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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
December 22, 1998
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(Date of earliest event reported)
BA Merchant Services, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-12365 94-3252840
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
One South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California 94103
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(415) 241-3390
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
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On December 22, 1998, BA Merchant Services, Inc. ("BAMS") and BankAmerica
Corporation ("BankAmerica") announced the signing of a definitive merger
agreement (the "Agreement"). The Agreement provides that each share of Class A
Common Stock of BAMS, other than shares owned directly or indirectly by
BankAmerica or its affiliates, will be converted into the right to receive a
cash payment equal to $20.50 per share, without interest (the "Merger").
Consummation of the Merger is subject to the receipt of the approval of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of BAMS and the
satisfaction of certain other conditions. The Merger was approved by the Board
of Directors of BAMS and BankAmerica. The transaction is expected to be
completed by the end of the first quarter of 1999.
BAMS and BankAmerica have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with
counsel to the plaintiffs in three separate cases filed in Delaware purportedly
on behalf of holders of Class A Common Stock of BAMS. The Memorandum of
Understanding sets forth terms for a proposed settlement of such cases. Any
settlement is subject to final documentation and court approval. Neither BAMS
nor BankAmerica admits any liability by entering into such Memorandum of
Understanding.
Attached as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein by this reference, is a
copy of a joint press release of BAMS and BankAmerica dated December 22, 1998
entitled "BankAmerica Corporation and BA Merchant Services, Inc. Sign Definitive
Merger Agreement and Plan of Merger."
Attached as Exhibit 99.2, and incorporated herein by this reference, is a
copy of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 22, 1998, among
BankAmerica, BAMS Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and BAMS.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired:
None.
(b) Pro forma financial information:
None.
(c) Exhibits:
99.1 Press Release dated December 22, 1998.
99.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 22, 1998,
among BankAmerica Corporation, BAMS Acquisition Corporation
and BA Merchant Services, Inc.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
BA MERCHANT SERVICES, INC.
By /s/ James H. Williams
________________________________
James H. Williams
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Date: December 23, 1998.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press Release dated December 22, 1998.
99.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 22, 1998,
among BankAmerica Corporation, BAMS Acquisition Corporation
and BA Merchant Services, Inc.
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EXHIBIT 99.1
News Release
December 22, 1998
Contacts: Dennis Wyss, Bank of America (415) 622-3010
Vince Barella, BA Merchant Services, Inc. (415) 241-7732
BANKAMERICA CORPORATION AND BA MERCHANT SERVICES, INC.
SIGN DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 22, 1998 -- BankAmerica Corporation and BA Merchant
Services, Inc. ("BAMS") announced today the signing of a definitive merger
agreement. At closing, each outstanding share of BAMS (NYSE: BPI) common stock
other than the shares owned by BankAmerica (NYSE: BAC), will be converted into
the right to receive a cash payment equal to $20.50 per share, without interest.
BAMS will then become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America National
Trust and Savings Association.
The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter
of 1999.
The merger was unanimously approved today by the Board of Directors of
BankAmerica and by the Board of Directors of BAMS. The Board of Directors of
BAMS took such action in accordance with the recommendation of a Special
Committee of the Board of Directors of BAMS. The Special Committee, which
consists entirely of directors independent of BankAmerica and its affiliates and
was advised by an independent financial advisor, Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation, and independent legal counsel, was established to review and
evaluate the advisability of a previous proposal made by BankAmerica on October
22, 1998.
BankAmerica and BAMS also announced that an agreement in principle has been
entered into with counsel to the plaintiffs in the several cases filed
purportedly on behalf of BAMS' stockholders regarding the proposed transactions
for the settlement of such cases. The settlement is subject to final
documentation and court approval.
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Consummation of the Merger is subject to the receipt of the approval of the
holders of the common stock of BAMS. BankAmerica currently owns 66.6% of the
economic interest and 95.2% of the voting power of BAMS' common stock and has
agreed to vote its shares in favor of the Merger. The Class A Common Stock of
BAMS is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "BPI".
BA Merchant Services provides an array of payment processing and related
information products and services to merchants who accept credit, charge and
debit cards as payments for goods and services throughout the United States.
BAMS is the exclusive provider of merchant processing services for Bank of
America. According to industry sources, BAMS is the fifth-largest processor of
merchant credit transactions and one of the largest processors of debit card
transactions in the United States.
Bank of America, with $595 billion in total assets, is the largest bank in
the United States, with full service consumer and commercial operations in 22
states and the District of Columbia. Bank of America provides financial products
and services to 30 million households and two million businesses, as well as
providing international corporate financial services for business transactions
in 190 countries. Bank of America stock is listed on New York, Pacific, London
and Tokyo stock exchanges.
##
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EXHIBIT 99.2
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Merger Agreement") is made as of
December 22, 1998 among BankAmerica Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), BAMS Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Parent ("Acquisition Corp."), and BA Merchant Services,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on the date of this Merger Agreement, Parent has represented to
the Company that it is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of 32,400,000
shares of Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Class B Common
Stock"), of the Company (collectively, the "Control Shares");
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company, based upon the unanimous
recommendation of a special committee of independent directors of the Company
(the "Special Committee"), the Board of Directors of Parent and the Board of
Directors of Acquisition Corp. deem it advisable and in the best interests of
their respective stockholders to consummate, and have unanimously adopted
resolutions approving, the merger of Acquisition Corp. with and into the Company
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, Parent has adopted this Merger Agreement and approved the Merger
as the sole stockholder of Acquisition Corp.; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has directed that this
Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of its stockholders;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2), Acquisition Corp.
shall be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the
surviving corporation, and the separate existence of Acquisition Corp. shall
cease. Acquisition Corp. and the Company are sometimes referred to as the
"Constituent Corporations" and the Company is sometimes referred to as the
"Surviving Corporation." The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section
251 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL").
SECTION 1.2 Effective Time of the Merger. Subject to the provisions of
this Merger Agreement, at the Closing (as defined in Section 1.3) a certificate
of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") shall be duly prepared, executed and
verified by the Company and immediately thereafter delivered to the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware for filing, as provided in the DGCL, as soon as
practicable on or after the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.3). The Merger
shall become effective as of the date and time specified in the Certificate of
Merger (such date and time, the "Effective Time").
SECTION 1.3 Closing. Promptly following the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VII hereof and prior to the filing of the
Certificate of Merger, a closing (the "Closing") will take place for the purpose
of confirming the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set
forth in Article VII hereof,
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at the offices of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP, 235 Montgomery Street, San
Francisco, California 94104, unless another place is agreed to by the parties.
The date and time of the Closing is referred to as the "Closing Date."
SECTION 1.4 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.
(a) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, at the Effective Time, be
amended to read in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
(b) Subject to Section 6.9, the Bylaws of Acquisition Corp., as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation without change or amendment until thereafter amended in accordance
with the provisions thereof, the Certificate of Incorporation, Section 6.9 and
applicable laws.
SECTION 1.5 Succession. At the Effective Time, the separate existence of
Acquisition Corp. shall cease, and the Company shall become entitled to all the
rights, privileges, powers and franchises of a public and private nature, and be
subject to all the obligations, duties, restrictions and disabilities of each of
the Constituent Corporations; and all property, real, personal and mixed, and
all debts due to each of the Constituent Corporations on whatever account, as
well as stock subscriptions and all other things in action belonging to each of
the Constituent Corporations, shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation; and
all and every other interest shall be thereafter as effectually the property of
the Surviving Corporation as they were of the respective Constituent
Corporations; and the title to any real estate vested, by deed or otherwise, in
either of such Constituent Corporations shall not revert or be in any way
impaired by reason of the Merger, but all rights of creditors and all liens upon
any property of Acquisition Corp. shall be preserved unimpaired. To the extent
permitted by law, any claim existing or action or proceedings pending by or
against either of the Constituent Corporations may be prosecuted as if the
Merger had not taken place. All debts, liabilities and duties of the respective
Constituent Corporations shall thenceforth attach to the Surviving Corporation
and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if such debts, liabilities
and duties had been incurred or contracted by it. To the extent permitted by
law, all corporate acts, plans, policies, agreements, arrangements, approvals
and authorizations of Acquisition Corp., its stockholder, Board of Directors and
committees thereof, officers and agents which were valid and effective
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be taken for all purposes as the
acts, plans, policies, agreements, arrangements, approvals and authorizations of
the Surviving Corporation and shall be as effective and binding thereon as the
same were with respect to Acquisition Corp. The employees and agents of
Acquisition Corp. shall become the employees and agents of the Surviving
Corporation and continue to be entitled to the same rights and benefits which
they enjoyed as employees and agents of Acquisition Corp.
SECTION 1.6 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.
(a) The directors of the Company at the Effective Time shall be those
individuals designated by Parent prior to the Closing Date, until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
(b) The officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation until their successors shall have been
duly appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or
removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws.
(c) (i) Parent may at any time change the method of effecting the
transactions contemplated hereby if and to the extent that Parent deems such a
change to be reasonably desirable; provided, however, that no such change shall
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(A) alter or change the amount or kind of consideration to be received by the
holders of the Class A Common Stock (as defined in Section 3.2) as provided for
in this Merger Agreement or cause other adverse or potentially adverse
consequences for any such stockholders or any Indemnified Persons (as defined in
Section 6.9) or any holder of Company Options (as defined in Section 2.3)
relative to the consequences provided for in this Merger Agreement; (B) cause a
delay in the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Merger
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Agreement or cause any decrease in the probability that the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be consummated; or (C) take the form of an asset
purchase agreement.
(ii) To facilitate the Merger, the Company will execute such
additional agreements and documents, including any amendment to this Merger
Agreement required in order to effectuate any change provided for in subsection
(i) of this Section 1.6(c), and take such other actions as Parent reasonably
determines necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES; DISSENTERS' SHARES
SECTION 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof: (a) each
share of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be canceled and be converted into, and become the right to
receive: (i) in the case of such shares other than Dissenting Shares (as defined
in Section 2.4), a cash payment equal to $20.50 (the "Merger Consideration"),
without interest; and (ii) in the case of Dissenting Shares, the consideration
set forth in Section 2.4; (b) all of the Control Shares issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall in the aggregate be converted
into, and become the right to receive, 100 shares of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation; and (c) each share of capital stock of Acquisition Corp.,
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be
canceled and extinguished and no consideration shall be paid therefor.
SECTION 2.2 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C. (the "Exchange Agent") shall act as exchange agent in effecting the
exchange of the Merger Consideration for certificates representing shares of
Class A Common Stock entitled to payment pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i) (the
"Certificates").
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to
each record holder of Certificates a letter of transmittal in customary form
(which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title
to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to
the Exchange Agent) and instructions for use in surrendering Certificates and
receiving the Merger Consideration therefor. Upon the surrender of each
Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal duly executed and
completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, the holder of such
Certificate shall be unconditionally entitled to receive in exchange therefor an
amount equal to the Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate, and such
Certificate shall be canceled. Until so surrendered, each such Certificate
shall represent solely the right to receive, upon compliance with the conditions
set forth in this subsection 2.2(b), an amount equal to the Merger Consideration
multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock formerly represented
by such Certificate. No interest shall be paid or accrue on the Merger
Consideration payable upon the surrender of the Certificates. If any Merger
Consideration is to be paid to a person (the "Payee") other than the person in
whose name the Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered (the
"Record Holder"), such Certificate shall be accompanied by all documents
required to evidence and effect the transfer of the rights represented by such
Certificate from the Record Holder to the Payee, and it shall be a condition to
such exchange that the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange
Agent any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment of such
Merger Consideration to the Payee, or that such person shall establish to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is
not applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party hereto shall be liable to a
holder of shares of Class A Common Stock for any Merger Consideration properly
delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property,
escheat and similar laws.
(c) Promptly following the date which is 360 days after the Effective
Time, the Exchange Agent's duties shall terminate, and any funds deposited with
the Exchange Agent that remain unclaimed by holders of Certificates shall be
paid to the Surviving Corporation upon demand. Thereafter, each holder of a
Certificate may surrender
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such Certificate to the Surviving Corporation along with the applicable letter
of transmittal and (subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and
similar laws) receive in exchange therefor an amount equal to the Merger
Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock
formerly represented by such Certificate, without any interest thereon, but
shall have no greater rights against the Surviving Corporation than may be
accorded to general creditors of the Surviving Corporation.
(d) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock
transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of any shares of Common Stock (as
defined in Section 3.2). If, after the Effective Time, Certificates (other than
Certificates relating to the Control Shares) are presented to the Surviving
Corporation or the Exchange Agent, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the
applicable Merger Consideration, as provided herein, subject to applicable law
in the case of Dissenting Shares.
SECTION 2.3 Options and Restricted Stock. (a) As soon as practicable
following the date of this Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors of the
Company (or, if appropriate, any committee administering the Company's Long-Term
Incentive Plan and Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (collectively, the "Stock
Plans")) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions as are required
to provide for the cancellation of all outstanding options issued under the
Stock Plans ("Company Options") upon the Effective Time, in exchange for a cash
payment of an amount equal to (i) the excess, if any, of (x) the Merger
Consideration per share over (y) the exercise price per share of such Company
Option, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock subject
to such Company Option for which such Company Option shall not theretofore have
been exercised, whether or not then vested and exercisable. Prior to the
Effective Time, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (A)
obtain any consents from holders of Company Options, and (B) make any amendments
to the terms of such options that are necessary to give effect to the
transactions contemplated by this Section 2.3(a); provided, however, that the
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failure by the Company to obtain any such consents specified in the preceding
clause (A) or to make any amendments specified in the preceding clause (B) or
the failure of the Company's Board of Directors to take any action referred to
in this Section 2.3 shall not give rise to a right of termination by Parent or
Acquisition Corp. under any provision of this Merger Agreement or result in the
failure of the condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or any other condition to
Parent's or Acquisition Corp.'s obligation to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Section 2.3(a), payment may be withheld in respect of any Company Option
until necessary consents are obtained.
(b) Each outstanding share of unvested restricted Class A Common Stock
issued pursuant to a Stock Plan (each, a "Restricted Share") shall, immediately
prior to the Effective Time, be canceled and be converted into, and become the
right to receive, the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount otherwise payable to certain senior
executive officers of the Company pursuant to this Section 2.3(b) shall be
distributed to such officers on a deferred basis, payable to each such executive
officer in accordance with such officer's originally scheduled release dates for
the Restricted Shares and otherwise, including as to acceleration of vesting
events, in accordance with the provisions of the BankAmerica Corporation
Restricted Stock Retention Grant Program. Pending such distribution, such
deferred amounts shall bear an agreed rate of return.
(c) All amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be subject to
any required withholding of taxes and, except as provided in Section 2.3(b),
shall be paid without interest.
(d) The Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any
committee administering the Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or take
such actions as are required to terminate the Stock Plans as of the Effective
Time, to delete as of the Effective Time the provision in any other benefit plan
of the Company providing for the issuance, transfer or grant of any capital
stock of the Company or any interest in respect of any capital stock of the
Company and to ensure that following the Effective Time no holder of a Company
Option or any participant in any Stock Plan or other Company benefit plan shall
have any right thereunder to acquire any capital stock of the Company or the
Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.4 Dissenters' Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Merger
Agreement to the contrary, shares of Class A Common Stock which are issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and
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which are held by stockholders that have not voted such shares in favor of the
Merger and have delivered a written demand for the appraisal of such shares in
the manner provided in the DGCL (such shares, the "Dissenting Shares") shall not
be converted into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration and
the holders thereof shall only be entitled to such rights as are granted by
Section 262 of the DGCL. Each holder of Dissenting Shares that becomes entitled
to payment for such shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL shall receive
payment therefor from the Surviving Corporation in accordance with the DGCL;
provided, however, that (i) if any such holder of Dissenting Shares shall have
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failed to establish that such holder is entitled to appraisal rights as provided
in Section 262 of the DGCL, or (ii) if any such holder of Dissenting Shares
shall have effectively withdrawn the demand for appraisal of such shares or lost
the right to appraisal and payment of such shares under Section 262 of the DGCL,
or (iii) if neither the Surviving Corporation nor such holder of Dissenting
Shares shall have filed a petition demanding a determination of the value of all
Dissenting Shares within the time provided in Section 262 of the DGCL, such
holder's or holders' (as the case may be) shares of Class A Common Stock shall
thereupon be deemed to have been converted, as of the Effective Time, into and
represent the right to receive from the Surviving Corporation the Merger
Consideration, without interest thereon, as provided in Section 2.1 hereof.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to each of Parent and Acquisition Corp.
as follows:
SECTION 3.1 Organization. The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
and has all requisite corporate power and corporate authority and all necessary
governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on
its business as now being conducted, except where the failure to be so
organized, existing and in good standing or to have such power, authority and
governmental approvals would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect (as
defined in Section 9.9). The Company is duly qualified or licensed to do
business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the property owned,
leased or operated by it or the nature of business conducted by it makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so duly
qualified or licensed and in good standing individually or in the aggregate
would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.2 Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital
stock of the Company consists of: (i) 200,000,000 shares of Class A common
stock, par value $.01 per share ("Class A Common Stock" and, collectively with
the Class B Common Stock, the "Common Stock"), of which, as of the date hereof,
16,267,110 shares were issued and outstanding and no shares were held in
treasury; (ii) 50,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, of which, as of the
date hereof, 32,400,000 shares were issued and outstanding and no shares were
held in treasury; and (iii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01
per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding and no shares are held
in treasury. As of the date hereof, 1,608,454 shares of Class A Common Stock
were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding Company Options and
payments of other outstanding awards pursuant to the Stock Plans. All the
outstanding shares of the Company's capital stock are, and all shares which may
be issued pursuant to the exercise of Company Options or other outstanding
awards or the conversion of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock will be,
when issued in accordance with the respective terms thereof, duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights.
Except as set forth above and except for shares of Class A Common Stock issued
upon the exercise of Company Options, and except pursuant to the provisions of
this Merger Agreement, as of the date hereof there is no (i) share of capital
stock of the Company issued and outstanding or (ii) option, warrant, call,
subscription or other right, agreement or commitment of any character (a)
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company to which the
Company is a party (other than the Company Options) (b) obligating the Company
to issue, transfer or sell or cause to be issued, transferred or sold any share
of capital stock of, or other equity interest in, the Company or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests or
obligating the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant,
call, subscription or other right, agreement or commitment. There is no
outstanding obligation of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of capital stock of the Company. Except pursuant to this Merger
Agreement, there is no voting trust or other agreement or understanding to which
the Company is a party or by which it is bound with respect to the voting of the
capital
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stock of the Company. Except for that certain Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of December 3, 1996 among the Company, the Bank and Bank of America
N.W., National Association, there are no agreements obligating the Company to
register any of its shares of capital stock under the Securities Act.
SECTION 3.3 Authority. The Company has the requisite corporate power and
corporate authority to execute and deliver this Merger Agreement and to carry
out its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Merger Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the
Merger and of the other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no
other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to
authorize this Merger Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby (other than with respect to the Merger, the approval and adoption of the
Merger Agreement by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the DGCL
and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation). This Merger Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms.
SECTION 3.4 Consents and Approvals. Except for filings, permits,
authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and other
applicable requirements of, the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"),
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and state securities or
blue sky laws, and the delivery of the Certificate of Merger to the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware for filing as required by the DGCL, no filing
with or notice to, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any
United States federal or state court or tribunal or United States
administrative, governmental or regulatory body, agency or authority (each, a
"Governmental Entity") is required to be made or obtained by the Company on or
before the Closing Date for the execution and delivery by the Company of this
Merger Agreement or for the consummation by the Company of the Merger, except
where the failure to obtain such permits, authorizations, consents or approvals
or to make such filings or give such notice would not have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.5 Information. None of the information supplied by the Company
specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Proxy
Statement (as defined in Section 6.1) and (ii) any other document (the "Other
Filings") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or
any regulatory agency by Parent, Acquisition Corp. or the Company in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement, at the respective
times filed with the SEC or such other regulatory agency and, in addition, in
the case of the Proxy Statement, at the date it or any amendment or supplement
is mailed to stockholders and at the time of the Stockholders' Meeting (as
defined in Section 6.3), will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply in all material
respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Company
with respect to statements made therein based on information supplied by Parent
or Acquisition Corp. specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
the Proxy Statement.
SECTION 3.6 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Special Committee and the
Board of Directors of the Company (at meetings duly called and held) each have
determined as of the date hereof that the Merger is fair to and in the best
interests of the holders (other than Parent and its Affiliates (as defined in
Section 9.9)) of Class A Common Stock. The Special Committee has received the
opinion, dated the date hereof, of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the
"Financial Advisor"), the Special Committee's financial advisor, substantially
to the effect that the consideration to be received in the Merger by the holders
(other than Parent and its Affiliates) of Class A Common Stock is fair to such
holders from a financial point of view.
SECTION 3.7 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other than
the Financial Advisor) is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or
commission payable by the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Merger Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on
behalf of the Company.
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SECTION 3.8 State Takeover Statutes. The provisions of Section 203 of the
DGCL are not applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby by virtue of the
provisions of Article Fifth of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation. No
other state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation applies or
purports to apply to the Merger, this Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.9 Compliance with Laws. (a) Except as set forth in Schedule
3.9(a), to the best of the Company's knowledge, the Company is in compliance
with all laws, rules, regulations, policies and guidelines of regulatory
agencies, reporting and licensing requirements and orders applicable to its
business or to its employees conducting its business (including, without
limitation, all federal and state securities laws) and with its internal
policies and procedures, except where the failure to be in such compliance would
not individually or in the aggregate have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.9(b), the Company has not received
any notification or communication from any agency or department of any United
States federal, state or local government, including, without limitation, the
SEC and the New York Stock Exchange and the staffs thereof (collectively, the
"Regulatory Authorities"), (i) asserting that the Company is not in compliance
with any of the statutes, regulations or ordinances which such agency,
department or Regulatory Authority enforces, or the internal policies and
procedures of the Company, unless such noncompliance would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise,
permit or governmental authorization which is material to the Company, (iii)
requiring or threatening to require the Company to, or indicating that the
Company may be required to, enter into a cease and desist order, agreement or
memorandum of understanding or any other agreement restricting or limiting or
purporting to restrict or limit in any manner the operations of the Company,
unless such restriction or limitation other than with respect to a cease and
desist order would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, or (iv)
directing, restricting or limiting, or purporting to direct, restrict or limit,
in any material respect the operations of the Company (any such notice,
communication, memorandum, agreement or order described in this sentence herein
referred to as a "Regulatory Agreement").
(c) The Company has not consented to or entered into any Regulatory
Agreement.
SECTION 3.10 Stock Plans. Prior to the execution and delivery of this
Merger Agreement, the Company has delivered to Parent true and correct copies of
all of the Stock Plans currently adopted by, maintained by or sponsored in whole
or in part by, the Company for the benefit of any employee of the Company or
under which any employee of the Company is eligible to participate. Set forth
in Schedule 3.10 is a list of the number of shares covered by, exercise prices
for, and holders of, all stock options or shares of restricted Class A Common
Stock granted under the Stock Plans as of December 10, 1998. All of such grants
of options or restricted Class A Common Stock have been made in accordance with
the terms of the Stock Plans. Since December 10, 1998, the Company has not
granted any awards of stock options or awards of shares of restricted Class A
Common Stock under the Stock Plans.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND ACQUISITION CORP.
Parent and Acquisition Corp. represent and warrant to the Company as
follows:
SECTION 4.1 Organization. Each of Parent and Acquisition Corp. is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate power
and corporate authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease
and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted,
except where the failure to be so organized, existing and in good standing or to
have such power, authority and governmental approvals would not have a material
adverse effect on Parent and its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 9.9) taken
as a whole. Each of Parent and Acquisition Corp. is duly qualified or licensed
to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the property
owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it
makes such
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qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so duly
qualified or licensed and in good standing individually or in the aggregate
would not have a material adverse effect on Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole.
As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Acquisition Corp.
consists of 100 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, all of which
are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and owned by Parent.
SECTION 4.2 Authority. Each of Parent and Acquisition Corp. has the
requisite corporate power and corporate authority to execute and deliver this
Merger Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution,
delivery and performance by each of Parent and Acquisition Corp. of this Merger
Agreement and the consummation by each of Parent and Acquisition Corp. of the
Merger and of the other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and
Acquisition Corp. (including by Parent as the sole stockholder of Acquisition
Corp.), and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Acquisition
Corp. are necessary to authorize this Merger Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Merger Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by each of Parent and Acquisition Corp. and constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of each of Parent and Acquisition Corp., enforceable
against them in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 4.3 Consents and Approvals. Except for filings, permits,
authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and other
applicable requirements of, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and state
securities or blue sky laws, and the delivery of the Certificate of Merger to
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware for filing as required by the
DGCL, no filing with or notice to, and no permit, authorization, consent or
approval of, any Governmental Entity is required to be made or obtained by
Parent or any Affiliate (other than the Company) on or before the Closing Date
for the execution and delivery by Parent and Acquisition Corp. of this Merger
Agreement or for the consummation by Parent and Acquisition Corp. of the Merger,
except where the failure to obtain such permits, authorizations, consents or
approvals or to make such filings or give such notice would not have a material
adverse effect on Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
SECTION 4.4 Information. None of the information supplied by Parent or
Acquisition Corp. specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
the Proxy Statement and the Other Filings, at the respective times filed with
the SEC or such other regulatory agency and, in addition, in the case of the
Proxy Statement, at the date it or any amendment or supplement is mailed to
stockholders and at the time of the Stockholders' Meeting, will contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
SECTION 4.5 Interim Operations of Acquisition Corp. Acquisition Corp. was
formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated
hereby and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any
operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.6 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment bank is entitled to
any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission payable by Parent in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement based
upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than the Company).
SECTION 4.7 Class B Common Stock. Parent is directly or indirectly the
beneficial owner of, and has (and as of the record date for persons entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the Stockholders' Meeting, will have) the
unrestricted right to vote or cause its Affiliates to vote, all of the
outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
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ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.1 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger. From
the date of this Merger Agreement through the earlier of the Effective Time or
the termination of this Merger Agreement, the Company agrees as follows (except
as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Merger Agreement, including
Section 6.10, or to the extent that Parent otherwise shall consent in writing):
(a) The Company will carry on its business in the usual, regular and
ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted
and use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact its current business
organizations, maintain in effect all Company Permits (as defined in
Section 9.9), keep available the services of its current officers and
employees and preserve its advantageous relationships with customers,
suppliers and others having business dealings with it.
(b) The Company will not, nor will it take any action to formally
propose to, (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other
distribution in respect of any of its capital stock, (ii) split, combine or
reclassify any shares of its capital stock or issue or authorize or propose
the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for, shares of its capital stock or (iii) except pursuant to a
Stock Plan, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any shares of capital
stock or voting debt or any securities convertible into, or any rights,
warrants, calls, subscriptions or options to acquire, shares of capital
stock or voting debt of the Company.
(c) The Company will not issue, deliver or sell, or authorize or
propose the issuance, delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital stock
of any class, or any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants,
calls, subscriptions or options to acquire, any such shares, or convertible
securities, other than the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon
the conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock or the exercise of Company
Options or stock grants pursuant to the Stock Plans, in each case
outstanding on the date of this Merger Agreement and in accordance with
their current terms.
(d) The Company will not acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or
substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business
or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization
or division thereof or otherwise (except in the ordinary course of
business) acquire or agree to acquire any assets, in each case that are
material individually or in the aggregate to the Company.
(e) The Company will not sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise
dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose
of, any of its assets that are material individually or in the aggregate to
the Company, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice.
(f) The Company will not incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
guarantee any such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or
warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or
guarantee any debts or other obligations of others or assume or otherwise
become liable for any debts or other obligations of others, other than in
each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
(which shall be deemed to include the renewal of the Company's line of
credit with Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association).
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(g) The Company will not make any material change in any of the
accounting principles or practices used by it except as required by the
SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any other legal or
regulatory requirement applicable to the Company.
(h) The Company will not (x) enter into, adopt, amend (except as may
be required by law) or terminate any employee benefit plan or any
agreement, arrangement, plan or policy between the Company and one or more
of its directors, officers, employees or independent contractors or (y)
except for normal increases in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice that in the aggregate do not result in a material
increase in benefit or compensation expense to the Company, increase in any
manner the compensation or benefits (including severance benefits) of any
director, officer, employee or independent contractor or pay any benefit
not required by any plan and arrangement as in effect at the date hereof
(including the granting of stock appreciation rights or performance units)
or enter into any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement to do any
of the foregoing.
(i) The Company will not take any action that would, or would be
reasonably likely to, result in any of the Company's representations and
warranties set forth in this Merger Agreement not being true in all
respects such that any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article
VII shall not be satisfied or agree to take any of the actions specified in
this Section 5.1(i).
(j) The Company shall not pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any
claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or
unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge,
settlement 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, or contemplated by, the most recent
consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the Company or
incurred since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice.
(k) Except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or as required by the terms of this Merger Agreement, the Company
shall not modify, amend or terminate any material contract, lease or
agreement to which the Company is a party or waive, release or assign any
material rights or claims thereunder. Without the prior written consent of
Parent, the Company shall not enter into any contract, agreement or
arrangement other than in the ordinary course of business or which involves
the payment by the Company of more than $500,000 per annum.
(l) The Company shall not amend or propose to amend its Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.1 Preparation of the Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3. The
parties will promptly prepare and file with the SEC a proxy statement in
connection with the vote of the Company's stockholders with respect to the
Merger (the "Proxy Statement") and a Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3
(the "Schedule 13E-3") as required under the Exchange Act in connection with the
Merger. Each of the Company and Parent will furnish all information concerning
itself and its Affiliates that is required to be included in the Proxy Statement
and the Schedule 13E-3 for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and the Schedule
13E-3.
SECTION 6.2 Access to Information. During the period prior to the first
to occur of the Effective Time or the termination of this Merger Agreement, (i)
upon reasonable notice, the Company will afford to the officers, employees,
accountants, counsel and other representatives of Parent, reasonable access,
during normal business hours, to all its properties, books, contracts,
commitments and records, and (ii) the Company will furnish promptly
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to Parent (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other
document filed or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements
of the Federal securities laws and (b) all other information concerning its
business, properties and personnel as Parent reasonably may request; provided,
--------
however, that the Company shall not be required to permit any access, or to
- -------
furnish any information, that in the reasonable judgment of the Special
Committee, after consultation with counsel to the Special Committee, would
jeopardize protections afforded the Company or the Special Committee under the
attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine.
SECTION 6.3 Stockholders' Meeting. The Company will call a meeting of its
stockholders (the "Stockholders' Meeting") to be held as promptly as practicable
for the purpose of voting upon the Merger Agreement and shall submit the Merger
Agreement to its stockholders for a vote at such Stockholders' Meeting. The
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), postpone or adjourn the Stockholders'
Meeting unless this Merger Agreement shall be terminated prior to the date
thereof. The Company, through its Board of Directors, subject to the fiduciary
duties of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Special Committee after
consultation with counsel, will recommend approval of the Merger Agreement to
the Company's stockholders; provided, however, that at any time at or prior to
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the Stockholders' Meeting either the Special Committee or the Board of Directors
of the Company (or both the Board of Directors and the Special Committee) may
revoke, modify or qualify its recommendation with respect to the Merger
Agreement if the Board of Directors of the Company or the Special Committee
determines in good faith (after consultation with legal counsel) that failure to
revoke, modify or qualify such recommendation would create a material risk of
liability for breach of its fiduciary duties. At the Stockholders' Meeting (and
at any adjournment or postponement thereof), Parent will vote or cause to be
voted in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of
the Merger all of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock; provided,
--------
however, that if such recommendation of the Special Committee is revoked,
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modified or qualified in a manner adverse to Parent, Parent may, but shall not
be obligated to, cause such shares to be so voted.
SECTION 6.4 Legal Requirements to Merger. Each of the Company, Parent and
Acquisition Corp. will take, or cause to be taken, all reasonable actions
necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements that may be imposed on
it with respect to the Merger and will cooperate with and furnish information to
each other in connection with any such requirements imposed upon any of them or
any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger. Each of the Company,
Parent and Acquisition Corp. will, and will cause any of its Subsidiaries to,
take all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with each
other in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any
exemption by, any Governmental Entity required to be obtained or made by Parent,
Acquisition Corp., or any Affiliate thereof, or the Company in connection with
the Merger.
SECTION 6.5 Additional Agreements; Commercially Reasonable Efforts.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Merger Agreement, each of the
parties will use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper
or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement, subject to the
appropriate vote of stockholders of the Company described in Section 6.3,
including cooperating (to the extent reasonable) with the other parties and
providing all relevant information. If after the Effective Time any further
action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Merger
Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation with full title to all
properties, assets, rights, approvals, immunities and franchises of either of
the Constituent Corporations, the proper officers and directors of each party
will take all such necessary action.
SECTION 6.6 Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated, but
subject to Section 6.10, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Merger Agreement and solely and directly related to the transactions
contemplated hereby will be paid by the party that incurred such costs and
expenses; provided, however, that the printing and mailing costs associated with
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the Proxy Statement and the Schedule 13E-3 will be paid by Parent; provided
--------
further, however, that costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of an
- ------- -------
individual stockholder (or a group of stockholders) shall not be treated as
solely and directly related to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided
--------
further, that if this Merger Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to
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Section 8.1 as a result of the willful breach by a party of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or
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agreements set forth in this Merger Agreement, such breaching party will pay the
costs and expenses incurred by the other parties in connection with this Merger
Agreement.
SECTION 6.7 Acquisition Proposals. The Company shall not, and shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause its officers, directors and employees and
any investment banker, attorney, accountant or other agent retained by it not to
(i) initiate, knowingly encourage or solicit, directly or indirectly, the making
of any proposal or offer (an "Acquisition Proposal") to acquire all or any
significant part of the business and properties or capital stock of the Company,
whether by merger, purchase of securities or assets, tender offer or otherwise
(an "Acquisition Transaction"), or initiate, directly or indirectly, any contact
with any person in an effort to or with a view towards soliciting any
Acquisition Proposal or (ii) participate in any discussion or negotiations
regarding, or furnish to any other person any information with respect to, an
Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may (x)
furnish or cause to be furnished information subject to a confidentiality
agreement in a form substantially similar to that previously executed by Parent
and (y) in response to an Acquisition Proposal, issue a communication to its
security holders of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(e) or 14e-2 under the
Exchange Act or otherwise communicate the Board of Director's position with
respect to such Acquisition Proposal to the stockholders of the Company. In the
event that the Company receives an Acquisition Proposal, it shall promptly
inform Parent as to the material terms thereof.
SECTION 6.8 Public Statements. The parties will consult with each other
prior to issuing any public announcement with respect to this Merger Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby and will not issue any such public
announcement prior to such consultation, except that any party may issue such a
public announcement prior to such consultation if and to the extent required by
law or any listing agreement with a national securities exchange, in which case
such party will use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the
other parties prior to issuing such public announcement.
SECTION 6.9 Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) For a period of six years from the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation will maintain all rights to indemnification (including with
respect to the advancement of expenses incurred in the defense of any
action or suit) existing on the date of this Merger Agreement in favor of
the current and former directors and executive officers of the Company
(each such current or former director or executive officer being referred
to in this Merger Agreement as an "Indemnified Person") as provided in the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws or otherwise, in each
case in effect on the date of this Merger Agreement and (ii) the Surviving
Corporation will not take any action to: (i) amend the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation to reduce or limit the
rights of indemnity afforded to any Indemnified Person; (ii) restrict the
ability of the Surviving Corporation to indemnify any Indemnified Person;
or (iii) hinder, delay or make more difficult the exercise of such rights
of indemnity or the ability to indemnify.
(b) For a period of six years from the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation will indemnify to the fullest extent possible under its
Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws and applicable law each
Indemnified Person against all losses, damages, liabilities or claims made
against such Indemnified Person arising from such Indemnified Person's
service in such capacity prior to and including the Effective Time, which
indemnity shall be not less favorable in any respect than that currently
available pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws.
(c) Should any claim or claims be made against any Indemnified
Person, arising from his or her services as such, the provisions of this
Section 6.9 respecting the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws will
continue in effect until the final disposition of all such claims.
(d) Without limiting the provisions of paragraphs (a) through (c) or
(e) through (g) of this Section 6.9, for a period of six years from the
Effective Time, Parent shall, to the extent
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permitted by applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified
Person against and from any costs, fees and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any lawsuit, court action
or other court proceeding, claim, or investigation, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (each, a "Legal Proceeding"), to
the extent such Legal Proceeding arises out of or pertains to (1) any
action or omission or alleged action or omission in his or her capacity as
a director or executive officer, or as employee or agent, of the Company
(regardless of whether such action or omission, or alleged action or
omission, occurred prior to the Effective Time) or (2) any of the
transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement; provided, however, that
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if, at any time prior to the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time, any
Indemnified Person delivers to Parent a written notice asserting a claim
for indemnification under this Section 6.9(d), then the claim asserted in
such notice shall survive the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time until
such time as such claim is fully and finally resolved; provided further,
----------------
however, that the obligations of Parent to advance any costs incurred in
--------
connection with a Legal Proceeding in advance of any disposition of such
Legal Proceeding shall be required to be made only upon delivery to Parent
by the Indemnified Person of an undertaking to repay all amounts so
advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person
is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Merger Agreement, Parent agrees that it will
not settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment or
otherwise seek termination with respect to any Legal Proceeding for which
indemnification may be sought under this Merger Agreement unless such
settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional
release of all Indemnified Persons from all liability arising out of such
Legal Proceeding. The amount of any cost, fee, expense, judgment, fine,
loss, claim, liability and amount paid in settlement for which
indemnification is provided under this Section 6.9(d) shall be net of any
amounts recovered or recoverable therefor by any Indemnified Party under
any applicable insurance policies or otherwise.
(e) For a period of six years from the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation (or Parent on its behalf) will cause to be maintained in
effect, at no expense to the beneficiaries thereof, directors' and
officers' liability insurance providing at least the same coverage with
respect to the Company's officers and directors as the policies, if any,
maintained from time to time by or on behalf of Parent with respect to its
officers and directors (or, if broader in scope, the policies maintained by
the Company as of the date of this Merger Agreement); provided, however,
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that (i) the aggregate annual premium payable therefor shall not exceed
150% of the aggregate annual premium payable for such directors' and
officers' liability insurance policies as are currently in effect, and (ii)
if the aggregate annual premium of such insurance coverage exceeds the
amount referred to in clause (i) of this sentence, Parent shall be
obligated to obtain a policy with the broadest coverage available for a
cost not exceeding such amount. In the event any claim is made against the
current or former directors or officers of the Company that is covered or
potentially covered by, insurance, the Surviving Corporation and Parent
will do nothing that would forfeit, jeopardize, restrict or limit the
insurance coverage available for that claim until the final disposition of
that claim.
(f) If the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns
or Parent or any of its successors and assigns (i) consolidates with or
merges into any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all
or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, proper
provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving
Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations of
the Surviving Corporation set forth in this Section 6.9.
(g) The provisions of this Section 6.9 are intended to be for the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Person and his or
her heirs and representatives.
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SECTION 6.10 Taiwan Business. It is agreed that the assets and business
of the Company located in the Republic of China (the "Taiwan Business") may, at
the election of Parent, be included within certain assets and businesses of
Parent or its Affiliates which may be the subject of divestitures by Parent or
its Affiliates after the date of this Merger Agreement. Parent agrees to
consult with the Company in connection with such divestitures. It is further
agreed that the Company shall be entitled to receive its allocable proportion of
the consideration received by Parent and its Affiliates for such Asian assets
and businesses, of which the Taiwan Business shall be a part, such allocation to
be determined in good faith by Parent. In the event that this Merger Agreement
shall be terminated for any reason and prior to or thereafter the divestiture of
the Taiwan Business shall be consummated on terms which result in the
consideration therefor receivable hereunder by the Company being less than the
market value of the securities of the Company issued in connection with the
acquisition thereof, determined in the manner consistent with the valuation used
at the time of such acquisitions, Parent shall promptly pay to the Company the
difference between such market value and the consideration therefor receivable.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS
SECTION 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of Parent, Acquisition Corp. and the Company to
effect the Merger and of each party to satisfy its obligations hereunder shall
be subject to the satisfaction or, where permissible, waiver at or prior to the
Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree,
preliminary or permanent injunction or restraining order shall have been
enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any U.S. federal or state
court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity that prohibits
the consummation of the Merger.
SECTION 7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Acquisition Corp. The
obligations of Acquisition Corp. to effect the Merger and of Parent and
Acquisition Corp. to satisfy their respective obligations hereunder are subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived by Parent and
Acquisition Corp.:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
this Merger Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as of the
date of this Merger Agreement and (except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak specifically as of an earlier date) as
of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except as
otherwise contemplated by this Merger Agreement; provided, however, that
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for purposes of determining under this Section 7.2(a) whether such
representations and warranties are true and correct, (i) no effect shall be
given to any qualifications or exceptions contained in such representations
and warranties concerning "materiality" or "Company Material Adverse
Effect", and (ii) such representations and warranties shall be deemed to be
true and correct in all respects unless the failure or failures of such
representations and warranties to be so true and correct (giving effect to
clause (i) hereof), individually or in the aggregate, would have or would
be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company
shall have performed in all respects all obligations required to be
performed by it under this Merger Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date
unless the failure of such obligations to be performed, individually or in
the aggregate, would not have or would not be reasonably likely to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect or to have a material adverse effect on the
economic consequences to Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by
the chief executive officer or an executive vice president of the Company
to the foregoing effect.
SECTION 7.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of
the Company to effect the Merger and to satisfy its obligations hereunder is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived by the
Company:
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(a) The representations and warranties of Parent and Acquisition
Corp. set forth in this Merger Agreement shall be true and correct in all
respects as of the date of this Merger Agreement and (except to the extent
such representations and warranties speak specifically as of an earlier
date) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date,
except as otherwise contemplated by this Merger Agreement; provided,
--------
however, that for purposes of determining under this Section 7.3(a) whether
-------
such representations and warranties are true and correct, (i) no effect
shall be given to any qualifications or exceptions contained in such
representations and warranties concerning "materiality" or "material
adverse effect", and (ii) such representations and warranties shall be
deemed to be true and correct in all respects unless the failure or
failures of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct
(giving effect to clause (i) hereof), individually or in the aggregate,
would have or would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect
on Parent and Acquisition Corp. Parent and Acquisition Corp. shall have
performed in all respects all obligations required to be performed by them
under this Merger Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date. The Company
shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the chief
executive officer or an executive vice president of Parent to the foregoing
effect.
(b) All material consents and approvals of Governmental Entities
necessary for consummation of the Merger shall have been obtained.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
SECTION 8.1 Termination. This Merger Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before
or after approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of
the Company:
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent, Acquisition Corp. and the
Company;
(b) by Parent or Acquisition Corp. if there exists any breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Company set forth in
this Merger Agreement such that the condition set forth in Section 7.2(a)
would not be satisfied as of the time of the expiration of the cure period
with respect to such breach, which breach shall not have been cured prior
to the earlier of (x) 30 days following written notice from Parent to the
Company of such breach and (y) the Outside Date (as defined below);
provided, however, that Parent shall not be permitted to terminate this
-------- -------
Merger Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b) if Parent shall have
materially breached any provision of this Merger Agreement;
(c) by the Company if there exists any breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement of Parent or Acquisition Corp. set forth in
this Merger Agreement, which breach shall not have been cured prior to the
earlier of (x) 30 days following written notice from the Company to Parent
of such breach and (y) the Outside Date; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
Company shall not be permitted to terminate this Merger Agreement pursuant
to this Section 8.1(c) if the Company shall have materially breached any
provision of this Merger Agreement;
(d) by either Parent, Acquisition Corp. or the Company if any
permanent injunction or other order of a United States federal or state
court or other competent Governmental Entity preventing the consummation of
the Merger shall have become final and non-appealable;
(e) by either Parent, Acquisition Corp. or the Company if the Merger
shall not have been consummated before April 30, 1999 (the "Outside Date");
provided, however, that the right to terminate this Merger Agreement under
-------- -------
this Section 8.1(e) will not be available to any party whose breach of its
representations and warranties in this Merger Agreement or whose failure
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to perform any of its covenants and agreements under this Merger Agreement
has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on
or before such date;
(f) by Parent if the Special Committee shall not have recommended in
the Proxy Statement that the Company's stockholders approve this Merger
Agreement and the Merger, or if the Special Committee shall have
subsequently revoked or modified in a manner adverse to Parent or qualified
in a manner adverse to Parent, its recommendation in favor of the adoption
and approval of this Merger Agreement or the approval of the Merger; or
(g) by the Company if the Merger shall not have been approved by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholders' Meeting.
SECTION 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of a termination of this
Merger Agreement by either Parent, Acquisition Corp. or the Company as provided
in Section 8.1, this Merger Agreement forthwith will become void and there will
be no liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Acquisition Corp. or the
Company or their respective officers, directors or stockholders, except to the
extent that such termination results from the willful breach by a party to this
Merger Agreement of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements set forth herein.
SECTION 8.3 Amendment; Extension; Waiver.
(a) This Merger Agreement may be amended by the parties, by action taken
or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or
after approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of the
Company. After any such approval, however, no amendment shall be made that by
law requires further approval by such stockholders without such further
approval. This Merger Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.
(b) At any time prior to the Effective Time the parties, to the extent
legally allowed, (i) may extend the time for the performance of any obligation
of the other parties, (ii) may waive any inaccuracy in the representations and
warranties contained in this Merger Agreement or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto and (iii) may waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument
signed on behalf of such party.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Effect of Action or Knowledge of Parent or Parent Nominees.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Merger Agreement, for
purposes of this Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, Sections
7.2(a) and 8.1(b)):
(a) no representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Merger
Agreement shall be deemed to be untrue, incorrect or breached if (A) the failure
of the representation or warranty to be true or correct, or the breach of the
representation or warranty, results from any act or omission of (1) Parent, (2)
any person or persons acting at the request or direction of Parent, or (3) any
one or more officer(s), director(s), employee(s) or representative(s) of Parent
or its Affiliates (including, without limitation, any one or more member(s) of
the Board of Directors of the Company other than the members of the Special
Committee) (each such officer, director, employee and representative referred to
in this clause (3) being referred to in this Merger Agreement as a "Parent
Nominee"); or (B) any facts or circumstances that constitute or give rise to the
untruth or inaccuracy in (or breach of) the representation or warranty were
known to Parent or any Parent Nominee at the time such representation or
warranty was made by the Company, and
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<PAGE>
(b) the Company shall not be deemed to have breached any of its covenants
or agreements contained in this Merger Agreement if (A) the breach of the
covenant or agreement results from any act or omission of (1) Parent, (2) any
person or persons acting at the request or direction of Parent, or (3) any one
or more Parent Nominee(s); or (B) any facts or circumstances that constitute or
give rise to such breach were known to Parent or any Parent Nominee at the time
of or prior to the occurrence of such breach and if, after Parent shall have
become aware of such facts and circumstances, Parent shall have failed promptly
to advise the Special Committee in writing of such facts or circumstances.
For purposes of this Section 9.1, Parent shall be deemed to have knowledge of a
fact or circumstance or act or omission if such fact or circumstance or act or
omission was formally considered at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Company at which any Parent Nominee was present throughout such consideration or
included in any written materials provided to any such Parent Nominee.
SECTION 9.2 Approval by Special Committee. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, (1) the approval of a majority of the members of the Special
Committee shall be required to authorize each of the following actions (and none
of such actions shall be valid unless approved by a majority of the members of
the Special Committee): (i) any termination of this Merger Agreement by the
Company, (ii) any agreement by the Company to amend this Merger Agreement, (iii)
any extension of time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of Parent or Acquisition Corp., and (iv) any waiver of compliance with or
any waiver of any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or
conditions contained in this Merger Agreement for the benefit of the Company;
and (2) the authorization of any such action by a majority of the Special
Committee shall constitute the authorization of such action by the Board of
Directors of the Company, and no other action on the part of the Company or any
other director of the Company shall be required to authorize such action.
SECTION 9.3 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
None of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Merger
Agreement (or the exhibits and schedules hereto) or in any instrument delivered
pursuant to this Merger Agreement shall survive the Effective Time, except for
the agreements contained in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 6.5, 6.9 and 6.10.
SECTION 9.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) upon receipt, if delivered
personally or telecopied (and confirmed) or (b) two business days after being
mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):
(a) if to Acquisition Corp., to
BAMS Acquisition Corporation
c/o BankAmerica Corporation
101 South Tryon Street
NC1-002-29-01
Charlotte, NC 28255
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (704) 386-1621
Telecopy: (704) 386-1670
with copies to
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
235 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94104
Attention: Rodney R. Peck, Esq.
Telephone: (415) 983-1000
Telecopy: (415) 983-1200
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<PAGE>
(b) if to Parent, to
BankAmerica Corporation
101 South Tryon Street
NC1-002-29-01
Charlotte, NC 28255
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (704) 386-1621
Telecopy: (704) 386-1670
with copies to
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
235 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94104
Attention: Rodney R. Peck, Esq.
Telephone: (415) 983-1000
Telecopy: (415) 983-1200
and
(c) if to the Company, to
BA Merchant Services, Inc.
One South Van Ness Avenue, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (415) 241-8235
Telecopy: (415) 241-4198
with copies to
Mr. Donald R. Dixon
Trident Capital, Inc.
2480 Sand Hill Road, Suite 100
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Telephone: (650) 233-4301
Telecopy: (650) 233-4333
Mr. William E. Fisher
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
224 South 108th Avenue
Omaha, NE 68154
Telephone: (402) 390-7688
Telecopy: (402) 390-8077
Mr. Hatim Tyabji
28130 Story Hill Lane
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Telephone: (650) 949-0212
Telecopy: (650) 949-5887
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<PAGE>
Cooley Godward LLP
Five Palo Alto Square
3000 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306-2155
Attention: Lee Benton, Esq.
Telephone: (650) 843-5000
Telecopy: (650) 857-0663
SECTION 9.5 Headings. When a reference is made in this Merger Agreement
to a Section, Schedule or Exhibit, such reference shall be to a Section of, or a
Schedule or Exhibit to, this Merger Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The
headings contained in this Merger Agreement are for reference purposes only and
will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Merger
Agreement.
SECTION 9.6 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Merger
Agreement (including the documents, exhibits and instruments referred to herein)
(a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (b) except as provided in Section 6.9, are not
intended to confer upon any person other than the parties any right or remedy
hereunder.
SECTION 9.7 Specific Performance. Each of the parties acknowledges and
agrees that the other party or parties would be irreparably damaged in the event
any covenant or agreement contained in this Merger Agreement is not performed in
accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached. Accordingly, each
of the parties will be entitled, without bond or other security, to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the covenants or agreements
contained in this Merger Agreement and to enforce specifically this Merger
Agreement and the covenants and agreements contained herein in any action
instituted in any court of the United States or any state thereof having subject
matter jurisdiction, in addition to any other remedy to which such party may be
entitled, at law or in equity. Each party agrees that, should any court or
other competent authority hold any provision of this Merger Agreement or part
hereof to be null, void or unenforceable, or order any party to take any action
inconsistent herewith or not to take any action required herein, the other party
shall not be entitled to specific performance of such provision or part hereof
or to any other remedy, including money damages, for breach hereof as a result
of such holding or order.
SECTION 9.8 Assignment. Neither this Merger Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the
parties (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other parties, except that Acquisition Corp. may assign, subject
to the reasonable approval of the Company, any or all of its rights, interests
and obligations hereunder to Parent or to any wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent.
Subject to the preceding sentence, this Merger Agreement will be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
SECTION 9.9 Certain Definitions.
(a) "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any party, any corporation,
limited liability company or other organization, whether incorporated or
unincorporated, of which (i) such party or any other Subsidiary of such
party is a general partner (excluding partnerships the general partnership
interests of which held by such party or any Subsidiary of such party do
not have a majority of the voting interest in such partnership) or managing
member or (ii) at least a majority of the securities or other interests
having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the
Board of Directors or others performing similar functions with respect to
such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly owned or
controlled by such party or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by
such party and one or more of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that
-------- --------
BMCF Gaming, L.L.C. shall not be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the Company
for purpose of this definition.
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<PAGE>
(b) "Company Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse
effect on the financial condition, properties, assets (including intangible
assets), or results of operations of the Company; provided, however, that:
-------- -------
(i) any adverse effect arising from or relating to general business or
economic conditions shall not be deemed to constitute, and shall not be
taken into account in determining whether there has been, a "Company
Material Adverse Effect"; (ii) any adverse effect relating to or affecting
the payment processing services industry generally shall not be deemed to
constitute, and shall not be taken into account in determining whether
there has been, a "Company Material Adverse Effect"; (iii) any adverse
effect arising from or relating to the announcement or pendency of the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Merger
Agreement, including, without limitation, any stockholder litigation, shall
not be deemed to constitute, and shall not be taken into account in
determining whether there has been, a "Company Material Adverse Effect";
and (iv) any adverse effect arising from or relating to the taking of any
action permitted or contemplated by this Merger Agreement shall not be
deemed to constitute, and shall not be taken into account in determining
whether there has been, a "Company Material Adverse Effect".
(c) "Company Permits" means, with respect to the Company, all
permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals of all
Governmental Entities necessary for the lawful conduct of its business.
(d) "Affiliate" means, with respect to any party, any person
(including, without limitation, any corporation, limited liability company
or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated) that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, the party specified.
(e) Whenever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used
in this Merger Agreement they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
"without limitation".
SECTION 9.10 Counterparts. This Merger Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement.
SECTION 9.11 Severability. If any one or more of the provisions of this
Merger Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provision of this Merger Agreement, and this Merger
Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable
provision were not contained herein.
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SECTION 9.12 Governing Law. This Merger Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
any applicable principles of conflicts of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Acquisition Corp. and the Company have caused
this Merger Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the date first written above.
BANKAMERICA CORPORATION
By: /s/ Barry L. Pyle
------------------------------------------
Barry L. Pyle
Executive Vice President
BAMS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By: /s/ John H. Huffstutler
------------------------------------------
John H. Huffstutler
President
BA MERCHANT SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Sharif M. Bayyari
------------------------------------------
Sharif M. Bayyari
President and Chief Executive Officer
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