SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) OCTOBER 20, 1999
ASCENT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 0-27192 52-1930707
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification
No.)
1225 SEVENTEENTH STREET, SUITE 1800, DENVER, COLORADO 80202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 308-7000
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On October 20, 1999, Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc. ("Ascent")
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with
Liberty Media Corporation ("Liberty"), AT&T Corp. ("Parent") and Ranger
Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent and an entity newly
formed to participate in the transaction ("Merger Sub"). Pursuant to the
Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Ascent with Ascent
surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Merger").
In the Merger each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01
per share, of Ascent ("Ascent Common Stock," Nasdaq: GOAL), will be
converted into the right to receive 0.4626 shares of Liberty Media Group
Class A Common Stock (NYSE: LMG.A). Based on the October 20, 1999 closing
price of LMG.A of $37 5/16 per share, in the Merger Ascent stockholders
will receive an aggregate of approximately $513.6 million in LMG.A shares,
thus valuing each share of Ascent Common Stock at approximately $17.26.
The equivalent value of each share of Ascent Common Stock at the closing of
the Merger will depend on the market value of LMG.A at the closing. It is
anticipated that the Merger should be tax-free to the stockholders of
Ascent.
LMG.A is issued by Parent. It is tracking stock designed to reflect
the economic performance of the businesses and assets of Parent attributed
to Liberty Media Group, which is a group of companies acquired by Parent in
the TCI transaction. The businesses and assets of Liberty and its
subsidiaries constitute the vast majority of the businesses and assets of
Liberty Media Group.
The Merger will not include the Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets
or the Pepsi Center. Those businesses assets will be sold to The Sturm
Group for approximately $461 million pursuant to a previously announced
acquisition agreement. Ascent expects that closing to occur later this
month.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette is acting as financial advisor to Ascent
and has rendered a fairness opinion to Ascent's board of directors that the
exchange ratio offered in the merger is fair, from a financial point of
view, to holders of Ascent Common Stock.
Consummation of the Merger is subject to the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Ascent Common Stock, the
approval of all appropriate governmental and regulatory authorities, the
closing of the sale of the sports businesses and other customary
conditions. The closing of the Merger is anticipated to occur in the first
quarter of 2000.
The summary description above of the Merger Agreement is qualified in
its entirety by reference to Exhibit 2.1 attached hereto, which is
incorporated by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired
Not applicable.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 20,
1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Ranger Acquisition
Corp., Liberty Media Corporation and Ascent
Entertainment Group, Inc.
99.1 Press Release of Liberty Media Corporation, dated
October 21, 1999.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ASCENT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Arthur M. Aaron
_______________________________
Arthur M. Aaron
Vice President, Business and Legal
Affairs And Secretary
Dated: October 21, 1999
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 20, 1999, by
and among AT&T Corp., Ranger Acquisition Corp., Liberty Media
Corporation and Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc.
99.1 Press Release of Liberty Media Corporation, dated October 21,
1999.
Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AMONG
AT&T CORP.,
RANGER ACQUISITION CORP.,
LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION
AND
ASCENT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 20, 1999
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") is made as
of this 20th day of October, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., a New York
corporation ("Parent"), Ranger Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation
("Merger Sub"), Liberty Media Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Liberty"), and Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company").
WHEREAS, the parties are entering into this Agreement to provide
for the terms and conditions upon which the Company will be acquired by
Parent by means of a merger of Merger Sub, a newly formed, direct wholly
owned Subsidiary of Parent, with and into the Company (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
Merger and related transactions shall qualify as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
"Code") and that this Agreement shall constitute a plan of reorganization.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
1.1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise
requires:
An "Affiliate" of any Person shall mean any other Person which,
directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common
control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to "control," be
"controlled by" or be "under common control with" any other Person if such
other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to direct or cause
the direction of the management or policies of such Person whether through
the ownership of voting securities or partnership interests, by contract or
otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement,
neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate
of Liberty or any of its Affiliates, and neither Liberty nor any entity
that is a member of the Liberty Media Group nor any of the Affiliates of
any of the foregoing shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Parent or any of
its Affiliates.
"Agreement" shall mean this Agreement and Plan of Merger,
including all Exhibits and Schedules hereto.
"Alternative Proposal" shall mean any proposal, other than as
contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise proposed by Liberty or its
Affiliates, for (A) a merger, consolidation, share exchange,
reorganization, other business combination, recapitalization or similar
transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, of an equity interest representing
greater than 15% of the voting securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (C) the acquisition of a substantial portion of any of the
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including without
limitation the Company's interests in OCC but excluding the Entertainment
Assets) or (D) any transaction the effect of which would be reasonably
likely to prohibit, restrict or delay the consummation of the Merger or any
of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
"Class A Liberty Group Stock" shall mean the Class A Liberty
Media Group Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, issued by Parent.
"Closing" shall mean the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
"Closing Date" shall mean the date on which the Closing occurs
pursuant to Section 2.2.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock Group" shall have the meaning given to such term in
the Parent Charter.
"Company Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Company, together with the associated Right(s).
"Company Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the disclosure schedule,
dated as of the date of this Agreement, delivered by the Company to
Liberty.
"Company Stock Plans" shall mean the following: (i) the Ascent
Entertainment Group, Inc. 1995 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan; (ii) the
Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc. 1995 Key Employee Stock Plan; and (iii)
the Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc. 1997 Non-Employee Directors Stock
Appreciation Rights Plan.
"Competitor" shall mean any Person who competes with any business
conducted as of the date of this Agreement by the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, provided that such business represents more than 50% of the
aggregate value of assets or revenue, as applicable, of the Company and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
"Contribution Agreement" shall mean the Contribution Agreement,
dated as of March 9, 1999, among Liberty, Liberty Media Management LLC,
Liberty Media Group LLC and Liberty Ventures Group LLC.
"Control" (including the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and
"under common control with") shall have the meaning given to such term in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
"DGCL" shall mean the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
"Effective Time" shall mean the time when the Merger of Merger
Sub with and into the Company becomes effective under applicable law as
provided in Section 2.1(a).
"Entertainment Asset Sale" shall mean the sale, transfer and
disposition of the Entertainment Assets in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement.
"Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement" shall mean the Purchase and
Sale Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1999, among the Company, Ascent Sports
Holdings, Inc., Liberty Denver Arena LLC, Sturm Sports, LLC, Sturm
Avalanche, LLC, Sturm Nuggets, LLC and Sturm Arena, LLC, as amended through
the date hereof, and as the same may be further amended or modified in a
manner permitted by this Agreement.
"Entertainment Assets" shall mean the interests of the Company in
the following entities: (i) The Denver Nuggets Limited Partnership; (ii)
Colorado Avalanche, LLC; (iii) Ascent Sports, Inc.; (iv) Ascent Arena and
Development Corporation; (v) Ascent Sports Holdings, Inc.; (vi) Ascent
Arena Company, LLC; (vii) Ascent Arena Operating Company, LLC; (viii) The
Denver Arena Trust; (ix) NBG Arena LLC; and (x) NBG Sports LLC, which
interests shall be sold pursuant to the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as
accepted by the accounting profession in the United States as in effect
from time to time.
"Hart-Scott Act" shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"Indebtedness" shall mean, with respect to any Person, without
duplication (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of
the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (i) every
liability of such Person (excluding intercompany accounts between the
Company and any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or between wholly
owned Subsidiaries of the Company) (A) for borrowed money, (B) evidenced by
notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments (whether or not
negotiable), (C) for reimbursement of amounts drawn under letters of
credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account
of such Person, (D) issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property or services (excluding contingent payment obligations and accounts
payable) and (E) relating to a capitalized lease obligation and all debt
attributable to sale/leaseback transactions of such Person; and (ii) every
liability of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (i) which
such Person has guaranteed or which is otherwise its legal liability, in
either case to the extent required pursuant to GAAP to be set forth as a
liability on a balance sheet of such Person.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of December 22,
1997, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee, pursuant to
which the Company issued its 11-7/8% Senior Secured Discount Notes Due
2004.
"Inter-Group Agreement" shall mean the Inter-Group Agreement,
dated as of March 9, 1999, among AT&T Corp., on the one hand, and Liberty,
Liberty Media Group LLC and each Covered Entity (as defined therein), on
the other hand.
"Liberty Group Information" shall mean the information regarding
the Liberty Media Group described in Section 6.4.
"Liberty Media Group" shall have the meaning given to such term
in the Parent Charter, and shall include A-Group Merger Corp., its
successors and any entity acquired by any of them.
"Lien" shall mean any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, adverse interest,
assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, restriction, lien (statutory
or other), or preference, priority or other security agreement or
preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing lease
involving substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing,
and the filing of any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code
or comparable law of any jurisdiction).
"Material Adverse Effect" on any Person shall mean a material
adverse effect on such Person's business, assets, result of operations or
financial condition, provided that any effects of changes, either
individually or in the aggregate, that are generally applicable to (A) such
Person's primary industry, (B) the United States economy or (C) the United
States securities markets, shall not be considered a Material Adverse
Effect.
"Merger" shall have the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
"Merger Consideration" shall mean the Class A Liberty Group Stock
into which shares of Company Common Stock are converted pursuant to Section
2.3(a)(i).
"NBC Consents" shall mean any consent required in connection with
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to
Section 6 of the NBC Satellite System Service Contract Amendment, dated
July 26, 1999, between the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. and Ascent
Network Services.
"NYSE" shall mean The New York Stock Exchange.
"OCC" shall mean On Command Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
"OCC Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of OCC.
"OCC Stock Plans" shall mean the following (i) the On Command
Corporation 1996 Key Employee Stock Plan; (ii) the On Command Corporation
1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and (iii) the On Command Corporation
1997 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.
"OCC Warrants" shall mean the SpectraVision Warrants, the Series
A Warrants and the Series C Warrants, collectively, as such terms are
defined in the Warrant Agreement, dated as of October 8, 1996, between OCC
and The Bank of New York, as warrant agent.
"Parent Charter" shall mean the Amended Certificate of
Incorporation of Parent.
"Permitted Encumbrances" shall mean the following Liens with
respect to the properties and assets of the Company: (a) Liens for taxes,
assessments or other governmental charges or levies not at the time
delinquent or thereafter payable without penalty or being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in
accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on the Company's books; (b)
Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and landlords
incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not overdue or being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on the Company's
books; (c) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection
with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of
governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of tenders,
statutory obligations, leases and contracts (other than for borrowed money)
entered into in the ordinary course of business or to secure obligations on
surety or appeal bonds; (d) purchase money security interests or Liens on
property acquired or held by the Company in the ordinary course of business
to secure the purchase price of such property or to secure Indebtedness
incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such
property; (e) easements, restrictions and other defects of title which are
not, in the aggregate, material and which do not, individually or in the
aggregate, materially and adversely affect the Company's use or occupancy
of the property affected thereby; (f) Liens incurred under the Company's
$50 million Amended and Restated Credit Facility, dated as of December 22,
1997, among the Company, the Lenders named therein and NationsBank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, as amended through January 15, 1999, all of which
Liens shall be removed by the Company in connection with the closing of the
Entertainment Asset Sale; (g) Liens incurred under OCC's $200 million First
Amended and Restated Credit Facility, dated as of November 24, 1997, among
OCC, the Lenders named therein and NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent; (h) Liens incurred under the $139,835,000 Denver Arena Trust 6.94%
Arena Revenue Backed Notes, dated as of July 29, 1998, among Ascent Arena
Company, LLC, the Denver Arena Trust, Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner
Trustee, and The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee, all of which Liens
shall be rendered inapplicable to the Company upon consummation of the
Entertainment Asset Sale and the lenders under such Liens shall have no
further recourse against the Company; and (i) Liens related to the
Company's holdings of OCC Stock incurred in connection with the Indenture.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association,
or joint venture or a government, agency, political subdivision, or
instrumentality thereof.
"Post-Merger Restructuring Transactions" shall mean each of the
transactions described in paragraphs 1 through 3 of Exhibit 7.13 hereto.
"Pre-Vote LMGA Average Closing Price" shall mean the average of
the closing prices of the Class A Liberty Group Stock for the 20 trading
days immediately preceding the trading day prior to the date of the Special
Meeting.
"Restriction", with respect to any capital stock or other
security, shall mean any voting or other trust or agreement, option,
warrant, escrow arrangement, proxy, buy-sell agreement, power of attorney
or other Contract, or any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree
which, conditionally or unconditionally: (i) grants to any Person the right
to purchase or otherwise acquire, or obligates any Person to purchase or
sell or otherwise acquire, dispose of or issue, or otherwise results in or,
whether upon the occurrence of any event or with notice or lapse of time or
both or otherwise, may result in, any Person acquiring, (A) any of such
capital stock or other security; (B) any of the proceeds of, or any
distributions paid or which are or may become payable with respect to, any
of such capital stock or other security; or (C) any interest in such
capital stock or other security or any such proceeds or distributions; (ii)
restricts or, whether upon the occurrence of any event or with notice or
lapse of time or both or otherwise, may restrict the transfer or voting of,
or the exercise of any rights or the enjoyment of any benefits arising by
reason of ownership of, any such capital stock or other security or any
such proceeds or distributions; or (iii) creates or, whether upon the
occurrence of any event or with notice or lapse of time or both or
otherwise, may create a Lien or purported Lien affecting such capital stock
or other security, proceeds or distributions.
"Rights" shall mean the rights issued under the Rights Agreement.
"Rights Agent" shall mean The Bank of New York or its successor,
in its capacity as Rights Agents under the Rights Agreement.
"Rights Agreement" shall mean the Rights Agreement, dated June
27, 1997, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as amended through
the date hereof.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"Subsidiary," when used with respect to any Person, shall mean
any corporation or other organization, whether incorporated or
unincorporated, of which such Person or any other Subsidiary of such Person
is a general partner or at least 50% of the securities or other interests
having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect at least 50% of the
Board of Directors or others performing similar functions with respect to
such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly owned or
controlled by such Person, by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by
such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, (i) Parent's Subsidiaries shall
be deemed not to include Liberty or any entity that is a member of the
Liberty Media Group or any of the Affiliates of any of the foregoing,
whether or not they otherwise would be Subsidiaries of Parent under the
foregoing definition, (ii) the Company's Subsidiaries shall be deemed to
include OCC, whether or not it otherwise would be a Subsidiary of the
Company under the foregoing definition, and (iii) the Company's
Subsidiaries shall be deemed not to include the Entertainment Assets or any
of their Subsidiaries, whether or not they otherwise would be Subsidiaries
of the Company under the foregoing definition.
"Superior Proposal" shall mean any bona fide written Alternative
Proposal that the Company Board determines in good faith after taking into
account the advice of a financial advisor of nationally recognized
reputation, and taking into account all the terms and conditions of the
Alternative Proposal, is more favorable to the Company's stockholders than
the Merger and for which financing, to the extent required, is then fully
committed or reasonably determined to be available by the Company Board.
"Surviving Entity" shall mean the Company as the surviving entity
in the Merger as provided in Section 2.1(a).
"Third Inter-Group Supplement" shall mean the Third Supplement to
Inter-Group Agreement between and among Parent, on the one hand, and
Liberty, Liberty Media Group LLC and each Covered Entity (as defined
therein), on the other hand, dated as of October 20, 1999.
"Third Tax Sharing Amendment" shall mean the Third Amendment to
Tax Sharing Agreement, by and among Parent, Liberty, for itself and each
member of the Liberty Media Group, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty
Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI STARZ, Inc., TCI CT
Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity (as defined therein), dated as of
October 20, 1999.
1.2 ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS. The following additional terms have the
meaning ascribed thereto in the Section indicated below next to such term:
Defined Term Section
------------ -------
1999 Budget 7.4(d)
2000 Budget 7.4(d)
BT 4.24
Certificates 2.4(b)
Certificate of Merger 2.1(a)
Claim 7.11(a)
Class B Liberty Group Stock 5.5
Code Preamble
Company Preamble
Company Board 3.1
Company Bylaws 3.1
Company Charter 3.1
Company Consolidated Returns 4.11
Company OCC Shares 7.5(c)
Company Plans 4.12(a)
Company Preferred Stock 4.3
Company SAR 2.3(b)
Company SEC Reports 4.4(a)
Company Stock Option 2.3(b)
Competitor Transaction 7.10(a)
Confidential Information 7.2
Contract 4.5(iv)
Contract Consent 4.5(iii)
Contract Notice 4.5(iii)
Controlled Group 4.12
Convertible Securities 4.3
Deferred Intercompany Transactions 4.11
Disclosing Party 7.2
Employee Benefit Plan 4.12(a)
Employee Severance Agreements 3.8
End Date 9.1(ii)
Environmental and Health Laws 4.9
ERISA 4.12(a)
ERISA Affiliate 4.12(a)
Excess Shares 2.4(f)
Exchange Agent 2.4(a)
Exchange Agent Agreement 2.4(a)
Exchange Fund 2.4(a)
Exchange Ratio 2.3(a)(i)
Fairness Opinion 4.13
Fractional Fund 2.4(f)
Governmental Consent 4.5(ii)
Governmental Entity 4.5(v)
Governmental Filing 4.5(ii)
Indemnified Liabilities 7.11(a)
Indemnified Parties 7.11(a)
Injunction 3.5
Intercompany Transactions 4.11
Investment Security 4.17
IRS 4.11
Liberty Preamble
Licenses 4.9
LMC Notice 7.10(a)
LMC Withdrawal Notice 7.10(a)
Local Approvals 4.5(ii)
Merger Preamble
Merger Proposal 3.1
Merger Sub Preamble
Non-Breaching Party 7.6
OCC Alternative Transaction 7.5(c)
OCC Board 3.7
OCC Consolidated Returns 4.11
OCC SEC Reports 4.4(b)
OCC Stock Options 7.4(c)
Parent Preamble
Parent Common Stock 5.5
Parent Plans 3.6
Parent Preferred Stock 5.5
Party's Certificate 7.12
Parties' Certificates 7.12
PBGC 4.12(d)
Permits 4.9
Proxy Statement 3.2(a)
Receiving Party 7.2
Registration Statement 3.2(a)
Representatives 7.2
Rule 145 Agreement 3.3
Special Meeting 3.1
Third Party Agreement 9.2(a)
Third Party Tender Offer 9.2(a)
Violation 4.5(iv)
Voting Debt 4.3
1.3 TERMS GENERALLY. The definitions set forth or referenced in
Sections 1.1 and 1.2 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural
forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The
words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed
by the phrase "without limitation". The words "herein", "hereof" and
"hereunder" and words of similar import refer to this Agreement (including
the Exhibits and Schedules) in its entirety and not to any part hereof
unless the context shall otherwise require. As used herein, the term "to
the Company's knowledge" or any similar term relating to the knowledge of
the Company means the actual knowledge of any of the officers (determined
in accordance with Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act as in effect on the
date hereof) or directors of the Company. All references herein to
Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to
Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement
unless the context shall otherwise require. Unless the context shall
otherwise require, any references to any agreement or other instrument or
statute or regulation are to it as amended and supplemented from time to
time (and, in the case of a statute or regulation, to any successor
provisions). Any reference in this Agreement to a "day" or number of
"days" (without the explicit qualification of "business") shall be
interpreted as a reference to a calendar day or number of calendar days.
If any action or notice is to be taken or given on or by a particular
calendar day, and such calendar day is not a business day, then such action
or notice shall be deferred until, or may be taken or given on, the next
business day. References to the term "business day" shall mean any day
which is not a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks in New York, New York
are authorized or required by law to close. As applied to Parent, the
phrases "as soon as reasonably practicable," "as promptly as practicable"
and similar phrases shall mean "reasonably promptly under the
circumstances, in light of the other burdens on the time and attention of
the directors, officers, employees and agents of Parent and the relative
benefits to Parent of this Agreement and such other burdens."
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS
2.1 THE MERGER.
(a) Merger; Effective Time. At the Effective Time and subject
to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Merger Sub shall,
and Parent shall cause Merger Sub to, merge with and into the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the DGCL, the separate corporate
existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the
Surviving Entity. The Effective Time shall occur upon the filing with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Merger (the
"Certificate of Merger") substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.1(a) and
executed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL, or at
such later time as may be agreed to by Parent, Liberty and the Company and
specified in the Certificate of Merger. Provided that this Agreement has
not been terminated pursuant to Article IX, the parties will cause the
Certificate of Merger to be filed as soon as practicable after the Closing.
(b) Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effect set
forth in Sections 259 and 261 of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the
properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and
Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities
and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of the Surviving Entity. If, at any time after the
Effective Time, the Surviving Entity considers or is advised that any
deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or
things are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or
otherwise in the Surviving Entity its right, title or interest in, to or
under any of the rights, properties, or assets of either the Company or
Merger Sub, or otherwise to carry out the intent and purposes of this
Agreement, the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity will be
authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each of the
Company and Merger Sub, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and
assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of the
Company and Merger Sub, all such other actions and things as the Board of
Directors of the Surviving Entity may determine to be necessary or
desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest
in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving Entity
or otherwise to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
(c) Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving Entity.
At the Effective Time, the Company Charter shall be amended pursuant to the
Certificate of Merger to be identical to the Certificate of Incorporation
of Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except
that Article FIRST thereof shall read as follows: "The name of the
Corporation (which is hereinafter called the "Corporation") is Ascent
Entertainment Group, Inc." Such Company Charter as so amended shall be the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Entity until thereafter duly
amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the DGCL. At the
Effective Time, the Company Bylaws shall be amended to be identical to the
bylaws of Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and,
in such amended form, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Entity until
thereafter duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the terms of
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Entity and the DGCL.
(d) Directors and Officers of Surviving Entity. At the
Effective Time, the directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Entity and all such
directors will hold office from the Effective Time until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualify in the manner provided
in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Entity, or
as otherwise provided by applicable law. At the Effective Time, the
officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
officers of the Surviving Entity and all such officers will hold office
until their respective successors are duly appointed and qualify in the
manner provided in the Bylaws of the Surviving Entity, or as otherwise
provided by applicable law.
2.2 CLOSING. The Closing shall take place (i) at 10:00 a.m. (New
York time) at the offices of Baker & Botts, L.L.P., 599 Lexington Avenue,
New York, New York 10022, on the first business day following the date on
which the last of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than the
filing of the Certificate of Merger and other than any such conditions
which by their terms are not capable of being satisfied until the Closing
Date) is satisfied or, if permissible, waived, or (ii) on such other date
and at such other time or place as is mutually agreed by Parent, Liberty
and the Company.
2.3 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES.
(a) Conversion of Company Securities. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger
Sub, the Company or the holders of any of their securities:
(i) Each share of Company Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than such shares to be
canceled in accordance with Section 2.3(a)(iii) and subject to Section
2.4(f)) shall be converted into and represent the right to receive, and
shall be exchangeable for 0.4626 of a share of Class A Liberty Group Stock
(the "Exchange Ratio").
(ii) All shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock issued
pursuant to this Section 2.3(a) will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. All shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease
to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such shares
shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to
receive the shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock to be issued pursuant to
this Section 2.3(a) (and any dividends or other distributions and any cash
in lieu of a fractional share payable pursuant to Sections 2.4(f) and
2.4(g)) with respect thereto upon the surrender of such certificate in
accordance with Section 2.4, without interest.
(iii) Each share of Company Common Stock that
immediately prior to the Effective Time is held by the Company as a
treasury share shall be canceled and retired without payment of any
consideration thereof and without any conversion thereof into the Merger
Consideration.
(b) Treatment of Company Stock Options and SARs. (i) At the
Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase shares of Company
Common Stock (a "Company Stock Option") issued by the Company (whether
pursuant to any Company Stock Plan or otherwise) shall immediately vest and
shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part
of any holder thereof, be assumed by Parent. Thereafter, each Company
Stock Option shall be deemed to constitute an option to purchase, on the
same terms and conditions as were applicable under such Company Stock
Option (except with respect to vesting), that number of shares of Class A
Liberty Group Stock which is equal to the number of shares of Company
Common Stock that were subject to such Company Stock Option immediately
prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to
the nearest whole number (after taking into account all Company Stock
Options held by the holder of such Company Stock Option), at an exercise
price per share of Class A Liberty Group Stock equal to the amount
determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock
subject to such Company Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective
Time by the Exchange Ratio, and rounding the resulting number down to the
nearest whole cent.
(ii) At the Effective Time, each outstanding stock
appreciation right with respect to shares of Company Common Stock (a
"Company SAR") issued by the Company pursuant to any Company Stock Plan, or
otherwise issued by the Company, shall immediately vest and shall, by
virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of any
holder thereof, be assumed by Liberty. Thereafter, each Company SAR shall
be deemed to constitute a stock appreciation right, on the same terms and
conditions as were applicable under such Company SAR (except with respect
to vesting), with respect to that number of shares of Class A Liberty Group
Stock which is equal to the number of shares of Company Common Stock that
were subject to such Company SAR immediately prior to the Effective Time
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole number
(after taking into account all Company SARs owned by the holder of such
Company SAR), at an exercise price per stock appreciation right equal to
the amount determined by dividing the base price per share of such Company
SAR immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio, and
rounding the resulting number down to the nearest whole cent.
(c) Conversion of Merger Sub Stock. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger
Sub, the Company or the holders of any of their securities, each share of
capital stock of Merger Sub outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be converted into one share of the common stock of the Surviving
Entity.
2.4 EXCHANGE OF SHARES.
(a) Appointment of Exchange Agent; Exchange Fund. On or before
the Closing Date, Parent shall enter into an agreement (the "Exchange Agent
Agreement") with an exchange agent selected by Parent and reasonably
acceptable to the Company (the "Exchange Agent"), authorizing such Exchange
Agent to act as Exchange Agent hereunder. Promptly following the Effective
Time, Parent shall deposit, in trust for the benefit of those Persons who
immediately prior to the Effective Time were the holders of Company Common
Stock, with the Exchange Agent certificates representing a sufficient
number of shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock required to effect the
delivery of the aggregate Merger Consideration issuable pursuant to Section
2.3 (the certificates representing Class A Liberty Group Stock comprising
such aggregate Merger Consideration being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Fund").
(b) Letter of Transmittal. As soon as reasonably practicable
after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of
record of a certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented issued and outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock (the "Certificates") whose shares were converted into the right to
receive the Merger Consideration: (i) a notice of the effectiveness of the
Merger and (ii) a letter of transmittal (which shall state that delivery
shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall
pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) with
instructions for use in effecting the surrender and exchange of the
Certificates. Such notice, letter of transmittal and instructions shall
contain such provisions and be in such form as Parent, Liberty and the
Company reasonably specify.
(c) Exchange Procedure. Promptly following the surrender, in
accordance with such instructions, of a Certificate to the Exchange Agent
(or such other agent or agents as may be appointed by the Exchange Agent or
Parent pursuant to the Exchange Agent Agreement), together with such letter
of transmittal (duly executed) and any other documents required by such
instructions or letter of transmittal, the Exchange Agent shall, subject to
Section 2.4(d), cause to be distributed to the Person in whose name such
Certificate shall have been issued (i) a certificate registered in the name
of such Person representing the number of whole shares of Class A Liberty
Group Stock into which the shares of Company Common Stock previously
represented by the surrendered Certificate shall have been converted at the
Effective Time pursuant to this Article II and (ii) payment (which shall be
made by check) of any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares of Class A
Liberty Group Stock pursuant to Section 2.4(f). Each Certificate so
surrendered shall be canceled.
(d) Unregistered Transfers of Company Common Stock. In the
event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock which is not
registered in the transfer records of the Company, certificates
representing the proper number of whole shares of Class A Liberty Group
Stock may be issued (and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Class A
Liberty Group Stock may be paid) to the transferee if the Certificate
representing such Company Common Stock surrendered to the Exchange Agent in
accordance with Section 2.4(c) is properly endorsed for transfer or is
accompanied by appropriate and properly endorsed stock powers and is
otherwise in proper form to effect such transfer, if the Person requesting
such transfer pays to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes
payable by reason of such transfer or establishes to the satisfaction of
the Exchange Agent that such taxes have been paid or are not required to be
paid and if such Person establishes to the satisfaction of Parent that such
transfer would not violate applicable Federal or state securities laws.
(e) 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 satisfactory to Parent and complying with any other reasonable
requirements imposed by Parent, the Exchange Agent will cause to be
delivered to such Person in respect of such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate the Merger Consideration (and any cash in lieu of fractional
shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock to which such Person is entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(f)) in respect thereof as determined in accordance
with this Article II. Parent may, in its discretion, require the owner of
such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate to give Parent a bond in such
reasonable sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be
made against Parent or the Surviving Entity with respect to the Certificate
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
(f) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Class A
Liberty Group Stock shall be issued in the Merger. In lieu of any such
fractional shares, each holder of shares of Company Common Stock who would
otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share of Class A Liberty
Group Stock upon surrender of Certificates for exchange pursuant to this
Section 2.4 will be paid an amount in cash (without interest) equal to such
holder's proportionate interest in the proceeds from the sale or sales in
the open market by the Exchange Agent, on behalf of all such holders, of
the aggregate fractional shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock which, but
for this Section 2.4(f), would be issuable in the Merger. As soon as
practicable following the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall
determine the excess of (i) the number of full shares of Class A Liberty
Group Stock delivered to the Exchange Agent by Parent over (ii) the
aggregate number of full shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock to be
distributed to former holders of Company Common Stock (such excess being
herein called the "Excess Shares"). The Exchange Agent, as agent for the
former holders of Company Common Stock, shall sell the Excess Shares at the
prevailing prices on the NYSE. The sales of the Excess Shares by the
Exchange Agent shall be executed on the NYSE through one or more member
firms of the NYSE and shall be executed in round lots to the extent
practicable. All commissions, transfer taxes and other out-of-pocket
transaction costs, if any, including the expenses and compensation, if any,
of the Exchange Agent, incurred in connection with such sale of Excess
Shares, shall be deducted from the proceeds otherwise distributable to the
holders of Company Common Stock. Until the proceeds of such sale have been
distributed to the former holders of Company Common Stock, the Exchange
Agent will hold such proceeds in trust for such former holders (the
"Fractional Fund"). As soon as practicable after the determination of the
amount of cash to be paid to former holders of Company Common Stock in lieu
of any fractional interests, the Exchange Agent shall make available in
accordance with this Agreement such amounts to such former holders.
(g) No Dividends Before Surrender of Certificates. No dividends
or other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with
respect to Class A Liberty Group Stock with a record date after the
Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate
with respect to the shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock represented
thereby, until the holder of record of such Certificate shall surrender
such Certificate as provided herein. Following surrender of any such
Certificate, there shall be paid to the record holder of the certificates
representing whole shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock issued in exchange
therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the amount
of dividends or other distributions, if any, with a record date after the
Effective Time and payable with respect to such whole shares of Class A
Liberty Group Stock between the Effective Time and the time of such
surrender, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of
dividends or other distributions, if any, with a record date after the
Effective Time but prior to surrender and with a payment date subsequent to
surrender payable with respect to such whole shares of Class A Liberty
Group Stock.
(h) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All
shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock issued and all cash in lieu of
fractional shares paid upon the surrender for exchange of shares of Company
Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have
been issued and paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such
shares of Company Common Stock, and there shall be no further registration
of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Entity of the
shares of Company Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time. Subject to Section 2.4(i), if, after the Effective
Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Entity for any reason,
they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article II.
(i) Termination of Exchange Fund and Fractional Fund; Abandoned
Property Laws. Any portion of the Exchange Fund and the Fractional Fund
(and any dividends or other distributions with respect to such portion of
the Exchange Fund) and any cash delivered to the Exchange Agent for payment
of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.4(f) which remains unclaimed by
the former stockholders of the Company for one year after the Effective
Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand of Parent, and any former
stockholders of the Company shall thereafter look only to Parent for
payment of their claim for Merger Consideration (and any such dividends or
other distributions) or for any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Class
A Liberty Group Stock. None of Parent, Liberty nor the Surviving Entity
shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Class A
Liberty Group Stock for any such shares, for any dividends or distributions
with respect thereto or for any cash in lieu of fractional shares which may
be delivered to any public official pursuant to any abandoned property,
escheat or similar law.
2.5 CHANGES IN CLASS A LIBERTY GROUP STOCK. If prior to the Effective
Time, the Class A Liberty Group Stock shall be recapitalized or
reclassified or Parent shall effect any stock dividend, stock split or
reverse stock split of Class A Liberty Group Stock, or shall otherwise
effect any transaction that changes the shares of Class A Liberty Group
Stock into any other securities (including securities of another
corporation), or shall make any other dividend (other than the commencement
of regular cash dividends) or distribution on the shares of Class A Liberty
Group Stock, then the Exchange Ratio will, as appropriate, be adjusted to
reflect such split, combination, transaction, dividend or other
distribution or change.
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN ACTIONS
3.1 STOCKHOLDER MEETING. The Company and its Board of Directors (the
"Company Board") shall take all action necessary in accordance with
applicable law and the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Company Charter") and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the
"Company Bylaws") to duly call and hold, as soon as reasonably practicable
after the date hereof, a meeting of the Company's stockholders (the
"Special Meeting") for the purpose of considering and voting upon the
approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger contemplated hereby
(the "Merger Proposal"). The only matters the Company shall propose to be
acted on by the Company's stockholders at the Special Meeting shall be the
Merger Proposal and related matters incidental to the consummation of the
Merger and, if so determined by the Company, such other matters as are
customarily presented to stockholders at an annual meeting. Subject to
Section 7.5, the Company Board will recommend that the Company's
stockholders vote in favor of approval of the Merger Proposal and the
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its
stockholders proxies in favor of such approval and to secure the vote of
stockholders of the Company required by the DGCL and the Company Charter to
effect the Merger. The Company shall not require any vote greater than a
majority of the total number of votes entitled to be cast by the holders of
the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock voting as a
single class for approval of the Merger Proposal. Unless the Agreement is
previously terminated in accordance with Article IX, the Company shall
submit the Merger Proposal to its stockholders at the Special Meeting even
if the Company Board determines at any time after the date hereof that it
is no longer advisable or recommends that the Company's stockholders reject
it.
3.2 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER COMMISSION FILINGS.
(a) Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. As soon as
reasonably practicable after the execution of this Agreement, Parent,
Liberty and the Company shall cooperate in the preparation of, and the
Company shall file confidentially with the Commission, a preliminary proxy
statement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of Parent,
Liberty and the Company, and following resolution of comments, if any, of
the Commission on the preliminary proxy statement, Liberty and Parent shall
prepare and Parent shall file with the Commission a registration statement
on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement"), containing a form of prospectus
that includes such proxy statement (as amended or supplemented, if
applicable) registering under the Securities Act the issuance of the shares
of Class A Liberty Group Stock issuable upon conversion of Company Common
Stock pursuant to the Merger. Each of Parent, Liberty and the Company
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to respond to any comments of the
Commission, to have the Registration Statement declared effective as
promptly as practicable after such filing and to cause the proxy statement
as filed with the Commission and as thereafter amended or supplemented to
be approved by the Commission and mailed to the Company's stockholders at
the earliest practicable time (such proxy statement in the definitive form
mailed to the Company's stockholders, as thereafter amended or
supplemented, being referred to as the "Proxy Statement"). The Company and
Parent will notify each other party promptly of the receipt of any comments
from the Commission or its staff and of any request by the Commission or
its staff or any other government officials for amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement or any other filing or
for additional information, and will supply the other parties with copies
of all correspondence between it and any of its representatives, on the one
hand, and the Commission or its staff or any other governmental officials
on the other hand, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Proxy
Statement, the Merger or any filing with the Commission relating thereto.
Whenever a party becomes aware of any event which is required to be set
forth in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the
Proxy Statement or any other filing with the Commission in connection with
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, such party shall
promptly inform the other parties of such occurrence and cooperate in the
prompt filing with the Commission or its staff or any other governmental
officials, and/or mailing to stockholders of the Company, of such amendment
or supplement which shall comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The Company, and
Parent and Liberty, each shall promptly provide the other (or its counsel)
copies of all filings made by such party with any Governmental Entity in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) Company Board Recommendation. The Proxy Statement shall
include the recommendation of the Company Board in favor of approval and
adoption of the Merger Proposal, except to the extent the Company Board
shall have withdrawn or modified its approval or recommendation of this
Agreement or the Merger as permitted by Section 7.5. The Company shall use
its reasonable efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to its
stockholders as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement
becomes effective.
3.3 IDENTIFICATION OF RULE 145 AFFILIATES. Within 30 days after the
execution of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to Parent and
Liberty a letter identifying all Persons who the Company knows are or who
the Company has reason to believe may be, as of the date of the Special
Meeting, "affiliates" of the Company for purposes of Rule 145 under the
Securities Act. The Company will supplement such letter, if applicable,
with the name and address of any other Person subsequently identified by
either Parent or the Company, as the case may be (unless, in the case of
Parent, an opinion of outside counsel to the Company reasonably acceptable
to Parent is provided to Parent that such Person is not an affiliate), as a
Person who may be deemed to be such an affiliate; provided, however, that
no such Person identified by Parent or the Company, as the case may be,
shall remain on such list of affiliates if Parent or the Company, as the
case may be, shall receive from the other party, on or before the date of
the Special Meeting, an opinion of outside counsel reasonably satisfactory
to Parent to the effect that such Person is not such an affiliate. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each Person who is
identified as an "affiliate" in the letter referred to above (as so
supplemented) to deliver to Parent, on or prior to the Closing Date, a
written agreement, in substantially the form annexed hereto as Exhibit 3.3
(each a "Rule 145 Agreement"). Parent shall not be required to maintain
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any other registration
statement under the Securities Act for the purposes of resale of Class A
Liberty Group Stock received by such affiliates in the Merger.
3.4 STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES. The Company will, and will use its
reasonable efforts to cause OCC to, take all reasonable steps to (i) exempt
the Merger from the requirements of any applicable state takeover law and
(ii) assist in any challenge by Parent or Liberty to the validity or
applicability to the Merger of any state takeover law.
3.5 REASONABLE EFFORTS. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and applicable law, and (with respect to Parent) subject to the
last proviso of the following sentence, each of the parties hereto shall
use its reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and
to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, including such actions or
things as any other party hereto may reasonably request in order to cause
any of the conditions to such other party's obligation to consummate such
transactions specified in Article VIII to be fully satisfied. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties shall (and shall
cause their respective directors, officers and Subsidiaries, and use their
reasonable efforts to cause their respective Affiliates, employees, agents,
attorneys, accountants and representatives, to) consult and fully cooperate
with and provide reasonable assistance to each other in (i) the preparation
and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement, the
preliminary proxy statement referred to in Section 3.2, the Proxy Statement
and any necessary amendments or supplements to any thereof; (ii) seeking to
have such Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission as
soon as reasonably practicable after filing; (iii) taking such actions as
may reasonably be required under applicable state securities or blue sky
laws in connection with the issuance of the Merger Consideration; (iv)
using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary consents,
approvals, waivers, licenses, permits, authorizations, registrations,
qualifications, or other permission or action by, and giving all necessary
notices to and making all necessary filings with and applications and
submissions to, any Governmental Entity or other Person required in order
to cause any of the conditions to each other party's obligation to
consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby to be fully
satisfied; (v) filing all pre-merger notification and report forms required
under the Hart-Scott Act and responding to any requests for additional
information made by any Governmental Entity pursuant to the Hart-Scott Act;
(vi) using commercially reasonable efforts (which in the case of Parent do
not require the commencement of litigation) to lift any permanent or
preliminary injunction or restraining order or other similar order issued
or entered by any court or Governmental Entity (an "Injunction") of any
type referred to in Section 8.1(e); (vii) using commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain the tax opinions referred to in Sections 8.2(h) and
8.3(e); (viii) providing all such information about such party, its
Subsidiaries and its officers, directors, partners and Affiliates and
making all applications and filings as may be necessary or reasonably
requested in connection with any of the foregoing; and (ix) in general,
using commercially reasonable efforts to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated thereby; provided, however, that, subject (with
respect to Liberty) to Section 7.10(b), in making any such filing and in
order to obtain any consent, approval, waiver, license, permit,
authorization, registration, qualification, or other permission or action
or the lifting of any Injunction referred to in this sentence, (A) no party
shall be required to pay any consideration, to divest itself of any of, or
otherwise rearrange the composition of, any of its assets or to agree to
any of the foregoing or any other condition or requirement that is
materially adverse or burdensome; (B) neither Parent nor Liberty shall be
required to take any action pursuant to the foregoing if the taking of such
action is reasonably likely to result in the imposition of a condition or
restriction of the type referred to in Section 8.2(d); (C) without
Liberty's prior consent, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to, amend any License or Contract, pay any consideration
or make any agreement or reach any understanding or arrangement other than
in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice; and (D)
Liberty and the Company recognize that Parent may allocate resources in
whatever manner it reasonably deems appropriate; and provided, further,
that Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to take any such
action, or any other action pursuant to this Section 3.5, except to the
extent that such action is required by statute, rule or regulation to be
taken by or in the name of Parent or such Subsidiary (as opposed to by or
in the name of Liberty or the Company or a Subsidiary thereof) in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and, in
such event, Parent (or such Subsidiary of Parent) shall be required only to
make filings and statements of fact and shall not under any circumstances
be required to commit or be committed to take or refrain from taking any
action or be subject to any restriction that relates to any business,
asset, liability, operation or employee of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries. Prior to making any application to or filing with any
Governmental Entity or other Person in connection with this Agreement, each
party shall provide the other party with drafts thereof and afford the
other party a reasonable opportunity to comment on such drafts.
3.6 EMPLOYEE MATTERS. Neither Parent nor the Surviving Entity shall
be required to maintain any Company Plan after the Effective Time. Each
employee of the Surviving Entity who was an employee of the Company
immediately prior to the Effective Time (i) shall be entitled to
participate in the "employee benefit plans", as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA, maintained by Parent (the "Parent Plans") to the same extent, if
any, as similarly situated employees of Liberty, (ii) shall receive credit
for such employee's past service with the Company as of the Effective Time
for purposes of eligibility and vesting under the Parent Plans, including
for purposes of eligibility and participation under Parent's severance
policies and plans, to the extent such service was credited under the
Company Plans on the Closing Date, and (iii) shall not be subject to any
waiting periods or limitations on benefits for pre-existing conditions
under the Parent Plans, including any group health and disability plans,
except to the extent such employees were subject to such limitations under
the Company Plans; provided, however, that clauses (ii) and (iii) shall not
apply to employees who become eligible to participate in Parent Plans as a
result of transfer of employment to Parent or one of its Subsidiaries other
than the Surviving Entity or any member of the Liberty Media Group.
3.7 OCC BOARD. The Company shall cause Liberty's designees to
constitute a majority of the board of directors of OCC effective
immediately following the Effective Time (and Parent, as sole shareholder
of the Surviving Entity at such time, consents to such constitution).
3.8 COMPANY SEVERANCE OBLIGATIONS. (a) Liberty agrees to cause the
Surviving Entity to assume and honor without modification the severance and
cash severance payment provisions of the employment agreements and change
of control severance plan listed in Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule (the "Employee Severance Agreements"), with any cash severance
payments pursuant thereto to be made in a lump sum not later than the
Effective Time. Each of Liberty and the Company acknowledges that the
consummation of the Merger as provided herein will constitute a "Change of
Control" for purposes of the Employee Severance Agreements and,
accordingly, as of the Effective Time, each of the individuals party to
such agreements will be entitled to (x) a cash severance payment as
provided in such agreements in the manner described in the previous
sentence, (y) provision of the other fringe benefits provided in such
agreements and (z) accelerated vesting of the stock appreciation rights
with respect to the Company Common Stock held by such individuals as
provided in such agreements.
(b) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall take such action as
is necessary in accordance with the terms of the Employee Severance
Agreements to terminate all individuals covered by such agreements,
effective as of the Effective Time, subject to the making of the cash
severance payments and provision for the other benefits referred to in
Section 3.8(a).
3.9 EXPENSES. Except as may otherwise be set forth in this
Agreement, the Third Inter-Group Supplement, the Third Tax Sharing
Amendment, the Parent Charter or any document referred to herein or therein
or executed in connection herewith or therewith to which the Company,
Liberty or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a party,
each of Parent and Merger Sub (i) has not paid and will not pay, directly
or indirectly (which does not include any payments by or to Liberty or any
member of the Liberty Media Group or any Affiliate of the foregoing or any
allocations pursuant to the Parent Charter or the Inter-Group Agreement)
any expenses of any of the holders of Company Common Stock incurred in
connection with the Merger and (ii) has not agreed to assume and will not
directly or indirectly (which does not include any payments by or to
Liberty or any member of the Liberty Media Group or any Affiliate of the
foregoing or any allocations pursuant to the Parent Charter or the Inter-
Group Agreement) assume any expense or other liability, whether fixed or
contingent, of any holder of Company Common Stock. Liberty and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates will not execute in connection with this
Agreement or any document referred to herein, any document, whether or not
referred to herein, that would require Parent or any member of the Common
Stock Group (i) to pay, directly or indirectly, any expenses of any of the
holders of Company Common Stock incurred in connection with the Merger or
(ii) to assume, directly or indirectly, any expenses or other liability,
whether fixed or contingent, of any holder of Company Common Stock, without
the prior written approval of the Company. The Company and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates will not execute in connection with this
Agreement or any document referred to herein, any document, whether or not
referred to herein, that would require Parent or any member of the Common
Stock Group (i) to pay, directly or indirectly, any expenses of any of the
holders of Company Common Stock incurred in connection with the Merger or
(ii) to assume, directly or indirectly, any expense or other liability,
whether fixed or contingent, of any holder of Company Common Stock, without
the prior written approval of Parent and Liberty.
3.10 ACQUISITION OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK. (a) From and after the date
hereof and through the Effective Time, Parent and Liberty shall not, and
each shall cause its respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates not to, acquire
any shares of or interests in stock of the Company or rights to acquire
shares of or interests in stock of the Company other than pursuant to the
Merger or this Agreement; provided, however, that this Section 3.10(a)
shall not prohibit (i) Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates
from engaging in any merger, acquisition, business combination, stock
repurchase, stock issuance or other transaction or business opportunity (or
the acquisition of shares of or interests in stock of the Company pursuant
thereto) so long as a principal purpose of such transaction is not the
acquisition of shares of or interests in stock of the Company, (ii) any
direct or indirect acquisition by Liberty or any member of the Liberty
Media Group so long as a principal purpose of such transaction is not the
acquisition of shares of or interests in stock of the Company, or (iii) the
acquisition of any securities by or for the benefit of any employee benefit
plan.
(b) Subject to the last sentence of this paragraph (b),
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Parent shall, if so
requested by Liberty at least 30 days prior to the Closing Date, use
commercially reasonable efforts to determine whether Parent or any
Subsidiary of Parent which is a member of the Common Stock Group (i) has
acquired any shares of or interests in stock of the Company on or prior to
the date hereof and such acquisition of shares of or interests in stock of
the Company would not have been made but for a plan that includes the
Merger, or (ii) has acquired after the date hereof and prior to the
Effective Time any shares of or interests in stock of the Company in any
direct or indirect acquisition in which gain or loss is recognized by the
Person who directly held such shares or interests immediately prior to such
acquisition or, following such acquisition, the adjusted tax basis of such
shares or interests in the hands of the Person that holds them is not
solely determined by the adjusted tax basis of such shares or interests in
the hands of the Person that held them immediately before such acquisition.
In the event that such efforts of Parent result in Parent determining that
Parent or a member of the Common Stock Group has so acquired such shares of
or interests in stock of the Company, then Parent or such Subsidiary of
Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to sell such shares of or
interests in Company Common Stock in the open market at least five business
days prior to the Closing Date (or, if such acquisition occurs within ten
business days prior to the anticipated Closing Date, then prior to the
Effective Time), excluding for purposes of this sentence any shares of or
interests in stock of the Company (x) that are acquired by or for the
benefit of an employee benefit plan or the Liberty Media Group or (y) are
acquired pursuant to this Agreement, the Third Inter-Group Supplement or
the Third Tax Sharing Amendment or any document referred to herein or
therein or executed in connection herewith or therewith to which the
Company, Liberty or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a
party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be liable for (or
in breach of this paragraph (b) in the event of) any failure of such
reasonable efforts to detect the ownership or acquisition of any such
shares or interests.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
3.10, as of the date hereof, Parent and its Subsidiaries that are members
of the Common Stock Group do not, and as of the Effective Time, Parent and
its Subsidiaries that are members of the Common Stock Group will not, own
or have any rights to acquire (which rights are not subject to any
significant condition other than payment of consideration) more than 5% of
the shares of Company Common Stock (other than pursuant to this Agreement,
including Exhibit 7.13 hereto, the Third Inter-Group Supplement or the
Third Tax Sharing Amendment or any document referred to herein or therein
or executed in connection herewith or therewith to which the Company,
Liberty or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a party),
outstanding on the date hereof excluding any shares of or interests in
stock of the Company which may be owned by or for the benefit of any (i)
employee benefit plan of Parent, Liberty or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or (ii) the Liberty Media Group.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if
Liberty or any of its Subsidiaries which are members of the Liberty Media
Group has acquired or acquires prior to the Effective Time any shares of or
interests in stock of the Company in any direct or indirect acquisition
(other than rights to acquire Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger),
Liberty or such Subsidiary shall sell such shares of or interests in
Company Common Stock in the open market at least five business days prior
to the Closing Date, excluding for purposes of this sentence any shares of
or interests in stock of the Company that are acquired by or for the
benefit of an employee benefit plan of Liberty or any such Subsidiary.
Liberty and its Subsidiaries which are members of the Liberty Media Group
have not requested, and will not request prior to the Effective Time, that
Parent or any other member of the Common Stock Group own or acquire any
shares of or interests in stock of the Company for or on behalf of the
Liberty Media Group (except for the acquisition of shares of Company Common
Stock pursuant to the Merger) unless such shares of or interests in Company
Common Stock are acquired in a direct or indirect acquisition in which a
principal purpose of such acquisition was not to acquire such shares of or
interests in Company Common Stock and Liberty sells such shares of or
interests in Company Common Stock in the open market at least five business
days prior to the Closing Date. Unless the preceding sentence of this
Section 3.10(d) will be complied with by Liberty and its Subsidiaries,
Liberty and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates will not execute in connection
with the Merger, this Agreement or any document referred to herein, any
other document that would require Parent or any member of the Common Stock
Group to acquire or own any shares of or interests in stock of the Company
(other than the acquisition of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to
the Merger) or the Post-Merger Restructuring Transactions, without the
prior written approval of the Company.
(e) The Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates will not
execute in connection with the Merger, this Agreement (or any document
referred to herein), any other document that would require Parent or any
member of the Common Stock Group to acquire or own any shares of or
interests in stock of the Company (other than the acquisition of shares of
Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger or the Post-Merger
Restructuring Transactions), without the prior written approval of Parent
and Liberty.
3.11 COMPENSATION. Except as may otherwise be provided in or required
by this Agreement, the Third Inter-Group Supplement or the Third Tax
Sharing Amendment or as has been or will be negotiated by Liberty or any
member of the Liberty Media Group with Parent or any other Person, any
compensation paid or to be paid by Parent, Merger Sub or any member of the
Common Stock Group to any stockholder of the Company who will be an
employee of or perform advisory services for Parent, Merger Sub or any
member of the Common Stock Group before the Merger, or for Parent or any
member of the Common Stock Group after the Merger, will be in consideration
of services actually rendered or to be rendered, will be commensurate with
amounts paid to third parties bargaining at arm's-length for similar
services, and has been or will be bargained for independent of negotiations
regarding the consideration to be paid for shares of Company Common Stock.
3.12 INTERFERENCE OR DELAY. In the event that any of the events
described in any of clauses (A), (B), (C) or (D) of Section 9.1(ii) of this
Agreement shall have occurred (and, in the case of the event described in
clause (B), Liberty shall not have waived such breach within five business
days of receipt of Parent's written request that it advise Parent as to
whether Liberty intends to waive such breach), (i) Parent may withdraw from
the Commission any Registration Statement filed, and/or terminate the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement which has been declared
effective, and (ii) upon the request of Parent, the Company shall withdraw
any preliminary Proxy Statement filed with the Commission, but, in either
such case, only if such withdrawal or termination is in Parent's reasonable
judgment necessary to avoid a delay in or interference with any other
transaction in which Parent desires to engage in respect of the Common
Stock Group; provided, however, that upon Parent's completion of such other
transaction, Parent shall provide notice of such completion to Liberty and
the Company and, upon the request of Liberty and the Company, Parent shall
file, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have declared
effective, a new Registration Statement, and the Company shall be able to
file a new Proxy Statement; and, provided, further, that (a) Parent shall
not effect any such withdrawal or termination if the stockholders of the
Company approve the Merger Proposal at the Special Meeting, and (b) if each
of the Company and Liberty have used reasonable efforts to file the
preliminary Proxy Statement prior to the 80th day preceding the End Date,
but have been unable to do so due to events or circumstances beyond their
control, the Company shall not be obligated to withdraw any preliminary
Proxy Statement that has been on file with the Commission for less than 80
days. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if the original Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission in the period beginning
on the 21st day before the End Date and ending on the End Date, (2) each of
the Company and Liberty have used reasonable efforts to cause the original
Registration Statement to become effective prior to such period, and (3)
the Proxy Statement provides that the Special Meeting is scheduled to occur
no later than the 25th business day following the date that the
Registration Statement is declared effective, Parent may not effect any
withdrawal or termination of the Registration Statement pursuant to the
preceding sentence after the date that the Registration Statement has
become effective and prior to the end of the 25th business day following
the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent, Liberty and
Merger Sub as follows:
4.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries (i) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability
company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (ii) has all
requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or
licensed to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary, except in such jurisdictions
where the failure to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing
has not had and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole. Section 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a complete and accurate list of each of the Company's Subsidiaries
and reflects the percentage and nature of the Company's ownership of each
such Subsidiary.
The Company owns 17,159,085 shares of OCC Stock and OCC Warrants
exercisable for 1,123,823 shares of OCC Stock. The shares of OCC Stock
owned by the Company have been validly issued, fully paid and non-
assessable and are not and, from the date hereof through and including the
Effective Time, will not be subject to any Liens or Restrictions, except as
created by this Agreement or as set forth on Section 4.1 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule. The foregoing representations regarding the Company's
ownership of shares of OCC Stock are made subject to any changes that may
affect the holders of OCC Stock generally.
The Company has delivered to Liberty true and complete copies of
the Company Charter and Company Bylaws in effect on the date hereof. The
Company's minute books, true and complete copies of which have been made
available to Liberty, contain the minutes (or draft copies of the minutes)
of all meetings of directors and stockholders of the Company since January
1, 1996.
4.2 AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT. The Company has all
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and,
subject to obtaining the approval of its stockholders specified in Section
4.15, to perform its obligations hereunder and consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Merger
and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Company Board and by all other necessary corporate action
on the part of the Company, subject, in the case of the consummation by it
of the Merger, to the approval of the Company's stockholders specified in
the previous sentence. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except
insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally, or by principles governing the availability of equitable
remedies).
4.3 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 60,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares
of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Company Preferred
Stock"). As of the date hereof, (i) 29,755,600 shares of Company Common
Stock were issued and outstanding and no shares were issued and held by the
Company in its treasury or by Subsidiaries of the Company and (ii) no
shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding or were
issued and held by the Company in its treasury or by Subsidiaries of the
Company. All issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have
been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and have not
been issued in violation of any preemptive rights or of any federal or
state securities laws. There are no issued or outstanding bonds,
debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into
other securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
stockholders may vote ("Voting Debt"). Section 4.3 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule describes all outstanding or authorized subscriptions,
options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or any other agreements of
any character to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or is bound which, directly or indirectly, obligate the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell or cause to be issued,
delivered or sold any additional shares of Company Common Stock or any
other capital stock, equity interest or Voting Debt of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, any securities convertible into, or exercisable
or exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for any such
shares, interests or Voting Debt, or any phantom shares, phantom equity
interests or stock or equity appreciation rights, or obligating the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such
subscription, option, warrant, call or right (collectively, "Convertible
Securities"). Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary thereof is subject to
any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire
or retire any shares of its capital stock. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has adopted, authorized or assumed any plans, arrangements
or practices for the benefit of its officers, employees or directors which
require or permit the issuance, sale, purchase or grant of any capital
stock, other equity interests or Voting Debt of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, any other securities convertible into, or
exercisable or exchangeable for, any such stock, interests or Voting Debt,
or any phantom shares, phantom equity interests or stock or equity
appreciation rights, other than the Company Stock Plans and the OCC Stock
Plans. Other than Permitted Encumbrances, all shares of capital stock of
and all partnership or other equity interests in each Subsidiary of the
Company are owned free and clear of any Lien or Restriction and the shares
of capital stock of each corporate Subsidiary of the Company are validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Except for the transactions
contemplated by the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement or as set forth on
Section 4.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are not, and
immediately after the Effective Time, there will not be, any outstanding or
authorized subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or
other agreements of any character to or by which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or is bound that, directly or indirectly, (x) call
for or relate to the sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of any shares of capital stock,
any partnership or other equity interests or any Voting Debt of any
Subsidiary of the Company or (y) relate to the voting or control of such
capital stock, partnership or other equity interests or Voting Debt.
4.4 REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. (a) The Company has filed all
Reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, registration statements and
proxy statements required to be filed with the Commission since January 1,
1997 (collectively, the "Company SEC Reports"). None of the Company SEC
Reports, as of their respective dates, contained any untrue statement of
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. Each of the
consolidated balance sheets (including the related notes) included in the
Company SEC Reports presents fairly, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of
the respective dates thereof, and the other related financial statements
(including the related notes) included in the Company SEC Reports present
fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and the changes
in financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the
respective periods or as of the respective dates set forth therein, all in
conformity with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved,
except as otherwise noted therein and subject, in the case of the unaudited
interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments. All of the
Company SEC Reports, as of their respective dates, complied as to form in
all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the
Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.
(b) OCC has filed all Reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form
8-K, registration statements and proxy statements required to be filed with
the Commission since January 1, 1997 (collectively, the "OCC SEC Reports").
None of the OCC SEC Reports, as of their respective dates, contained any
untrue statement of 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.
Each of the consolidated balance sheets (including the related notes)
included in the OCC SEC Reports presents fairly, in all material respects,
the consolidated financial position of OCC and its Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates thereof, and the other related statements (including the
related notes) included in the OCC SEC Reports present fairly, in all
material respects, the results of operations and the changes in financial
position of OCC and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods or as of
the respective dates set forth therein, all in conformity with GAAP
consistently applied during the periods involved, except as otherwise noted
therein and subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments. All of the OCC SEC Reports, as
of their respective dates, complied as to form in all material respects
with requirements of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not made any misstatements
of fact, or omitted to disclose any fact, to any Governmental Entity, or
taken or failed to take any action, which misstatements or omissions,
actions or failures to act, individually or in the aggregate, subject or
would subject any Licenses held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to revocation or failure to renew, except where such revocation or failure
to renew, individually or in the aggregate, does not and would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(d) Except as set forth on Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has guaranteed or
otherwise agreed to become responsible for any Indebtedness of any other
Person.
(e) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has
any obligation to contribute any additional capital to, or acquire any
additional interest in, any of its Affiliates.
4.5 NO APPROVALS OR NOTICES REQUIRED; NO CONFLICT WITH INSTRUMENTS.
The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement do not, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the
consummation by the Company of the Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby will not:
(i) assuming approval of the Merger Proposal by the
Company's stockholders as contemplated by Section 4.15, conflict with or
violate the Company Charter or Company Bylaws or the charter or bylaws of
any corporate Subsidiary of the Company or the partnership agreement of any
partnership Subsidiary of the Company;
(ii) require any consent, approval, order or authorization
of or other action by any Governmental Entity (a "Governmental Consent") or
any registration, qualification, declaration or filing with or notice to
any Governmental Entity (a "Governmental Filing"), in each case on the part
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, except for (A) the filing
of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other
states in which the Company is qualified to do business, (B) the
Governmental Consents and Governmental Filings with foreign, state and
local governmental authorities set forth on Section 4.5, paragraph 1 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule (the "Local Approvals"), (C) such Governmental
Consents and Governmental Filings as may be required in connection with the
issuance of the Merger Consideration as contemplated hereby pursuant to
state securities and blue sky laws, (D) the Governmental Filings required
to be made pursuant to the pre-merger notification requirements of the
Hart-Scott Act, (E) the filing with the Commission of (1) the preliminary
proxy statement and the Proxy Statement as contemplated by Section 3.2(a)
and (2) such reports under Section 13(a), 13(d), 15(d) or 16(a) of the
Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby and (F) such other Governmental Consents
and Government Filings the absence or omission of which will not, either
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
transactions contemplated hereby or a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Surviving Entity and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(iii) except as set forth on Section 4.5, paragraph 2 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, require, on the part of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, any consent by or approval or authorization of
(a "Contract Consent") or notice to (a "Contract Notice") any other Person
(other than a Governmental Entity), under any License or other Contract,
except for such Contract Consents and Contract Notices the absence or
omission of which will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the transactions contemplated hereby or a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(iv) assuming that the Contract Consents and Contract
Notices described on Section 4.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule are
obtained and given, conflict with or result in any violation or breach of
or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or
give rise to a right of termination, cancellation, suspension, modification
or acceleration of any obligation or any increase in any payment required
by, or the impairment, loss or forfeiture of any material benefit, rights
or privileges under, or the creation of a Lien or other encumbrance on any
assets pursuant to (any such conflict, violation, breach, default, right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration, loss or creation, a
"Violation"), any "Contract" (which term shall mean and include any note,
bond, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, franchise, permit,
authorization, license, contract, instrument, employee benefit plan or
practice, or other agreement, obligation, commitment or concession of any
nature to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party, by
which the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective
assets or properties is bound or affected or pursuant to which the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company is entitled to any rights or benefits
(including the Licenses)), except for such Violations which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on the transactions contemplated hereby or a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the
Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or
(v) assuming that the Merger is so approved by the
Company's stockholders and assuming that the Governmental Consents and
Governmental Filings specified in clause (ii) of this Section 4.5 are
obtained, made and given, result in a Violation of, under or pursuant to
any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or by which any of their
respective properties or assets are bound, except for such Violations which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a
material adverse effect on the transactions contemplated hereby or a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. As
used herein, the term "Governmental Entity" means and includes any court,
arbitrators, administrative or other governmental department, agency,
commission, authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.
4.6 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. (a) Except as otherwise
disclosed in the Company SEC Reports or the OCC SEC Reports filed with the
Commission prior to the date hereof or as set forth on Section 4.6 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, since June 30, 1999, (i) there has not been
any adverse change in, and no event has occurred and no condition exists
which, individually or together with all other such changes, events and
conditions, has had or, insofar as the Company can reasonably foresee, is
reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (ii) through the date hereof, other than
actions that in the ordinary course of the Company's business consistent
with prior practice would not have required, and would have been taken
without, the approval of the Company Board, no action has been taken by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which, if Section 7.4 had then
been in effect, would have been prohibited by such Section without the
consent or approval of Liberty, and no agreements, understandings,
obligations or commitments, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any
such action were entered into during such period.
(b) Prior to the date hereof, the Company delivered to Liberty a
schedule setting forth a detailed estimate of the amount of cash which the
Company expects to have retained after giving effect to, among other
things, the Entertainment Asset Sale and the application or reservation of
cash to specified liabilities and expenses related thereto, the payment of
the severance obligations contemplated by Section 3.8 hereof and the other
transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company has no reason to believe
that such estimate is materially inaccurate.
4.7 REGISTRATION STATEMENT; PROXY STATEMENT. None of the information
supplied or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in, and which is included or incorporated by reference in, (i)
the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto filed or
to be filed by Parent with the Commission under the Securities Act in
connection with the issuance of the Merger Consideration, or (ii) any
documents filed or to be filed with the Commission or any other
Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, will, at the respective times such documents are filed, and, in the
case of the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto,
when the same becomes effective and at the time of the stockholder vote
taken at the Special Meeting, be false or misleading with respect to any
material fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or necessary
to correct any statement in any earlier communication. The Proxy Statement
and the furnishing thereof by the Company will comply in all respects with
the applicable requirements of the DGCL.
4.8 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. As of the date hereof, there is no (i) suit,
action or proceeding pending of which the Company has received notice or,
to the knowledge of the Company, any investigation pending or any suit,
action, proceeding or investigation threatened, against, involving or
affecting the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any of its or their
properties or rights (including without limitation the Company's interests
in OCC), which, if adversely determined, is, insofar as the Company can
reasonably foresee, reasonably likely to have, either individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) judgment, order, decree, Injunction or
order of any Governmental Entity entered against and binding on the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company of which the Company has received notice,
which, insofar as the Company can reasonably foresee, is reasonably likely
to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (iii) suit, action or
proceeding pending of which the Company has received notice or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any investigation pending or any suit, action,
proceeding or investigation threatened, against the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company which seeks to restrain, enjoin or delay the
consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated
hereby or which seeks damages in connection therewith; and (iv) Injunction
of any type referred to in Section 8.1(e)) of which the Company has
received notice which has been entered or issued and is in effect.
4.9 LICENSES; COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The Company
and its Subsidiaries hold all licenses, franchises, ordinances,
authorizations, permits, certificates, variances, exemptions, concessions,
leases, rights of way, easements, instruments, orders and approvals,
domestic or foreign required for the ownership of the assets and operation
of the businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for the
failure to hold any of the foregoing as would not be reasonably likely to
have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (collectively, the
"Licenses"). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance
with, and has conducted its business so as to comply with, the terms of
their respective Licenses and with all applicable laws, rules, regulations,
ordinances and codes, except where the failure so to comply has not had
and, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen by the Company, in the future is
not reasonably likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and
its Subsidiaries, (i) have all Licenses of foreign, state and local
governmental authorities required for the operation of the facilities being
operated on the date hereof by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the
"Permits"), (ii) have duly and currently filed all reports and other
information required to be filed by any other Governmental Entity in
connection with such Permits and (iii) are not in violation of any of such
Permits, other than the lack of Permits, delays in filing reports or
possible violations which have not had and, insofar as can reasonably be
foreseen by the Company, in the future are not reasonably likely to have, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the knowledge
of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have duly complied with,
and the operation of their respective businesses, equipment and other
assets and the facilities owned or leased by them are in compliance with
the provisions of all applicable federal, state and local environmental,
health and safety laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of any
governmental or a quasi governmental authority relating to (i) errors or
omissions, (ii) discharges to surface water or ground water, (iii) solid or
liquid waste disposal, (iv) the use, storage, generation, handling,
transport, discharge, release or disposal of toxic or hazardous substances
or waste, (v) the emission of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation or
(vi) other environmental, health or safety matters, including without
limitation all matters set forth in the Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 as amended by the Superfund
Amendments and Authorization Act of 1986, the Occupational Safety and
Health Act, the Resource Conservation Recovery Act of 1976, the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act of 1970, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974,
the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, the Emergency Planning Community
Right to Know Act of 1986, as amended, and the Clean Air Act, as amended
(collectively "Environmental and Health Laws"); except, with respect to any
of the foregoing, where the failure to be or have been in such compliance
would not be reasonably likely to have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no
investigations, administrative proceedings, judicial actions, orders,
claims or notices that are pending or threatened against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries relating to violations of the Environmental and Health
Laws, except for such matters as would not be reasonably likely to have,
either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
4.10 BROKERS OR FINDERS. No agent, broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other Person is or will be entitled, by reason of any
agreement, act or statement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
directors, officers, employees or Affiliates, to any financial advisory,
broker's, finder's or similar fee or commission, to reimbursement of
expenses or to indemnification or contribution in connection with any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, whose fees and expenses will be paid by
the Company at the Effective Time in accordance with the Company's
agreement with such firm (copies of which have been delivered by the
Company to Parent and Liberty prior to the date of this Agreement), and the
Company agrees to indemnify and hold Parent, Liberty and Merger Sub
harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities or obligations
with respect to any other such fees, commissions, expenses or claims for
indemnification or contribution asserted by any Person on the basis of any
act or statement made or alleged to have been made by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees or Affiliates.
4.11 TAX MATTERS. (a) Except as set forth on Section 4.11,
paragraph 1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) there has been duly
filed by or on behalf of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (and each
of their respective predecessors, if any), or filing extensions from the
appropriate federal, state, foreign and local Governmental Entities have
been obtained with respect to, all material federal, state, foreign and
local tax returns and reports required to be filed on or prior to the date
hereof; (ii) payment in full or adequate provision for the payment of all
material taxes required to be paid in respect of the periods covered by
such tax returns and reports has been made; (iii) a reserve which the
Company reasonably believes to be adequate has been set up for the payment
of all such material taxes anticipated to be payable in respect of periods
through the most recent fiscal quarter end; (iv) none of the income tax
returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries consolidated in such returns (the "Company Consolidated
Returns") or by or on behalf of OCC and each of its Subsidiaries
consolidated in such returns (the "OCC Consolidated Returns") have been
examined by or settled with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") or other
Governmental Entity; (v) there are no material "deferred intercompany
transactions" or "intercompany transactions" the gain or loss in which has
not yet been taken into account under the Company Consolidated Returns or
the OCC Consolidated Returns; (vi) there are no Liens for material taxes on
the assets of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, except for
statutory liens for current taxes not yet due and payable; and (vii) there
have been no claims or assessments against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries asserted in writing by any Governmental Entity with respect to
any alleged deficiency in any tax, other than those claims or assessments
that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. For the purpose of this Agreement, the term
"tax" (including, with correlative meaning, the terms "taxes" and
"taxable") shall include all federal, state, local and foreign income,
profits, franchise, gross receipts, payroll, sales, employment, use,
property, withholding, value added, alternative or added minimum, ad
valorem, transfer, excise and other taxes, duties or assessments of any
nature whatsoever, together with all interest, penalties and additions
imposed with respect to such amounts. The term "tax return" means a
report, return or other information required to be supplied to or filed
with a Governmental Entity with respect to any tax including an information
return, claim for refund, amended tax return or declaration of estimated
tax.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.11, paragraph 2 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company Plans and other Company employee
compensation arrangements in effect as of the date of this Agreement have
been designed so that the disallowance of a material deduction under
Section 162(m) of the Code for employee remuneration will not apply to any
amounts paid or payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any
such plan or arrangement and, to the best knowledge of the Company, no fact
or circumstance exists that could reasonably be expected to cause such
disallowance to apply to any such amounts.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 4.11, paragraph 3 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries (i) is a party to any tax allocation or tax sharing agreement,
(ii) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal
income tax return other than a group the common parent of which was the
Company or (iii) has any liability for taxes of any Person (other than the
Company and its Subsidiaries) under Reg. section1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign law), as transferee or successor, by
contract or otherwise.
4.12 EMPLOYEE MATTERS.
(a) Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains
a true and complete list of each bonus, deferred compensation, incentive
compensation, stock purchase, stock option, severance or termination pay,
hospitalization, medical, life or other insurance, supplemental
unemployment benefits, profit-sharing, pension or retirement plan, program,
agreement or arrangement, and each other employee benefit plan, program,
agreement or arrangement, sponsored, maintained or contributed to or
required to be contributed to at any time since January 1, 1997 by the
Company or by any trade or business, whether or not incorporated ("ERISA
Affiliate"), that together with the Company would be deemed a "controlled
group" within the meaning of Section 4001 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), for the benefit of any employee
or former employee of the Company, including any such type of plan
established, maintained or contributed to under the laws of any foreign
country (the "Company Plans"). Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule identifies each Company Plan that is an "employee benefit plan,"
as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA. Except as set forth on Section
4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has heretofore
delivered to Liberty true and complete copies of each Company Plan and, if
the Company Plan is funded through a trust or any third party funding
vehicle, a copy of the trust or other funding document, the most recent
determination letter issued by the IRS with respect to each Company Plan
for which such a letter has been obtained, annual reports on Form 5500
required to be filed with any Governmental Entity for each Company Plan
which is an employee pension benefit plan for the three most recent plan
years and all required actuarial reports for the last two plan years of
each Company Plan.
(b) No Company Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate made, or
was required to make, contributions to any employee benefit plan subject to
Title IV of ERISA during the five year period ending on the Effective Time.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 4.12(c) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, each Company Plan that utilizes a funding vehicle
described in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code or is subject to the provisions
of Section 505 of the Code has been the subject of a notification by the
IRS that such funding vehicle qualifies for tax-exempt status under Section
501(c)(9) of the Code and/or such Company Plan complies with Section 505 of
the Code, unless the IRS does not as a matter of policy issue such
notification with respect to that particular type of plan. To the
Company's knowledge, each such Company Plan satisfies, where appropriate,
the requirements of Sections 501(c)(9) and 505 of the Code.
(d) There has been no event or circumstance which has resulted
in any liability being asserted by any Company Plan, the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") or any other Person or entity under Title IV
of ERISA against the Company or any ERISA Affiliate nor, except as would
not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of
operations, financial condition or prospects of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, is there or has there been any event or
circumstance which could reasonably be expected to result in such
liability.
(e) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company is a
party to or bound by the terms of any collective bargaining agreement. The
Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable laws respecting the employment and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment and wage and hours of its
employees and is not engaged in any unfair labor practice. There is no
labor strike or labor disturbance pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
and during the past five years neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of
the Company has experienced a work stoppage.
(f) Each Company Plan has been operated and administered in all
material respects in accordance with its terms and applicable law,
including, but not limited to, Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the
Code.
(g) To the Company's knowledge, each Company Plan which is
intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code
is so qualified and the trusts maintained thereunder are exempt from
taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.
(h) No Company Plan provides welfare benefits, including without
limitation death or medical benefits, with respect to current or former
employees or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
beyond their retirement or other termination of service (other than
coverage mandated by applicable law).
(i) There are no material pending, threatened or anticipated
claims by or on behalf of any Company Plan, by any employee or beneficiary
covered under any such Company Plan with respect to such Company Plan, or
otherwise involving any such Company Plan (other than routine claims for
benefits).
(j) Section 4.12(j) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list as of the date hereof of each of the
following agreements, arrangements and commitments to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be bound
(true and complete copies of which have been made available to Liberty):
(i) each employment, consulting, agency or commission agreement not
terminable without liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries upon
60 days' or less prior notice to the employee, consultant or agent and
involving compensation or remuneration of more than $200,000 per annum;
(ii) each agreement with any executive officer or other key employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company the benefits of which are
contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) each
agreement with respect to any officer or other key employee of the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company providing any term of employment or
compensation guarantee extending for a period longer than one year; and
(iv) each other material agreement or Company Plan any of the benefits of
which will be increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which will be
accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which will be
calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(k) No employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will
be entitled to any additional benefits or any acceleration of the time of
payment or vesting of any benefits under any Company Plan as a result of
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
otherwise. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(k) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, no amount payable, or economic benefit provided, by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any acceleration of the
time of payment or vesting of any benefit) could be considered an "excess
parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Code as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No Person
is entitled to receive any additional payment from the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or any other Person (a "Parachute Gross-Up Payment") in
the event that the excise tax of Section 4999 of the Code is imposed on
such Person. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has granted
to any Person any right to receive any Parachute Gross-Up Payment.
(l) Section 4.12(l) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list as of the date hereof of all employees of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who the Company reasonably expects
will cease to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
immediately following the consummation of the Entertainment Asset Sale.
4.13 FAIRNESS OPINION. The Company Board has received the oral
opinion of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation to the
effect that, as of the date hereof, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of the Company Common Stock (the
"Fairness Opinion"). The Company has provided, or prior to the mailing of
the Proxy Statement to the Company's stockholders will provide, each of
Parent and Liberty with a true and complete copy of the executed Fairness
Opinion. In addition, the Company will include an executed copy of the
Fairness Opinion in or as an annex to the Proxy Statement.
4.14 RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMPANY BOARD. The Company Board, by vote
at a meeting duly called and held, has approved this Agreement, determined
that the Merger is fair to and in the best interests of the Company's
stockholders and has adopted resolutions recommending approval and adoption
of this Agreement and the Merger by the stockholders of the Company.
4.15 VOTE REQUIRED. The only vote of stockholders of the Company
required under the DGCL, NASDAQ Stock Market requirements and the Company
Charter and Company Bylaws in order to approve and adopt the Merger
Proposal is the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of votes
entitled to be cast by the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock voting as a single class, and no other vote or
approval of or other action by the holders of any capital stock of the
Company is required for such approval and adoption.
4.16 INTANGIBLE PROPERTY; COPYRIGHTS. The Company and its
Subsidiaries own or have adequate rights to use all patents, trademarks,
trade names, service marks, brands, logos, copyrights, trade secrets,
customer lists and other proprietary intellectual property rights required
for, used in or incident to the businesses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as now conducted, except where the failure to so own or have
such rights to use, individually or in the aggregate, would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Except as set forth on Section 4.16 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not have knowledge, and the
Company has not received any notice alleging, that it or any of its
Subsidiaries is infringing upon or otherwise violating, or has in the past
infringed upon or otherwise violated, the rights of any third party with
respect to any patent, trademark, trade name, service mark or copyright.
4.17 INVESTMENT SECURITIES. Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each capital,
participating, equity or other interest owned of record or beneficially by
the Company in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other Person,
other than the Subsidiaries of the Company listed on Section 4.1 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule (each, an "Investment Security" and
collectively, the "Investment Securities"). Section 4.17 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule includes, with respect to each Investment Security, the
name of the corporation, partnership, joint venture or other Person in
respect of which such Investment Security relates, the amount and nature of
such interest, and a description of the material terms of any Liens and
Restrictions with respect to such Investment Securities. The Company's
representations in this Section 4.17 with respect to any such Investment
Securities are made subject to any events, Liens and Restrictions that
affect the holders of the applicable class(es) or series of such Investment
Securities generally.
4.18 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND CERTAIN AGREEMENTS. Section
4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth an accurate and complete
listing (a) as of the date hereof, of all contracts, leases, agreements or
understandings, whether written or oral, to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, or by which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
or any of their respective assets is bound, which contain any material
restrictions or limitation on the ability of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates to engage in any business anywhere in the world,
and (b) of all contracts, leases, agreements or understandings, whether
written or oral, giving any Person the right to require the Company to
register under the Securities Act any securities of the Company or to
participate in any registration of such securities. Each of the Company
SEC Reports and the OCC SEC Reports complies as to form in all material
respects with Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities
Act and is true and correct in all material respects with regard to its
disclosure of any relationships or transactions involving the Company or
any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company of a type required to be
disclosed in the Company SEC Reports or the OCC SEC Reports, as applicable,
pursuant to such item.
4.19 NO INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Company is not an "investment
company" subject to the registration requirements of, and regulation as an
investment company under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4.20 DGCL SECTION 203. Prior to the date hereof each of the Company
Board and the OCC Board has approved the transaction which resulted in
Parent, Liberty or Merger Sub becoming an "interested stockholder" of each
of the Company and OCC, respectively, within the meaning of Section 203 of
the DGCL.
4.21 RIGHTS AGREEMENT. The Company and the Rights Agent have amended
the Rights Agreement to the extent necessary to render the Rights Agreement
inapplicable to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
4.22 NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Assuming satisfaction of the condition set
forth in Section 8.1(d) hereof, no holder of shares of Company Common Stock
will have any dissenters' rights or other similar appraisal rights with
respect to such shares of Company Common Stock as a result of the execution
and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger.
4.23 ENTERTAINMENT ASSET SALE. The Company has provided Liberty with
a true and correct copy of the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement. Except
as specifically set forth in the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement or on
Section 4.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, upon consummation of the
Entertainment Asset Sale, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
will have any liability (absolute or contingent) with respect to the
Entertainment Assets.
4.24 BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS. As of the date hereof, the Company
and its Subsidiaries do not, directly or indirectly, beneficially own
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) any
shares of any class of capital stock of British Telecommunications plc, a
company organized under the laws of England and Wales ("BT"), or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any direct or indirect rights or options to acquire
(through purchase, exchange, conversion or otherwise) any shares of any
class of capital stock of BT or any of its Subsidiaries. Between the date
of this Agreement and the Effective Time, neither the Company nor its
Subsidiaries will voluntarily acquire or agree to acquire (through
purchase, exchange, conversion or otherwise) beneficial ownership of any
shares of any class of capital stock of BT or its Subsidiaries or any
direct or indirect rights or options to so acquire any shares of any class
of capital stock of BT or any of its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Company and, solely with
respect to Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, to Liberty as follows:
5.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of Parent and Merger Sub
(i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, (ii) has all
requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted and (iii) is
duly qualified or licensed and is in good standing to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the
nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except in such
jurisdictions where the failure to be so duly qualified or licensed and in
good standing has not had and is not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
5.2 AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub. Each of Parent and
Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite
corporate power and authority to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery
and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the
consummation by each of Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub (including in the
case of Merger Sub, approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger
by Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub). This Agreement is a
legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable
in accordance with its terms (except insofar as enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, or by principles
governing the availability of equitable remedies). The shares of Class A
Liberty Group Stock to be issued and delivered by Parent pursuant to
Sections 2.3 and 2.4 will be, when the Merger has become effective and such
shares are issued and delivered as provided in Sections 2.3 and 2.4, duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and no
stockholder of Parent will have any preemptive right of subscription or
purchase in respect thereof.
5.3 OWNERSHIP OF MERGER SUB; NO PRIOR ACTIVITIES; ASSETS OF MERGER
SUB. (a) Merger Sub was formed by Parent solely for the purpose of
engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) As of the date hereof and the Effective Time, the capital
stock of Merger Sub is and will be owned 100% by Parent directly. Further,
except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Third Inter-Group Supplement,
the Post-Merger Restructuring Transactions and the Contribution Agreement,
there are not as of the date hereof, and there will not be at the Effective
Time, any outstanding or authorized options, warrants, calls, rights,
commitments or any other agreements of any character to or by which Merger
Sub is a party or may be bound requiring it to issue, transfer, sell,
purchase, redeem or acquire any shares of capital stock or any securities
or rights convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to
subscribe for or acquire, any shares of capital stock of Merger Sub.
(c) As of the date hereof and immediately prior to the Effective
Time, except for agreements, obligations or liabilities entered into or
incurred in connection with its incorporation or organization and the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Third Inter-Group Supplement
and the Third Tax Sharing Amendment or any other documents referred to
herein or executed in connection herewith to which any of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a party, Merger Sub has not and
will not have incurred, any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any
business or activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any
agreements or arrangements with any Person.
(d) Parent will take all commercially reasonable actions
necessary to ensure that Merger Sub at no time prior to the Effective Time
owns any material assets other than an amount of cash necessary to
capitalize Merger Sub and to pay the expenses of the Merger attributable to
Merger Sub if the Merger is consummated. If, notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, any assets are contributed to Merger Sub, Parent will take all
commercially reasonable actions necessary to ensure that no assets will be
withdrawn from Merger Sub at any time prior to the Effective Time.
5.4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT; PROXY STATEMENT. None of the information
concerning Parent or any of its Subsidiaries supplied or to be supplied by
Parent or Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in, and
which is included or incorporated by reference in, (i) the Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto filed or to be filed by
Parent with the Commission under the Securities Act in connection with the
issuance of the Merger Consideration, or (ii) any documents filed or to be
filed with the Commission or any other Governmental Entity in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, will, at the respective times
such documents are filed, and, in the case of the Registration Statement or
any amendment or supplement thereto, when the same becomes effective and at
the Effective Time, be false or misleading with respect to any material
fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or necessary to
correct any statement in any earlier communication.
5.5 CAPITALIZATION OF PARENT. As of August 31, 1999, Parent's
authorized capital stock consists of 8,850,000,000 shares, consisting of
(a) 100,000,000 preferred shares, par value $1.00 per share ("Parent
Preferred Stock"), and (b) 8,750,000,000 common shares, par value $1.00 per
share, of which (i) 6,000,000,000 shares are Common Stock, par value $1.00
per share ("Parent Common Stock"), (ii) 2,500,000,000 shares are Class A
Liberty Group Stock and (iii) 250,000,000 shares are Class B Liberty Media
Group Stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Class B Liberty Group Stock").
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LIBERTY
Liberty hereby represents and warrants to the Company and, solely with
respect to Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, to Parent as follows:
6.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Liberty (i) is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, (ii) has all requisite corporate power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed and
is in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the
properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except in such jurisdictions where the
failure to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing has not
had and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect on Liberty and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
6.2 AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by Liberty. Liberty has all requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and Liberty has
all requisite corporate power and authority to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution, delivery and performance by Liberty of this Agreement and the
consummation by Liberty of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part.
This Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Liberty,
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except insofar as enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, or by
principles governing the availability of equitable remedies).
6.3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT; PROXY STATEMENT. None of the information
supplied or to be supplied by Liberty relating to Liberty or any of its
Subsidiaries or the Liberty Media Group for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in, and which is included or incorporated by reference in,
(i) the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
filed or to be filed by Parent with the Commission under the Securities Act
in connection with the issuance of the Merger Consideration or (ii) any
documents filed or to be filed with the Commission or any other
Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, will, at the respective times such documents are filed, and, in the
case of the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto,
when the same becomes effective and at the Effective Time, be false or
misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or necessary to correct any statement in any earlier
communication. The Registration Statement, including any amendments or
supplements thereto, will comply as to form in all material respects with
the provisions of the Securities Act.
6.4 LIBERTY GROUP INFORMATION. The narrative information contained
in the proxy statement of Tele-Communications, Inc., dated January 8, 1999,
with respect to the Liberty Media Group (referred to in such proxy
statement as the "New Liberty Media Group"), giving effect to the
transactions described in such proxy statement, did not as of such date
contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The items of selected pro forma financial
information (including the notes thereto) with respect to such "New Liberty
Media Group" in such proxy statement, giving effect to the transactions
described in such proxy statement and on the basis described therein, were
accurate in all material respects as of the dates and for the periods for
which such information is presented. The narrative information contained
in the Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998 with respect to the Liberty Media Group (referred to
therein as the "Liberty/Ventures Group"), giving effect to the acquisition
of Tele-Communications, Inc. by Parent described therein, the combination
of the TCI Ventures Group referred to therein with the predecessor of the
Liberty Media Group, and the related transfers of assets by the TCI
Ventures Group in exchange for approximately $5.5 billion in cash, did not
as of the date such report was filed with the Commission contain an untrue
statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
Registration Statement, including any amendments or supplements thereto,
will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act. As of August 31, 1999, (a) 1,156,751,950 shares of Class A
Liberty Group Stock and (b) 108,421,708 shares of Class B Liberty Group
Stock were issued and outstanding.
6.5 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Except as otherwise
disclosed in the Liberty Group Information or in any Reports on Form 10-K,
Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed by Parent with the Commission under the
Exchange Act, since December 31, 1998 , there has not been any adverse
change in, and no event has occurred and no condition exists which,
individually or together with all such changes, events and conditions has
had or, insofar as Liberty can reasonably foresee, is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Liberty Media Group taken as a whole.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
7.1 ACCESS TO INFORMATION CONCERNING PROPERTIES AND RECORDS. During
the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier
of the termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time, upon reasonable
notice, the Company will (and will use reasonable efforts to cause each of
its Subsidiaries to) afford to the officers, employees, counsel,
accountants and other authorized representatives of Parent and Liberty
reasonable access during normal business hours to all its properties,
personnel, books and records and furnish promptly to such Persons such
financial and operating data and other information concerning its business,
properties, personnel and affairs as such Persons will from time to time
reasonably request and instruct the officers, directors, employees, counsel
and financial advisors of the Company to discuss the business operations,
affairs and assets of the Company and otherwise fully cooperate with the
other party in its investigation of the business of the Company. Parent
and Liberty agree that they will not, and will cause their respective
officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized
representatives not to, use any information obtained pursuant to this
Section 7.1 for any purpose unrelated to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No investigation pursuant to
this Section 7.1 will affect any representation or warranty given by the
Company to Parent or Liberty hereunder.
7.2 CONFIDENTIALITY. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the
party disclosing (or whose Representatives disclosed) the same (a
"disclosing party"), each party (a "receiving party") will, and will cause
its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling
Persons (such Affiliates and other Persons with respect to any party being
collectively referred to as such party's "Representatives") to, (i) keep
all Confidential Information of the disclosing party confidential and not
disclose or reveal any such Confidential Information to any Person other
than those Representatives of the receiving party who are participating in
effecting the transactions contemplated hereby or who otherwise need to
know such Confidential Information, (ii) use such Confidential Information
only in connection with consummating the transactions contemplated hereby
and enforcing the receiving party's rights hereunder, and (iii) not use
Confidential Information in any manner detrimental to the disclosing party.
In the event that a receiving party is requested pursuant to, or required
by, applicable law or regulation or by legal process to disclose any
Confidential Information of the disclosing party, the receiving party will
provide the disclosing party with prompt notice of such request(s) to
enable the disclosing party to seek an appropriate protective order. A
party's obligations hereunder with respect to Confidential Information that
(i) is disclosed to a third party with the disclosing party's written
approval, (ii) is required to be produced under order of a court of
competent jurisdiction or other similar requirements of a governmental
agency, or (iii) is required to be disclosed by applicable law or
regulation, will, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to
the receiving party's compliance with the preceding sentence, cease to the
extent of the disclosure so consented to or required, except to the extent
otherwise provided by the terms of such consent or covered by a protective
order. If a receiving party uses a degree of care to prevent disclosure of
the Confidential Information that is at least as great as the care it
normally takes to preserve its own information of a similar nature, it will
not be liable for any disclosure that occurs despite the exercise of that
degree of care, and in no event will a receiving party be liable for any
indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages unless such disclosure
resulted from its willful misconduct or gross negligence in which event it
will be liable in damages for the disclosing party's lost profits resulting
directly and solely from such disclosure; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent will not be liable under any
circumstances for damages other than direct damages (and not lost profits
or indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages) resulting directly
and solely from such wrongful disclosure by Parent. In the event this
Agreement is terminated, each party will, if so requested by the other
party, promptly return or destroy all of the Confidential Information of
such other party, including all copies, reproductions, summaries, analyses
or extracts thereof or based thereon in the possession of the receiving
party or its Representatives; provided, however, that the receiving party
will not be required to return or cause to be returned summaries, analyses
or extracts prepared by it or its Representatives, but will destroy (or
cause to be destroyed) the same upon request of the disclosing party.
For purposes of this Section 7.2, "Confidential Information" of a
party means all confidential or proprietary information about such party
that is furnished by it or its Representatives to the other party or the
other party's Representatives, regardless of the manner in which it is
furnished. "Confidential Information" does not include, however,
information which (a) has been or in the future is published or is now or
in the future is otherwise in the public domain through no fault of the
receiving party or its Representatives, (b) was available to the receiving
party or its Representatives on a non-confidential basis prior to its
disclosure by the disclosing party, (c) becomes available to the receiving
party or its Representatives on a non-confidential basis from a Person
other than the disclosing party or its Representatives who is not otherwise
bound by a confidentiality agreement with the disclosing party or its
Representatives, or is not otherwise prohibited from transmitting the
information to the receiving party or its Representatives, or (d) is
independently developed by the receiving party or its Representatives
through Persons who have not had, either directly or indirectly, access to
or knowledge of such information.
7.3 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Company, Liberty and Parent shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to develop a joint communications plan and
each party hereto shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that all press
releases and other public statements with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be consistent with such joint communications
plan. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or by obligations
pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any securities exchange,
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or the NASDAQ Stock
Market, each party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to consult
with, and use commercially reasonable efforts to accommodate the comments
of the other parties before issuing any press release or otherwise making
any public statement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
7.4 CONDUCT OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS PENDING THE EFFECTIVE TIME.
Except as set forth on Section 7.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company will, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, except as permitted, required or specifically
contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation Section 7.5
hereof, or consented to or approved in writing by Liberty (and, in the case
of clause (i) below, Parent), during the period commencing on the date
hereof and ending at the Effective Time:
(a) conduct its business only in, and not take any action except
in, the ordinary and usual course of its business and consistent with past
practices;
(b) use reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business
organization, to preserve its Licenses in full force and effect, to keep
available the services of its present officers and key employees, and to
preserve the goodwill of those having business relationships with it;
(c) not (i) make any change or amendments in its charter, bylaws
or partnership agreement (as the case may be); (ii) issue, grant, sell or
deliver any shares of its capital stock or any of its other equity
interests or securities (other than shares of Company Common Stock issued
upon the exercise of any Company Stock Options or shares of OCC Stock
issued upon the valid exercise of any OCC Warrant or any options to
purchase shares of OCC Stock issued pursuant to any OCC Stock Plan or
otherwise ("OCC Stock Options")), or any Convertible Securities (other than
OCC Stock Options to purchase up to an aggregate of 300,000 shares of OCC
Stock; provided, however, that OCC shall not grant to any one Person OCC
Stock Options to purchase in excess of 100,000 shares of OCC Stock without
the prior written consent of Liberty) or any phantom shares, phantom equity
interests or stock or equity appreciation rights; (iii) split, combine or
reclassify the outstanding shares of its capital stock or any of its other
outstanding equity interests or securities or issue any capital stock or
other equity interests or securities in exchange for any such shares or
interests; (iv) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or
indirectly, any shares of capital stock or any other securities of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (v) amend or modify any
outstanding options, warrants, or rights to acquire, or securities
convertible into shares of its capital stock or other equity interests or
securities, or any phantom shares, phantom equity interests or stock or
equity appreciation rights, or adopt or authorize any other stock or equity
appreciation rights, restricted stock or equity, stock or equity purchase,
stock or equity bonus or similar plan, arrangement or agreement; (vi) make
any changes in its equity capital structure; (vii) declare, set aside, pay
or make any dividend or other distribution or payment (whether in cash,
property or securities) with respect to its capital stock or other
securities, except for dividends by a Subsidiary of the Company other than
OCC paid ratably to its stockholders or the partners thereof, as the case
may be (provided in the case of any non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company that the other stockholders of or partners in such Subsidiary are
not officers, directors, employees or Affiliates of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries); (viii) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or pledge
any stock, equity or partnership interest owned by it in any Subsidiary of
the Company, except for dispositions permitted by Section 7.4(f) hereof;
(ix) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any securities of OCC owned
beneficially or of record by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
or create or permit to exist any Lien or Restriction thereon not listed on
Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule (other than any sale, Lien
or Restriction arising from any change or transaction affecting the holders
of such securities generally); or (x) enter into or assume any contract,
agreement, obligation, commitment or arrangement with respect to any of the
foregoing;
(d) not (i) modify or change in any material respect any
material License or other material Contract, other than in the ordinary
course of business; (ii) enter into any new employment, consulting, agency
or commission agreement, make any amendment or modification to any existing
such agreement or grant any increases in compensation, (A) in each case
other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice and with or granted to Persons who are not officers or directors
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and which do not, in the
aggregate, materially increase the compensation or benefit expense of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and (B) other than the regular
annual salary increase granted in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice to employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries who are not directors or executive officers of the Company;
and (iii) establish, amend or modify any employee benefit plan of any kind
referred to in Section 4.12(a), except to the extent required by any
applicable law, the existing terms of any such plan or the provisions of
this Agreement; (iv) secure any of its outstanding unsecured Indebtedness,
provide additional security for any of its outstanding secured Indebtedness
or grant, create or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any
property, assets or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
except in any such case for Permitted Encumbrances; (v) pay, discharge or
satisfy claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent
or otherwise), other than any payment, discharge or satisfaction (A) in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (B) pursuant
to any obligations of the Company under the Indenture upon consummation of
the Entertainment Asset Sale; (vi) cancel any Indebtedness or waive any
claims or rights, except (A) in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice or (B) pursuant to any obligations of the
Company under the Indenture upon consummation of the Entertainment Asset
Sale; (vii) make any material capital expenditures (other than in
accordance with the capital expenditure budget for the year 1999 (the "1999
Budget") approved by the OCC Board and in effect on the date hereof, a copy
of which has been delivered to Liberty, and any capital expenditure budget
for the year 2000 (the "2000 Budget") that (i) is approved by the OCC Board
after the date hereof and (ii) provides for the expenditure of
substantially similar amounts for substantially similar purposes to those
provided for pursuant to the 1999 Budget); (viii) accelerate the payment
of, or otherwise prepay, any existing outstanding Indebtedness except (A)
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (B)
pursuant to any obligations of the Company under the Indenture upon
consummation of the Entertainment Asset Sale; (ix) other than as
contemplated or otherwise permitted by this Agreement and other than the
normal cash management practices of the Company and its Subsidiaries
conducted in the ordinary and usual course of their business and consistent
with past practice, make any advance or loan to or engage in any material
transaction with any director, officer, partner or Affiliate not required
by the terms of an existing Contract described in Section 4.18 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule; (x) guarantee or otherwise become responsible
for any Indebtedness of any other Person; or (xii) enter into or assume any
contract, agreement, obligation, commitment or arrangement with respect to
any of the foregoing;
(e) not acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating
with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or a substantial
portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or
division thereof or otherwise acquire or agree to otherwise acquire any
assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or OCC and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole;
(f) except (i) as described on Section 7.4 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, (ii) for the closing of the Entertainment Asset Sale
in accordance with the terms of the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement, and
(iii) for dispositions in the ordinary course of business consistent with
prior practice, not sell, lease or encumber or otherwise voluntarily
dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of, any
of its assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or OCC and its Subsidiaries
taken as whole;
(g) not incur any Indebtedness;
(h) not take any action that would cause its representations and
warranties contained in Section 4.1 to be untrue in any respect or, except
as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, make any changes to the
corporate structure of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including the
structure of the ownership by the Company of the direct and indirect
interests in its Subsidiaries and of the ownership by the Company and its
Subsidiaries of their respective businesses, properties and assets);
(i) not enter into any agreement that would (after the Effective
Time) purport to bind Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and
(j) not amend or modify in any respect the Corporate Agreement,
dated as of October 8, 1996, between the Company and OCC.
Notwithstanding this Section 7.4, but subject to the provisions
of Section 7.5 (to the extent applicable), the foregoing provisions of this
Section 7.4 shall not prohibit or restrict in any way the Company from
entering into an agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal.
7.5 NO SOLICITATION. (a) After the date hereof and prior to the
Effective Time, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, through any
Subsidiary, Affiliate, officer, director, employee, agent or representative
or otherwise (i) solicit or initiate the submission of proposals or offers
from any Person relating to any Alternative Proposal, (ii) cooperate with,
or furnish or cause to be furnished any non-public information concerning
the business, properties, or assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, to any Person in connection with any Alternative Proposal,
(iii) negotiate with any Person with respect to any Alternative Proposal,
(iv) approve, recommend or permit the Company or any Subsidiary to enter
into an agreement or understanding with any Person relating to any
Alternative Proposal, or (v) vote for, execute a written consent (or
equivalent instrument) in favor of, or otherwise approve or enter into any
agreements or understandings with respect to any of the foregoing;
provided, however, that this Section 7.5(a) shall not prohibit the Company
or the Company Board, to the extent the Company Board determines in its
good faith judgment that it is required by its fiduciary duties under
applicable law after taking into account the advice of the Company's
outside legal counsel, from providing information to, participating in
discussions or negotiating with any third party that delivers a Superior
Proposal that was not solicited in violation of this Section 7.5(a).
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Company Board from
complying with Rule 14e-2 and Rule 14d-9 under the Exchange Act with regard
to an Alternative Proposal, provided that the Company Board shall not
recommend that the stockholders of the Company tender their shares in
connection with a tender offer except to the extent the Company Board
determines in its good faith judgment that such a recommendation is
required to comply with the fiduciary duties of the Company Board to
stockholders under applicable law, after taking into account the advice of
outside legal counsel (it being understood that disclosure by the Company
of its receipt of an Alternative Proposal and the terms thereof shall not
alone constitute a withdrawal or modification of such position or an
approval or recommendation of such Alternative Proposal).
(b) The Company will notify Liberty promptly (but in no event
later than 24 hours) after receipt by the Company (or any of its advisors)
of any Alternative Proposal or of any request (other than in the ordinary
course of business and not related to an Alternative Proposal) for
non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or for access to the properties, books or records of the Company or any
Subsidiary thereof by any Person who is known to be considering making, or
has made, an Alternative Proposal. The Company shall provide such notice
orally and in writing and shall identify the Person making, and the terms
and conditions of, any such Alternative Proposal, indication or request.
The Company shall keep Liberty fully informed, on a prompt basis (but in
any event no later than 24 hours), of the status and details of any such
Alternative Proposal, indication or request. The Company shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries and the directors, employees and other agents of the
Company and its Subsidiaries to, cease immediately and cause to be
terminated all activities, discussions or negotiations, if any, with any
Persons conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to any Alternative
Proposal.
(c) Except as set forth above in this Section 7.5, the Company
covenants and agrees with Liberty that prior to the Effective Time the
Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the
Company to, (i) voluntarily sell, dispose of, tender or exchange or agree
to sell, dispose of, tender or exchange any shares of OCC Stock owned by
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company on the date hereof or
hereafter acquired (including without limitation any such sale or
disposition in connection with a tender offer, exchange offer or similar
transaction) (the "Company OCC Shares"), (ii) vote, or execute a written
consent or proxy with respect to the Company OCC Shares, which the Company
or any such Subsidiary is entitled to vote, in favor of any acquisition by
any Person of OCC, of any equity interest in OCC, or of a material portion
of the assets of OCC (an "OCC Alternative Transaction") or agree with any
other Person to vote, or execute a written consent or proxy, with respect
to any such Company OCC Shares or (iii) publicly recommend any OCC
Alternative Transaction or otherwise express an intention to take any of
the actions otherwise prohibited by this Section 7.5(c) (it being
understood that disclosure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the
receipt of a proposal for an OCC Alternative Transaction shall not alone
constitute a recommendation of such OCC Alternative Transaction or an
expression of intent prohibited by this Section 7.5(c)); provided that the
Company's obligations to cause its representatives on the Board of
Directors of OCC (or any committee thereof) to take any action (or to
refrain from taking any action) in compliance with this Section 7.5(c)
shall be subject in all respects to such Persons' fiduciary duties under
applicable law.
7.6 EXPENSES. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the
Third Inter-Group Supplement, the Third Tax Sharing Amendment, the Parent
Charter or any document referred to herein or therein or executed in
connection herewith or therewith to which the Company, Liberty or any of
their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a party, whether or not the
Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the
party incurring such cost or expense, except that the costs and expenses
incurred in connection with printing and mailing the Proxy Statement, the
Registration Statement (and any amendment or supplement thereto) and any
prospectus included in the Registration Statement (and any amendment or
supplement thereto) and the costs of filing under the Hart-Scott Act will
be borne one-half by Liberty and one-half by the Company. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, but subject to Section 10.10, if this Agreement is
terminated by a party (the "non-breaching party") as a result of a material
willful breach by the other party (the "breaching party") of its covenants
or agreements contained herein or the representations and warranties made
by it herein, the breaching party will reimburse the non-breaching party
for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.7 ACTIONS BY MERGER SUB. In its capacity as the sole stockholder
of Merger Sub, Parent will cause Merger Sub to approve and adopt the Merger
Proposal and to take all corporate action necessary on its part to
consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement, Merger Sub will not conduct any other
business, and will have no other assets or liabilities.
7.8 LISTING. Each party hereto agrees to use its reasonable efforts
to take all action necessary to cause the shares of Class A Liberty Group
Stock to be issued in the Merger to be authorized for listing on the NYSE,
subject to official notice of issuance.
7.9 DEFENSE OF LITIGATION. Each of Liberty and the Company agrees to
vigorously defend against all actions, suits or proceedings in which such
party is named as a defendant which seek to enjoin, restrain or prohibit
the transactions contemplated hereby or seek damages with respect to such
transactions. The Company will not settle any such action, suit or
proceeding or fail to perfect on a timely basis any right to appeal any
judgment rendered or order entered against the Company therein without the
consent of each of Parent and Liberty (which consents will not be withheld
or delayed unreasonably). Each of Liberty and the Company further agrees
to use its reasonable efforts to cause each of its Affiliates, directors
and officers to vigorously defend any action, suit or proceeding in which
such Affiliate, director or officer is named as a defendant and which seeks
any such relief to comply with this Section to the same extent as if such
Person were a party hereto.
7.10 COMPETITOR TRANSACTION. (a) During the period from the date
of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of
this Agreement or the Effective Time, neither Liberty nor any of its
controlled Subsidiaries will effect or enter into an agreement with any
Person to effect, directly or indirectly, a merger, consolidation, asset
disposition, recapitalization or another transaction resulting in the
transfer of securities or assets of any Competitor, if such transaction
would be subject to the filing and notification requirements of the
Hart-Scott Act (a "Competitor Transaction"); provided, however, that the
foregoing restriction will not apply with respect to any Competitor that:
(i) is the subject of any announcement that it has entered into
an agreement pursuant to which a Person other than Liberty or any of its
Subsidiaries would acquire securities of such Competitor representing more
than 50% of its aggregate equity or voting interests, or assets of such
Competitor representing more than 50% of its aggregate value of assets or
revenues, as applicable, on a consolidated basis,
(ii) is the object of a publicly disclosed tender offer by a
Person other than Liberty or any of its Subsidiaries that, if successful,
would result in the acquisition by such Person of a majority of the
outstanding common equity securities of such Competitor, or
(iii) makes a Superior Proposal to the Company Board,
if Liberty provides written notice (an "LMC Notice") to the Company that
Liberty or any of its controlled Subsidiaries intends to effect or enter
into an agreement with any Person to effect a Competitor Transaction with
respect to such Competitor. Upon the Company's receipt of such LMC Notice,
the obligations and restrictions of the Company pursuant to Sections 7.5
and 9.2 will be suspended until 72 hours after the Company receives written
notice from Liberty (an "LMC Withdrawal Notice") that it no longer intends
to effect a Competitor Transaction with respect to such Competitor, at
which time the obligations and restrictions of the Company under Sections
7.5 and 9.2 will immediately be reinstated; provided, however, that if
Liberty delivers an LMC Withdrawal Notice and, prior to the earlier of the
Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement, Liberty delivers a
second LMC Notice under this Section 7.10(a), the obligations and
restrictions of the Company pursuant to Sections 7.5 and 9.2 shall
terminate upon the Company's receipt of such second LMC Notice.
(b) Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in Section
7.10(a), Liberty and each of its controlled Subsidiaries may effect, or
enter into an agreement to effect, a Competitor Transaction with respect to
any Competitor at any time, if Liberty provides written notice to the
Company of Liberty's intention to effect such Competitor Transaction and
agrees to use its best efforts to cause the conditions set forth in
Sections 8.1(c), 8.1(e), 8.2(g) and 8.3(d) to be fully satisfied, including
(i) promptly effecting all necessary registrations and filings, including,
but not limited to, filings under the Hart-Scott Act and submissions of
information requested by governmental authorities and (ii) promptly taking,
or causing its Subsidiaries to take, if required by the Federal Trade
Commission or its staff, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the
Antitrust Division or his staff, or any state attorney general or its
staff, in each case in order to consummate the Merger, all steps to secure
governmental antitrust clearance (including by avoiding or setting aside
any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order of any United States
federal or state court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental
authority), including without limitation all steps to make arrangements for
or to effect the sale or other disposition of or to hold separate
particular assets or categories of assets or businesses of such Competitor,
the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries (including without
limitation pursuant to arrangements which restrict, limit or prohibit
access to such Competitor, the Company or any of their respective
Subsidiaries and/or any voting stock of any of the foregoing).
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, prohibit or
restrict Parent from engaging in any transaction, including any Competitor
Transaction.
7.11 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. (a) From and
after the Effective Time, Liberty and the Surviving Entity will jointly
and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless the present and former
officers, directors and employees of the Company and any of its
Subsidiaries, and any Person who is or was serving at the request of the
Company as an officer, director or employee or agent of another Person
(each, an "Indemnified Party" and together, the "Indemnified Parties") (and
will also, subject to Section 7.11(b), advance expenses as incurred to the
fullest extent permitted under the DGCL, provided that the Person to whom
expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it
is ultimately determined that such Person is not entitled to
indemnification), against (i) all losses, costs, expenses, claims, damages,
judgments or liabilities arising out of, or in connection with, any claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation based in whole or in part on the
fact that the Indemnified Party is or was an officer, director or employee
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or is or was serving at the
request of the Company as an officer, director or employee or agent of
another Person, pertaining to any matter existing or occurring before or at
the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed before, at or after, the
Effective Time (the "Indemnified Liabilities") and (ii) all Indemnified
Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part
out of, or pertaining to this Agreement, the Merger or any other
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case to the fullest
extent permitted under the DGCL (notwithstanding the charter, bylaws or
similar organizational documents of the Company, the Surviving Entity,
Parent or Liberty); provided, however, that such indemnification will be
provided only to the extent any directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy of the Company or its Subsidiaries does not provide
coverage and actual payment thereunder with respect to the matters that
would otherwise be subject to indemnification hereunder (it being
understood that Liberty or the Surviving Entity shall, subject to Section
7.11(b), advance expenses on a current basis as provided in this paragraph
(a) notwithstanding such insurance coverage to the extent that payments
thereunder have not yet been made, in which case Liberty or the Surviving
Entity, as the case may be, shall be entitled to repayment of such advances
from the proceeds of such insurance coverage). Liberty and Merger Sub
agree that all rights to indemnification, including provisions relating to
advances of expenses incurred in defense of any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (each, a "Claim"),
existing in favor of the Indemnified Parties as provided in the Company
Charter or Company Bylaws or pursuant to other agreements, or certificates
of incorporation or bylaws or similar documents of any Subsidiaries of the
Company, as in effect as of the date hereof, with respect to matters
occurring through the Effective Time, will survive the Merger and will
continue in full force and effect. The Surviving Entity shall, and Liberty
shall cause the Surviving Entity to, maintain in effect for not less than
three years after the Effective Time the current policies of directors' and
officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company and the Company's
Subsidiaries with respect to matters occurring prior to or at the Effective
Time; provided, however, that (i) the Surviving Entity may substitute
therefor policies of at least the same coverage containing terms and
conditions which are no less advantageous to the Indemnified Parties with
an insurance company or companies, the claims paying ability of which is
substantially equivalent to the claims paying ability of the insurance
company or companies providing currently such insurance coverage for
directors and officers of the Company, and (ii) the Surviving Entity shall
not be required to pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of
three times the last annual premium paid prior to the date hereof, but in
such case shall purchase as much coverage as possible for such amount.
(b) If any Claim relating hereto or to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement is commenced before the Effective Time, the
Company, Liberty and the Surviving Entity agree to cooperate and use their
respective reasonable efforts to vigorously defend against and respond
thereto. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under
paragraph (a) of this Section 7.11, upon learning of any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before, at or
after the Effective Time), will promptly notify Liberty thereof (but the
failure so to notify will not relieve the Company, Liberty or the Surviving
Entity from any liability which it may have under this Section 7.11 except
to the extent such failure materially prejudices such party), whereupon
Liberty or the Surviving Entity will have the right, from and after the
Effective Time, to assume from such Indemnified Party and control the
defense thereof on behalf of such Indemnified Party, and upon such
assumption, the Surviving Entity will not be liable to such Indemnified
Parties for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses
subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Parties in connection with the
defense thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if counsel for the
Indemnified Parties advises that there are issues which raise conflicts of
interest between Liberty or the Surviving Entity and the Indemnified
Parties, the Indemnified Parties may retain separate counsel and Liberty
will pay or cause to be paid all reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel; provided that Liberty will not be obligated pursuant to this
Section 7.11(b) to pay or cause to be paid for more than one firm or
counsel to represent all Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction unless
there is, under applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on
any significant issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified
Parties. Neither Liberty nor the Surviving Entity will be liable for any
settlement effected without its prior written consent, which consent,
however, will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(c) This Section 7.11 is intended to benefit the Indemnified
Parties and will be enforceable by each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs
and representatives and will be binding on all successors and assigns of
Liberty, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity.
7.12 TAX MATTERS. Each of Liberty and the Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Merger to qualify as a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and to
obtain the opinions of counsel referred to in Sections 8.2(h) and 8.3(e).
Each party represents and warrants to the other parties that the statements
in the proposed form of certificate of such party (each a "Party's
Certificate" and together the "Parties' Certificates") attached,
respectively, as Exhibits 7.12(i) through (iii), to be delivered by such
party in connection with the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Sections
8.2(h) and 8.3(e), are true and correct as of the date hereof, assuming for
purposes of this sentence that the Merger had been consummated on the date
hereof. Each party agrees that, at and prior to the Effective Time, it
will not take any action that would cause any of the statements in the
Party's Certificate to be false as of the Effective Time. Unless and then
only to the extent otherwise required by a "determination" (as defined in
Section 1313(a)(1) of the Code) or by a similar applicable provision of
state or local income or franchise tax law, each party agrees (i) to report
the Merger on all tax returns and other filings as a tax-free
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and (ii)
not to take any position in any audit, administrative proceeding or
litigation that is inconsistent with the characterization of the Merger as
such a reorganization.
7.13 RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS. To the extent permitted by
applicable Law, Parent and Liberty shall cause the Post-Merger
Restructuring Transactions to be consummated as soon as reasonably
practicable following the effectiveness of the Merger, as described in
Exhibit 7.13, as the same may be modified or amended by mutual agreement of
the parties.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
8.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT, MERGER SUB AND
THE COMPANY. The respective obligations of Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any of
which, to the extent permitted by applicable law, may be waived by
agreement of Parent and Liberty, for Parent and Merger Sub (but not for the
Company), or by the Company for itself (but not for Parent or Merger Sub):
(a) Approval of Stockholders. This Agreement will have been
approved and adopted by such vote of the stockholders of the Company as set
forth in Section 4.15.
(b) Registration. The Registration Statement (as amended or
supplemented) will have become effective under the Securities Act and will
not be subject to any stop order, and no action, suit, proceeding or
investigation by the Commission seeking a stop order or to suspend the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement will have been initiated and be
continuing. Parent will have received all state securities law or blue sky
permits and authorizations necessary to issue the Merger Consideration as
contemplated hereby and such permits and authorizations will be in full
force and effect.
(c) Hart-Scott Act. Any applicable waiting period (and any
extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott Act will have expired or been
terminated.
(d) NYSE Listing. The shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock to
be issued in the Merger will have been authorized for listing on the NYSE
subject only to official notice of issuance.
(e) Absence of Injunctions. No permanent or preliminary
Injunction or restraining order by any court or other Government Entity of
competent jurisdiction, or other legal restraint or prohibition, shall be
in effect preventing consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
as provided herein, or permitting such consummation only subject to any
condition or restriction that has had or would have (x) a material adverse
effect on the transactions contemplated hereby, (y) a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, Liberty and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or (z) in the case of the obligations of Parent and Merger
Sub, would require Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to take or refrain
from, or would prohibit Parent or any of its Subsidiaries from taking or
refraining from, any action (other than actions required to be taken by
Parent or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the final proviso in the penultimate
sentence of Section 3.5 hereof or otherwise specifically agreed to by
Parent or one of its Subsidiaries in this Agreement).
.
8.2 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB.
The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are also
subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of each of the
following conditions, unless waived by agreement of Parent and Liberty:
(a) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. All
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement
shall, if specifically qualified by materiality, be true and correct and,
if not so qualified, be true and correct in all material respects in each
case as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak as of a specified earlier date) on and
as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except
for changes resulting from the consummation of the Entertainment Asset Sale
and such other changes as are permitted or contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Performance of Agreements. The Company shall have performed
in all material respects all obligations and agreements, and complied in
all material respects with all covenants and conditions, contained in this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing
Date.
(c) Officers' Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to
Parent and Liberty (i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on
behalf of the Company by the President or any Vice President of the Company
(but without personal liability thereto) certifying as to the fulfillment
of the conditions specified in Sections 8.1(a), 8.2(a), 8.2(b), 8.2(e),
8.2(g) (to the extent such Licenses, Permits or Consents must be obtained
by the Company), 8.2(i) and 8.2(j), and (ii) a certificate of the Secretary
of the Company (but without personal liability thereto) certifying, among
other things, (A) the incumbency of all officers of the Company having
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the agreements and
documents contemplated hereby and (B) the resolutions of the Company Board
referred to in Section 4.14, any subsequent resolutions of the Company
Board with respect to the Merger and the resolution of the Company's
stockholders approving the Merger Proposal.
(d) No Adverse Enactments. There shall not have been any
statute, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree proposed, enacted,
promulgated, entered, issued, enforced or deemed applicable by any foreign
or United States federal, state or local Governmental Entity, or otherwise
applicable, which (i) makes this Agreement, the Merger, or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or imposes material
damages or penalties or would require Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to
take or refrain from, or would prohibit Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
from taking or refraining from, any action (other than actions required to
be taken by Parent or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the final proviso in the
penultimate sentence of Section 3.5 hereof or otherwise specifically agreed
to by Parent or one of its Subsidiaries in this Agreement) in connection
therewith, (ii) requires Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to divest or
hold separate any portion of the assets or business of Parent or its
Subsidiaries, or requires Liberty, the Surviving Entity or any of their
respective Subsidiaries to divest or hold separate any material portion of
the assets or business of Liberty, the Surviving Entity or any of their
respective Subsidiaries, if the Merger is consummated, (iii) imposes
material limitations on the ability of Parent or Liberty effectively to
exercise full rights of ownership of shares of capital stock of the
Surviving Entity (including the right to vote such shares on all matters
properly presented to the stockholders of the Surviving Entity) or makes
the holding by Parent or Liberty of any such shares illegal or subject to
any materially burdensome requirement or condition, (iv) requires Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries to cease or refrain from engaging in any business,
or requires Liberty or the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries
or Affiliates to cease or refrain from engaging in any material business,
including any material business conducted by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, if the Merger is consummated, or (v) otherwise prohibits or
unreasonably delays consummation of the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or increases in any material
respect the liabilities or obligations of Parent arising out of this
Agreement, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; provided, however, that the satisfaction of this Section 8.2(d)
shall not be asserted by Liberty as a condition to Parent or Merger Sub's
obligation to consummate the Merger if, pursuant to Section 7.10(b),
Liberty or any of its controlled Subsidiaries notifies the Company of its
intention to effect a Competitor Transaction and such Competitor
Transaction or the proposal of such Competitor Transaction causes the
failure of the condition set forth in this Section 8.2(d) to be satisfied.
In addition, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall hold and be in
compliance with all licenses, franchises, ordinances, authorizations,
permits, certificates, variances, exemptions, concessions, leases, rights
of way, easements, instruments, orders and approvals, domestic or foreign,
required for the ownership of the assets and operation of the businesses of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for the failure to hold or
be in compliance with any of the foregoing as would not be reasonably
likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate, an adverse effect
(other than an effect which is insignificant in nature and consequence) on
the relationship between Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and any federal
or state Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any business of
Parent or its Subsidiaries or the operations or assets thereof.
(e) Contract Consents and Notices. All Contract Consents and
Contract Notices which are referred to in Section 4.5 (other than the NBC
Consents) or otherwise required in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and which, if not obtained or given, would
have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the
transactions contemplated hereby or a Material Adverse Effect on Parent and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, Liberty and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, shall
have been obtained and given.
(f) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date hereof, no
changes, events or conditions shall have occurred or arisen, which
individually or in the aggregate, represent a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or OCC and its
Subsidiaries taken as whole.
(g) Receipt of Licenses, Permits and Consents. Other than the
filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware and filings due after the Effective Time, all Local
Approvals, and all other Government Consents as are required in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have
been obtained and shall be in full force and effect, in each case without
any condition that would require Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to take
or refrain from, or would prohibit Parent or any of its Subsidiaries from
taking or refraining from, any action (other than actions required to be
taken by Parent or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the final proviso in the
penultimate sentence of Section 3.5 hereof or otherwise specifically agreed
to by Parent or one of its Subsidiaries in this Agreement), all
Governmental Filings as are required in connection with the consummation of
such transactions shall have been made, and all waiting periods, if any,
applicable to the consummation of such transactions imposed by any
Governmental Entity shall have expired, other than those which, if not
obtained, in force or effect, made or expired (as the case may be) would
not, either individually or in the aggregate, have (x) a material adverse
effect on the transactions contemplated hereby, (y) a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, Parent and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or (z) have an adverse effect (other than an effect which
is insignificant in nature and consequence) on the relationship between
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and any federal or state Governmental
Entity having jurisdiction over any business of Parent or its Subsidiaries
or the operations or assets thereof.
(h) Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received the opinion of
Baker & Botts, L.L.P., dated the Effective Time, to the effect that (i) the
Merger should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; (ii) each
of Parent and the Company should be a party to the reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; and (iii) no gain or loss should
be recognized, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, by Parent or any
member of its consolidated group or the Company as a result of the Merger
and the issuance of shares of Class A Liberty Group Stock in connection
therewith. In rendering such opinion, Baker & Botts, L.L.P. may require
and rely upon (and may incorporate by reference) representations and
covenants made in the Parties' Certificates, and upon such other documents
and data as such counsel deems appropriate as a basis for such opinions.
(i) Entertainment Asset Sale. The Company shall have
consummated the Entertainment Asset Sale in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement, without any
modification or amendment the effect of which (in the judgment of Liberty)
decreases the actual cash proceeds to be realized by the Company in any
significant respect or increases the potential liability (absolute or
contingent) to the Company, in each case, in connection with the
consummation of Entertainment Asset Sale. There shall be no action, claim,
suit, proceeding or investigation pending of which the Company has received
notice or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Entertainment Asset Sale Agreement, except for any such
action, claim, suit, proceeding or investigation which, if adversely
determined, would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
(j) Actions by OCC. Since the date hereof, no action shall have
been taken by OCC which would have required the consent or approval of
Liberty pursuant to Section 7.4 had the Company not exercised its
commercially reasonable efforts to prevent OCC from the taking of such
action, except for such actions which are not singly, or in the aggregate,
material.
(k) OCC Alternative Transaction. There shall not have occurred,
nor shall OCC or any Affiliate of OCC (including for such purposes the
Company and its Subsidiaries) have entered into any agreement providing for
an OCC Alternative Transaction.
8.3 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. The
obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is also subject to the
satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following
conditions, unless waived by the Company:
(a) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. All
representations and warranties of Parent and Liberty contained herein
shall, if specifically qualified by materiality, be true and correct and,
if not so qualified, be true and correct in all material respects in each
case as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak of a specified earlier date) on and as
of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except
for changes permitted or contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Performance of Agreements. Each of Parent, Liberty and
Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations
and agreements, and complied in all material respects with all covenants
and conditions, contained in this Agreement to be performed or complied
with by it prior to or on the Closing Date.
(c) Officers' Certificates. (i) Parent shall have delivered to
the Company a certificate dated the Closing Date, signed by the President
or any Vice President of Parent (but without personal liability thereto)
certifying as to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in Sections
8.3(a) and 8.3(b) (insofar as each relates to Parent or Merger Sub) and
(ii) Liberty shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the
Closing Date, signed by the President or any Vice President of Liberty (but
without personal liability thereto), certifying as to the fulfillment of
the conditions specified in Sections 8.1(b), 8.1(c), 8.1(d), 8.3(a), 8.3(b)
and 8.3(d) (insofar as each relates to Liberty).
(d) Receipt of Licenses, Permits and Consents. Other than the
filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware and filings due after the Effective Time, all Local
Approvals and all other Government Consents as are required in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have
been obtained and shall be in full force and effect, all Governmental
Filings as are required in connection with the consummation of such
transactions shall have been made, and all waiting periods, if any,
applicable to the consummation of such transactions imposed by any
Governmental Entity shall have expired, other than those which, if not
obtained, in force or effect, made or expired (as the case may be) would
not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the transactions contemplated hereby or a Material Adverse Effect
on Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or Liberty and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(e) Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received an opinion of
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, dated the Effective Time, to the
effect that (i) the Merger should be treated for federal income tax
purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code; (ii) each of Parent and the Company should be a party to the
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; and (iii)
no gain or loss should be recognized by a stockholder of the Company, for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, to the extent that such stockholder
receives only Class A Liberty Group Stock in exchange for his stock of the
Company in the Merger. In rendering such opinion, Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP may require and rely upon (and may incorporate by
reference) representations and covenants made in the Parties' Certificates
and upon such other documents and data as such counsel deems appropriate as
a basis for such opinions.
(f) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this
Agreement, no changes, events or conditions shall have occurred or arisen
which individually or in the aggregate represent a Material Adverse Effect
on Liberty and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
9.1 TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT. This Agreement may be terminated and
the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to
the Effective Time, whether before or after approval and adoption of this
Agreement by the stockholders of the Company:
(i) by mutual consent of Parent, Liberty and the Company;
(ii) by either the Company, on the one hand, or Liberty, on the
other hand: (A) if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before
March 31, 2000 (the "End Date"), provided that the right to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this clause (ii)(A) shall not be available to any
party whose failure to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement
has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to be
consummated on or before such date; (B) if there has been a material breach
of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the
other party contained in this Agreement, and such breach is not curable
prior to the End Date; (C) if any court of competent jurisdiction or other
competent Governmental Entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling
or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall
have become final and nonappealable; or (D) if, at the Special Meeting, the
stockholders of the Company fail to approve and adopt the Merger Proposal
by the requisite vote, provided that the Company shall not be permitted to
terminate pursuant to this clause (D) if the Company Board shall have
withdrawn or modified, in a manner adverse to Parent or Liberty, its
approval or recommendation of the Merger;
(iii) by Liberty, whether prior to or after the Special
Meeting, if the Company Board withdraws or modifies, in a manner adverse to
Parent or Liberty, its approval or recommendation of the Merger (it being
understood that disclosure by the Company of its receipt of an Alternative
Proposal and the terms thereof shall not alone constitute a withdrawal or
modification of such position or an approval or recommendation of such
Alternative Proposal);
(iv) by either the Company, on the one hand, or Liberty on the
other hand, if (A) the Company Board authorizes the Company, subject to
compliance with this Agreement, to enter into a binding written agreement
concerning a transaction that constitutes a Superior Proposal and the
Company notifies Parent and Liberty in writing that it intends to enter
into such an agreement, attaching the most current version of such
agreement to such notice (which version shall be updated on a current
basis); (B) Liberty does not make, within two business days of receipt of
the Company's written notification of its intention to enter into a binding
agreement for a Superior Proposal, an offer that the Company Board
determines, in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors,
is at least as favorable to the stockholders of the Company as the Superior
Proposal; and (C) the Company shall have complied with Section 7.5. The
Company agrees to notify Parent and Liberty promptly if its intention to
enter into a written agreement referred to in its notification shall change
at any time after giving such notification; or
(v) by the Company if Liberty delivers an LMC Notice; provided
that the Company has not received an LMC Withdrawal Notice more than 72
hours prior to the time that the Company provides Liberty with notice of
such termination.
The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.1 (other than pursuant to Section 9.1(i)) shall give notice of
such termination to the other party.
9.2 TERMINATION FEE; EFFECTS OF TERMINATION. (a) In the event any
of the following shall occur:
(i) Liberty terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.1(iii);
(ii) either party terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.1(iv); or
(iii) either party terminates this Agreement pursuant to
Section 9.1(ii)(A) (provided that the failure of any of the conditions set
forth in Sections 8.1(c), 8.1(d), 8.2(g), 8.3(d) and 8.2(h) to have been
satisfied by the End Date shall not have been the cause or resulted in the
failure of the Merger to be consummated on or before the End Date) and
within nine months after the date of such termination, either (A) the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into an agreement (a "Third Party
Agreement") with any Person (other than a prospective underwriter) with
respect to (1) the transfer or issuance of securities representing more
than 50% of the equity or voting interests of the Company or OCC, (2) a
merger, consolidation, recapitalization or another transaction resulting in
the issuance of cash or securities of any Person (other than a
reincorporation merger that results in the Company's stockholders or OCC's
stockholders owning all of the equity interests in the surviving
corporation) to the Company's stockholders or OCC's stockholders in
exchange for more than 50% of the equity or voting interests in the Company
or OCC, or (3) a transfer of assets, securities or ownership interests
representing more than 50% of the consolidated assets or revenue generating
business of the Company or OCC, or (B) any Person commences a tender offer
(a "Third Party Tender Offer") that, if successful, would result in the
acquisition by the Person making the tender offer of a majority of the
Company Common Stock or OCC Stock;
then the Company shall pay Liberty a fee of $15 million in accordance with
Section 9.2(c).
(b) In the event that (i) either party terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 9.1(ii)(D) and (ii) within nine months after the date
of such termination the Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into a
Third Party Agreement or any Person commences a Third Party Tender Offer,
then the Company shall pay Liberty, in accordance with Section 9.2(c), a
fee equal to:
(i) $15 million, if the Pre-Vote LMGA Average Closing Price
is greater than or equal to 90% of $36.75;
(ii) $1.5 million, if the Pre-Vote LMGA Average Closing
Price is greater than or equal to 80%, but less than 90%, of $36.75; or
(iii) zero, if the Pre-Vote LMGA Average Closing Price
is less than 80% of $36.75.
(c) Any fee payable by the Company to Liberty pursuant to this
Section 9.2 shall be paid by wire transfer of same day funds no later than
the third business day following (x) the date of Liberty's termination
pursuant to Section 9.1(iii) or either party's termination pursuant to
Section 9.1(iv), as applicable, or (y) the date of the consummation of any
Third Party Tender Offer or any of the transactions contemplated by a Third
Party Agreement, as applicable. If the Company fails to pay Liberty
promptly any fee due under this Section 9.2, the Company shall pay the
costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in
connection with any action, including the prosecution of any lawsuit or
other legal action, taken to collect payment.
(d) In the event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant
to Section 9.1, Parent shall have no further obligation or liability
hereunder, except for its confidentiality obligations pursuant to Section
7.2.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 NO WAIVER OR SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS
AND AGREEMENTS. The respective representations and warranties of Parent,
Merger Sub, Liberty and the Company contained herein or in any certificate
or other instrument delivered pursuant hereto prior to or at the Closing
shall not be deemed waived or otherwise affected by any investigation made
by any party hereto. All representations and warranties made by each of
the parties herein shall expire at the Effective Time and shall thereafter
be of no further force or effect. The respective covenants and agreements
of the parties contained herein or in any other documents delivered prior
to or at the Closing shall survive execution and delivery of this Agreement
and shall only terminate in accordance their respective terms.
10.2 NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered
personally (by courier service or otherwise) or mailed, certified or
registered mail with postage prepaid, or sent by confirmed telecopier, as
follows:
(a) If to Parent or Merger Sub:
AT&T Corp.
295 North Maple Avenue
Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920
Attention: Vice President-Law and Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: (908) 221-6618
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 W. 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: David M. Silk, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 403-2000
(b) If to Liberty:
Liberty Media Corporation
9197 South Peoria Street
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Attention: Charles Y. Tanabe, Esq.
Facsimile: (720) 875-5382
with a copy to:
Baker & Botts, L.L.P.
599 Lexington Ave.
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Lee D. Charles, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 705-5125
(c) If to the Company:
Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc.
1225 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1800
Denver, Colorado 80202
Attention: Arthur M. Aaron, Esq.
Facsimile: (303) 308-0489
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Jeffrey W. Tindell, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 735-2000
or to such other Person or address as any party shall specify by notice in
writing to the other party. All such notices, requests, demands, waivers
and communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of
delivery if delivered on a business day, on the business day following
delivery if not delivered on a business day, or on the third business day
after the mailing thereof, except that any notice of a change of address
shall be effective only upon actual receipt thereof.
10.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the Schedules,
Annexes, Exhibits and other documents referred to herein) constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings, oral and written, between the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof.
10.4 ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT; BENEFIT. Neither this Agreement nor
any of the rights, benefits or obligations hereunder may be assigned by any
party (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this
Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except for the
provisions of Section 3.8 (which may be enforced by the Person entitled to
the applicable benefits) and Section 7.11 (which may be enforced by the
Indemnified Parties), nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is
intended to confer on any Person other than the parties or their respective
successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement.
10.5 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended by action of all the
parties, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors, at any time before or after approval and adoption of this
Agreement and the Merger by the stockholders of the Company, but, after any
such approval by the stockholders of the Company, no amendment shall be
made which by law requires further approval by such stockholders of the
Company without such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.
10.6 EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
the parties, by action taken or authorized by each such party's Board of
Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time
specified herein for the performance of any of the obligations of the other
party, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of
the other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant
hereto, (iii) waive compliance by the other party with any of the
agreements or covenants of such other party contained herein or (iv) waive
any condition to such waiving party's obligation to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or to any of such waiving party's other
obligations hereunder. 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 by such party. Any such extension or waiver by any party
shall be binding on such party but not on the other party entitled to the
benefits of the provision of this Agreement affected unless such other
party also has agreed to such extension or waiver. No such waiver shall
constitute a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or
other breach or failure to strictly comply with the provisions of this
Agreement. The failure of any party to insist on strict compliance with
this Agreement or to assert any of its rights or remedies hereunder or with
respect hereto shall not constitute a waiver of such rights or remedies.
Whenever this Agreement requires or permits consent or approval by any
party, such consent or approval shall be effective if given in writing in a
manner consistent with the requirements for a waiver of compliance as set
forth in this Section 10.6. Any waiver by either Parent or Liberty shall
require the consent of both Parent and Liberty.
10.7 HEADINGS. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The phrase "made
available" in this Agreement shall mean that the information referred to
has been made available if requested by the party to whom such information
is to be made available.
10.8 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which together
shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
10.9 APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement and the legal relations between
the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws
rules thereof.
10.10 NO REMEDY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. Each party agrees that,
should any court or other competent governmental authority hold any
provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be null, void or
unenforceable, or order any party to take any action inconsistent herewith
or not to take any action required herein, the other party shall not be
entitled to specific performance of such provision or part hereof or to any
other remedy, including but not limited to money damages, for breach
thereof or of any other provision of this Agreement or part hereof as a
result of such holding or order.
10.11 SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions
hereof. If any provisions of this Agreement, or the application thereof to
any Person or entity or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a)
a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order
to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and
purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of
this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons,
entities or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or
unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the
validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof,
in any other jurisdiction.
10.12 DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE. The parties acknowledge that the
Company Disclosure Schedule to this Agreement (i) relates to certain
matters concerning the disclosures required and transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, (ii) is qualified in its entirety by reference to
specific provisions of this Agreement and (iii) is not intended to
constitute and shall not be construed as indicating that such matter is
required to be disclosed, nor shall such disclosure be construed as an
admission that such information is material with respect to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or will have or is likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, OCC
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole or Liberty and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Disclosure of the
information contained in one section or part of the Company Disclosure
Schedule shall be deemed as proper disclosure for other sections or parts
of the Company Disclosure Schedule only if appropriately cross-referenced
or if the relevance thereof is reasonably apparent from the context in
which it appears.
10.13 ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were
not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to
seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and
to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any
court of the United States or in Delaware state court, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in
equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit
itself to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any Federal court located in
the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court in the event any dispute
arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat
such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any
such court.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement and Plan of Merger as of the date first above written.
AT&T CORP.
By: /s/ Daniel E. Somers
_____________________________
Name: Daniel E. Somers
Title: Senior Executive Vice
President and CFO
RANGER ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ Robert S. Feit
_____________________________
Name: Robert S. Feit
Title: Vice President, Secretary
and Treasurer
LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION
By: /s/ Charles Y. Tanabe
_____________________________
Name: Charles Y. Tanabe
Title: Senior Vice President
and General Counsel
ASCENT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Charles M. Neinas
_____________________________
Name: Charles M. Neinas
Title: Chairman and Acting CEO
Exhibit 99.1
LIBERTY MEDIA AGREES TO ACQUIRE
ASCENT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
DENVER, CO, October 21, 1999 -- Liberty Media Corporation ("Liberty")
and Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOAL) today jointly announced
that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which
Liberty would acquire the business of Ascent in an all-stock transaction.
In the merger, each share of common stock of Ascent will be converted
into 0.4626 shares of Liberty Media Group Class A Common Stock (NYSE:
LMG.A). Based on yesterday's closing price of LMG.A of $37 5/16 per
share, in the merger Ascent shareholders will receive an aggregate of
approximately $513.6 million in LMG.A shares, thus valuing each share of
Ascent common stock at $17.26. The equivalent value of each share of
Ascent common stock at the closing of the merger will depend on the market
value of LMG.A at the closing.
The merger will not include the Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets
or the Pepsi Center. Those businesses assets will be sold to The Sturm
Group for approximately $461 million pursuant to a previously announced
acquisition agreement. Ascent expects that closing to occur later this
month.
Chuck Neinas, Chairman and acting CEO of Ascent, said that the Ascent
Board of Directors considered a number of factors in approving the merger,
including its desire to achieve value for Ascent stockholders in a tax-
efficient transaction, and its belief that the prospects for Liberty Media
present an excellent opportunity for Ascent stockholders.
"Liberty has extensive relationships in video programming, interactive
television and high speed data services," said Robert Bennett, President
and CEO of Liberty. "Through the acquisition of Ascent, we hope to use
these relationships to provide better and more comprehensive services for
business and recreational travelers."
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette is acting as financial advisor to Ascent
and has rendered a fairness opinion to Ascent's board of directors that the
exchange ratio offered in the merger is fair, from a financial point of
view, to holders of Ascent common stock.
The closing is subject to a number of conditions, including government
approvals and the approval of Ascent's shareholders, and is anticipated to
occur in the first quarter of 2000.
Ascent's principal business is providing pay-per-view entertainment
and information services through its majority-owned On Command Corporation
(Nasdaq: ONCO). In addition, Ascent provides satellite service and
maintenance to the NBC television network in connection with its
distribution of its national television feed to its local affiliates
Liberty Media holds interests in a broad range of video programming,
communications, technology and internet businesses in the United States,
Europe, South America and Asia. Liberty Media Group Class A and Class B
Common Stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols
LMG.A and LMG.B, respectively.
Certain items discussed in this press release may constitute forward-
looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 (the "Reform Act") and as such may involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of Ascent or Liberty Media Group to be
materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including a change
in the climate for acquisitions Liberty Media Group has been making or
downturn in the projected business of recently acquired operations of
Liberty Media Group's other business units. Such forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Liberty Media
Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein
to reflect any change in Liberty Media Group's expectations with regard
thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any
such statement is based.
Contact: Vivian Carr of Liberty Media, (720) 725-5406; or Jim Cronin of
Ascent Entertainment Group, (303) 308-7010
* * * * *
