3,360,000 11.7 Nationwide Investing Foundation III(13)..................................................... 1,883,000 6.5 Firstar Corporation(14)..................................................................... 1,654,000 5.8 Directors and executive officers as a group (six persons)(15)............................... 2,698,938 9.3
* Less than 1%. (1) The business address of Messrs. MacDougald and O'Drobinak and Mrs. MacDougald is 34125 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, Florida 34684. (2) Includes 1,214,002 Shares benefically owned jointly with his spouse, Suzanne M. MacDougald. (3) Includes 245,000 Shares issuable under currently exercisable options. (4) Includes 47,500 Shares issuable under currently exercisable options. (5) Includes 1,214,002 Shares benefically owned jointly with her spouse, James E. MacDougald. (6) Includes 56,250 Shares issuable under currently exercisable options. (7) Mr. Costello's business address is c/o The Costello Group, 116 Central Park South, Suite 6, New York, NY 10019. Includes 21,250 Shares issuable under currently exercisable options. (8) Includes 165,000 Shares held by Mr. Costello's spouse. (9) Mr. Goldman's business address is 34125 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, Florida 34684. Includes 25,700 Shares held by Mr. Goldman's spouse, and 5,000 Shares held by trusts over which Mr. Goldman has shared investment and voting power. (10) Includes 21,250 Shares issuable under exercisable options. (11) Mr. Sullivan's business address is c/o Arlen Corporation, 1 Providence Washington Plaza, 7th Floor, Providence, RI 02903. Includes 5,000 Shares issuable under currently exercisable options. I-5 (12) The business address of Capital Research Company is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071. (13) The business address of Nationwide Investing Foundation III is Three Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2220. (14) The business address of Firstar Corporation is 777 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202. (15) See notes (2) to (11) above. STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH The following graph presents a comparison of the cumulative total stockholder return on the Shares with the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.) Index and the Nasdaq Computer and DP Index. This graph assumes that $100 was invested on May 26, 1994, the date of the Company's initial public offering through July 31, 1998. The stock price performance shown below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance. EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH Measurement Period The Nasdaq Stock Market Nasdaq Computer (Fiscal Year Covered) Company (U.S.) Index and Data Processing Index 5/26/94 100 100 100 7/31/94 119 99 95 7/31/95 323 139 164 7/31/96 1171 151 184 7/31/97 1258 223 287 7/31/98 808 263 380
I-6 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The following table sets forth certain information concerning compensation paid to or earned by the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and each of the Company's two other most highly compensated executive officers who earned more than $100,000 for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996. SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
NAME AND PRINCIPAL FISCAL NUMBER OF ALL OTHER POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS OPTIONS/SARS COMPENSATION(1) - ------------------------------------------------ ----------- ---------- ---------- ------------- ----------------- James E. MacDougald,............................ 1998 $ 190,000 $ 110,000 100,000 $ 5,304 President and Chief Executive Officer 1997 190,000 310,000 80,000 4,750 1996 175,000 315,000 180,000 4,396 James P. O'Drobinak,............................ 1998 134,000 100,000 30,000 3,025 Senior Vice President and 1997 66,000 20,000 80,000 -- Chief Financial Officer(2) 1996 -- -- -- -- Suzanne M. MacDougald,.......................... 1998 40,000 -- -- 1,117 Senior Vice President and Secretary 1997 40,000 -- -- 1,000 1996 67,000 58,000 30,000 11,686
- ------------------------ (1) Includes allocations to the accounts of the executive officers under the Company's defined contribution savings plan. (2) Mr. O'Drobinak became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company on January 30, 1997. The following table sets forth information with respect to grants of stock options during fiscal 1998 to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1998
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE INDIVIDUAL GRANTS VALUE AT ASSUMED -------------------------------- STOCK PRICE ANNUAL RATES OF % OF TOTAL ------------------------ APPRECIATION FOR OPTIONS GRANTED EXERCISE OPTION TERMS OPTIONS TO EMPLOYEES IN PRICE PER EXPIRATION -------------------------- GRANTED(1) FISCAL 1998 SHARE DATE 5%(2) 10%(2) ----------- ------------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------ James E. MacDougald....................... 11,000 2.0% $ 26.12 9/12/07 $ 180,694 $ 457,914 89,000 16.1% $ 24.08 12/6/07 1,347,796 3,415,581 James P. O'Drobinak....................... 30,000 5.4% $ 26.12 9/12/07 492,802 1,248,857 Suzanne M. MacDougald..................... -- -- -- -- -- --
(1) Options granted under the Company's 1987 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, 1993 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan and 1997 Stock Option Plan are exercisable by the named executive officer to the extent of 25% of the Shares subject to such options each year beginning one year after the date of grant subject to certain conditions. (2) Assumes rates of Shares price appreciation that are prescribed by the SEC. I-7 The following table sets forth information with respect to the aggregate stock option exercises by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table during fiscal 1998 and the year-end value of unexercised options held by such executive officers. AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1998 AND YEAR-END OPTIONS VALUES
VALUE OF UNEXERCISED NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY NUMBER OF SHARES OPTIONS AT YEAR-END OPTIONS AT YEAR-END(1) ACQUIRED VALUE -------------------------- -------------------------- NAME ON EXERCISE REALIZED UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE - ------------------------------- --------------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- James E. MacDougald............ -- -- 244,786 205,000 $ 1,466,977 $ 378,300 James P. O'Drobinak............ -- -- 27,500 82,500 (2) (2) Suzanne M. MacDougald.......... -- -- 58,370 26,250 525,164 136,913
(1) Represents the number of Shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of options, multiplied by the difference between (i) the closing sales price per Share as of the end of fiscal 1998 ($17.50 per share) and (ii) the exercise price per Share. (2) Exercise price per Share exceeded the closing sales price per Share as of the end of fiscal 1998. EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS WITH NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS In March, 1994, the Company entered into one-year employment agreements with each of Mr. MacDougald and Mrs. MacDougald. These agreements have been renewed annually, most recently in March, 1999 for an additional one-year term, and currently provide for annual base salaries of $230,000 and $44,000, respectively. Each employment agreement provides that the executive officer will not, in the event of any covered termination where the executive is entitled to, and is granted by the Company Board, accrued benefits and the termination payment during a period of not less than one year nor more than two years following termination of employment, as determined by the Company Board, in any area in which the Company's business is then conducted, directly or indirectly compete with the Company, or participate as an officer, employee, partner, director or otherwise, or have any financial interest, in any business that is in competition with the business of the Company, subject to certain limitations. Each employment agreement automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless terminated by either party, and provides that if the employment agreement is terminated for any reason other than the respective executive officer's death or disability, or for cause (as defined therein), the Company will pay the executive officer severance during the period following termination of employment in which the executive officer is required not to compete with the Company, based on the executive officer's annual base salary during the year of termination. Such severance payment may, upon the executive officer's election, be paid in one lump sum. Under each employment agreement, the executive officer is entitled to participate in such bonus programs and other benefit plans as are generally made available to senior management of the Company. Mr. MacDougald's employment agreement was amended on April 30, 1999. The amendment is described in Item 3 of the Schedule 14D-9, and is incorporated herein by reference. The Company also has entered into KESAs with its executives, including Messrs. MacDougald and O'Drobinak. Each of the KESAs was entered into on April 30, 1999. Each of the KESAs previously entered between the Company and Messrs. MacDougald and O'Drobinak was superceded in connection with the adoption of the KESAs. The KESAs are described in Item 3 of the Schedule 14D-9 and are incorporated herein by reference. I-8 INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN Effective August 1, 1993, the Company adopted an Incentive Bonus Plan, which provides for the discretionary payment of annual incentive awards to key employees pursuant to a formula related to the Company's pre-tax profits (income before income taxes), based on the attainment of pre-established goals related to the Company's pre-tax margin (income before income taxes divided by revenues) and its revenue growth (based on annual increases in revenues). Payments under the Incentive Bonus Plan are discretionary, based on the determination of the Company Board, and are subject to certain limitations as provided in the Incentive Bonus Plan. Quarterly advances against estimated annual payments may be made at the Company's discretion. No bonus can be earned under the Incentive Bonus Plan in any fiscal year unless the Company's revenues increase by at least 20% over the prior fiscal year, and the Company's pre-tax margin is at least 16%, including the effect of the bonus on pre-tax margin. The maximum amount of the bonus pool in any fiscal year is limited to the amount that would be determined if revenue growth were 50% over the prior fiscal year, and the pre-tax margin is 20%, including the effect of the bonus on pre-tax margin. The Company amended the Incentive Bonus Plan on April 30, 1999. This amendment is described in Item 4 of the Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated herein by reference. SAVINGS PLAN Effective January 1, 1992, the Company established a defined contribution savings plan (the "Savings Plan") covering substantially all employees. The Savings Plan consists of an employee elective contribution and a company matching contribution for each eligible participant. The Company's matching contribution is determined by the Company Board on a discretionary basis. The Company's contributions under the Savings Plan in fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996 were approximately $357,054, $261,944 and $167,969, respectively. RETENTION BONUS PLAN On April 30, 1999, the Company Board adopted the Retention Bonus Plan for the benefit of certain key employees of the Company. This Retention Bonus Plan is described in Item 3 of the Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated herein by reference. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION Mr. MacDougald, the Company's Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, is a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board. As a result, Mr. MacDougald participated in deliberations regarding the compensation to be paid to executive officers of the Company during fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996. The other members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Costello, Goldman and Sullivan. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INTRODUCTION Under the rules of the SEC, the Company is required to provide certain information concerning compensation provided to the Company's chief executive officer and its executive officers. The disclosure requirements for the executive officers include the use of tables and a report of the Compensation Committee responsible for compensation decisions for the named executive officers, explaining the rationale and considerations that led to those compensation decisions. The most recently prepared report of the Compensation Committee is the report included in the Company's proxy statement for the 1998 meeting of its stockholders, the following report was included in that proxy statement. I-9 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ROLE The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and the Stock Option Committee are responsible for separate aspects of the Company's compensation program for its executive officers, including the named executive officers. The Compensation Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the salaries of executive officers. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for overseeing other forms of cash compensation and benefits to other senior officers. The Compensation Committee's responsibilities include reviewing salaries, benefits and other compensation of senior officers and making recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect to these matters. The Stock Option Committee is responsible for making stock option grants under the Company's stock option plans to executive officers of the Company. COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY The compensation philosophy for executive officers conforms generally to the compensation philosophy followed for all of the Company's employees. The Company's compensation is designed to maintain executive compensation programs and policies that enable the Company to attract and retain the services of highly qualified executives. In addition to base salaries, executive compensation programs and policies consisting of discretionary cash bonuses and periodic grants of stock options are designed to reward and provide incentives for individual contributions as well as overall Company performance. The Compensation Committee monitors the operation of the Company's executive compensation policies. In August, 1993, the Company implemented the recommendations of independent compensation consultants that were retained by the Company to assess the effectiveness of the Company's executive compensation programs by comparing the Company's compensation programs to various other information services companies and other companies with similar growth characteristics to those of the Company. Key elements of the Company's compensation program consists of base salary, discretionary annual cash bonuses and periodic grants of stock options. The Company's policies with respect to these elements, including the basis for the compensation awarded the Company's chief executive officer, are discussed below. While the elements of compensation described below are considered separately, the Compensation Committee takes into account the full compensation package offered by the Company to the individual, including healthcare and other insurance benefits and contributions made by the Company under the Company's Savings Plan. Base Salaries. The Company has established competitive annual base salaries for all executive officers, including the named executive officers. The Company has entered into one-year employment agreements with James E. MacDougald, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Suzanne M. MacDougald, Senior Vice President and Secretary. Each employment agreement automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless terminated by either party. The annual base salaries for each of the Company's executive officers, including the Company's chief executive officer, reflect both the recommendations of the Company's compensation consultants and the subjective judgment of the Compensation Committee based on the consideration of the executive officer's position with the Company, the executive officer's tenure, the Company's needs, and the executive officer's individual performance, achievements and contributions to the growth of the Company. Mr. MacDougald's annual base salary as the Company's chief executive officer is currently $190,000. The Compensation Committee believes that this annual base salary is consistent with the salary range established for this position based on the Company's discussions with outside consultants, the factors noted above and Mr. MacDougald's prior experience and managerial expertise, his knowledge of the Company's operations and the industry in which it operates. Annual Bonus. The Company's executive officers are eligible for an annual cash bonus under the Company's Incentive Bonus Plan, which was implemented based on its discussions with independent compensation consultants in August, 1993. The Incentive Bonus Plan provides for the discretionary I-10 payment of annual incentive awards to key employees, including executive officers of the Company, pursuant to a formula related to the Company's pre-tax profits (income before income taxes), based on the attainment of preestablished goals related to the Company's pre-tax margin (income before income taxes divided by revenues) and its revenue growth (based on annual increases in revenues). Payments under the Incentive Bonus Plan are discretionary, and are subject to certain limitations as provided in the Incentive Bonus Plan. The amount of the cash bonus paid to Mr. MacDougald as the Company's chief executive officer under the Incentive Bonus Plan was $110,000 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998, and was determined in accordance with the provisions of the Incentive Bonus Plan. Stock Options. Under the Company's 1987 Stock Option Plan, 1993 Stock Option Plan and 1997 Stock Option Plan (together, the "Plans"), stock options may be granted to key employees, including executive officers of the Company. The Plans are administered by the Stock Option Committee in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998, options to purchase 100,000 Shares under the Plans were granted to Mr. MacDougald. The principal factors considered in determining the granting of stock options to executive officers of the Company, including the Company's chief executive officer, were the executive officer's tenure with the Company, his or her total cash compensation for the prior year, the executive officer's acceptance of additional responsibilities and his or her contributions toward the Company's attainment of strategic goals. SECTION 162(M) LIMITATIONS Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, a tax deduction by corporate taxpayers, such as the Company, is limited with respect to the compensation of certain executive officers unless such compensation is based upon performance objectives meeting certain regulatory criteria or is otherwise excluded from the limitation. Based upon the Compensation Committee's commitment to link compensation with performance as described in this report, the Compensation Committee currently intends to qualify compensation paid to the Company's executive officers for deductibility by the Company under Section 162(m). I-11
EX-99.(A)(1) 2 EXHIBIT (A)(1) Exhibit 99(a)(1) [LETTERHEAD OF GOLMAN SACHS] PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 30, 1999 Board of Directors ABR Information Services, Inc. 34125 U.S. Highway 19 North Palm Harbor, FL 34684-2116 Ladies and Gentlemen: You have requested our opinion as to the fairness from a financial point of view to the holders (other than Ceridian Corporation ("Ceridian") and its subsidiaries) (the "Holders") of the outstanding shares of voting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of ABR Information Services, Inc. (the "Company") of the $25.50 per Share in cash proposed to be received by the Holders in the Tender Offer and the Merger (as defined below) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 30, 1999, among Ceridian, Spring Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ceridian, and the Company (the "Agreement"). The Agreement provides for a tender offer for all of the Shares (the "Tender Offer") pursuant to which Spring Acquisition Corp. will pay $25.50 per Share in cash for each Share accepted. The Agreement further provides that following completion of the Tender Offer, Spring Acquisition Corp. will be merged into the Company (the "Merger") and each outstanding Share (other than Excluded Shares (as defined in the Agreement)) will be converted into the right to receive $25.50 in cash. Goldman, Sachs & Co., as part of its investment banking business, is continually engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. We are familiar with the Company having acted as its financial advisor in connection with, and having participated in certain of the negotiations leading to, the Agreement. Goldman, Sachs & Co. provides a full range of financial advisory and securities services and, in the course of its normal trading activities, may from time to time effect transactions and hold securities, including derivative securities, of the Company or Ceridian for its own account and for the accounts of customers. In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, among other things, the Agreement; Annual Reports to Stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K of the Company for the five fiscal years ended July 31, 1998; certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company; certain other communications from the Company to its ABR Information Services, Inc. April 30, 1999 Page Two stockholders; and certain internal financial analyses and forecasts for the Company prepared by its management. We also have held discussions with members of the senior management of the Company regarding its past and current business operations, financial condition and future prospects. In addition, we have reviewed the reported price and trading activity for the Shares, compared certain financial and stock market information for the Company with similar information for certain other companies the securities of which are publicly traded, reviewed the financial terms of certain recent business combinations in the benefits and payroll outsourcing industries specifically and in other industries generally and performed such other studies and analyses as we considered appropriate. We have relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information reviewed by us and have assumed such accuracy and completeness for purposes of rendering this opinion. In addition, we have not made an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and we have not been furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal. Our opinion does not address the relative merits of the transaction contemplated pursuant to the Agreement as compared to any alternative business transaction that might be available to the Company. Our advisory services and the opinion expressed herein are provided for the information and assistance of the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with its consideration of the transaction contemplated by the Agreement and such opinion does not constitute a recommendation as to whether or not any holder of Shares should tender such Shares in connection with such transaction. Based upon and subject to the foregoing and based upon such other matters as we consider relevant, it is our opinion that as of the date hereof the $25.50 per Share in cash to be received by the Holders of Shares in the Tender Offer and the Merger is fair from a financial point of view to such Holders. Very truly yours, /s/ GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. - ------------------------------ GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. EX-99.(A)(2) 3 EXHIBIT (A)(2) ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. 34125 U.S. Highway 19 North Palm Harbor, Florida 34684-2141 [LOGO] May 7, 1999 Dear fellow stockholder: I am pleased to inform you that on April 30, 1999, our company, ABR Information Services, Inc., entered into a Merger Agreement with Ceridian Corporation and Spring Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ceridian. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Spring Acquisition Corp. is today commencing a tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of voting common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company at a price of $25.50 per Share, which represents approximately a 46% premium to ABR's closing stock price on April 30, 1999, the last trading day prior to the announcement of this transaction. The Merger Agreement provides that each Share not acquired by the Purchaser in the Offer will be exchanged for the same consideration payable pursuant to the Offer in cash in connection with the merger of the Purchaser with and into the Company, which is expected to occur as soon as practicable following the purchase of Shares in the Offer. Your Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and determined that the Offer and the Merger are fair to, and in the best interests of, the stockholders of the Company. Accordingly, your Board of Directors recommends that you accept the Offer and tender your Shares to Spring Acquisition Corp. pursuant to the Offer. In arriving at its recommendation, the Board of Directors gave careful consideration to a number of factors which are described in the enclosed Schedule 14D-9, including, among others, the opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co., the Company's financial advisor, to the effect that, as of April 30, 1999 and based upon and subject to the considerations and limitations set forth in the opinion, the $25.50 in cash per Share to be received by the stockholders of the Company in the Offer and the Merger was fair from a financial point of view to such holders. The full text of the written opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co. is attached to the enclosed Schedule 14D-9, and you are urged to read the opinion carefully and in its entirety. Additional information with respect to the transaction is contained in the enclosed Schedule 14D-9. Also enclosed are Spring Acquisition Corp.'s Offer to Purchase, dated May 7, 1999, and related materials, including a Letter of Transmittal to be used for tendering your Shares. These documents set forth the terms and conditions of the tender offer and provide instructions as to how to tender your Shares. On behalf of the Company, I urge you to read the enclosed material and consider this information carefully and I would like to personally thank you for your time as a stockholder of the Company. Sincerely, /s/ James E. MacDougald James E. MacDougald Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President EX-99.(C)(1) 4 EXHIBIT (C)(1) Exhibit (c)(1) AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER Among ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. CERIDIAN CORPORATION and SPRING ACQUISITION CORP. Dated as of April 30, 1999 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (hereinafter called this "Agreement"), dated as of April 30, 1999, among ABR Information Services, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), Ceridian Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and Spring Acquisition Corp., a Florida corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"). RECITALS WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have approved this Agreement and adopted the plan of merger set forth herein whereby Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (the "Merger"); WHEREAS, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I The Tender Offer 1.1. Tender Offer. (a) Provided that this Agreement shall not have been terminated in accordance with Article IX hereof and none of the events set forth in paragraphs (a) through (g) of Annex A hereto shall have occurred or be existing and the other conditions to the Offer specified in Annex A shall have been satisfied (together with such events, the "Offer Conditions"), as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within five Business Days after public announcement of this Agreement, Merger Sub will commence a tender offer (the "Offer") for all of the outstanding Shares (as defined below) at a price of $25.50 per Share in cash, net to the seller, and, subject only to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer, accept for payment Shares that are validly tendered and not withdrawn immediately following (unless the Offer shall have been extended in accordance with the terms hereof) the later of (i) the date on which the waiting period under the HSR Act has expired or has been terminated and (ii) the twentieth Business Day after the commencement of the Offer; provided, however, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that (A) if any of the Offer Conditions specified in paragraphs (a) through (h) of Annex A exists at the time of the scheduled expiration date of the Offer or if, the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act have not expired or been earlier terminated, Merger Sub may extend and reextend the Offer on one or more occasions for periods of time (not to exceed ten Business Days for any particular extension) so that the expiration date of the Offer (as so extended) is as soon as reasonably practicable or advisable after the date on which the particular Offer Condition no longer exists, and (B) Merger Sub may extend and reextend the Offer on one or more occasions for periods of time (not to exceed ten Business Days for any particular extension) for an aggregate period not to exceed twenty Business Days if on such expiration date there shall not have been validly tendered and not withdrawn at least the number of Shares necessary to permit the Merger to be effected without a meeting of the Company's stockholders, and; provided, further, that all extensions of the Offer made by Merger Sub (other than at the request of the Company) shall not extend the Offer beyond September 5, 1999. Parent and Merger Sub agree that until September 5, 1999 Merger Sub shall from time to time extend the Offer at such times as the Company may request for five Business Days for each extension, but shall in no event extend the Offer beyond September 5, 1999. Merger Sub shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, decrease the price per Share offered in the Offer, change the form of consideration offered or payable in the Offer, decrease the numbers of Shares sought in the Offer, change the conditions to the Offer, impose additional conditions to the Offer, amend any term of the Offer in any manner adverse to the holders of Shares or waive the Minimum Conditions (as defined in Annex A). (b) As soon as reasonably practicable on the date the Offer is commenced, Merger Sub shall file a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 (the "Schedule 14D-1") with the SEC with respect to the Offer. The Schedule 14D-1 shall -2- contain an Offer to Purchase and forms of the related letter of transmittal and other documents relating to the Merger (which Schedule 14D-1, Offer to Purchase, letter of transmittal and other documents, together with any supplements or amendments thereto, are referred to herein collectively as the "Offer Documents"). Parent and Merger Sub agree that the Company and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to review the Schedule 14D-1 before it is filed with the SEC. Parent, Merger Sub and the Company each agrees promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents that shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, and Parent and Merger Sub further agree to take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-1 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and the other Offer Documents as so corrected to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. Parent and Merger Sub also agree that the Offer Documents shall comply with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and the rules and regulations thereunder. (c) The Company's Board of Directors shall recommend acceptance of the Offer to its stockholders in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-9") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") substantially contemporaneously with the filing of the Schedule 14D-1; provided, however, that if the Company's Board of Directors determines consistent with its fiduciary duties to amend or withdraw such recommendation, such amendment or withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. Merger Sub and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to review the Schedule 14D-9 before it is filed with the SEC. Parent, Merger Sub and the Company each agrees promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9 that shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, and the Company further agrees to take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9, as so corrected to be disseminated to holders of shares, in each case as and to the extent required by the applicable federal securities laws. The Company also agrees that the Schedule 14D-9 shall comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. (d) In connection with the Offer, if requested by Parent, the Company will promptly notify its Transfer Agent -3- to furnish to Merger Sub a list, as of a recent date, of the names and addresses of the record holders of Shares and a copy of the names and addresses of participants identified in the most recent security position listing of any clearing agency which is within the access of the Company. If Merger Sub needs to disseminate amendments to the Offer Documents, the Company, if requested by Parent, shall furnish Merger Sub with updated names and addresses of record holders of Shares not previously furnished to Merger Sub which is within the access of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a federal holiday. ARTICLE II The Merger; Closing; Effective Time 2.1. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease. The Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation"), and the separate corporate existence of the Company with all its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Merger, except as set forth in Article III. The Merger shall have the effects specified in the Florida Business Corporation Act (the "FBCA"). 2.2. Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place (i) at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York at 10:00 A.M. on the business day on which the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Article VIII hereof shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agree ment or (ii) at such other place and time and/or on such other date as the Company and Parent may agree in writing (the "Closing Date"). 2.3. Effective Time. As soon as practicable following the Closing, the Company and Parent will cause Articles of Merger reflecting the provisions set forth in this Agreement (the "Articles of Merger") to be executed (by the Company and Merger Sub) and delivered for filing to the Department of State of the State of Florida (the -4- "Department") as provided in Section 607.1105 of the FBCA. The Merger shall become effective at the time when the Articles of Merger have been duly filed with the Department or at such later time agreed by the parties in writing and provided in the Articles of Merger (the "Effective Time"). ARTICLE III Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation 3.1. The 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 (the "Articles"), until duly amended as provided therein or by applicable law, except that Article III of the articles of incorporation of the Company shall be amended in its entirety to read as follows: "The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue shall be 1,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share." and Article IV of the articles of incorporation of the Company shall be amended in its entirety to read as follows: "The total number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time pursuant to the by-laws of the Corporation." 3.2. The By-Laws. The by-laws of the Company in effect at the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation (the "By-Laws"), until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable law. ARTICLE IV Officers and Directors of the Company and the Surviving Corporation 4.1. Directors. The directors of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Articles and the By-Laws as in effect from time to time. -5- 4.2. Officers. The officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Articles and the By-Laws. 4.3. Board of Directors. If requested by Parent, the Company shall to the extent permissible, promptly following the purchase by Merger Sub of Shares pursuant to the Offer in accordance with the terms hereunder, take all actions necessary (including calling a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company or the stockholders of the Company for this purpose) to cause natural Persons designated by Parent to become directors of the Company so that the total number of such natural Persons equals that number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, which represents the product of (x) the total number of directors on the board of directors of the Company multiplied by (y) the percentage that the number of Shares so accepted for payment plus and shares beneficially owned by Parent or its affiliates on the date hereof bears to the number of Shares outstanding at the time of such acceptance for payment. At such time, the Company shall also cause persons designated by Parent to constitute the same percentage (rounded up to the next whole number) as is on the Company's Board of Directors of (i) each committee of the Company's Board of Directors; (ii) each board of directors (or similar body) of each Subsidiary of the Company, and (iii) each committee (or similar body) of each such board. In furtherance thereof, the Company will increase the size of the board of directors of the Company, or use its reasonable efforts to secure the resignation of directors, or both, as is necessary to permit Parent's designees to be elected to the board of directors of the Company; provided, however, that prior to the Effective Time, the board of directors of the Company shall always have at least three members who are neither officers of Parent nor designees, stockholders or affiliates of Parent ("Parent Insiders"). The Company's obligations to appoint designees to the board of directors of the Company now shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14(f)-l thereunder. The Company shall promptly take all actions required pursuant to such Section and Rule in order to fulfill its obligations under this Section 4.3 and shall include in the Schedule 14D-9 such information as is required under such Section and Schedule. Parent agrees to -6- furnish to the Company all information concerning Parent's designees which may be necessary to comply with the foregoing and agrees that such information will comply with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and other applicable laws. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that Parent's designees are elected to the Board of Directors of the Company after the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer and prior to the Effective Time, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors of the Company who are not Parent Insiders shall be required to (a) amend or terminate this Agreement by the Company, (b) exercise or waive any of the Company's rights, benefits or remedies hereunder, (c) extend the time for performance of Parent's and Merger Sub's respective obligations hereunder, or (d) take any other action by the Company's Board of Directors under or in connection with this Agreement which would adversely affect the ability of the stockholders of the Company to receive the Merger Consideration. ARTICLE V Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock; Exchange of Certificates 5.1. Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any capital stock of the Company: (a) Merger Consideration. Each share of the voting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (a "Share" and, collectively, the "Shares") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent (collectively, the "Parent Companies"), Shares that are owned by the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company and in each case not held on behalf of third parties or Shares that are owned by Dissenting Stockholders (collectively, "Excluded Shares")) shall be cancelled, extinguished and converted into the right to receive, without an interest, an amount in cash equal to $25.50 per Share (the "Merger Consideration") or such greater amount which may be paid pursuant to the Offer. At the Effective Time, all Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each certificate (a "Certificate") -7- formerly representing any of such Shares (other than Excluded Shares) shall thereafter represent only the right to the Merger Consideration for each Share upon the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with Section 5.2 or the right, if any, to receive payment from the Surviving Corporation of the "fair value" of such Shares as determined in accordance with Section 607.1302 of the FBCA. (b) Cancellation of Shares. Each Excluded Share shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, cease to be outstanding, shall be cancelled and retired without payment of any considera tion therefor and shall cease to exist. (c) Merger Sub. At the Effective Time, each share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation. 5.2. Surrender of Certificates. (a) Paying Agent. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with a paying agent (the "Paying Agent"), selected by Parent (within 15 days after the date hereof) with the Company's prior approval for the benefit of the holders of Shares, an amount in cash sufficient in the aggregate to provide all funds necessary for the Paying Agent to make payments of the Merger Consideration to all holders of Shares, (such cash being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund"). To the extent not required within five Business Days for payment with respect to surrendered Shares, proceeds in the Exchange Fund shall be invested by the Paying Agent, as directed by Parent (as long as such investments do not impair the rights of holders of Shares) in direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations for which the faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide for the payment of principal and interest, or certificates of deposit issued by a commercial bank having at least $10 billion in assets, and any net earnings with respect thereto shall be paid to Parent as and when requested by the Parent; provided that at no time may the amount of the Exchange Fund be reduced below an amount necessary to make payments of the Merger Consideration to all Shares not theretofore submitted. -8- (b) Exchange Procedures. At the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record of Shares at the Effective Time (other than holders of Excluded Shares) (i) a letter of transmittal specifying that delivery of the Certificates shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) to the Paying Agent, such letter of transmittal to be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent and the Company may reasonably agree, and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the amounts of cash payable hereunder to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered on the transfer books of the Company). Subject to Section 5.2(e), upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a check in an amount equal to (after giving effect to any required tax withholdings) the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares formerly represented by such Certificate and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable upon due surrender of the Certificates. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, a check in the amount payable hereunder, upon due surrender of the Certificate, may be paid to such a transferee if the Certificate formerly representing such Shares is presented to the Paying Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or nature. (c) Transfers. After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of the Company of the Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of Certificates evidencing ownership of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares -9- except as otherwise provided for herein or by applicable law. (d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the stockholders of the Company for one year after the Effective Time shall be returned to Parent. Any stockholders of the Company who have not theretofore complied with this Article V shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment of the Merger Consideration upon due surrender of their Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof), in each case, without any interest thereon. (e) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond in customary amount 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 amount of cash such Persons are entitled to hereunder upon due surrender of the Shares represented by such Certificate pursuant to this Agreement. 5.3. Dissenters' Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if available under the FBCA, Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by stockholders ("Dissenting Stockholders") who have not voted in favor of or consented to the Merger and in the manner provided in Section 607.1320 of the FBCA shall have delivered a written notice of intent to demand payment for such Shares if the Merger is effectuated in the time and manner provided in FBCA and shall not have failed to perfect or shall not have effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to appraisal and payment under the FBCA shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, but shall, in lieu thereof, be entitled to receive the consideration as shall be determined pursuant to Sections 607.1301 through 607.1320 of the FBCA; provided, however, that any such holder who shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost his, her or its right to appraisal and payment under the FBCA, shall thereupon be deemed to have had such Person's Shares converted, at the Effective Time, into the right to receive -10- the Merger Consideration set forth herein, without any interest thereon. 5.4. Adjustments to Prevent Dilution. In the event that the Company changes the number of Shares or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for Shares, issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a reclassification, stock split (including a reverse split), stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger, subdivision, issuer tender or exchange offer, or other similar transaction, the Merger Consideration shall be equitably adjusted. ARTICLE VI Representations and Warranties 6.1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to Parent by the Company on or prior to entering into this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Letter"), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that: (a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualifica tion. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing or of active status, as applicable, under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and is qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the ownership or operation of its properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' articles of incorporation and by-laws (or comparable governing instruments), as amended to the date hereof. The Company's and its Subsidiaries' articles of incorporation and by-laws (or comparable governing instruments) so delivered are in full force and effect. -11- As used in this Agreement, the term "Subsidiary" means, with respect to the Company, Parent or Merger Sub, as the case may be, any entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which at least a majority of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by one or more of its respective Subsidiaries or by such party and any one or more of its respective Subsidiaries. As used in this Agreement, the term "Company Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, business or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that any such effect resulting from any change (i) in law, rule, regulation or generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") or interpretations thereof, (ii) in economic or business conditions generally which does not have a disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (iii) resulting from the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the contemplated consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not be considered when determining if a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred. (b) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 Shares, of which 28,762,983 Shares were outstanding as of the close of business on April 29, 1999, 250,000 shares of nonvoting common stock par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, of which no shares were outstanding as of the date hereof and 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company, of which no shares were outstanding as of the date hereof. All of the issued and outstanding Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The Company has no Shares reserved for or subject to issuance, except that, as of April 29, 1999, there were 3,313,104 Shares reserved in the aggregate for issuance pursuant to the Company 1997 Stock Option Plan, the Company 1993 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, the Company 1987 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, the Company 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan and the Company 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (collectively, the "Stock Plans"). Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of each of the Company's -12- Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and owned by the Company or a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, free and clear of any lien, pledge, security interest, claim or other encumbrance. Except as set forth above, there are no preemptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments to issue or to sell any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities or obligations convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for, or giving any Person a right to subscribe for or acquire, any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no securities or obligations evidencing such rights are authorized, issued or outstanding. The Company does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any matter ("Voting Debt"). (c) Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness. (i) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate, subject only to approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares, the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub, is a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles (the "Bankruptcy and Equity Exception"). (ii) The Board of Directors of the Company (A) has approved this Agreement and the Offer and adopted the plan of merger set forth herein and (B) has received the opinion of its financial advisors, Goldman, Sachs & Co., to the effect that the Merger Consideration and the consideration to be paid pursuant to the Offer pursuant to this Agreement are fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Shares. -13- (d) Governmental Filings; No Violations. (i) Other than the filings and/or notices (A) pursuant to the FBCA, (B) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), and (C) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made by the Company with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations required to be obtained by the Company from, any governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission, body or other governmental entity (each a "Governmental Entity"), in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, except for those that the failure to make or obtain would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, either the articles of incorporation of the Company or by-laws of the Company or the comparable governing instruments of any of its Subsidiaries, (B) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the acceleration of any obligations or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) pursuant to, any agreement, lease, contract, note, mortgage, indenture, arrangement or other obligation ("Contracts") or any Law or governmental or non-governmental permit or license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or (C) any change in the rights or obligations of any party under any of the Contracts, except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) above, for any breach, violation, default, acceleration, creation or change that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (e) Company Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has made available to Parent each registration -14- statement, report, proxy statement or information statement filed by it since July 31, 1997 and prior to the date hereof, including (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998, and (ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended October 31, 1998, and January 31, 1999, each in the form (including exhibits, annexes and any amendments thereto) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (collectively, including amendments of any such reports as amended, the "Company Reports"). Each of the consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into the Company Reports (including the related notes and schedules) fairly presents the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of its date and each of the consolidated statements of income and of consolidated statements of cash flow included in or incorporated by reference into the Company Reports (including any related notes and schedules) fairly presents the results of operations, retained earnings and changes in financial position, as the case may be, of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to the absence of notes and normal year-end audit adjustments), in each case in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except as may be noted therein. None of the Company Reports (in the case of Company Reports filed pursuant to the Securities Act), as of their effective dates, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and none of the Company Reports (in the case of Company Reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act), as of their respective dates contains any statement which, at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, was false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since January 1, 1996, no Subsidiary of the Company has been required to file any forms, reports or other documents with the SEC. (f) Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in the Company Reports or as permitted hereunder, since July 31, 1998 (the "Audit Date"), the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole have conducted their business -15- only in, and have not engaged in any material transaction other than according to, the ordinary and usual course of such business and there has not been (i) any change in the financial condition, properties, business or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries that has had a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any material damage, destruction or other casualty loss with respect to any material asset or material property owned, leased or otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, not covered by insurance; (iii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution in respect of the capital stock of the Company; or (iv) any change by the Company in accounting principles, practices or methods which is not required or permitted by GAAP. Since the Audit Date and through the date hereof, except as provided for herein or as disclosed in the Company Reports, there has not been any material increase in the compensation payable or that could become payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to officers or key employees or any material amendment of any of the Compensation and Benefit Plans other than increases or amendments in the ordinary course which increases or amendments have not had a Company Material Adverse Effect. (g) Litigation and Liabilities. Except as disclosed in the Company Reports, there are no civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether absolute, accrued or contingent)which would have a Company Material Adverse Effect except (i) liabilities or obligations that are accrued for or reserved against in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 1999 and (ii) liabilities or obligations arising since January 31, 1999 in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice. (h) Employee Benefits. (i) A copy of each bonus, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit-sharing, thrift, savings, -16- employee stock ownership, stock bonus, stock purchase, restricted stock, stock option, employment, termination, severance, compensation, medical, health, life, disability, cafeteria, paid time off, perquisites, fringe benefits or other plan, agreement, policy or arrangement that covers employees or former employees of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries ("Employees"), or directors or former directors of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (the "Compensation and Benefit Plans") and any trust agreement or insurance contract forming a part of such Compensation and Benefit Plans has been made available or provided to Parent prior to the date hereof. The Compensation and Benefit Plans are listed in Section 6.1(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter and any Compensation and Benefit Plans containing "change of control" or similar provisions therein are specifically identified in Section 6.1(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter. (ii) All Compensation and Benefit Plans covering Employees (the "Plans") have been operated in all material respects in accordance with their terms and in substantial compliance with all applicable Laws. Each Plan that is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") (a "Pension Plan") and that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") with respect to "TRA" (as defined in Section 1 of Rev. Proc. 93-39), and none of the executive officers of the Company has knowledge of any circumstances reasonably likely to result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter. There is no material pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, threatened litigation relating to the Compensation and Benefit Plans. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction with respect to any Plan that, assuming the taxable period of such transaction expired as of the date hereof, would subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a material tax or penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA. (iii) No liability under Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any ongoing, frozen or terminated "single-employer plan", within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or for- -17- merly maintained by any of them, or the single-employer plan of any entity which is considered one employer with the Company under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (an "ERISA Affiliate"). The Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred and do not expect to incur, directly or indirectly, any withdrawal liability with respect to a multiemployer plan under Subtitle E to Title IV of ERISA. No notice of a "reportable event", within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived, has been required to be filed for any Pension Plan or by any ERISA Affiliate within the 12-month period ending on the date hereof or will be required to be filed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (iv) All contributions and premiums required to be made under the terms of any Compensation and Benefit Plan as of the date hereof have been timely made or have been reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet filed or incorporated by reference in the Company Reports. Neither any Pension Plan nor any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate has an "accumulated funding deficiency," within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and no ERISA Affiliate has an outstanding funding waiver (whether or not waived) as of the last day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date hereof. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has provided, or is required to provide, security to any Pension Plan or to any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code. No insurance policy or Contract with respect to any Compensation and Benefit Plans requires or permits retroactive increases in premiums or payments due thereunder. (v) Under each Pension Plan which is a single employer plan, as of the last day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date hereof, the actuarially determined present value of all "benefit liabilities", within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA (as determined on the basis of the actuarial assumptions contained in the Pension Plan's most recent actuarial valuation), did not exceed the then current value of the assets of such Pension Plan, and there has been no material change in the financial condition of such Pension Plan since the last day of the most recent plan year. -18- (vi) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have any obligations for retiree health and life benefits under any Compensation and Benefit Plan. (vii) The consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (x) entitle any Employees to severance pay, (y) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other material obligation pursuant to, any of the Compensation and Benefit Plans or (z) result in any breach or violation of, or a default under, any of the Compensation and Benefit Plans. The Company may amend or terminate any Compensation and Benefit Plan in accordance with its express terms or under applicable Law. (viii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.1(h), the representations and warranties contained in this Section 6.1(h) shall be deemed to be true and correct unless such failures to be true and correct are reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. (i) Compliance with Laws. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not being conducted in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, injunction, decree, arbitration award, agency requirement, license or permit of any Governmental Entity (collectively, "Laws"), except for violations that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity indicated an intention to conduct the same, except for those the outcome of which would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company and its Subsidiaries each has all permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders and other governmental authorizations, consents and approvals from Governmental Entities necessary to conduct its business as presently -19- conducted, except for those the absence of which would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (j) Takeover Statutes. No "fair price," "moratorium," "control share acquisition," "interested stockholder" or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation (including, without limitation, Sections 607.0901 and 607.0902 of the FBCA) (each a "Takeover Statute") or restrictive provision of any applicable anti-takeover provision in the articles of incorporation of the Company or by-laws of the Company is, applicable to the Company, the Shares, the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (k) Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed in the Company Reports and except for such matters that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect: the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in substantial compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) have not received any notice from any Governmental Entity or any third party alleging any violation of, or liability under, any applicable Environmental Laws; (iii) are not subject to any court order, administrative order or decree arising under any Environmental Law; (iv) to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company do not own or operate any property that has been contaminated with any Hazardous Substance and (v) are not subject to any claims, demands or notifications concerning liability for any Hazardous Substance disposal or contamination. Parent and Merger Sub acknowledge that the representations and warranties contained in this Section 6.1(k) are the only representations and warranties being made by the Company with respect to compliance with, or liability or claims under, Environmental Laws or with respect to permits issued or required under Environmental Laws, that no other representation by the Company contained in this Agreement shall apply to any such matters and that no other representation or warranty, express or implied, is being made with respect thereto. As used herein, the term "Environmental Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, regulation, order, decree, permit, authorization, common law -20- or agency requirement as in effect and as interpreted relating to: (A) the protection, investigation or restoration of the environment, health, safety, or natural resources or (B) the handling, use, presence, disposal, release or threatened release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Substance. As used herein, the term "Hazardous Substance" means any substance that is listed, classified or regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law including any petroleum product or by-product, asbestos-containing material, lead-containing paint or plumbing, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive material or radon. (l) Taxes. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) have duly and timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) all Tax Returns (as defined below) required to be filed by any of them and all such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material respects; (ii) have paid all Taxes (as defined below) that are shown as due on such filed Tax Returns or that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from amounts owing to any employee, creditor or third party, except with respect to matters contested in good faith and would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) have not waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency, except, in each case, for those failures to file or pay or those waivers that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are not pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, threatened in writing, any audits, examinations, investigations or other proceedings in respect of Taxes or Tax matters. As used in this Agreement, (i) the term "Tax" (including, with correlative meaning, the terms "Taxes", and "Taxable") includes all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, franchise, gross receipts, environmental, customs duty, capital stock, severances, stamp, payroll, sales, employment, unemployment, disability, use, property, withholding, excise, production, value added, occupancy and other taxes, duties or assessments of any nature whatsoever, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any interest in respect of such penalties and additions, and (ii) the term "Tax Return" -21- includes all returns and reports (including elections, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and informa tion returns) required to be supplied to a Tax authority relating to Taxes. (m) Labor Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is the subject of any proceeding asserting that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice nor is there pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, threatened, nor since January 1, 1996 has there been any labor strike, dispute, walk-out, work stoppage, slow-down or lockout involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in each case for those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (n) Intellectual Property. (i) The Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed or otherwise possesses valid rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, and any applications therefor, technology, know-how, computer software programs or applications, and tangible or intangible proprietary information or materials that are used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except for any such failures to own, be licensed or possess that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and copyrights owned by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, except for those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. (ii) Except as disclosed in Company Reports or except as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect: (A) the Company is not, nor will it be as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its obligations hereunder, in violation of any licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which the Company is a party as of the date hereof and pursuant to which the Company is authorized to use any third-party patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade secrets or computer -22- software (collectively, "Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights"); (B) no claims with respect to (I) the patents, registered and material unregistered trademarks and service marks, registered copyrights, trade names, and any applications therefor, trade secrets or computer software owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company Intellectual Property Rights"); or (II) Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights are currently pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, are threatened by any Person; (C) to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company there are not any valid grounds for any bona fide claims (I) to the effect that the sale, licensing or use of any service as used, sold or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, infringes on any copyright, patent, trademark, service mark or trade secret; (II) against the use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Company Intellectual Property Rights or the Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights used in the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted; (III) challenging the ownership, validity or enforceability of any of the Company Intellectual Property Rights; or (IV) challenging the license or legally enforceable right to use of the Third-Party Intellectual Rights by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (D) to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, there is no unauthorized use, infringement or misappropriation of any of the material Intellectual Property Rights by any third party, including any employee or former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. (o) Brokers and Finders. Except for Goldman, Sachs & Co., neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders' fees in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. -23- (p) Year 2000. The Company has developed a plan which it reasonably believes is designed to confirm that all computer software and systems (including hardware, firmware, operating system software, utilities, embedded processors and application's software) used in and material to the business of the Company are designed to operate during and after the calendar year 2000 to accurately process data (including but not limited to calculating, comparing and sequencing) from, into and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including leap year calculations and the Company is not aware of any flaws in any of the computer software and systems owned by it and used in and material to the business of the Company that would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. (q) Waiver of Vesting. The individuals listed in Schedule 6.1(q) of the Company Disclosure Letter have waived all vesting rights that they may have pursuant to the terms of Section 7.8 hereof with respect to all options to purchase shares beneficially owned by them and issued pursuant to the Stock Plans. The Company has provided Parent with copies of each such waiver. (r) No other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Section 6.1, neither the Company nor any other Person makes any other express or implied representation or warranty on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates. 6.2. Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub. Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to the Company by Parent on or prior to entering into this Agreement (the "Parent Disclosure Letter"), Parent and Merger Sub each hereby represent and warrant to the Company that: (a) Capitalization of Merger Sub. The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 1,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Merger Sub all of which are validly issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub is, and at the Effective Time will be, owned by Parent, and there are (i) no other shares of capital stock or voting securities of Merger Sub authorized, (ii) no securities of Merger Sub con vertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of Merger Sub and (iii) no options or other rights to acquire from Merger Sub, and no obligations -24- of Merger Sub to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of Merger Sub. Merger Sub has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and prior to the Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, the Offer and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (b) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or active status) under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and is qualified to do business and is in good standing (or active status) as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the ownership or operation of its properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has made available to the Company a complete and correct copy of Parent's and Merger Sub's certificates of incorporation and by-laws (or comparable governing instruments), as amended to the date hereof. Parent's and Merger Sub's certificates of incorporation and by-laws (or comparable governing instruments) so delivered are in full force and effect. As used in this Agreement, the term "Parent Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, business or results of operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that any such effect resulting from any change in law, rule, or regulation or GAAP or interpretations thereof shall not be considered when determining if a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred. (c) Capital Structure. As of the most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Parent, the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of Parent is as stated therein. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of each of Parent's Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and owned by Parent or a direct or -25- indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent, free and clear of any lien, pledge, security interest, claim or other encumbrance. Except as set forth in the most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Parent and in the ordinary course of business, there are no preemptive or other out standing rights, options, warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments to issue or to sell any shares of capital stock or other securities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities or obligations convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for, or giving any Person a right to subscribe for or acquire, any securities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and no securities or obligations evidencing such rights are authorized, issued or outstanding. Parent does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of Parent on any matter ("Parent Voting Debt"). (d) Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness. (i) No vote of holders of capital stock of Parent is necessary to approve this Agreement, the Offer and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly authorized by the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub and no other corporate proceeding on the part of Parent or Merger Sub is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, is a valid and legally binding agreement of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. (ii) The Board of Directors of Parent has received the opinion of its financial advisors, Bear, Stearns & Co. -26- Inc., to the effect that the Merger Consideration and the Consideration to be paid in the Offer are fair, from a financial point of view, to Parent. (e) Governmental Filings; No Violations. (i) Other than the filings and/or notices (A) pursuant to the FBCA, (B) under the HSR Act, and (C) the Exchange Act, no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made by Parent or Merger Sub with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations required to be obtained by Parent or Merger Sub from, any Governmental Entity, in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger, the Offer and the other transactions contemplated hereby, except for those that the failure to make or obtain would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, either the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Parent and Merger Sub or the comparable governing instruments of any of Parent's Subsidiaries, (B) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the acceleration of any obligations or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on the assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) pursuant to, any Contracts or any Law or governmental or non-governmental permit or license to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or (C) any change in the rights or obligations of any party under any of the Contracts, except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) above, for any breach, violation, default, acceleration, creation or change that would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (f) Litigation and Liabilities. There are no civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, -27- hearings, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, which would prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (g) Compliance with Laws. The business of Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole is not being conducted in violation of any Laws, except for violations that would not materially burden or materially impair the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. As of the date hereof, no investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of Parent, threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity indicated an intention to conduct the same, except for those the outcome of which would not prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Parent and its Subsidiaries each has all permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders and other governmental authorizations, consents and approvals from Governmental Entities necessary to conduct its business as presently conducted, except for those the absence of which would not prevent or materially burden or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (h) Takeover Statutes. No Takeover Statute or restrictive provision of any applicable anti-takeover provision in the certificate of incorporation of Parent or by-laws of Parent is, applicable to Parent, Merger Sub, the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (i) Brokers and Finders. Except for Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., neither Parent nor any of its officers, directors or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders' fees in connection with the Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (j) Funds. Parent and Merger Sub will have the funds necessary to consummate the Offer and the Merger. -28- (k) No other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Section 6.2, neither Parent nor any other Person makes any other express or implied representation or warranty on behalf of Parent or any of its Affiliates. ARTICLE VII Covenants 7.1. Interim Operations of the Company. From the date hereof through the Effective Time, the Company covenants and agrees that its business and the business of its Subsidiaries shall be conducted in the ordinary and usual course and, to the extent consistent therewith, it and its Subsidiaries shall use their respective best reasonable efforts to preserve its business organization intact and maintain its existing relations and goodwill with customers, suppliers, distributors, creditors, lessors, employees and business associates. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as otherwise set forth in Section 7.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company covenants and agrees as to itself and its Subsidiaries that, from the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time (unless Parent shall otherwise approve in writing, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement or by Law): (i) it shall not (x) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any capital stock owned by it in any of its Subsidiaries; (y) amend its articles of incorporation or by-laws or the comparable governing instruments of any of its Subsidiaries; (z) split, combine or reclassify its outstanding shares of capital stock; (aa) declare, set aside or pay any dividend payable in cash, stock or property in respect of any capital stock other than dividends from its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries to it or a wholly-owned Subsidiary or (bb) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, except, in connection with the Stock Plans, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock; -29- (ii) neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall (x) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any shares of, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or options, warrants, calls, commitments or rights of any kind to acquire, any shares of its capital stock of any class or any Voting Debt or any other property or assets (other than Shares issuable pursuant to options (whether or not vested) outstanding on the date hereof under the Stock Plans); (y) other than in the ordinary and usual course of business, transfer, lease, license, guarantee, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of or encumber any other property or assets (including capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries) or incur or modify any material indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness or (z) by any means, make any significant acquisition of, or investment in, assets or stock (whether by way of merger, consolidation, tender offer, share exchange or other activity); (iii) neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall terminate, establish, adopt, enter into, make any new grants or awards under, amend or otherwise modify, any Compensation and Benefit Plans, or increase the salary, wage, bonus or other compensation of any employees except for grants or awards or increases under existing Compensation and Benefit Plans occurring in the ordinary and usual course of business (which shall include normal periodic performance reviews and related compensation and benefit increases), annual reestablishment of Compensation and Benefit Plans and the provision of individual compensation or benefit plans and agreements for newly hired or appointed officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries or except for actions necessary to satisfy existing contractual obligations under Compensation and Benefit Plans or agreements existing as of the date hereof; and (iv) neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries will authorize or enter into an agreement to do anything prohibited by the foregoing. 7.2. Acquisition Proposals. The Company agrees that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or its Subsidiaries' officers and directors shall, and that it shall cause its and its Subsidiaries' employees, agents and other representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, -30- encourage or otherwise facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer with respect to a merger, tender offer, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation or similar transaction involving, or any purchase of all or substantially all of the assets or any equity securities of, it or any of its Subsidiaries (any such proposal or offer being hereinafter referred to as an "Acquisition Proposal"). The Company further agrees that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or its Subsidiaries' officers and directors shall, and that it shall cause its and its Subsidiaries' employees, agents and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or have any discussions with, any Person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent either the Company or any of its representatives or the Board of Directors of the Company from (A) complying with Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition Proposal or otherwise complying with the Exchange Act; (B) providing information in response to a request therefor by a Person who has made an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal; (C) engaging in any negotiations or discussions with any Person who has made an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal or otherwise facilitating any effort or attempt to implement an Acquisition Proposal; or (D) recommending such an Acquisition Proposal to the stockholders of the Company, if, and only to the extent that, in each such case referred to in clause (B), (C) or (D) above, the Board of Directors of the Company determines either (x) upon advice of outside legal counsel that the failure to take such action would constitute a breach of the directors' fiduciary duties under applicable law or (y) that such Acquisition Proposal contains terms such that if an agreement relating to such Acquisition Proposal were entered into it would be, in the aggregate, more favorable to the Company, taking into account, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, any of the matters described in Section 4.5 of the articles of incorporation of the Company, than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (any such more favorable Acquisition Proposal being referred to as a "Superior Proposal"). The Company agrees that it will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal; it -31- being understood that any Acquisition Proposal made prior to the date hereof may, if made at any time after the date hereof, be deemed a Superior Proposal, if it would otherwise fulfill the requirements for being deemed a Superior Proposal hereunder. The Company agrees that it will take the necessary steps to promptly inform the individuals or entities referred to in the first sentence hereof of the obligations undertaken in this Section 7.2. The Company will, within forty-eight hours of receipt of an Acquisition Proposal that would be reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal, notify Parent of the receipt and terms of such proposal, including the identity of the offeror, and will keep Parent reasonably informed of the status of any such Proposal. The Company also agrees that as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof it will request the return of confidential information from any Person previously receiving such information in connection with such Person's consideration of a potential Acquisition Proposal. 7.3. Meetings of the Company's Stockholders. If required following expiration of the Offer and the purchase of Shares thereunder, the Company will promptly take, consistent with the FBCA and its articles of incorporation and By-Laws, all action necessary to convene a meeting of holders of Shares as promptly as practicable to consider and vote upon the approval of the Merger and this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if required by applicable law, the Company and Parent shall immediately following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer prepare an information or proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement"), file it with the SEC under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after Merger Sub purchases Shares pursuant to the Offer, and use all reasonable efforts to have it cleared by the SEC. As promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement has been cleared by the SEC, the Company shall mail the Proxy Statement to the stockholders of the Company as of the record date for the stockholders' meeting referred to above. If required under applicable law, the Company and Parent shall prepare the Schedule 13e-3, file it with the SEC under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after Merger Sub purchases shares pursuant to the Offer and supplement and amend it as shall be required. The Company will use its best efforts to obtain and furnish the information required to be included by it in the Proxy Statement and, after consultation with Parent, respond promptly to any comments of the SEC relating to the -32- preliminary proxy or information statement relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to cause the definitive Proxy Statement relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be mailed to its stockholders, all at the earliest practical time. Whenever any event occurs which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or any other filing required to be made with the SEC, each party will promptly inform the other and cooperate in filing with the SEC and/or mailing to stockholders such amendment or supplement. The Proxy Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto shall comply with applicable law in all material respects and be in form and substance satisfactory to Parent. Subject to fiduciary requirements of applicable Law as advised by outside counsel, the Board of Directors of the Company shall recommend such approval referral to which shall be included in the Proxy Statement and the Company shall take all lawful action to solicit such approval. At any such meeting of the Company all of the Shares then owned by the Parent Companies will be voted in favor of this Agreement. The Proxy Statement with respect to such meeting of stockholders, at the date mailed to stockholders, shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that any such untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact was made by the Company in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the Parent Companies furnished to the Company by Parent for use in the Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Parent or Merger Sub shall acquire at least 80% of the outstanding shares of each class of capital stock of the Company pursuant to the Offer, the parties hereto agree, at the request of Parent, to 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 and the transactions contemplated hereby, without a meeting of stockholders of the Company, in accordance with the FBCA. 7.4. Filings; Other Actions; Notification. (a) The Company and Parent shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to use) their respective best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, -33- necessary, proper or advisable on its part under this Agreement and applicable Laws to consummate the Offer and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as practicable, including preparing and filing as soon as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings and to obtain as soon as practicable all consents, registrations, approvals, permits and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in order to consummate the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, Parent and the Company shall have the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult the other on, all the information relating to Parent or the Company, as the case may be, and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that appear in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the Company and Parent shall act reasonably and as promptly as practicable. (b) The Company and Parent each shall, upon request by the other, furnish the other with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with any statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Offer, the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (c) Subject to any confidentiality obligations and the preservation of any attorney-client privilege, the Company and Parent each shall keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated hereby, including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices or other communications received by Parent or the Company, as the case may be, or any of its Subsidiaries, from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity with respect to the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. -34- (d) Without limiting the generality of the undertakings pursuant to this Section 7.4, each of the Company and Parent agrees to take or cause to be taken the following actions: (i) provide promptly to any and all federal, state, local or foreign courts or Government Entity with jurisdiction over enforcement of any applicable antitrust laws ("Government Antitrust Entity") information and documents requested by any Government Antitrust Entity or necessary, proper or advisable to permit consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (ii) take promptly, in the event that any permanent or preliminary injunction or other order is entered or becomes reasonably foreseeable to be entered in any proceeding that would make consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms of this Agreement unlawful or that would prevent or delay consummation of the Offer, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any and all steps (including the appeal thereof or the posting of a bond necessary to vacate, modify or suspend such injunction or order so as to permit such consummation on a schedule as close as possible to that contemplated by this Agreement. 7.5. Access. Upon reasonable notice, and except as may otherwise be required by applicable Law, the Company shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) afford the other's officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives ("Representatives") reasonable access, during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time, to its properties, books, contracts and records and, during such period, each shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Parent all information concerning its business, properties and personnel as may reasonably be requested; provided, that no investigation pursuant to this Section shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by the Company and; provided, further, that the foregoing shall not require the Company to permit any inspection, or to disclose any information, that in the reasonable judgment of the Company would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties or violate any of its obligations with respect to confidentiality if the Company shall have used reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such third party to such inspection or disclosure. All requests for information made pursuant to this Section shall be directed to an executive officer of the Company or such Person as may be designated by either of its executive officers, as the -35- case may be. All such information shall be governed by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement. 7.6. Stock Exchange De-listing. The Surviving Corporation shall use its best efforts to cause the Shares to be removed from quotation on the NASDAQ National Market System and de-registered under the Exchange Act as soon as practicable following the Effective Time. Unless required by the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, subsequent to Merger Sub's payment for Shares and prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not take any action to cause the Shares to be removed from quotation on the NASDAQ National Market System and de-registered under the Exchange Act. 7.7. Publicity. The initial press release shall be a joint press release and thereafter the Company and Parent each shall consult with the other prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making public announcements with respect to the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and prior to making any filings with any third party and/or any Govern mental Entity (including any national securities exchange or national market systems) with respect thereto, except as may be required by law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any national securities exchange or national market system. 7.8. Benefits. (a) Stock Options. (i) The Company shall take all necessary actions to cause (including plan amendments) prior to the Effective Time each outstanding option to purchase Shares which had not vested immediately prior to such time to become vested and fully exercisable. (ii) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each then outstanding option granted under the Stock Plans to purchase Shares (a "Company Option"), whether vested or unvested, to be cancelled, with the holder thereof becoming entitled to receive an amount of cash equal to the product of (x) the amount, if any, by which the Merger Consideration exceeds the exercise price per Share subject to such Company Option (whether vested or unvested) and (y) the number of Shares issuable pursuant to the unexercised portion of such Option, less any required withholding of taxes (such amount being hereinafter referred to as the "Option Consideration"). The -36- Option Consideration shall be paid as soon as practicable following the Effective Time, but in any event within five (5) days following the Effective Time. The cancellation of a Company Option in exchange for the Option Consideration shall be deemed a release of any and all rights the holder had or may have had in respect of such Company Option, and any required consents received from Company Option holders shall so provide. (iii) In the event that any Company Options are not cancelled in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.8(a)(ii), such Company Options (the "Remaining Options") shall be subject to the following provisions of this Section 7.8(a)(iii). Each Remaining Option, shall, at the Effective Time, in accordance with the terms of the Stock Plan pursuant to which such Company Option was issued, be deemed to constitute an option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such Remaining Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, (A) a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the product (rounded up to the nearest whole number) obtained by multiplying (x) the number of Shares the holder of such Remaining Option would have been entitled to receive immediately prior to the Effective Time had such holder exercised such Remaining Option in full immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the quotient obtained by dividing the Merger Consideration by the average of the closing prices per share of Parent Common Stock on the NYSE Composite Transactions tape for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of the Effective Time as reported in the Wall Street Journal, New York City edition, (B) at a price per share of Parent Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the aggregate exercise price for the Shares otherwise purchasable pursuant to such Remaining Option (assuming for such purposes that such Remaining Option was fully exercisable at such time) divided by (B) the number of full shares of Parent Common Stock deemed purchasable pursuant to such Remaining Option in accordance with the foregoing; provided, however, that any Remaining Option which is intended to be an "incentive stock option" (as defined in Section 422 of the Code) shall be adjusted in accordance with the requirements of Section 424 of the Code. (iv) At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall make all necessary arrangements with respect to the Stock Plans to permit the assumption of the Remaining Options by Parent. Effective at the Effective Time, Parent shall assume each Remaining Option in accordance with the -37- terms of the Stock Plan under which it was issued and the stock option agreement by which it is evidenced. At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of Remaining Options. At the Effective Time, Parent shall file a registration statement on Form S-8, or, if unavailable, a registration statement on Form S-3 (or any successor forms), or another appropriate form with respect to the Parent Common Stock subject to Remaining Options, and shall use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein), as well as comply with any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws, for so long as any Remaining Options remain outstanding. (v) Prior to the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of Parent shall use reasonable efforts to take all actions necessary to ensure that the options to purchase Parent Common Stock (resulting from Remaining Options) held by the officers and directors of the Company in accordance with this Section 7.8(a) shall be exempt for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (including, with respect to each officer and director of the Company, having the full Board of Directors of Parent adopt, prior to the Effective Time, resolutions providing (i) the name of each such officer and director, (ii) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be subject to each Remaining Option held by each such officer or director, (iii) any other material terms of such options and (iv) the fact that such approval is for the purpose of obtaining an exemption under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act). (b) Employee Benefits. Parent agrees that, during the period commencing at the Effective Time and end ing on the first anniversary thereof, the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries will continue to be provided with benefits under employee benefit plans that are no less favorable in the aggregate than the Plans (excluding "change of control" or similar Plans with respect to any change of control occurring after the Effective Time and excluding benefits provided pursuant to any Plan covering one or a select group of current or former employees) currently provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries to such employees as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter. Following the Effective Time, Parent shall cause service by employees -38- of the Company and its Subsidiaries (and any predecessor entities) to be taken into account for all purposes (including, without limitation, eligibility to participate, eligibility to commence benefits, vesting, benefit accrual and severance) under any benefit plans of Parent or its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation). From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall (i) cause to be waived any pre-existing condition limitations under benefit plans of Parent or its Subsidiaries in which employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries participate and (ii) cause to be credited to any deductible or out of pocket expense of Parent's plans any deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such employees and their beneficiaries and dependents during the portion of the calendar year prior to participation in the benefit plans provided by Parent and its Subsidiaries. Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, honor all employee benefit obligations to current and former employees under the Compensation and Benefit Plans and all employee severance plans and all employment or severance agreements listed on Schedule 7.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter. 7.9. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance. (a) The Articles of Incorporation and By- laws shall contain the provisions with respect to indemnification set forth in Section 6.1 of the articles of incorporation of the Company and Section 10.1 of the by-laws of the Company on the date of this Agreement and shall provide for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by and in accordance with the FBCA, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years after the Effective Time (or, in the case of matters known prior to the Effective Time which have not been resolved prior to the sixth anniversary of the Effec tive Time, until such matters are finally resolved) in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who at any time prior to the Effective Time were directors or officers of the Company in respect of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement). (b) Following the Effective Time, Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law (and Parent shall also advance expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law), each present and former director, officer and employee -39- of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") against any costs or expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities (collectively, "Costs") incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (c) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under paragraph (b) of this Section 7.9, upon receiving written notification of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall promptly notify Parent thereof, but the failure to so notify shall not relieve Parent of any liability it may have to such Indemnified Party if such failure does not materially and irreversibly prejudice Parent. In the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) Parent shall have the right within ten days following the notification of Parent by the Indemnified Person of such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation to assume the defense thereof and Parent shall not be liable to such Indemnified Parties for any legal expenses of other counsel subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Parties in connec tion with the defense thereof, except that if Parent elects not to assume such defense, counsel for the Indemnified Parties advises that there are issues which raise conflicts of interest between Parent and the Indemnified Parties or the Indemnified Parties have defenses available to them that are not available to Parent, the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel satisfactory to them, and Parent shall pay all fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties. If such indemnity is not available with respect to any Indemnified Party, then Parent and the Indemnified Party shall contribute to the amount payable in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative faults and benefits of the Surviving Corporation (in the case of Parent) and the Indemnified Parties. (d) The Surviving Corporation shall maintain the Company's existing officers' and directors' liability insurance ("D&O Insurance") or coverage on materially similar terms thereof for a period of six years after the Effective Time so long as the annual premium therefor is not -40- in excess of 250% of the last annual premium paid prior to the date hereof (the "Current Premium"); provided, however, that if the existing D&O Insurance is terminated or cancelled during such six-year period, the Surviving Corporation shall use its best efforts to obtain as much D&O Insurance as can be obtained for the remainder of such period for a premium not in excess (on an annualized basis) of 250% of the Current Premium and shall agree to indemnify the directors and officers for any Costs not covered by such D&O Insurance. (e) If Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns (i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any individual, corporation or other entity, then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 7.9. (f) The provisions of this Section are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties, their heirs and their representatives. 7.10. Takeover Statute. If any Takeover Statute is or may become applicable to the Shares, the Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each of Parent and the Company and their respective Board of Directors shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that such transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement or by the Merger and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on such transactions. 7.11. Expenses. Parent shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Paying Agent, in connection with the transactions contemplated in Article V. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.11, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Offer and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such expense. -41- ARTICLE VIII Conditions 8.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions: (a) Stockholder Approval. If required by the FBCA, the Merger this Agreement and the plan of merger shall have been duly approved by holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares in accordance with applicable law and the articles of incorporation and by-laws of the Company. (b) HSR. The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been earlier terminated. (c) Litigation. No court or Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction or other order that is in effect and permanently enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the Merger (collectively, an "Order"). (d) Tender Offer. Merger Sub (or one of the Parent Companies) shall have purchased Shares in the Offer. ARTICLE IX Termination 9.1. Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after the approval by stockholders of the Company referred to in Section 8.1(a), by mutual written consent of the Company, Merger Sub and Parent by action of their respective Boards of Directors. 9.2. Termination by Either Parent or the Company. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be -42- abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by action of the Board of Directors of either Parent or the Company if any Order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger shall become final and non-appealable after the parties have used their respective best efforts to have such Order removed, repealed or overturned (whether before or after the approval by the stockholders of the Company). 9.3. Termination by the Company. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, by action of the Board of Directors of the Company (a) if the Board of Directors of the Company withdraws or adversely modifies its adoption of this Agreement, its recommendation of the Offer or its recommendation that the stockholders of the Company approve this Agreement (including, without limitation, taking no position in response to a tender offer by a Person other than Parent), (b) if there has been a material breach by Parent or Merger Sub of any material covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement that is not curable or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (i) 30 days after written notice of such breach is given by the Company to the party committing such breach or (ii) two Business Days prior to any date on which the Offer is scheduled to expire; provided, however that at such time specified in this clause (ii) neither the Company nor Parent has indicated that it intends to request (and has the right under this Agreement to have such request honored) that the Offer be extended in accordance with the terms hereof (provided that Parent shall have been given notice of such breach at least two Business Days prior to termination) or (c) Merger Sub (or any of the Parent Companies) shall have (i) terminated the Offer or (ii) failed to pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer on a timely basis following the expiration of the Offer, if the Offer has not been extended in accordance with the terms hereof. 9.4. Termination by Parent. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time (a) prior to the Effective Time by action of the Board of Directors of Parent if due to an occurrence or circumstance which resulted in a failure to satisfy any of the Offer Conditions, and Merger Sub shall have terminated the Offer in accordance with the terms hereof (including, without limitation, taking no position in response to a tender offer by a Person other than any of the Parent Companies), -43- (b) prior to the purchase of Shares by Merger Sub pursuant to the Offer if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company withdraws or adversely modifies its adoption of this Agreement, its recommendation of the Offer or its recommendation that the stockholders of the Company approve this Agreement (including, without limitation, taking no position in response to a tender offer by a Person other than any of the Parent Companies), (ii) there has been a material breach by the Company of any material covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement that is not curable or, if curable, is not cured prior to the earlier of (A) 30 days after written notice of such breach is given by Parent to the party committing such breach or (B) two Business Days prior to any date on which the Offer is scheduled to expire; provided, however, that and at such time specified in this clause (ii) neither the Company nor Parent has indicated that it intends to request (and has the right under this Agreement to have such request honored) that the Offer be extended in accordance with the terms hereof (provided that the Company shall have been given notice of such breach at least two Business Days prior to termination) or (iii) the Minimum Condition shall not have been satisfied by the expiration of the Offer (as it may have been extended from time to time), and at or prior to such time any Person (other than Parent or Merger Sub) shall have made a public announcement with respect to a bona fide Acquisition Proposal that contemplates a per Share consideration in excess of the Merger Consideration. 9.5. Effect of Termination and Abandonment. (a) In the event of termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger pursuant to this Article IX, this Agreement (other than as set forth in Section 10.1) shall become void and of no effect with no liability on the part of any party hereto (or of any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, legal and financial advisors or other representatives); provided, however, that except as otherwise provided herein, no such termination shall relieve any party hereto of any liability or damages resulting from any wilful breach of this Agreement. (b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 9.4(b)(ii), then the Company shall promptly, but in no event later than two days after the date of such termination, pay Parent a termination fee (as liquidated damages) of $29,400,000 (the "Termination Fee") by wire transfer of same day funds to an -44- account previously designated in writing by Parent to the Company. In the event that (i)(A) an Acquisition Proposal (other than pursuant to this Agreement) shall have been made to the Company or any Person (other than Parent or any of its Affiliates) shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company and thereafter this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 9.3(c)(i) or Parent pursuant to Section 9.4(a) under circumstances which would have permitted Parent to terminate pursuant to Section 9.4(b)(ii) or (B) this Agreement is terminated (x) by the Company pursuant to Section 9.3(a) or (y) by Parent pursuant to Section 9.4(b)(i) or (iii) and (ii)(A) the Person making the Acquisition Proposal which was outstanding at the time of the termination (the "Acquiring Party") has acquired, by purchase, merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, lease, transfer or otherwise, in one transaction or any related series of transactions within twelve months after a termination of this Agreement, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (B) there has been consummated a merger, consolidation or similar business combination between the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and the Acquiring Party within twelve months after the relevant termination of this Agreement, then the Company shall promptly, but in no event later than two days after the consummation of the transaction or transactions with the Acquiring Party, pay Parent the Termination Fee in same day funds to an account previously designated by Parent to the Company in writing. The Company's payment of the Termination Fee shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of Parent and Merger Sub against the Company and any of its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors or other representatives in the event this Agreement is terminated and the Termination Fee is payable whether or not there has been a breach of this Agreement (whether or not such breach is wilful). ARTICLE X Miscellaneous and General 10.1. Survival. This Article IX and the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in Sections 7.6 (De-listing), 7.8 (Benefits), 7.11 (Expenses) -45- and 7.9 (Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance) shall survive the consummation of the Merger. This Article X, the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in Section 7.11 (Expenses), Section 9.5 (Effect of Termination and Abandonment) and the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement. All other representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall not survive the consummation of the Merger or the termination of this Agreement. 10.2. Modification or Amendment. Subject to the provisions of the applicable law, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto may modify or amend this Agreement, by written agreement executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the respective parties; provided that, in the case of the Company any such modification or amendment must be approved by a majority of the directors who are not Parent Insiders. 10.3. Waiver of Conditions. The conditions to each of the parties' obligations to consummate the Merger 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; provided, that, in the case of the Company any such waiver must be approved by a majority of the directors who are not Parent Insiders. 10.4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement. 10.5. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the Federal courts of the United States of America located in the State of Florida or, if unavailable to the parties, the courts of the State of Florida solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to in this Agreement, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the -46- interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties hereto irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such a State of Florida or Federal court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in such manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. 10.6. Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the others shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail or nationally recognized overnight courier service, postage prepaid, or by facsimile: if to Parent or Merger Sub Ceridian Corporation 8100 34th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55425-1640 Attention: Ronald L. Turner Fax: (612) 853-7272 (with a copy to Ceridian Corporation 8100 34th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55425-1640 Attention: Reid Shaw Fax: (612) 853-3413) if to the Company ABR Information Services, Inc. 34125 U.S. Highway 19 North Palm Harbor, Florida 34684-2141 Attention: James P. O'Drobinak Fax: (727) 789-3854 -47- (with a copy to Francis J. Aquila Sullivan & Cromwell 125 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 Fax: (212) 558-3588) or to such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice as provided above. 10.7. Entire Agreement; NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS. This Agreement (including any exhibits hereto), the Company Disclosure Letter, the Parent Disclosure Letter and the Confidentiality Agreement, dated February 4, 1999, between Parent and Goldman, Sachs & Co., on behalf of the Company (the "Confidentiality Agreement") constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARENT AND MERGER SUB NOR THE COMPANY MAKES ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, AND EACH HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES MADE BY ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES, WITH RESPECT TO THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NOT WITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO THE OTHER OR THE OTHER'S REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING. 10.8. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 7.9 (Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance), this Agreement is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder. 10.9. Obligations of Parent and of the Company. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of Parent to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of the Company to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part -48- of the Company to cause such Subsidiary to take such action and, after the Effective Time, on the part of the Surviving Corporation to cause such Subsidiary to take such action. 10.10. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability or the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction. 10.11. Interpretation. The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to a Section of or Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation." 10.12. Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable by operation of law or otherwise. -49- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first written above. ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. By: /s/ James E. MacDougald -------------------------- Name: James E. MacDougald Title: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer CERIDIAN CORPORATION By: /s/ Ronald L. Turner -------------------------- Name: Ronald L. Turner Title: President and Chief Operating Officer SPRING ACQUISITION CORP. By: /s/ Gary M. Nelson -------------------------- Name: Gary M. Nelson Title: President and Secretary ANNEX A Certain Conditions of the Offer. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, but subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulation of the SEC, pay for any Shares, and may terminate the Offer (i) if by the expiration of the Offer (or, if extended, by the expiration of the Offer, as so extended) a number of Shares which together with any Shares owned by Parent, Merger Sub and the Parent Companies, constitutes more than 50% of the outstanding Shares (on a fully-diluted basis) at the expiration of Offer (the "Minimum Conditions") shall not have been validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not properly withdrawn, (ii) if all applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been terminated or (iii) if on or after April 30, 1999, and at any time prior to acceptance for payment for any such Shares, any of the following events shall occur; provided that in each such case Merger Sub shall not be permitted to terminate the Offer (except pursuant to paragraph (g) below) if prior to the then scheduled expiration of the Offer the Offer shall have been extended: (a) there shall have occurred (i) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States (whether or not mandatory), (ii) a formal declaration of war or national or international calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States (other than any declaration of war resulting from the current conflict in Yugoslavia), (iii) any limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any United States governmental authority on the extension of credit by banks or other financial institutions that materially affects the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions, (iv) any general suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on the Nasdaq National Market or the over the counter market, or (v) in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the time of the commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or worsening thereof; (b) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform any of its material obligations, covenants or agreements under the Merger Agreement in a manner A-1 permitting Parent to terminate the Merger Agreement, or any representation or warranty of the Company set forth in the Merger Agreement shall not be true and correct, provided that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to be true and correct unless the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would have a Company Material Adverse Effect or would prevent the Company from consummating the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, in each case as if such representations and warranties were made at the time of such termination. (c) there shall be instituted or pending any action, litigation, proceeding, investigation or other application (hereinafter, an "Action") before any court or other Governmental Entity: (i) challenging the acquisition by the Purchaser or Merger Sub of Shares, seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; (ii) seeking to prohibit, or impose any limitations on, Parent's or Merger Sub's ownership or operation of all or any portion of their or the Company's business or assets (including the business or assets of their respective affiliates and subsidiaries); (iii) seeking to make the acceptance for payment, purchase of, or payment for, some or all of the Shares illegal; (iv) seeking to impose limitations on the ability of Purchaser or Merger Sub effectively to acquire or hold or to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares including, without limitation, the right to vote the Shares purchased by them on an equal basis with all other shares on all matters properly presented to the stockholders; or (v) that, in any event, would have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (d) any statute, rule, regulation, order or injunction shall be enacted, promulgated, entered, enforced or become applicable to the Offer or the Merger, or any other action shall have been taken by any court or other Governmental Entity other than the application to the Offer or the Merger of the waiting period under the HSR Act, that would result in any of the effects of, or have any of the consequences sought to be obtained or achieved in, any Action referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph (b) above; A-2 (e) any person (as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (other than Parent or any of its affiliates)) commences a tender or exchange offer for a majority or more of the outstanding Shares at a price per Share greater than the Merger Consideration or any such person shall have become the beneficial owner of more than 20% of the outstanding Shares (other than for bona fide arbitrage purposes), or any such person shall have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all or substantially all of the Shares or to effect a merger, consolidation or other business combination with or involving the Company; (f) there shall have occurred an event which has caused a Company Material Adverse Effect; (g) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have amended, modified or withdrawn its recommendation of the Offer or the Merger in a manner adverse to Parent, or shall have endorsed, approved or recommended any other Acquisition Proposal, or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing; or (h) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated by the Company or Parent in accordance with its terms; which, in the reasonable judgment of Parent, in any such case, and regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such conditions, makes it reasonably inadvisable to proceed with the Offer and/or with such acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares. The foregoing conditions other than the Minimum Condition are for the sole benefit of Parent and may be asserted by Parent or Merger Sub regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such condition or may be waived by Parent other than the Minimum Condition, by express and specific action to that effect, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion. A-3 EX-99.(C)(3) 5 EXHIBIT (C)(3) Exhibit (c)(3) FORM OF KEY EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of the ____ day of _________, 1999 by and between ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and ________________ (the "Executive"). W I T N E S S E T H: WHEREAS, the Executive is employed by the Company and/or a subsidiary of the Company (the "Employer") in a key executive capacity and the Executive's services are valuable to the conduct of the business of the Company; WHEREAS, the Executive possesses intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company and has acquired certain confidential information and data with respect to the Company; WHEREAS, the Company desires to ensure, insofar as possible, that it will continue to have the benefit of the Executive's services and to protect its confidential information and goodwill; WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise in which a change in control of the Company occurs, through acquisition or otherwise, thereby causing uncertainty about the Executive's future employment with the Employer without regard to the Executive's competence or past contributions, which uncertainty may result in the loss of valuable services of the Executive to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders, and the Company and the Executive wish to provide reasonable security to the Executive against changes in the Executive's relationship with the Company in the event of any such change in control; WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are desirous that any proposal for a change in control or acquisition of the Company will be considered by the Executive objectively and with reference only to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders; and WHEREAS, the Executive will be in a better position to consider the Company's best interests if the Executive is afforded reasonable security, as provided in this Agreement, against altered conditions of employment which could result from any such change in control or acquisition; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement and has authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto mutually covenant and agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: (a) "ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (b) "CAUSE" means (i) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which has caused demonstrable and material financial injury to the Company or its affiliates, or (ii) the willful failure by the Executive to perform the Executive's duties or responsibilities (other than any such failure resulting from Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to Executive being delivered a Notice of Termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a Notice of Termination for Good Reason to the Company) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Executive by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that Executive has not substantially performed Executive's duties. For purpose of this Section 1(b), no act or failure to act by Executive shall be considered "willful" unless done or omitted to be done by Executive in bad faith and without reasonable belief that Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company or its affiliates. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board, based upon the advice of counsel for the Company or upon the instructions of the Company's chief executive officer or another senior officer of the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. Cause shall not exist unless and until the Company has delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by three-quarters (:) of the entire Board (excluding Executive if Executive is a Board member) at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for Executive, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board an event constituting Cause has occurred and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. (c) "CHANGE IN CONTROL OF THE COMPANY" means the occurrence of any one of the following events: (i) individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, -2- provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-11 under the Act) ("Election Contest") or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any "person" (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Act and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Act) other than the Board ("Proxy Contest"), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; (ii) any person is or becomes a "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the "Company Voting Securities"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control of the Company by virtue of any of the following acquisitions: (A) by the Company or any subsidiary, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii)), (E) pursuant to any acquisition by the Executive or any group of persons including the Executive (or any entity controlled by the Executive or any group of persons including the Executive); or (F) a transaction (other than one described in (iii) below) in which Company Voting Securities are acquired from the Company, if a majority of the Incumbent Directors approve a resolution providing expressly that the acquisition pursuant to this clause (F) does not constitute a Change in Control of the Company under this paragraph (ii); (iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company's stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a "Reorganization"), or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity that is not an affiliate of the Company (a "Sale"), unless immediately following such Reorganization or Sale: (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such Reorganization or the corporation which has acquired all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (in either case, the "Surviving Corporation"), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that -3- directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the "Parent Corporation"), is represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization or Sale (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization or Sale), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Reorganization or Sale, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation of the Reorganization or Sale were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board's approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization or Sale (any Reorganization or Sale which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a "Non-Qualifying Transaction"); or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the Company shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 25% of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; PROVIDED, THAT if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control of the Company shall then occur. (d) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any amendments thereto or successor tax codes thereof. (e) "COVERED TERMINATION" means, subject to Section 2(b) hereof, any termination of the Executive's employment during the Employment Period in respect of which the Termination Date is any date prior to the end of the Employment Period. (f) "EMPLOYMENT PERIOD" means a period commencing on the date of a Change in Control of the Company, and ending at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the earlier -4- of the third anniversary of such date or the Executive's Normal Retirement Date. (g) "GOOD REASON" means the occurrence, without the Executive's express written consent, of any of the following: (i) any material breach of this Agreement by the Company, including specifically any breach by the Company of its agreements contained in Sections 4, 5 or 6 hereof; (ii) (A) the removal of the Executive from, or any failure to reelect or reappoint the Executive to, any of the positions held with the Company or the Employer on the date of the Change in Control of the Company or any other positions with the Company or the Employer to which the Executive shall thereafter be elected, appointed or assigned, except in the event that such removal or failure to reelect or reappoint relates to the termination by the Company of the Executive's employment for Cause or by reason of disability pursuant to Section 11 hereof; or (B) any significant change in the duties or responsibilities of Executive that is inconsistent in any material and adverse respect with Executive's duties or responsibilities with the Company immediately prior to such Change in Control (including any material and adverse diminution of such duties or responsibilities); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Good Reason shall not be deemed to occur under clauses (A) or (B) of this Section 1(g)(ii) as a result of a removal, failure to reelect or reappoint, or change in duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) that results from the fact that (1) the Company ceases to be a publicly traded entity or (2) the Company has become a subsidiary or a division of another entity, and in either of clauses (1) or (2) does not involve any other event set forth in this Section 1(g); or (iii) failure by the Company to enter into the Successor Agreement referred to in Section 16(a) hereof and as provided therein (v) any requirement of the Company that Executive (A) be based anywhere more than fifty (50) miles from the office where Executive is located at the time of the Change in Control of the Company or (B) travel on Company business to an extent substantially greater than the travel obligations of Executive immediately prior to such Change in Control of the Company; or (iv) any refusal by the Company to continue to permit Executive to engage in activities not directly related to the business of the Company which Executive was permitted to engage in prior to the Change in Control of the Company; or (v) any purported termination of Executive's employment which is not -5- effectuated pursuant to Section 12 (and which will not constitute a termination hereunder). (h) "NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE" means the last day in the Company's fiscal year in which the Executive attains the age of 65. (i) "TERMINATION DATE" means, except as otherwise provided in Section 10(b) and Section 16(a) hereof: (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive's death, the date of death; (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of voluntary early retirement, as agreed in writing by the Company and the Executive, the date of such early retirement which is set forth in such written agreement; (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated for purposes of this Agreement by reason of disability pursuant to Section 11 hereof, the earlier of thirty (30) days after the Notice of Termination (as provided in Section 12 hereof) is given or one day prior to the end of the Employment Period; (iv) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive voluntarily (other than for Good Reason), the date the Notice of Termination is given; and (v) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company (other than by reason of disability pursuant to Section 11 hereof) or by the Executive for Good Reason, the earlier of thirty (30) days after the Notice of Termination is given or one day prior to the end of the Employment Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (1) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause pursuant to Section 1(b)(ii) of this Agreement, and if the Executive has cured (to the extent permitted by Section 12(c) hereof) the conduct constituting such Cause as described by the Company in its Notice of Termination within thirty (30) days after the Notice of Termination, then the Executive's employment hereunder shall continue as if the Company had not delivered its Notice of Termination; (2) if the Executive shall give the Company a Notice of Termination for Good Reason and the Company notifies the Executive that a dispute exists concerning the termination within the fifteen (15) day period following the date of the Notice of Termination is given, then the Executive may elect to continue the Executive's employment pending the resolution of such dispute; provided, that if the Executive so elects and it is thereafter determined that Good Reason did exist, the Termination Date shall be the earliest of (A) the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either (1) by mutual written agreement of the Executive and the Company or (2) in accordance with Section 21 hereof, (B) the date of the Executive's death, or (C) one day prior to the end of the Employment Period; provided, further, that if the Executive so elects and it is thereafter determined that Good Reason did not exist, then the employment of the Executive hereunder shall continue after such determination as if the Executive had not delivered the Notice of Termination asserting Good Reason and there shall be no Termination Date arising out of such -6- Notice of Termination. In either case, this Agreement shall continue until the Termination Date, if any, as if the Executive had not delivered the Notice of Termination except that, if it is finally determined that Good Reason did exist, the Executive shall in no case be denied the benefits described in Sections 8(b) and 9 hereof (including a Termination Payment as defined in Section 9(b)) based on events occurring after the Executive delivered the Notice of Termination; (3) except as provided in clause (2) of this Section 1(i), if the party receiving the Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination within the appropriate period following receipt thereof and it is finally determined that the reason asserted in such Notice of Termination did not exist or did not support the basis asserted for the giving of such Notice of Termination, then (A) if such Notice of Termination was delivered by the Executive, the Executive will be deemed to have voluntarily terminated the Executive's employment and the Termination Date shall be the earlier of the date fifteen (15) days after the Notice of Termination is given one day prior to the end of the Employment Period, and (B) if such Notice of Termination was delivered by the Company, the Company will be deemed to have terminated the Executive other than by reason of death, disability or Cause. 2. TERMINATION OR CANCELLATION PRIOR TO CHANGE IN CONTROL. (a) Subject to Section 2(b) hereof and the terms of any written agreement between either the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the Executive with respect to the employment of the Executive now or hereafter in effect, the Company (and such subsidiary) and the Executive shall each retain the right to terminate the employment of the Executive at any time prior to a Change in Control of the Company. Subject to Section 2(b) hereof, in the event the Executive's employment is terminated prior to a Change in Control of the Company, this Agreement shall be terminated and cancelled and of no further force and effect, and any and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall cease. (b) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change in Control of the Company occurs and if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company, other than a termination due to the Executive's death or as a result of the Executive's disability, or by the Executive for reasons that would have constituted Good Reason (had such termination occurred following a Change in Control of the Company), during the period of 180 days prior to the date on which the Change in Control of the Company occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment (or event that would have constituted Good Reason) (i) was at the request of any third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control of the Company, or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control of the Company, then for all purposes of this Agreement such -7- termination of employment shall be deemed a "COVERED TERMINATION" (and, if applicable, shall be considered a termination of employment by the Executive for Good Reason). 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. If a Change in Control of the Company occurs when the Executive is employed by the Employer, the Company will, or will cause the Employer to, continue thereafter to employ the Executive during the Employment Period, and the Executive will remain in the employ of the Employer in accordance with and subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Any termination of the Executive's employment during the Employment Period, whether by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, shall be deemed a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement. 4. DUTIES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall, in the same capacities and positions held by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control of the Company or in such other capacities and positions as may be agreed to by the Company and the Executive in writing, devote the Executive's best efforts and all of the Executive's business time, attention and skill to the business and affairs of the Employer, as such business and affairs now exist and as they may hereafter be conducted. 5. COMPENSATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be compensated as follows: (a) The Executive shall receive, (i) at reasonable intervals (but not less often than monthly) and in accordance with such standard policies as may be in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company, an annual base salary in cash equivalent to not less than Executive's annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company (which base salary shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Executive, include the current receipt by the Executive of any amounts which, prior to the Change in Control of the Company, the Executive had elected to defer, whether such compensation is deferred under Section 401(k) of the Code or otherwise), and (ii) an annual cash bonus in an amount not less than the average cash bonuses earned (whether or not yet paid) by the Executive in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the Change in Control of the Company (or, if the Executive has not been employed by the Company for such three-fiscal-year period, in respect of such fiscal years during which the Executive has been employed by the Company), subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. (b) The Executive shall receive fringe benefits at least equal in value to those provided for the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company, and shall be reimbursed, at such intervals and in accordance with such standard policies as may be in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company, for any and all monies advanced in connection with the Executive's employment for reasonable -8- and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive on behalf of the Company, including travel expenses. (c) The Executive shall be included, to the extent eligible thereunder (which eligibility shall not be conditioned on the Executive's salary grade or on any other requirement which excludes persons of comparable status to the Executive unless such exclusion was in effect for such plan or an equivalent plan immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company), in any and all plans providing benefits for the Employer's salaried employees in general, including but not limited to group life insurance, hospitalization, medical, dental, pension and profit sharing plans; PROVIDED, THAT, in no event shall the aggregate level of benefits under such plans in which the Executive is included be less than the aggregate level of benefits under plans of the Company of the type referred to in this Section 5(c) in which the Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company. (d) The Executive shall annually be entitled to not less than the amount of paid vacation and not fewer than the number of paid holidays to which the Executive was entitled annually immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company or such greater amount of paid vacation and number of paid holidays as may be made available annually to other executives of the Company of comparable status and position to the Executive. (e) The Executive shall be included in all plans providing additional benefits to executives of the Company of comparable status and position to the Executive, including but not limited to deferred compensation, split-dollar life insurance, supplemental retirement, stock option, stock appreciation, stock bonus and similar or comparable plans; PROVIDED, THAT, in no event shall the aggregate level of benefits under such plans be less than the aggregate level of benefits under plans of the Company of the type referred to in this Section 5(e) in which the Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Company's obligation to include the Executive in bonus or incentive compensation plans shall be determined by Section 5(f) hereof. (f) To assure that the Executive will have an opportunity to earn incentive compensation after a Change in Control of the Company, the Executive shall be included in a bonus plan of the Company which shall satisfy the standards described below (such plan, the "BONUS PLAN"). Bonuses under the Bonus Plan shall be payable upon the achievement of such financial or other goals reasonably related to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as the Company shall establish (the "GOALS"), all of which Goals shall be attainable, prior to the end of the Employment Period, with approximately the same degree of probability as the goals under the Company's bonus plan or plans as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company (whether one or more, the "COMPANY BONUS PLAN") and in view of the Company's existing and projected financial and business -9- circumstances applicable at the time. The amount of the bonus (the "BONUS AMOUNT") that the Executive is eligible to earn under the Bonus Plan shall be no less than the amount of the Executive's maximum award provided in such Bonus Plan (such bonus amount herein referred to as the "TARGETED BONUS"), which shall be no less than the maximum award the Executive is eligible to receive under the Company Bonus Plan, and in the event the Goals are not achieved such that the entire Targeted Bonus is not payable, the Bonus Plan shall provide for a payment of a Bonus Amount equal to a portion of the Targeted Bonus reasonably related to that portion of the Goals which were achieved. Payment of the Bonus Amount shall not be affected by any circumstance occurring subsequent to the end of the Employment Period, including termination of the Executive's employment. 6. ANNUAL COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS. During the Employment Period, the Board (or an appropriate committee thereof) will consider and appraise, at least annually, the contributions of the Executive to the Company, and in accordance with the Company's practice prior to the Change in Control of the Company, due consideration shall be given to the upward adjustment of the Executive's base compensation rate, at least annually, (i) commensurate with increases generally given to other executives of the Company of comparable status and position to the Executive, and (ii) as the scope of the Company's operations or the Executive's duties expand. 7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OR WITHOUT GOOD REASON. If there is a Covered Termination for Cause or due to the Executive's termination of the Executive's employment other than for Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only Accrued Benefits pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof and the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement; provided, that the benefits described in Sections 9(a)(iv) and 9(a)(v) shall not be payable. 8. TERMINATION GIVING RISE TO A TERMINATION PAYMENT. If there is a Covered Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, or by the Company other than by reason of (i) death, (ii) disability pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or (iii) Cause, then: (x) the Executive shall be entitled to receive, and the Company shall promptly pay, Accrued Benefits pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof and, in lieu of further base salary for periods following the Termination Date, as liquidated damages and additional severance pay and in consideration of the covenant of the Executive set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, the Termination Payment pursuant to Section 9(b) hereof; (y) the Executive shall receive, at the expense of the Company, outplacement services, on an individualized basis at a level of service commensurate with the Executive's status with the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company (or, if higher, immediately prior to the termination of the -10- Executive's employment), provided by a nationally recognized executive placement firm selected by the Company; provided that the cost to the Company of such services shall not exceed 30% of the Executive's annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company; and (z) the Company shall continue to provide, until the expiration of the Employment Period (assuming that Executive had not incurred a termination of employment), Executive (and Executive's dependents, if applicable) with the same level of medical, dental, accident, disability and life insurance benefits upon substantially the same terms and conditions (including contributions required by Executive for such benefits) as existed immediately prior to Executive's Termination Date (or, if more favorable to Executive, as such benefits and terms and conditions existed immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company); PROVIDED, THAT, if -------- ---- Executive cannot continue to participate in the Company plans providing such benefits, the Company shall otherwise provide such benefits on the same after-tax basis as if continued participation had been permitted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and becomes eligible to receive welfare benefits from such employer, the welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to such benefits during the period of Executive's eligibility, but only to the extent that the Company reimburses Executive for any increased cost and provides any additional benefits necessary to give Executive the benefits provided hereunder. 9. PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION. (a) ACCRUED BENEFITS. For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive's "ACCRUED BENEFITS" shall include the following amounts, payable as described herein: (i) all base salary for the time period ending with the Termination Date; (ii) reimbursement for any and all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive on behalf of the Company for the time period ending with the Termination Date; (iii) any and all compensation or other cash earned through the Termination Date and deferred at the election of the Executive or pursuant to any deferred compensation plan then in effect; (iv) a lump sum payment of the bonus or incentive compensation otherwise payable to the Executive with respect to the year in which termination occurs under any bonus or incentive compensation plan in which the Executive is a participant; and (v) all other payments and benefits to which the Executive (or in the event of the Executive's death, the Executive's surviving spouse or other beneficiary) may be entitled as compensatory fringe benefits or under the terms of any benefit plan of the Company, excluding severance payments under any Company severance policy, practice or agreement in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company. Payment of Accrued Benefits shall be made promptly in accordance with the Company's prevailing practice with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 9(a) or, with respect to clauses -11- (iii), (iv) and (v) of this Section 9(a), pursuant to the terms of the benefit plan or practice establishing such benefits. (b) TERMINATION PAYMENT. (i) For purposes of this Agreement, the "TERMINATION PAYMENT" shall be an amount equal to (x) the product of (A) the sum of (1) the Executive's annual base salary, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company, as adjusted upward, from time to time, pursuant to Section 6 hereof, plus (2) the amount of the average annual bonus award (determined on an annualized basis for any bonus award paid for a period of less than one year and excluding any year for which the Executive did not participate in any bonus plan) paid to the Executive with respect to the three complete fiscal years (or portion thereof) preceding the Termination Date (the sum of the amounts set forth in this clause (A) shall hereafter be referred to as "ANNUAL CASH COMPENSATION"), multiplied by (B) the number of years and fractional portion thereof remaining in the Employment Period determined as of the Termination Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT such amount shall not be less than the greater of (i) the amount of the Executive's Annual Cash Compensation or (ii) the severance benefits to which the Executive would have been entitled under the Company's severance policies and practices in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company; plus (y) the value of the additional Company contributions that would have been made during the period described by (B) above to the Executive's account under the Company's tax-qualified defined contribution plan (assuming for such purpose that the Executive had not terminated employment and would have earned annually during such period the Annual Cash Compensation. The Termination Payment shall be paid to the Executive in cash equivalent as soon as practicable but in no event later than ten business days after the Termination Date. Such lump sum payment shall not be reduced by any present value or similar factor, and the Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of the Termination Payment by securing other employment or otherwise, nor will such Termination Payment be reduced by reason of the Executive securing other equipment or for any reason. The Termination Payment shall be in lieu of, and acceptance by the Executive of the Termination Payment shall constitute the Executive's release of any rights of the Executive to, any other severance payments under any Company severance policy, practice or agreement. The Company shall bear the cost of up to $25,000 in the aggregate of reasonable fees and expenses of consultants and/or legal, tax or accounting advisors actually incurred by the Executive to advise the Executive as to matters relating to the compensation of benefits due and payable under this Section 9(b). (ii) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment, award, benefit or distribution -12- (or any acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) by the Company (or any of its affiliated entities) or any entity which effectuates a Change in Control of the Company (or any of its affiliated entities) to or for the benefit of Executive (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section) (the "Payments") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any interest or penalties are incurred by Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Company shall pay to Executive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any Excise Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the sum of (x) the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments and (y) the product of any deductions disallowed because of the inclusion of the Gross-up Payment in Executive's adjusted gross income and the highest applicable marginal rate of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to (i) pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rates of federal income taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made, (ii) pay applicable state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation for the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes and (iii) have otherwise allowable deductions for federal income tax purposes at least equal to those which could be disallowed because of the inclusion of the Gross-up Payment in the Executive's adjusted gross income. (iii) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(b)(ii), all determinations required to be made under this Section, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required, the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by the public accounting firm that is retained by the Company as of the date immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of notice from the Company or the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company (collectively, the "Determination"). In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control of the Company, Executive may appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company and the -13- Company shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the performance of the services hereunder. The Gross-up Payment under this Section with respect to any Payments shall be made no later than thirty (30) days following such Payment. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, it shall furnish Executive with a written opinion to such effect, and to the effect that failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on Executive's applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. The Determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the Determination, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment") or Gross-up Payments are made by the Company which should not have been made ("Overpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Executive thereafter is required to make payment of any Excise Tax or additional Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of Executive. In the event the amount of the Gross-up Payment exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive for his Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Overpayment that has been made and any such Overpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2) of the Code) shall be promptly paid by Executive (to the extent he has received a refund if the applicable Excise Tax has been paid to the Internal Revenue Service) to or for the benefit of the Company. Executive shall cooperate, to the extent his expenses are reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the Company in connection with any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the Excise Tax. 10. DEATH. (a) Except as provided in Section 10(b) hereof, in the event of a Covered Termination due to the Executive's death, the Executive's estate, heirs and beneficiaries shall receive all the Executive's Accrued Benefits through the Termination Date. (b) In the event the Executive dies after a Notice of Termination is given (i) by the Company or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive's estate, heirs and beneficiaries shall be entitled to the benefits described in Section 10(a) hereof and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to such Termination Payment as the Executive would have been entitled to had the Executive lived. For purposes of this Section 10(b), the Termination Date shall be the earlier of thirty (30) days following the giving of the Notice -14- of Termination, subject to extension pursuant to Section 1(i) hereof, or one day prior to the end of the Employment Period. 11. TERMINATION FOR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, as a result of the Executive's disability due to physical or mental illness or injury (regardless of whether such illness or injury is job-related), the Executive shall have been absent from the Executive's duties hereunder on a full-time basis for a period of six consecutive months and, within thirty (30) days after the Company notifies the Executive in writing that it intends to terminate the Executive's employment (which notice shall not constitute the Notice of Termination contemplated below), the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of the Executive's duties hereunder on a full-time basis, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for purposes of this Agreement pursuant to a Notice of Termination given in accordance with Section 12 hereof. If the Executive's employment is terminated on account of the Executive's disability in accordance with this Section, the Executive shall receive Accrued Benefits in accordance with Section 9(a) hereof and shall remain eligible for all benefits provided by any long term disability programs of the Company in effect at the time of such termination. 12. TERMINATION NOTICE AND PROCEDURE. Any Covered Termination by the Company or the Executive (other than a termination of the Executive's employment that is a Covered Termination by virtue of Section 2(b) hereof) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the Executive, if such Notice of Termination is given by the Company, and to the Company, if such Notice of Termination is given by the Executive, all in accordance with the following procedures and those set forth in Section 22 hereof: (a) If such termination is for disability, Cause or Good Reason, the Notice of Termination shall indicate in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances alleged to provide a basis for such termination. (b) If the Notice is given by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive may cease performing the Executive's duties hereunder on or after the date fifteen (15) days after the delivery of Notice of Termination and shall in any event cease employment on the Termination Date. If the Notice of Termination is given by the Company, then the Executive may cease performing the Executive's duties hereunder on the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination, subject to the Executive's rights hereunder. (c) The Executive shall have thirty (30) days, or such longer period as the Company may determine to be appropriate, to cure any conduct or act, if curable, alleged to provide grounds for termination of the Executive's employment for Cause under this Agreement pursuant to Subsection 1(b)(ii) hereof. 13. FURTHER OBLIGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE. -15- (a) COMPETITION. The Executive agrees that, in the event of any Covered Termination where the Executive is entitled to the Termination Payment, the Executive shall not, for a period expiring one year after the Termination Date, without the prior written approval of the Company's Board of Directors, participate in the management of, be employed by or own any business enterprise which the principal office of which is located within the Southeastern United States that engages in substantial competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, where such enterprise's revenues from such competitive activities amounted to 50% or more of such enterprise's net revenues and sales for its most recently completed fiscal year; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 13(a) shall prohibit the Executive from owning stock or other securities amounting to less than five (5) percent of the outstanding capital stock of any entity; and provided, further if for any reason the Company does not pay the Executive the amounts and make available to the Executive the benefits provided in and required by this Agreement, then the Executive will have no further obligation to the Company under this Section 13(a). (b) CONFIDENTIALITY. During and following the Executive's employment by the Company, the Executive shall hold in confidence and not directly or indirectly disclose or use or copy or make lists of any confidential information or proprietary data of the Company (including that of the Employer), except to the extent authorized in writing by the Board or required by any court or administrative agency, other than to an employee of the Company or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the Executive of duties as an executive of the Company. Confidential information shall not include any information known generally to the public or any information of a type not otherwise considered confidential by persons engaged in the same business or a business similar to that of the Company. All records, files, documents and materials, or copies thereof, relating to the business of the Company which the Executive shall prepare, or use, or come into contact with, shall be and remain the sole property of the Company and shall be promptly returned to the Company upon termination of employment with the Company. 14. EXPENSES AND INTEREST. If, after a Change in Control of the Company, (i) a dispute arises with respect to the enforcement of the Executive's rights under this Agreement, or (ii) any legal or arbitration proceeding shall be brought to enforce or interpret any provision contained herein or to recover damages for breach hereof, in either case so long as the Executive is not acting in bad faith, the Executive shall recover from the Company any reasonable attorneys' fees and necessary costs and disbursements incurred as a result of such dispute, legal or arbitration proceeding ("Expenses"), and prejudgment interest on any money judgment or arbitration award obtained by the Executive calculated at the prime rate of interest as reported by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL from the date that payments to the Executive should have been made under this Agreement. Within ten (10) days after the Executive's written request therefor, the Company shall pay to the Executive, or such other person or entity as the Executive may designate in writing to the Company, the Executive's Expenses -16- in advance of the final disposition or conclusion of any such dispute, legal or arbitration proceeding. 15. PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE. The Company's obligation during and after the Employment Period to pay the Executive the amounts and to makes the benefits and other arrangements provided herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or any other Person. Except as provided in Section 14 of this Agreement, all amounts payable by the Company hereunder shall be paid without notice or demand. Except as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement, the Company will not seek to recover all or any part of any payment made by the Company hereunder from the Executive, or from whomsoever may be entitled thereto, for any reason whatsoever. 16. SUCCESSORS. (a) If the Company sells, assigns or transfers all or substantially all of its business and assets to any person or entity or if the Company merges into or consolidates or otherwise combines (where the Company is not the surviving entity in such combination) with any person or entity (any such event, a "SALE OF BUSINESS"), then the Company shall assign all of its right, title and interest in this Agreement as of the date of such event to such person or entity, and the Company shall cause such person or entity, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Executive (the "Successor Agreement"), to expressly assume and agree to perform from and after the date of such assignment all of the terms, conditions and provisions imposed by this Agreement upon the Company. Failure of the Company to enter into the Successor Agreement at or prior to the effective date of such Sale of Business shall be a breach of this Agreement constituting "Good Reason" hereunder, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date upon which such Sale of Business becomes effective shall be deemed the Termination Date. In case of such assignment by the Company and of assumption and agreement by such person or entity pursuant to the Successor Agreement, as used in this Agreement, "COMPANY" shall thereafter mean such person or entity which executes and delivers the Successor Agreement provided for in this Section 16(a) or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, such person or entity. The Executive shall, in the Executive's discretion, be entitled to proceed against any or all of such successors to the Company (as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement) in any action to enforce any rights of the Executive hereunder. Except as provided in this Section 16(a), this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Company. This Agreement shall not be terminated by the voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Company. -17- (b) This Agreement and all rights of the Executive shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs and beneficiaries. Any amount payable to the Executive under this Agreement if the Executive had lived shall be paid, in the event of the Executive's death, to the Executive's estate, heirs and representatives; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed to modify any terms of any benefit plan of the Company or agreement to which the Executive is a party, as such terms are in effect on the date of the Change in Control of the Company, that expressly govern the payment of benefits under such plan or agreement in the event of the Executive's death. 17. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be regarded as divisible, and if any of said provisions or any part hereof are declared invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity and enforceability of the remainder of such provisions or parts hereof and the applicability thereof shall not be affected thereby. 18. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended or modified at any time except by written instrument executed by the Company and the Executive. 19. WITHHOLDING. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from amounts to be paid to the Executive hereunder any federal, state or local withholding or other taxes or charges which it is from time to time required to withhold; PROVIDED, THAT the amount so withheld shall not without the Executive's consent exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld by law. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel if any question as to the amount or requirement of any such withholding shall arise. 20. CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. No party shall be considered as being responsible for the drafting of this Agreement for the purpose of applying any rule construing ambiguities against the drafter or otherwise. No draft of this Agreement shall be taken into account in construing this Agreement. Any provision of this Agreement which requires an agreement in writing shall be deemed to require that the writing in question be signed by the Executive and an authorized representative of the Company. 21. GOVERNING LAW; RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES. This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Florida, without reference to conflict or choice of law principles thereunder. Any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall, at the Executive's election, be determined by arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect (in which case the Executive and the Company shall be bound by the arbitration award) or by litigation. Whether the dispute is to be settled by arbitration or litigation, the venue for the arbitration or litigation shall be Pinellas County, Florida or, at the Executive's election, if the Executive is no longer residing or working in the Tampa/St. Petersburg, -18- Florida metropolitan area, in the judicial district encompassing the city in which the Executive resides; PROVIDED, THAT, if the Executive is not then residing in the United States, the election of the Executive with respect to such venue shall be either Pinellas County, Florida or in the judicial district encompassing that city in the United States among the thirty cities having the largest population (as determined by the most recent United States Census data available at the Termination Date) which is closest to the Executive's residence. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction in each trial court in the selected venue having subject matter jurisdiction notwithstanding their residence or situs, and each party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided hereunder for the giving of notices. 22. NOTICE. Notices given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be deemed given when actually received by the Executive or actually received by the Company's Secretary or any officer of the Company other than the Executive. If mailed, such notices shall be mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressee only, postage prepaid, if to the Company, to ABR Information Services, Inc., Attention: Secretary (or President, if the Executive is then Secretary), 34125 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, Florida 34684, or if to the Executive, at the address set forth below the Executive's signature to this Agreement, or to such other address as the party to be notified shall have theretofore given to the other party in writing. 23. NO WAIVER. No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior or subsequent time. 24. HEADINGS. The headings herein contained are for reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. -19- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. By: ------------------------------------------ James E. MacDougald Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer THE EXECUTIVE ------------------------------------------ Name: ---------------------------------------- EX-99.(C)(4) 6 EXHIBIT (C)(4) Exhibit (c)(4) AMENDMENT, dated as of April 30, 1999 (this "Amendment"), to that certain employment agreement, dated as of March 11, 1994 (the "Employment Agreement"), by and between ABR Information Services, Inc., (the "Company") and James E. MacDougald (the "Executive"). W I T N E S S E T H: WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to amend the Employment Agreement as provided herein. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and Executive agree as follows: ARTICLE I AMENDMENT 1.1 A new Section 5(d) of the Employment Agreement is hereby added to read as follows: "(d) CONTINUATION OF MEDICAL COVERAGE. In recognition of Executive's prior contributions and service to the Company, and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any agreement between the Executive and the Company, the Company shall continue, following the Executive's termination of employment, to keep in full force and effect (or otherwise provide) for the remainder of the Executive's lifetime, all policies of medical insurance with respect to the Executive and his dependents, with the same level of coverage, upon the same terms and otherwise to the same extent as such policies shall have been in effect immediately prior to Executive's date of termination, and the Company and the Executive shall share the costs of the continuation of such insurance coverage in the same proportion as such costs were shared immediately prior to the Executive's date of termination." ARTICLE II MISCELLANEOUS 2.1 DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Employment Agreement. 2.2 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; RESTATEMENT. Other than as amended by Article I above, the Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unaffected hereby. 2.3 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. 2.4 COUNTERPARTS. For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 2.5 EFFECTIVE DATE. This Amendment shall be effective as of the date first above written. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed or caused this Amendment to be executed as of the date first written above. ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. By: /s/ James P. O'Drobinak ---------------------------- Name: James P. O'Drobinak Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer /s/ James E. MacDougald ---------------------------- James E. MacDougald -2- EX-99.(C)(5) 7 EXHIBIT (C)(5) Exhibit (c)(5) Text of Amendment to Incentive Bonus Plan The Company has amended its annual incentive bonus plan to provide that upon an occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan), each participant in the bonus plan shall be entitled to receive a payment in respect of the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurs in an amount equal to the product of (1) such participant's target bonus for such calendar year under the bonus plan and (2) the fraction resulting from dividing (x) the number of days in the calendar year that have elapsed through the date on which the Change in Control occurs by (y) 365. Such amount shall be payable to the participants as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 3 days following the date on which the Change in Control occurs. EX-99.(C)(6) 8 EXHIBIT (C)(6) Exhibit (c)(6) ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. RETENTION BONUS PLAN The Board of Directors of ABR Information Services, Inc. (the "Company") has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to secure the continued services, dedication and objectivity of the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) in expectation of, and following a Change in Control (as defined below). To encourage the full attention and dedication to the Company and its Subsidiaries by their employees, and to provide an incentive for such employees to make a commitment to continued employment with the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the Company to adopt the ABR Information Services, Inc. Retention Bonus Plan (the "Plan"). 1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below: (a) "Administrator" means the Vice-President of Human Resources, or any other person designated by the Board as the administrator of this Plan. (b) "Base Salary" means a Participant's annual rate of salary or wages (excluding all bonus, overtime and incentive compensation) in effect as of the relevant date (or, in the event that the relevant date occurs after a Change in Control, the greater of such rate in effect as of the relevant date or the rate in effect immediately preceding such Participant's Date of Termination). (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. (d) "Cause" means (1) the willful and deliberate failure by a Participant to perform such Participant's duties and responsibilities (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company specifying such failure, (2) willful misconduct by a Participant which is demonstrably injurious to the business or reputation of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (3) a Participant's conviction of, or plea of guilty or NOLO CONTENDERE to, a felony. The Company must notify such Participant that it believes "Cause" has occurred within ninety (90) days of its knowledge of the event or condition constituting Cause or such event or condition shall not constitute Cause hereunder. (e) "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any one of the following events: (i) individuals who, on April 30, 1999, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act")) ("Election Contest") or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any "person" (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Act and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Act) other than the Board ("Proxy Contest"), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; (ii) any person is or becomes a "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the "Company Voting Securities"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the event described in this paragraph (ii) which occurs by virtue of any of the following acquisitions shall be deemed not to be a Change in Control of the Company: (A) by the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in -2- paragraph (iii) below), (E) pursuant to any acquisition by a Participant (an "Acquiring Participant") or any group of persons including an Acquiring Participant (or any entity controlled by an Acquiring Participant or any group of persons including an Acquiring Participant), provided, that an event that is deemed not to be a Change in Control under this clause (E) shall nevertheless be a Change in Control for all Participants other than any Acquiring Participant; or (F) a transaction (other than one described in paragraph (iii) below) in which Company Voting Securities are acquired from the Company, if a majority of the Incumbent Directors approve a resolution providing expressly that the acquisition pursuant to this clause (F) does not constitute a Change in Control of the Company under this paragraph (ii); (iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company's stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a "Reorganization"), or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity that is not an affiliate of the Company (a "Sale"), unless immediately following such Reorganization or Sale: (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such Reorganization or the corporation which has acquired all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (in either case, the "Surviving Corporation"), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the "Parent Corporation"), is represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization or Sale (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization or Sale), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Reorganization or Sale, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) -3- sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation of the Reorganization or Sale were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board's approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization or Sale (any Reorganization or Sale which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a "Non-Qualifying Transaction"); or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the Company shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 25% of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; PROVIDED, THAT if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control of the Company shall then occur. (f) "Company" means ABR Information Services, Inc. and any successor thereto. (g) "Date of Termination" means the date on which a Participant's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates. (h) "Effective Date" means the date on which the Company enters into the agreement described in Section 3(a). (i) "Employee" means any regular, full-time employee of an Employer. (j) "Employer" means the Company or any Subsidiary. -4- (k) "Participant" means any Employee, other than an Employee who is covered by a collective bargaining agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, who is selected to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 2. (l) "Plan" means this ABR Information Services, Inc. Retention Bonus Plan as set forth herein and as amended from time to time. (m) "Retention Benefits" means the benefits payable in accordance with Section 3 of this Plan. (n) "Subsidiary" means any entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which at least a majority of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Company, by one or more of the Company's Subsidiaries or by the Company and any one or more of its Subsidiaries. 2. PARTICIPATION. The Administrator shall in its sole discretion designate those Employees who shall participate in the Plan. The initial Participants as of the Effective Date are listed on Schedules A and B. The Administrator shall have the authority to add additional Participants or remove Participants from the Plan, and shall inform an individual as soon as practicable following his or her addition or removal from participation in the Plan; PROVIDED, that no Participant may be removed from participation in the Plan following a Change in Control until April 1, 2000. A Participant shall cease to be a Participant in the Plan when he or she ceases to be an Employee, unless such Participant is entitled to payment of Retention Benefits as provided in the Plan. A Participant entitled to payment of Retention Benefits shall remain a Participant in the Plan until the full amount of the Retention Benefits, and any other obligation under this Plan, has been paid to such Participant. 3. RETENTION BENEFITS (a) In the event the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by which would result in a Change in Control, a Participant listed on Schedule A who is continuously employed as an Employee during the period ("Tier I Benefit Period") commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date set forth on Schedule A shall be entitled to receive the amount set forth on Schedule A. -5- (b) Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant's employment is terminated during the Tier I Benefit Period by an Employer other than for Cause, such Participant shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of, and shall be entitled to receive the amounts that would have been payable to such Participant under, Section 3(a). (c) Any amounts payable under this Section 3 shall be paid in a single lump sum cash payment. The amount payable under Section 3(a) shall be paid no later than 10 days following the expiration of the Tier I Benefit Period, as the case may be. The amounts payable under Section 3(b) shall be paid no later than 10 days following a Participant's Date of Termination. (d) The Retention Benefits shall be payable in addition to, and not in lieu of, all other accrued, vested or deferred compensation, rights, options or other benefits which may be owed to a Participant following termination of employment, including but not limited to accrued sick pay, amounts or benefits payable under any bonus or other compensation plan, stock option plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, life insurance plan, health plan, disability plan or similar or successor plan. 4. WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company may withhold from all payments due hereunder all taxes which, by applicable federal, state, local or other law, any Employer is required to withhold therefrom. 5. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES AND SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. If any contest or dispute shall arise under this Plan involving termination of a Participant's employment with an Employer or involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse such Participant, on a current basis, for all reasonable legal fees and expenses, if any, reasonably incurred by such Participant in connection with such contest or dispute (regardless of the result thereof), provided, that, if it is determined by a court or by arbitration that such Participant did not enter into the contest or dispute in good faith, such Participant shall be obligated to return to the Company such reimbursed fees and expenses. All disputes hereunder shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Florida in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitration award in any court having jurisdiction. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses in connection with the retention of the arbitration panel for any proceeding. -6- 6. PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS. Each Subsidiary shall, automatically and without any action on the part of such Subsidiary, be deemed an Employer and the provisions of this Plan shall be fully applicable to the Employees of such Subsidiary. 7. TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN. (a) Subject to paragraph (b) below, this Plan shall be in effect as of April 30, 1999, and shall terminate on June 30, 2000, unless terminated at an earlier date by the Company. (b) The Company shall have the right prior to a Change in Control, in its sole discretion pursuant to action by the Board, to terminate or amend the Plan. Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (a) of this Section 7 to the contrary, in no event shall this Plan be terminated or amended during the period following a Change in Control and prior to June 30, 2000 in any manner which would adversely affect the rights or potential rights of Participants under this Plan with respect to such Change in Control. 8. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Plan shall not be terminated by any merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar event involving the Company whereby the Company is or is not the surviving or resulting entity. In the event of any merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar event, the provisions of this Plan shall be binding upon the surviving or resulting corporation or the person or entity to which the Company's assets are transferred. (b) Concurrently with any merger, consolidation, share exchange or sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, the Company will cause any successor or transferee unconditionally to assume all of the obligations of the Company and the Employers hereunder. (c) This Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each Participant's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If a Participant shall die while any amounts are payable to such Participant hereunder, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to such Participant's surviving spouse or, if none, to such Participant's estate. -7- 9. NO MITIGATION. The obligation of the Company to provide a Participant with the benefits specified in Section 3 and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company or any Employer may have against such Participant or others. In no event shall a Participant be obligated to seek other employment or take other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to such Participant under any of the provisions of this Plan and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not such Participant obtains other employment. 10. GOVERNING LAW; VALIDITY. The interpretation, construction and performance of this Plan shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without regard to the principle of conflicts of laws. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Plan, which other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. 11. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator shall provide adequate written notice to any Participant whose claim for Retention Benefits has been denied, setting forth specific reasons for such denial, written in a manner calculated to be understood by such Participant, and affording such Participant a full and fair review of the decision denying the claim. 12. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) Neither the Company nor any Employer shall be required to fund or otherwise segregate assets to be used for the payment of any benefits under the Plan. The Company shall make such payments only out of its general corporate funds, and therefore its obligation to make such payments shall be subject to any claims of its other creditors having priority as to its assets. (b) This Plan does not constitute a contract of employment or impose on the Company or a Participant's Employer any obligation to retain such Participant as an Employee, to change the status of such Participant's employment, or to change the policies of the Company or its Subsidiaries regarding termination of employment. -8- (c) No rights of any Participant (or beneficiary) to payments of any amounts under the Plan shall be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. (d) Unless the Company specifically provides otherwise, any Retention Benefits payable under this Plan shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining benefits payable to a Participant under any other benefit plan or program of an Employer. (e) The Company's obligations hereunder shall be subject to all applicable laws, and Retention Benefits payable hereunder may be adjusted to comply with any such laws. -9- EX-99.(C)(7) 9 EXHIBIT (C)(7) Exhibit (c)(7) PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL February 4, 1999 Ceridian Corporation 8100 34th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55425 Attention: Lawrence Perlman Chairman, President and CEO Gentlemen: In connection with your consideration of a possible negotiated transaction (a "Transaction") between you and ABR Information Services, Inc. (the "Company"), you have requested information concerning the Company. As a condition to your being furnished such information, you agree for a period of five years from the date hereof to treat any information concerning the Company (whether prepared by the Company, its advisors or otherwise) which is furnished to you by or on behalf of the Company, including any technical, trade secret or other proprietary information of the Company with which you or your Representatives (as hereinafter defined) may come into contact in the course of your investigation, whether before or after the date of this Agreement, together with any reports, analyses, compilations, records, notes and any other writings prepared by you or your Representatives which contain, reflect or are based upon such information (herein collectively referred to as the "Evaluation Material") in accordance with the provisions of this letter and to take or abstain from taking certain other actions herein set forth. The term "Evaluation Material" does not include information which (i) is already in your possession, provided that such information is not known by you to be subject to another confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy to the Company or another person, or (ii) becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by you or your Representatives, or (iii) becomes available to you on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or its Representatives, provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy to the Company or another person. You hereby agree that the Evaluation Material will be used solely for the purpose of evaluating a possible Transaction between the Company and you and not for any other purpose including but not limited to solicitation of the Company's customers, and that such information will be kept confidential by you and your Representatives; provided, however, that (i) any of such information may be disclosed to your directors, officers, employees, counsel, investment bankers and other representatives of you or your advisors, such persons being generally referred to herein as "Representatives", who need to know such information for the purpose of evaluating any possible Ceridian Corporation Page Two Transaction between the Company and you (it being understood that such Representatives shall be informed by you of the confidential nature of such information and any Evaluation Material prepared by them, and shall be directed by you to treat such information confidentially and in accordance with the terms hereof), and (ii) any disclosure of such information may be made to which the Company consents in writing. You hereby acknowledge that you are aware, and that you will advise your Representatives who are informed as to the matters which are the subject of this letter, that the United States securities laws prohibit any person who has received from an issuer material, non-public information from purchasing or selling securities of such issuer. In addition, without the prior written consent of the Company, you will not, and will direct your Representatives, not to, disclose to any person either the fact that discussions or negotiations are taking place concerning a possible Transaction or any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to any such possible Transaction, including the status thereof (collectively, "Transaction Information"). If you or your Representatives are contacted within three years by any other person regarding a possible transaction involving the Company, you agree immediately to notify us of the details of any such contact. In the event that you or any of your Representatives are required to disclose any Evaluation Material or Transaction Information (i) in connection with any judicial or administrative proceedings (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, Civil Investigation Demand or similar process) or (ii) in order, in the opinion of your outside counsel, to avoid violating the United States federal securities laws, you will in advance of such disclosure provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement(s). You also agree, to the extent legally permissible, to provide the Company, in advance of any such disclosure, with copies of any Evaluation Material and descriptions (written or oral) of the Transaction Information you intend to disclose (and, if applicable, the text of the disclosure language itself) and to cooperate with the Company to the extent it may seek to limit such disclosure. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver from the Company after a request in writing therefor is made by you (such request to be made as soon as practicable to allow the Company a reasonable amount of time to respond thereto), you or your Representatives are legally required to disclose Evaluation Material or Transaction Information to any tribunal or in order to comply with the United States federal securities laws, you may disclose such information without liability hereunder. Further, without your prior written consent, we will not, and will direct our Representatives, not to, disclose to any person the fact that discussions or negotiations are taking place with you concerning a possible Transaction ("Bidder Information"). In the event that we or our Representatives are required to disclose any Bidder Information (i) in connection with any judicial or administrative Ceridian Corporation Page Three proceedings (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, Civil Investigation Demand or similar process) or (ii) in order, in the opinion of our outside counsel, to avoid violating the United States federal securities laws, we will in advance of such disclosure provide you with prompt notice of such requirement(s). You hereby acknowledge that the Evaluation Material is being furnished to you in consideration of your agreement that you will not and shall cause your Representatives not to propose to the Company or any other person any transaction between you and the Company and/or its security holders or involving any of its securities or security holders unless the Company shall have requested in writing that you make such a proposal, and that you will not (i) acquire, or assist, advise or encourage any other persons in acquiring, directly or indirectly, any of the Company's securities, businesses or assets (including rights or options to acquire such ownership) for a period of three years from the date of this letter unless the Company shall have consented in advance in writing to such acquisition, (ii) seek or propose to influence, advise, change or control the management, Board of Directors, governing instruments or policies or affairs of the Company during such three year period or (iii) make any public disclosure, or take any action which could require the Company to make any public disclosure (under any law, rule or regulation or rule or regulation of a national securities exchange), with respect to any of the matters set forth in this Agreement, or enter into any agreement related to any of the foregoing. Although the Company has endeavored to include in the Evaluation Material information known to it which it believes to be relevant for the purpose of your investigation, you understand that neither the Company nor any of its Representatives or advisors have made or make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the Evaluation Material. You agree that neither the Company nor its Representatives or advisors shall have any liability to you or any of your affiliates or Representatives resulting from the use of the Evaluation Material. At any time, upon written request by the Company, you shall promptly redeliver to the Company all written Evaluation Material and any other written material containing or reflecting any information in the Evaluation Material (whether prepared by the Company, its advisors or otherwise) and will not retain any copies, extracts or other reproductions in whole or in part of such written material. All documents, memoranda, notes and other writings whatsoever prepared by you or your advisors based on the information in the Evaluation Material prepared by you shall be destroyed, and such destruction shall be certified in writing to the Company by an authorized officer supervising such destruction. For a period of two years from the date hereof, you agree that you and your affiliates will not, directly or indirectly, hire or seek to hire any employees of the Company. whose identity becomes known to you or your Representatives in connection with evaluating a possible Transaction, provided that Ceridian Corporation Page Four nothing herein shall prevent you from hiring any person who responds to a general media advertisement or a non-directed search inquiry, or who makes an unsolicited contact for employment. It is agreed that no failure or delay by the Company in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power or privilege. The Company, without prejudice to any rights to judicial relief it may otherwise have, shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, including injunction, in the event of any breach or potential breach of the provisions of this Agreement. You agree that you will not oppose the granting of such relief on the basis that the Company has an adequate remedy at law. You also agree that you will not seek and agree to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of a bond in connection with the Company's seeking or obtaining such relief. You agree that unless and until a definitive agreement between the Company and you with respect to any Transaction has been executed and delivered, neither the Company nor you will be under any legal obligation of any kind whatsoever with respect to such a Transaction by virtue of this or any written or oral expression with respect to such a Transaction by any of our respective Representatives thereof except for the matters specifically agreed to herein. The agreement set forth in this paragraph may be modified or waived only by a separate writing by the Company and you expressly so modifying or waiving such agreement. It is understood and agreed that if any provision contained in this Agreement or the application thereof to you, the Company, or any other person or circumstance shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained in this Agreement, or the application of such provisions to such persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby. In the case of any such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, the parties hereto 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. This Agreement shall benefit and bind your successors and assigns and the successors and assigns of the Company. Any assignment of this Agreement by you without prior written consent of the Company shall be void. This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. Ceridian Corporation Page Five Very truly yours, ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. By /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co. -------------------------------------- Goldman, Sachs & Co. on behalf of ABR Information Services, Inc. Confirmed and Agreed to: CERIDIAN CORPORATION By: /s/ A. Reid Shaw -------------------------- Date: February 4, 1999 ------------------------
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