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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and between
INTERCONTINENTALEXCHANGE INC.,
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, INC.
and
CFC ACQUISITION CO.
Dated as of September 14, 2006
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of September 14,
2006, is by and among IntercontinentalExchange, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("ICE"),
CFC Acquisition Co., a Delaware corporation ("Merger Sub") and Board of Trade of
the City of New York, Inc., a New York not-for-profit corporation ("NYBOT").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, in accordance with and subject to the New York Not-For-Profit Corporation
Law (the "N-PCL") and the bylaws of NYBOT, all record owners of regular memberships
in NYBOT other than NYBOT and its Subsidiaries (the "Members") own (i) Equity Memberships
(as defined under the bylaws and rules of NYBOT) (the "Membership Interests") and
(ii) Trading Rights (as hereinafter defined) associated with such Membership Interests;
WHEREAS, ICE desires to acquire all of the Membership Interests on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and to leave certain Trading
Rights outstanding and exercisable from and after the Effective Time through the
Surviving Corporation (as hereinafter defined) on the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Bylaws and the Rules (as hereinafter defined);
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of ICE, Merger Sub and NYBOT have each determined
that it is advisable and in the best interests of their respective members (in the
case of NYBOT) and stockholders (in the case of ICE and Merger Sub) to consummate,
and have approved, the business combination transaction provided for herein in which
NYBOT would merge with and into Merger Sub and Merger Sub would continue to be a
wholly owned subsidiary of ICE (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, it is intended that, for United States federal income tax purposes,
the Merger shall qualify as a "reorganization" under the provisions of Section 368(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and
WHEREAS, each of ICE and NYBOT desires 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
Formation of Surviving Corporation
1.1. Organization of the Surviving Corporation. The certificate of incorporation
(the "Charter") of Merger Sub (the "Surviving Corporation") and the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation (the "Bylaws") shall be substantially in the forms attached
hereto as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectively. Promptly after the date hereof,
and in any event prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to the Members,
ICE and NYBOT shall cooperate to prepare a draft of the rules of the Surviving Corporation
(the "Rules"); provided, however, that such draft Rules shall be identical to the
rules of NYBOT as in effect as of the date of this Agreement with only such changes
as are reasonably necessary to conform such Rules to the Bylaws and this Agreement
and such other changes as the parties mutually agree. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
ICE may (but shall not be required to) modify or amend the Charter, Bylaws and/or
the Rules, subject to the restrictions contained in Article XVI of the Bylaws, in
response to requirements imposed by, or comments received from, the Commodities
Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") or its staff or any other governmental authority
with lawful jurisdiction without the consent of NYBOT after giving NYBOT notice
of such proposed modification or amendment, unless, within five business days of
receiving such notice, NYBOT notifies ICE that it has determined in good faith that
the modifications or amendments are reasonably likely to have a material adverse
effect on the Surviving Corporation.
1.2. Directors of the Surviving Corporation.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, each of the members of the Board of Directors
of the Surviving Corporation shall be appointed by ICE, subject to compliance by
ICE with all applicable legal, regulatory and listing requirements relating to the
composition of the Surviving Corporations Board of Directors and subject to Section
1.2(b). Each such director shall remain in office until his or her successors are
duly elected or appointed, as the case may be, and qualified in accordance with
the Charter, the Bylaws and applicable Law or until his or her earlier death, resignation
or removal in accordance with the Charter and the Bylaws.
(b) As of the Effective Time, ICE shall elect, as members of the Board of Directors
of the Surviving Corporation, the individuals identified in Annex 1.2(b)(x). ICE
shall take all requisite action to ensure that two of the individuals (determined
in ICEs discretion) identified in Annex 1.2(b)(y) (the "NYBOT Designees") shall
serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation for one
two-year term from and after the Effective Time.
(c) As of the Effective Time, ICE shall take all requisite action to ensure that
four of the individuals (determined in ICEs discretion) identified in Annex 1.2(b)(y)
(the "Public Directors") shall serve as members of the Board of Directors of the
Surviving Corporation for four one-year terms from and after the Effective Time.
1.3. Officers of the Surviving Corporation. At the Effective Time, ICE shall
cause the officers and directors of NYBOT immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than the Chief Executive Officer of NYBOT) to be the executive officers of
the Surviving Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer of Merger Sub prior to the
Effective Time shall become the Chief Executive Officer of the Surviving Corporation.
Each officer of the Surviving Corporation shall remain in office until his or her
successor is duly appointed in accordance with the Bylaws and applicable Law or
until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter
and the Bylaws.
ARTICLE II
The Merger
2.1. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, at the Effective Time, NYBOT shall be merged with and into the Surviving
Corporation, and the separate corporate existence of NYBOT shall thereupon cease.
The Surviving Corporation shall be the surviving entity in the Merger and shall
continue its existence under the laws of the State of Delaware, with all its rights,
privileges, immunities, powers and franchises. After the Merger, the Surviving Corporation
shall continue to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of ICE. The Merger shall have the
effects specified in the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the "DGCL")
and the N-PCL.
2.2. Closing. Unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing between ICE and NYBOT,
the closing for the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Sullivan
& Cromwell LLP, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, at 10:00 a.m. on the
last business day (the "Closing Date") of the week in which the last to be fulfilled
or waived of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions
that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment
or waiver of those conditions) shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with this
Agreement, unless another time, date or place is agreed to in writing.
2.3. Effective Time.
(a) As soon as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable
Law) of the conditions set forth in Article VII, on the Closing Date, the parties
shall file or deliver, as appropriate, the Certificates of Merger with or to the
Secretary of State of Delaware and with the Department of State of New York in such
form as is required by and executed and acknowledged in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the N-PCL and DGCL, as appropriate, and make all other filings or
recordings required under the N-PCL and DGCL, as appropriate.
(b) The Merger shall become effective at (i) the date and time on which a certificate
of merger relating to the Merger (the "Delaware Certificate of Merger") is duly
filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware as required to effect such merger
and a certificate of merger relating to the Merger (the "New York Certificate of
Merger" and, together with the Delaware Certificate of Merger, the "Certificates
of Merger") is duly filed by the Department of State of New York as required to
effect such merger, or (ii) such subsequent time as ICE and NYBOT shall agree and
as shall be specified in the Certificates of Merger (such time that the Merger shall
become effective being the "Effective Time").
ARTICLE III
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
3.1. Certificate of Incorporation. The Charter as in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation, until duly amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.
3.2. Bylaws. The parties hereto shall take all actions necessary so that the
Bylaws in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of
the Surviving Corporation (subject to any mutually agreeable changes to conform
the terminology in the Bylaws and the Rules) until thereafter amended as provided
therein or by applicable Law.
3.3. Rules. The parties hereto shall take all actions necessary so that the draft
Rules as mutually agreed pursuant to Section 1.1 shall be the Rules until thereafter
amended as provided in the Bylaws or by applicable Law.
ARTICLE IV
Effect of the Merger on Membership Interests and Capital Stock
4.1. Effect on Membership Interests. As a result of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder of any Membership Interest:
(a) At the Effective Time, each Membership Interest issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be converted into and constitute
the right to receive, at the election of the Member that is the holder of such Membership
Interest as provided in and subject to the provisions of Section 4.3, either:
(i) (A) 17,025 shares of newly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of ICE ("ICE Common Stock"), plus
(B) at the time and in the manner set forth in Section 4.7, the right to receive
the Per Interest Excess Consideration (as hereinafter defined), if any, plus
(C) the Per Interest Additional Stock Consideration (as hereinafter defined),
if any (collectively, the "Stock Consideration"); or
(ii) (A) the right to receive an amount of cash equal to $1,074,719 plus
(B) at the time and in the manner set forth in Section 4.7, the right to receive
the Per Interest Excess Consideration (as hereinafter defined), if any, plus
(C) the Per Interest Additional Cash Consideration (as hereinafter defined),
if any (collectively, the "Cash Consideration" and, together with the Stock Consideration,
the "Merger Consideration").
(b) From and after the Effective Time, no Membership Interests shall remain outstanding,
in treasury or authorized but unissued, and all Membership Interests shall be cancelled
and retired and shall cease to exist. Each entry in the Member records of NYBOT
formerly representing an issued and outstanding Membership Interest (a "Book Entry
Interest") shall thereafter represent only (i) the right to receive the Merger Consideration,
(ii) the right, if any, to receive pursuant to Section 4.4(e) cash in lieu of fractional
shares and (iii) the right to receive any distribution or dividend pursuant to Section
4.4(c), if any.
(c) Each right to execute trades in Commodity Contracts (as defined in NYBOTs
rules as of the date of this Agreement) on the Exchange (as defined in NYBOTs rules
as of the date of this Agreement), whether granted as a Trading Permit (as defined
in NYBOTs rules as of the date of this Agreement), belonging to a Membership Interest,
a Lessee Member (as hereinafter defined), or as otherwise shall have been in existence
(a "Trading Right") shall be and become, automatically at the Effective Time, solely
the right and privilege to trade futures, futures option contracts and similar instruments
on the Exchange (as defined in the Rules) to the extent expressly provided for in,
and subject to, the Bylaws and the Rules.
4.2. Effect on Surviving Corporation Common Stock. At the Effective Time, each
share of Surviving Corporation common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time (the "Surviving Corporation Common Stock") shall remain outstanding
and each certificate therefor shall continue to evidence one share of Surviving
Corporation Common Stock.
4.3. Election Procedures.
(a) An election form and other appropriate and customary transmittal materials
in such form as ICE and NYBOT shall mutually agree (the "Election Form") shall be
mailed on the same date as the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is mailed to the Members
or on such other date as ICE and NYBOT shall mutually agree (the "Mailing Date")
to each Member as of the close of business on the fifth business day prior to the
Mailing Date (the "Election Form Record Date"). Prior to the Mailing Date, ICE shall
appoint, with the reasonable consent of NYBOT, a commercial bank or trust company,
or a Subsidiary thereof, to act as paying and exchange agent under this Agreement
(the "Exchange Agent").
(b) Each Election Form shall (A) permit the Member to specify (i) the number
of Membership Interests, or the percentage of any one or more Membership Interests,
held by such Member with respect to which such Member elects to receive the Stock
Consideration ("Stock Election Shares"), (ii) the number of Membership Interests,
or the percentage of any one or more Membership Interests, held by such Member with
respect to which such Member elects to receive the Cash Consideration ("Cash Election
Shares") and/or (iii) the number of Membership Interests, or the percentage of any
one or more Membership Interests, held by such Member with respect to which such
Member makes no election referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 4.3(b)
("No Election Shares") and (B) indicate that a Member making an election under clause
(A) of this paragraph (b) may do so only with respect to a whole Membership Interest
or a percentage of a Membership Interest representing at least 10%, or any whole
multiple of 10%, of any Membership Interest) . Any Membership Interests with respect
to which the Exchange Agent has not received an effective, properly completed Election
Form on or before 5:00 p.m. on the fifth day before the NYBOT Members Meeting (or
such other time and date as ICE and NYBOT may mutually agree) (the "Election Deadline")
shall also be deemed to be No Election Shares.
(c) ICE shall make available one or more Election Forms as may reasonably be
requested from time to time by any person who becomes a Member between the Election
Form Record Date and the close of business on the business day prior to the Election
Deadline, and NYBOT shall provide to the Exchange Agent all information reasonably
necessary for it to perform as specified herein.
(d) Any such election shall have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent
shall have actually received a properly completed Election Form by the Election
Deadline. An Election Form shall be deemed properly completed only if duly executed
and delivered in accordance with the instructions thereto. Any Election Form may
be revoked or changed by the person submitting such Election Form only by written
notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline. In the event
an Election Form is revoked prior to the Election Deadline, unless a subsequent
properly completed Election Form is submitted and actually received by the Exchange
Agent by the Election Deadline, the Membership Interests represented by such Election
Form shall become No Election Shares. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and
of the Election Form, the Exchange Agent shall have reasonable discretion to determine
whether any election, revocation or change has been properly or timely made and
to disregard immaterial defects in the Election Forms, and any good faith decisions
of the Exchange Agent regarding such matters shall be binding and conclusive. Neither
ICE nor the Exchange Agent shall be under any obligation to notify any person of
any defect in an Election Form.
(e) Within ten business days after the Effective Time, ICE shall cause the Exchange
Agent to effect the allocation among the Members of rights to receive ICE Common
Stock and/or cash in the Merger in accordance with the Election Forms as follows:
(i) Cash Oversubscribed. If the aggregate Cash Consideration that would otherwise
be paid upon the conversion in the Merger of the Cash Election Shares (not taking
into account any cash payable pursuant to Section 4.7 in connection with the Closing
Cash Amount) plus any cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares (the "Cash
Outlay") is greater than (A) $400 million minus (B) the Awarded Cash Consideration
(the "Closing Aggregate Cash Consideration"), then:
(A) all Stock Election Shares and No Election Shares shall be converted into
the right to receive the Stock Consideration, (B) the Exchange Agent shall then
determine, pro rata from among the Cash Election Shares, a sufficient percentage
of Cash Election Shares to receive the Stock Consideration ("Stock Designated Shares")
such that the aggregate cash amount that will be paid in the Merger equals as closely
as practicable the Closing Aggregate Cash Consideration, and all Stock Designated
Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration, and
(C) the Cash Election Shares that are not Stock Designated Shares will be converted
into the right to receive the Cash Consideration.
(ii) Cash Undersubscribed. If the Cash Outlay is less than the Closing Aggregate
Cash Consideration, then:
(A) all Cash Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the
Cash Consideration, (B) the Exchange Agent shall then determine first, pro rata
from among the No Election Shares, and then (if necessary), pro rata from among
the Stock Election Shares, a sufficient percentage of Stock Election Shares to receive
the Cash Consideration ("Cash Designated Shares") such that the aggregate cash amount
that will be paid in the Merger equals as closely as practicable the Closing Aggregate
Cash Consideration, and all Cash Designated Shares shall be converted into the right
to receive the Cash Consideration, and
(C) the Stock Election Shares that are not Cash Designated Shares and the No
Election Shares that are not Cash Designated Shares shall be converted into the
right to receive the Stock Consideration.
(iii) Cash Subscriptions Sufficient. If the Cash Outlay is equal or nearly equal
(as determined by the Exchange Agent) to the Closing Aggregate Cash Consideration,
then subparagraphs (A) and (B) above shall not apply and all Cash Election Shares
shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration and all Stock
Election Shares and No Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive
the Stock Consideration.
(f) The pro ration process to be used by the Exchange Agent shall consist of
such equitable pro ration processes as determined by ICE in accordance with this
Agreement.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, a
sufficient number of Cash Election Shares may be converted into the right to receive
Stock Consideration (including in connection with the Closing Cash Amount), but
only to the extent necessary to secure the tax ruling required by Sections 7.2(c)
and 7.3(c).
4.4. Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. On or prior to the Effective Time, ICE shall deposit, or
cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of holders of record
of Membership Interests as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (i) an amount
of cash sufficient to pay the Closing Aggregate Cash Consideration, and (ii) an
amount of cash sufficient to be paid pursuant to Section 4.4(e) in respect of any
cash in lieu of fractional shares of ICE Common Stock, in each case in exchange
for outstanding Membership Interests upon delivery to the Exchange Agent of instructions
regarding the transfer and cancellation of Book Entry Interests (the "Instructions")
(such cash being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund").
(b) Exchange Procedures. ICE shall cause appropriate transmittal materials, in
such form as reasonably agreed upon by ICE and NYBOT, to be provided by the Exchange
Agent to holders of record of Membership Interests as soon as practicable after
the Effective Time advising such holders of the effectiveness of the Merger and
the procedure for providing the Instructions to the Exchange Agent. Upon the delivery
to the Exchange Agent of the Instructions, the holder of such Book Entry Interests
shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (i) evidence in book entry form
of the issuance of that number of whole shares of ICE Common Stock in respect of
the aggregate Stock Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive pursuant
to Section 4.1(a) and Section 4.3 (after taking into account all Membership Interests
then held by such holder) and (ii) a check in the amount (after giving effect to
any required Tax withholdings) equal to the sum of (x) any cash in lieu of fractional
shares and (y) any cash in respect of the Cash Consideration (after taking into
account all Membership Interests then held by such holder), and the Book Entry Interests
which are the subject of such Instructions shall forthwith be cancelled. No interest
will be paid or accrued on any amount payable upon such transfer and cancellation
of any Book Entry Interests. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Membership
Interests that is not registered in the transfer records of NYBOT, evidence in book
entry form of the issuance of the proper number of shares of ICE Common Stock, together
with a check for any cash to be paid upon the delivery to the Exchange Agent of
the Instructions, may be issued and/or paid to such a transferee if written instructions
authorizing the transfer of any Book Entry Interests are presented to the Exchange
Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer
and to evidence that any applicable stock transfer Taxes have been paid. If any
shares of ICE Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that in which any
Book Entry Interest is registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange that
the Person requesting such exchange shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required
by reason of the issuance of shares of ICE Common Stock in a name other than that
of the registered holder of such Book Entry Interests, or shall establish to the
satisfaction of ICE or the Exchange Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not
applicable.
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 Self-Regulatory Organization or other entity of any kind or nature.
As used in this Agreement, (i) the term "Tax" (including the plural form "Taxes"
and, with correlative meaning, the terms "Taxable" and "Taxation") includes all
U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, windfall 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,
(ii) the term "Tax Return" includes all returns and reports (including elections,
declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns) required
to be filed with a Tax Authority relating to Taxes, and (iii) the term "Tax Authority"
includes any Governmental Entity responsible for the assessment, collection or enforcement
of Laws relating to Taxes (including the IRS and any similar state or local revenue
agency).
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares; Voting.
(i) All shares of ICE Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger shall
be deemed issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time and whenever a dividend
or other distribution is declared by ICE in respect of ICE Common Stock, the record
date for which is at or after the Effective Time, that declaration shall include
dividends or other distributions in respect of all shares issuable pursuant to this
Agreement. No dividends or other distributions in respect of the ICE Common Stock
shall be paid to any holder of any Book Entry Interests until the Instructions have
been delivered to the Exchange Agent. Subject to the effect of applicable Laws,
following delivery to the Exchange Agent of such Instructions, there shall be issued
and/or paid to the holder of shares of ICE Common Stock issued in exchange for Membership
Interests, without interest, (A) promptly after the time of such delivery of such
Instructions, the dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time theretofore payable with respect to such whole shares of ICE Common
Stock and not paid and (B) at the appropriate payment date, the dividends or other
distributions payable with respect to such whole shares of ICE Common Stock with
a record date after the Effective Time but with a payment date subsequent to such
delivery.
(ii) Holders of Book Entry Interests in respect of which such Instructions have
not been delivered shall be entitled to vote after the Effective Time at any meeting
of ICE stockholders the number of whole shares of ICE Common Stock represented by
such Book Entry Interests, regardless of whether such holders have delivered such
Instructions to the Exchange Agent.
(d) Transfers. At or after the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on
the Member records of the Surviving Corporation of the Membership Interests that
were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(e) Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
no fractional shares of ICE Common Stock will be issued and any holder of Membership
Interests entitled to receive a fractional share of ICE Common Stock but for this
Section 4.4(e) shall be entitled to receive a cash payment in lieu thereof, which
payment shall be calculated by the Exchange Agent and shall represent such holders
proportionate interest in net proceeds from the sale by the Exchange Agent on behalf
of all holders of the aggregate fractional shares of ICE Common Stock that such
holders otherwise would be entitled to receive. Any such sale shall be made by the
Exchange Agent within five business days after the date upon which the issuance
of such fractional shares of ICE Common Stock would have otherwise occurred pursuant
to the Instructions received by the Exchange Agent.
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including
the proceeds of any investments thereof) that remains unclaimed by the former Members
of NYBOT for 180 days after the Effective Time shall be delivered to ICE. Any former
Members of NYBOT who have not theretofore complied with this Article IV shall thereafter
look only to ICE for delivery of evidence in book entry form of the issuance of
shares of ICE Common Stock to such stockholders and payment of cash and any dividends
and other distributions in respect of ICE Common Stock of such stockholders payable
and/or issuable pursuant to Sections 4.1(a), 4.4(e) and 4.6 upon delivery to the
Exchange Agent of the Instructions, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, none of ICE, NYBOT, the Surviving Corporation, the Exchange Agent
or any other Person shall be liable to any former holder of Membership Interests
for any amount properly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar Laws.
(g) Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Book Entry Interests
in respect of which instructions for transfer and cancellation have been delivered
to the Exchange Agent for exchange for the Merger Consideration by any Member that
may be deemed to be an "affiliate" (as determined pursuant to Section 6.7 of this
Agreement) of NYBOT shall not be exchanged until ICE has received an Affiliates
Letter from such Person as provided in Section 6.7 of this Agreement.
4.5. Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
if, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the issued and outstanding
shares of ICE Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable
for ICE Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or
a different class by reason of any reclassification, stock split (including a reverse
stock split), stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, redenomination,
issuer tender or exchange offer, or other similar transaction, then the Merger Consideration
shall be equitably adjusted and as so adjusted shall, from and after the date of
such event, be the Merger Consideration.
4.6. Bonus Pool.
(a) Prior to the Mailing Date, NYBOT shall deliver to ICE and the Exchange Agent,
in writing, a schedule (the "Allocation Schedule") setting forth an allocation of
up to an aggregate amount in cash and up to an aggregate number of shares of ICE
Common Stock, in each case as set forth on Annex 4.6, to certain directors and employees
of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries (in the aggregate, the "Bonus Pool"). With respect
to the Bonus Pool, the Allocation Schedule shall identify the full name and such
other identifying information as ICE may reasonably request with respect to each
of the directors and employees of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries that NYBOT desires
to receive a portion of the Bonus Pool, together with details of the amount of cash
(in the aggregate, the "Awarded Cash Consideration" and number of shares of ICE
Common Stock (in the aggregate, the "Awarded Share Number") in the Bonus Pool to
be provided to each such director and employee. If any of the Bonus Pool has not
been allocated to such directors and employees of NYBOT, the amount of (i) any unallocated
cash plus (ii) any unallocated shares of ICE Common Stock shall be allocated to
the Members (the "Members Allocation").
(b) ICE shall cause the Exchange Agent to include in the transmittal materials
to be provided to Members pursuant to Section 4.4(b) a notice of the amount of the
aggregate Members Allocation divided by the number of Membership Interests then
issued and outstanding (the "Per Interest Additional Consideration"). The Per Interest
Additional Consideration shall be payable to the Members in the relative proportions
of cash and shares of ICE Common Stock in which such Member is entitled to receive
the other Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 4.3, taking into account the
Exchange Agents pro ration process pursuant to Section 4.3. The "Per Interest Additional
Cash Consideration" means the cash portion of such Per Interest Additional Consideration.
The "Per Interest Additional Stock Consideration" means the ICE Common Stock portion
of such Per Interest Additional Consideration.
(c) Promptly after the Effective Time, ICE shall cause the Surviving Corporation
to distribute the Awarded Cash Consideration and the Awarded Share Number to the
directors and employees of NYBOT who are employed in such positions as of the Effective
Time and who (other than those listed on Section 4.6(c) of the NYBOT Disclosure
Letter) have executed a non-competition agreement in a form reasonably acceptable
to ICE, substantially similar to ICEs standard non-competition agreements and having
the limits set forth on Section 4.6(c) of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter in accordance
with the Allocation Schedule; provided, however, that in no event shall ICE be required
to distribute the Awarded Cash Consideration or the Awarded Share Number to the
extent such distribution would not be fully deductible by ICE, NYBOT or the Surviving
Corporation under Section 162(m) or Section 280G of the Code and any such Awarded
Cash Consideration or Awarded Share Number not so distributed shall be treated as
Members Allocation and promptly paid to Members using the procedures set forth
in Section 4.6(b) hereof.
4.7. Closing Cash Amount.
(a) Within 30 days after the Closing Date, ICE shall prepare a calculation (the
"Calculation") of the Closing Cash Amount. "Closing Cash Amount" means the aggregate
working capital of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as of the
Closing Date, as determined applying the same principles, practices, methodologies
and policies used in the preparation of the sample calculation set forth on Section
4.7(a) of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter.
(b) The Closing Cash Amount divided by the number of Membership Interests
issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time shall be the "Per Interest Excess
Consideration".
(c) Promptly after ICE prepares the Calculation (and in any event within 30 days
after the Closing Date), ICE shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the former Members
of NYBOT, with respect to each Membership Interest formerly held by each such Member,
the Per Interest Excess Consideration in cash. Any amount payable pursuant to this
Section 4.7(c) shall give effect to any required Tax withholdings. To the extent
ICE elects to engage the Exchange Agent, or any other representative, in connection
with the payments and issuances pursuant to this Section 4.7(c), Section 4.4 will
apply mutatis mutandi to the extent reasonably applicable.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Closing Cash Amount shall be payable in shares of ICE Common Stock (based on a price
per share of ICE Common Stock determined based on the average closing price for
the ten trading days ending on the business day immediately prior to the actual
Closing Cash Amount payment date), but only to the extent necessary to cause the
Merger to be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(e) In the event that the Surviving Corporation, or its successors, assigns or
Affiliates, receives any payment pursuant to Article 35 of the lease set forth on
Section 4.7(e) of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter (the "Lease Payment"), ICE shall pay,
or cause to be paid, to each holder of a NYBOT Membership (as defined in the Bylaws)
existing as of the date of any such Lease Payment, an amount equal to 60% of such
Lease Payment divided by the total number of such NYBOT Memberships. Any amount
payable pursuant to this Section 4.7(e) shall give effect to any required Tax withholdings.
To the extent ICE elects to engage any representative in connection with payments
pursuant to this Section 4.7(e), Section 4.4 will apply mutatis mutandi to
the extent reasonably applicable.
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties
5.1. Representations and Warranties of NYBOT. Except as set forth in the corresponding
sections or subsections of the disclosure letter dated as of the date hereof, delivered
to ICE by NYBOT on or prior to entering into this Agreement (the "NYBOT Disclosure
Letter"), or in such other section or subsection of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter
where the applicability of such exception is reasonably apparent, NYBOT hereby represents
and warrants to ICE as set forth in this Section 5.1. The mere inclusion of any
item in the NYBOT Disclosure Letter as an exception to a representation or warranty
of NYBOT in this Agreement shall not be deemed to be an admission that such item
is a material exception, fact, event or circumstance, or that such item, individually
or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably expected to have, a NYBOT Material
Adverse Effect or trigger any other materiality qualification.
(a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. NYBOT is a Type A not-for-profit
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the N-PCL.
Each of NYBOTs Subsidiaries is a corporation or limited liability company duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective
jurisdiction of organization. Each of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries 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 assets or properties or conduct of its business requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so organized, existing and in
good standing or to have such power or authority when taken together with all other
such failures, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and is not reasonably
expected to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect. NYBOT has made available to ICE
a complete and correct copy of the NYBOT Organizational Documents and NYBOT Subsidiary
Organizational Documents, in effect as of the date hereof. The NYBOT Organizational
Documents and the NYBOT Subsidiary Organizational Documents so delivered are in
full force and effect.
"NYBOT Organizational Documents" means the articles of incorporation, bylaws
and rules of NYBOT.
"NYBOT Subsidiary Organizational Documents" means the certificates of incorporation,
bylaws, rules and similar organizational documents of all Subsidiaries of NYBOT.
"NYBOT Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the business,
results of operations or financial condition of (x) NYBOT and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or (y) NYBOT Clearing Corporation, or (b) the ability of NYBOT
to consummate the Merger in accordance with the terms of this Agreement prior to
the Termination Date; provided, however, that the following shall not be considered
in determining whether a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (A) any change
or development in economic, business or commodities exchange conditions generally
to the extent that such change or development does not affect NYBOT and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or NYBOT Clearing Corporation, separately, in a materially disproportionate
manner relative to other commodities exchanges; (B) any change or development to
the extent resulting from the execution or announcement of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby; (C) any change or development to the extent proximately
resulting from any action or omission by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries that is
required by this Agreement; (D) the announcement, commencement or continuation of
any war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of any act or acts of terrorism;
or (E) any effect arising from or relating to any change in United States generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") or any change in applicable laws, rules
or regulations or the interpretation thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any party, a Person of which at least a majority
of the securities or ownership interests thereof having by their terms 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.
(b) Memberships and Trading Rights.
(i) As of September 12, 2006, there are 967 issued and outstanding Membership
Interests, all of which are held by Members. As of September 12, 2006, 292 of the
Membership Interests have been leased by a "Lessor" (as such term is defined in
NYBOTs rules) (such lessor, a "Lessor Member") to a "Lessee" (as such term is defined
in NYBOTs rules) (such lessee, a "Lessee Member") pursuant to a lease agreement
(each, a "Membership Lease"). As of September 12, 2006, there are issued and outstanding
123 option trading permits, 483 FINEX trading permits and 125 FINEX European trading
permits (the holders thereof, the "Trading Permit Holders"). Section 5.1(b)(i) of
the NYBOT Disclosure Letter sets forth true and complete lists, as of September
12, 2006, of each of the following: all Members, Lessor Members, Lessee Members,
Member Firms as defined in NYBOTs rules in effect as of the date of this Agreement,
Clearing Members (as hereinafter defined) and Trading Permit Holders (collectively,
the "Members/Holders"). Except as set forth in the NYBOT Organizational Documents
or the NYBOT Subsidiary Organizational Documents, NYBOT and its Subsidiaries are
not parties to any agreements with, and have not granted any rights to, waived any
rights for the benefit of or taken any similar action with respect to, any Members/Holders.
The only rights or entitlements of any Member/Holder with respect to NYBOT and its
Subsidiaries are those rights and entitlements provided for in the NYBOT Organizational
Documents or the NYBOT Subsidiary Organizational Documents, respectively.
(ii) All of the outstanding Membership Interests in NYBOT have been duly authorized
and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Section 5.1(b)(ii) of the
NYBOT Disclosure Letter contains a correct and complete list of all Subsidiaries
of NYBOT, and each jurisdiction where NYBOT and each of its Subsidiaries is organized
and qualified to do business. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock or
other securities of each of the NYBOTs Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and owned by NYBOT or by a direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiary of NYBOT, free and clear of any lien, pledge, security interest,
claim or other encumbrance.
(iii) Except as set forth above, there are no preemptive or other outstanding
rights, options, phantom equity, warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation
rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements, calls, commitments
or rights of any kind that obligate NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries to issue or
sell any Membership Interests or Trading Rights, shares of capital stock or other
securities of NYBOT 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 Membership Interests or other securities of NYBOT
or any of its Subsidiaries, or Trading Rights, and no securities or obligations
evidencing such rights are authorized, issued or outstanding. NYBOT 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 Members or holders of any other equity interests in
NYBOT on any matter. Except as set forth above, (i) there are no Trading Rights,
similar permits or trading rights that will permit any Person to trade on NYBOT,
the Surviving Corporation or any Affiliate of the Surviving Corporation outstanding
and (ii) no Person, other than each Member, is entitled to any Merger Consideration.
Except as set forth in the NYBOT Subsidiary Organizational Documents of NYBOT Clearing
Corporation, no Person has any right to clear through NYBOT Clearing Corporation.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with that Person. As used in this definition, "control" (including,
with correlative meanings, "controlled by" and "under common control with") shall
mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of management or policies of a Person (whether through ownership of securities
or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise).
(c) Corporate Authority.
(i) NYBOT has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate
action necessary in order to authorize, execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under this Agreement, and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby (including all actions by the Board of Directors of NYBOT set forth in clause
(ii)(A) and (B) below), subject only to the adoption and approval of this Agreement
by two-thirds of the votes cast by the Members entitled to vote thereon at a meeting
at which a quorum is present (the "NYBOT Requisite Vote"). This Agreement is a valid
and binding agreement of NYBOT, enforceable against NYBOT in accordance with its
terms, subject, as to enforcement, to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception (as hereinafter
defined).
(ii) The Board of Directors of NYBOT: (A) has approved, adopted and declared
advisable this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby and (B)
has received the opinion of its financial advisor, Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin,
to the effect that the Merger Consideration is fair from a financial point of view,
as of the date of such opinion, to the Members, a copy of which opinion has been
delivered to NYBOT.
(d) No Conflicts.
(i) (A) Neither the execution and delivery by NYBOT of this Agreement, the compliance
by it with all of the provisions of and the performance by it of its obligations
under this Agreement, nor the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
herein contemplated by this Agreement will conflict with, or result in a breach
or violation of, or result in any acceleration of any rights or obligations or the
payment of any penalty under or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest
or other encumbrance on assets (with or without the giving of notice or the lapse
of time) pursuant to, or permit any other party any improvement in rights with respect
to or permit it to exercise, or otherwise constitute a default under, any provision
of any Contract in effect as of the date hereof, or result in any change in the
rights or obligations of any party under any Contract in effect as of the date hereof,
to which NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which NYBOT or any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets is bound, (B) nor, subject to
any required approval of the Merger by the CFTC, will such execution and delivery,
compliance, performance or consummation (x) result in any breach or violation of,
or a default under, the provisions of (i) the NYBOT Organizational Documents or
the NYBOT Subsidiary Organizational Documents, or (ii) any U.S. federal, state,
local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, injunction,
decree, arbitration award, agency requirement, writ, franchise, variance, exemption,
approval, license or permit (each, a "Law" and collectively "Laws") or Permit applicable
to it, or (y) to the knowledge of NYBOT, subject NYBOT or any Subsidiaries of NYBOT,
ICE or any Subsidiaries of ICE, or any of their respective Affiliates, to any claim
of, or any liability or obligation with respect to, any Member, any Lessee Member,
any Trading Permit Holder or any Person having the right to clear through NYBOT
Clearing Corporation, other than as set forth in this Agreement, or to any penalty
or sanction, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) above, except for such conflicts,
breaches, violations, defaults, payments, accelerations, creations or changes that
(other than with respect to clause (B)(x)(i) above), individually or in the aggregate,
have not had and are not reasonably expected to have, a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) (A) Neither the implementation by the Surviving Corporation or any of its
Affiliates of electronic trading after the Closing in accordance with the Bylaws
nor the clearing by NYBOT Clearing Corporation of products of ICE and its Affiliates
that are not currently cleared through NYBOT Clearing Corporation will conflict
with, or result in a breach or violation of, or result in any acceleration of any
rights or obligations or the payment of any penalty under or the creation of a lien,
pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on assets (with or without the giving
of notice or the lapse of time) pursuant to, or permit any other party any improvement
in rights with respect to or permit it to exercise, or otherwise constitute a default
under, any provision of any Contract in effect as of the date hereof, or result
in any change in the rights or obligations of any party under any Contract in effect
as of the date hereof, to which NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets is bound,
and (B) nor, to the knowledge of NYBOT, will such implementation or clearing subject
NYBOT or any Subsidiaries of NYBOT, ICE or any Subsidiaries of ICE, or any of their
respective Affiliates, to any claim of, or any liability or obligation with respect
to, any Member, any Lessee Member, any Trading Permit Holder or any Person having
the right to clear through NYBOT Clearing Corporation, or to any penalty or sanction.
"Contract" means, with respect to any Person, any agreement, indenture, loan
agreement, undertaking, note or other debt instrument, contract, lease, mortgage,
deed of trust, permit, license, understanding, arrangement, commitment or other
obligation to which such Person or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which
any of them may be bound or to which any of their properties may be subject.
(e) Governmental Approvals and Consents. Other than (i) the filings and/or notices
under the HSR Act (as hereinafter defined), (ii) the filings, notices, approvals
and/or consents to be obtained from the CFTC and under the Commodity Exchange Act,
as amended, and (iii) other foreign approvals, state securities, takeover and "blue
sky" laws, no authorizations, consents, approvals, orders, permits, notices, reports,
filings, registrations, qualifications and exemptions of, with or from, or other
actions are required to be made by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries with, or obtained
by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries from, any Governmental Entity (as hereinafter
defined) or Self-Regulatory Organization in connection with the execution and delivery
by NYBOT of this Agreement, the performance by NYBOT of its obligations hereunder,
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Self-Regulatory Organization" shall mean any
U.S. or foreign commission, board, agency or body that is not a Governmental Entity
but is charged with the supervision or regulation of brokers, dealers, securities
underwriting or trading, stock exchanges, commodities exchanges, ECNs, insurance
companies or agents, investment companies or investment advisers.
(f) NYBOT Reports; Financial Statements. NYBOT has made available to ICE its
annual reports and proxy statements delivered to its Members since December 31,
2004 (collectively, the "NYBOT Reports"). Neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries
files with any Governmental Entity or Self-Regulatory Organization any NYBOT Report.
As of their respective dates (or if amended, as of the date of such amendment),
the NYBOT Reports did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made,
not misleading. NYBOT has delivered to ICE true and complete copies of the audited
consolidated financial statements of NYBOT for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005 (the "NYBOT Audited Financial Statements") and the unaudited consolidated financial
statements of NYBOT for the six months ended June 30, 2006 (the "NYBOT Interim Financial
Statements" and, together with the NYBOT Audited Financial Statements, the "NYBOT
Financial Statements"). NYBOT has delivered to ICE a true and complete copy of the
unaudited management report of NYBOT for the month ended July 31, 2006 (the "Management
Report"). Each of the consolidated balance sheets included in the NYBOT Financial
Statements and the Management Report (including the related notes and schedules)
fairly presents the consolidated financial position of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
as of its date and each of the consolidated statements of revenues, expenses, changes
in members equity and cash flows included in the NYBOT Financial Statements and
the Management Report (including any related notes and schedules) fairly presents
the results of operations, members equity and cash flows, as the case may be, of
NYBOT and its Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein, in each case in conformity
with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except as may be noted
therein. Except for liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of business since December 31, 2005, neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries has
any liabilities or obligations of any nature required by GAAP to be set forth on
a consolidated balance sheet of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries or in the notes
thereto which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to
have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect. The NYBOT Financial Statements and the Management
Report have been compiled from, and were prepared in accordance with, the books
and records of NYBOT and its Affiliates. The books and records of NYBOT and its
Affiliates are true, complete and correct in all material respects and have been
maintained in accordance with sound business practices. NYBOT has designed and maintained
a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances
regarding the reliability of financial reports and the preparation of annual financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.
(g) Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 2005, NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
have conducted their respective businesses only in, and have not engaged in any
material transaction other than according to, the ordinary and usual course of such
businesses and there has not been (i) any change or development that, individually
or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably expected to have, a NYBOT Material
Adverse Effect; (ii) any material damage, destruction or other casualty loss with
respect to any material asset or property owned, leased or otherwise used by NYBOT
or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not covered by insurance; or (iii) any change
by NYBOT in financial accounting principles, practices or methods that is not required
by GAAP. Since December 31, 2005, except as provided for herein, there has not been
any increase in the compensation payable or that could become payable by NYBOT or
any of its Subsidiaries to officers or key employees or any amendment of or other
modification to any of the NYBOT Benefit Plans other than increases or amendments
in the ordinary and usual course consistent with past practice.
(h) Compliance. The businesses of NYBOT and each of its Subsidiaries have been
conducted in compliance in all material respects with all Laws and the applicable
rules of any Self-Regulatory Organization. Neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries
is in conflict with, or in default or violation of, any Contract to which NYBOT
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries
or its or any of their respective properties is bound or affected, except for any
such conflicts, defaults or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, have
not had and are not reasonably expected to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect.
No investigation, review, audit or similar procedure by any Governmental Entity
or any Self-Regulatory Organization with respect to NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries
is pending or, to the knowledge of NYBOT, threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity
or any Self-Regulatory Organization indicated an intention to conduct the same,
except, in each case, for those the outcome of which, individually or in the aggregate,
have not had and are not reasonably expected to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect.
Except as, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably expected to have
a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect, (x) no material change is required in NYBOTs or
any of its Subsidiaries processes, properties or procedures to comply with any
Laws in effect on the date hereof or enacted as of the date hereof and scheduled
to be effective after the date hereof, and (y) NYBOT has not received any written
notice or written communication of any noncompliance with any Laws and no Governmental
Entity has otherwise identified any instance in which NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries
is or may be in violation of applicable Laws. Each of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
has all permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders and other authorizations,
consents and approvals (together, "Permits") of all Governmental Entities and Self-Regulatory
Organizations necessary to conduct its business as presently conducted, except where
the failure to have such Permits, individually or in the aggregate, has not had
and is not reasonably expected to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Litigation and Liabilities. There are no (i) civil, criminal or administrative
actions, suits, claims, hearings, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of NYBOT, threatened against NYBOT, any of its Subsidiaries or any of
their respective directors or officers, or (ii) obligations or liabilities, whether
or not accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether or not required to be disclosed,
including those relating to, or any other facts or circumstances of which, to the
knowledge of NYBOT, could result in any claims against, or obligations or liabilities
of, NYBOT or any of its Affiliates, except, in both cases, for those that, individually
or in the aggregate, have not had and are not reasonably expected to have a NYBOT
Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Employee Benefits.
(i) All benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies or arrangements covering
current or former employees of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries (the "NYBOT Employees")
and current or former directors of NYBOT, in each case sponsored, maintained or
contributed to by NYBOT or its Subsidiaries or with respect to which NYBOT or its
Subsidiaries may have any liability, including, but not limited to, "employee benefit
plans" within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and deferred compensation, severance, stock option,
stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, stock based, incentive and bonus plans
(the "NYBOT Benefit Plans") are listed in Section 5.1(j) of the NYBOT Disclosure
Letter, and each NYBOT Benefit Plan which has received a favorable opinion letter
or favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service National Office,
including any master or prototype plan, has been separately identified. True and
complete copies of all NYBOT Benefit Plans, including, but not limited to, any trust
instruments, insurance contracts and, with respect to any employee stock ownership
plan, loan agreements forming a part of any NYBOT Benefit Plans, and all amendments
thereto, have been provided or made available to ICE.
(ii) All NYBOT Benefit Plans, other than "multiemployer plans" within the meaning
of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each, an "NYBOT Multiemployer Plan") are in substantial
compliance with ERISA and the Code and other applicable Laws. Each NYBOT Benefit
Plan which is subject to ERISA (an "NYBOT ERISA Plan") that is an "employee pension
benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (an "NYBOT Pension Plan")
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, either (A) has received
a favorable determination letter from the IRS covering all Tax law changes prior
to the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 or has applied
to the IRS for such favorable determination letter within the applicable remedial
amendment period under Section 401(b) of the Code, and NYBOT is not aware of any
circumstances likely to result in the loss of the qualification of any such NYBOT
Pension Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, or (B) is entitled to rely upon an
opinion letter issued to the sponsor of a prototype plan. Neither NYBOT nor any
of its Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction with respect to any NYBOT ERISA
Plan that, assuming the Taxable period of such transaction expired as of the date
hereof, could subject NYBOT or any Subsidiary to a material Tax or penalty imposed
by either Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA in an amount which
would be material. Neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred or reasonably
expects to incur a Tax or penalty imposed by Section 4980 of the Code or Section
502 of ERISA or any material liability under Section 4071 of ERISA.
(iii) No liability under Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA has been or is
expected to be incurred by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any
ongoing, frozen or terminated "single-employer plan", within the meaning of Section
4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly maintained by any of them, or the single-employer
plan of any entity which is considered one employer with NYBOT under Section 4001
of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (a "NYBOT ERISA Affiliate"). NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
have not incurred and do not expect to incur any withdrawal liability with respect
to a NYBOT Multiemployer Plan under Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA (regardless
of whether based on contributions of a NYBOT ERISA Affiliate). No notice of a "reportable
event", within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which the reporting requirement
has not been waived or extended, other than pursuant to Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation ("PBGC") Reg. Section 4043.33 or 4043.66, has been required to be filed
for any NYBOT Pension Plan or by any NYBOT ERISA Affiliate within the 12-month period
ending on the date hereof or will be required to be filed in connection with the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement. No notices have been required to be
sent to participants and beneficiaries or the PBGC under Section 302 or 4011 of
ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, including Section 412(m).
(iv) All contributions required to be made under each NYBOT Benefit Plan, as
of the date hereof, have been timely made and all obligations in respect of each
NYBOT Benefit Plan have been properly accrued and reflected in the NYBOT Financial
Statements except for contributions that individually or in the aggregate would
not be material. Neither any NYBOT Pension Plan nor any single-employer plan of
a NYBOT ERISA Affiliate has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (whether or not
waived) within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and
no NYBOT ERISA Affiliate has an outstanding funding waiver. Neither any NYBOT Pension
Plan nor any single-employer plan of a NYBOT ERISA Affiliate has been required to
file information pursuant to Section 4010 of ERISA for the current or most recently
completed plan year. It is not reasonably anticipated that required minimum contributions
to any NYBOT Pension Plan under Section 412 of the Code will be increased by application
of Section 412(l) of the Code. Neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries has provided,
or is required to provide, security to any NYBOT Pension Plan or to any single-employer
plan of a NYBOT ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.
(v) Under each NYBOT Pension Plan which is a single-employer plan, as of 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 such NYBOT Pension Plans most recent actuarial
valuation), did not exceed the then current value of the assets of such NYBOT Pension
Plan, and there has been no change in the financial condition, whether or not as
a result of a change in the funding method, of such NYBOT Pension Plan since the
last day of the most recent plan year that would reasonably be expected to have
a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect.
(vi) As of the date hereof, there is no material pending or, to the knowledge
of NYBOT threatened, litigation relating to NYBOT Benefit Plans. Neither NYBOT nor
any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations for retiree health and life benefits
under any NYBOT ERISA Plan or collective bargaining agreement (other than COBRA
continuation coverage pursuant to applicable Law). NYBOT or its Subsidiaries may
amend or terminate any such plan at any time without incurring any liability thereunder
other than in respect of claims incurred prior to such amendment or termination.
(vii) There has been no amendment to, announcement by NYBOT or any of its
Subsidiaries relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under,
any NYBOT Benefit Plan which would increase materially the expense of maintaining
such plan above the level of the expense incurred therefor for the most recent fiscal
year. Neither the execution of this Agreement, Member approval of this Agreement
nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (A) entitle any
NYBOT Employees to severance pay or any increase in severance pay upon any termination
of employment after the date hereof, (B) accelerate the time of payment or vesting
or result in any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of compensation
or benefits under, increase the amount payable or result in any other material obligation
pursuant to, any of the NYBOT Benefit Plans, (C) limit or restrict the right of
NYBOT or, after the consummation of the Merger or any other transactions contemplated
hereby, ICE or any of its Subsidiaries to merge, amend or terminate any of the NYBOT
Benefit Plans or (D) result in payments under any of NYBOT Benefit Plans which would
not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.
(k) Tax Matters. Neither NYBOT nor any of its Affiliates has taken or agreed to take
any action, nor, to the knowledge of NYBOT, does there exist any fact or circumstance,
that would prevent or impede, or would be reasonably likely to prevent or impede,
the Merger from qualifying as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code.
(l) Taxes.
(i) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect: (A) all Tax Returns that are required to
be filed by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into
account any extension of time within which to file), and all such Tax Returns are
true and complete; (B) all Taxes that are shown as due on such filed Tax Returns
or that NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from amounts
owing to any NYBOT Employee, creditor or third party have been timely paid, except
with respect to matters for which adequate reserves have been established; (C) neither
NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries have waived any statute of limitations with respect
to Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or
deficiency; (D) all Taxes due and payable by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries have
been adequately provided for in the financial statements of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
for all periods ending through the date hereof (including the NYBOT Financial Statements)
and, as of the date hereof, no material deficiency with respect to any Tax has been
proposed, asserted or assessed against NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries; (E) neither
NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted a "distributing corporation" or
a "controlled corporation" (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code)
in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section
355 of the Code in the three years prior to the date of this Agreement; and (F)
none of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries has any liability for Taxes of any Person
(other than NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation §1.1502-6
(or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor,
by contract, or otherwise.
(ii) No claim has been made by a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where NYBOT
or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries
is or may be subject to Taxation in that jurisdiction.
(iii) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreements
or rulings have been entered into or issued by any Taxing Authority with respect
to NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries for any taxable year for which the statute of
limitations has not yet expired.
(iv) None of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries will be required, as a result of
(A) a change in accounting method for a Tax period beginning on or before the Closing,
to include any material adjustment under Section 481(c) of the Code (or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign Law) in Taxable income for any Tax period beginning
on or after the Closing Date, or (B) any "closing agreement" as described in Section
7121 of the Code (or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), to include
any material item of income in or exclude any material item of deduction from any
Tax period beginning on or after the Closing Date;
(v) None of NYBOT or any Subsidiary has engaged in any transactions that is a
"reportable transaction" for purposes of § 1.6011-4(b).
(vi) Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Merger
or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, either alone or in conjunction
with any other event, will result in any payment under any compensation plans or
otherwise which alone or together with all other payments would constitute a "parachute
payment" to any "disqualified individual" as those terms are defined in Section
280G of the Code (whether or not such payment is considered to be reasonable compensation
for services rendered).
(m) Labor Matters.
(i) There are no collective bargaining agreements binding on NYBOT or any of
its Subsidiaries.
(ii) None of the NYBOT Employees is represented by a labor union, and, to the
knowledge of NYBOT, no petition has been filed, nor has any proceeding been instituted
by any NYBOT Employee or group of NYBOT Employees with any labor relations board
or commission seeking recognition of a collective bargaining representative.
(iii) To the knowledge of NYBOT, (a) there is no organizational effort currently
being made or threatened by or on behalf of any labor organization or trade union
to organize any NYBOT Employees, and (b) no demand for recognition of any NYBOT
Employees has been made by or on behalf of any labor organization or trade union
in the past five (5) years.
(iv) There has been no pending or, to the knowledge of NYBOT, threatened employee
strike, work stoppage, slowdown, picketing or material labor dispute with respect
to any NYBOT Employees in the past five (5) years.
(v) NYBOT and its Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) are and for the past
five years have been in compliance in all material respects with (i) all federal
and state laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions
of employment, collective bargaining, immigration, wages, hours and benefits, non-discrimination
in employment, workers compensation and the collection and payment of withholding
and/or payroll taxes and similar taxes, including but not limited to the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Equal Employment
Opportunity Act of 1972, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the
Equal Pay Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990, the Vietnam Era Veterans Reemployment Act, and any and all similar
applicable state and local laws; and (ii) all material applicable requirements of
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 within the United States and comparable
regulations and orders thereunder; and (b) are not, and for the past five years
have not been, engaged in any unfair labor practice.
(vi) There is no charge pending or, to the knowledge of NYBOT, threatened before
any court or agency alleging unlawful discrimination in employment practices or
any unfair labor practice by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries.
(vii) During the preceding two years, (i) neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries
has effectuated a "plant closing" (as defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act (the "WARN Act") affecting any site of employment or one or more
facilities or operating units within any site of employment or facility, (ii) there
has not occurred a "mass layoff" (as defined in the WARN Act) in connection with
NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries affecting any site of employment or one or more
facilities or operating units within any site of employment or facility, and (iii)
neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries has been affected by any transaction or
engaged in layoffs or employment terminations sufficient in number to trigger application
of any similar state, local or foreign law.
(n) Insurance. All insurance policies maintained by NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
provide coverage for those risks reasonably foreseeable with respect to the business
of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries, and their respective properties and assets as is
customary for companies conducting the business conducted by NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
during such time period, are in character and amount at least equivalent to industry
standards for similar businesses, of a similar size, and subject to the same or
similar perils or hazards, and are sufficient for compliance with all Laws currently
applicable to NYBOT and its Subsidiaries. None of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries
has received any notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any insurance
policy of NYBOT or its Subsidiaries. The insurance policies of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
are valid and enforceable policies in all respects. No claims have been made under
NYBOTs directors and officers liability insurance policies since December 31,
2002, and, as of the date of this Agreement, no such claims are pending.
(o) Intellectual Property.
(i) For the purposes of this Agreement, (i) "Intellectual Property" means all
inventions (whether patentable or not), discoveries, patents, patent applications,
registered and unregistered trademarks and service marks and all goodwill associated
therewith and symbolized thereby, trademark applications and service mark applications,
Internet domain names, registered and unregistered copyrights (including without
limitation databases and other compilations of information), confidential information,
trade secrets and know-how, including processes, schematics, business methods, formulae,
drawings, prototypes, models, designs, customer lists and supplier lists, computer
software programs, and all other intellectual property and proprietary rights; and
(ii) "IT Assets" means computers, computer software, firmware, middleware, servers,
workstations, routers, hubs, switches, data communications lines, and all other
information technology equipment and elements, and all associated documentation,
used in the businesses of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.
(ii) Except as has not had or is not reasonably expected to have a NYBOT Material
Adverse Effect, (A) NYBOT or at least one of its Subsidiaries is sole and exclusive
owner of, is licensed under or otherwise possesses sufficient and legally enforceable
rights to practice or otherwise use all Intellectual Property which is necessary
to the operation of the business of NYBOT as currently conducted (the "NYBOT Intellectual
Property"), (B) all such licenses and legally enforceable rights relating to the
NYBOT Intellectual Property are freely transferable by NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
without restriction; and (C) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will not alter or impair such rights. Set forth on Section 5.1(o)(x)
of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter is a true and correct list of all NYBOT Intellectual
Property that is owned by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries. Set forth on Section
5.1(o)(y) of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter is a true and correct list of all NYBOT
Intellectual Property that is not owned by, but is used by, NYBOT or any of its
Subsidiaries under license, other than with respect to commercially available software
products under standard end-user object code license agreements. Set forth on Section
5.1(o)(z) of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter is a true and correct list of all license
agreements relating to the NYBOT Intellectual Property listed in Section 5.1(o)(y)
of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter. Except as has not had or is not reasonably expected
to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect: (A) the NYBOT Intellectual Property owned
by NYBOT and/or its Subsidiaries is valid, subsisting and enforceable, (B) NYBOTs
and/or its Subsidiaries ownership of and right to practice or otherwise use the
NYBOT Intellectual Property is free and clear of any lien, pledge, security interest
or other encumbrance and (C) no other Person has the right to practice or otherwise
use any of the owned NYBOT Intellectual Property owned by NYBOT or its Subsidiaries,
except pursuant to non-exclusive license grants made in writing by NYBOT. All material
Contracts under which NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries licenses or otherwise permits
another Person, or is licensed or otherwise permitted by another Person, to practice
or otherwise use any NYBOT Intellectual Property (the "NYBOT Intellectual Property
Contracts") are legal, valid, binding and enforceable against the other party, and
are in full force and effect, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. Except
as has not had or is not reasonably expected to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect,
(A) no claim has been made that NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge
of NYBOT, another person, has breached or is otherwise in violation of any NYBOT
Intellectual Property Contract and (B) NYBOT does not have knowledge of any unasserted
claims that may be made that NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries or another Person
has breached or is otherwise in violation of any NYBOT Intellectual Property Contract.
(iii) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of NYBOT, threatened or unasserted
claims by any Person alleging infringement, misappropriation or violation of any
of such Persons Intellectual Property, as a result of the use of any NYBOT Intellectual
Property by NYBOT or its Subsidiaries, that are reasonably expected to have a NYBOT
Material Adverse Effect. Except as has not had or is not reasonably expected to
have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect, to the knowledge of NYBOT, the conduct of
the business of NYBOT and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted and the NYBOT
Intellectual Property do not infringe upon, misappropriate or violate any Intellectual
Property rights or any other proprietary right of any Person. To the knowledge of
NYBOT, the implementation of electronic trading on the Exchange and the clearing,
from and after the Effective Time, of additional products by NYBOT Clearing Corporation
that are not currently cleared by NYBOT Clearing Corporation would not infringe
upon, misappropriate or violate any Intellectual Property rights or any other proprietary
right of any Person to the extent such Intellectual Property right or other proprietary
right is currently used by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of
NYBOT, there is no unauthorized use, infringement, misappropriation or other violation
of NYBOT Intellectual Property by any Person, including any Employee of NYBOT or
any of its Subsidiaries, except as would not reasonably be likely to have a NYBOT
Material Adverse Effect. NYBOT and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable
steps to maintain the confidentiality of the trade secrets, know-how and other non-public
information owned by NYBOT or its Subsidiaries, or received from third Persons which
NYBOT or its Subsidiaries is obligated to treat as confidential, except for such
steps the failure of which to have taken has not, individually or in the aggregate,
had or reasonably be expected to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) To the knowledge of NYBOT and except as has not had or is not reasonably
expected to have a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect, the IT Assets operate and perform
in all material respects in accordance with their documentation and functional specifications,
to the extent available, or as otherwise required by NYBOT and its Subsidiaries
in connection with the business of NYBOT as currently conducted. Each of NYBOT and
its Subsidiaries has implemented reasonable backup and disaster recovery measures
consistent with industry standards.
(p) NYBOT Clearing Corporation. No clearing member of NYBOT Clearing Corporation
(each, a "Clearing Member") is currently in default under and, to NYBOTs knowledge,
there are no circumstances that would reasonably be expected to lead a Clearing
Member of NYBOT Clearing Corporation to default on or otherwise fail to make any
required payment to NYBOT Clearing Corporation under, any contract or obligation
to NYBOT Clearing Corporation.
(q) Material Contracts.
(i) As of the date of this Agreement, neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to or bound by:
(A) any lease of real or personal property providing for annual rentals of $250,000
or more;
(B) any Contract that is reasonably likely to require either (x) annual payments
to or from NYBOT and its Subsidiaries of more than $250,000 or (y) aggregate payments
to or from NYBOT and its Subsidiaries of more than $250,000;
(C) other than with respect to any entity that is wholly-owned by NYBOT or any
wholly-owned Subsidiary of NYBOT, any partnership, joint venture or other similar
agreement or arrangement relating to the formation, creation, operation, management
or control of any partnership or joint venture material to NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries
or in which NYBOT owns any interest;
(D) any Contract (other than among direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries
of NYBOT) relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price
of property (in either case, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by
any asset) (i) in excess of $100,000 or (ii) that would not be included in the calculation
of the Closing Cash Amount pursuant to Section 4.7;
(E) any non-competition Contract or other Contract that (I) purports to limit
in any material respect either the type of business in which NYBOT or its Subsidiaries
(or, after the Effective Time, ICE or its Subsidiaries) may engage or the manner
or locations in which any of them may so engage in any business (including, without
limitation, any Contract that purports to limit in any material respect NYBOTs
or its Subsidiaries ability to employ an electronic trading platform); (II) could
require the disposition of any material assets or line of business of NYBOT or its
Subsidiaries or, after the Effective Time, ICE or its Subsidiaries, (III) grants
"most favored nation" status that, following the Merger, would apply to ICE and
its Subsidiaries, including NYBOT and its Subsidiaries or (IV) prohibits or limits
the right of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries to make, sell or distribute any products
or services or use, transfer, license, distribute or enforce any of their respective
Intellectual Property rights;
(F) any Contract to which NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries is a party containing
a standstill or similar agreement pursuant to which one party has agreed not to
acquire assets or securities of the other party or any of its Affiliates;
(G) any Contract providing for indemnification by NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries
of any Person, except for any such Contract that is (x) not material to NYBOT or
any of its Subsidiaries and (y) entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(H) any Contract that contains a put, call or similar right pursuant to which NYBOT
or any of its Subsidiaries could be required to purchase or sell, as applicable,
any equity interests of any Person or assets that have a fair market value or purchase
price of more than $100,000; and (I) any other (i) Contract or (ii) group of related
Contracts with the same counterparty (or affiliates of the such counterparty) or
entered into pursuant to a master agreement that, in each case, if terminated or
subject to a default by any party thereto, would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a NYBOT Material Adverse Effect (the Contracts
described in clauses (A) (I), together with all exhibits and schedules to such
Contracts, being the "Material Contracts").
(ii) A copy of each Material Contract has previously been delivered to ICE and
each such Contract is a valid and binding agreement of NYBOT or one of its Subsidiaries,
as the case may be, and is in full force and effect, and neither NYBOT nor any of
its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of NYBOT, any other party thereto is in default
or breach in any respect under the terms of any such agreement, contract, plan,
lease, arrangement or commitment.
(r) Brokers and Finders. None of NYBOT, its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective
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, except that
NYBOT has employed Brown Brothers Harriman, Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin and Parthenon
Group as its financial advisor, the arrangements with which have been disclosed
in writing to ICE prior to the date hereof.
5.2. Representations and Warranties of ICE and Merger Sub. Except as disclosed
in the ICE Reports or as set forth in the corresponding sections or subsections
of the disclosure letter dated as of the date hereof, delivered to NYBOT by ICE
on or prior to entering into this Agreement (the "ICE Disclosure Letter"), or in
such other section or subsection of the ICE Disclosure Letter where the applicability
of such exception is reasonably apparent, ICE and Merger Sub hereby represent and
warrant to NYBOT as set forth in this Section 5.2. The mere inclusion of any item
in the ICE Disclosure Letter as an exception to a representation or warranty of
ICE in this Agreement shall not be deemed to be an admission that such item is a
material exception, fact, event or circumstance, or that such item, individually
or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably expected to have, a ICE Material Adverse
Effect or trigger any other materiality qualification.
(a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of ICE and Merger Sub
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware. Each of ICE and Merger Sub 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 assets or properties or conduct of its business requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so organized, existing and in
good standing or to have such power or authority when taken together with all other
such failures, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and is not reasonably
expected to have a ICE Material Adverse Effect. Merger Sub was formed solely for
the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has
engaged in no other business activities and has conducted its operations only as
contemplated hereby.
"ICE Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the business,
results of operations or financial condition of ICE and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, or (b) the ability of ICE to consummate the Merger in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement prior to the Termination Date; provided, however, that
the following shall not be considered in determining whether a ICE Material Adverse
Effect has occurred: (A) any change or development in economic, business or commodities
markets conditions generally to the extent that such change or development does
not affect ICE and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a materially disproportionate
manner relative to other commodities exchanges or trading markets; (B) any change
or development to the extent resulting from the execution or announcement of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; (C) any change or development
to the extent proximately resulting from any action or omission by ICE or any of
its Subsidiaries that is required by this Agreement; (D) the announcement, commencement
or continuation of any war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of any act or
acts of terrorism; or (E) any effect arising from or relating to any change in GAAP
or any change in applicable laws, rules or regulations or the interpretation thereof.
(b) Capital Structure of ICE.
(i) The authorized capital stock of ICE consists of (i) 194,275,000 shares of
ICE Common Stock, of which 57,005,020 shares are outstanding as of September 1,
2006, (ii) 80,725,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share ("ICE
Class A Common Shares"), of which 3,211 shares are outstanding as of September 1,
2006, and (iii) 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock par value $.01 per share (the
"ICE Preferred Shares"), of which no shares are outstanding as of the date hereof.
All of the outstanding shares of ICE Common Stock have been duly authorized and
are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. ICE has no shares of ICE Common
Stock, ICE Class A Common Shares or ICE Preferred Shares reserved for issuance,
except that, as of June 30, 2006, there were 4,211,631 shares of ICE Common Stock
reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2000 Stock Option Plan, there were 2,125,000
shares of ICE Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2005 Equity Incentive
Plan, there were 250,000 shares of ICE Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant
to the 2003 Restricted Stock Deferral Plan for Outside Directors and there were
1,475,000 shares of ICE Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2004
Restricted Stock Plan. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other
equity interests of each of ICEs Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and owned by ICE or by a direct or indirect wholly
owned Subsidiary of ICE, 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, calls, commitments
or rights of any kind that obligate ICE or any of its Subsidiaries to issue or sell
any shares of capital stock or other securities of ICE 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 shares of ICE
Common Stock or other securities of ICE or any of its Subsidiaries, and no securities
or obligations evidencing such rights are authorized, issued or outstanding. ICE
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 ICE on any matter.
(ii) All shares of ICE Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger,
when issued as contemplated herein, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and will not be in violation of any preemptive rights.
(iii) The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 100 shares of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, all of which shares are issued and outstanding.
ICE is the legal and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding shares
of Merger Sub. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Merger Sub have
been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and
not subject to any preemptive rights.
(c) Corporate Authority. Each of ICE and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate
power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to authorize,
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement by each of ICE and Merger Sub and the consummation
by each of ICE and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly and validly approved by its Board of Directors and by ICE in its capacity as
the sole stockholder of Merger Sub. This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement
of each of ICE and Merger Sub enforceable against ICE in accordance with its terms,
subject, as to enforcement, 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").
(d) No Conflicts. Neither the execution and delivery by each of ICE and Merger
Sub of this Agreement, the compliance by each of ICE and Merger Sub with all of
the provisions of and the performance by each of ICE and Merger Sub of its obligations
under this Agreement, nor the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
herein contemplated will conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, or
result in any acceleration of any rights or obligations or the payment of any penalty
under or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance
on assets (with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time) pursuant to,
or permit any other party any improvement in rights with respect to or permit it
to exercise, or otherwise constitute a default under, any provision of any Contract
in effect as of the date hereof, or result in any change in the rights or obligations
of any party under any Contract in effect as of the date hereof, to which ICE or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which ICE or any of its Subsidiaries or
any of their respective assets is bound, nor, subject to any required approval of
the Merger by the CFTC, will such execution and delivery, compliance, performance
or consummation result in any breach or violation of, or a default under, the provisions
of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of ICE, or any Law applicable to it,
except in each case for such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults, payments,
accelerations, creations or changes that, individually or in the aggregate, have
not had and are not reasonably expected to have, a ICE Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Governmental Approvals and Consents. Other than (i) the filings and/or notices
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
Act"), the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, (ii) the filings, notices, approvals
and/or consents to be obtained from the CFTC and under the Commodity Exchange Act,
as amended, and (iii) other foreign approvals, state securities, takeover and "blue
sky" laws, no authorizations, consents, approvals, orders, permits, notices, reports,
filings, registrations, qualifications and exemptions of, with or from, or other
actions are required to be made by ICE or any of its Subsidiaries with, or obtained
by ICE or any of its Subsidiaries from, any governmental or regulatory authority,
agency, commission, body or other governmental or regulatory entity, domestic or
foreign, other than ICE or any of its Subsidiaries ("Governmental Entity"), in connection
with the execution and delivery by ICE of this Agreement, the performance by ICE
of its obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(f) ICE Reports; Financial Statements. ICE has filed or furnished, as applicable,
on a timely basis all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents required
to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") since December 31, 2005 (collectively,
the "ICE Reports"). Each of the ICE Reports, at the time of its filing or being
furnished complied, or if not yet filed or furnished, will comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (as amended, the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act"), and any
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the ICE Reports. As of
their respective dates (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, as of the date
of such amendment) the ICE Reports did not, and any ICE Reports filed or furnished
with the SEC subsequent to the date hereof will not, contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances
in which they were made, not misleading. Each of the consolidated balance sheets
included in the financial statements included in the ICE Reports (including the
related notes and schedules) fairly presents the consolidated financial position
of ICE and its Subsidiaries as of its date and each of the consolidated statements
of income, retained earnings, and cash flows and of changes in financial position
included in the financial statements included in the ICE Reports (including any
related notes and schedules) fairly presents the results of operations, retained
earnings, members equity, cash flows and changes in financial position, as the
case may be, of ICE and its Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein, in each
case in conformity with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except
as may be noted therein. Except for liabilities and obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business since December 31, 2005, neither ICE nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature required by GAAP to
be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of ICE or any of its Subsidiaries or
in the notes thereto which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to have a ICE Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 2005, ICE and its Subsidiaries
have conducted their respective businesses only in, and have not engaged in any
material transaction other than according to, the ordinary and usual course of such
businesses and there has not been (i) any change or development that, individually
or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably expected to have, a ICE Material Adverse
Effect; or (ii) any change by ICE in financial accounting principles, practices
or methods that is not required by GAAP.
(h) Compliance. The businesses of ICE and each of its Subsidiaries have been
conducted in compliance in all material respects with all Laws and the applicable
rules of any Self-Regulatory Organization. Neither ICE nor any of its Subsidiaries
is in conflict with, or in default or violation of, any Contract to which ICE or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which ICE or any of its Subsidiaries or
its or any of their respective properties is bound or affected, except for any such
conflicts, defaults or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the consummation
of the Merger. ICE is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable
listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE.
(i) Litigation and Liabilities. There are no (i) civil, criminal or administrative
actions, suits, claims, hearings, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of ICE, threatened against ICE, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective directors or officers or (ii) obligations or liabilities, whether or
not accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether or not required to be disclosed,
including those relating to, or any other facts or circumstances of which, to the
knowledge of ICE, could result in any claims against, or obligations or liabilities
of, ICE or any of its Affiliates, except, in both cases, for those that, individually
or in the aggregate, have not had and are not reasonably expected to have a ICE
Material Adverse Effect or would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially
impair or delay the consummation of the Merger.
(j) Tax Matters. Neither ICE nor any of its Affiliates has taken or agreed to
take any action, nor, to the knowledge of ICE, does there exist any fact or circumstance,
that would prevent or impede, or would be reasonably likely to prevent or impede,
the Merger from qualifying as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code.
(k) Brokers and Finders. None of ICE, its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective
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, except that
ICE has employed Evercore Partners as its financial advisor.
ARTICLE VI
Covenants
6.01. Interim Operations. ICE and NYBOT each covenants and agrees as to itself
and its Subsidiaries that, after the date hereof and until the earlier of the Effective
Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms (unless ICE
(in the case of NYBOT) or NYBOT (in the case of ICE) shall otherwise approve in
writing, and except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement or, in
the case of NYBOT, except as otherwise set forth in Section 6.1 of the NYBOT Disclosure
Letter or, in the case of ICE, except as otherwise set forth in Section 6.1 of the
ICE Disclosure Letter):
(a) the business of it and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted in the ordinary
and usual course consistent with past practice and, to the extent consistent therewith,
it and its Subsidiaries shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to preserve
its business organization intact and maintain its existing relations and goodwill
with all Governmental Entities, Self-Regulatory Organizations, providers of order
flow, customers, suppliers, distributors, creditors, lessors, Employees, business
associates, Members and stockholders, as appropriate;
(b) it shall not declare, set aside or pay any type of dividend, whether payable
in cash, stock or property, in respect of any Membership Interests or capital stock,
as appropriate, other than, in the case of ICE, dividends payable by direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiaries of ICE to ICE or other direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiaries of ICE and, in the case of NYBOT, dividends payable by direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiaries of NYBOT to NYBOT or other direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiaries of NYBOT;
(c) in the case of NYBOT, neither it nor its Subsidiaries shall:
(i) issue any new Membership Interests, other membership interests, capital stock
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any membership
interests or shares of capital stock, Trading Rights, other trading permits or trading
rights, or any lease rights;
(ii) sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, split, combine or reclassify, or repurchase,
redeem or acquire any outstanding Membership Interests, other membership interests,
capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for any membership interests or shares of capital stock, Permits, Trading Rights,
other trading permits or trading rights, or any lease rights;
(iii) make any structural changes to NYBOT Clearing Corporation, agree to (other
than in the ordinary course of business) list or clear any additional products or
markets, change its risk policies or reduce its guaranty fund, liquidity or credit
resources;
(iv) except as required by applicable Law or as set forth on Section 6.1(c)(iv)
of the NYBOT Disclosure Letter, (A) terminate, establish, adopt, enter into, make
any new grants or awards under, amend or otherwise modify, any NYBOT Benefit Plan,
as the case may be, or any other arrangement that would be a NYBOT Benefit Plan
if in effect on the date hereof, or (B) increase the salary, wage, bonus, pension,
welfare, severance or other compensation of any employees or fringe benefits of
any director, officer or employee or enter into any contract, agreement, commitment
or arrangement to do any of the foregoing, except increases occurring in the ordinary
and usual course of business consistent with past practice, or (C) provide for the
grant of any stock option, restricted stock, restricted stock unit or other equity-related
award, or (D) pay any change of control or severance benefits to any NYBOT director
or Employee in connection with the Merger, or grant or provide for any severance,
change in control or termination payments or benefits to any director, officer or
employee of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries, or (E) take any action to accelerate
the vesting or payment, or fund or in any way secure the payment, of compensation
or benefits under any NYBOT Benefit Plan, to the extent not already provided in
the any such NYBOT Benefit Plan, or (F) change any actuarial or other assumptions
used to calculate funding obligations with respect to the manner in which contributions
to such plans are made or the basis on which such contributions are determined,
except as may be required by GAAP, or (G) establish, adopt, enter into or amend
any collective bargaining agreement or (H) terminate any officer, other than for
cause, in which case NYBOT shall promptly notify ICE of such termination;
(v) except in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past
practice, settle or compromise any material claims or litigation or modify, amend
or terminate any of its material Contracts or waive, release or assign any material
rights or claims;
(vi) other than in the ordinary and usual course of business, transfer, lease,
license, guarantee, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of or encumber any other material
property or assets (including membership interests or capital stock of any of its
Subsidiaries);
(vii) incur additional material indebtedness or other liability or modify any
material indebtedness or other liability or modify any material indebtedness or
other liability other than in the ordinary course of business;
(viii) make or authorize or commit to any capital expenditures (other than under
its current business plan as disclosed to ICE prior to the date of this Agreement),
acquisitions or other types of non-ordinary-course transactions;
(ix) except for a platform license and service agreement with ICE, which
shall provide that ICE shall license ICEs electronic trading platform to NYBOT
for a minimum period of 18 months from and after the date of this Agreement and
that the costs of operation shall not exceed $3 million per year, and which shall
contain such other commercially reasonable terms as mutually agreed by ICE and NYBOT
as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement (and in any event
within 45 days after the date of this Agreement) (the "Platform License Agreement"),
enter into any agreement to trade any products on an electronic trading platform
or that would restrict NYBOTs or its Subsidiaries ability to trade any product
on an electronic trading platform; provided, however, if ICE and NYBOT are not able
to reach agreement on the terms of the Platform License Agreement in accordance
with the foregoing, NYBOT may, at its own expense, license an electronic trading
platform from an alternate system vendor, provided that (A) such license agreement
is terminable by NYBOT as of the Closing and (B) all costs associated with such
license agreement from and after the Closing shall be deducted from the calculation
of the Closing Cash Amount;
(x) change any material Tax election, change any material method of Tax accounting,
file any materially amended Tax Return, or settle or compromise any material audit
or proceeding relating to Taxes or permit any insurance policy naming it as a beneficiary
or loss-payable payee to be cancelled or terminated except in the ordinary and usual
course of business;
(xi) permit any change in its credit practices or accounting principles,
policies or practice (including any of its practices with respect to accounts receivable
or accounts payable), except to the extent that any such changes in accounting principles,
policies or practices shall be required by changes in GAAP;
(xii) enter into any "non-compete" or similar Contract that would restrict the
business of the Surviving Corporation or any of its Affiliates following the Effective
Time;
(xiii) except as permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iv) of the NYBOT
Disclosure Letter, enter into any Contract between itself, on the one hand, or any
of its Affiliates, employees, officers or directors, on the other hand;
(xiv) (A) amend or modify any of the NYBOT Organizational Documents or the NYBOT
Subsidiary Organizational Documents, except for rule amendments or modifications
that are consistent with past practice, that are not material and that would not
become Core Rights (as defined in the Bylaws) or (B) file with the CFTC any notice
of such amendment or modification unless it shall simultaneously provide a written
copy of such application to ICE; and
(xv) neither NYBOT nor any of its Subsidiaries will authorize or enter into an
agreement to do any of the foregoing set forth in Sections 6.1(c)(i) (xiv) if
NYBOT would be prohibited by the terms of Sections 6.1(c)(i) (xiv) from doing
the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, ICE shall
have the right to agree to and to consummate any acquisitions of another Person,
including by agreeing to issue equity interests in ICE to such Person.
(d) In the case of NYBOT, it shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, preserve
their respective existing regulatory status in all jurisdictions, and shall not
make any material change to their respective regulatory status in any jurisdiction.
(e) Prior to making any written or oral communications to the directors,
officers or employees of NYBOT or any of its Subsidiaries pertaining to compensation
or benefit matters that are affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
NYBOT shall provide ICE with a copy of the intended communication, ICE shall have
a reasonable period of time to review and comment on the communication, and ICE
and NYBOT shall cooperate in providing any such mutually agreeable communication
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