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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) June 6, 1997
------------
American States Financial Corporation
-------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Indiana 1-11733 35-1976549
------- ------- ----------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
500 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1275
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 317/262-6262
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
On June 6, 1997, American States Financial Corporation (the "ASFC") entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 6, 1997 (the "Merger
Agreement"), by and among ASFC, SAFECO Corporation ("Buyer") and ASFC
Acquisition Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer ("Buyer Sub"). The Merger
Agreement (see Exhibit I) provides for, among other things, the merger of Buyer
Sub with and into ASFC (the "Merger"), with ASFC surviving the Merger as a
wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and upon
consummation of the Merger, each outstanding share of Common Stock of ASFC
("ASFC Common Stock") will be converted into the right to receive $47.00 in
cash without interest thereon. Consummation of the Merger is subject to
certain conditions, including, among others, (i) the approval by certain state
insurance regulators of the Merger and (ii) compliance with applicable
provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, Lincoln National Corporation ("LNC")
and Buyer entered into a Voting, Support and Indemnification Agreement dated
June 6, 1997 (the "Voting Agreement), certain sections of which were agreed to
and acknowledged by ASFC. Pursuant to the Voting Agreement (see Exhibit II),
LNC agreed, among other things, (i) to vote all ASFC Common Stock held by it or
any of its subsidiaries in favor of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) to grant Buyer an irrevocable proxy in
all ASFC Common Stock held by it or any of its subsidiaries for purposes of a
vote at a meeting of the holders of ASFC Common Stock held to consider the
Merger and (iii) to allocate between LNC and Buyer certain tax and employee
benefits liabilities, and Buyer agreed, among other things, to pay to LNC
amounts necessary to satisfy certain debt obligations of ASFC to LNC. LNC's
obligation to vote in favor of the Merger is subject to the receipt of any
required state insurance department approvals.
Set forth below is the text of a press release relating to the Merger issued by
the Registrant on June 9, 1997:
SAFECO Corporation (NASDAQ: SAFC) and American States Financial
Corporation (NYSE: ASX) announced today that they have signed a
definitive agreement for SAFECO to acquire American States for $47.00
per share or approximately $2.8 billion. The combination will create
the 12th largest property and casualty insurance company in the United
States with combined 1996 revenues of $5.9 billion. The combination
will enhance the product mix, geographic reach and network of
independent agents of both operations.
The definitive agreement was approved by the Boards of Directors of
both companies. Lincoln National Corporation, which currently owns
83.3 percent of American States' outstanding common stock, has agreed
to support the transaction.
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"The combination of two of the finest agency companies will significantly
enhance SAFECO's growth objectives," said Roger Eigsti, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of SAFECO. "American States' expertise with
small-to-medium sized business and commercial accounts will complement our
personal lines expertise. We are excited about the opportunities this
combination creates for our shareholders, customers, employees and agents."
"SAFECO is a company we at American States have always respected, admired
and, in many ways, have tried to emulate," said Robert A. Anker, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of American States Financial Corporation.
Upon completion of the transaction, the combined enterprise will nearly
double the number of independent agents that either organization currently
works with. The acquisition will accelerate SAFECO's growth east of the
Rocky Mountains and enhance its position in eight core Midwestern and
Pacific Northwest states (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan,
Kansas, Washington and Oregon).
Importantly, American States is one of the largest writers of property and
casualty insurance in the small-to-medium sized business sector, a rapidly
growing market for insurance. American States is recognized as the second
largest writer of property and casualty insurance through independent
agencies for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
"American States has the three key elements we sought in an acquisition
candidate - strength in small business commercial lines, a Midwestern
geographic focus and a strong independent agency network," said Boh (cq)
Dickey, President and Chief Operating Officer of SAFECO. "In addition, it
offered two other advantages - a highly skilled workforce and a strong
cultural fit with SAFECO."
American States, with assets of more than $5.5 billion, operates in more
than 40 states through 4,800 independent agents. In addition to property
and casualty insurance, the company also offers life insurance and surety.
The company employs 3,200 people with major offices in Indiana, Kansas and
Washington.
"The addition of American States to SAFECO will result in approximately
4,000 new agents. This is a key component of our growth strategy. With
superior agents representing us in more communities across the country, we
can focus on developing the financial services products our customers need
and refining the excellent service they associate with SAFECO," said Randy
Stoddard, Senior Vice President of SAFECO Property/Casualty Insurance
Companies who will become president of the property and casualty operations
on July 1.
Founded in 1923 as the General Insurance Company of America, SAFECO today
is one of the largest diversified financial corporations in the country
with more than
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$20 billion in assets. Property and casualty insurance was SAFECO's
original business and remains its largest operation. In addition, SAFECO
today engages in life and health insurance, surety, real estate investment
and management, commercial credit and asset management. SAFECO is
headquartered in Seattle, with regional offices in Redmond, Wash., Atlanta,
St. Louis, Denver and Fountain Valley, Calif.
Note to the Editors: President Boh Dickey's name is spelled B-O-H.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
Exhibit I Merger Agreement
Exhibit II Voting Agreement
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Page 5
Signature Page
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.
AMERICAN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas M. Ober
------------------
Thomas M. Ober
Secretary
Dated: June 17, 1997
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Exhibit I
================================================================================
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
DATED AS OF JUNE 6, 1997
BY AND AMONG
AMERICAN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
SAFECO CORPORATION
AND
ASFC ACQUISITION CO.
================================================================================
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE 2
THE MERGER
2.1 The Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2 Effective Time of the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3 Terms of the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.4 Effect of the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.5 Conversion or Cancellation of Shares in the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.6 Payment for Shares in the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.7 Status of Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.8 Closing of ASFC's Transfer Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2.9 No Further Ownership Rights in ASFC Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.10 No Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.11 Investment of Exchange Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ASFC
3.1 Corporate Existence and Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.2 Corporate Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.3 Governmental Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.4 Non-Contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.5 Capitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.6 All Assets Necessary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.7 Subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.8 Financial Statements; SEC Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.9 Absence of Certain Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.10 Material Liabilities; Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.11 Material Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.12 Non-Claims Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
3.13 Compliance with Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3.14 Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
</TABLE>
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3.15 Licenses and Permits; Policies; Regulatory Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3.16 ERISA Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
3.17 Environmental Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
3.18 Intercompany Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.19 No Representation with Respect to Reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.20 Intellectual Property; Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.21 Labor Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.22 Loans and Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.23 Proxy Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.24 No Other Broker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
3.25 Indiana Takeover Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
4.1 Corporate Existence and Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.2 Corporate Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.3 Governmental Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.4 Non-Contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.5 Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.6 No Actions; Suits or Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.7 No Other Broker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.8 Merger Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.9 Reports and Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.10 Proxy Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS OF ASFC
5.1 Conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
5.2 Access to Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
5.3 Notices of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5.4 No Solicitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5.5 Voting Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5.6 Confidentiality Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5.7 Meeting of ASFC Shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5.8 Supplements or Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
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ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS OF BUYER
6.1 Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.2 Indemnification and Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.3 Supplements or Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
6.4 Prepayment of Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
ARTICLE 7
COVENANTS OF BUYER AND ASFC
7.1 Reasonable Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
7.2 Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7.3 Trademarks; Trade Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7.4 Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.5 Proxy Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.6 Updating Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
ARTICLE 8
TAX MATTERS
8.1 Tax Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
8.2 Tax Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
8.3 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8.4 Survival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
ARTICLE 9
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
9.1 Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
9.2 Retirement Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
9.3 Group Health Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
9.4 Severance Arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
9.5 Nonqualified Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
9.6 Other Benefit Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9.7 Other Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
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ARTICLE 10
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
10.1 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer and ASFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
10.2 Conditions to Obligation of Buyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
10.3 Conditions to Obligation of ASFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
ARTICLE 11
SURVIVAL
11.1 Survival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
ARTICLE 12
TERMINATION
12.1 Grounds for Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
12.2 Effect of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
13.2 Amendments and Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
13.3 Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
13.4 Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
13.5 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
13.6 Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
13.7 Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
13.8 No Third Party Beneficiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
13.9 Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
13.10 Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
13.11 Specific Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
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EXHIBIT
Exhibit A Voting, Support and Indemnification Agreement
<TABLE>
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SCHEDULES
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Schedule 1.1(a) ASFC Options
Schedule 1.1(b) Incentive Letter Agreements
Schedule 1.1(c) Knowledge of ASFC
Schedule 1.1(d) Knowledge of Buyer
Schedule 3.3 Governmental Authorization
Schedule 3.4 Non-Contravention
Schedule 3.6 All Assets Necessary
Schedule 3.7 Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.9 Absence of Certain Changes
Schedule 3.9(x) Investment Policies
Schedule 3.10(a) Material Liabilities
Schedule 3.10(b) ASFC Investment Assets
Schedule 3.11 Material Contracts
Schedule 3.12 Non-Claims Litigation, Investigations and Proceedings
Schedule 3.13 Compliance with Laws
Schedule 3.15 License and Permits; Policies; Regulatory Matters
Schedule 3.16(a) Employee Plans
Schedule 3.16(c) Benefit Plan Compliance with Laws
Schedule 3.16(d) Benefit Arrangements
Schedule 3.16(g) Benefit Plan Funding; Penalties
Schedule 3.16(i) Accelerated Vesting; Prohibited Transactions; "Deemed Severance"
Schedule 3.18 Intercompany Accounts
Schedule 3.20 Software Licenses
Schedule 3.22 Loans and Advances
Schedule 4.3 Governmental Authorization
Schedule 4.4 Non-Contravention
Schedule 5.1 Conduct of ASFC
Schedule 8.1 Tax Representations
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER is made and entered into as of June
6, 1997, by and among American States Financial Corporation, an Indiana
corporation ("ASFC"), SAFECO Corporation, a Washington corporation ("Buyer"),
and ASFC Acquisition Co., an Indiana corporation ("Buyer Sub").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of ASFC, Buyer and Buyer
Sub have approved the taxable cash merger of Buyer Sub with and into ASFC (the
"Merger") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, ASFC, Buyer and Buyer Sub desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Lincoln
National Corporation, an Indiana corporation ("LNC"), and Buyer have entered
into a Voting, Support and Indemnification Agreement in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A (the "Voting Agreement");
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 DEFINITIONS. The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:
"ACQUISITION PROPOSAL" shall have the meaning specified in Section
5.4.
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"AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
such Person; provided that none of the Subsidiaries of ASFC shall be considered
an Affiliate of ASFC.
"AGREEMENT" means this Agreement and Plan of Merger, including the
schedules and exhibit hereto.
"ANNUAL STATEMENTS" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
"ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION" means the Restated Articles of
Incorporation of ASFC as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Indiana on March 14, 1996.
"ARTICLES OF MERGER" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.
"ASFC COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock, no par value, of ASFC.
"ASFC INVESTMENT ASSETS" means any investment assets (whether or not
required by GAAP or SAP to be reflected on a balance sheet) beneficially owned
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by ASFC or any
Subsidiary of ASFC, including but not limited to bonds, notes, debentures,
mortgage loans, collateral loans and all other instruments of indebtedness,
stocks, partnership or joint venture interests and all other equity interests,
certificates issued by or interests in trusts, derivatives and all other assets
acquired for investment purposes.
"ASFC OPTIONS" means the options identified on Schedule 1.1(a).
"ASFC PREFERRED STOCK" means the preferred stock, no par value, of
ASFC.
"ASFC SHAREHOLDERS' APPROVAL" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.7.
"ASFC SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.7.
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"ASFC SECURITIES" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.5.
"ASSUMED DEBT PREPAYMENT" shall have the meaning specified in Section
6.4.
"BALANCE SHEET DATE" means March 31, 1997.
"BENEFIT ARRANGEMENT" means any employment, severance or similar
contract, arrangement or policy, or any plan or arrangement (whether or not
written) to provide benefits as compensation for services rendered, including
but not limited to severance benefits, insurance coverage (including any
self-insured arrangements), workers' compensation, disability benefits,
supplemental unemployment benefits, vacation benefits, retirement benefits,
deferred compensation, profit-sharing, bonuses, executive compensation
arrangements (including but not limited to stock options, stock appreciation
rights, restricted stock rights and performance unit awards and other forms of
incentive compensation) or post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits
that (i) is not an Employee Plan, (ii) is entered into or maintained, as the
case may be, by ASFC or any of its ERISA Affiliates and (iii) covers any
present or former employee, director, agent or independent contractor of ASFC
or any of its Subsidiaries.
"BENEFIT PLAN" means any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement.
"BENEFITS CONTINUATION DATE" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9.5.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any
other day on which commercial banks in Indianapolis, Indiana or New York, New
York are required or permitted to be closed.
"BUYER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.9.
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"BUYER SEC REPORTS" means all reports (including but not limited to
definitive proxy statements), forms, schedules, registration statements and
other documents together with all amendments and supplements thereto which
Buyer has been required to file with the SEC since January 1, 1996.
"CATASTROPHE" means any event that is designated to be a "catastrophe"
by the Property Claims Service Division of the American Insurance Services
Group, Inc.
"CERTIFICATES" means one or more certificates that immediately prior
to the Effective Time represented outstanding Shares.
"CLAIMS PROVISION" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.19.
"CLOSING" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.
"CLOSING DATE" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT" means that certain Confidentiality
Agreement dated March 13, 1997, between ASFC and Buyer.
"CONSOLIDATED GROUP" means (i), with respect to Federal Taxes, the
affiliated group of corporations (as defined in Section 1504(a) of the Code
with due regard to Section 1504(c) of the Code) of which LNC (or any successor
or predecessor of LNC or any such successor or predecessor) and ASFC and its
Subsidiaries are members and (ii), with respect to state or local income or
franchise Taxes, any consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group of which
LNC (or any successor or predecessor of LNC or any such successor or
predecessor) and ASFC and its Subsidiaries are members.
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"CONSOLIDATED TAXES" means federal, state, local or foreign income or
franchise Taxes for which the Consolidated Group is liable for any Pre-Closing
Period (but in no event including any Taxes for which ASFC of any of ASFC's
Subsidiaries may be liable as "new T" (within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.338(h)(10) or any successor provision or any corresponding
provision of state or local law) as a consequence of any timely and irrevocable
elections jointly made by LNC and Buyer under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code
and any similar elections under any applicable state, local or foreign income
tax laws for ASFC and any domestic subsidiary of ASFC).
"CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS" means each of ASFC and Buyer Sub.
"D&O INSURANCE" shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.2.
"EFFECTIVE TIME" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.
"EMPLOYEE PLAN" means any "employee benefit plan," as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA, that (i) is subject to any provision of ERISA, (ii) is
maintained, administered or contributed to by ASFC or any of its ERISA
Affiliates and (iii) covers any employee or former employee of ASFC or any of
its Subsidiaries.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means any and all foreign, federal, state or
local statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules or codes now in effect
relating to the environment, to the effect of the environment on human health
or safety or to the use, generation, manufacturing, treatment, disposal,
storage, discharge or release of any toxic, radioactive, caustic or otherwise
hazardous substance, including petroleum and its derivatives and by-products,
or any substance having any constituent elements displaying any of the
foregoing characteristics, into the environment,
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including but not limited to ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land,
or the remediation thereof.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and any regulation or rule issued thereunder.
"ERISA AFFILIATE" of any entity means any other entity which, together
with such entity, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of
the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA and any partnership of which ASFC or any of
its Subsidiaries is or has been a general partner.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"EXCHANGE AGENT" means a bank or trust company selected by Buyer, and
reasonably satisfactory to ASFC, to effectuate the payment for Shares in the
Merger.
"EXCHANGE FUND" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6.
"FEDERAL TAX" means any Tax imposed under the Code.
"GAAP" means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
"GOVERNMENTAL BODY" means any federal, state, municipal, political
subdivision or other governmental legislature, court, tribunal, arbitrator,
authority, official, department, commission, board, bureau, agency or
instrumentality, whether domestic or foreign.
"HSR ACT" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.
"IBCL" means the Indiana Business Corporation Law, as amended.
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"INCENTIVE LETTER AGREEMENTS" means the separate letter agreements
dated April 1, 1997, between ASFC and each of the ASFC employees identified on
Schedule 1.1(b).
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" shall mean: trademarks, service marks, brand
names, certification marks, trade dress, assumed names, trade names and other
indications of origin, the goodwill associated with the foregoing and
registrations in any jurisdiction of, and applications in any jurisdiction to
register, the foregoing, including any extension, modification or renewal of
any such registration or application; inventions, discoveries and ideas,
whether patentable or not in any jurisdiction; patents, applications for
patents (including but not limited to divisions, continuations, continuations
in part and renewal applications), and any renewals, extensions or reissues
thereof, in any jurisdiction; nonpublic information, trade secrets and
confidential information and rights in any jurisdiction to limit the use or
disclosure thereof by any Person; writings and other works, whether
copyrightable or not in any jurisdiction; registrations or applications for
registration of copyrights in any jurisdiction, and any renewals or extensions
thereof; and any similar intellectual property or proprietary rights; provided,
that "Intellectual Property" shall not include Software.
"KNOWLEDGE OF ASFC" means the actual knowledge of the individuals
named on Schedule 1.1(c).
"KNOWLEDGE OF BUYER" means the actual knowledge of the individuals
named on Schedule 1.1(d).
"LAW" means any statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance of any
Governmental Body.
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"LIEN" means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance or other adverse claim of
any kind in respect of such property or asset. For the purposes of this
Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property or
asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or
lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title
retention agreement relating to such property or asset.
"LNC" shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means, with respect to any Person or
Persons, a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operations, business, assets or liabilities of such Person or Persons and its
or their Subsidiaries, taken as whole.
"MERGER" shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
"MERGER CONSIDERATION" shall have the meaning specified in Section
2.5.
"MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" means each Employee Plan that is a multiemployer
plan, as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
"OPTION" means any subscriptions, options, warrants, rights (including
"phantom" stock rights), preemptive rights or other contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements, including any right of conversion or exchange
under any outstanding security, instrument or agreement to issue or sell any
shares of capital stock of a corporation, or any securities exchangeable for or
exercisable into any such shares.
"ORDER" means any judgment, decree, order, writ, permit or license of
any Governmental Body.
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"PERMITS" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.15.
"PERMITTED INVESTMENTS" means short-term U.S. government obligations
or interest-bearing money market accounts that invest solely in such
obligations.
"PERSON" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association,
trust, limited liability company or other entity or organization, including a
government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
"PRE-CLOSING PERIOD" means any Tax period or portion thereof ending on
or before the Closing Date with respect to Consolidated Taxes.
"PRE-MARCH 31 TAX PERIOD" means any Tax period ending on or before
March 31, 1997 and the portion of calendar year 1997 ending on and including
March 31, 1997.
"PROXY STATEMENT" shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.5.
"REGULATORS" shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
"RETURNS" means all Tax returns, statements, reports, forms or other
documentation required to be filed with any Taxing Authority.
"SAP" means the accounting procedures and practices prescribed or
permitted from time to time by the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners and adopted, permitted or promulgated by the respective states of
incorporation of ASFC and its Subsidiaries and employed in a consistent manner
throughout the periods involved.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SEC REPORTS" means all forms, reports and documents filed by ASFC
with the SEC since January 1, 1996 and prior to the date hereof.
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"SERVICES AGREEMENT" means that certain Services Agreement effective
as of May 22, 1996, between LNC and ASFC.
"SHARES" means shares of ASFC Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time, after giving effect to the exercise or
cancellation of each ASFC Option pursuant to Section 2.7.
"SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENTS" shall have the meaning specified in Section
3.11.
"SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARY" has the meaning given to such term in Rule
1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
"SOFTWARE" shall mean all computer and telecommunication software
including source and object code and documentation and any other media
(including but not limited to manuals, journals and reference books).
"SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which
securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect
50% or more of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person.
"SUBSIDIARY SECURITIES" shall have the meaning specified in Section
3.7.
"SURVIVING CORPORATION COMMON STOCK" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 2.5.
"TAX" means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments,
including but not limited to any net income tax or franchise tax based on net
income, any alternative or add-on minimum taxes, any gross income, gross
receipts, premium, sales, use, ad valorem, value added,
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transfer, profits, license, social security, Medicare, payroll, employment,
excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property, environmental or windfall
profit tax, custom, duty or other tax, governmental fee or other like
assessment, together with any interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional
amount imposed by any Taxing Authority.
"TAX BENEFIT" means any item of deduction, credit, amortization,
exclusion from income, loss or other tax attribute.
"TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS" means the separate Tax Sharing Agreements
between or among LNC and each of (i) ASFC, dated August 22, 1996, (ii) American
States Insurance Company and American States Lloyds Insurance Company, dated
November 22, 1996, (iii) American States Insurance Company and Insurance
Company of Illinois, dated October 9, 1996, (iv) American States Insurance
Company and American States Life Insurance Company, dated August 22, 1996, (v)
American Economy Insurance Company and American States Insurance Company of
Texas, dated November 22, 1996, (vi) American States Insurance Company and
American States Preferred Insurance Company, dated August 22, 1996, (vii)
American States Insurance Company and American Economy Insurance Company, dated
August 22, 1996, (viii) ASFC and American States Insurance Company, dated
August 22, 1996, and (ix) American States Insurance Company and City Insurance
Agency, Inc., dated August 22, 1996, in each case applicable to the taxable
year ending December 31, 1997 and all other periods specified therein (and
applicable to any prior taxable period or periods, to the extent still in
effect), and the procedures and practices employed pursuant thereto or
reflected therein,
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including but not limited to all procedures and practices with respect to
alternative minimum taxes.
"TAXING AUTHORITY" means any governmental authority (domestic or
foreign) responsible for the imposition of any Tax.
"TERM NOTE PREPAYMENT" shall have the meaning specified in Section
6.4.
"TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES" shall have the meaning specified in Section
9.1.
"UNAUDITED MARCH BALANCE SHEET" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 3.8.
"VOTING AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
ARTICLE 2
THE MERGER
2.1 THE MERGER. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at
the Effective Time and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and
the applicable provisions of the IBCL, Buyer Sub shall be merged with and into
ASFC, and ASFC shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
Corporation"). Thereupon the separate corporate existence of Buyer Sub shall
cease, and the Surviving Corporation shall continue in existence under the laws
of the State of Indiana.
2.2 EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER. On or prior to the Closing
Date, the Merger shall be consummated by filing with the Secretary of State of
the State of Indiana, as provided in Section 23-1-40-5 of the IBCL, the
articles of merger, in such form as is required by and
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executed in accordance with Section 23-1-18-1 of the IBCL and satisfactory to
the parties hereto (the "Articles of Merger"), on behalf of the Constituent
Corporations. The Merger shall become effective at the time of filing or at
such later time as shall be specified in the Articles of Merger (the "Effective
Time"). Prior to such filing, a closing (the "Closing") shall be held at the
offices of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, L.L.P., 1275 Pennsylvania Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004, or such other place as the parties may agree, on
a date set by Buyer (the "Closing Date"), which date shall be within ten
Business Days following the later of (i) the date of the ASFC Shareholders'
Approval and (ii) the date upon which all conditions set forth in Article 10
hereof have been satisfied or waived.
2.3 TERMS OF THE MERGER. (a) The Articles of Merger shall provide
that, upon the filing thereof, the Articles of Incorporation of ASFC shall be
the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) The bylaws of Buyer Sub in effect at the Effective
Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until duly amended in
accordance with the terms thereof, of the articles of incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation and of the IBCL.
(c) The directors of Buyer Sub at the Effective Time
shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving
Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and
qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance
with the Surviving Corporation's articles of incorporation and bylaws.
(d) The officers of ASFC at the Effective Time shall,
from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation
until their successors have been duly
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elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or
removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's articles of
incorporation and bylaws.
2.4 EFFECT OF THE MERGER. Subject to the foregoing, the effects
of the Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of the IBCL.
2.5 CONVERSION OR CANCELLATION OF SHARES IN THE MERGER. Subject
to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the holders thereof, the shares of
the Constituent Corporations shall be converted or cancelled, as the case may
be, in the following manner:
(a) Each Share shall be converted into the right to receive,
without interest thereon, from Buyer forty-seven dollars and no cents ($47.00)
in cash (the "Merger Consideration").
(b) Each share of common stock, no par value, of Buyer Sub issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain
outstanding and be converted into one share of common stock, no par value, of
the Surviving Corporation ("Surviving Corporation Common Stock").
2.6 PAYMENT FOR SHARES IN THE MERGER. The manner of making
payment for and conversion of Shares in the Merger shall be as follows:
(a) At the Effective Time, Buyer shall deposit, or shall cause to
be deposited (the "Exchange Fund"), with or for the account of the Exchange
Agent, for the benefit of those Persons who immediately prior to the Effective
Time were the holders of Shares, cash in immediately available same-day funds
payable as Merger Consideration. The Exchange Agent
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shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, effect the payments of cash
provided for in Section 2.5 out of the Exchange Fund.
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall
mail to each holder of record of a Certificate (i) a form of letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificate shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the
Certificate to the Exchange Agent) and (ii) instructions for use in
surrendering the Certificate for payment therefor. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with such letter
of transmittal duly executed and any other required documents, the holder of
such Certificate shall be entitled to receive for each of the Shares
represented by such Certificate the Merger Consideration pursuant to this
Article 2, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled.
The payment of the Merger Consideration shall be made by corporate check mailed
within three Business Days after the surrender of such Certificate and the
submission of such letter of transmittal; provided, that any shareholder
holding in excess of 20% of the Shares shall be entitled to receive such
payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds not later than one
Business Day after such surrender and submission. Until so surrendered, the
Certificate shall represent solely the right to receive the cash with respect
to each of the Shares represented thereby. If any cash is to be paid to any
Person other than the Person to which the Certificate surrendered is
registered, it shall be a condition of such payment that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for
transfer and that the Person requesting such payment shall pay to the Exchange
Agent any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment to a Person
other than the registered holder of the
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Certificate surrendered, or shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange
Agent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.
(c) Any portion of the Exchange Fund which remains undistributed
to former shareholders of ASFC for 360 days after the Effective Time shall be
delivered to Buyer, upon demand of Buyer, and any former shareholders of ASFC
shall thereafter look only to Buyer for payment of their claim for the Merger
Consideration.
2.7 STATUS OF OPTIONS. Prior to the Closing Date, ASFC shall
cause the ASFC Options to be amended in the following respects: (i) each ASFC
Option, whether or not such ASFC Option is then exercisable, shall become fully
vested and exercisable as of the close of business on the Business Day
immediately preceding the Closing Date, (ii) each ASFC Option shall terminate
as of the Effective Time unless exercised prior to the Effective Time, and
(iii) each holder of an ASFC Option shall be deemed as of the Business Day
immediately prior to the Closing Date to have irrevocably exercised in full
such ASFC Option as of such Business Day by means of a "cashless" exercise
pursuant to which ASFC, when issuing shares of ASFC Common Stock on exercise,
will withhold from such issuance shares with an aggregate value (when valued at
$47.00 per share) equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate exercise price payable
upon such exercise, in lieu of the payment by the holder of such exercise price
in cash, and (ii) any applicable tax withholding. The amendment of ASFC
Options provided for in this Section 2.7 shall be conditional upon the
consummation of the Merger such that, in the event the Merger is not
consummated and this Agreement is terminated, the ASFC Options shall in all
respects revert to the terms in effect prior to the Business Day immediately
prior to the Closing Date and all
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notices of exercise deemed given pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall be null and
void. Other than payment of the Merger Consideration with respect to Shares
received upon the deemed exercise of ASFC Options, no payment, assumption or
conversion shall occur in the Merger with respect to the ASFC Options. All
Shares issued upon exercise of ASFC Options pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall
be deemed issued and outstanding at the Effective Time for purposes of the
Merger.
2.8 CLOSING OF ASFC'S TRANSFER BOOKS. The stock transfer books of
ASFC shall be closed at the close of business on the Business Day immediately
preceding the date of the Effective Time. In the event of a transfer of
ownership of ASFC Common Stock which is not registered in the transfer records
of ASFC, the Merger Consideration to be distributed pursuant to this Agreement
may be delivered to a transferee, if a Certificate is presented to the Exchange
Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such
transfer and by payment of any applicable stock transfer taxes. Buyer and the
Exchange Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the stock transfer books of ASFC
to establish the identity of those persons entitled to receive the Merger
Consideration specified in this Agreement for their shares of ASFC Common
Stock, which books shall be conclusive with respect to the ownership of such
shares. In the event of a dispute with respect to the ownership of any such
shares, the Surviving Corporation and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to
deposit any Merger Consideration represented thereby in escrow with an
independent party and thereafter be relieved with respect to any claims to such
Merger Consideration.
2.9 NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN ASFC COMMON STOCK. All Merger
Consideration issued upon surrender of a Certificate in accordance with the
terms hereof shall be
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deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to
such shares of ASFC Common Stock represented thereby, and there shall be no
further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of ASFC of shares
of ASFC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If,
after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided
in this Article 2.
2.10 NO LIABILITY. None of Buyer, the Surviving Corporation or the
Exchange Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any cash from the
Exchange Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable
abandoned property, escheat or similar law. If any Certificates shall not have
been surrendered prior to seven years after the Effective Time, any such cash,
dividends or distributions in respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent
permitted by Law or Order, become the property of Buyer, free and clear of all
claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
2.11 INVESTMENT OF EXCHANGE FUND. The Exchange Agent shall invest
any cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by Buyer, on a daily basis
in Permitted Investments. Any interest and other income resulting from such
investments shall be paid to Buyer upon termination of the Exchange Fund
pursuant to Section 2.6(c).
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ASFC
ASFC represents and warrants to Buyer as of the date hereof and as of
the Closing Date (but as of no other dates unless expressly so stated) that:
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3.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER. ASFC (i) has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the
State of Indiana, (ii) has all corporate powers required to carry on its
business as now conducted, (iii) has all material governmental licenses,
authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required to carry on its
business as now conducted and (iv) is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where such
qualification is necessary, except for those jurisdictions where failure to be
so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on ASFC. ASFC has heretofore delivered or made available to
Buyer true and complete copies of the respective articles of incorporation and
bylaws of ASFC and its Subsidiaries as in effect on the date hereof. Neither
ASFC nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of
its articles of incorporation or bylaws.
3.2 CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION. The execution, delivery and, subject
to the receipt of the approvals referred to in Section 3.3, performance by ASFC
of this Agreement are within ASFC's corporate powers and have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of ASFC. This
Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of ASFC,
enforceable against ASFC in accordance with its terms, subject to (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless
of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
3.3 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION. The execution, delivery and
performance by ASFC of this Agreement require no consent, approval or action
of, filing with or notice to any
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Governmental Body other than (i) compliance with any applicable requirements of
the HSR Act, (ii) approvals or filings under the insurance laws of the
jurisdictions set forth on Schedule 3.3, (iii) filings and notices not required
to be made or given until after the Closing Date, (iv) filings, at any time, of
tax returns, tax reports and tax information statements and (v) any such action
or filing as to which the failure to take or make such action or filing would
not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of ASFC
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct their businesses.
3.4 NON-CONTRAVENTION. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.4, the
execution, delivery and performance by ASFC of this Agreement do not and will
not (i) violate the articles of incorporation or bylaws of ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section
3.3, violate any applicable Law or Order, (iii) to the Knowledge of ASFC,
require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default
under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration
of any right or obligation of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries or to a loss of
any benefit to which ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled under, any
material agreement or other material instrument binding upon ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries or any material license, franchise, permit or other similar
authorization held by ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) to the Knowledge
of ASFC, result in the creation or imposition of any material Lien on any asset
of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries.
3.5 CAPITALIZATION. (a) The authorized capital stock of ASFC
consists of two hundred million (200,000,000) shares, consisting of one hundred
ninety-five million
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(195,000,000) shares of ASFC Common Stock and five million (5,000,000) shares
of ASFC Preferred Stock. As of the date hereof, (i) there are outstanding
60,050,515 shares of ASFC Common Stock, (ii) no shares of ASFC Preferred Stock
are outstanding, and (iii) no shares of capital stock of ASFC are held in
treasury.
(b) All outstanding shares of capital stock of ASFC have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as
set forth in Section 3.5(a) and except for the ASFC Options and unvested
options governed by the Incentive Letter Agreements, there are no outstanding
(i) shares of capital stock or voting securities of ASFC, (ii) securities of
ASFC convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting
securities of ASFC or (iii) options or other rights to acquire from ASFC, or
other obligations of ASFC to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting
securities of ASFC (the items in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to
collectively as the "ASFC Securities"). There are no outstanding obligations
of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any ASFC Securities.
3.6 ALL ASSETS NECESSARY. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6,
ASFC and its Subsidiaries own, lease or license all material property and
assets necessary to carry on their businesses and operations as presently
conducted, all such assets and properties (other than as Buyer and ASFC may
mutually agree) will be conveyed to Buyer at the Closing and will as of the
Closing permit Buyer to conduct such businesses and operations in the same
manner as such businesses and operations have been conducted prior to the
Closing.
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3.7 SUBSIDIARIES. (a) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.7, each
Subsidiary of ASFC has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly
existing as a corporation, partnership or association in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all
powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, permits,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.
Each Subsidiary of ASFC is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation or organization and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where
such qualification is necessary, or is duly licensed to do business as an
insurer and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where such licensing is
necessary, as the case may be, except for those jurisdictions where failure to
be so qualified or licensed, as the case may be, would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on ASFC. All Subsidiaries of
ASFC and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization are
identified on Schedule 3.7.
(b) All outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary of
ASFC have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable. As of the Closing Date, except as set forth in Schedule 3.7,
all of the outstanding capital stock of, and other voting securities or
ownership interests in, each Subsidiary of ASFC will be owned by ASFC, directly
or indirectly, free and clear of any Lien. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.7, there are no outstanding (i) securities of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other voting
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securities or ownership interests in any Subsidiary of ASFC or (ii) options or
other rights to acquire from ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries, or other
obligations of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock or
other voting securities or ownership interests in, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other voting
securities or ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of ASFC (the items in
clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to collectively as the "Subsidiary
Securities"). There are no outstanding obligations of ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding
Subsidiary Securities.
3.8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; SEC REPORTS. (a) The audited
consolidated balance sheet of ASFC and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995
and December 31, 1996 and the related consolidated statements of income and
cash flows for each of the years ended December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996
and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of ASFC and its Subsidiaries as of
March 31, 1997 (the "Unaudited March Balance Sheet") and the related
consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 1997,
respectively, previously delivered to Buyer, present fairly, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position of ASFC and its Subsidiaries as
of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations of ASFC and its
Subsidiaries for the periods then ended in conformity with GAAP consistently
applied (subject to normal year-end adjustments in the case of the unaudited
interim financial statements).
(b) The audited balance sheets of ASFC and the Subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1996, and the related statements of operations and statements of
cash flows for the year then ended, and their respective annual statements for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (the "Annual Statements") filed with
the insurance regulatory authorities in their respective jurisdictions of
domicile (collectively, the "Regulators"), copies of which have been delivered
to
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Buyer, fairly present in all material respects their respective statutory
financial conditions as of such date and the results of their respective
operations for the year then ended in conformity with SAP. The other
information contained in the Annual Statements fairly presents in all material
respects the information required to be contained therein in conformity with
SAP. The balance sheets of ASFC and its Subsidiaries in respect of any period
ending after December 31, 1996, and the related statements of operations and
statements of cash flows, which have been filed with Regulators, copies of
which have been delivered to Buyer, fairly present in all material respects
their respective statutory financial conditions as of such date and the results
of their respective operations for the period then ended in conformity with SAP
consistently applied.
(c) As of the date of the latest filing of an SEC Report, the SEC
Reports taken as a whole, including but not limited to any financial statements
or schedules included therein, did not 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, it being understood
that for purposes of this subparagraph (c) "material" is to be assessed in the
context of ASFC and all of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
3.9 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.9, during the period from the Balance Sheet Date to the date hereof, the
business of ASFC and its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course
consistent with past practices (including but not limited to with regard to
underwriting, pricing, actuarial and investment policies generally) and there
has not been:
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(i) any event, occurrence, development or state of
circumstances or facts which has had or would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on ASFC, other than (A) those affecting the property
and casualty insurance industry as a whole, (B) Catastrophes or (C) changes in
general economic conditions (including but not limited to changes in interest
rates);
(ii) a decline in ASFC's GAAP equity of more than 10%;
provided, that in determining whether the representation set forth in this
Section 3.9(ii) has been satisfied, changes in ASFC's GAAP equity after March
31, 1997 resulting from FAS 115 mark-to-market accounting shall be excluded
from the calculation of ASFC's GAAP equity on the date hereof;
(iii) other than the declaration or payment of ASFC's
regular quarterly dividend in an amount not in excess of $0.21 per share, any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution
with respect to any shares of capital stock of ASFC, or any repurchase,
redemption or other acquisition by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC of any
outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of, or other ownership
interests in, ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC;
(iv) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by ASFC or
any Subsidiary of ASFC of any indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the
ordinary course of business and in amounts and on terms consistent with past
practices;
(v) any transaction or commitment made, or any contract
or agreement entered into, by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC (including the
acquisition or disposition of any assets) or any relinquishment by ASFC or any
Subsidiary of ASFC of any contract or other
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right, other than transactions and commitments in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices;
(vi) any change in any method of accounting or accounting
practice or policy (including but not limited to any reserving method, practice
or policy) by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC, except for any such change (A) as
a result of a concurrent change in GAAP or SAP or (B) that is not material to
ASFC and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(vii) to the extent payable directly or indirectly by ASFC
or any Subsidiary of ASFC, other than the Incentive Letter Agreements, any (A)
employment, deferred compensation, severance, retirement or other similar
agreement entered into with any director, officer or employee of ASFC (or any
amendment to any such existing agreement), (B) grant of any severance or
termination pay to any director, officer or employee of ASFC other than in the
ordinary course of business, (C) change in compensation or other benefits
payable to any director, officer or employee of ASFC, other than changes in
base compensation and bonuses, and changes in benefits in accordance with plans
or arrangements in effect as of the Balance Sheet Date, in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice, or (D) loans or advances to any
directors, officers or employees, except in connection with transfer or for
ordinary travel and business expenses in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
(viii) to the Knowledge of ASFC, any transaction by ASFC or
any Subsidiary of ASFC involving ASFC Investment Assets other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
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(ix) (A) any entering into of any facultative reinsurance
contract, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (B) any commutation of any facultative reinsurance contract, or (C)
any entering into or any commutation of any reinsurance treaty, purchased by
any Subsidiary of ASFC;
(x) any investment made in ASFC Investment Assets other
than in accordance with the investment policies of ASFC or any Subsidiary of
ASFC set forth in Schedule 3.9(x); or
(xi) any agreement or commitment (contingent or otherwise)
by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC to do any of the foregoing.
3.10 MATERIAL LIABILITIES; INVESTMENTS. (a) To the Knowledge of
ASFC, there are no liabilities of ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC of any kind
whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or
otherwise, other than:
(i) liabilities provided for in the Unaudited March
Balance Sheet;
(ii) liabilities disclosed on Schedule 3.10(a);
(iii) liabilities incurred since the Balance Sheet Date in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and in amounts
and on terms consistent with past practice; and
(iv) other undisclosed liabilities that are not
individually or in the aggregate material to ASFC and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole.
(b) Schedule 3.10(b) describes in reasonable detail all ASFC
Investment Assets as of the Balance Sheet Date.
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3.11 MATERIAL CONTRACTS. (a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.11,
as of the date hereof, neither ASFC nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to
or bound by:
(i) any lease of real property where any of ASFC or its
Subsidiaries are tenants (A) providing for annual base rentals of $1,000,000 or
more, (B) expiring after December 31, 2002 or (C) where ASFC or any of its
Affiliates holds an equity interest in such real property;
(ii) any agreement for the purchase of materials,
supplies, goods, services, equipment or other assets, including any license for
Software, that provides for either (A) annual payments by ASFC or any
Subsidiary of ASFC of $1,000,000 or more or (B) aggregate required payments by
ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC of $5,000,000 or more;
(iii) any limited partnership, joint venture or other
unincorporated business organization or similar arrangement or agreement in
which ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC serves as a general partner or otherwise
has unlimited liability;
(iv) any agreement relating to the acquisition or
disposition of any business (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets
or otherwise);
(v) any agreement relating to indebtedness for borrowed
money or any guarantee or similar agreement or arrangement relating thereto,
other than (A) any guarantees issued in the ordinary course of the surety
business of ASFC and its Subsidiaries consistent with past practice and (B) any
such agreement with, or relating to, an aggregate outstanding principal amount
or guaranteed obligation not exceeding $10,000,000;
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(vi) any license, franchise or similar agreement material
to ASFC and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(vii) any agency, dealer, sales representative, marketing
or other similar agreement material to ASFC and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole;
(viii) any agreement that restricts or prohibits ASFC or any
Subsidiary of ASFC from competing with any Person in any line of business or
from competing in, engaging in or entering into any line of business in any
area and which would so restrict or prohibit ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC
after the Closing Date;
(ix) any reinsurance treaty or any facultative reinsurance
contract (in each case applicable to insurance in force), other than any such
treaty or contract entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice;
(x) any material agreement containing "change in control"
or similar provisions relating to change in control of ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(xi) any "stop loss" agreements, other than those entered
into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xii) any agreements (other than insurance policies or
other similar agreements issued by any Subsidiary of ASFC in the ordinary
course of its business) material to ASFC and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole
pursuant to which ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC is obligated to indemnify any
other Person; or
(xiii) any agreement with ASFC or any of its Affiliates.
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(b) ASFC has heretofore furnished or made available to Buyer
complete and correct copies of the contracts, agreements and instruments listed
on Schedule 3.11, each as amended or modified to the date hereof, including any
waivers with respect thereto (the "Significant Agreements"). Except as
specifically disclosed on Schedule 3.11, and except to the extent not material
to ASFC and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole: (i) each of the Significant
Agreements is in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating
to or affecting creditors' rights generally and the rights of creditors of
insurance companies generally and (B) general principles of equity (regardless
of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); (ii) neither ASFC
nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice (written or oral) of
cancellation or termination of, or any expression or indication of an intention
or desire to cancel or terminate, any of the Significant Agreements; (iii) no
Significant Agreement is the subject of, or, to the Knowledge of ASFC, has been
threatened to be made the subject of, any arbitration, suit or other legal
proceeding; and (iv) there exists no material event of default or occurrence,
condition or act on the part of ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC which
constitutes or would constitute (with notice or lapse of time or both) a
material breach of or material default under any of the Significant Agreements.
3.12 NON-CLAIMS LITIGATION. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12
and except for any action, suit, investigation or proceeding that involves a
claim under any insurance, reinsurance or indemnity policy, fidelity bond,
surety bond or similar contract or undertaking issued or entered into by ASFC
or any Subsidiary of ASFC, there is no action, suit, investigation or
proceeding
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pending against, or, to the Knowledge of ASFC, threatened against, or affecting
the properties of, ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC or any of their respective
properties before any Governmental Body, and to the Knowledge of ASFC, there is
no reasonable basis for any such claim in which the actual damages alleged or
sought exceeds $1,000,000. As of the date hereof and as of no other date,
there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to
the Knowledge of ASFC, threatened against, or affecting the properties of, ASFC
or any Subsidiary of ASFC or any of their respective properties before any
Governmental Body which challenges or seeks to prevent the transactions
contemplated hereby. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.12, neither ASFC nor
any Subsidiary of ASFC nor any of their respective properties is subject to any
material Order which would prevent or delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
3.13 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.13,
ASFC and its Subsidiaries are and have at all times since January 1, 1996 been
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable material Laws.
3.14 PROPERTIES. ASFC and its Subsidiaries have good title to, or
in the case of leased property have valid leasehold interests in, all of their
respective properties and assets (whether real or personal, tangible or
intangible) except for imperfections in title or invalidities in leasehold
interests that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially detract
from the value reflected on the Unaudited March Balance Sheet. None of such
properties or assets is subject to any Liens, except:
(i) Liens reflected on the Unaudited March Balance Sheet;
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(ii) Liens for taxes not yet due or being contested in
good faith (and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established
on the Unaudited March Balance Sheet); and
(iii) Liens which do not, individually or in the aggregate,
materially detract from the value reflected on the Unaudited March Balance
Sheet or materially interfere with any present or intended use of any material
properties or assets.
3.15 LICENSES AND PERMITS; POLICIES; REGULATORY MATTERS. Except as
set forth on Schedule 3.15, ASFC and its Subsidiaries hold all material
licenses, franchises, permits or other similar authorizations (the "Permits")
necessary for the ownership and conduct of the respective businesses of ASFC
and its Subsidiaries in each of the jurisdictions in which ASFC and its
Subsidiaries conduct or operate their respective businesses in the manner now
conducted, and such Permits are in full force and effect except where any
failure to hold any Permit or any failure of any Permit to be in full force and
effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the
ability of ASFC and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct their
businesses. No material violations exist in respect of any material Permit of
ASFC and its Subsidiaries, and no proceeding or investigation is pending or, to
the Knowledge of ASFC, threatened, that would be reasonably likely to result in
the suspension, revocation or material limitation or restriction of any
material Permit and, to the Knowledge of ASFC, there is no reasonable basis for
the assertion of any such violation or the institution of any such proceeding.
All insurance policies issued by any Subsidiary of ASFC, as now in force are,
to the extent required under applicable law, in a form acceptable to applicable
regulatory authorities to the Knowledge of ASFC, or have been filed with and
not objected to by such authorities within the
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period provided for such objection. ASFC and each Subsidiary of ASFC has
filed, all material reports, statements, documents, registrations, filings or
submissions required to be filed by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC,
respectively, with any applicable federal, state or local regulatory
authorities, including but not limited to state insurance regulatory
authorities. All such reports, statements, documents, registrations, filings
and submissions complied in all material respects with applicable law in effect
when filed and, except as set forth on Schedule 3.15, no material deficiencies
have been asserted by any such regulatory authority with respect to such
reports, statements, documents, registrations, filings or submissions that have
not been satisfied. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15, all premium rates,
rating plans and policy forms established or used by any Subsidiary of ASFC
that are required to be filed with or approved by insurance regulatory
authorities have been so filed or approved, the premiums charged conform in all
material respects to the premiums so filed or approved and comply in all
material respects with the insurance laws applicable thereto.
3.16 ERISA REPRESENTATIONS. (a) Schedule 3.16(a) identifies each
Employee Plan. ASFC has furnished or made available to Buyer copies of the
Employee Plans, summary plan descriptions and, if applicable, related trust
agreements, and all amendments thereto, together with (i) the most recent
annual report prepared in connection with any Employee Plan (Form 5500
including, if applicable, Schedule B thereto) and (ii) the most recent
actuarial valuation report prepared in connection with any Employee Plan.
(b) There is no accumulated funding deficiency, whether or not
waived, within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code,
with respect to any pension plan
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of ASFC or any ERISA Affiliate of ASFC. Neither ASFC nor any ERISA Affiliate
of ASFC has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur prior to the Closing Date,
any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than a liability for premiums
under Section 4007 of ERISA) that will not be satisfied in full as of the
Closing Date. No Employee Plan is a Multiemployer Plan.
(c) Except as described in Schedule 3.16(c), each Employee Plan
has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and with the
requirements prescribed by any and all applicable Laws, including but not
limited to ERISA and the Code.
(d) Schedule 3.16(d) identifies each Benefit Arrangement. ASFC
has furnished or made available to Buyer copies or descriptions of each Benefit
Arrangement. Each Benefit Arrangement has been maintained in substantial
compliance with its terms and with the requirements prescribed by any and all
applicable Laws.
(e) Each Employee Plan that is a "group health plan" (as defined
in Section 4980B of the Code) has been operated in material compliance with
Section 4980B of the Code at all times.
(f) With respect to any Employee Plan that provides disability
benefits, the amounts accrued on the March Unaudited Balance Sheets in
accordance with FAS 112 are reasonably expected to be sufficient to pay all
future obligations to the Transferred Employees who are disabled as of the
Balance Sheet Date.
(g) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.16(g), (i) ASFC and each of
its Subsidiaries has made full and timely payment of all amounts required to be
contributed under the terms of each Benefit Plan and applicable Law, or
required to be paid as expenses under such Benefit Plan, and
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(ii) no excise or penalty taxes are assessable as a result of a nondeductible
or other contribution made or not made to any Benefit Plan.
(h) Other than claims for benefits arising in the ordinary course
of the administration and operation of the Benefit Plans, no claims,
investigations, or arbitrations are pending or threatened against any Benefit
Plan, or ASFC, any Subsidiary of ASFC, any trustee, fiduciary, custodian,
administrator, or other person or entity holding or controlling assets of any
Benefit Plan in connection with such Benefit Plan, and no basis to anticipate
any such claim or claims exists.
(i) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.16(i) and as expressly
provided in Section 2.7, neither the execution of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (i)
accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount, of
compensation or benefits due under any Benefit Plan, (ii) constitute or result
in a prohibited transaction with respect to any Benefit Plan under Section 4975
of the Code or Section 406 or 407 of ERISA for which an exemption is not
available, or (iii) constitute a "deemed severance" or "deemed termination"
under any Benefit Plan or with respect to any Benefit Plan under any applicable
Law.
(j) Under each Employee Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, as of
the last day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date hereof, the
actuarially determined present value of all "benefit liabilities," within the
meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA (as determined on the basis of the
actuarial assumptions in such Employee Plan's most recent actuarial valuation),
did not exceed the then-current value of the assets of such Employee Plan.
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3.17 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on ASFC: (i) ASFC and its
Subsidiaries are each in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(ii) ASFC and its Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals
required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance
with their respective requirements; (iii) to the Knowledge of ASFC, there are
no pending or overtly threatened claims against ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries
alleging a violation of Environmental Laws; and (iv) to the knowledge of ASFC,
under applicable law, there are no circumstances with respect to any property
or operations of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries that are reasonably likely to
form the basis of a claim against ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries alleging a
material violation of Environmental Laws. No representation in this Section
3.17 is intended to imply any representation as to any obligation or liability
that ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have in connection with, as a
result of or arising out of any insurance or reinsurance or indemnity policy,
surety bond or similar contract or undertaking issued or entered into by ASFC
or any Subsidiary of ASFC in the ordinary course of business.
3.18 INTERCOMPANY ACCOUNTS. Schedule 3.18 contains a complete list
of all intercompany balances as of the Balance Sheet Date between any Affiliate
of ASFC, on the one hand, and ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC, on the other
hand. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.18, since the Balance Sheet Date,
there has not been any incurrence or accrual of liability (as a result of
allocations or otherwise) by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC to any Affiliate of
ASFC or other transaction between ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC and any
Affiliate of ASFC,
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except (i) in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice
or (ii) as contemplated by this Agreement.
3.19 NO REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO RESERVES. Buyer
acknowledges that ASFC makes no representation or warranty hereunder that the
liabilities for unpaid claims and claim expenses, whether reported or incurred
but not reported, of ASFC and its Subsidiaries (the "Claims Provision") are
adequate or sufficient.
3.20 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; SOFTWARE. (a) ASFC and its
Subsidiaries own or otherwise have rights to use (in each case, free and clear
of any material Liens or other material limitations or restrictions) all
Intellectual Property used in their respective businesses as currently
conducted; the use of any Intellectual Property by ASFC and its Subsidiaries
does not infringe on or otherwise violate the rights of any Person; and, to the
Knowledge of ASFC, no person is challenging, infringing on or otherwise
violating any right of ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC with respect to any
Intellectual Property owned by and/or licensed to ASFC and its Subsidiaries.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.20, (i) ASFC and its
Subsidiaries own or have valid and enforceable licenses or other rights to use
(in each case, free and clear of any material Liens or other material
limitations or restrictions) all Software used in the conduct of their
respective businesses as currently conducted, (ii) the use of the Software by
ASFC and its Subsidiaries does not infringe on or otherwise violate the rights
of any person, and (iii) to the Knowledge of ASFC, no person is challenging,
infringing on or otherwise violating any right of ASFC or any Subsidiary of
ASFC with respect to any Software used by ASFC and its Subsidiaries.
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3.21 LABOR MATTERS. Neither ASFC nor any Subsidiary of ASFC is a
party to any collective bargaining or other labor union contract, and no
collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated by ASFC or any Subsidiary
of ASFC. To the Knowledge of ASFC, there are no material activities or
proceedings of any labor union to organize any employees of ASFC or any
Subsidiary of ASFC. There is no material labor dispute, strike or work
stoppage against ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC pending or, to the Knowledge of
ASFC, threatened which may interfere with the respective business activities of
ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries.
3.22 LOANS AND ADVANCES. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.22,
other than in the ordinary course of its portfolio investment activities,
neither ASFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has any contractual commitment to make
any loan, advance or capital contribution to, or investment in, any other
Person in excess of $250,000.
3.23 PROXY STATEMENT. (a) Neither the Proxy Statement as amended
or supplemented from time to time nor any other document to be filed by ASFC
with the SEC or any self-regulatory organization in connection with the Merger
will, on the date of its filing, at the time it is mailed to shareholders, at
the time of the ASFC Shareholders' Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading insofar as the information therein relates to ASFC.
(b) Neither the information supplied or to be supplied by or on
behalf of ASFC for inclusion, nor the information incorporated by reference
from documents filed by ASFC with the
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SEC, in any document to be filed by Buyer with the SEC or any self-regulatory
organization in connection with the Merger will, on the date of its filing or
effectiveness, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading.
3.24 NO OTHER BROKER. Other than Goldman, Sachs & Co., no broker,
finder or similar intermediary has acted for or on behalf of ASFC in connection
with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and no other
broker, finder, agent or similar intermediary is entitled to any brokers',
finders' or similar fee or other commission in connection therewith based on
any agreement, arrangement or understanding with ASFC or any action taken by
ASFC.
3.25 INDIANA TAKEOVER LAWS. ASFC has taken all steps necessary to
exempt irrevocably (i) the execution of this Agreement and the Voting
Agreement, (ii) the Merger and (iii) the transactions contemplated hereby from
(y) any statute of the State of Indiana that purports to limit or restrict
business combinations or the ability to acquire or to vote shares and (z) any
applicable charter or contractual provision containing change of control or
anti-takeover provisions.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer and Buyer Sub represent and warrant to ASFC as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date (but as of no other dates unless expressly so
stated) that:
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4.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER. Buyer has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of Washington and has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required
to carry on its business as now conducted. Buyer Sub has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of
Indiana. Buyer and Buyer Sub have heretofore delivered or will deliver to ASFC
true and complete copies of their respective articles of incorporation and
bylaws as in effect on the date hereof.
4.2 CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION. The execution, delivery and, subject
to the receipt of the approvals referred to in Section 4.3, performance by each
of Buyer and Buyer Sub of this Agreement are within the corporate powers of
Buyer and Buyer Sub and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of Buyer and Buyer Sub. This Agreement constitutes a valid
and legally binding agreement of Buyer and Buyer Sub, enforceable against Buyer
or Buyer Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
4.3 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION. The execution, delivery and
performance by Buyer and Buyer Sub of this Agreement require no consent,
approval or action of, filing with or notice to any Governmental Body other
than (i) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act, (ii)
approvals or filings under the insurance laws of the jurisdictions set forth in
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Schedule 4.3, (iii) filings and notices not required to be made or given until
after the Closing Date and (iv) filings, at any time, of tax returns, tax
reports and tax information statements.
4.4 NON-CONTRAVENTION. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.4, the
execution, delivery and performance by Buyer and Buyer Sub of this Agreement do
not and will not (i) violate the articles of incorporation or bylaws of Buyer
or Buyer Sub, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section
4.3, violate any applicable Law or Order, (iii) to the Knowledge of Buyer,
require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default
under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration
of any right or obligation of Buyer or Buyer Sub or to a loss of any benefit to
which Buyer or Buyer Sub is entitled under, any material agreement or other
instrument binding upon Buyer or Buyer Sub or any material license, franchise,
permit or other similar authorization held by Buyer or Buyer Sub or (iv) to the
Knowledge of Buyer, result in the creation or imposition of any material Lien
on any asset of Buyer or Buyer Sub.
4.5 FINANCING. Buyer has, or will have prior to the Closing,
sufficient cash, available lines of credit or other sources of immediately
available funds to enable it to make payment of the Merger Consideration, the
Assumed Debt Prepayment, the Term Note Prepayment and any other amounts to be
paid by it hereunder.
4.6 NO ACTIONS; SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS. There is no pending action,
suit or proceeding, nor, to the Knowledge of Buyer, has any litigation been
overtly threatened in writing or, if probable of assertion, orally, against
Buyer or Buyer Sub before any Governmental Body which questions the validity or
legality of this Agreement or of the transactions contemplated
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hereby, or which seeks to prevent the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
4.7 NO OTHER BROKER. Other than Smith Barney Inc., no broker,
finder or similar intermediary has acted for or on behalf of Buyer or Buyer Sub
in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and
no other broker, finder, agent or similar intermediary is entitled to any
brokers', finders' or similar fee or other commission in connection therewith
based on any agreement, arrangement or understanding with Buyer or Buyer Sub or
any action taken by Buyer or Buyer Sub.
4.8 MERGER SUBSIDIARY. Buyer Sub has engaged and until the
Effective Time will engage in no business and has, and at the Effective Time
will have, no liabilities, in each case, other than by reason of this
Agreement.
4.9 REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Buyer has filed with the
SEC all Buyer SEC Reports and has made available to ASFC true and complete
copies of all Buyer SEC Reports. As of their respective dates, the Buyer SEC
Reports did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited
interim consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, the notes,
if any, thereto) included in the Buyer SEC Reports (the "Buyer Financial
Statements") fairly present (subject, in the case of the unaudited interim
financial statements, to normal, recurring year-end audit adjustments which are
not expected, individually or in the aggregate, to be material or to result in
a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer)
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the consolidated financial position of Buyer and its consolidated subsidiaries
as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of their
operations and cash flows for the respective periods then ended, in each case,
in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. Each Significant Subsidiary of
Buyer is treated as a consolidated subsidiary of Buyer in the Buyer Financial
Statements for all periods covered thereby.
4.10 PROXY STATEMENT. Neither the information supplied or to be
supplied by or on behalf of Buyer for inclusion, nor the information
incorporated by reference from documents filed by Buyer with the SEC, in the
Proxy Statement or any other document to be filed by ASFC with the SEC or any
self-regulatory organization in connection with the Merger will, on the date of
its filing or effectiveness, at the time it is mailed to shareholders, at the
time of the ASFC Shareholders' Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS OF ASFC
ASFC agrees that:
5.1 CONDUCT. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, during the period from the date hereof to the Closing, ASFC will,
and will cause its Subsidiaries to: (i) conduct their respective operations
according to their ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
(including but not limited to with regard to underwriting, pricing, actuarial
and
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investment policies generally); (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to
preserve intact their respective business organizations; (iii) generally keep
available the services of their respective officers and employees; and (iv)
generally maintain existing relationships with agents, licensors, licensees,
suppliers, contractors, distributors, customers and others having business
relationships with them. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and
except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or as set forth in
Schedule 5.1, ASFC will not, and will cause each Subsidiary of ASFC not to,
without the prior written consent of Buyer:
(i) amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws;
(ii) except for any employer contribution made pursuant to the
American States Financial Corporation Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing
Plan, authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver or agree or commit to issue,
sell or deliver (whether through the issuance or granting of options, warrants,
commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase or otherwise) any stock of any
class or any other securities or equity equivalents (including but not limited
to stock appreciation rights), or amend any of the terms of any such securities
or agreements outstanding as of the date hereof;
(iii) (A) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital
stock, (B) other than the declaration or payment of ASFC's regular quarterly
dividend in an amount not in excess of $0.21 per share, declare, set aside or
pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or
any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, or (C) redeem,
repurchase or otherwise acquire any of its securities;
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(iv) (A) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money (except for
short-term indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice pursuant to existing lines of credit or extensions or
renewals thereof) or issue any debt securities or, except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, assume, guarantee or endorse
the obligations of any other Person; (B) make any loans, advances or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other Person, in excess of $250,000
(other than (w) investments made to replace investments governed by a
participation agreement between ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC, on the one
hand, and any Affiliate of ASFC, on the other hand, (x) to wholly owned
Subsidiaries of ASFC, (y) investments in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice or (z) loans to agents in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice not exceeding $250,000 aggregate
principal amount to any one agent or $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount to
all agents); (C) pledge or otherwise encumber shares of its capital stock; (D)
enter into or invest in any derivative financial instruments except in the
ordinary course of business consistent with current investment and risk
management policies; or (E) except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, mortgage or pledge any of its assets, tangible
or intangible, or create or suffer to exist any Lien thereupon;
(v) to the extent payable directly or indirectly by ASFC or any
Subsidiary of ASFC: enter into, adopt or (except as may be required by law or
the terms of any such arrangement) terminate any bonus, profit sharing,
compensation, severance, termination, stock option, stock appreciation right,
restricted stock, performance unit, stock equivalent, stock purchase agreement,
pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment, severance or other
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employee benefit agreement, trust, plan, fund or other arrangement for the
benefit or welfare of any director, officer or employee of ASFC, amend any such
arrangement as it relates to such directors, officers or employees or (except
for changes in base compensation and bonuses, and changes in benefits in
accordance with plans or arrangements in effect as of the date hereof, in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) change in any manner
the compensation or other benefits payable to any director, officer or employee
of ASFC; provided that Buyer agrees it will not unreasonably withhold its
consent, if requested by ASFC, to transactions governed by this paragraph (v);
(vi) acquire, sell, lease or dispose of any assets outside the
ordinary course of business or any assets which in the aggregate are material
to ASFC and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or enter into any contract,
agreement, commitment or transaction with respect thereto outside the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;
(vii) change any of the accounting principles, practices, methods or
policies (including but not limited to any reserving methods, practices or
policies) used by it, except as may be required as a result of a change in law,
SEC guidelines, GAAP or SAP;
(viii) change the method of determining the GAAP reserves for any
guaranty fund assessment, second injury fund assessment, special insurance
assessment or similar assessment or tax;
(ix) (A) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock
or assets, but excluding foreclosure) any corporation, partnership or other
business organization or division thereof; (B) authorize any new capital
expenditures which, in the aggregate, are in excess of
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$5,000,000; or (C) enter into or amend any contract, agreement, commitment or
arrangement with respect to any of the foregoing;
(x) pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims, liabilities or
obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or in accordance with their
terms of liabilities reflected or reserved against in the consolidated
financial statements (or the notes thereto) of ASFC and its Subsidiaries or
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xi) terminate, or in any manner material thereto modify, amend or
waive compliance with, any provision of any of the Significant Agreements;
(xii) (A) enter into any facultative reinsurance contract, other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (B)
commute any facultative reinsurance contract (provided that Buyer will not
unreasonably withhold its consent to any of the transactions specified in the
foregoing clauses (A) and (B)); or (C) without giving Buyer at least ten
Business Days' prior written notice thereof, enter into or commute any
reinsurance treaty, purchased by any subsidiary of ASFC;
(xiii) make any investment in ASFC Investment Assets other than in
accordance with ASFC's current investment policies;
(xiv) except to the extent permitted by paragraphs (i) through
(xiii) above, enter into any agreement of the type described in Section
3.11(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (vi), (vii), (viii), (x), (xi) or (xii); or
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(xv) take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described above in this Section 5.1.
5.2 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. From the date hereof until the Closing
Date, subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, any applicable
contractual restrictions and applicable legal privileges, and to the extent
applicable law would not thereby be violated, ASFC will (i) give, and will
cause its Subsidiaries to give, to Buyer and its counsel, financial advisors,
auditors and other authorized representatives full access, upon reasonable
prior notice and during normal business hours, to the offices, properties,
books and records of ASFC and each of its Subsidiaries, (ii) furnish, and will
cause its Subsidiaries to furnish, to Buyer and its counsel, financial
advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives such financial and
operating data and other information relating to ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries as such Persons may reasonably request and (iii) instruct the
employees, counsel and financial advisors of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries to
cooperate with Buyer in its investigation of ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries;
provided that this Section 5.2 shall not obligate ASFC to provide or make
available to Buyer any employee medical records; provided, further, that to the
extent contractual restrictions limit ASFC's ability to take any of the actions
set forth in this Section 5.2, ASFC shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain any necessary contractual consent or accommodate any reasonable
request by Buyer with respect to such action by alternative means; and
provided, further, that to the extent applicable legal privileges or applicable
laws limit ASFC's ability to take any of the actions set forth in this Section
5.2, ASFC shall use
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commercially reasonable efforts to accommodate any reasonable request by Buyer
with respect to such action by alternative means.
5.3 NOTICES OF CERTAIN EVENTS. ASFC shall promptly notify Buyer
of any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings commenced or, to
the Knowledge of ASFC, threatened against, relating to or involving or
otherwise affecting ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC that, if pending on the date
of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to
Section 3.12 or that relate to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
5.4 NO SOLICITATION. ASFC will immediately cease any existing
discussions or negotiations with any third parties conducted prior to the date
hereof with respect to any Acquisition Proposal (as defined below). ASFC shall
not, directly or indirectly, through any officer, director, employee,
representative or agent or any of its Subsidiaries, (i) solicit, initiate or
encourage any inquiries or proposals that constitute, or would lead to, a
proposal or offer for a merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of
substantial assets, sale of a substantial percentage of shares of capital stock
or similar transactions involving ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries, other than
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (any of the foregoing inquiries
or proposals being referred to in this Agreement as an "Acquisition Proposal"),
(ii) subject to proper exercise of fiduciary duties, engage in negotiations or
discussions concerning or provide any nonpublic information to any person or
entity relating to, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) agree to or approve any
Acquisition Proposal.
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5.5 VOTING AGREEMENT. ASFC shall take no action which will result
in termination, amendment, waiver or modification of any provision of or
otherwise interfere with or frustrate the purpose of the Voting Agreement.
5.6 CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS. ASFC agrees that, without Buyer's
consent, after the date hereof and until the expiration of such agreements, it
will not terminate, amend, waive or modify any provision of any confidentiality
agreement pursuant to which information was provided to any Person (other than
Buyer) with respect to ASFC or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses
and operations. ASFC shall, at Buyer's expense, take all action reasonably
requested by Buyer to enforce the terms of each such confidentiality agreement.
5.7 MEETING OF ASFC SHAREHOLDERS. ASFC agrees that (i) ASFC will
take all action necessary in accordance with applicable law and its Articles of
Incorporation and bylaws to convene a meeting of its shareholders (the "ASFC
Shareholders' Meeting") as promptly as practicable to consider and vote upon
the approval of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the
"ASFC Shareholders' Approval"), (ii) subject to proper exercise of the board's
fiduciary duties, the board of directors of ASFC shall recommend and declare
advisable such approval and shall not modify or revoke such recommendation and
declaration, and (iii) subject to proper exercise by the board of its fiduciary
duties, ASFC shall take all lawful action to solicit, and use all reasonable
efforts to obtain, such approval.
5.8 SUPPLEMENTS OR AMENDMENTS. If, at any time prior to the ASFC
Shareholders' Meeting, any event with respect to ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers and directors should occur
which is required to be described in an amendment of, or a
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supplement to, the Proxy Statement, ASFC shall notify Buyer thereof by
reference to this Section 5.8 and such event shall be so described, and such
amendment or supplement shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, as required
by law, disseminated to shareholders of ASFC. Such amendment or supplement
shall comply with all provisions of applicable law. If, at any time prior to
the Effective Time, ASFC or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
officers or directors becomes aware of any fact or condition that would cause
any material statement in the Proxy Statement to have been untrue or would
cause the Proxy Statement to omit to state a material fact required to have
been stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, ASFC
shall promptly notify Buyer in writing of such fact or condition.
ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS OF BUYER
Buyer agrees that:
6.1 CONFIDENTIALITY. All information provided to Buyer or any of
the Persons referred to in Section 5.2 will be treated as if provided under the
Confidentiality Agreement.
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE. (a) Buyer and Buyer Sub agree
that all rights to indemnification and exculpation from liability for acts or
omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of the
current or former directors, officers or employees of ASFC and its
Subsidiaries, as provided in their respective articles of incorporation or
bylaws or in indemnification agreements to which any of them is a party and
which have been made
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available to Buyer prior to the date hereof, shall survive the Effective Time
and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective
terms for a period of not less than six (6) years after the Effective Time. As
of the Effective Time, Buyer shall, without any further action, be liable for
all obligations of ASFC and its Subsidiaries with respect to such
indemnification and exculpation from liability as are provided for in this
Section 6.2.
(b) Buyer shall cause to be maintained, for a period of not
less than six (6) years after the Effective Time, all of ASFC's and its
Subsidiaries' current directors' and officers' insurance and indemnification
policies to the extent that such policies provide coverage for events occurring
prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the "D&O Insurance") for all current
or former directors, officers or employees of ASFC or its Subsidiaries;
provided, however, that Buyer may, in lieu of maintaining such existing D&O
Insurance as provided above, and shall, if the existing D&O Insurance expires
or is terminated or cancelled during such six (6) year period, cause comparable
coverage to be provided under any policy maintained for the benefit of the
directors, officers and employees of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries; and
provided, further, that (i) the issuer thereof shall have a claims-paying
rating at least equal to the issuer of the existing D&O Insurance; and (ii) the
terms thereof shall be no less advantageous to the directors, officers and
employees of ASFC and its Subsidiaries than the existing D&O Insurance.
6.3 SUPPLEMENTS OR AMENDMENTS. If, at any time prior to the ASFC
Shareholders' Meeting, any event with respect to Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers and directors should occur
which is required to be described in an amendment of, or a supplement to, the
Proxy Statement, Buyer shall notify ASFC thereof by reference to this Section
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6.3 and such event shall be so described, and such amendment or supplement
shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, as required by law, disseminated to
shareholders of ASFC. Such amendment or supplement shall comply with all
provisions of applicable law. If, at any time prior to the Effective Time,
Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or
directors becomes aware of any fact or condition that would cause any material
statement in the Proxy Statement to have been untrue or would cause the Proxy
Statement to omit to state a material fact required to have been stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, Buyer shall promptly
notify ASFC in writing of such fact or condition.
6.4 PREPAYMENT OF DEBT. Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time, (i) Buyer shall pay $100 million plus an
amount equal to the accrued but unpaid interest on the outstanding 7 1/8% notes
due July 15, 1999, originally issued to the public by LNC on July 15, 1992 (the
"Assumed Debt Prepayment"), to LNC in consideration of the termination by LNC
of that certain Assumption Agreement dated May 16, 1996, between LNC and ASFC,
and (ii) Buyer shall pay the outstanding principal balance of, plus accrued but
unpaid interest on, that certain Term Note due August 15, 1999, issued by ASFC
to LNC on May 16, 1996 (the "Term Note Prepayment"), to LNC in consideration of
the surrender of such Term Note by LNC to ASFC for cancellation.
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ARTICLE 7
COVENANTS OF BUYER AND ASFC
Buyer and ASFC agree that:
7.1 REASONABLE EFFORTS. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, Buyer and ASFC will use their reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things
reasonably necessary or desirable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Buyer and ASFC
will promptly, and in any event within 30 days of the date hereof, prepare and
file all applications, notices, consents and other documents necessary or
advisable to obtain the regulatory approvals specified in Schedule 4.3 and
Schedule 3.3, respectively, promptly file all supplements or amendments thereto
and use reasonable efforts to obtain the regulatory approvals specified in
Schedule 4.3 and Schedule 3.3 as promptly as practicable. Buyer and ASFC will
provide each other and their counsel the opportunity to review in advance and
comment on all such filings. Buyer and ASFC will keep each other informed of
the status of matters relating to obtaining the regulatory approvals specified
in Schedule 4.3 and Schedule 3.3. ASFC and Buyer agree to execute and deliver
such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and to take
such other actions as may be necessary or desirable in order to consummate or
implement expeditiously the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In
addition to and not in limitation of the foregoing, each of the parties will
(i) promptly take all actions necessary to make the filings required of Buyer
and ASFC or their respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries under the HSR Act, (ii)
comply at the earliest practicable date with any request for additional
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information received by such party or its Affiliates or Subsidiaries from the
Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") or the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice (the "Antitrust Division") pursuant to the HSR Act, (iii)
cooperate with the other party in connection with such party's filings under
the HSR Act and in connection with resolving any investigation or other inquiry
concerning the Merger or the other matters contemplated by this Agreement
commenced by either the FTC or the Antitrust Division or state attorneys
general and (iv) request early termination of the waiting period under the HSR
Act.
7.2 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. The parties agree to consult with each
other before issuing any press release or making any public statement with
respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and, except
as may be required by applicable law or any listing agreement with any national
securities exchange, will not issue any such press release or make any such
public statement prior to such consultation.
7.3 TRADEMARKS; TRADE NAMES. Following the Closing, except as
provided in the Services Agreement, the Surviving Corporation shall immediately
cease to use signs, labels, containers, stationery, forms (including policy
forms) and other printed material or matter which are included as of the
Closing in the assets or inventory of ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC containing
or bearing the trademarks, trade names or service marks of LNC.
7.4 CONSENTS. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, ASFC
and Buyer shall use their respective best efforts, without payment of any
consideration to the persons from whom or which consents or agreements are
required, to obtain at the earliest practicable date, and prior to the Closing
Date, all consents and agreements of third parties necessary for the
performance
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by ASFC and Buyer of their respective obligations under this Agreement or any
agreement referred to herein or contemplated hereby or to the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby except for those consents and
agreements which, if not obtained, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
ASFC or Buyer. No consideration, whether such consideration shall consist of
the payment of money or shall take any other form, for any such consent or
agreement necessary to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
shall be given or promised by either ASFC or Buyer or any of their respective
Subsidiaries without the prior written approval of the other party.
7.5 PROXY STATEMENT. ASFC and Buyer will, as promptly as
practicable, cooperate to prepare and file with the SEC a proxy statement in
connection with the Merger and the vote of ASFC's shareholders with respect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (such proxy statement, together
with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, in each case in the form or
forms mailed to ASFC's shareholders, is herein called the "Proxy Statement").
ASFC and Buyer will use all reasonable efforts to have or cause the Proxy
Statement to become definitive as promptly as practicable following the
clearance of the Proxy Statement by the SEC. ASFC and Buyer also will take any
other related action required to be taken under federal or state securities
laws, and ASFC will use all reasonable efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to
be mailed to shareholders of ASFC at the earliest practicable date.
7.6 UPDATING SCHEDULES. In connection with the Closing, ASFC and
Buyer will promptly supplement or amend the various Schedules to this Agreement
to reflect any matter which, if existing, occurring or known on the date of
this Agreement, would have been required
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to be set forth or described in such Schedules or which is necessary to correct
any information in such Schedules which was or has been rendered inaccurate
thereby. No such supplement or amendment to the Schedules shall have any
effect for the purpose of determining satisfaction of the conditions set forth
in Article 5, 6, 7 or 10 hereof, or the compliance by any party hereto with its
covenants and agreements set forth herein.
ARTICLE 8
TAX MATTERS
8.1 TAX REPRESENTATIONS. ASFC represents and warrants to Buyer as
of the date hereof that:
(i) except as set forth on Schedule 8.1, all material
Returns required to be filed by or with respect to ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries on or before the Closing Date have been filed or will be timely
filed on or before the Closing Date in accordance with all applicable laws, and
all such Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects;
(ii) ASFC and its Subsidiaries have timely paid (or there
have been timely paid on their behalf) all Taxes shown to be due on such
Returns;
(iii) ASFC and its Subsidiaries have made adequate
provision on the Unaudited March Balance Sheet for all Taxes payable by ASFC
and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-March 31 Tax Period for which no Return has
yet been filed or for which Returns have been filed but payment of the Tax
shown to be due thereon is not yet due;
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(iv) except as set forth on Schedule 8.1, there is no
action, suit, proceeding, investigation, assessment, adjustment, audit or claim
now proposed or pending against or with respect to ASFC or its Subsidiaries in
respect of any Tax;
(v) except as set forth on Schedule 8.1, there are no
outstanding waivers or other agreements extending any statutory periods of
limitation for the assessment of Taxes of ASFC and its Subsidiaries; and
(vi) on or prior to the date hereof, ASFC has provided
Buyer with copies of all record retention agreements currently in effect
between the Consolidated Group and any Taxing Authority, and no such record
retention agreements have been entered into or modified since March 31, 1997.
8.2 TAX COVENANTS. Except as otherwise required by law or
permitted by the Voting Agreement, Buyer covenants that it will not cause or
permit ASFC, its Subsidiaries, Buyer or any Affiliate of Buyer (i) to take any
action on the Closing Date, other than in the ordinary course of business or
except as agreed in writing between the parties (including, but not limited to,
the distribution of any dividend or the effectuation of any redemption) that
could give rise to any Tax liability or loss of the Consolidated Group under
this Agreement, (ii) to make any election or deemed election under Section 338
of the Code with respect to the Merger or (iii) to amend any Return, file a
claim for refund, make or change any Tax election, change an annual Tax
accounting period, adopt or change any method of Tax accounting, adjust any
reserve or make any other change with respect to any Tax position of ASFC or
any of its Subsidiaries that results
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or will result in any materially increased Tax liability to, or material
reduction of any Tax Benefit of, the Consolidated Group, ASFC or any Affiliate
of ASFC for any Pre-Closing Period.
8.3 TERMINATION OF EXISTING TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS. (a) Subject
to Section 8.3(b) hereof, the Tax Sharing Agreements and any other Tax
allocation or sharing agreement or arrangement, whether or not written, that
may have been entered into by LNC or any member of the Consolidated Group and
ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC shall be terminated as of the Closing Date for
all periods, and all amounts then due from or to ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC
under any such Tax Sharing Agreements or other tax sharing agreement or
arrangement shall be paid on or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 8.3(a) hereof, as soon as practicable
after the Closing Date (but in any event within seventy-five (75) days of such
date), ASFC shall prepare and deliver to LNC accurate and complete separate
income and franchise Tax Returns for any Tax period of ASFC and its
Subsidiaries for any Tax period of ASFC or its Subsidiaries beginning January
1, 1997 and ending on the Closing Date, and payment shall be made within ten
(10) days of such delivery to or by LNC, as the case may be, of the difference,
if any, between (i) the Separate Tax Liability of the ASFC Group (each as
defined in the Tax Sharing Agreements) for such period and (ii) the sum of all
amounts previously paid to LNC by ASFC for such period pursuant to the Tax
Sharing Agreements.
8.4 SURVIVAL. The covenants contained in this Article 8 (Tax
Matters) (including the provisions of Section 8.3 hereof) shall survive the
consummation of the Merger and shall not expire.
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ARTICLE 9
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
9.1 EMPLOYEES. With respect to each employee who, as of the
Closing Date, is employed by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC (including any such
employee absent as of such date from active service for any reason, including
but not limited to disability or leave of absence but excluding any terminated
employee receiving severance) ("Transferred Employees"), subject to any
employment contract between ASFC and any such employee, Buyer shall cause each
Transferred Employee's employer to continue to employ such Transferred Employee
in a position that is substantially similar to that held with the Business as
of the Closing Date, at a salary (and with commissions, where applicable)
substantially equivalent to that provided as of such date; provided, however,
that nothing herein is intended to, or shall, require such employer to employ
any such employee (other than any such employee who is a party to an employment
contract) on any other basis than as an employee-at-will.
9.2 RETIREMENT PLANS. Effective as of the Closing Date, Buyer
shall either (i) cause ASFC to continue to maintain the American States
Insurance Company Employees' Retirement Plan and the American States Financial
Corporation Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan, (ii) create and
maintain new Benefits Plans that are at least as favorable in the aggregate to
Transferred Employees as the American States Insurance Company Employees'
Retirement Plan and the American States Financial Corporation Employees'
Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan or (iii) allow Transferred Employees to
participate in comparable existing Benefit Plans of Buyer that are at least as
favorable in the aggregate to Transferred Employees as the American States
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Insurance Company Employees' Retirement Plan and the American States Financial
Corporation Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan, in each case until at
least December 31, 1998.
9.3 GROUP HEALTH PLANS. Effective as of the Closing Date, Buyer
shall maintain, cause an ERISA Affiliate of Buyer to maintain, or cause ASFC to
continue to maintain, for the benefit of all Transferred Employees and their
dependents, any group health plan maintained by ASFC and any of ASFC's
Subsidiaries or a group health plan that either (i) provides coverage under the
same terms and conditions (within the meaning of proposed Treasury regulation
section 1.162-26, Q&A 18) as were applicable to the Transferred Employees
immediately before the Closing Date or (ii) satisfies the requirements of Code
section 4980B(f)(2)(B)(iv), until at least December 31, 1998. To the extent
that Buyer or any of its affiliates has the power and authority to do so
without unreasonable cost, Buyer or its affiliates shall cause any waiting
period, pre-existing condition exclusion, or evidence-of-insurability
requirement under any plan, program or arrangement maintained or contributed to
by Buyer and providing health, life insurance or disability coverage to be
waived with respect to any Transferred Employee who accepts employment with the
Buyer.
9.4 SEVERANCE ARRANGEMENTS. Until December 31, 1998, Buyer shall
cause ASFC, effective as of the Closing Date, to continue to maintain ASFC's
severance plan and other similar severance arrangements listed in Schedule
3.16(a) or 3.16(d) (other than the Incentive Letter Agreements) to the extent
that they apply to Transferred Employees, and will take all steps necessary to
ensure that all severance and other payments called for thereunder as of any
date are made to any Transferred Employee who voluntarily or involuntarily
terminates employment at
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any time and under any circumstances that would entitle the Transferred
Employee to receive severance and other benefits under such plans and
arrangements. Without limiting the foregoing, Buyer shall be responsible and
assume all liability for all salary and benefit continuation and/or severance
payments relating to any Transferred Employee that may be payable as a result
of any termination of employment of any such Transferred Employee or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and for all notices, payments,
fines or assessments due to any government authority pursuant to any applicable
foreign, federal, state or local law, common law, statute, rule or regulation
with respect to the employment, discharge or layoff of employees, including but
not limited to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and any
rules or regulations that have been issued in connection with any of the
foregoing. Buyer shall cause ASFC to comply with the Incentive Letter
Agreements in accordance with their terms.
9.5 NONQUALIFIED PLANS. Effective as of the Closing Date, Buyer
shall cause ASFC to continue to maintain the ASFC Executives' Excess
Compensation Pension Benefit Plan (or Benefit Plans of Buyer or ASFC that
either are substantially equivalent or are at least as favorable in the
aggregate to the ASFC Executives) and the ASFC Employees' Supplemental Pension
Benefit Plan until at least the last day of the month that is 12 months after
the month in which the Closing Date falls (the "Benefits Continuation Date").
Buyer shall cause ASFC to continue to be responsible for any liabilities to
Transferred Employees, and any former employees of ASFC or any of ASFC's
Subsidiaries, under the LNC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees
as of the Closing Date and shall either (i) provide for the payment of such
liabilities under a deferred compensation plan maintained by Buyer for Buyer's
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employees or (ii) cause ASFC to establish a deferred compensation plan on terms
substantially similar to a plan maintained by Buyer for Buyer's employees or
the LNC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees and continue to
maintain such plan until at least the Benefits Continuation Date.
9.6 OTHER BENEFIT PLANS. Except as otherwise provided in this
Article 9, Buyer shall, effective as of the Closing Date, cause ASFC to
continue to maintain any and all Benefit Plans maintained by ASFC or any of its
Subsidiaries covering Transferred Employees until at least December 31, 1998
and to continue to be responsible for any liability to provide benefits under
such Benefit Plans that exist on the Closing Date. Buyer will permit any
elections made under the Customized Security Flexible Benefits Plan to continue
in effect to the remainder of the plan year that includes the Closing Date.
Until at least December 31, 1998, Buyer shall not make any change to ASFC's
accounting or reserving practices or take any other action that would adversely
affect the computation of amounts payable to Transferred Employees under any
incentive compensation or bonus plan of ASFC without making such equitable
adjustments to the performance measures under the affected plans as may be
appropriate to ensure that the Transferred Employees receive substantially the
same bonuses or other benefit payments under the affected plans as they would
have received in the absence of such change or other action for any performance
cycle for which the targets or goals have been established as of the date
hereof.
9.7 OTHER LIABILITIES. Buyer shall assume, and shall indemnify
and hold harmless ASFC and any of its Subsidiaries from and against, any and
all damages, loss, liability and expense (including but not limited to
reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable
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attorneys' fees) relating to or arising out of any workers' compensation claims
of, or violations of any Law, including but not limited to, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the
Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, with
respect to, Transferred Employees pending as of the Closing Date or asserted
after the Closing Date but relating to events occurring on or before the
Closing Date.
ARTICLE 10
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
10.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER AND ASFC. The obligations
of Buyer and ASFC to consummate the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of
the following conditions:
(a) Any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby shall have expired or been
terminated.
(b) All other regulatory consents, approvals or
clearances necessary for the consummation of the Closing shall have been
obtained, and no provision of any applicable law or regulation shall prohibit
the consummation of the Closing.
(c) All material consents, approvals or waivers of all
non-governmental Persons necessary for the consummation of the Closing shall
have been obtained.
(d) There shall not be in effect any temporary
restraining order, preliminary injunction or permanent injunction or other
order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction preventing the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that the party
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invoking this condition shall have used its reasonable best efforts to have
such order or injunction vacated.
(e) ASFC shall have obtained the ASFC Shareholders'
Approval from the requisite holders of Shares in accordance with applicable law
and the Articles of Incorporation and bylaws of ASFC.
10.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF BUYER. The obligation of Buyer to
consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction of the following further
conditions:
(a) (i) ASFC shall have performed in all material
respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it on or
prior to the Closing Date, (ii) the representations and warranties of ASFC
contained in this Agreement shall be true at and as of the Closing Date, as if
made at and as of such date (without giving effect to any materiality
qualifications or exceptions contained therein), except for those
representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true
and correct as of the date specified (without giving effect to any materiality
qualifications or materiality exceptions contained therein); provided, that
this condition (ii) shall be deemed satisfied if any inaccuracies in any of
such representations and warranties at and as of the applicable date (without
giving effect to any materiality qualifications or materiality exceptions
contained therein) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on ASFC, other than
those resulting from (A) any event, occurrence, development or state of
circumstances or facts affecting the property and casualty insurance industry
as a whole, any Catastrophe or any change in general economic conditions
(including but not limited to a change in interest rates) or (B) any obligation
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or liability that ASFC or any of its subsidiaries has or may have in connection
with, as a result of or arising out of any insurance or reinsurance or
indemnity policy, surety bond or similar contract or undertaking issued or
entered into by ASFC or any Subsidiary of ASFC in the ordinary course of
business, and (iii) Buyer shall have received a certificate signed by the chief
financial officer of ASFC to the effect that the foregoing conditions have been
satisfied.
(b) ASFC shall have GAAP equity immediately prior to the
Effective Time equal to at least 90% of ASFC's GAAP equity as of March 31,
1997; provided, that in determining whether the condition set forth in this
Section 10.2(b) has been satisfied, changes in ASFC's GAAP equity after March
31, 1997 resulting from FAS 115 mark-to-market accounting shall be excluded
from the calculation of ASFC's GAAP equity on the date in question.
(c) Buyer shall have received a certificate, dated as of
the Effective Time, from the secretary or assistant secretary of ASFC
certifying as to the accuracy and completeness of the attached Articles of
Incorporation and bylaws, and resolutions, consents and authorizations with
respect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(d) No Governmental Body shall have commenced any
proceeding seeking a temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order preventing the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, other than any such proceeding which, in the reasonable
judgment of Buyer, would not be reasonably likely, assuming such consummation
occurs, to have a Material Adverse Effect on ASFC or Buyer; provided that Buyer
shall have used its reasonable best efforts to have such proceeding dismissed
or terminated.
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10.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF ASFC. The obligation of ASFC to
consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction of the following further
conditions:
(a) (i) Buyer shall have performed in all material
respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or
prior to the Closing Date, (ii) the representations and warranties of Buyer
contained in this Agreement shall be true at and as of the Closing Date, as if
made at and as of such date (without giving effect to any materiality
qualifications and materiality exceptions contained therein), except for those
representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true
and correct as of the date specified (without giving effect to any materiality
qualifications or materiality exceptions contained therein); provided, that
this condition (ii) shall be deemed satisfied if any inaccuracies in any such
representations and warranties at and as of the applicable date (without giving
effect to any materiality qualifications or materiality exceptions contained
therein) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be
expected to adversely affect the consummation of the Merger, and (iii) ASFC
shall have received a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of
Buyer to the effect that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.
(b) ASFC shall have received a certificate, dated as of
the Effective Time, from the secretary or assistant secretary of Buyer and
Buyer Sub, respectively, certifying as to the accuracy and completeness of the
attached articles of incorporation and bylaws, and resolutions, consents and
authorizations with respect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby.
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ARTICLE 11
SURVIVAL
11.1 SURVIVAL. Except as provided in Section 8.4, the covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties of the parties hereto contained in
this Agreement shall not survive the Closing; provided that the covenants and
agreements that, by their terms, are to have effect or be performed after the
Closing Date shall survive in accordance with their terms.
ARTICLE 12
TERMINATION
12.1 GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated and
the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:
(i) by mutual written agreement of ASFC and Buyer;
(ii) by either ASFC or Buyer upon written notice to the
other party if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before December
31, 1997; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this clause
(ii) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any
obligation under this Agreement has been the cause of or has resulted in the
failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date; or
(iii) any court of competent jurisdiction in the United
States or any other Governmental Body in the United States shall have issued an
Order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the Merger and such Order or other action shall have become final
and nonappealable.
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12.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If this Agreement is terminated as
permitted by Section 12.1, termination shall be without liability of any party
(or any shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or
representative of such party) to any other party to this Agreement, except for
payment of costs and expenses in accordance with Section 13.3 and except that
no such termination shall relieve Buyer of its obligations under Section 6.1;
and provided that if such termination shall result from the willful failure of
any party to fulfill a condition to the performance of the obligations of any
other party or to perform a covenant of this Agreement or from a willful breach
by any party to this Agreement, such party shall be fully liable for any and
all damage, loss, liability and expense (including but not limited to
reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses in connection with any action, suit or proceeding) incurred or
suffered by the other party as a result of such failure or breach. The
provisions of this Section 12.2, Section 13.3 and Section 13.5 shall survive
any termination hereof pursuant to Section 12.1.
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered by hand, or when sent by facsimile transmission (with
receipt confirmed by an electronically generated written confirmation),
addressed as follows (or to such other address as a party may designate by
notice to the others):
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if to Buyer or Buyer Sub, to:
SAFECO Corporation
SAFECO Plaza
Seattle, Washington 98185
Attention: James W. Ruddy, Esq.
Fax: (206) 545-5559
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Edward D. Herlihy, Esq.
Craig M. Wasserman, Esq.
Fax: (212) 403-2000
if to ASFC, to:
American States Financial Corporation
500 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Attention: Thomas M. Ober, Esq.
Fax: (317) 262-7157
with copies to:
Lincoln National Corporation
200 East Berry Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Attention: Jack D. Hunter, Esq.
Fax: (219) 455-5403
Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, L.L.P.
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
Attention: David A. Massey, Esq.
Fax: (202) 637-3593
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13.2 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. (a) Any provision of this Agreement
may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is explicit
and in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to
this Agreement, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the
waiver is to be effective.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any
single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. Other than as
provided herein, the rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative
and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
13.3 EXPENSES. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the
fee for filing an application pursuant to the HSR Act shall be paid by Buyer,
and all other costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement,
including all brokers', finders', investment advisory or similar fees, shall be
paid by the party incurring or responsible for incurring such cost or expense.
13.4 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns; provided, that no party may assign, delegate
or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement
without the consent of each other party hereto.
13.5 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana without regard to
any laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts
of laws.
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13.6 JURISDICTION. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of,
or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought only in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Indiana or any Indiana State court
sitting in Indianapolis, and each of the parties hereby consents to the
jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom)
in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to
the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such
court or that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit,
action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether
within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the
foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party as provided
in this Section 13.6 shall be deemed effective service of process on such
party.
13.7 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of
copies each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, the parties
hereto.
13.8 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. No provision of this Agreement
is intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights
or remedies hereunder, except for the indemnification and insurance provisions
contained in Section 6.2, which provisions may be enforced by the parties to be
indemnified or insured thereunder.
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13.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except for the Confidentiality Agreement,
this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect
to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both oral and written, among the parties with respect to such
subject matter. No representation, inducement, promise, understanding,
condition or warranty not set forth herein has been made or relied upon by any
party hereto.
13.10 CONSTRUCTION. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or
neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include
the plural and vice versa. The name assigned this Agreement and the section
captions used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect
the interpretation and construction hereof. Unless otherwise specified, (i)
the terms "hereof," "herein" and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a
whole and (ii) references herein to Articles or Sections refer to articles or
sections of this Agreement. This Agreement is the result of arms-length
negotiations between the parties hereto and has been prepared jointly by the
parties. In applying and interpreting the provisions of this Agreement, there
shall be no presumption that the Agreement was prepared by any one party or
that the Agreement shall be construed in favor of or against any one party.
13.11 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties acknowledge that money
damages are not an adequate remedy for violations of this Agreement and that
any party may, in its sole discretion, apply to a court of competent
jurisdiction for specific performance or injunctive or such other relief as
such court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement or
prevent any
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violation hereof and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, each party
waives any objection to the imposition of such relief.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first
above written.
AMERICAN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Robert A. Anker
-------------------------------------------
Name: Robert A. Anker
------------------------------------------
Title: Chief Executive Officer
-----------------------------------------
SAFECO CORPORATION
By: /s/ R.H. Eigsti
-------------------------------------------
Name: R.H. Eigsti
------------------------------------------
Title: Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
-----------------------------------------
ASFC ACQUISITION CO.
By: /s/ B.A. Dickey
-------------------------------------------
Name: B.A. Dickey
------------------------------------------
Title: President
-----------------------------------------
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Exhibit II
VOTING, SUPPORT AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated June 6, 1997 (this "Agreement"), by and among
SAFECO Corporation, a Washington corporation ("Acquiror"), and Lincoln National
Corporation, an Indiana corporation, on behalf of itself and any of its
subsidiaries that may own any Common Stock (as defined below), collectively
(the "Shareholder").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Acquiror and American States
Financial Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the "Company"), are entering
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may hereafter be
amended from time to time, the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used and
not defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger
Agreement) pursuant to which a subsidiary of Acquiror will be merged with and
into the Company (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, Shareholder owns 50 million shares (the "Shares"), no
par value, of common stock of the Company ("Common Stock"); and
WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to entering into the
Merger Agreement, Acquiror has required that the Shareholder agree, and the
Shareholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Provisions Concerning Shares. (a) The Shareholder
hereby agrees that during the period commencing on the date hereof and
continuing until this provision terminates pursuant to Section 7 hereof, at any
meeting of the holders of shares of Common Stock, however called, or in
connection with any written consent of the holders of shares of Common Stock,
it shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares held of record or Beneficially
Owned (as defined below) by it, whether heretofore owned or hereafter acquired,
(i) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and any actions required
in furtherance thereof and hereof; (ii) against any
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action or agreement that would result in a breach in any respect of any
covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of
the Company under the Merger Agreement (after giving effect to any materiality
or similar qualifications contained therein); and (iii) except as otherwise
agreed to in writing in advance by Acquiror, against the following actions
(other than the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement): (A) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving the Company; (B) a sale,
lease or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company, or a
reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company;
(C) (1) any change in a majority of the persons who constitute the board of
directors of the Company; (2) any change in the present capitalization of the
Company or any amendment of the Company's Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws;
(3) any other material change in the Company's corporate structure or business;
or (4) any other action which, in the case of each of the matters referred to
in clauses C (1), (2), (3) or (4), is intended, or could reasonably be
expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, or materially adversely
affect the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Merger Agreement. The Shareholder shall not enter into any agreement or
understanding with any Person the effect of which would be inconsistent or
violative of the provisions and agreements contained in Section 1 or 3 hereof.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership"
with respect to any securities shall mean having "beneficial ownership" of such
securities (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), including pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing. Without
duplicative counting of the same securities by the same holder, securities
Beneficially Owned by a Person shall include securities Beneficially Owned by
all other Persons with whom such Person would constitute a "group" as within
the meanings of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, (i) the Shareholder
hereby appoints Acquiror and the proper officers of Acquiror, and each of
them, with full power of substitution in the premises, its proxies to vote all
Shares at any meeting, general or special, of the shareholders of the Company,
and to execute one or more written consents or other instruments from time to
time in order to take such action without the necessity of a meeting of the
shareholders of the Company, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph and (ii) Acquiror hereby agrees to vote such Shares or execute
written consents or other instruments in accordance with the provisions of the
preceding paragraph. The proxy and power of attorney granted herein shall be
irrevocable during the term specified in Section 7 hereof, shall be deemed to
be coupled with an interest and shall revoke all prior proxies granted by the
Shareholder. The Shareholder shall not grant any proxy to any person which
conflicts with the proxy granted herein, and any attempt to do so shall be void
ab initio. The agency granted herein shall survive the insolvency or
bankruptcy of the Shareholder.
(c) The foregoing voting provisions are subject in all
respects to the receipt of any required state insurance department approvals.
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2. Prepayment of Debt. As contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, on the Closing Date, (i) Acquiror shall pay to the Shareholder the
respective amounts of the Assumed Debt Prepayment and the Term Note Prepayment
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the
Shareholder, (ii) the Shareholder shall take any and all action necessary or
appropriate on its part to terminate that certain Assumption Agreement dated
May 16, 1996, between the Shareholder and the Company, relating to the
outstanding 7 1/8% notes due July 15, 1999, originally issued to the public by
the Shareholder on July 15, 1992, and (iii) the Shareholder shall surrender to
the Company for cancellation that certain Term Note due August 15, 1999, issued
by the Company on May 16, 1996.
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3. Other Covenants, Representations and Warranties. The
Shareholder hereby agrees, represents and warrants as to itself to Acquiror as
follows:
(a) Ownership of Shares. The Shareholder is the
Beneficial Owner of 50 million Shares. On the date hereof, such Shares
constitute all of the shares of Common Stock owned of record or Beneficially
Owned by the Shareholder. The Shareholder has sole voting power and sole power
to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1
hereof, sole power of disposition, sole power of conversion, sole power to
demand appraisal rights and, subject to the receipt of any required state
insurance department approvals sole power to agree to all of the matters set
forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all such Shares, with no
limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such rights.
(b) Power; Binding Agreement. The execution, delivery
and performance by the Shareholder of this Agreement are within the
Shareholder's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Shareholder. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Shareholder will not violate any other
agreement to which such Shareholder is a party including, without limitation,
any voting agreement, shareholders agreement or voting trust. This Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Shareholder,
enforceable against such Shareholder in accordance with its terms, subject to
the receipt of any required state insurance department approvals.
(c) No Conflicts. (A) No filing with, and no permit,
authorization, consent or approval of, any state or federal public body or
authority is necessary for the execution of this Agreement by the Shareholder
and, except for any required state insurance department approvals, the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and (B) none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Shareholder, the consummation
by it of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by it with any of
the provisions hereof shall (1) result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give
rise to any third party right of termination, cancellation, material
modification or acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment,
arrangement, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation of any
kind to which the Shareholder is a party or by which it or any of its
properties or assets may be bound, or (2) subject to the receipt of any
required state insurance department approvals, violation any order, writ,
injunction, decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to
it or any of its properties or assets.
(d) No Solicitation. From and after the date hereof and
continuing until this provision terminates pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the
Shareholder shall immediately cease any existing discussions or negotiations
with any third parties conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to any
Acquisition Proposal. The Shareholder shall not, directly or indirectly,
through any officer, director, employee, representative or agent or any of its
Subsidiaries, (i) solicit,
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initiate or encourage any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) engage in negotiations or
discussions concerning or provide any nonpublic information to any person or
entity relating to, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) agree to or approve any
Acquisition Proposal.
(e) Restriction on Transfer, Proxies and
Non-Interference. The Shareholder shall not, directly or indirectly, during
the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until this provision
terminates pursuant to Section 7 hereof: (i) except as contemplated by the
Merger Agreement, offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber,
assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other
arrangement or understanding with respect to or consent to the offer for sale,
sale, transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition
of, any or all of its Shares or any interest therein (provided, however, the
Shareholder may transfer, by sale, exchange or capital contribution, Shares to
any of its directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiaries if prior to such
transfer such subsidiary becomes a party to this Agreement); (ii) except as
contemplated by this Agreement, grant any proxies or powers of attorney,
deposit any Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with
respect to any Shares; or (iii) take any action that would make any of its
representations or warranties contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the
effect of preventing or disabling it from performing its obligations under this
Agreement.
(f) Indiana Takeover Laws. The execution of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are exempt from all statutes
of the State of Indiana that purport to limit or restrict business combinations
or the ability to acquire or to vote shares and from all applicable charter or
contractual provisions containing change of control or anti-takeover
provisions.
(g) Reliance by Acquiror. The Shareholder understands
and acknowledges that Acquiror is entering into the Merger Agreement in
reliance upon the Shareholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement.
(h) Tax Representations. The Shareholder has filed a
consolidated federal income tax return including the Company and each of its
domestic Subsidiaries for the taxable year immediately preceding the current
taxable year, and the Shareholder is eligible to make an election under Section
338(h)(10) of the Code (and any comparable election under state, local or
foreign income tax law) with respect to the Company and each of its domestic
Subsidiaries.
4. Tax and Benefits Matters.
(a) The Shareholder shall indemnify and hold harmless
Acquiror, the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company (each, an "Indemnified
Party) against any liability asserted against the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company on the basis of joint and several liability in connection with any
employee benefit plan (within the meaning of section 3(3) of ERISA) or any
other fringe benefit program or arrangement maintained by the
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Page 80
Shareholder or any ERISA Affiliate of the Shareholder for employees or former
employees of the Shareholder or any ERISA Affiliate of the Shareholder other
than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, including any loss, cost,
expense (including all legal and expert fees and expenses), damage (including
damages to Persons, property or the environment), fines, penalties or claims.
The Shareholder may elect to compromise or defend at its own expense and by
its own counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Acquiror) any claim asserted by a third party against an Indemnified Party for
which the Shareholder, pursuant to this Section 4(a) is indemnifying such
Indemnified Party. If the Shareholder elects to compromise or defend such a
claim, it shall, within 10 days after receiving notice of such claim, notify
the Indemnified Party of its intent to do so, and such Indemnified Party shall
cooperate, at the expense of the Shareholder, in the compromise of, or defense
against, such claim. If the Shareholder elects not to compromise or defend
against such claim, or fails to notify the Indemnified Party of its election to
do so as herein provided, or otherwise abandons the defense of such claim, (i)
such Indemnified Party may pay (without prejudice to any of its rights as
against the Shareholder), compromise or defend such claim (until such defense
is assumed by the Shareholder) and (ii) the costs and expenses of such
Indemnified Party incurred in connection therewith shall be indemnifiable by
the Shareholder pursuant to this Section 4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither the Shareholder nor any Indemnified Party may settle or compromise any
claim (however, if the sole settlement relief payable to a third party in
respect of such claim is monetary damages that are paid in full by the
Shareholder, Shareholder may settle such claim without the consent of the
Indemnified Party) over the objection of the other; provided, however, that
consent to settlement or compromise shall not be unreasonably withheld by such
Indemnified Party. In any event, except as otherwise provided herein, the
Shareholder and the Indemnified Party may each participate, at its own expense,
in the defense of such claim.
(b)(i) The Shareholder and Acquiror shall jointly make
timely and irrevocable elections under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code and, if
permissible, similar elections under any applicable state, local or foreign
income tax laws for the Company and each domestic subsidiary of the Company
specified by Acquiror in writing on or before the Closing Date (the
"Elections"). The Shareholder, the Company and Acquiror shall report the
transactions contemplated herein and in the Merger Agreement consistent with
the Elections and shall take no position contrary thereto unless and to the
extent required to do so pursuant to a determination (as defined in Section
1313(a) of the Code or any similar state, local or foreign tax provision).
(ii) To the extent possible, the Shareholder, the Company
and Acquiror shall execute at the Closing any and all forms necessary to
effectuate the Elections (including, without limitation, Internal Revenue
Service Form 8023-A and any similar forms under applicable state, local and
foreign income tax laws (the "Section 338 Forms")). In the event, however, any
Section 338 Forms are not executed at the Closing, the Shareholder, the Company
and Acquiror shall prepare and complete each such Section 338 Form no later
than 15 days prior to the date such Section 338 Form is required to be filed.
The Shareholder, the Company and Acquiror shall each cause the Section 338
Forms to be duly executed by an authorized person for the
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Page 81
Shareholder, the Company and Acquiror in each case, and shall duly and timely
file the Section 338 Forms in accordance with applicable tax laws and the terms
of this Agreement.
(iii) The Shareholder and Acquiror agree to use their best
efforts to enter into an agreement (the "Allocation Agreement") as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date to address the computation of the Modified
Aggregate Deemed Sale Price (as defined under applicable Treasury Regulations)
("MADSP") of the asserts of the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company for
which an Election is made. Acquiror shall initially prepare a statement
setting forth a proposed computation and allocation of MADSP (the
"Computation") and submit it to the Shareholder no later than one hundred
twenty days after the Closing Date. If, within thirty (30) days of the
Shareholder's receipt of the Computation, the Shareholder shall not have
objected in writing to such Computation, the Computation shall become the
Allocation Agreement. If, sixty (60) days before the last date on which the
Section 338(h)(10) Forms must be filed, Acquiror and the Shareholder have not
adopted an Allocation Agreement, any disputed aspects of the Allocation
Agreement shall be resolved, before the last date on which the Section
338(h)(10) Forms may be filed, by a big six accounting firm mutually acceptable
to Acquiror and the Shareholder (the "Neutral Auditors"). The decision of the
Neutral Auditors shall be final, and the costs, expenses and fees of the
Neutral Auditors shall be borne equally by Acquiror and the Shareholder.
Acquiror and the Shareholder shall not take a position before any Taxing
Authority or otherwise (including in any Return) inconsistent with the
Allocation Agreement unless and to the extent required to do so pursuant to a
determination (as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code or any similar state,
local or foreign law).
(c) Except as otherwise required by law or permitted by
Section 4(b) hereof, Acquiror covenants that it will not cause or permit the
Company, its Subsidiaries, Acquiror or any Affiliate of Acquiror (i) to take
any action on the Closing Date, other than in the ordinary course of business
or except as agreed in writing between the parties (including, but not limited
to, the distribution of any dividend or the effectuation of any redemption)
that could give rise to any Tax liability or loss of the Consolidated Group
under this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, (ii) to make any election or
deemed election under Section 338 of the Code with respect to the Merger or
(iii) to amend any Return, file a claim for refund, make or change any Tax
election, change an annual Tax accounting period, adopt or change any method of
Tax accounting, adjust any reserve, or make any other change with respect to
any Tax position of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that results or will
result in any materially increased Tax liability to, or material reduction of
any Tax Benefit of, the Consolidated Group, the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company for any Pre-Closing Period.
(d)(i) Except as provided in this Section 4(d) or Section
4(e) hereof, liability for Consolidated Taxes and entitlement to any refund
with respect to Consolidated Taxes shall be allocated to the Shareholder, and
the Shareholder shall indemnify and hold harmless Acquiror, the Company and the
Subsidiaries of the Company for such Consolidated Taxes (including,
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Page 82
without limitation, all Consolidated Taxes attributable to the Elections or any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement).
(ii) Acquiror shall be liable for and shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Shareholder for (i) the Taxes of the Company and each
Subsidiary of the Company for any taxable year or period that begins after the
Closing Date and (ii) all Taxes of the Company and each Subsidiary other than
Consolidated Taxes ("Standalone Taxes").
(iii) In the event that any Taxing Authority makes any
adjustment to the Tax liability of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
for any Pre-Closing Period and such adjustment could reasonably be expected to
produce a Tax Benefit to Acquiror, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
for any Tax period beginning on or after the Cloning Date, Acquiror shall pay
the Shareholder the reasonably anticipated net after-Tax value to Acquiror, the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of such Tax Benefit, discounted at a
rate of 7 percent per annum from the anticipated date of realization of such
Tax Benefit to the date of payment, as the amount of the Tax Benefit is
determined under this Section 4(d)(iii). Following the date of any such
adjustment to the Tax liability of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, the Shareholder shall prepare a statement showing a proposed
computation of the anticipated payment by Acquiror and shall submit it to
Acquiror for review. If, within thirty (30) days of Acquiror's receipt of the
statement, Acquiror shall not have objected to the computation, the computation
shall become final and Acquiror shall pay the Shareholder the computed amount
within fifteen (15) days of such date. If, within sixty (60) days of
Acquiror's receipt of the statement, Acquiror and the Shareholder have not
agreed on the correct payment due to the Shareholder hereunder, the dispute
shall be submitted to the Neutral Auditors for resolution, and the Neutral
Auditors shall resolve the dispute within thirty (30) days of submission. The
decision of the Neutral Auditors shall be final, and the costs, expenses and
fees of the Neutral Auditors shall be borne equally by Acquiror and the
Shareholder. Acquiror shall pay the Shareholder the amount determined by the
Neutral Auditors within fifteen (15) days of their determination. For purposes
of this Section 4(d)(iii), the Shareholder, Acquiror, and, if necessary, the
Neutral Auditors shall make reasonable assumptions regarding the existing and
future business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Tax
positions of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Acquiror, probable Tax
consequences under the Code, and other factors relevant to a reasonable and
equitable determination of the anticipated value of any such Tax Benefit,
taking into account any special circumstances known to the parties at the time
of such determination.
(iv) Any payment by the Shareholder or Acquiror under this
Section 4(d) will be an adjustment to the portion of the Merger Consideration
allocable to the Shares that are held by the Shareholder immediately prior to
the Effective Time.
(v) The Shareholder shall file or cause to be filed
(including by causing the Company or the relevant Subsidiary to file) when due
all Returns with respect to Consolidated
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Page 83
Taxes that are required to be filed by or with respect to a member of the
Consolidated Group (including the Company and/or any Subsidiary of the Company
for Pre-Closing Periods), and Acquiror shall file or cause to be filed when due
all other Returns that are required to be filed by or with respect to the
Company.
4(e)(i). Subject to Section 4(e)(ii) hereof, the Tax Sharing
Agreements and any other Tax allocation or sharing agreement or arrangement,
whether or not written, that may have been entered into by the Shareholder or
any member of the Consolidated Group and the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company shall be terminated as of the Closing Date for all periods, and all
amounts then due from or to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under
any such Tax Sharing Agreements or other tax sharing agreement or arrangement
shall be paid on or prior to the Closing Date.
(ii) Notwithstanding Section 4(e)(i) hereof, as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date (but in any event within seventy-five (75)
days of such date), the Company shall prepare and deliver to the Shareholder
accurate and complete separate income and franchise Tax Returns for any Tax
period of the Company and its Subsidiaries for any Tax period of the Company or
its Subsidiaries beginning January 1, 1997 and ending on the Closing Date, and
payment shall be made within ten (10) days of such delivery to or by the
Shareholder, as the case may be, of the difference, if any, between (i) the
Separate Tax Liability of the ASFC Group (each as defined in the Tax Sharing
Agreements) for such period and (ii) the sum of all amounts previously paid to
the Shareholder by the Company for such period pursuant to the Tax Sharing
Agreements.
(f) From and after the Closing Date, each of the
Shareholder and Acquiror shall:
(i) assist in all reasonable respects (and cause their
respective Affiliates to assist) the other party in preparing any
Returns or reports which such other party is responsible for preparing
and filing in accordance with Section 4(c);
(ii) cooperate in all reasonable respects in preparing for
any audits of, or disputes with Taxing Authorities regarding, any
Returns of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;
(iii) make available to the other and to any Taxing
Authority as reasonably requested all information, records, and
documents relating to Taxes of the Company and each Subsidiary of the
Company (including with respect to any potential payments contemplated
by Section 4(d)(iii) hereof);
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(iv) provide timely notice to the other in writing of any
pending or threatened Tax audits or assessments of the Company and
each Subsidiary of the Company for taxable periods for which the other
may have a liability under Section 4(d) hereof; and
(v) furnish the other with copies of all correspondence
received from any Taxing Authority in connection with any Tax audit or
information request with respect to any such taxable period.
(g)(i) The Shareholder shall control, manage and solely be
responsible for any audit, contest, claim, proceeding or inquiry with respect
to Consolidated Taxes and shall have the exclusive right to settle or contest
in its sole discretion any such audit, contest, claim, proceeding or inquiry
without the consent of any other party; provided, however, that the Shareholder
shall not, without the prior written consent of Acquiror which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld, file, or cause to be filed, any Return affecting
the liability of the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to Taxes for any
period other than a Pre-Closing Period.
(ii) Acquiror shall control, manage and solely be
responsible for any audit, contest, claim, proceeding or inquiry with respect
to Standalone Taxes or Taxes for any taxable year or period beginning after the
Closing and shall have the exclusive right to settle or contest any such audit,
contest, claim, proceeding, or inquiry without the consent of any other party.
(h) The provisions of this Section 4 shall survive the
consummation of the Merger and shall not expire.
5. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the other
party's request and without further consideration, the Shareholder and Acquiror
shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further
lawful action as may be necessary or desirable to consummate and make
effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement.
6. Stop Transfer. The Shareholder agreed with, and
covenants to, Acquiror that it shall not request that the Company register the
transfer (book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or uncertificated
interest representing the Shares, unless such transfer is made in compliance
with this Agreement. In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any
change in the Company Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, split-up,
recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term
"Shares" shall be deemed to refer to and include the Shares as well as all such
stock dividends and distributions and any shares into which or for which any or
all of the Shares may be changed or exchanged.
7. Termination. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the covenants and agreements contained in Sections 1, 3(f) and 6 hereof with
respect to the Shares shall terminate (a) in the event the Merger Agreement is
terminated in accordance with the terms of Article 12
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thereof, upon such termination, and (b) in the event the Merger is consummated,
upon the Effective Time.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(b) Assignment. Except for any assignment pursuant to a
transfer permitted by Section 3(e)(i), this Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other
party. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors.
(c) Amendments, Waivers, Etc. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated,
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the
relevant parties hereto.
(d) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered by hand, or when sent by facsimile transmission
(with receipt confirmed by an electronically generated written confirmation),
addressed as follows (or to such other address as a party may designate by
notice to the others):
If to the Shareholder: Lincoln National Corporation
200 East Berry Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Facsimile: (219) 455-5403
Attention: Jack D. Hunter, Esq.
If to Acquiror: SAFECO Corporation
SAFECO Plaza
Seattle, Washington 98185
Facsimile: (206) 545-5559
Attention : James W. Ruddy, Esq.
(e) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or
portion of any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner
as to be effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or
portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or
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Page 86
portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.
(f) Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto
recognizes and acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain damages for
which it would not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages, and
therefore each of the parties hereto agrees that in the event of any such
breach the aggrieved party shall be entitled to the remedy of specific
performance of such covenants and agreements and injunctive and other equitable
relief in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, at law or
in equity.
(g) Remedies Cumulative. All rights, powers and remedies
provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law
or in equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any
thereof by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of
any other such right, power or remedy by such party.
(h) No Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to
exercise any right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise
available in respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance
by any other party hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or
practice of the parties at variance with the terms hereof, shall not constitute
a waiver by such party of its right to exercise any such or other right, power
or remedy or to demand such compliance.
(i) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not
intended to be for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by, any person
or entity who or which is not a party hereto.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without giving
effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
(k) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR
PROCEEDING.
(l) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of
which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Acquiror and the Shareholder have caused
this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
SAFECO CORPORATION
By: /s/ R.H. Eigsti
----------------------------------
Name: R.H. Eigsti
Title: Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Barbara S. Kowalczyk
----------------------------------
Name: Barbara S. Kowalczyk
Title: Senior Vice President
AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED
(with respect to Sections 3 and 6):
AMERICAN STATES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Robert A. Anker
-------------------------------------------
Name: Robert A. Anker
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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