AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AMONG
CDRSVM TOPCO, INC.,
CDRSVM ACQUISITION CO., INC.
AND
THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
DATED AS OF MARCH 18, 2007
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 18, 2007 (this "Agreement"),
among CDRSVM Topco, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), CDRSVM Acquisition
Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"),
and The ServiceMaster Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") (Sub and the
Company being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Constituent Corporations").
Except as otherwise set forth herein, capitalized (and certain other) terms used
herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1.1.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company have
each approved the merger of Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger"), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby each issued
and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company
(the "Company Common Stock" or the "Shares"), other than Dissenting Shares (as defined
herein) and Shares owned directly or indirectly by Parent or the Company, will be
converted into the right to receive cash as set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Company and Sub have each
determined that this Agreement and the Merger are advisable and in the best interests
of their respective stockholders and recommended that their respective stockholders
adopt this Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and as a condition
to the willingness of the Company to enter into this Agreement, each of BAS Capital
Funding Corporation, Citigroup Capital Partners II 2007 Citigroup Investment, L.P.,
Citigroup Capital Partners II Employee Master Fund, L.P., Citigroup Capital Partners
II Onshore, L.P., Citigroup Capital Partners II Cayman Holdings, L.P., CGI CPE LLC,
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund VII, L.P., Clayton Dubilier & Rice Fund VII (Co-Investment),
L.P. and J.P. Morgan Ventures Corporation (the "Guarantors") is entering into a
guaranty with the Company in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Guaranty")
pursuant to which the Guarantors are guaranteeing certain obligations of Parent
and Sub in connection with this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, each of Parent, Sub and the Company desires to make certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe
various conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, each of Parent,
Sub and the Company hereby agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have
the meanings specified or referred to in this Section 1.1 and shall be equally applicable
to both the singular and plural forms.
"Acquisition Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(c).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, at the
time of determination, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries
Controls, is Controlled by or is under Common Control with such Person.
"Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
"Benefit Plan" means any material bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation,
incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock,
retirement, vacation, severance, disability, death benefit, hospitalization, medical,
stock appreciation, restricted stock or other material employee benefit plan providing
benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or, in the case of any stock purchase plan, any franchisee
or employee of a franchisee.
"Business Day" means any day ending at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) other than a
Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks are required or authorized to close in
the City of New York.
"By-laws" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).
"Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c).
"Certificate of Incorporation" means the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.
"Certificate of Merger" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
"Commitment Letter" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7.
"Company" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
"Company 401(k) Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(e).
"Company Awards" means, collectively, Company Stock Options, Company SARs and
Company Stock Units.
"Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the first recital of this
Agreement.
"Company Credit Agreement" means the $500,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as
of May 19, 2004, as amended as of May 6, 2005, among the Company, the lenders party
thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Bank of America, N.A. as syndication agents,
SunTrust Bank as administrative agent, and U.S. Bank National Association and Wachovia
Bank, N.A. as documentation agents.
"Company DCP" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(f).
"Company Employment Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13(b).
"Company Leased Real Property" means all leasehold or subleasehold estates and
other rights to use or occupy any land, buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures,
or other interest in real property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
"Company Leases" means all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other
agreements (written or oral), including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties,
and other agreements with respect thereto, pursuant to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries holds all or any portion of any Company Leased Real Property.
"Company Letter" means the letter from the Company to Parent dated the date hereof,
which letter relates to this Agreement and is designated therein as the Company
Letter.
"Company Lines of Credit" means, collectively, (i) the Companys $20,000,000
line of credit with Banca Di Roma, as evidenced by that certain letter agreement,
dated as of January 21, 2005, between the Company and Banca Di Roma, (ii) the Companys
$25,000,000 line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as evidenced
by that certain Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2005, between the Company and Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association, and (iii) the Companys $15,000,000 line of credit
with Regions Bank, as evidenced by the Negotiated Rate Promissory Note, dated as
of November 9, 2005, between the Company and Regions Bank, in each case as amended
or extended prior top the date hereof.
"Company Material Contract" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16.
"Company Owned Real Property" means all land, together with all buildings, structures,
improvements, and fixtures located thereon, and all easements and other rights and
interests appurtenant thereto, owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
"Company Permits" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.
"Company Preferred Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).
"Company Real Property" means, collectively, the Company Leased Real Property
and the Company Owned Real Property.
"Company Restricted Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(d).
"Company SARs" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b)(v).
"Company SEC Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.
"Company Stock Incentive Plans" means the Companys 2003 Equity Incentive Plan,
2001 Directors Stock Plan, 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, 1998 Non-Employee Directors
Discounted Stock Option Plan, 1998 Equity Incentive Plan, 10 Plus Option Plan, 1997
Share Option Plan, 1994 Non-Employee Directors Share Option Plan, 1996 Incentive
Plan of American Residential Services, Inc., LandCare USA, Inc. 1998 Long-Term Incentive
Plan and WeServeHomes.com, Inc. 2000 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan.
"Company Stock Options" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b)(iii).
"Company Stock Purchase Plans" means the Companys 2004 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan and the Franchisee Share Purchase Plan.
"Company Stock Units" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b)(vi).
"Company Stockholder Approval" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).
"Company Termination Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(b).
"Confidentiality Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.
"Constituent Corporations" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
of this Agreement.
"Control" means, as to any Person, the power to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The terms "Controlled by," "under Common
Control with" and "Controlling" have correlative meanings.
"Current Premium" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(b).
"D&O Insurance" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(b).
"Debt Financing" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7.
"DGCL" means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
"Directors Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(g).
"Dissenting Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
"Dissenting Stockholder" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
"Effective Time" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
"Environmental Law" means any applicable statute, law, ordinance, regulation,
rule, judgment, decree or order of any Governmental Entity relating to any matter
of pollution, protection of human health and the environment or environmental regulation
or control or regarding Hazardous Substances.
"Environmental Permits" means any permit, approval, authorization, license, variance
or permission required from a Governmental Entity under any applicable Environmental
Laws.
"Equity Funding Letters" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7.
"Equity Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
"ERISA Benefit Plan" means a U.S. Benefit Plan maintained as of the date of this
Agreement that is also an "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in Section
3(2) of ERISA) or that is also an "employee welfare benefit plan" (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
"Exchange Fund" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
"Exchange Rights Agreement" means the Exchange Rights Agreement referred to in
Section 4.3(b) of the Company Letter
"Expenses" means documented and reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred
or paid by or on behalf of Parent in connection with the Merger or the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including all documented
and reasonable fees and expenses of law firms, commercial banks, investment banking
firms, accountants, experts and consultants to Parent.
"Financing" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7.
"GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
"Goldman Sachs" means Goldman, Sachs & Co.
"Governmental Entity" means any federal, state, local or foreign government or
any court, tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other governmental or
other regulatory authority or agency, domestic, foreign or supranational, any stock
exchange or any self-regulating entity supervising, organizing and supporting any
stock exchange.
"Greenhill" means Greenhill & Co., LLC.
"Guarantors" has the meaning set forth in the third recital of this Agreement.
"Guaranty" has the meaning set forth in the third recital of this Agreement.
"Hazardous Substance" means any material defined as toxic or hazardous, including
any petroleum and petroleum products, under any applicable Environmental Law.
"HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
"Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
"Intellectual Property" means all trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade
dress, including all goodwill associated with the foregoing, domain names, copyrights,
software and computer programs, internet web sites, mask works and other semiconductor
chip rights, and similar rights, and registrations and applications to register
or renew the registration of any of the foregoing, patents and patent applications
and rights, trade secrets and all similar intellectual property rights.
"Intervening Event" means a material event relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole (other than an increase in the market price of the Company Common
Stock and any event resulting from a breach of this Agreement by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries) that was neither known to the Board of Directors of the
Company nor reasonably foreseeable as of or prior to the date hereof (and not relating
to or resulting from any Takeover Proposal), which becomes known to the Company
prior to the Company Stockholder Approval.
"IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
"Knowledge" means the actual knowledge of the officers of the Company set forth
in Section 1.1 of the Company Letter or the officers of Parent set forth in Section
1.1 of the Parent Letter, as the case may be.
"Liens" means any pledges, claims, liens, charges, encumbrances, defects of title,
restrictions on transfer, and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever,
except in the case of securities, for limitations on transfer imposed by federal
or state securities laws.
"Marketing Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12(a).
"Material Adverse Change" or "Material Adverse Effect" means, when used in connection
with the Company or Parent, as the case may be, any change, effect or circumstance
that, individually or in the aggregate, is or would reasonably be expected to be
materially adverse to the business, properties, assets, financial condition or results
of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or Parent and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as the case may be; provided, however, that to
the extent any change, effect or circumstance is caused by or results from any of
the following, it shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has
been a "Material Adverse Change" or "Material Adverse Effect" with respect to the
Company or Parent, as the case may be: (i) except with respect to the representations
and warranties set forth in Section 4.5 or Section 5.3, the announcement of the
execution of this Agreement (including losses or threatened losses of the relationships
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with customers, distributors, suppliers
or franchisees), actions contemplated by this Agreement or the performance of obligations
under this Agreement, (ii) the identity of Parent or any of its Affiliates as the
acquiror of the Company, (iii) changes affecting the United States economy or financial
or securities markets as a whole or changes that are the result of factors generally
affecting the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their
business, (iv) failure to meet internal or analyst financial forecasts, (v) any
change in the market price or trading volume of the equity securities of the Company
on or after the date hereof, (vi) the suspension of trading in securities generally
on the NYSE or the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (vii)
any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation or GAAP or interpretation thereof
after the date hereof, (viii) the availability or cost of financing to Parent or
Sub, and (ix) the commencement, occurrence or continuation of any war, armed hostilities
or acts of terrorism involving or affecting the United States of America or any
part thereof, except (A) in the case of the foregoing clause (iii) only, to the
extent such changes do not materially disproportionately impact the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other companies in the industries
in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their business and (B) the events
underlying changes, effects and circumstances described in the foregoing clauses
(iv) and (v) are not included within the scope of such clauses.
"Merger" has the meaning set forth in the first recital of this Agreement.
"Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c).
"Morgan Stanley" means Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
"New Financing Commitments" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12(a).
"NYSE" means The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
"Parent" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
"Parent Letter" means the letter from Parent to the Company dated the date hereof,
which letter relates to this Agreement and is designated therein as the Parent Letter.
"Parent Termination Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(c).
"Paying Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association,
trust, unincorporated organization or other entity (including any person as defined
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act).
"principal executive officer" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).
"principal financial officer" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).
"Proxy Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.
"Qualifying Confidentiality Agreement" means an executed agreement with provisions
requiring any Person receiving nonpublic information with respect to the Company,
which provisions to keep such information confidential are no less restrictive in
the aggregate to such Person than the Confidentiality Agreement is to Parent, its
Affiliates, and their respective personnel and representatives (it being understood
that such agreement with such Person need not have comparable standstill provisions),
provided that no such confidentiality agreement shall conflict with any rights of
Parent or Sub or obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries under this Agreement.
"Required Financial Information" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12(b).
"Retained Employees" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).
"Sarbanes-Oxley Act" means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.
"Shares" has the meaning set forth in the first recital of this Agreement.
"Solvent" when used with respect to any Person means that, as of any date of
determination, (i) the amount of the "present fair saleable value" of the assets
of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all "liabilities of such
Person, contingent or otherwise", as of such date, as such quoted terms are generally
determined in accordance with applicable federal laws governing determinations of
the insolvency of debtors, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the assets of
such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required
to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and
matured, (iii) such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small
amount of capital with which to conduct its business and (iv) such Person will be
able to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, (a) "debt"
means liability on a "claim," and (b) "claim" means any (1) right to payment, whether
or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent,
matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured
or (2) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives
rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is
reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed,
secured or unsecured.
"Stockholders Meeting" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).
"Sub" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
"Subsidiary" of any Person means another Person, of which securities or ownership
interests (i) having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are owned or
controlled directly or indirectly by such first Person and/or by one or more of
its Subsidiaries or (ii) representing at least 50% of such securities or ownership
interests are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such first Person and/or
by one or more of its Subsidiaries.
"Superior Proposal" means any bona fide written proposal or offer from any Person
(other than Parent and its Affiliates) not solicited in violation of Section 6.2(a)
relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase, for consideration consisting
of cash and/or securities, of 50% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries or more than 50% of the voting power of the Shares then outstanding,
including by means of any tender or exchange offer that if consummated would result
in any Person (other than Parent and its Affiliates) beneficially owning Shares
with more than 50% of the voting power of the Shares then outstanding and, in each
case, that is on terms that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in
its good faith judgment (after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally
recognized reputation, such as Goldman Sachs, Greenhill or Morgan Stanley) to be
more favorable to the Companys stockholders than the transactions contemplated
hereby, taking into account all relevant aspects of such offer (in comparison with
the terms of this Agreement and any revised offer by Parent), including financial
considerations (including additional transaction costs and the effect of any termination
fee, expenses or amounts payable hereunder) and the likelihood that the proposed
transaction would be consummated.
"Surviving Corporation" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"Takeover Proposal" means any proposal or offer from any Person (other than Parent
and its Affiliates) relating to (i) any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase
of 20% or more of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or 20% or more
of the voting power of the Shares then outstanding, including any tender offer or
exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person (other than Parent
and its Affiliates) beneficially owning Shares with 20% or more of the voting power
of the Shares then outstanding, or (ii) any merger, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving the Company pursuant to which any Person or the stockholders of any Person
would own 20% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company or of any
resulting parent company of the Company, in each case other than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
"Tax" and "Taxes" means any federal, state, local or foreign net income, gross
income, gross receipts, windfall profit, severance, property, production, sales,
use, license, excise, franchise, employment, payroll, withholding, alternative or
add-on minimum or any other tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment
or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or penalty, addition
to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Entity.
"Tax Return" means any return, report or similar statement required to be filed
with respect to any Tax including any information return, claim for refund, amended
return or declaration of estimated Tax.
"Termination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(b)(i).
"Terminix International" means The Terminix International Company, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership.
"Transfer Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.
Section 1.2 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) the words "include,"
"includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation," (ii) the word "or" is not exclusive and (iii) the words "herein," "hereof,"
"hereby," "hereto" and "hereunder" refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the
context otherwise requires, a reference herein: (i) to an Article or Section means
an Article and Section of this Agreement, (ii) to an agreement, instrument or other
document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented
and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof
and by this Agreement, (iii) to a statute means such statute as amended from time
to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any rules or regulations
promulgated thereunder and (iv) all references to "dollars" or "$" or any similar
reference or designation contained therein means United States dollars. Titles to
Articles and headings of Sections are inserted for convenience of reference only
and shall not be deemed a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
Section 2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof,
and in accordance with the DGCL, Sub shall be merged with and into the Company at
the Effective Time. Following the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence
of Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the
"Surviving Corporation") and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations
of Sub and the Company in accordance with Section 259 of the DGCL.
Section 2.2 Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place
at 10:00 a.m. on a date mutually agreed to by Parent and the Company (the "Closing
Date"), which shall be no later than the fifth Business Day after satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than those conditions
that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction
or waiver of those conditions), at the offices of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 919
Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, unless another date, time or place is agreed
to in writing by the parties hereto, provided that notwithstanding the satisfaction
or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII, (i) Parent and Sub will not
be required to effect the Closing until the earlier of (a) the final day of the
Marketing Period and (b) the Termination Date and (ii) the Company shall not be
required to effect the Closing without at least five Business Days notice specified
by Parent.
Section 2.3 Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective when a Certificate
of Merger (the "Certificate of Merger"), executed in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the DGCL, is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, or at such later time as Sub and the Company shall agree and is specified
in the Certificate of Merger. When used in this Agreement, the term "Effective Time"
shall mean the later of the date and time at which the Certificate of Merger is
duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or such later time
established by the Certificate of Merger. The filing of the Certificate of Merger
shall be made as soon as practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions
to the Merger set forth in Article VIII (but in no event on a date prior to the
date of the Closing).
Section 2.4 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth
in the DGCL.
Section 2.5 Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws; Officers and Directors.
(a) The certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be as
set forth on Exhibit B hereto, until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein
or by applicable law.
(b) The By-laws of the Company (the "By-laws"), as in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Time, shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
changed or amended as provided by the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of
the Surviving Corporation or by applicable law.
(c) The directors of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
directors of the Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation or
removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as
the case may be.
(d) The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation
or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified,
as the case may be.
ARTICLE III
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE STOCK OF THE
CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES
Section 3.1 Effect on Stock. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger
and without any action on the part of any of Parent, Sub, the Company or the holders
of any securities of the Constituent Corporations:
(a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each issued and outstanding share of capital stock
of Sub shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
share of common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Treasury Stock and Parent Owned Stock. Each Share that is owned by the Company
or by any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company and each Share that is owned by
Parent, Sub or any other wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered
in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Shares. Subject to Section 3.1(d), each Share issued and outstanding
(other than Shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 3.1(b) and Dissenting
Shares), shall be cancelled and be converted into the right to receive in cash,
without interest, $15.625 per Share (the "Merger Consideration"). As of the Effective
Time, all such Shares shall be cancelled in accordance with this Section 3.1(c),
and when so cancelled, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing
any such Shares (a "Certificate") shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto,
except the right to receive the Merger Consideration for each such Share, without
interest.
(d) Shares of Dissenting Stockholders. Any issued and outstanding Shares held
by a Person (a "Dissenting Stockholder") who has not voted in favor of or consented
to the adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and has complied with all the provisions
of the DGCL concerning the right of holders of Shares to require appraisal of their
Shares ("Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into the right to receive the
Merger Consideration as described in Section 3.1(c), but shall be converted into
the right to receive such consideration as may be determined to be due to such Dissenting
Stockholder pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL. If
such Dissenting Stockholder withdraws its demand for appraisal or fails to perfect
or otherwise loses its right of appraisal, in any case pursuant to the DGCL, its
Shares shall be deemed to be converted as of the Effective Time into the right to
receive the Merger Consideration for each such Share, without interest. The Company
shall give Parent prompt notice of any demands for appraisal of Shares received
by the Company. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent,
make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.
Section 3.2 Surrender of Certificates.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate a bank
or trust company that shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as
paying agent in the Merger (the "Paying Agent"), and, as of the Effective Time,
Parent shall deposit, or cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit, with the Paying
Agent a cash amount in immediately available funds equal to the product of the Merger
Consideration and the number of Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time (exclusive of any Shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section
3.1(b) and any Dissenting Shares) (the "Exchange Fund"). Funds made available to
the Paying Agent shall be invested by the Paying Agent as directed by Sub or, after
the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation; provided, however, that such investments
shall only be in obligations of or guaranteed by the United States of America, in
commercial paper obligations receiving the highest rating from Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poors Corporation or a combination of the foregoing
and, in any such case, no such instrument shall have a maturity exceeding three
months (it being understood that any and all interest or income earned on funds
made available to the Paying Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be remitted
to Parent). To the extent that there are losses with respect to such investments,
or the Exchange Fund diminishes for other reasons below the level required to make
prompt cash payment of the Merger Consideration as contemplated hereby, Parent shall
promptly replace or restore the cash in the Exchange Fund lost through such investments
or other events so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is at all times maintained
at a level sufficient to make such cash payments.
(b) Exchange Procedure. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time (and
in any event within three (3) Business Days thereof), the Surviving Corporation
shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate (i)
a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the
Certificates (or the making of affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) to the Paying
Agent and shall be in a form and have such other customary provisions as Parent
and the Company may reasonably agree) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting
the surrender of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) in exchange
for the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 3.1. Upon surrender of a Certificate
(or an affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) for cancellation to the Paying Agent,
together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and such other documents
as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent pursuant to such instructions,
the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive promptly in exchange
therefor the amount of cash, without interest, into which the Shares theretofore
represented by such Certificate shall have been converted pursuant to Section 3.1,
and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. In the event of
a transfer of ownership of Shares that is not registered in the transfer records
of the Company, payment may be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name
the Certificate so surrendered is registered, if such Certificate shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the Person requesting such
payment shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the payment
to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to
the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such Tax has been paid or is
not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.2, each Certificate
shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right
to receive upon such surrender the amount of cash, without interest, into which
the Shares theretofore represented by such Certificate shall have been converted
pursuant to Section 3.1. No interest will be paid or will accrue on the cash payable
upon the surrender of any Certificate (or an affidavit of loss in lieu thereof).
Parent or the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Shares such amounts
as Parent or the Paying Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to
the making of such payment under the Code or under any provision of state, local
or foreign Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Parent or the
Paying Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement
as having been paid to the holder of the Shares in respect of which such deduction
and withholding was made by Parent or the Paying Agent.
(c) No Further Ownership Rights in Shares. All Merger Consideration paid upon
the surrender of Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) in accordance
with the terms of this Article III shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction
of all rights pertaining to the Shares theretofore represented by such Certificates.
At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed,
and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books
of the Surviving Corporation of the Shares that were outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented
to the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent for any reason, they shall be cancelled
and exchanged as provided in this Article III.
(d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains
undistributed to the holders of Shares for twelve months after the Effective Time
shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any holders of Shares (other than
Shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 3.1(b) and Dissenting Shares)
who have not theretofore complied with this Article III and the instructions set
forth in the letter of transmittal mailed to such holders after the Effective Time
shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned property,
escheat or other similar laws) for payment of the Merger Consideration to which
they are entitled, without interest.
(e) No Liability. None of Parent, Sub, the Company or the Paying Agent shall
be liable to any Person in respect of any Merger Consideration delivered to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(f) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the
Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable
amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct, as indemnity against any claim that
may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will issue
in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the cash payment into
which the Shares represented by such Certificate shall have been converted pursuant
to Section 3.1.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except (i) as set forth in the corresponding section of the Company Letter, it
being understood that matters disclosed pursuant to one section of the Company Letter
shall be deemed disclosed with respect to any other section of the Company Letter
where it is reasonably apparent that the matters so disclosed are applicable to
such other section, (ii) as specifically disclosed in the Company SEC Documents
filed with or furnished to the SEC on or after December 31, 2005 and prior to the
date hereof (excluding any disclosures set forth in any risk factor section or forward
looking statements contained therein) or (iii) as expressly contemplated or expressly
permitted under this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby, the Company
hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
Section 4.01 Organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization and has the requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company
(as the case may be) power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted,
except where the failure to be in good standing or to have such corporate, partnership
or limited liability company (as the case may be) power and authority has not had
and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business
and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or
the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification or licensing
necessary, except in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so duly qualified
or licensed and in good standing has not had and would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or prevent or materially delay
the consummation of the Merger. The Company has made available to Parent complete
and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws and the charter
and by-laws (or similar organizational documents), as amended through the date hereof,
of each of its Subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Companys Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Section 4.02 Subsidiaries. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Subsidiary of the Company that is a corporation have been validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or
other equity interests of each Subsidiary of the Company are owned by the Company,
by one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries
of the Company, free and clear of all Liens. No shares of preferred stock of any
Subsidiary of the Company are issued and outstanding. Except for the capital stock
and other equity interests of its Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly
or indirectly, any capital stock or other ownership interest in any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity that is material
to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 4.3 Capital Structure.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 11,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Company Preferred Stock").
(b) At the close of business on March 15, 2007 (March 16, 2007, in the case of
clauses (vi) and (vii)):
(i) 291,683,841 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding,
all of which were validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights;
(ii) 36,278,986 shares of Company Common Stock were held by the Company in its
treasury;
(iii) 16,483,895 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant
to outstanding options to purchase Company Common Stock granted under the Company
Stock Incentive Plans or listed in Section 4.3(b)(iii) of the Company Letter (collectively,
the "Company Stock Options");
(iv) 1,555,782 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance in
accordance with the Company Stock Purchase Plans;
(v) 421,190 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant
to outstanding, free-standing stock appreciation rights with respect to 4,635,375
shares of Company Common Stock granted under the Company Stock Incentive Plans (collectively,
the "Company SARs");
(vi) 47,526 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant
to outstanding stock units and restricted stock units granted under the Company
Stock Incentive Plans (collectively, the "Company Stock Units"); and
(vii) 8,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon
the exchange of Class B Limited Partnership Units in Terminix International pursuant
to the Exchange Rights Agreement.
(c) No shares of Company Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding.
(d) The Company has delivered to Parent a correct and complete list as of the
close of business on March 15, 2007 of (i) each outstanding Company Stock Option,
Company SAR and Company Stock Unit and (ii) each outstanding share of restricted
Company Common Stock that is still subject to forfeiture conditions (collectively,
the "Company Restricted Shares") granted under the Company Stock Incentive Plans,
including the date of grant, exercise price or base price (if applicable), number
of shares of Company Common Stock subject thereto, the Company Stock Incentive Plan
under which such Company Stock Option, Company SAR, Company Stock Unit or Company
Restricted Share, as the case may be, was granted and, with respect to any Company
Stock Option or Company SAR, whether it is exercisable and, with respect to any
Company Stock Unit, whether it is vested.
(e) Since the close of business on March 15, 2007, the Company has not issued
or reserved for issuance any shares of Company Common Stock other than (i) pursuant
to the Company Stock Purchase Plans, (ii) upon the exercise of Company Stock Options
or Company SARs reflected in the list referred to in Section 4.3(d) or (iii) upon
the settlement of Company Stock Units reflected in the list referred to in Section
4.3(d).
(f) Except as set forth in Section 4.3(b), as of the date of this Agreement,
there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements,
arrangements, undertakings or contractual rights the value of which are based on
the value of the capital stock or other securities of the Company of any kind to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them
is bound obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether through any
convertible or exchangeable securities or otherwise) to issue, deliver or sell or
create, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold or created, additional shares of
capital stock or other securities of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or
obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter
into any such security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement, arrangement,
undertaking or contractual right.
(g) As of the date of this Agreement, except pursuant to the Exchange Rights
Agreement referred to in Section 4.3(b) of the Company Letter and the terms of the
Company Stock Incentive Plans, there are no outstanding contractual obligations
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(h) There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of
the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for,
securities having the right to vote) on any matter on which the Companys stockholders
may vote.
Section 4.4 Authority.
(a) The Company has the requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to adoption of this
Agreement by the Companys stockholders, to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company
and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
the Company, subject to adoption of this Agreement by the Companys stockholders.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming
the valid authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and
Sub) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors rights generally and
(ii) is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) The Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and held,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, has unanimously
(with one member absent) (i) approved and declared this Agreement, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby advisable and in the best interests of
the Companys stockholders and (ii) resolved to recommend to the stockholders of
the Company that they adopt this Agreement, and has not subsequently rescinded or
modified such approval or resolution in any way, subject to the right of the Board of Directors of the Company to withdraw or modify its recommendation
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 4.5 Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except (a) for filings, permits,
authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and other applicable
requirements of, the Exchange Act, the HSR Act, the DGCL, the laws of other states
in which the Company is qualified to do or is doing business and state takeover
laws, (b) foreign and supranational laws relating to antitrust and anticompetition
clearances listed in Section 4.5 of the Company Letter, (c) other approvals of Governmental
Entities listed in Section 4.5 of the Company Letter and (d) as may be required
in connection with the Taxes described in Section 7.7, neither the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any breach of any provision
of the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws or of the similar organizational
documents of any of the Companys Subsidiaries, (ii) require any filing with, or
the obtaining of any permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental
Entity (except where the failure to make such filings or to obtain such permits,
authorizations, consents or approvals, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or prevent
or materially delay the consummation of the Merger), (iii) result in a breach of,
or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or
give rise to or permit any right of termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration
or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefits) under,
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease, license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of
their properties or assets are bound or result in the creation of any Lien on any
property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) violate any
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except, in the case
of clause (iii), for breaches, defaults, terminations, amendments, cancellations,
accelerations, changes, losses, Liens or violations that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger.
Section 4.6 SEC Documents and Other Reports.
(a) The Company has filed with the
SEC all documents required to be filed by it since December 31, 2005 under the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act (the "Company SEC Documents"). As of their respective filing
dates (or, if amended prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the respective
filing date of such amendment), the Company SEC Documents complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the NYSE, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
as the case may be, each as in effect on the date so filed, and at the time filed
with the SEC (or, if amended prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the respective
filing date of such amendment), none of the Company SEC Documents contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements
of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents (if amended prior to the date
of this Agreement, as amended) complied as of their respective dates in all material
respects with the then applicable accounting requirements and the published rules
and regulations of the SEC and the NYSE with respect thereto, have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP (except in the case of the unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act) applied on a consistent
basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto)
and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position
of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the
consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the
periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end
audit adjustments and to any other adjustments described therein).
(b) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Each current and former principal executive
officer of the Company and principal financial officer of the Company has made all
certifications required by Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act or Sections
302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as applicable, with respect to the Company
SEC Documents, and the statements contained in such certifications were true and
accurate as of the date they were made. For purposes of this Agreement, "principal
executive officer" and "principal financial officer" have the meanings given to
such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(c) The Companys system of internal control over financial reporting provides
reasonable assurance (i) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, (ii) that receipts and expenditures
are made only in accordance with the authorization of management and (iii) regarding
prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition
of the Companys assets that could materially affect the Companys financial statements.
(d) The Companys "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are reasonably designed to ensure that (i)
material information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed
by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in
the rules and forms of the SEC and (ii) all such information is accumulated and
communicated to the Companys management as appropriate to allow timely decisions
regarding disclosure and to make the certifications of the principal executive officer
and principal financial officer of the Company required under the Exchange Act with
respect to such reports. The Company has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation
of such disclosure controls and procedures prior to the date hereof to its independent
auditors and the audit committee of its Board of Directors (a) any significant deficiencies
and material weaknesses in the design or operation of the Companys internal controls
over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Companys
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (b) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of members
of the Company who have a significant role in the Companys internal controls over
financial reporting. The Company has made available to Parent any such disclosure
made by management to the Companys independent auditors and the audit committee
of the Companys Board of Directors.
Section 4.7 Absence of Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2006, the
Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all material
respects in the ordinary course, and there has not been (a) any Material Adverse
Change with respect to the Company or any change with respect to the Company that
would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of
the Merger, (b) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution with respect to its capital stock
or any redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any of its capital stock (other
than regular, quarterly cash dividends in the amount of not more than $0.12 per
Share), (c) any split, combination or reclassification of any of its capital stock
or any issuance or the authorization of any issuance of any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock, or (d)
any change in accounting methods, principles or practices used by the Company materially
affecting its assets, liabilities or business, except insofar as may have been required
by a change in GAAP.
Section 4.8 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied
by the Company specifically for inclusion in the proxy statement relating to the
Stockholders Meeting (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the "Proxy
Statement") will, at the time the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Companys
stockholders, at the time of the Stockholders Meeting and at the time of any amendments
or supplements thereto, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, except that no representation
or warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements made therein based
on information supplied by Parent or Sub or any of their representatives specifically
for inclusion therein.
Section 4.9 Compliance with Laws. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries is,
and none of their businesses are being conducted, in violation of any law, ordinance
or regulation of any Governmental Entity, except for any violations that, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has in full force and effect all federal,
state, local and foreign governmental licenses, authorizations, consents, permits,
registrations and approvals, and has otherwise satisfied all applicable legal or
regulatory requirements, necessary for it to own, lease or operate its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted (collectively, "Company
Permits"), and no default has occurred under any such Company Permit, except for
the absence of Company Permits and for defaults under Company Permits that, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all
applicable law relating to the offer and sale of franchises and the relationship
of its Subsidiaries with their respective franchisees, except where the failure
to so comply, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or prevent or materially delay
the consummation of the Merger.
Section 4.10 Tax Matters. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely
filed (after taking into account all applicable extensions) all Tax Returns required
to be filed by them, except where the failure to timely file would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. All such Tax Returns
are true, correct and complete in all respects, except where the failure of such
Tax Returns to be true, correct or complete would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes shown as due on such Tax Returns and all
Taxes owed by the Company and its Subsidiaries for which no return was required
to be filed, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. No deficiencies for any Taxes have been
asserted in writing, proposed in writing or assessed in writing against the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries that have not been paid or otherwise settled or are not
otherwise being challenged under appropriate procedures, except for deficiencies
that, if finally resolved in a manner adverse to the Company or relevant Subsidiary,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
No written requests for waivers of the time to assess any material Taxes of the
Company or its Subsidiaries are pending. During the two-year period ending on the
date hereof, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has constituted either a "distributing
corporation" or a "controlled corporation" (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A)
of the Code) in a transaction qualifying for beneficial treatment under Section
355(a)(1). Any participation by the Company or any Subsidiary in a "listed transaction"
(as defined for purposes of Section 6011 of the Code and the applicable Treasury
Regulations thereunder) has been properly disclosed to the IRS.
Section 4.11 Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise) required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of
the Company and its Subsidiaries or in the notes thereto, other than liabilities
and obligations (a) set forth in the Companys consolidated balance sheet for the
year ended December 31, 2006 included in the Company SEC Documents, (b) incurred
in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2006, (c) incurred in connection
with the Merger or any other transaction or agreement contemplated by this Agreement
or (d) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 4.12 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no suit,
action, proceeding or investigation pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company
threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties,
assets or rights that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger. Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective properties,
assets or rights is subject to any outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction
or decree that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or prevent or materially delay the
consummation of the Merger.
Section 4.13 Benefit Plans.
(a) Each Benefit Plan is listed in Section 4.13(a)
of the Company Letter. With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Company has made available
to Parent a true and correct copy (or description in the case of an oral agreement)
of: (i) each such Benefit Plan that has been reduced to writing and all amendments
thereto; (ii) each trust, insurance or administrative agreement relating to each
such Benefit Plan; (iii) the most recent summary plan description or other written
explanation of each Benefit Plan provided to participants; (iv) the most recent
annual report (Form 5500) filed with the IRS; and (v) the most recent determination
letter, if any, issued by the IRS with respect to any Benefit Plan intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
(b) Set forth in Section 4.13(b) of the Company Letter is a list of each employment,
severance or termination agreement between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
and any current or former officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
in effect as of the date of this Agreement, other than agreements that provide for the payment of
an annual base salary or a cash severance benefit in an amount less than $200,000
(each listed agreement, a "Company Employment Agreement").
(c) Except as required by law or as the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
deemed advisable due to changes in law and that has previously been disclosed or
made available to Parent, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has adopted
or amended in any material respect any Benefit Plan or Company Employment Agreement
since the date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Company
SEC Documents.
(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, each ERISA Benefit Plan maintained by the Company or any
of its Affiliates has been maintained and operated in compliance with the applicable
requirements of the Code and ERISA. There is no Person (other than the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries) that together with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(b)
of ERISA. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has at any time during the
six-year period preceding the date hereof maintained, contributed to or incurred
any liability under any "multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA)
or any Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code
(or comparable provision of non-U.S. law).
(e) As of the date of this Agreement there are no pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened disputes, arbitrations, claims, suits or grievances involving
a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits payable under any such Benefit
Plan) that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(f) All Benefit Plans that are intended by their terms to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code have been determined by the IRS to be so qualified, or
a timely application for such determination is now pending, and the Company has
no Knowledge of any reason why any such Benefit Plan is not so qualified in operation.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability or obligation
under any welfare plan or agreement to provide benefits after termination of employment
to any employee or dependent other than as required by Section 4980B of the Code
or the terms of a separation plan or agreement that has previously been disclosed
or made available to Parent.
(g) The performance of the obligations under this Agreement by the Company or
its Subsidiaries will not, by itself or in connection with other events, result
in any payment under any Benefit Plan or under any Company Employment Agreement
that would constitute an "excess parachute payment" for purposes of Section 280G
or 4999 of the Code.
Section 4.14 State Takeover Statutes. The action of the Board of Directors of
the Company in approving the Merger, this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated
hereby is sufficient to render the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL inapplicable
to the Merger and this Agreement.
Section 4.15 Intellectual Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries exclusively
own free and clear of any Liens, or are validly licensed or otherwise have the
right to use as currently used, all Intellectual Property used in the conduct
of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except
for such Intellectual Property where the failure to so own, be validly licensed
or have the right to use, individually or in the aggregate, and for such Liens
as, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken all actions reasonably
necessary to ensure full protection of their respective owned Intellectual Property
under all applicable laws, except where the failure to take any such actions,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. No claims are pending that allege that
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is infringing or otherwise adversely
affecting the rights of any Person with regard to any Intellectual Property
other than claims that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. To the Knowledge
of the Company, no Person is infringing the rights of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property in a manner that,
individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 4.16 Material Contracts. As of the date hereof, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any contract, agreement
or other instrument (a) that is a "material contract" (as such term is defined
in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC), (b) that limits
or restricts the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from engaging in any line
of business or in any geographic area in any material respect, (c) under which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has directly or indirectly guaranteed
any liabilities or obligations of a third party (other than ordinary course
endorsements for collection) in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate, (d)
relating to indebtedness for borrowed money, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed
or secured by any asset, or (e) involving continuing monetary (contingent or
otherwise) obligations (other than immaterial ones) of the Company and its Subsidiaries
relating to the acquisition or disposition of any business for an amount in
excess of $10,000,000 (other than obligations under commercial contracts assumed
in connection with asset acquisitions and other than obligations to the extent
reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries).
Each contract of the type described in the first sentence of this Section 4.16
is referred to herein as a "Company Material Contract." Each Company Material
Contract is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable against the Company
or one of its Subsidiaries and, to the Knowledge of the Company, the counterparty
to such Company Material Contract, except to the extent that the failure to
be valid and in full force and enforceable, individually or in the aggregate,
has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge
of, or has received notice of, any default under (or any condition which with
or without the giving of notice, the passage of time or both would cause such
a default under) any Company Material Contract to which it is a party or by
which it or any of its assets is bound, except for such defaults that, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.
Section 4.17 Labor and Employment.
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are
in compliance with applicable labor and employment laws regarding their employees
including the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans With Disabilities
Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938, the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act of 2006 and comparable
state and local laws, except for failures to be in compliance which, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable
employment and collective bargaining agreements, except for failures to be in
compliance which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 4.18 Real Estate.
(a) The Company Real Property is sufficient for
the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently
conducted in all material respects.
(b) The Company has, subject to the terms of the Company Leases, the right
to access, use and occupy the Company Leased Real Property for the full term
of the Company Lease relating thereto, except for any failure to have such right
which, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Each Company Lease constitutes
a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries,
as applicable, and is enforceable against such Person in accordance with its
terms, except that such enforceability (x) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the
enforcement of creditors rights generally and (y) is subject to general principles
of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law). To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no default under any Company
Lease (or any condition or event, which, after notice or a lapse of time or
both would constitute a default thereunder) which, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(c) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has good
and insurable fee title to the Company Owned Real Property. The Company Owned
Real Property has sufficient access to and from adjoining public right of ways,
that is necessary to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as presently conducted thereon, except for any failure to have such access which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. There are no violations of any covenant,
condition, or restriction which would materially impair the rights to use and
occupancy with respect to the Company Owned Real Property for such purposes
necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as presently conducted thereon, except for any failure to have such right which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 4.19 Environmental Matters. Except for matters that would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company: (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with
all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (ii) no property
currently (or, to the Knowledge of the Company) formerly owned or leased by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been the subject of any investigation
by any Governmental Entity or of any third party demand alleging the presence
of any Hazardous Substances that would require remediation pursuant to any Environmental
Law; (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
written notice, demand, letter, claim or request for information alleging that
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be in violation of or subject to
liability under any Environmental Law; and (iv) neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is subject to any written order, decree, injunction or indemnity
with any Governmental Entity or any third Person relating to liability under
any Environmental Law or relating to contamination of any property by Hazardous
Substances. This Section 4.19 and Sections 4.6, 4.7, 4.9 and 4.12 set forth
the sole representations and warranties of the Company with respect to environmental
or workplace health or safety matters, including all matters arising under Environmental
Laws.
Section 4.20 Affiliate Transactions. Except pursuant to any employment or
separation agreement with any officer of the Company, there are no transactions
of the type that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under Item
404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Section 4.21 Required Vote of Company Stockholders. The affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
and entitled to vote at the Stockholders Meeting adopting this Agreement is
the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Companys capital
stock necessary to approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.
Section 4.22 Opinions of Financial Advisors. The Board of Directors of the
Company has received the opinion of each of Goldman Sachs, Greenhill and Morgan
Stanley to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and
subject to the matters set forth therein, the $15.625 per Share in cash to be
received by the holders of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement
is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
Section 4.23 Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other Person, other than Goldman Sachs, Greenhill and Morgan Stanley, the fees
and expenses of which will be paid by the Company, is entitled to any brokers,
finders, financial advisors or other similar fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Company.
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB
Except (i) as set forth in the corresponding section of the Parent Letter,
it being understood that matters disclosed pursuant to one section of the Parent
Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to any other section of the Parent
Letter where it is reasonably apparent that the matters so disclosed are applicable
to such other section, or (ii) as expressly contemplated or expressly permitted
under this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby, each of Parent and
Sub, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to the Company as
follows:
Section 5.01 Organization. Each of Parent and Sub is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation and has the requisite corporate power and authority to carry
on its business as now being conducted, except where the failure to be in good
standing or to have such power and authority has not had and would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
Section 5.2 Authority. Each of Parent and Sub has the requisite corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Sub and the consummation by
each of Parent and Sub of the Merger and of the other transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of each of Parent and Sub. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by each of Parent and Sub and (assuming the valid authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company) constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of each of Parent and Sub enforceable against each of them in accordance
with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating
to the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) is subject to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
Section 5.3 Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except (a) for filings,
permits, authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and
other applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act, the HSR Act, the DGCL, the
laws of other states in which Parent is qualified to do or is doing business
and state takeover laws, (b) foreign and supranational laws relating to antitrust
and anticompetition clearances listed in Section 5.3 of the Parent Letter, (c)
other approvals of Governmental Entities listed in Section 5.3 of the Parent
Letter and (d) as may be required in connection with the Taxes described in
Section 7.7, neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement
by Parent and Sub nor the consummation by Parent and Sub of the transactions
contemplated hereby will (i) result in any breach of any provision of the respective
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Parent or Sub, (ii) require any filing
with, or the obtaining of any permit, authorization, consent or approval of,
any Governmental Entity (except where the failure to make such filings or to
obtain such permits, authorizations, consents or approvals, individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger),
(iii) result in a breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse
of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, amendment,
cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, lease, contract, agreement
or other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets are
bound or result in the creation of any Lien on any property or asset of Parent
or Sub or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties
or assets, except, in the case of clause (iii), for breaches, defaults, terminations,
amendments, cancellations, accelerations or violations that, individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger.
Section 5.4 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to
be supplied by Parent or Sub or any of their representatives specifically for
inclusion in the Proxy Statement, at the time the Proxy Statement is first mailed
to the Companys stockholders or at the time of the Stockholders Meeting or
at the time of any amendments or supplements thereto, will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading,
except that no representation or warranty is made by Parent or Sub in connection
with any of the foregoing with respect to statements made therein based on information
supplied by the Company or any of its representatives specifically for inclusion
therein.
Section 5.5 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no suit,
action, proceeding or investigation pending, or to the Knowledge of Parent threatened,
against Parent, Sub or any of their Subsidiaries or their respective properties,
assets or rights that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger.
None of Parent, Sub or any of their Subsidiaries nor any of their respective
properties, assets or rights is subject to any outstanding judgment, order,
writ, injunction or decree that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent or materially
delay the consummation of the Merger.
Section 5.6 Capitalization and Interim Operations of Sub. The authorized
capital stock of Sub consists solely of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, all of which are validly issued and outstanding. All of the
issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Sub (a) are, and as of the
Effective Time will be, owned by Parent or a direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiary of Parent and (b) have been, and as of the Effective Time will be,
duly authorized and validly issued and are, and as of the Effective Time will
be, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive or other similar rights.
Sub has no outstanding option, warrant, right or other agreement pursuant to
which any Person (other than Parent) may acquire any equity security of Sub.
Sub has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and
prior to the Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations
of any nature other than those incident to its formation or contemplated by
this Agreement.
Section 5.7 Financing Commitments. Parent has delivered to the Company true
and complete copies of (a) an executed commitment letter from each of the Guarantors
to provide equity financing in an aggregate amount set forth therein (the "Equity
Funding Letters") and (b) an executed debt commitment letter (the "Commitment
Letter") from J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citigroup
Global Markets Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Banc of America Bridge
LLC and Bank of America, N.A. to provide debt financing in an aggregate amount
set forth therein (the "Debt Financing," and, together with the financing referred
to in clause (a), the "Financing"). As of the date hereof, each of the Equity
Funding Letters and the Commitment Letter, in the form so delivered, is a legal,
valid and binding obligation of Parent or Sub and, to the Knowledge of Parent,
the other parties thereto and (assuming that such Equity Funding Letters and
Commitment Letter constitute such obligations of such other parties) is in full
force and effect. Other than as permitted pursuant to Section 7.12(a), none
of the Equity Funding Letters or Commitment Letter has been amended or modified
and the respective commitments contained in such letters have not been withdrawn, rescinded or terminated in any respect, and as of the date hereof (x) neither
Parent nor Sub is in breach of any of the terms or conditions set forth therein
and (y) to the Knowledge of Parent, no event has occurred which, with or without
notice, lapse of time or both, would reasonably be expected to constitute a
breach or failure to satisfy a condition precedent set forth therein. Parent
or Sub has paid any and all commitment or other fees required by the Equity
Funding Letters or the Commitment Letter that are due as of the date hereof
and will pay, after the date hereof, all such commitments and fees as they become
due. Except for the payment of customary fees, there are no conditions precedent
or other similar contractual contingencies related to the funding of the full
amount of the Financing, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Equity
Funding Letters or the Commitment Letter. The aggregate proceeds contemplated
by the Equity Funding Letters and the Commitment Letter will be sufficient for
Sub and the Surviving Corporation to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration
as contemplated by Section 3.1, to make any payments required or contemplated
by Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 and to make any other repayment or refinancing
of debt contemplated in the Equity Funding Letters or the Commitment Letter
and to pay all related fees and expenses. As of the date of this Agreement,
assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Article
IV, Parent does not have any reason to believe that any of the conditions to
the Financing will not be satisfied or that the Financing will not be available
to Sub on the Closing Date.
Section 5.8 Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
Person, other than as set forth in Section 5.8 of the Parent Letter, the fees
and expenses of which will be paid by Parent or its Affiliates, is entitled
to any brokers, finders, financial advisors or other similar fee or commission
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or Sub.
Section 5.9 Lack of Ownership of Company Common Stock. Neither Parent nor
any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owns or, since January 1, 2004 has beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, any shares of Company Common Stock or other securities
convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for shares of Company Common
Stock. There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the
capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.10 Guaranty. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement,
Parent has caused each of the Guarantors to deliver to the Company its duly
executed Guaranty. Each Guaranty is in full force and effect and is the valid,
binding and enforceable obligation of the applicable Guarantor and no event
has occurred, which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute
a default on the part of such Guarantor under such Guaranty.
Section 5.11 Absence of Arrangements with Management. Other than this Agreement,
as of the date hereof, there are no contracts, undertakings, commitments, agreements
or obligations or understandings between Parent or Sub or any of their Affiliates,
on the one hand, and any member of the Companys management or Board of Directors,
on the other hand, relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or the operations of the Company after the Effective Time.
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Section 6.1 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger. Except
as (x) required by applicable law or by a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction,
(y) expressly contemplated by this Agreement (including as permitted or required
by Section 7.10) or (z) set forth in Section 6.1 of the Company Letter, during
the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, the Company
shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to carry on its business in
the ordinary course as currently conducted and to use their commercially reasonable
efforts to retain the services of its key officers and employees and to maintain
relationships that are at least as favorable as those currently existing with
suppliers, customers, franchisees, employees and others having material relationships
with the Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, during such period, except as (x) required by applicable law or by
a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction, (y) expressly contemplated
by this Agreement (including as permitted or required by Section 7.10) or (z)
set forth in Section 6.1 of the Company Letter, the Company shall not, and shall
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of
Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):
(a) (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions
in respect of, any of its capital stock or partnership, limited liability or
other equity interests (any such stock or interest, an "Equity Interest"), except
for (A) dividends by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent,
(B) distributions required to be made under the partnership agreement of Terminix
International and (C) regular, quarterly cash dividends of the Company in an
amount not more than $0.12 per Share, or (ii) other than in the case of any
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, adjust, split, combine or reclassify
any of its Equity Interests or issue or authorize the issuance of any other
securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for any Equity Interests;
(b) issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber any Equity Interest,
any other voting securities or any securities convertible into, or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire, any such Equity Interests, voting securities
or convertible securities, or make any changes (by combination, merger, consolidation,
reorganization, liquidation or otherwise) in the capital structure of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, other than (i) the issuance of shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to Company Awards outstanding as of the date of this Agreement,
(ii) the issuance by any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company
of its capital stock to the Company or another wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company, and (iii) the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to
the Company Stock Purchase Plans (it being the Companys expectation that for
the March and April purchase periods not more than $1,800,000 (including not
more than $300,000 representing the Companys contribution)) will be applied
to the purchase of Company Common Stock thereunder);
(c) amend or waive any provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws
or similar organizational documents or, in the case of the Company, enter into
any agreement with any stockholder in such Persons capacity as stockholder;
(d) other than (i) capital expenditures permitted by Section 6.1(e) and purchases
of inventory, raw materials and supplies in the ordinary course of business,
and (ii) consolidation program acquisitions with purchase prices up to $67 million
in the aggregate, acquire any assets or properties, including any Equity Interests
of any Person;
(e) make or agree to make any new capital expenditure, other than capital
expenditures (i) approved by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to
the date hereof or within the Companys capital budget for fiscal 2007 and previously
made available to Parent or (ii) to the extent not covered in clause (i), in
an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000;
(f) other than transactions that are in the ordinary course of business,
sell, lease, license, encumber by Lien or otherwise, or otherwise dispose of,
or agree to sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose of, any of assets
having a fair market value in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate;
(g) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, other than (i) indebtedness
for borrowed money existing solely between the Company and its wholly owned
Subsidiaries (which term, for purposes of this Section 6.1(g)(i), shall include
Terminix International) or between such wholly owned Subsidiaries, (ii) indebtedness
for borrowed money incurred in the ordinary course of business under the Company
Credit Agreement or the Company Lines of Credit in an amount at any time outstanding
not to exceed the sum of $110,000,000 (being the approximate principal amount
outstanding thereunder as of March 16, 2007) plus $75,000,000 through July 31,
2007 or plus $100,000,000 from August 1, 2007 thereafter, (iii) indebtedness
for borrowed money incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice in connection with transactions described in Section 6.1(d)(ii)
or (iv) capital leases entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice with aggregate obligations not in excess of $10,000,000;
(h) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
modify or amend in any material respect or terminate any Company Material Contract
or enter into, modify or amend any new agreement that would have been considered
a Company Material Contract had it been entered into at or prior to the date
hereof;
(i) settle or compromise any material action, claim, demand, suit, investigation,
arbitration, litigation or similar judicial or regulatory matter;
(j) (i) increase the salary, wages or benefits payable or to become payable
to its directors, officers or employees, or any benefits provided under the
Company Stock Purchase Plans, except for (A) increases required under employment
agreements existing on the date hereof and (B) increases for officers and employees
in the ordinary course of business; or (ii) enter into any employment, retention
or severance agreement with, or establish, adopt, enter into or amend any bonus,
profit sharing, thrift, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement,
deferred compensation, retention, employment, termination or severance plan,
agreement, policy or arrangement for the benefit of, any director, officer or
employee, except, in each case, as may be required by the terms of any such
plan, agreement, policy or arrangement or to comply with applicable law;
(k) (i) except as may be required by GAAP or as a result of a change in law,
make any change in its method of accounting, or (ii) conduct any Tax affairs
relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary
course of business, in compliance with applicable law and in substantially the
same manner as heretofore conducted and in good faith in substantially the same
manner as such affairs would have been conducted if this Agreement had not been
entered into or (iii) make or change any material Tax election, settle or compromise
any material liability for Taxes, obtain any Tax ruling or amend any Tax Return;
or
(l) enter into any contract or agreement to, or resolve to, do any of the
foregoing.
Section 6.2 No Solicitation.
(a) The Company shall, and shall use its reasonable
best efforts to cause its executive officers, directors, representatives and
agents to, immediately cease any discussions or negotiations with any parties
that may be ongoing with respect to a Takeover Proposal. After the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall use its reasonable
best efforts to cause its executive officers, directors, representatives or
agents not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage
any inquiry with respect to, or the making, submission or announcement of, any
proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Takeover
Proposal, (ii) participate in any negotiations regarding a Takeover Proposal
with, or furnish any nonpublic information relating to a Takeover Proposal to,
any Person that has made or, to the knowledge of the Company, is considering
making a Takeover Proposal, (iii) engage in discussions regarding a Takeover
Proposal with any Person that has made or, to the knowledge of the Company,
is considering making a Takeover Proposal, except to notify such Person of the
existence of the provisions of this Section 6.2, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend
any Takeover Proposal, (v) enter into any letter of intent or agreement in principle
or any agreement providing for any Takeover Proposal (except for Qualified Confidentiality
Agreements permitted under Section 6.2(b)) or (vi) propose or agree to do any
of the foregoing. The Company agrees that any violations of the restrictions
set forth in Section 6.2 by any representative of the Company shall be deemed
to be a breach by the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.2(a), if the Company receives a bona fide,
written and unsolicited Takeover Proposal which did not result from a breach
of Section 6.2(a) and (i) that constitutes a Superior Proposal or (ii) that
the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith (after consultation
with its financial advisors and outside counsel) could reasonably be expected
to result in a Superior Proposal, the Company may take the following actions:
(x) furnish nonpublic information to the Person making such Takeover Proposal,
if, and only if, (1) prior to so furnishing such information, the Company has
(A) complied with the following sentence of this Section 6.2(b), and (B) received
from such Person a Qualifying Confidentiality Agreement, and (2) all such information
has previously been provided to Parent and Sub or is provided to Parent and
Sub prior to or contemporaneously with the time it is provided to the Person
making such Takeover Proposal or such Persons representative, and (y) engage
in discussions or negotiations with such Person with respect to the Takeover
Proposal. The Company promptly (and in any event within 48 hours) shall advise
Parent orally and in writing of the receipt of (i) any proposal that constitutes
or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Takeover Proposal, including the
identity of the Person(s) making such proposal and the material terms of such
proposal, and providing copies of any document or correspondence evidencing
such proposal, and (ii) any request for non-public information relating to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than requests for information not reasonably expected
to be related to a Takeover Proposal. The Company shall keep Parent reasonably
informed on a reasonably current basis of the status of any such proposal (including
any material change to the terms thereof).
(c) Except as set forth in this Section 6.2, neither the Board of Directors
of the Company nor any committee thereof shall: (i) withdraw or modify, or propose
publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the approval
or recommendation by such Board of Directors or such committee of the Merger
or this Agreement; (ii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve
or recommend, any Takeover Proposal; or (iii) cause the Company to enter into
any letter of intent or acquisition agreement (each, an "Acquisition Agreement")
relating to any Takeover Proposal.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 6.2(c), at any time prior to obtaining the Company
Stockholder Approval, if the Company has received a Superior Proposal (after
giving effect to the terms of any revised offer by Parent pursuant to this Section
6.2(d)), the Board of Directors of the Company may (x) in connection with such
Superior Proposal, withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify,
including in a manner that may be adverse to Parent, its approval or recommendation
of the Merger and this Agreement or (y) approve or recommend, or propose publicly
to approve or recommend, a Superior Proposal or terminate this Agreement (and
concurrently with or after such termination, if it so chooses, cause the Company
to enter into an Acquisition Agreement with respect to any Superior Proposal),
if the Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good faith, after
consultation with outside counsel, the failure to take such action would be
reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the directors exercise of their fiduciary
obligations to the Companys stockholders under applicable law, provided that
the Board of Directors of the Company may not take the actions set forth in
clause (x) or (y) unless:
(1) the Company shall have provided prior written notice to Parent at least
five calendar days in advance (the "Notice Period"), of its intention to take
such actions, which notice shall specify the terms and conditions of any such
Superior Proposal (including the identity of the party making such Superior
Proposal and copies of any documents or correspondence evidencing such Superior
Proposal) and any material modifications to any of the foregoing, and
(2) during the Notice Period, the Company shall, and shall cause its financial
advisors and outside counsel to, negotiate with Parent in good faith (to the
extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and
conditions of this Agreement so that such Takeover Proposal ceases to constitute
(in the judgment of the Board of Directors) a Superior Proposal.
In the event of any material revisions to the Superior Proposal, the Company
shall deliver a new written notice to Parent and shall comply with the requirements
of this Section 6.2(d) with respect to such new written notice, except that
the new Notice Period shall be two calendar days.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 6.2(c), at any time prior to the Company Stockholder
Approval, the Board of Directors of the Company may in response to an Intervening
Event modify or withdraw the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the
Merger and this Agreement if the Board of Directors has determined in good faith, after consultation
with outside counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation,
that the failure of the Board of Directors to make such modification or withdrawal
would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the directors exercise of
their fiduciary obligations to the Companys stockholders under applicable law,
provided, that the Companys Board of Directors shall (i) provide Parent with
written information describing such Intervening Event in reasonable detail as
soon as practicable after the Company becomes aware of such an Intervening Event,
(ii) keep Parent and Sub reasonably informed of developments with respect to
such Intervening Event, (iii) provide written notice to Parent at least five
calendar days in advance of its intention to modify or withdraw its recommendation
of the Merger or this Agreement and (iv) during such five-day period, negotiate
and cause its financial advisors and outside counsel to, negotiate with Parent
in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make adjustments
in the terms and conditions of this Agreement in order to be able to not withdraw
or modify the recommendation to approve the Merger and this Agreement.
(f) Nothing contained in this Section 6.2 shall prohibit the Company from
(i) complying with Rule 14a-9, 14d-9 or 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange
Act, (ii) making any disclosure to the Companys stockholders if, in the good
faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation
with outside counsel, the failure to do so would be reasonably likely to be
inconsistent with the directors exercise of their fiduciary obligations to
the Companys stockholders under applicable law or is otherwise required under
applicable law or (iii) informing any Person of the existence of the provisions
contained in this Section 6.2.
Section 6.3 Conduct of Parent and Sub Pending the Merger.
(a) During the
period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, Parent shall
not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to, take or
agree to take any action (including entering into agreements with respect to
acquisitions, mergers, consolidations or business combinations) which would
reasonably be expected to materially delay or impede the consummation of the
Merger.
(b) During the period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective
Time, Sub shall not engage in any activity of any nature except as provided
in or contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section 7.01 Employee Benefits.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section
7.1 or in Section 7.2, nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as limiting
the power of the Surviving Corporation to amend or terminate any particular
Benefit Plan or any other particular employee benefit plan, program, agreement
or policy, or as requiring the Surviving Corporation to offer to continue (other
than as required by its terms) any written employment contract; provided, however,
that no such amendment or termination may impair the rights of any person with
respect to benefits or any other payments earned, accrued or payable as of the
time of or as a result of such amendment or termination without the written
consent of such person. Nothing contained in this Section 7.1 shall be deemed
to grant any employee any right to continued employment after the Effective
Time.
(b) From the Effective Time through December 31, 2007, the Surviving Corporation
shall provide each individual who is an employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time (including employees who are not actively
at work on account of illness, disability or leave of absence) (the "Retained
Employees"), while employed by the Surviving Corporation or any of its Affiliates,
with (i) base compensation that is not less than the base compensation paid
to such Retained Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) bonus
opportunities and incentive compensation awards under annual, long-term and
other bonus and incentive plans that are no less favorable in the aggregate
than the bonus opportunities and incentive compensation awards granted to such
Retained Employee under the Companys Annual Bonus Plan, Corporate Performance
Plan, Company Stock Incentive Plans and any other bonus and incentive plans
maintained by the Company or its Affiliates immediately prior to the Effective
Time, and (iii) all other employee benefits provided to such Retained Employee
immediately prior to the Effective Time. in each case, excluding for all purposes
any equity-based or long-term incentive plan or program.
(c) From the Effective Time through December 31, 2007, the Surviving Corporation
shall provide to each Retained Employee coverage under vacation and sick leave
policies that are not less favorable to such Retained Employee than the vacation
and sick leave policies in effect for such Retained Employee immediately prior
to the Effective Time. Parent shall take all necessary action so that each Retained
Employee shall after the Effective Time continue to be credited with the unused
vacation credited to such employee through the Effective Time under the applicable
vacation policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(d) Parent shall take all necessary action so that, for all purposes under
each employee benefit plan maintained or assumed by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
in which employees or former employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries are
eligible to participate as of or after the Effective Time (other than for purposes
of calculating benefits under a defined benefit pension plan), each such person
shall be given credit for all service with the Company and its Subsidiaries
(or all service credited by the Company or its Subsidiaries) to the same extent
as if rendered to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
(e) For the plan year ending December 31, 2007, Parent shall cause the Surviving
Corporation to continue the Companys Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan (the
"Company 401(k) Plan") as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
and to make a matching contribution thereunder at a rate and under terms no
less favorable to plan participants than the annual matching contributions made
under the Company 401(k) Plan for the 2006 plan year. To the extent Retained
Employees become eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan maintained by Parent
or its Subsidiaries during a subsequent plan year, elective deferrals made under
the Company 401(k) Plan and compensation received from the Company, the Surviving
Corporation and their Subsidiaries with respect to such plan year shall be taken
into account for purposes of determining the amount of annual employer matching,
profit sharing and other employer contributions allocated for such plan year.
(f) Subject to Section 7.1(g), for the plan year ending December 31, 2007,
Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to continue the Companys Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Company DCP") as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time and to make a matching contribution thereunder at a rate and
under terms no less favorable to plan participants than the annual matching allocations under the Company DCP for the 2006 plan year.
To the extent Retained Employees become eligible to participate in a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries during
a subsequent plan year, elective deferrals made under the Company DCP and compensation
received from the Company, the Surviving Corporation and their Subsidiaries
with respect to such plan year shall be taken into account for purposes of determining
the amount of annual employer matching and profit sharing allocations for such
plan year.
(g) On or before the Effective Time, the Company, or after the Effective
Time, Parent, shall take such action as is reasonably necessary (i) to cause
each account that is deemed invested in shares of Company Common Stock under
the Company DCP, the value of which shall be based on the Merger Consideration,
instead to be deemed invested, prior to or as of the Effective Time, in the
T. Rowe Price Summitt Cash Reserves fund or such other fund designated by the
Company as a default fund pursuant to the Company DCP, (ii) to cause each Share
Equivalent Account under the Companys 2002 Directors Deferred Fees Plan (the
"Directors Plan"), the value of which shall be based on the Merger Consideration,
to be converted, prior to or as of the Effective Time, to an Interest Account
under the Directors Plan and (iii) to eliminate any right of a participant after
the Effective Time to receive payment of his or her account under the Company
DCP or the Directors Plan in the form of shares of Company Common Stock. Following
the Effective Time, none of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their
Affiliates shall accelerate the time at which benefits are paid under the Company
DCP, either by termination of such plan or otherwise, without the written consent
of the affected participant. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company may, in
the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, amend the Company
DCP to permit participants to change the date on which their Company DCP accounts
are to be paid, in either case, to the extent permitted under Section 409A of
the Code and the transition rules thereunder.
(h) Parent shall honor or cause to be honored by the Company, the Surviving
Corporation and their Subsidiaries all employment agreements, consulting agreements,
retention agreements, bonus agreements, severance and separation agreements,
relocation agreements, retirement agreements, non-competition agreements and
collective bargaining agreements with or applicable to current and former directors,
officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Not later than the
Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, deliver
to each employee of the Company who has entered into a Change in Control Severance
Agreement with the Company (or his or her beneficiary or estate) a written notice,
in the form set forth in Section 7.1(h) of the Company Letter and in accordance
with Section 10(b) of such Change in Control Severance Agreement, in which Parent
agrees to unconditionally assume all of the obligations of the Company under
such Change in Control Severance Agreement. For a period of at least 12 months
after the Effective Time, Parent shall maintain or cause the Company or Surviving
Corporation to maintain a severance plan or policy with terms at least as favorable
to Retained Employees as the terms of the severance policy listed on Section
7.1(h) of the Company Letter.
(i) Parent shall, or shall cause the Company and the Surviving Corporation
to, (i) waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions and waiting
periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to
the Retained Employees and former employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries
under any welfare or fringe benefit plan in which such employees and former employees may be eligible to participate after
the Effective Time, other than limitations or waiting periods that are in effect
with respect to such employees and that have not been satisfied under the corresponding
welfare or fringe benefit plan maintained by the Company for the Retained Employees
and former employees prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) provide each Retained
Employee and former employee with credit under any welfare plans in which such
employee or former employee becomes eligible to participate after the Effective
Time for any co-payments and deductibles paid by such Retained Employee or former
employee for the then current plan year and for any out-of-pocket expenditures
paid by such Retained Employee or former employee at any time under the corresponding
welfare plans maintained by the Company prior to the Effective Time.
(j) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company may, in its sole discretion,
amend all nonqualified deferred compensation plans maintained by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with Section 409A of the Code, subject
to the consent of affected participants to the extent required by the terms
of any such plan. After the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Company or
the Surviving Corporation to take any further action that may be required for
such plans to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
Section 7.2 Treatment of Stock-Based Awards.
(a) The Company shall use reasonable
efforts to ensure that, at the Effective Time, each Company Stock Option and
Company SAR then outstanding, whether or not then exercisable, shall be cancelled
by the Company in consideration for which the holder thereof shall thereupon
be entitled to receive promptly (but in no event later than ten days) after
the Effective Time, a cash payment in respect of such cancellation from the
Surviving Corporation in an amount (if any) equal to (i) the product of (x)
the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject or related to such Company
Stock Option or Company SAR and (y) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration
over the exercise, purchase or base price per share of Company Common Stock
subject or related to such Company Stock Option or Company SAR, minus (ii) all
applicable federal, state and local Taxes required to be withheld by the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) At the Effective Time, each Company Stock Unit then outstanding, whether
or not then vested, shall be cancelled by the Company in consideration for which
the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive promptly (but in no event later
than five days) after the Effective Time, a cash payment in respect of such
cancellation from the Surviving Corporation in an amount equal to (i) the product
of (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to or related to
such Company Stock Unit and (y) the Merger Consideration, minus (ii) all applicable
federal, state and local Taxes required to be withheld by the Surviving Corporation.
(c) The Company shall amend each of the Company Stock Purchase Plans to (i)
prohibit any increase in the rate of payroll deductions between the date of
this Agreement and the Effective Time, and (ii) as promptly as practicable but
in no event more than 60 days following the date hereof, suspend the payroll
deductions and issuance or purchase of additional shares of Company Common Stock
under each of the Company Stock Purchase Plans. As of the Effective Time, all
rights to purchase shares of Company Common Stock under each of the Company
Stock Purchase Plans shall terminate, and each participant in any such plan
immediately prior to such termination shall receive promptly (but in no event
later than ten days) after the Effective Time, a cash payment from the Surviving
Corporation in an amount equal to (i) the sum of (A) the payroll deductions credited to such employees account under the applicable
Company Stock Purchase Plan as of the Effective Time plus (B) the employer contribution
that would be made with respect to such payroll deductions under the applicable
Company Stock Purchase Plan if the purchase period then in effect were to end
as of the Effective Time, minus (ii) all applicable federal, state and local
Taxes required to be withheld by the Surviving Corporation.
(d) The Board of Directors of each of the Company and Parent shall, prior
to the Effective Time, take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate
pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d) and Rule 16b-3(e) to exempt the conversion to cash
of all Shares, Company Stock Options and other derivative securities with respect
to Shares held by officers and directors of the Company who are subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or by employees
or directors of the Company who may become an officer or director of Parent
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
Parent and the Company shall provide to counsel to the other party copies of
the resolutions to be adopted by the respective Boards of Directors to implement
the foregoing.
Section 7.3 Stockholder Approval; Preparation of Proxy Statement.
(a) The
Company shall, subject to the fiduciary duties of its Board of Directors, as
soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, duly call, give notice
of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the "Stockholders Meeting")
for the purpose of obtaining the adoption of this Agreement (the "Company Stockholder
Approval"). The Company, through its Board of Directors (but subject to the
right of the Companys Board of Directors to withdraw or modify its approval
or recommendation of the Merger and this Agreement as set forth in Section 6.2),
recommend to its stockholders in the Proxy Statement that the Company Stockholder
Approval be given, shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from its
stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and shall not
take any action or make any statement in connection with the Stockholders Meeting
that is inconsistent with such recommendation.
(b) The Company shall, in consultation with Parent, prepare and file a preliminary
Proxy Statement with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable following the
date of this Agreement. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
have the Proxy Statement cleared by the SEC as promptly as practicable after
filing. The Company shall notify Parent promptly of the receipt of any written
or oral comments from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or
its staff for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or for additional
information and will supply Parent with copies of all correspondence between
the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its
staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Company shall consult with Parent and prepare
written responses with respect to such written comments. No amendment or supplement
to the Proxy Statement shall be made, and no correspondence filed with the SEC
with respect thereto, by the Company without providing Parent with a reasonable
opportunity to review and comment thereon. The Company will advise Parent promptly
after it receives notice that the Proxy Statement has been cleared by the SEC
or any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement. To the extent
permitted by law, the Company shall cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to
the Companys stockholders as promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement
has been cleared by the SEC. If at any time prior to the Stockholders Meeting
there shall occur any event (including discovery of any fact, circumstance or
event) that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement,
the Company shall promptly prepare and mail to its stockholders such an amendment
or supplement, in each case to the extent required by applicable law. Parent
shall cooperate with the Company in the preparation of the Proxy Statement or
any amendment or supplement thereto.
Section 7.4 Access to Information. Upon reasonable notice and subject to
the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, dated December 1, 2006, between
the Company and Parent (as assignee of the rights and obligations of Clayton,
Dubilier & Rice, Inc.), as amended, supplemented or modified (the "Confidentiality
Agreement"), the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
afford to Parent and to the officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other
representatives of Parent reasonable access, during normal business hours during
the period prior to the Effective Time, to all their respective properties,
books, contracts, commitments and records (including customary management reports
and financial information), and during such period, the Company shall (and shall
cause each of its Subsidiaries to) make available and known to Parent and its
representatives (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement
and other document filed, furnished or received by it during such period pursuant
to the requirements of the federal or state securities laws or the federal Tax
laws (other than routine reports, schedules, registration statements and documents)
and (b) all other information concerning its business, properties and personnel
as Parent may reasonably request; provided, however, that such access and information
shall only be provided to the extent that such access or the provision of such
information would not violate applicable law; and provided, further, that the
foregoing shall not require the Company (i) to permit any inspection, or to
disclose any information, that (x) in the reasonable good faith judgment of
the Company would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third Persons
or (y) violate any of the Companys obligations with respect to confidentiality
if the Company shall have used its reasonable efforts to obtain the consent
of such third Person to such inspection or disclosure, (ii) to disclose any
privileged information of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) to
permit invasive testing of any of the Companys or its Subsidiaries real property.
All requests for information made pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be directed
to the Vice President Mergers and Acquisitions of the Company or such Person
as may be designated by him. In no event shall the Company be required to supply
to Parent, or Parents officers, employees, accountants, counsel or other representatives,
any information relating to indications of interest from, or discussions with,
any other potential acquirors of the Company, except to the extent necessary
for use in the Proxy Statement or as required under Section 6.2. In the event
of a termination of this Agreement for any reason, Parent shall, in accordance
with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, return or destroy, or cause
to be returned or destroyed, all nonpublic information so obtained from the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any copies made of such documents for
Parent, except to the extent that, in Parents reasonable judgment, retention
of such information is required to assert any of its rights under this Agreement
or to defend itself or Sub against any liability asserted against them, in which
case such information shall be returned or destroyed promptly following the
resolution of such matter.
Section 7.5 Fees and Expenses.
(a) Except as provided below in this Section
7.5 and in Section 7.12(b), all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger
is consummated.
(b) The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds, to Parent (x) $100,000,000 (the "Company Termination Fee")
and (y) the Expenses up to a maximum amount not to exceed $20,000,000, under
the circumstances and at the times set forth as follows:
(i) if Parent terminates this Agreement under Section 9.1(d), the Company
shall pay the Company Termination Fee no later than two Business Days after
such termination;
(ii) if the Company terminates this Agreement under Section 9.1(e) or (f),
the Company shall pay the Company Termination Fee prior to and as a condition
to the effectiveness of such termination; and
(iii) if the Company or Parent terminates this Agreement under Section 9.1(b)(i)
or 9.1(b)(iii) and after the date of this Agreement and prior to such
termination any Person or "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of
the Exchange Act) shall have made a Takeover Proposal and such Takeover Proposal
shall not have been withdrawn, in the case of a termination under Section 9.1(b)(i),
prior to such termination or, in the case of a termination under Section 9.1(b)(iii),
prior to the Stockholders Meeting, then (A) the Company shall pay the Expenses
prior to and as a condition to the effectiveness of such termination if this
Agreement is terminated by the Company or within two Business Days after such
termination if this Agreement is terminated by Parent and (B) if within nine
months after such termination, the Company shall enter into a definitive agreement
in respect of a Takeover Proposal (with 20% in the definition thereof being
replaced with 50%) or such a Takeover Proposal shall be consummated, the Company
shall pay an amount equal to the excess of the Company Termination Fee over
the Expenses paid pursuant to clause (A) prior to the earlier of the entering
into of such definitive agreement or the consummation of such Takeover Proposal
and as a condition to the effectiveness of such entry or consummation.
(c) Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds, to the Company $100,000,000 (the "Parent Termination Fee")
if the Company terminates this Agreement under Section 9.1(g)(ii), no later
than two Business Days after such termination
(d) In the event that the Company shall fail to pay the Termination Fee and/or
Expenses, or Parent shall fail to pay the Parent Termination Fee, required pursuant
to this Section 7.5 when due, such fees and/or Expenses, as the case may be,
shall accrue interest for the period commencing on the date such fees and/or
Expenses, as the case may be, became past due, at a rate equal to the rate of
interest publicly announced by Citibank, in the City of New York from time to
time during such period, as such banks Prime Lending Rate. In addition, if
either party shall fail to pay such fee and/or Expenses, as the case may be,
when due, such owing party shall also pay to the owed party all of the owed
partys costs and expenses (including attorneys fees) in connection with efforts
to collect such fee and/or Expenses, as the case may be.
Section 7.6 Public Announcements. The initial press release issued by Parent
and the Company concerning this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be a joint press release and thereafter Parent and the Company shall consult with each
other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall not
issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such
consultation, except as may be required by applicable law or by obligations
pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange.
Section 7.7 Transfer Taxes. The Company and Parent shall cooperate in the
preparation, execution and filing of all returns, questionnaires, applications
or other documents regarding any real property transfer, sales, use, transfer,
value added, stock transfer and stamp Taxes, and transfer, recording, registration
and other fees and any similar Taxes that become payable in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with any related interest,
penalties or additions to Tax, "Transfer Taxes"). All Transfer Taxes shall be
paid by the Parent and Sub and expressly shall not be a liability of any holder
of Shares.
Section 7.8 State Takeover Laws. If any "fair price" or "control share acquisition"
statute or other similar statute or regulation shall become applicable to the
transactions contemplated hereby, Parent and the Company and their respective
Boards of Directors shall use reasonable efforts to grant such approvals and
take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby
may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby
and otherwise act to minimize the effects of any such statute or regulation
on the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 7.9 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.
(a) For a
period of six years after the Effective Time, unless otherwise required by applicable
law, Parent shall cause the respective certificate of incorporation and by-laws
(or equivalent organizational documents) of the Surviving Corporation and each
of its Subsidiaries to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to
the exculpation from personal liability and indemnification of and advancement
of expenses to directors, officers, employees and agents than are set forth
in the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws (or equivalent organizational
documents of the relevant Subsidiary of the Company) as in effect on the date
hereof; provided, however, that if any claim or claims are asserted against
any individual entitled to the protections of such provisions within such six-year
period, such provisions shall not be modified until the final disposition of
any such claims. Parent shall cause the Company to indemnify and advance expenses
to, and shall itself indemnify and advance expenses to as if it were the Company,
each present and former director, officer, employee, agent or employee benefit
plan fiduciary (an "Indemnified Person") of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(including rights relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights
to which such persons are entitled because they are serving as a director, officer,
agent or employee of another entity at the request of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries) in respect of actions, omissions or events through the Effective
Time to the fullest extent provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or the
By-laws or the organizational documents of any Subsidiary of the Company, as
applicable, any indemnification agreement or under applicable laws, in each
case, as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that any
determination required to be made with respect to whether an Indemnified Persons
conduct complies with the standards set forth under the applicable law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or the organizational documents of any
Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, or any such agreement, as the case
may be, shall be made by independent legal counsel jointly selected by such
Indemnified Person and Parent; and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 7.9 shall impair any rights of any Indemnified Person.
Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, if any Indemnified
Person becomes involved in any actual or threatened action, suit, claim, proceeding
or investigation covered by this Section 7.9 after the Effective Time, Parent
shall, or shall cause the Company to, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
promptly advance to such Indemnified Person his or her legal or other expenses
(including the cost of any investigation and preparation incurred in connection
therewith), subject to the providing by such Indemnified Person of an undertaking
to reimburse all amounts so advanced in the event of a non-appealable determination
of a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Person is not entitled
thereto; provided, that such obligation on the part of Parent shall cease six
years after the Effective Time except with respect to any action, suit, claim,
proceeding or investigation covered by this Section 7.9 made or filed prior
to the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time.
(b) The Company shall purchase an extended reporting period for its existing
directors and officers liability insurance ("D&O Insurance") for a period
of six years after the Effective Time so long as the premium therefor is not
in excess of 300% of the last annual premium paid prior to the date hereof (the
"Current Premium"); provided, however, that if no extended reporting period
is available for such six-year period or is at a premium in excess of 300% of
the Current Premium, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
as much D&O Insurance as can be obtained for a premium not in excess of 300%
of the Current Premium.
(c) If Parent or the Company or any of its successors or assigns (i) shall
consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not
be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger or shall cease to continue to exist for any reason or (ii) shall transfer
all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any individual, corporation
or other entity, then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made
so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Company, as applicable,
shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 7.9.
(d) The provisions of this Section 7.9 are intended to be for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Person, his or her heirs,
executors or similar representatives, shall be binding on all successors and
assigns of Parent, the Company and the Surviving Corporation and shall not be
amended in a manner that is adverse to the Indemnified Persons (including their
successors, assigns and heirs) without the consent of the Indemnified Person
(including the successors, assigns and heirs) affected thereby.
Section 7.10 Reasonable Best Efforts. Each of the Company, Parent and Sub
agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to effect the consummation of the
Merger as soon as practicable after the date hereof. Without limiting the foregoing,
(a) each of the Company, Parent and Sub agrees to use its reasonable best efforts
to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary to comply promptly with
all legal requirements that may be imposed on itself with respect to the Merger
(which actions shall include furnishing all information required under the HSR
Act and in connection with approvals of or filings with any other Governmental
Entity) and shall promptly cooperate with and promptly furnish information to
each other in connection with any such requirements imposed upon any of them
or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger and (b) each of the
Company, Parent and Sub shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use its
or their reasonable best efforts (i) to obtain (and shall cooperate with each
other in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption
by, any Governmental Entity or other public or private third Person required
to be obtained or made by Parent, Sub, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries
in connection with the Merger or the taking of any action contemplated thereby
or by this Agreement, (ii) to permit the other party to review any communication
given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference
with, any Governmental Entity or, in connection with any proceeding by a private
party, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental
Entity or other Person, give the other party the opportunity to attend and participate
in such meetings and conferences and (iii) to take all actions and to do or
cause to be done all other things, necessary, proper or advisable in order for
such party to fulfill and perform its respective obligations in respect of this
Agreement, to cause the conditions to their respective obligations set forth
in Article VIII to be fulfilled and otherwise to consummate and make effective
the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company shall provide
to Parent such affidavits or certifications as are necessary to exempt the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement from the provisions of Section 1445 of the Code.
Section 7.11 Notification of Certain Matters. Subject to applicable laws
and the instructions of any applicable Governmental Entity, each of the Company
and Parent shall keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to
completion of the transactions contemplated hereby, including promptly (i) furnishing
the other with copies of notices or other communications received by Parent
or the Company, as the case may be, or any of its Subsidiaries, from any third
Person and/or any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) notifying the other of
(a) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence
of which would be reasonably likely to cause any representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate as of the date hereof
or as of the Closing Date, (b) any failure of Parent, Sub or the Company, as
the case may be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement
to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder, (c) any changes or events
having or that individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected
to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay
the consummation of the Merger and (d) any actions, claims, suits, investigations
or proceedings commenced or threatened against, relating to or affecting or
involving such party or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Merger or the
transactions contemplated hereby, provided, however, that the delivery of any
notice pursuant to this Section 7.11 shall not limit or otherwise affect the
remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice.
Section 7.12 Financing.
(a) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts
to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable to arrange the Debt Financing on the terms
and conditions described in the Commitment Letter and (without the consent of
the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned)
shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, or grant any waiver
of any material provision or remedy under, the Commitment Letter if such amendment,
modification or waiver reduces the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing (without
a corresponding increase in another portion of the Financing), materially amends
the conditions to the drawdown of the Debt Financing or is adverse to the interests
of the Company in any other respect (provided that Parent and Sub may replace,
amend or modify the Commitment Letter (x) to add lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners,
syndication agents or similar entities which had not executed the Commitment Letter as of the date hereof, or (y) otherwise so
long as the terms would not, taken as a whole, adversely impact the ability
of Parent or Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or the likelihood
of consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby), including using reasonable
best efforts to (i) maintain in effect the Debt Financing commitments and enforce
its or Subs rights thereunder, (ii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions
applicable to and within the control of Parent and Sub to obtaining the Debt
Financing set forth therein (including by consummating the financing pursuant
to the terms of the Equity Funding Letters), (iii) enter into definitive agreements
with respect thereto on the terms and conditions contemplated by the Commitment
Letter or on other terms no less favorable to Parent and Sub and (iv) consummate
the Financing at or prior to Closing. If any portion of the Debt Financing becomes
unavailable on the terms and conditions contemplated in the Commitment Letter,
Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange to obtain alternative
financing from alternative sources on terms no less favorable to Parent and
Sub in an amount sufficient to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement as promptly as practicable following the occurrence of such event.
Parent shall give the Company prompt notice of any material breach by any party
to the Commitment Letter of which Parent or Sub becomes aware or any termination
of the Commitment Letter. Parent shall keep the Company informed on a reasonably
current basis in reasonable detail of the status of its efforts to arrange the
Debt Financing and provide copies of all commitments related to the Debt Financing
to the Company when entered into by Parent or any of its Affiliates. In addition,
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Commitment Letter
may be superseded at the option of Parent after the date of this Agreement but
prior to the Closing Date by instruments (the "New Financing Commitments") that
replace the existing Commitment Letter, provided that the terms of the New Financing
Commitments shall not expand the conditions to the Closing Date drawdown to
the Debt Financing as set forth in the Commitment Letter in any material respect.
In such event, the term "Commitment Letter" as used herein shall be deemed to
mean the New Financing Commitments to the extent then in effect. For the avoidance
of doubt, in the event that (X) all or any portion of the Debt Financing structured
as high-yield financing has not been consummated, (Y) all conditions contained
in Article VIII (other than those contained in the last sentence of each of
Sections 8.2(a), 8.2(b), 8.3(a) and 8.3(b)) shall have been satisfied or waived
and (Z) the bridge facilities contemplated by the Commitment Letter (or alternative
bridge financing) and the proceeds thereof are available on the terms and conditions
described in the Commitment Letter, then Parent and Sub shall cause the proceeds
of such bridge financing to be used to replace such high-yield financing no
later than the final day of the Marketing Period or, if earlier, the Termination
Date. For purposes of this Agreement, "Marketing Period" shall mean the first
period of 30 consecutive Business Days after the date hereof throughout which
Parent shall have the Required Financial Information that the Company is required
to provide to Parent pursuant to Section 7.12(b); provided that the Marketing
Period shall not be deemed to have commenced if, prior to the completion of
the Marketing Period, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have withdrawn its audit opinion
with respect to any financial statements contained in the Company SEC Documents
(which for this purpose shall include all documents filed by the Company with
the SEC since December 31, 2004).
(b) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall provide to Parent and Sub, shall
cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective officers and employees to,
and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the advisors (including legal
and accounting) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to, provide to Parent and
Sub all cooperation reasonably requested by Parent in connection with the Financing, including using reasonable best efforts to
timely (i) participate in a reasonable number of meetings, presentations, road
shows, due diligence sessions and sessions with rating agencies on reasonable
advance notice, (ii) assist with the preparation of materials, including business
projections and similar materials, for rating agency, lender and investor presentations,
offering documents, private placement memoranda, bank information and syndication
memoranda, prospectuses, marketing materials and similar documents in connection
with the Financing, including to cause management and other personnel to participate
in related drafting sessions, and in the case of any prospectus or offering
memorandum, prepared in accordance with customary practices for an offering
of debt securities registered under the Securities Act or made pursuant to Rule
144A under the Securities Act, as the case may be, and consistent with the requirements
of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for
such a registered offering and, in the case of an offering pursuant to Rule
144A, as customarily applied to such an offering, as the case may be, (iii)
execute and deliver any definitive financing documents, including any pledge
and security documents, other definitive financing documents, or other certificates
or documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent (including a certificate
of the chief financial officer of the Company with respect to solvency matters)
and otherwise facilitating the pledging of, and granting, recording and perfection
of security interests in share certificates, securities and other collateral,
and obtaining surveys and title insurance as reasonably requested by Parent
or to execute and deliver other customary certificates, legal opinions, representations
or other documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent (including consents
of accountants for use of their reports in any materials relating to the Debt
Financing), (iv) otherwise reasonably cooperate with the marketing efforts of
Parent and its Affiliates and the financing sources for any of the Debt Financing,
(v) furnish Parent and Sub and their Financing sources with financial and other
pertinent information regarding the Company, including all financial statements
and financial data of the type required under the Securities Act and of type
and form customarily included in private placements of debt securities under
Rule 144A of the Securities Act or registered offerings of debt securities under
the Securities Act, to consummate any offering of securities contemplated by
the Commitment Letter at the time during the fiscal year of the Company that
such offering will be made, to be furnished as soon as practicable and no later
than 35 Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the "Required Financial Information"),
(vi) obtain accountants comfort letters, auditors reports in respect of audited
financials and legal opinions, surveys and title insurance as reasonably requested
by Parent, (vii) take all actions reasonably necessary to (x) permit prospective
financing providers involved in the Financing to evaluate the Companys current
assets, cash management and accounting systems, policies and procedures relating
thereto for the purpose of establishing collateral arrangements and (y) establish
bank and other accounts and blocked account agreements and lock box arrangements
in connection with the foregoing, (viii) use reasonable best efforts to assist
Parent in satisfying the conditions to funding under the Commitment Letter and
(ix) take such corporate actions as shall be reasonably requested by Parent
to permit the consummation of the Debt Financing and to permit the proceeds
thereof to be made available at the Closing; provided, however, that (A) nothing
herein shall require such cooperation to the extent it would interfere unreasonably
with the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (B) any
offering documents, private placement memoranda or prospectuses in relation
to debt securities need not be issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
prior to the Effective Time, provided that any such documents, memoranda or
prospectuses may contain disclosure and financial statements with respect to
the Company or the Surviving Corporation reflecting the Surviving Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries
as the obligor and (C) the Company shall not be required to become subject to
any obligations under underwriting or placement agreements, pledge and security
documents or other definitive financing documents prior to the Closing. Parent
shall, promptly upon request by the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection
with such cooperation. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to obtain
customary payoff letters with respect to the Company Credit Agreement and any
other debt facilities being repaid or terminated in connection with the Closing
as may be requested by Parent and to facilitate the satisfaction of the debt
repayment conditions required for the consummation of the Financing.
(c) Parent acknowledges and agrees that the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement is not conditioned upon the receipt by Parent
of the proceeds of the Equity Funding Letters or the Commitment Letter and that
any failure by Parent to have available at the time the conditions to Closing
set forth in Article VIII are satisfied or capable of satisfaction all funds
contemplated by the Equity Funding Letters and the Commitment Letter shall constitute
a breach by Parent of this Agreement.
Section 7.13 Solvency Letter. The parties shall engage, at the expense of
the Company (except that, if the Closing does not occur, the Company and Sub
shall share such expense equally), an appraisal firm of national reputation
reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company to deliver a letter in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Board of Directors of the Company and addressed
to the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and the Company and, if requested
by them, the lenders providing the Financing indicating that, immediately after
the Effective Time, and after giving effect to the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Financing, any alternative financing permitted
by this Agreement and the payment of the aggregate Merger Consideration and
all related fees and expenses, the Company will be Solvent. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, each of Parent and the Company shall use their
respective reasonable best efforts to (a) make available to such appraisal firm
their respective officers, employees and advisors upon reasonable notice and
(b) provide or make available such information concerning the business, properties,
assets and liabilities of the Company, in each case as may be reasonably requested
by such appraisal firm in connection with the delivering of such letter.
Section 7.14 Exchange Rights Agreement. The Company shall (i) cause ServiceMaster
Consumer Services, L.P. to give the Call Notice (as defined in the Exchange
Rights Agreement) promptly after the satisfaction of the Call Notice Condition
(as defined in the Exchange Rights Agreement) if such Call Notice Condition
is satisfied at any time prior to the Effective Time and (ii) use its reasonable
best efforts to effect as promptly as practicable the tender provided for therein.
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 8.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Merger. The
respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to
the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Company Stockholder Approval. The Company Stockholder Approval shall
have been obtained.
(b) No Injunction or Restraint. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or
other order issued by any court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided, however,
that each of the parties shall have used their reasonable best efforts to prevent
the entry of any such temporary restraining order, injunction or other order,
including taking such action as is required to comply with Section 7.10, and
to appeal as promptly as possible any injunction or other order that may be
entered.
(c) HSR Act. Any waiting period (and any extension
thereof) under the HSR Act applicable to the Merger shall have expired
or been terminated, and the consents, authorizations or approvals from
the Governmental Entities set forth in Section 4.5(ii) of the Company
Letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, shall
have been received and no such consent, authorization or approval shall
have been revoked.
(d) Solvency Letter. The respective Boards of Directors of Parent and the
Company and, if requested by them, the lenders providing the Financing shall
have received the letter referred to in Section 7.13 and such letter shall not
have been withdrawn or modified in any material respect.
Section 8.2 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company to Effect the Merger.
The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following additional conditions:
(a) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
of Parent and Sub set forth in Section 5.1 (Organization), in Section 5.2 (Authority),
in Section 5.6 (Capitalization and Interim Operations of Sub), in Section 5.7
(Financing Commitments) and in Section 5.8 (Brokers) shall be true and correct
in all respects as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such date
and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly
speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty
shall be true and correct as of such earlier date). The representations and
warranties of Parent and Sub contained in this Agreement (other than those listed
in the preceding sentence) shall be true and correct in all respects (without
giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or "Material Adverse Effect"
set forth therein) as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of such
date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty
expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and
warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), except where the
failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without
giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or "Material Adverse Effect"
set forth therein) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. The Company shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Sub by a duly authorized
officer of Parent as to the effect of the preceding two sentences.
(b) Performance of Obligations. Parent and Sub shall have performed in all
material respects all obligations and complied in all material respects with
all agreements and covenants of Parent and Sub to be performed and complied with by them under this Agreement
prior to Closing. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of Parent and Sub by a duly authorized officer of Parent as to the effect of
the preceding sentence.
Section 8.3 Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Sub to Effect the
Merger. The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger shall be subject
to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following additional
conditions:
(a) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
of the Company set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.1 (Organization),
in Section 4.4 (Authority), in Section 4.7(a), (b) and (c) (Absence of Material
Adverse Change), in Section 4.14 (State Takeover Statutes) and in Section 4.23
(Brokers) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Effective Time
as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any
such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in
which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of
such earlier date). The representations and warranties of the Company set forth
in Section 4.3 (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct as of the Effective
Time as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that
any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date,
in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as
of such earlier date). The representations and warranties of the Company contained
in this Agreement (other than those listed in the preceding two sentences) shall
be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any limitation
as to "materiality" or "Material Adverse Effect" set forth therein) as of the
Effective Time as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the
extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier
date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct
as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and
warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as
to "materiality" or "Material Adverse Effect" set forth therein) would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company. Parent shall have received a certificate signed
on behalf of the Company by a duly authorized officer of the Company as to the
effect of the preceding two sentences.
(b) Performance of Obligations. The Company shall have complied in all respects
with its agreements and covenants set forth in Section 6.1(a) and 6.1(b), and
shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and complied in
all material respects with all other agreements and covenants of the Company
to be performed and complied with by it under this Agreement prior to Closing.
Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by
a duly authorized officer of the Company as to the effect of the preceding sentence.
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
Section 9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior
to the Effective Time, whether before or after the Company Stockholder Approval
is obtained:
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company:
(i) if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before December
31, 2007 (the "Termination Date"); provided, however, that the right to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(i) shall not be available to
any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation or other breach under this
Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to
occur on or before the Termination Date (excluding Parents obligations under
Section 2.2 in the event that Parent and Sub fail to obtain the proceeds pursuant
to the Financing (or alternative financing as permitted by Section 7.12(a))
necessary to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration, but only if Parent shall
have complied with its obligations under Section 7.12(a));
(ii) if any court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction
shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and such order, decree or ruling or other action shall have
become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to
any party who has not used its reasonable best efforts to cause such order to
be lifted or otherwise taken such action as is required to comply with Section
7.10; or
(iii) if the Company Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained upon
a vote taken thereon at the Stockholders Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof;
(c) by Parent if the Company shall have breached any representation, warranty,
covenant, obligation or other agreement contained in this Agreement that (i)
would result in the failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.3(a) or 8.3(b)
and (ii) cannot be or has not been cured prior to the earlier to occur of (x)
30 days after the giving of written notice to the Company of such breach and
Parents intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)
or (y) the Termination Date;
(d) by Parent if the Board of Directors of the Company (i) shall not have
recommended adoption of this Agreement to the Companys Stockholders, (ii) shall
have modified in any manner adverse to Parent or Sub or withdrawn its recommendation
of adoption of this Agreement, (iii) shall have failed to include in any Proxy
Statement the Companys recommendation that its stockholders adopt this Agreement,
(iv) fails to publicly reaffirm its recommendation of adoption of this Agreement
within ten Business Days after receipt of a written request by Parent to provide
such a reaffirmation following a Takeover Proposal being made public, (v) approves
or recommends any Takeover Proposal, or (vi) shall have resolved to take any
of the foregoing actions (including, in each case, pursuant to Section 6.2(d)
or 6.2(e));
(e) by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2(d);
(f) by the Company if the Board of Directors of the Company withdraws or
modifies its approval or recommendation of the Merger pursuant to Section 6.2(e);
or
(g) by the Company if Parent or Sub shall have (i) breached any of their
respective representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements
contained in this Agreement that (x) would result in the failure of a condition
set forth in Section 8.2(a) or 8.2(b) and (y) cannot be or has not been cured
prior to the earlier to occur of (1) 30 days after the giving of written notice
to Parent or Sub, as applicable, of such breach and the Companys intention
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(g)(i) or (2) the Termination
Date or (ii) failed to obtain the proceeds pursuant to the Financing (or alternative
financing as permitted by Section 7.12(a)) necessary to pay the aggregate Merger
Consideration and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby in accordance with the terms of this Agreement within five Business Days
of the first date after the end of the Marketing Period upon which all conditions
set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.3 have been satisfied (or are capable of satisfaction
by action taken at the Closing) or waived.
Section 9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of a termination of this
Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 9.1, this Agreement
shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or obligation on
the part of Parent, Sub or the Company or their respective officers, directors,
stockholders or Affiliates except with respect to Section 4.23, Section 5.8,
Section 7.5, this Section 9.2 and Article X and the last sentence of each of
Section 7.4 and Section 7.12(b); provided that nothing herein shall
relieve any party from liability for losses or damages resulting from willful
breach prior to such termination of any of such partys representations, warranties,
covenants or other agreements set forth herein that would reasonably be expected
to cause any of the conditions set forth in Article VIII not to be satisfied,
and provided further, that (i) in the event that the Merger is not consummated
and this Agreement is terminated for any reason related to the failure of Parent
and Sub to obtain the proceeds pursuant to the Financing (or alternative financing
as permitted by Section 7.12(a)) necessary to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration
and such failure is not due to Parent or Sub having otherwise willfully breached
any of their representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set
forth herein prior to such termination, the sole and exclusive remedy of the
Company against Parent, Sub and Guarantors shall be the right to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(g)(ii) and to receive payment of the Parent
Termination Fee in accordance with Section 7.5(c) and the terms of the Guaranty
of each Guarantor, and (ii) in no event shall the Company, on the one hand,
or Parent, Sub and the Guarantors, on the other hand, be liable for, or seek
to recover against the other party, any losses or damages with respect to this
Agreement in excess of $200,000,000 in the aggregate (inclusive of any obligation
to pay the Company Termination Fee or Parent Termination Fee, as applicable).
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that the agreements contained in Section
7.5 and this Section 9.2 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement without which agreements, the parties would not enter into
this Agreement and that none of the fees contemplated under Section 7.5(b) or
(c) is a penalty. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
maximum liability of each Guarantor shall be limited to the express obligations
of the Guaranty of such Guarantor.
Section 9.3 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto
at any time before or after obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, but
if the Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained, thereafter no
amendment shall be made that by law requires further approval by the Companys
stockholders without obtaining such further approval. This Agreement may not
be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.
Section 9.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the performance
of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive
any inaccuracies in such other parties representations and warranties contained
herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or (iii) waive compliance
by such other parties with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein.
Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of
such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its
rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those
rights.
ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 10.01 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties and Agreements.
None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This
Section 10.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties that by
its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
Section 10.2 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied
(which is confirmed, so long as a copy is sent the same day by overnight courier)
or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at
the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified
by like notice):
(a) if to Parent or Sub, to:
CDRSVM Topco, Inc. c/o Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund VII, L.P. 1403 Foulk Road, Suite 106 Wilmington, Delaware 19803 Facsimile: (302) 427-7398
with copies to:
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. 375 Park Avenue, 18th floor New York, New York 10152 Attn: Mr. Donald J. Gogel Facsimile: (212) 407-5252
and
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 919 Third Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attn: Franci J. Blassberg, Esq. Facsimile: (212) 909-6836
(b) if to the Company, to:
The ServiceMaster Company 860 Ridge Lake Boulevard Memphis, Tennessee 38120 Attn: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Facsimile: (901) 766-1107
with copies to:
The ServiceMaster Company 3250 Lacey Road, Suite 600 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Attn: Senior Vice President and General Counsel Facsimile: (630) 663-2266
and
Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attn: Thomas A. Cole and Dennis V. Osimitz Facsimile: (312) 853-7036
Section 10.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need
not sign the same counterpart.
Section 10.4 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except for the
Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement (together with the Company Letter
and the Parent Letter) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NONE OF PARENT, SUB OR THE COMPANY MAKES ANY OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, AND EACH HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS
OR WARRANTIES MADE BY ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS,
FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES, WITH RESPECT TO THE EXECUTION
AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NOTWITHSTANDING
THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO THE OTHER OR THE OTHERS REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY
DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING.
Parent, Sub and the Company hereby agree that their respective representations
and warranties set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the other parties
hereto, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and that
this Agreement, except for the provisions of Section 7.9 and Section 9.2 (with
respect to affiliated parties) is not intended to, and does not, confer upon
any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder, including
the right to rely upon the accuracy or completeness of the representations and
warranties set forth herein.
Section 10.5 Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Agreement
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State
of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable
principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
(b) The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the Delaware
Court of Chancery (unless such court shall lack subject matter jurisdiction,
in which case, in any state or federal court located in Delaware) solely in
respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement
and of the documents referred to in this Agreement, and in respect of the transactions
contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense
in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof
or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action,
suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said court or
that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any
such document may not be enforced in or by such court, and the parties hereto
irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding
shall be heard and determined in such court. The parties hereby consent to and
grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties and agree
that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or
proceeding in the manner provided in Section 10.2 or in such other manner as
may be permitted by applicable law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof
and each of Parent and Sub hereby irrevocably appoints CT Corporation as its
agent for service of process.
(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES,
AND THEREFORE EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER
PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, TO IT THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II)
EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III)
EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED
TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.5(c).
Section 10.6 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests
or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether
by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other
parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding
upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their
respective successors and assigns.
Section 10.7 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public
policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
remain in full force and effect so long as the economic and legal substance
of the transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties shall negotiate
in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of
the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order
that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as originally
contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
Section 10.8 Enforcement of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur if any of the provisions of this Agreement were
not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
Subject to Section 7.5 and Section 9.2, it is accordingly agreed that the parties
shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any
court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, such remedy being
in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in
equity.
Section 10.9 Obligations of Subsidiaries. Whenever this Agreement requires
any Subsidiary of Parent (including Sub) or of the Company to take any action,
such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent
or the Company, as the case may be, to cause such Subsidiary to take such action.
Section 10.10 Construction. The parties have participated jointly in negotiation
and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of
intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted
jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring
or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this
Agreement.
[Signatures on following page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have caused this Agreement
to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized all as of
the date first written above.
CDRSVM TOPCO, INC.
By: /s/ Richard J. Schnall Name: Richard J. Schnall Title: President
CDRSVM ACQUISITION CO., INC.
By: /s/ Richard J. Schnall Name: Richard J. Schnall Title: President
THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
By: /s/ J. Patrick Spainhour Name: J. Patrick Spainhour Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit A
FORM OF GUARANTY
Limited Guaranty
Limited Guaranty, dated as of March 18, 2007 (this "Limited Guaranty"), by
[__________] (the "Guarantor") in favor of The ServiceMaster Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). Reference is hereby made to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated as of March 18, 2007, among the Company,
CDRSVM Topco, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and CDRSVM Acquisition
Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub").
Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.
1. Limited Guaranty. The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantees to the Company, the payment, if and when due, of [ ]% 1 of (i) the
Parent Termination Fee by Parent pursuant to Section 7.5(c) of the Merger Agreement
and (ii) any damages payable by Parent and Sub pursuant to Section 9.2 of the
Merger Agreement, in each case subject to the terms and limitations of Section
9.2 of the Merger Agreement (collectively, the "Guaranteed Obligations"); provided
that in no event shall Guarantors liability under this Limited Guaranty exceed
$[ ] million in the aggregate (the "Maximum Amount"),2 and provided, further,
that this Guaranty will expire and will have no further force or effect, and
the Company and its Affiliates will have no rights hereunder, in the event that
the Closing occurs. The Company hereby agrees that the Guarantor shall in no
event be required to pay more than the Maximum Amount under or in respect of
this Limited Guaranty.
2. Terms of Limited Guaranty.
(a) This Limited Guaranty is one of payment, not collection, and a separate
action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Guarantor to enforce
this Limited Guaranty, irrespective of whether any action is brought against
Parent or Sub or any other Person or whether Parent or Sub or any other Person
are joined in any such action or actions.
(b) The liability of the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty shall, to
the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, be absolute and unconditional
irrespective of:
(i) the value, genuineness, validity, regularity, illegality or enforceability
of the Merger Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein,
other than by reason of fraud by the Company;
(ii) any release or discharge of any obligation of Parent or Sub contained
in the Merger Agreement resulting from any change in the corporate existence,
structure
1 To insert for applicable Guarantor pro rata portion of Maximum Amount.
2 Maximum amount will be the dollar amount of the pro rata percentage of
the applicable Guarantor. or ownership of Parent or Sub, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization
or other similar proceeding affecting Parent or Sub or any of their assets;
(iii) any amendment or modification of the Merger Agreement, or change in
the manner, place or terms of payment or performance, or any change or extension
of the time of payment or performance of, renewal or alteration of, any Guaranteed
Obligation, any escrow arrangement or other security therefor, any liability
incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof, or any amendment or waiver
of or any consent to any departure from the terms of the Merger Agreement or
the documents entered into in connection therewith;
(iv) the existence of any claim, set-off or other right that the Guarantor
may have at any time against Parent, Sub or the Company, whether in connection
with any Guaranteed Obligation or otherwise; or
(v) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any
extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of
the Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than payment of the Guaranteed
Obligations).
(c) The Guarantor hereby waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal,
extension or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof
of reliance by the Company upon this Limited Guaranty or acceptance of this
Limited Guaranty. The Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively
be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this
Limited Guaranty, and all dealings between Parent, Sub or the Guarantor, on
the one hand, and the Company, on the other, shall likewise be conclusively
presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Limited Guaranty.
When pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against the Guarantor, the Company
shall be under no obligation to pursue such rights and remedies it may have
against Parent or Sub or any other Person for the Guaranteed Obligations or
any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Company to
pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from Parent
or Sub or any such other Person or to realize upon or to exercise any such right
of offset, and any release by the Company of Parent or Sub or any such other
Person or any right of offset, shall not relieve the Guarantor of any liability
hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express,
implied or available as a matter of law, of the Company.
(d) The Company shall not be obligated to file any claim relating to any
Guaranteed Obligation in the event that Parent or Sub becomes subject to a bankruptcy,
reorganization or similar proceeding, and the failure of the Company to so file
shall not affect the Guarantors obligations hereunder. In the event that any
payment to the Company in respect of any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded
or must otherwise be returned for any reason whatsoever, the Guarantor shall
remain liable hereunder with respect to the Guaranteed Obligation as if such
payment had not been made.
3. Waiver of Acceptance, Presentment; Etc. The Guarantor irrevocably waives
acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided
for herein, other than defenses that are available to Parent or Sub (i) under
the Merger Agreement, (ii) in respect of a breach by the Company of this Limited
Guaranty and (iii) in respect of fraud or willful misconduct of the Company or any of its Affiliates in connection with the
Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.
4. Sole Remedy. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the sole cash asset
of each of Parent and Sub is cash in a de minimis amount and that no additional
funds are expected to be contributed to Parent or Sub unless the Closing occurs.
The Company further agrees that it has no right of recovery against Guarantor
or any of Guarantors current or future stockholders, holders of any equity
or partnership interest, employees, agents or Affiliates (other than any Affiliate
that has executed a limited guaranty in favor of the Company, to the extent
of such Affiliates obligations under such guaranty) (collectively, "Guarantor
Affiliates"), through Parent or Sub or otherwise, whether by or through attempted
piercing of the corporate veil or similar action, by or through a claim by or
on behalf of Parent or Sub against Guarantor or any Guarantor Affiliate, or
otherwise, except for its rights under this Limited Guaranty provided, however,
that in the event the Guarantor (i) consolidates with or merges with any other
Person and is not the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or
merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or a substantial portion of its properties
and other assets to any Person such that the sum of the Guarantors remaining
net assets plus uncalled capital is less than the Maximum Amount, then, and
in each such case, the Company may seek recourse, whether by the enforcement
of any judgment or assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or by
virtue of any statue, regulation or other applicable law, against such continuing
or surviving entity or such Person (in either case, a "Successor Entity"), as
the case may be, but only to the extent of the unpaid liability of the Guarantor
hereunder up to the Maximum Amount. Recourse against the Guarantor under this
Limited Guaranty shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Company and all
of its Affiliates against the Guarantor and any Guarantor Affiliate (other than
against Parent or Sub for non-monetary damages) in respect of any liabilities
or obligations arising under, or in connection with, the Merger Agreement or
the transactions contemplated thereby. The Company hereby covenants and agrees
that it shall not institute, and shall cause its respective Affiliates not to
institute, any proceeding or bring any other claim arising under, or in connection
with, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, against
the Guarantor or any Guarantor Affiliate (other than against Parent or Sub for
non-monetary damages) except for claims against the Guarantor under this Limited
Guaranty. Nothing set forth in this Limited Guaranty shall affect or be construed
to affect any liability of Parent or Sub to the Company or shall confer or give
or shall be construed to confer or give to any Person other than the Company
(including any Person acting in a representative capacity) any rights or remedies
against any Person other than the Guarantor as expressly set forth herein.
5. Subrogation. The Guarantor will not exercise any rights of subrogation
or contribution, whether arising by contract or operations of law (including,
without limitation, any such right arising under bankruptcy or insolvency laws)
or otherwise, by reason of any payment by it pursuant to the provisions of Section
1 hereof unless and until the Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full.
6. Termination. This Limited Guaranty shall terminate upon the earlier of
(i) the Closing and (ii) the first anniversary of any termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms if the Company has not presented a claim
for payment of any obligation of Guarantor hereunder to Guarantor by such first
anniversary. In the event that the Company or any of its Affiliates asserts in any litigation or other proceeding (i) relating
to this Limited Guaranty, (ii) relating to any Limited Guaranty of any other
Person liable with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or (iii) against Guarantor,
any Guarantor Affiliate or other Person liable with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations, that (x) the provisions of Section 1 hereof limiting Guarantors
liability to the Maximum Amount, (y) the provisions of Section 4 hereof or (z)
any similar provisions of any other Limited Guaranty of any other Person with
respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, are illegal, invalid or unenforceable
in whole or in part, the obligations of the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty
shall terminate and shall thereupon be null and void, and upon such termination,
none of Guarantor and any Guarantor Affiliate shall have any liability or obligation
to the Company or any of its Affiliates in respect of this Limited Guaranty,
the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
7. Continuing Guaranty. Unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section
6 hereof, this Limited Guaranty is a continuing one and shall remain in full
force and effect until the indefeasible payment and satisfaction in full of
the Guaranteed Obligations, shall be binding upon the Guarantor, its successors
and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Company
and its respective successors, transferees and assigns. All obligations to which
this Limited Guaranty applies or may apply under the terms hereof shall be conclusively
presumed to have been created in reliance hereon. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Guaranty, the Company hereby agrees that to the
extent Parent and Sub are relieved of any of their representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements contained in the Merger Agreement so as to render Section
9.2 of the Merger Agreement inapplicable, or Parent is relieved of its payment
obligations under Section 7.5(c) in respect of the Parent Termination Fee, the
Guarantor shall be similarly relieved of its Guaranteed Obligations under this
Guaranty.
8. Entire Agreement. This Limited Guaranty and the Merger Agreement constitute
the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
any and all prior discussions, negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings
and agreements, whether written or oral, among Parent, Sub and the Guarantor
or any of their respective Affiliates on the one hand, and the Company or any
of its Affiliates on the other hand.
9. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Limited Guaranty will be valid and binding unless it is in writing and signed,
in the case of an amendment, by the Guarantor and the Company, or in the case
of waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No waiver
by any party of any breach or violation of, or default under, this Limited Guaranty,
whether intentional or not, will be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent
breach, violation or default hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising
by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. No delay or omission on
the part of any party in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Limited
Guaranty will operate as a waiver thereof.
10. Counterparts. This Limited Guaranty may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together
will constitute one and the same instrument. This Limited Guaranty will become
effective when duly executed by each party hereto.
11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed,
so long as a copy is sent the same day by overnight courier) or sent by overnight
courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) If to the Guarantor, to:
[Guarantor] [______________] [______________] [______________] Attn: [__________] Facsimile: [__________]
with a copy to:
[______________] [______________] [______________] [______________] Attn: [__________] Facsimile: [__________]
(b) if to the Company, to:
The ServiceMaster Company 860 Ridge Lake Boulevard Memphis, Tennessee 38120 Attn: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Facsimile: (901) 766-1107
with copies to:
The ServiceMaster Company 3250 Lacey Road, Suite 600 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Attn: Senior Vice President and General Counsel Facsimile: (630) 663-2266
and
Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attn: Thomas A. Cole and Dennis V. Osimitz Facsimile: (312) 853-7036
12. Governing Law. This Limited Guaranty, the rights of the parties and all
actions arising in whole or part under or in connection herewith, shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless
of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts
of laws thereof.
13. Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Service of Process.
(a) Jurisdiction. Each party to this Limited Guaranty, by its execution hereof,
(i) hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts
of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court located in the
District of Delaware for the purpose of any action between the parties arising
in whole or in part under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, (ii)
hereby waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and agrees not
to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any such action,
any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named
courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution,
that any such action brought in one of the above-named courts should be dismissed
on grounds of forum non conveniens, should be transferred or removed to any
court other than one of the above-named courts, or should be stayed by reason
of the pendency of some other proceeding in any other court other than one of
the above-named courts, or that this Limited Guaranty or the subject matter
hereof may not be enforced in or by such court and (iii) hereby agrees not to
commence any such action other than before one of the above-named courts. Notwithstanding
the previous sentence a party may commence any action in a court other than
the above-named courts solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment
issued by one of the above-named courts.
(b) Venue. Each party agrees that for any action between the parties arising
in whole or in part under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, such
party will bring actions only in the State of Delaware. Each party further waives
any claim and will not assert that venue should properly lie in any other location
within the selected jurisdiction.
(c) Service of Process. Each party hereby (i) consents to service of process
in any action between the parties arising in whole or in part under or in connection
with this Limited Guaranty in any manner permitted by Delaware Law, (ii) agrees
that service of process made in accordance with clause (i) or made by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant
to Section 11, will constitute good and valid service of process in any such
action and (iii) waives and agrees not to assert (by way of motion, as a defense,
or otherwise) in any such action any claim that service of process made in accordance
with clause (i) or (ii) does not constitute good and valid service of process.
14. Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW
THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE, AND COVENANT THAT THEY WILL
NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE), ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL
BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS LIMITED GUARANTY OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, WHETHER
NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR
OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH
WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR
AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS LIMITED GUARANTY
OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
15. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants
to the Company that (a) it has all power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform this Limited Guaranty; (b) the execution, delivery and performance of
this Limited Guaranty by the Guarantor has been duly and validly authorized
and approved by all necessary company action, and no other proceedings or actions
on the part of the Guarantor are necessary therefor; (c) this Limited Guaranty
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid
and legally binding obligation of it, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance
with its terms; (d) the execution, delivery and performance by the Guarantor
of this Limited Guaranty do not and will not (i) violate the organizational
documents of the Guarantor, (ii) violate any applicable law or judgment binding
on the Guarantor or its assets or (iii) result in any violation of, or default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the
loss of any benefit under, any contract or agreement to which the Guarantor
is a party; and (e) the Guarantor has the financial capacity to pay and perform
its obligations under this Limited Guaranty, and all funds necessary for the
Guarantor to fulfill its Guaranteed Obligations under this Limited Guaranty
shall be available to the Guarantor for so long as this Limited Guaranty shall
remain in effect in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
16. No Assignment. Neither the Guarantor nor the Company may assign its rights,
interests or obligations hereunder to any other Person (except by operation
of law) without the prior written consent of the Company (in the case of an
assignment by the Guarantor) or the Guarantor (in the case of an assignment
by the Company).
17. Severability. Any term or provision of this Limited Guaranty that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction will not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof
or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any
other situation or in any other jurisdiction; provided, however, that this Limited
Guaranty may not be enforced without giving effect to the limitation of the
amount payable hereunder to the Maximum Amount provided in Section 1 hereof
and to the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 hereof. No party hereto shall assert,
and each party shall cause its respective Affiliates not to assert, that this
Limited Guaranty or any part hereof is invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
18. Headings. The headings contained in this Limited Guaranty are for convenience
purposes only and will not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation hereof.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and delivered this Limited
Guaranty as of the date first written above.
[GUARANTOR] Name: Title:
THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY By: Name: Title:
Exhibit B
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
(amended as of , 2007)
ARTICLE ONE NAME
1.1 The name of the corporation is:
The ServiceMaster Company
The corporation was originally incorporated under the name "ServiceMaster
Incorporated of Delaware" by means of a Certificate of Incorporation filed on
September 11, 1991.
ARTICLE TWO REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT
2.1 The address of the corporations registered office in the State of Delaware
is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered
agent at such address is Corporation Trust Company. The corporations books,
records, documents and other papers may be maintained outside the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE THREE PURPOSE
3.1 The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity
for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE FOUR AUTHORIZED SHARES
4.1 The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the
corporation has the authority to issue is [ ] shares of common stock with a
par value of $[ ] per share.
ARTICLE FIVE EXISTENCE
5.1 The corporation shall have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE SIX DIRECTORS
6.1 The number of directors of the corporation shall be determined in the
manner prescribed in the Bylaws of the corporation. Elections of directors need
not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the corporation so provide.
ARTICLE SEVEN BYLAWS
7.1 The directors of the corporation shall have the power to amend or replace
the Bylaws of the corporation.
ARTICLE EIGHT LIMITATION ON DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS PERSONAL LIABILITY
8.1 Basic Standard. No person shall have any liability of any kind by reason
of Relevant Loss (defined below) caused in whole or in part by any act or failure
to act which shall have occurred while such person shall have been an officer
or director of the corporation except: (i) obligations arising under the express
terms of any written contract to which such person is a party; (ii) the obligation
to return to the corporation an amount up to the value actually realized by
such person by stealing or by any other action which constitutes a criminal
felony; (iii) any liability imposed by contract or applicable law which is founded
on, arises from or is related to activities by such person (or such persons
agents or affiliates) which are in competition with any business of the corporation
or any of its Affiliates; and (iv) any other liability from which it shall not
be possible to exempt such person under applicable law either as constituted
on the date on which this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
is filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware (the "Filing Date") or at any
time thereafter. The term "Relevant Loss" designates and includes any loss,
damage or expense of any kind (i) experienced for any reason by the corporation
or by any entity controlled by the corporation (ii) which any person may experience
by reason of any purchase (or failure to purchase), maintenance of an interest
in, sale (or failure to sell) or failure to obtain payment of any amount due
on any note, debenture, preferred stock, common stock or other security issued
or issuable by the corporation or (iii) which shall otherwise be caused in whole
or in part by or arise in connection with (or would not have occurred but for)
such persons service as a director or officer of the corporation. Without limiting
by implication the generality of the preceding provisions in this Section 8.1,
every director of the corporation shall be exempt (except to the extent expressly
set forth below) from any personal liability to the corporation or any of the
corporations stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty
as a director to the fullest extent permitted by (i) Section 102(b)(7) of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as constituted on the Filing
Date or (ii) any provision of the law of the State of Delaware as constituted
at any time after the December 11, 1991.
8.2 Amount of Liability. The maximum liability to which any person shall
be obligated to pay with respect to any liability which such person shall have
under clauses (ii) or (iv) in the first sentence in Section 8.1 shall be an
amount equal to the value of the personal benefit wrongfully realized by such person by means of the act or failure
to act giving rise to such liability.
8.3 Effect of Change in Law. In the event there shall after December 11,
1991 be any change in any law relevant to the extent to which a person may be
exempted from liability by reason of any act or failure to act which occurs
while such person shall be an officer or director of the corporation, then (i)
if such change permits a broader exemption than permitted prior to such change,
the exemption provided by this Article Eight shall automatically be increased
to the fullest extent which is permitted by such change and is not precluded
by any of the express provisions in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the
first sentence of Section 8.1 and (ii) if such change reduces the amount of
the exemption from liability it is possible to grant or provide to a director
or officer, this Article Eight shall be construed to eliminate or minimize as
much as possible the extent to which such change shall reduce the protection
provided by this Article Eight. Whenever possible, each provision in this Article
Eight shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Article Eight shall be held to
be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, then (i) such provision shall
be applied to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally written
to the fullest extent permitted by law and (ii) all other provisions in this
Article Eight shall remain in full force and effect.
8.4 Amendment of this Article Eight. The terms in this Article Eight are
expressly intended to constitute a contract between the corporation and each
person who shall at any time serve as an officer or director of the corporation.
Each person who shall at any time serve as an officer or director of the corporation
shall be entitled to rely (and shall be conclusively presumed to have relied)
upon the protection provided by this Article Eight. No amendment or repeal of
this Article Eight or of any other provision in this Certificate of Incorporation,
no merger of the corporation into any other corporation, no liquidation or dissolution
of the corporation or any other development of any kind shall diminish in any
way the extent of the protection provided by this Article Eight with respect
to any act or failure to act which shall have occurred prior to such amendment,
repeal, merger, liquidation, dissolution or other development.
ARTICLE NINE INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Covered Service.
9.1.1 Basic Scope. The term "Covered Service" designates and includes: (a)
service as a director or officer of the corporation; (b) service by a person
while he or she is an officer or director of the corporation (i) as an agent
or representative of the corporation, (ii) in any other capacity with the corporation,
(iii) as a director, officer, employee, agent or representative of, or in any
other capacity with, any Affiliate, (iv) in any capacity with any Employee Plan,
and (v) in any other capacity in which such person shall have been asked to
serve by the corporations Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer; (c)
any services which constituted "Covered Service" under the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership for ServiceMaster Limited Partnership; and
(d) any other service of any kind by any person with any organization or entity
of any kind (whether or not affiliated with the corporation) which shall be
designated in writing as Covered Service by a majority of the members of the corporations Board
of Directors or by the corporations Chief Executive Officer. Service shall
be deemed to constitute "Covered Service" if it is so designated by the terms
in the preceding sentence regardless of whether it shall have been performed
prior to, at, or after the time this Article Nine shall have become part of
the corporations Certificate of Incorporation. Any person shall be entitled
to rely upon any written confirmation provided by the Corporations Chief Executive
Officer or by the Corporations Board of Directors that service by such person
in any capacity specified in such confirmation will constitute Covered Service
and to rely upon the protection afforded by this Article Nine in connection
with such service. In no event shall the failure to obtain any written confirmation
that any service is covered by this Article Nine take away or in any way impair
the right of the person providing such service to receive any payment under
this Article Nine if such person is entitled to receive such payment in connection
with such service under the provisions in this Article Nine.
9.1.2 Officer. Service in any of the following capacities shall be deemed
to be service as an officer of the corporation: Chairman of the Board of Directors;
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors; President; Chief Executive Officer;
Chief Operating Officer; Executive Vice President; Senior Vice President; Vice
President; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Accounting Officer; General Counsel
or Chief Legal Officer; Secretary, Treasurer; or Controller; or President or
Chief Operating Officer of any Affiliate.
9.1.3 Affiliate. Any corporation or other entity shall be deemed to be an
"Affiliate" for purposes of this Article Nine if the corporation or other entity
shall (i) be a subsidiary of the corporation or otherwise be controlled directly
or indirectly by the corporation, (ii) have the right or power to control the
corporation, or (iii) be controlled by the same corporation, entity or group
which controls the corporation.
9.1.4 Employee Plan. The term "Employee Plan" whenever it is used in this
Article Nine designates and includes: (i) any pension plan, employee stock ownership
plan, profit sharing plan, option plan or other plan or program established
to benefit any employees of the corporation, any Affiliate, or any predecessor
of the corporation or any Affiliate and (ii) any trust or other entity which
shall hold any assets for any Employee Plan.
9.2 General Indemnification Right. Except as otherwise provided in Section
9.3, the corporation shall indemnify any person against, and shall reimburse
such person for any amount which such person shall pay to satisfy, settle or
otherwise deal with, any attempt to impose any liability or obligation of any
kind upon such person if such attempt or such liability or obligation or both
shall arise in connection with or by reason of, or would not have arisen but
for, Covered Service by such person (or any agreement by such person to serve
as a director or officer of the corporation or to provide other Covered Service)
including, but not limited to: (i) any claim resulting from any loss, injury,
damage, harm or other disadvantage which the corporation, any Affiliate, any
Employee Plan or any person who acquires, holds, or disposes of any interest
in any security issued by the corporation suffers or is alleged to have suffered;
(ii) any claim resulting from any act or failure to act by any person which is (or is alleged
to be) beyond the scope of his or her authority, contrary to instructions or
orders or contrary to his or her duties or applicable law; and (iii) any attempt
by any governmental authority or other person to impose any fine or penalty
or to obtain any other recovery by reason of any actual or alleged breach of
any law or other governmental requirement.
9.3 Express Coverage Exclusions. Except to the extent the corporation shall
otherwise expressly agree in writing, the corporation shall not be obligated
under this Article Nine to reimburse any person for or otherwise indemnify any
person against: (a) any obligation the person may have under any written contract
except to the extent such obligation arises by reason of any action taken by
such person to satisfy, settle or otherwise deal with any claim against which
such person is entitled to indemnification from the corporation under this Article
Nine or otherwise; (b) any income taxes payable by reason of salary, bonus or
other income or gain actually realized by such person in connection with any
Covered Service; (c) any liability imposed by contract or applicable law which
is founded on, arises from or is related to activities by such person (or such
persons agents or affiliates) which are in competition with any business of
the corporation or any of its Affiliates; and (d) any obligation to pay an amount
up to the value personally realized by such person by stealing or by any other
action which constitutes a criminal felony. Except as provided in Section 9.8
or Section 9.9, the corporation shall not be obligated under this Article Nine
to indemnify any person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated
by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the
Board of Directors of the corporation.
9.4 Applicable Law.
9.4.1 "Delaware Law" Defined. The term "Delaware Law" whenever it is used
in this Article Nine means the law of the State of Delaware (including, but
not limited to, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) as constituted
after giving effect to all changes therein to which effect is to be given for
purposes of this Article Nine under the provisions in Section 9.4.4.
9.4.2 Full Delaware Indemnification. Without limiting by implication any
other provision in this Article Nine, each person who was or is made a party
or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the
corporation, agreed to serve as a director or officer of the corporation or
is or was providing any other Covered Service, whether the basis of such proceeding
is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer of the corporation
or in any other Covered Service position, shall, except as otherwise provided
in Section 9.3, be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest
extent authorized by Delaware Law against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys fees, judgments, fine, excise taxes or penalties arising under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act as amended from time to time and amounts
paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection
therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased
to be a director or officer of the corporation or to provide any other Covered
Service and shall inure to the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
9.4.3 Compliance With Applicable Law. This Article Nine is expressly intended
to entitle each Covered Person to obtain indemnification and payments in accordance
with and subject to the provisions of this Article Nine to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law and to waive or render inapplicable to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law any provision in applicable law which would
impose any condition or limitation upon, or otherwise impair or prohibit the
enforcement of, any provision in this Article Nine. Every provision in this
Article Nine is subject to the qualifications that if after giving effect to
the provisions in the preceding sentence: (i) applicable law prohibits the corporation
from making any payment or providing any indemnification otherwise required
by the express terms of this Article Nine unless any condition is satisfied,
then the condition mandated by applicable law must be satisfied before such
payment or indemnification may be provided; (ii) applicable law limits the amount
of any payment or indemnification which the corporation may provide, then the
corporation shall comply with such limitation; or (iii) applicable law otherwise
precludes enforcement of any provision in this Article Nine, then such provision
shall be applied to accomplish the objective of the provision as originally
written to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In no event shall
any condition, limitation, or other restriction imposed upon any provision in
this Article Nine by applicable law be deemed to limit, impair or eliminate
any other provision in this Article Nine.
9.4.4 Effect of Changes in Applicable Law. In the event that after December
11, 1991 there shall be any change in any law or other governmental requirement
relevant to any provision in this Article Nine, then: (a) to the extent that
such change shall increase the amount of any payment, indemnification or other
benefit provided by Section 9.4.2 or any other provision in this Article Nine
or shall reduce or eliminate any condition, limitation or prohibition imposed
prior to such change by applicable law (but not also by Section 9.3) upon the
enforcement of any provision in this Article Nine, (i) such change shall apply
to this Article Nine, (ii) shall apply retroactively to the extent possible
and (iii) any condition to, limitation upon or prohibition upon the enforcement
of any provision in this Article Nine imposed by applicable law prior to such
change but eliminated by such change shall cease to apply after such change
to claims for indemnification or payment under this Article Nine based in whole
or in part on any act or failure to act which occurred prior to or after such
change and (b) to the extent that such change shall reduce the amount of any
payment, indemnification or benefit provided by Section 9.4.2 or any other provision
in this Article Nine or shall increase or impose any condition to, limitation
upon, or prohibition against the enforcement of any right available to a Covered
Person under this Article Nine, (i) this Article Nine shall be construed to
be subject to such change to the least extent possible (such as for example
by qualifying under any "grandfather" provision in such change and/or by evidencing
the intent by the corporation, its Board of Directors and its stockholders that
the corporation not be subject to such change) and (ii) such change shall to
the extent possible not apply to impair rights arising in whole or in part by
reason of any act or failure to act which occurred before such change became
effective.
9.5 Covered Claim. The term "Covered Claim" whenever it is used in this Article
Nine designates and includes: (i) any action, suit, or proceeding (whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative) in connection with which any person
shall be entitled to any payment or indemnification under or by reason of this Article Nine and (ii)
any other attempt to impose any liability or obligation upon any person in connection
with which the corporation shall be obligated to provide any payment or indemnification
under or by reason of this Article Nine.
9.6 Covered Person. Each of the following shall be deemed a "Covered Person"
for purposes of this Article Nine: (a) any person who served or shall serve
at any time as a director or officer of the corporation and (b) any other person
who provided or shall provide Covered Service at any time. In the event any
particular Covered Person shall become incapacitated or die, then (a) the corporation
shall become obligated to provide indemnification and payments to each person
to whom responsibility for any Covered Claim shall pass by reason of such incapacity
or death to the same extent the corporation would have been obligated to provide
indemnification and payments to the Covered Person if such incapacity or death
had not occurred and (b) each person to whom the Covered Persons rights shall
pass by reason of such incapacity or death (i) shall be entitled to enforce
all rights arising under or by reason of this Article Nine to the same extent
to which the Covered Person could have enforced such rights if such incapacity
or death had not occurred and (ii) shall also be deemed to be a "Covered Person"
for purposes of this Article Nine.
9.7 Defense Arrangements.
9.7.1 Common Defense. If any Covered Claim shall be asserted against both
the corporation and any Covered Person then the corporation shall assume responsibility
for investigating, defending against and dealing with such Covered Claim on
behalf of both the corporation and such Covered Person if and to the extent
the corporation shall be requested to do so by such Covered Person and to the
extent the corporation can do so without conflict of interest.
9.7.2 Separate Defense. Each Covered Person shall be entitled to defend against
and deal with any Covered Claim which shall be asserted against such Covered
Person in such manner as such Covered Person reasonably deems to be in such
Persons best interests, including retention of counsel to investigate and deal
with such claim, payment of the full amount claimed, settlement of such claim
or defense against such claim to ultimate resolution.
9.7.3 Reimbursement of Defense Costs. The corporation shall reimburse any
Covered Person for any payment made by such person for any legal fees or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such person in order to investigate, evaluate,
defend against, pay in full, settle or otherwise deal with (i) any Covered Claim
or (ii) any development or state of facts which could give rise to a Covered
Claim.
9.8 Payment Procedure.
9.8.1 Payment Request. The person who is entitled under or by reason of this
Article Nine to receive any payment (or to cause such payment to be made directly
to an ultimate recipient pursuant to Section 9.11 of this Article Nine) shall
be entitled to deliver to the corporation a written document which: (i) shall
request payment from the corporation in an amount specified in the document; (ii) shall contain a
succinct explanation which the person requesting such payment in good faith
believes to be adequate to demonstrate that the corporation is obliged to make
such payment under or by reason of this Article Nine; (iii) shall contain a
commitment to repay the corporation any amount which the corporation shall pay
in response to such request but which a Final Court Determination shall hold
the corporation was not obligated to pay; (iv) shall specify the place within
the United States to which any payment or communication made by the corporation
in response to such request shall be sent; and (v) shall be signed by or on
behalf of the person (who is herein called the "Requestor" in relationship to
such document) entitled to receive the amount requested or to require the corporation
to pay the amount requested under the provision in Section 9.11. Any document
having the characteristics described in the preceding sentence shall be deemed
a "Payment Request" for purposes of this Article Nine, and the date upon which
such document shall be received by the corporation shall be deemed the "Request
Date" for that Payment Request and any amount requested therein. Each of the
following shall be deemed to be an "amount requested" in any Payment Request:
(a) the amount which the corporation shall be requested to pay in such Payment
Request (which shall also be deemed the "Full Amount Requested" for purposes
of this Article Nine); (b) any amount which the corporation shall pay in response
to such Payment Request or the circumstance giving rise to such Payment Request
(whether voluntarily, in settlement of a Contested Issue, as a result of a Final
Court Determination or otherwise); and (c) any amount which the corporation
shall be held in a Final Court Determination to be obligated to pay in response
to such Payment Request or by reason of circumstances giving rise to such Payment
Request. Without limiting by implication the generality of the preceding provisions,
any Covered Person shall be entitled to submit any number of Payment Requests
in connection with any Covered Claim, each covering a portion of the total amount
owed by the corporation in connection with such Covered Claim. A Covered Person
shall for example be entitled to submit a separate Payment Request covering
each bill for legal services for which such Covered Person shall be entitled
to reimbursement when such bill is received.
9.8.2 Position Report. The term "Position Report" when applied with respect
to any Payment Request means a written statement signed on behalf of the corporation
by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel (a)
affirming that the corporation has made such investigation as is necessary in
order to enable the corporation to provide the Position Report on an informed
basis, (b) identifying (i) any condition which the corporation believes must
be satisfied before the corporation will be obligated to pay all or any part
of the Full Amount Requested, (ii) any other action which the corporation believes
must be taken by the corporation, the Requestor or any other person before the
corporation will become obligated to pay any amount requested, (iii) any other
reason the corporation believes it is not obligated to pay all or any part of
the Full Amount Requested, and (iv) the actions the corporation has taken or
intends to take in response to the requirements in Section 9.8.4 and the status
of such actions.
9.8.3 Initial Response. The "Initial Response Deadline" for any Payment Request
shall be the tenth day immediately following the Request Date. Payment by the
corporation of the Full Amount Requested in any Payment Request shall be due
on the Initial Response Deadline unless the corporation shall on or before the
Initial Response Deadline deliver to the place prescribed in the Payment Request
a Position Report among other things explaining why the corporation believes
it is not obligated to pay the Full Amount Requested on or before the Initial
Response Deadline. Not later than the Initial Response Deadline for any Payment
Request, the corporation shall deliver to the place specified in a Payment Request
either (a) payment of the Full Amount Requested or (b) all of the following:
(i) a Position Report prepared in accordance with Section 9.8.2 in response
to such Payment Request and (ii) payment for any portion of the Full Amount
Requested for which the corporation shall not have provided in its Position
Report any good reason to believe the corporation is not obligated to make such
payment on the Initial Response Deadline. Without limiting by implication the
generality of the preceding provisions, the corporation shall become irrevocably
and unconditionally obligated to pay on the Initial Response Deadline relating
to any Payment Request any portion of the Full Amount Requested for which the
corporation shall not supply in a Position Report or shall not supply any Position
Report delivered in accordance with the requirements in this Section 9.8.3 a
good reason to believe the corporation is not obligated to pay such portion
on the Initial Response Deadline, and the corporation shall not thereafter have
the right to contest its obligation to pay such portion.
9.8.4 Conditions Clearance. The Final Response deadline for any Payment Request
shall be the 30th day after the Request Date for that Payment Request. If the
corporation shall conclude that any determination by its Board of Directors
shall be required to enable the corporation to determine whether or not it will
be able to pay any amount requested, then the corporation shall obtain such
determination not later than the Final Response Deadline, and if the corporation
shall not have obtained on or before the Final Response Date a determination
by its Board of Directors on any given issue relevant to any Payment Request,
the corporation shall be deemed to have waived the right to obtain the determination
from its Board and the relative rights and obligations of the corporation and
the Requestor shall on the Final Response Deadline become what they would have
been if the Board had resolved such issue in favor of the Requestor. The Corporation
shall promptly advise the Requestor of any other information from the Requestor
which the Requestor believes necessary (i) to enable the corporation to pay
the Full Amount Requested or (ii) to cause the corporation to become obligated
to pay all or any part of the Full Amount Requested. The corporation shall in
addition at its expense use its best efforts to take or cause to be taken promptly
such other actions as shall be necessary (i) to determine whether it is required
to make all or any part of the Full Amount Requested and (ii) to cause any amount
requested which the Corporation is obligated to pay to be paid as soon as possible
after the conditions to such payment are satisfied. If the corporation shall
not have paid the Full Amount Requested on or before the Final Response Deadline,
the corporation shall provide the Requestor a Position Report on the Final Response
Deadline and shall provide the Requestor with subsequent Position Reports thereafter
as often as the Requestor shall reasonably request (which if the Requestor shall
request shall not in any event be supplied less frequently than at 30-day intervals)
until the corporation shall have completed all actions the corporation is obligated
to take on under or by reason of this Section 9.8.4.
9.8.5 Freedom for Action. Neither the corporation, any member of its Board
of Directors nor any other person shall have any liability by reason of any
decision to pay any amount requested or any payment of any amount requested
unless (i) the decision to make such payment shall have been made in bad faith,
(ii) there shall be a Final Court Determination concluding that the corporation
was prohibited by this Article Nine or by applicable law from making such payment,
(iii) such persons action constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct,
and (iv) all other requirements necessary to hold such person liable by reason
of such payment (after giving effect among other things to all other provisions
in this Certificate of Incorporation, the corporations Bylaws and applicable
law) are satisfied.
9.8.6 Resolution of Contested Issues by Designated Counsel.
9.8.6.1 Designation. If the corporation and any Requestor who shall have
delivered any Payment Request shall agree in writing that any lawyer or law
firm shall serve as Designated Counsel, the such lawyer or law firm shall be
Designated Counsel to the extent prescribed in such agreement. Without limiting
by implication the generality of the preceding sentence, if the corporation
and any Covered Person shall enter into a written agreement under which they
shall agree that any law firm designated in (or in a manner prescribed in) such
agreement shall serve as Designated Counsel for purposes of any issue relevant
to whether the corporation is obligated or entitled to make any payment requested
by the Covered Person (whether pursuant to this Article Nine or otherwise and
including, but not limited to, issues which have not arisen or are unknown at
the time such agreement shall be made), then such law firm shall serve as Designated
Counsel for the purpose of issues involving the corporation and that Covered
Person to the extent prescribed by that agreement.
9.8.6.2 Designated Counsels Opinion. If the corporation shall not have paid
the Full Amount Requested in any Payment Request on or prior to the Initial
Response Deadline for that Payment Request, and if a Designated Counsel shall
have been appointed pursuant to Section 9.8.6.1 with authority to determine
whether and to what extent the corporation shall be obligated to pay the Full
Amount Requested, then the corporation shall use its best efforts to cause the
Designated Counsel to issue on the Final Response Deadline or as soon thereafter
as reasonably possible a letter addressed to the corporation and the Requestor
in which the Designated Counsel shall render an opinion as to what the final
outcome would be if all issues upon which the corporation and the Requestor
disagree relevant to determining whether and to what extent the corporation
is required to pay the Full Amount Requested were determined by a Final Court
Determination. In rendering such opinion, such counsel shall have the right
to render any determination under Section 145(d) of the Corporation Law relevant
to such request (and shall do so if either the corporation or the Requestor
requests it to do so), and if such counsel shall make any such determination
which differs from the determination by the corporations Board of Directors
or stockholders, such counsels determination shall supersede the determination
by the Board and/or the stockholders and shall control. Within 5 days after
the Designated Counsels opinion is issued, (i) the corporation shall pay to the Requestor
such amount as in the opinion of the Designated Counsel the corporation would
be obligated to pay if all issues relevant to the Payment Request involved were
resolved by a Final Court Determination and (ii) the corporation shall not thereafter
have the right to contest its obligation to make such payment. For purposes
of this Article Nine, the term "Section 145(d) of the Delaware Corporation Law"
means the provisions in Section 145(d) of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware as constituted after giving effect to all changes in that
section which shall have occurred between December 11, 1991 and the time at
which such section shall be applied; provided that if Section 145(d) shall be
replaced by any other statute, then the term shall be construed to refer to
the replacement statute as constituted at the time as of which the term shall
be applied.
9.8.6.3 Designated Counsel Not Guarantor. No lawyer or law firm which shall
be designated as Designated Counsel under this Article Nine shall have any liability
to the corporation, any Covered Person or anyone else (i) by reason of the fact
that the Final Court Determination of any issue covered by such opinion shall
for any reason be different from the outcome predicted in any opinion by such
counsel or (ii) for any other act or failure to act under or in connection with
this Article Nine.
9.8.6.4 Designated Counsel Fees. The corporation shall pay all charges made
by any Designated Counsel for services performed in connection with this Article
Nine. If the corporation shall fail to promptly make any payment required by
the preceding sentence, then any Covered Person interested in any issue decided
by such counsel may elect to make such payment, and if any Covered Person does
so, (i) such Covered Person shall be entitled to immediate reimbursement from
the corporation for such payment and (ii) such payment shall be deemed a Collection
Cost.
9.8.7 Court Contest.
9.8.7.1 Basic Contest Right. If for any reason the corporation shall not
pay the Full Amount Requested in any Payment Request on or before the Final
Response Deadline, then the Requestor shall be entitled to obtain a determination
from the court designated in Section 9.8.7.2 on any issue (herein called a "Contested
Issue") relevant to whether the corporation is obligated to pay any amount requested
in any Payment Request on or prior to the Final Response Deadline. The Requestors
right to obtain a final Court Determination shall not be impaired to any extent
by any determination by the corporations Board of Directors, stockholders or
Designated Counsel, but rather the court shall not be bound or affected by any
determination by the Board, stockholders or Designated Counsel which shall be
adverse to the Requestor and shall be entitled to decide each Contested Issue
as if no such adverse determination had been made. The corporation shall not
however be entitled to contest any determination by its Board, stockholders
or Designated Counsel in favor of the Requestor.
9.8.7.2 Court.
(a) Delaware State Courts. If the Requestor shall request that any Contested
Issue be determined by the Delaware state courts and shall submit to the jurisdiction
of such courts, then the corporation shall be subject to the jurisdiction of
such courts for purposes of resolving the Contested Issue, and such issue shall
be decided by the Delaware Court of Chancery (or such other Delaware state court
which shall have jurisdiction over the subject matter involved), provided that
if either party shall make an appropriate appeal from a decision by the state
court in Delaware by which such issue shall first be decided, the Contested
Issue shall be resolved by the highest court which shall have decided such issue
after all appeal rights shall have been exercised or shall have expired.
(b) Delaware Federal Court. If the Requestor shall request that any Contested
Issue be determined by the United States District Court in the State of Delaware
and shall submit to the jurisdiction of such court, then the corporation shall
be subject to the jurisdiction of such court for purposes of resolving the Contested
Issue, and such issue shall be decided by the United States District Court in
the State of Delaware, provided that if either party shall make an appropriate
appeal from a decision by the United States District Court in the State of Delaware
by which such issue shall first be decided, then the Contested Issue shall be
resolved by the highest court which shall have decided such issue after all
appeal rights have been exercised or shall have expired.
(c) Other Court. If the Requestor shall not request that any Contested Issue
be resolved in the courts specified in paragraph (a) or (b) in this Section
9.8.7.2, then the Contested Issue may be resolved by any court having jurisdiction
over the Requestor, the corporation and the Contested Issue (including, but
not limited to, any court specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section
9.8.7.2 which has such jurisdiction).
9.8.7.3 Burden of Proof. The burden of proof on each Contested Issue shall
rest with the corporation. Each court shall decide each Contested Issue in favor
of the Requestor unless the corporation is able to establish in a clear and
convincing manner that on the basis of the facts and the law involved such issue
must be resolved in favor of the corporation.
9.8.7.4 Final Court Determination. For purposes of this Article Nine, the
term "Final Court Determination" as applied to any issue between the corporation
and any other person means the decision rendered by the highest court having
jurisdiction over such issue, the corporation and such other person which shall
have decided such issue after all appeal rights shall have been exhausted or
shall have expired.
9.8.8 Alternative Methods to Obtain Payment. The purpose of this Section
9.8 is to prescribe one clear procedure which any Covered Person shall be entitled
to use to seek to obtain any amount which may be due to such person from the
corporation under or by reason of this Article Nine. It is not intended however
that this Section 9.8 preclude any Covered Person from pursuing any other procedure,
or method or right which may be available to such Covered Person to obtain any
payment which may be owed to such person by the corporation.
9.9 Collection Costs. If the corporation shall fail to pay any amount requested
in a Payment Request submitted by a Covered Person within ten days after the
Request Date, then the Covered Person who shall have sought payment of the amount
requested shall be entitled to receive from the corporation at the earlier of
the time at which a Final Court Determination shall be rendered finding that
the corporation is obligated to pay the amount requested or the time at which
the amount requested shall be made all attorneys fees and other expenses reasonably
incurred by any Covered Person to seek to obtain the amount requested.
9.10 Interest.
9.10.1 Basic Requirement. The corporation shall pay interest on each amount
owed by the corporation under this Article Nine at the time, to the person,
and at the rate prescribed by this Section 9.10.
9.10.2 Accrual Period.
9.10.2.1 Indemnification Payments. Interest shall start to accrue on any
amount the corporation shall pay or shall be required to pay under this Article
Nine other than a Collection Cost or interest on the eleventh day after the
Request Date for such amount. Without limiting by implication the generality
of the preceding sentence, if the amount the corporation shall ultimately pay
or be required to pay as a result of any Payment Request shall be less than
the Full Amount Requested in such Payment Request (whether by reason of settlement,
Final Court Determination or otherwise), then interest shall accrue on the amount
the corporation shall ultimately pay or be required to pay beginning on the
eleventh day after the receipt by the corporation of the Payment Request.
9.10.2.2 Collection Costs. Interest shall begin to accrue on any Collection
Cost at the time such Collection Cost shall have been paid by the person by
whom it was incurred.
9.10.2.3 Compounding. Interest accrued under this Article Nine shall compound
at the beginning of each calendar quarter, i.e., on each January 1, April 1,
July 1, and October 1. Interest shall begin to accrue at the rate prescribed
by Section 9.10.5 on all interest which shall have accrued prior to such date
under this Article Nine but which shall not have been paid prior to such date.
9.10.2.4 End of Accrual Period. Interest shall cease to accrue on any amount
owed under this Article Nine when such amount shall be paid. Unless the recipient
of any payment made under this Article Nine shall otherwise agree in writing, such payment shall be applied first to satisfy interest owed to
such recipient and the balance, after all accrued interest owed to such recipient
shall have been paid, shall be applied to principal.
9.10.3 Due Date. Interest accrued under this Section 9.10 shall be due and
payable at the same time at which the amount on which it has accrued shall be
due and payable.
9.10.4 Recipient. The person entitled to receive payment from the corporation
for any amount owed under this Article Nine shall also be entitled to receive
interest which shall accrue on such amount.
9.10.5 Accrual Rate. Interest shall accrue during any given calendar quarter
at a rate exactly four percent per annum higher than the yield to maturity on
treasury bills with a 13-week maturity sold by the United States government
on the first day of such quarter (or if no treasury bills shall be sold on the
first day of such quarter, on such treasury bills sold on the latest date on
which treasury bills with a 13-week maturity shall have been sold by the United
States Government prior to the first day in such quarter). In the event for
any reason the United States Government shall not sell treasury bills with a
13-week maturity within one month prior to the beginning of any calendar quarter,
then interest shall accrue under this Section 9.10. for that quarter at a rate
equivalent to the rate intended by this Section 9.10.5.
9.10.6 Secondary Interest. In the event any Covered Person shall obtain a
loan to provide funds to pay any amount for which such Covered Person shall
be reimbursed by the corporation or be held in a Final Court Determination to
be entitled to be reimbursed by the corporation or shall otherwise obtain credit
in connection with such amount (such as arrangements under which charges for
legal services for which the corporation shall pay or be obligated to pay under
or by reason of this Article Nine are deferred by the lawyers providing those
services in exchange for an interest charge running from the time the services
generating the charges were rendered to the time at which payment for those
charges is received), then the corporation shall be obligated to pay all interest
which shall accrue on such loan or credit.
9.11 Direct Payments. In any case in which a Covered Person would be entitled
to receive reimbursement under this Article Nine for any amount if such amount
were paid by such Covered Person to the person (herein called the "ultimate
recipient") to whom it shall be owed by the Covered Person, then the Covered
Person may elect to direct the corporation to make the payment directly to the
ultimate recipient, and if the Covered Person so directs, the corporation shall
make such payment directly to the ultimate recipient in accordance with such
direction.
9.12 Coverage Scope. Every person who shall at any time serve as a director
or officer of the corporation or who shall otherwise constitute a Covered Person
under the definition provided in Section 9.6 shall be entitled to rely (and
shall be conclusively presumed to have relied) upon the protection afforded
by this Article Nine. This Article Nine is expressly intended among other things
to induce persons to serve the corporation or to continue to serve the corporation.
This Article Nine is expressly intended to constitute a contract between the
corporation and every person who shall at any time serve as a director or
officer of the corporation or who shall otherwise constitute a Covered Person
under the definition provided in Section 9.6. This Article Nine is expressly
intended to provide protection on both a "claims incurred" basis and a "claims
made" basis, and therefore (without limiting by implication the scope of the
preceding provisions in this Article Nine): (i) no repeal or modification of
any provision in this Article Nine or any right arising under this Article Nine
shall be effective to take away or in any way impair any right which any person
would have had under this Article Nine in the absence of such repeal or modification
with respect to any liability or expense which such person would not have incurred
but for any act or failure to act which shall have occurred prior to such repeal
or modification or which shall otherwise arise out of such act or failure to
act; (ii) the termination of a persons service as a director or officer of
the corporation or the termination of any other Covered Service by any person
shall not take away or in any way impair such persons right to receive payments
under this Article Nine; (iii) a person shall be entitled to receive compensation
to which such person is entitled under the provisions of this Article Nine even
if the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for such compensation
shall have occurred prior to the time this Article Nine became part of the corporations
Certificate of Incorporation; and (iv) if the corporation shall merge into any
corporation or other entity, the successor corporation or other successor entity
shall after such merger have all obligations which the corporation would have
had under or by reason of this Article Nine if it had remained in effect and
been assumed by the successor.
9.13 Separate Indemnification Contract. Any officer of the corporation or
any member of its Board of Directors shall have the right and power to execute
on behalf of the corporation any written contract with any other person providing
indemnification or other protection to such other person in connection with
service by such other person as a director or officer of the corporation or
in connection with any other Covered Service by such person, and any such contract
shall be legal, valid and binding upon the corporation and shall be enforceable
against the corporation in accordance with its terms to the maximum extent permitted
by this Article Nine or by applicable law, if it shall be approved by a majority
of the members of the corporations Board of Directors exclusive of the person
to whom indemnification is provided by such contract. The rights of any person
under any particular contract made in accordance with the provisions of the
preceding sentence shall not be impaired or eliminated (i) by reason of the
fact that all or any one or more of the members of the Board who approved such
contracts shall be parties to contracts affording them similar protection (regardless
of when those other contracts shall have been approved or signed) or shall otherwise
have been provided with protection similar to that provided in the particular
contract or shall be subject to the same claims against which the particular
contract is intended to protect or (ii) for any other reason whatsoever. It
is expressly intended that each person with whom the corporation shall enter
into a written contract to provide indemnification or other protection in connection
with such persons service as an officer or director of the corporation or in
connection with other Covered Service by such person shall be entitled to rely
upon (and shall conclusively be presumed to have relied upon) the rights which
such contract purports to provide to such person. No separate written contract
shall however be necessary in order for any person to obtain any indemnification
or payment to which this Article Nine purports to entitle such person, and any
Covered Person who has no separate contact of any kind with the corporation
shall be entitled to receive all indemnification, payments and other benefits
which the provisions in this Article Nine other than this Section 9.13 purport
to provide to such Covered Person.
9.14 Indemnification Hereunder Not Exclusive. The rights to indemnification
and payment provided by this Article Nine shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other right of any kind which any person may have or at any time acquire under
or by reason of any other provision in this Certificate of Incorporation, the
corporations Bylaws, any agreement, any law or other action by any governmental
authority, or otherwise.
9.15 Insurance. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf
of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is
or was serving in any other capacity with the corporation, any Employee Plan
or any other organization against any expense, liability or loss whether or
not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such
expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Article Nine, under
applicable law or otherwise.
ARTICLE TEN AMENDMENTS
10.1 The corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal
any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now
or hereafter prescribed herein and by the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon stockholders, directors and officers
herein are granted subject to this reservation.
|