UNITED STATES
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):
February 22, 2000
Travel Services International, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Florida
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
000-29298 ###-##-####
(Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
Number) Identification Number)
220 Congress Park Drive 33445
Delray Beach, Florida (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(561) 266-0860
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On February 21, 2000, the Company entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with
Airtours plc, a corporation organized under the laws of the
United Kingdom ("Parent") and Blue Sea Florida Acquisition
Inc., a Florida corporation and an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Purchaser"). Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, Purchaser will commence a tender offer (the
"Offer") within seven business days of the date thereof to
purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"),
together with the associated common share purchase rights (the
"Rights" and, together with the Common Stock, the "Shares"),
at a purchase price of $26.00 per Share, net to the seller in
cash, without interest thereon (such amount, or any greater
amount per Share paid pursuant to the Offer, being referred to
herein as the "Offer Price"). The Merger Agreement provides
that upon completion of the Offer and satisfaction or waiver
of certain other conditions, Purchaser will be merged with and
into the Company (the "Merger"), with the Company being the
surviving corporation. In the Merger, each outstanding Share
then issued and outstanding (other than (i) any Shares then
held by Purchaser or Parent, all of which shall be cancelled
and none of which shall receive any payment with respect
thereto and (ii) Shares held by holders who exercise their
right under the Florida Business Corporation Act to dissent
from the Merger and require an appraisal of their shares of
common stock) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into
and represent the right to receive an amount in cash, without
interest, equal to the price paid for each Share pursuant to
the Offer.
A copy of each of the Merger Agreement, the Amendment
to the Rights Agreement and the press release announcing the
transaction are filed herewith as Exhibits 2.1, 4.1 and 99.1,
respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 21, 2000, by and
among Travel Services International, Inc., Airtours plc and Blue Sea
Florida Acquisition Inc.
4.1 Amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2000, by
and between Travel Services International, Inc. and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company.
99.1 Press Release of Travel Services International, Inc., dated as of
February 21, 2000.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
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.
TRAVEL SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By /s/ Suzanne B. Bell
-------------------------
Name: Suzanne B. Bell
Title: Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
Dated: February 22, 2000
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 21, 2000, by and
among Travel Services International, Inc., Airtours plc and Blue Sea
Florida Acquisition Inc.
4.1 Amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2000, by
and between Travel Services International, Inc. and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company.
99.1 Press Release of Travel Services International, Inc., dated as of
February 21, 2000.
Execution Copy
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
c
BY AND AMONG
AIRTOURS plc,
BLUE SEA FLORIDA ACQUISITION INC.
AND
TRAVEL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Dated as of February 21, 2000
<PAGE>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of February 21, 2000 (this
"Agreement"), by and among AIRTOURS plc, a corporation organized under the laws
of the United Kingdom ("Parent"), BLUE SEA FLORIDA ACQUISITION INC., a Florida
corporation and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Purchaser"), and
TRAVEL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Florida corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and
the Company have approved the acquisition of the Company by Purchaser on the
terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, in contemplation thereof Parent will cause Purchaser to make
a tender offer (as it may be amended from time to time as permitted under this
Agreement, the "Offer") to purchase all the issued and outstanding shares of
common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company ("Common Stock") and the
associated common share purchase rights (the "Rights", and together with the
Common Stock, the "Shares") issued pursuant to the Shareholders Rights
Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1999, by and between the Company and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (as amended from time to time, the "Rights
Agreement"), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at a price
of $26 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon (such
price, or any such higher price per Share as may be paid to any holder of Shares
in the Offer, being referred to herein as the "Offer Price");
WHEREAS, to complete such acquisition, the respective Boards of
Directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company have approved and adopted this
Agreement, and have determined advisable, the merger of Purchaser with and into
the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation (the "Merger"),
pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company, based on the unanimous
recommendation of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Special Committee"), has, in light of and subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein: (i) determined that (A) the consideration to be
paid for each Share held by the shareholders in the Merger is fair to such
shareholders of the Company, and (B) the Merger is otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, and (ii) resolved to approve and
adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and to recommend
approval and adoption by the shareholders of the Company of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, certain shareholders of the Company have indicated their
intention to execute and deliver a Voting and Tender Agreement, in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Voting and Tender Agreement"), pursuant to
which, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, such shareholders
shall tender all Shares owned by them into the Offer and vote their shares of
Common Stock in favor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants, representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
1.01 The Offer.
(a) Provided that this Agreement shall not have been terminated in
accordance with Article VI hereof and so long as none of the events set forth in
Annex A hereto (the "Tender Offer Conditions") shall have occurred and are
continuing, as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than the seventh
Business Day after the date of this Agreement, Parent shall cause Purchaser to,
and Purchaser shall, commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) the
Offer. The obligations of Purchaser to accept for payment and to pay for any
Shares tendered shall be subject only to the Tender Offer Conditions, any of
which may be waived by Purchaser; provided, that the Minimum Condition (as
defined in Annex A hereto) may not be waived by Purchaser without the prior
written consent of the Company. Purchaser expressly reserves the right to modify
the terms of the Offer; provided, that without the consent of the Company,
Purchaser shall not (i) reduce the number of Shares sought to be purchased in
the Offer, (ii) reduce the Offer Price, (iii) add to the Tender Offer
Conditions, (iv) modify the Tender Offer Conditions or any other term or
condition of the Offer in a manner that is adverse to the holders of Common
Stock, (v) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer or (vi) except
as provided in the last two sentences of this subsection (a) or as required by
law, extend the Offer beyond any scheduled expiration date. Purchaser covenants
and agrees that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including, but not limited to, the Tender Offer Conditions and the last sentence
of this Section 1.01(a), unless the Company otherwise consents in writing it
will accept for payment and pay for the Shares as soon as it is permitted to do
so under applicable law (but in any event, in the case of accepting for payment,
within one Business Day after the Offer terminates). Purchaser agrees that if it
is unable to consummate the Offer on the initial scheduled expiration date due
to the failure of the Tender Offer Conditions set forth in Annex A to be
satisfied or waived, Purchaser shall, unless this Agreement has been terminated
in accordance with its terms, extend the Offer and set a subsequent scheduled
expiration date, and shall continue to so extend the Offer and set subsequent
scheduled expiration dates, until the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms; provided, that any such extended expiration date
shall not be later than the earlier of (x) ten Business Days following the
previously scheduled expiration date and (y) the date on which Purchaser
reasonably believes that all Tender Offer Conditions will be satisfied or
waived. Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) to the contrary,
Purchaser may extend the Offer, without the Company's consent, on one or more
occasions, for any reason, up to a maximum of three Business Days in the
aggregate, notwithstanding the prior satisfaction of the Tender Offer Conditions
so long as Purchaser irrevocably waives the continued satisfaction of any of the
Tender Offer Conditions.
(b) As soon as practicable on the date that the Offer is commenced,
Parent and Purchaser, together with such other Persons as shall be required to
be included as parties to such filings, shall file, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO
(together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the "Schedule TO") with
respect to the Offer. The Schedule TO shall contain (included as an exhibit) or
shall incorporate by reference an offer to purchase (the "Offer to Purchase")
and a form of the related letter of transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"),
as well as all other information and exhibits required by law (which Schedule
TO, Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and such other information and
exhibits, together with any supplements or amendments thereto, are referred to
herein collectively as the "Offer Documents"). The Company and its counsel shall
be given the opportunity to review and comment upon the Offer Documents prior to
their filing with the Commission. The Offer Documents will comply in all
material respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws and,
on the date filed with the Commission and the date first published, sent or
given to the Company's shareholders, shall not 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, except that no
representation is made by Parent or Purchaser with respect to any information
supplied by the Company or its officers, directors or affiliates in writing for
inclusion in the Offer Documents or any amendment or supplement thereto. If, at
any time prior to the expiration or termination of the Offer, any event occurs
that should be described in an amendment or supplement to the Offer Documents,
Parent and Purchaser will, and Parent will cause Purchaser to, file and
disseminate, as required, an amendment or supplement which complies in all
material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder
and any other applicable laws. Prior to its filing with the Commission, the
amendment or supplement shall be delivered to the Company and its counsel and
the Company and its counsel shall be given the opportunity to comment thereon.
The written information supplied or to be supplied by Parent and Purchaser for
inclusion in the Proxy Statement and the Schedule 14D-9 (as defined in Section
1.02 hereof) of the Company will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. Each of Parent and Purchaser agrees to provide the Company and its
counsel with copies of any written comments Parent and Purchaser or their
counsel may receive from the Commission or its staff with respect to the Offer
Documents promptly after the receipt of such comments and shall provide the
Company and its counsel an opportunity to participate, including by way of
discussions with the Commission or its staff, in the response of Parent and
Purchaser to such comments.
(c) Parent shall provide or cause to be provided to Purchaser on a
timely basis the funds necessary to accept for payment, and pay for any Shares
that Purchaser becomes obligated to accept for payment, and pay for, pursuant to
the Offer.
1.02 Company Actions.
(a) The Company hereby approves of and consents to the Offer and the
Merger and represents that:
(I) its Board of Directors, based on the unanimous recommendation of
the Special Committee (at a meeting duly called and held) has (i) determined
that each of the Agreement, Offer and the Merger is fair to, and in the best
interest of, the holders of Shares, (ii) approved this Agreement, the Offer, the
Merger and the Voting and Tender Agreement and approved and adopted this
Agreement, and the transactions contemplated hereby, in accordance with the
provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act (the "FBCA"), (iii) taken the
actions contemplated by Section 3.01(q) of this Agreement, and (iv) recommended
the acceptance of the Offer and the approval and adoption of this Agreement and
the Merger by the shareholders of the Company; provided, however, that such
recommendation may be withdrawn, modified or amended as provided in Section
4.07; and (II) Allen & Company Incorporated has delivered to the Board of
Directors of the Company its opinion that the consideration to be received by
the holders of Common Stock (other than Parent and Purchaser) pursuant to the
Offer and the Merger is fair to the holders of Common Stock from a financial
point of view, subject to the assumptions and qualifications contained in such
opinion.
(b) The Company shall file with the Commission, as soon as practicable
after the commencement of the Offer, a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the
"Schedule 14D-9") containing the recommendations referred to in subsection
1.02(a) hereof and shall disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 as required by Rule
14d-9 under the Exchange Act, and shall mail, or cause to be mailed, such
Schedule 14D-9 to the shareholders of the Company, to the extent practicable, at
the same time the Offer Documents are first mailed to the shareholders of the
Company, together with such Offer Documents; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this Agreement shall restrict the Board of Directors of the Company
from withdrawing, modifying or amending such recommendation or other action in
accordance with Section 4.07. Parent and Purchaser and their counsel shall be
given the opportunity to review and comment on the Schedule 14D-9 prior to its
filing with the Commission. The Schedule 14D-9 will comply in all material
respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws and, on the
date filed with the Commission and on the date first published, sent or given to
the Company's shareholders, shall not 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 were made, not misleading, except that no representation is
made by the Company with respect to information supplied by Parent or Purchaser
or their officers, directors or affiliates in writing for inclusion in the
Schedule 14D-9. If at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the
Offer, any event occurs which should be described in an amendment or supplement
to the Schedule 14D-9 or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company will
file and disseminate, as required, an amendment or supplement which complies in
all material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder and any other applicable laws. Prior to its filing with the
Commission, the amendment or supplement shall be delivered to Parent and its
counsel and Parent and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to comment
thereon. The written information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for
inclusion in the Offer Documents will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Company agrees to provide Parent and its counsel with any
comments the Company or its counsel may receive from the Commission or its staff
with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after the receipt of such comments
and shall provide Parent and its counsel an opportunity to participate,
including by way of discussions with the Commission or its staff, in the
response of the Company to such comments.
(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company will promptly furnish
Purchaser with mailing labels, security position listings and any available
listing or computer list containing the names and addresses of the record
holders of the Common Stock as of the most recent practicable date and shall
furnish Purchaser with such additional information (including, but not limited
to, updated lists of holders of Common Stock and their addresses, mailing labels
and lists of security positions) and such other assistance as Purchaser or its
agents may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to the Company's
shareholders. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such
steps as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other
documents necessary to consummate the Merger, Parent, Purchaser and their
respective affiliates, associates, agents, and advisors, shall keep confidential
and use the information contained in any such labels, listings and files only in
connection with the Offer and the Merger and, if this Agreement shall be
terminated, will deliver to the Company all copies of such information then in
their possession.
1.03 Composition of the Board of Directors. Promptly upon the
acceptance for payment of, and payment by Purchaser in accordance with the Offer
for, any Shares, and from time to time thereafter as Shares are acquired by
Purchaser, Purchaser shall be entitled to designate such number of directors on
the Board of Directors of the Company, rounded up to the next whole number, as
will give Purchaser, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the Exchange
Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder, representation on such Board of
Directors equal to at least that number of directors which equals the product of
the total number of directors on the Board of Directors (giving effect to the
directors elected pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of Shares so accepted for payment and
paid for or otherwise acquired or owned by Parent or Purchaser and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock then issued
and outstanding, and the Company and its Board of Directors shall, at such time,
use its reasonable efforts to cause Purchaser's designees to be appointed to the
Company's Board of Directors. In no event shall there be less than two
Independent Directors (as hereinafter defined) on the Company's Board of
Directors. Subject to applicable law, the Company shall take all action
requested by Parent which is reasonably necessary to effect any such election,
including mailing to its shareholders an information statement containing the
information required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1
promulgated thereunder, and the Company agrees to make such mailing with the
mailing of the Schedule 14D-9, so long as Purchaser shall have provided to the
Company on a timely basis all information required to be included in an
information statement with respect to Purchaser's designees. In furtherance
thereof, the Company will increase the size of the Company's Board of Directors,
or use its reasonable efforts to secure the resignation of directors, or both,
as is necessary to permit Purchaser's designees to be elected to the Company's
Board of Directors. Following the election of any Purchaser's designees pursuant
to this Section 1.03 and prior to the Effective Time, any amendment of this
Agreement or the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company, any
termination of this Agreement by the Company, any extension by the Company of
the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of
Purchaser or waiver of any of the Company's rights hereunder shall require the
concurrence of a majority of the directors of the Company then in office who
neither are Parent nor Purchaser's designees nor are employees of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (the "Independent Directors"). The Independent Directors
shall have the authority to retain such counsel and other advisors at the
expense of the Company as are reasonably appropriate to the exercise of their
duties in connection with this Agreement. In addition, the Independent Directors
shall have the authority to institute any action, on behalf of the Company, to
enforce performance of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS
2.01 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the FBCA, at the
Effective Time (as defined below), Purchaser shall be merged with and into the
Company and the separate corporate existence of Purchaser shall cease, and the
Company shall continue as the surviving corporation under the laws of the State
of Florida under the name of "Travel Services International, Inc." (the
"Surviving Corporation").
2.02 Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take
place at the offices of White & Case LLP, at 200 South Biscayne Boulevard,
Miami, Florida, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on a date to be specified by the
parties hereto, which shall be no later than the second Business Day after
satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth in Article V hereof,
unless another date or place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.
2.03 Effective Time. As soon as practicable on or after the Closing,
Purchaser and the Company will cause articles of merger (the "Articles of
Merger") to be filed with the Department of State of the State of Florida in the
manner required by Section 607.1105 of the FBCA, and the parties shall take such
other and further actions as may be required by law to make the Merger
effective. The Merger shall become effective at the time when the Articles of
Merger have been duly filed with the Department of State of the State of
Florida. The time the Merger becomes effective in accordance with applicable law
is referred to as the "Effective Time" and the date on which the Merger become
effective in accordance with applicable law is referred to as the Effective
Date.
2.04 Effect of Merger. From and after the Effective Time, the Merger
shall have the effects set forth in Section 607.1106 of the FBCA.
2.05 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. At the
Effective Time, the directors of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, each of such directors
to hold office, subject to the applicable provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation, until the next annual
shareholders' meeting of the Surviving Corporation and until their respective
successors shall be duly elected or appointed and qualified. At the Effective
Time, the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall,
subject to the applicable provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and
By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation, be the officers of the Surviving
Corporation until their respective successors shall be duly elected or appointed
and qualified.
2.06 Conversion of Stock. At the Effective Time:
(a) Each Share then issued and outstanding (other than (i) any Shares
then held by Purchaser or Parent, all of which shall be cancelled and none of
which shall receive any payment with respect thereto and (ii) Shares held by
Dissenting Shareholders (as defined in Section 2.07 hereof) shall, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be
converted into and represent the right to receive an amount in cash, without
interest, equal to the price paid for each Share pursuant to the Offer (the
"Merger Consideration") upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section 2.08
hereof, of the certificate that formerly evidenced such Share; and
(b) Each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Purchaser
then issued and outstanding shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder thereof, become one fully paid and
nonassessable share of common stock, $.01 par value, of the Surviving
Corporation.
2.07 Dissenting Stock.Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary (including, without limitation, Section 2.06 hereof) but only to
the extent required by the FBCA, Shares that are issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and are held by holders of Shares who
comply with all the provisions of the FBCA concerning the right of holders of
Common Stock to dissent from the Merger and require an appraisal of their shares
of Common Stock (the "Dissenting Shareholders") shall not be converted into the
right to receive the Merger Consideration but shall become the right to receive
such consideration as may be determined to be due such Dissenting Shareholder
pursuant to Section 607.1320 of the FBCA; provided, that (i) if any Dissenting
Shareholder shall subsequently deliver a written withdrawal of his or her demand
for appraisal (with the written approval of the Surviving Corporation, to the
extent permitted by the FBCA), or (ii) if any Dissenting Shareholder fails to
establish and perfect, or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost, his or her
entitlement to appraisal rights as provided by applicable law or (iii) to the
extent permitted by the FBCA, if within the time period prescribed by the FBCA
neither any Dissenting Shareholder nor the Surviving Corporation has filed a
petition demanding a determination of the value of the shares of common stock
outstanding at the Effective Time and held by Dissenting Shareholders, in
accordance with applicable law, then such Dissenting Shareholder or
Shareholders, as the case may be, shall forfeit the right to appraisal of such
shares and such shares shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into the
right to receive, as of the Effective Time, the Merger Consideration, without
interest. The Company shall give Parent and Purchaser (A) notice of any written
demands for appraisal, withdrawals of demands for appraisal and any other
related instruments received by the Company and (B) the opportunity to direct
all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal. The
Company will not voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for
appraisal and will not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, settle
or offer to settle any demand.
2.08 Surrender of Certificates.
(a) Concurrently with or prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall
designate a bank or trust company located in the United States and reasonably
acceptable to the Company to act as paying agent (the "Paying Agent") for
purposes of making the cash payments contemplated by Section 2.06(a). As soon as
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall or shall cause the Paying
Agent to mail and/or make available to each holder of a certificate theretofore
evidencing shares of Common Stock a notice and letter of transmittal advising
such holder of the effectiveness of the Merger and the procedure for
surrendering to the Paying Agent such certificate or certificates which
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Common Stock
(the "Certificates") in exchange for the Merger Consideration deliverable in
respect thereof pursuant to this Article II. Upon the surrender for cancellation
to the Paying Agent of such Certificates, together with a letter of transmittal,
duly executed and completed in accordance with the instructions thereon, and any
other items specified by the letter of transmittal, the Paying Agent shall
promptly pay to the Person (as defined in Section 7.14 hereof) entitled thereto
the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof. Until so surrendered,
each Certificate shall be deemed, for all corporate purposes, to evidence only
the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration deliverable in
respect thereof to which such Person is entitled pursuant to this Article II. No
interest shall be paid or accrued in respect of such cash payments.
(b) If the Merger Consideration (or any portion thereof) is to be
delivered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Certificates
surrendered in exchange therefor are registered, it shall be a condition to the
payment of the Merger Consideration that the Certificates so surrendered shall
be properly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers and otherwise in
proper form for transfer, that such transfer otherwise be proper and that the
Person requesting such transfer pay to the Paying Agent any transfer or other
taxes payable by reason of the foregoing or establish to the satisfaction of the
Paying Agent that such taxes have been paid or are not required to be paid.
(c) In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming
such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Paying Agent will issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration
deliverable in respect thereof as determined in accordance with this Article II;
provided, that, the Person to whom the Merger Consideration is paid shall, as a
condition precedent to the payment thereof, give the Surviving Corporation a
bond in such sum as it may direct or otherwise indemnify the Surviving
Corporation in a manner satisfactory to it against any claim that may be made
against the Surviving Corporation with respect to the Certificate claimed to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
2.09 Payment. Concurrently with or immediately prior to the Effective
Time, Parent shall cause Purchaser to, and Purchaser shall, deposit in trust
with the Paying Agent cash in United States dollars in an aggregate amount equal
to the aggregate Merger Consideration to which holders of shares of Common Stock
upon consummation of the Merger are entitled (such amount being hereinafter
referred to as the "Payment Fund"). The Payment Fund shall be invested by the
Paying Agent as directed by Parent in direct obligations of the United States,
obligations for which the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged
to provide for the payment of principal and interest, commercial paper rated of
the highest quality by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
Ratings Group or certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or bankers'
acceptances of a commercial bank having at least $1,000,000,000 in assets
(collectively the "Permitted Investments") or in money market funds which are
invested in Permitted Investments, and any net earnings with respect thereto
shall be paid to Parent as and when requested by Parent. The Paying Agent shall,
pursuant to irrevocable instructions, make the payments referred to in Section
2.06 hereof out of the Payment Fund. The Payment Fund shall not be used for any
other purpose except as otherwise agreed to by Parent. Promptly following the
date which is six months after the Effective Time, the Paying Agent shall return
to the Surviving Corporation all cash, certificates and other instruments in its
possession that constitute any portion of the Payment Fund, and the Paying
Agent's duties shall terminate. Thereafter, each holder of a Certificate may
surrender such Certificate to the Surviving Corporation and (subject to
applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) receive in exchange
therefor the Merger Consideration, without interest, but shall have no greater
rights against the Surviving Corporation or Purchaser than may be accorded to
general creditors of the Surviving Corporation or Parent under applicable law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Paying Agent nor any party hereto
shall be liable to a holder of shares of Common Stock for any Merger
Consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned
property, escheat and similar laws.
2.10 No Further Rights of Transfers. At and after the Effective Time,
each holder of a Certificate shall cease to have any rights as a shareholder of
the Company, except for, in the case of a holder of a Certificate (other than
shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 2.06(a) hereof, and other than shares
held by Dissenting Shareholders) the right to surrender his or her Certificate
in exchange for payment of the Merger Consideration, or in the case of a
Dissenting Shareholder, to perfect his or her right to receive payment for his
or her shares pursuant to the FBCA if such holder has validly perfected and not
withdrawn his or her right to receive payment for his or her shares, and no
transfer of Shares shall be made on the stock transfer books of the Surviving
Corporation. Certificates presented to the Surviving Corporation after the
Effective Time shall be canceled and exchanged for cash as provided in this
Article II. At the close of business on the day of the Effective Time the stock
ledger of the Company with respect to Common Stock shall be closed.
2.11 Stock Option and Other Plans. Prior to the Effective Time, the
Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof)
shall adopt appropriate resolutions and use its reasonable efforts to take all
other actions necessary to provide for the cancellation, effective at the
Effective Time, of all the outstanding stock options to purchase Common Stock
(the "Options") heretofore granted under any stock option plan of the Company
(the "Stock Plans"). Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall
use its reasonable efforts to ensure that each Option, whether or not then
vested or exercisable, shall no longer be exercisable for the purchase of shares
of Common Stock but shall entitle each holder thereof, in cancellation and
settlement therefor, to payments in cash (subject to any applicable withholding
taxes, the "Cash Payment"), at the Effective Time, equal to the product of (x)
the total number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Option whether or not
then vested or exercisable and (y) the excess of the Merger Consideration over
the exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to such Option, each such
Cash Payment to be paid to each holder of an outstanding Option at the Effective
Time. As provided herein, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to ensure
that the Stock Plans shall terminate as of the Effective Time and the provisions
of any Employee Benefit Plan (as defined in Section 3.01(i)) providing for the
issuance or grant of shares of the capital stock of the Company shall be deleted
as of the Effective Time. The Company will take all reasonable steps to ensure
that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or will be bound by any
Options, other options, warrants, rights or agreements which would entitle any
Person, other than Parent or its affiliates, to own or purchase any capital
stock of the Surviving Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. The Company will
use its reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary consents to ensure that after
the Effective Time, the only rights of the holders of Options to purchase shares
of Common Stock in respect of such Options will be to receive the Cash Payment
in cancellation and settlement thereof.
2.12 Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation. The
Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter duly amended as provided by law and such Articles
of Incorporation, provided, that, such Articles of Incorporation shall at all
times be in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11 hereof.
2.13 By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation. The By-Laws of the Company,
as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the By-Laws of
the Surviving Corporation until thereafter duly amended as provided by law and
such By-Laws.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.01 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to Parent and Purchaser that, except as disclosed in the
Commission Filings or (subject to the proviso below) the disclosure letter
delivered by the Company to the Parent and Purchaser upon execution of this
Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Letter"), provided that items disclosed in
one section of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed on each
other section of the Company Disclosure Letter to the extent that such matter
would reasonably be expected to be pertinent to such other section in light of
the disclosure made on the first section:
(a) Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power. Each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and
each such corporation has all requisite corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or
licensed to do business and is 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 qualification or licensing necessary, except where
such failure to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing would not, and
would not be reasonably likely to, have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in
this Agreement, "Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse effect on
the business, results of operation or financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, but shall not include any changes, events,
effects or circumstances (i) arising in connection with the consideration,
announcement or performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(ii) affecting the economy generally or affecting generally any industry in
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates, or (iii) affecting the
securities markets generally.
(b) Authorization and Validity of Agreement. The Company has the
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject
to obtaining shareholder approval as required by Section 607.1103 of the FBCA,
to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by the Company, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized by its Board of Directors and no other
corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (other than (i) any
required approval by the Company's shareholders in connection with the
consummation of the Merger, (ii) the filing and recordation of appropriate
merger documents as required by the FBCA and (iii) the other items set forth in
Section 3.01(d)). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and, subject to obtaining shareholder approval and assuming the due and
valid authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Parent and Purchaser, is a
valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that its enforceability may be
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by
general equitable principles.
(c) Capitalization. (i) The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 1,900,331 shares of which are
designated as restricted voting stock, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
As of February 17, 2000, (1) 13,985,086 shares of Common Stock were issued and
outstanding, of which 1,340,205 shares were designated restricted voting stock,
(2) 2,717,315 shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to
outstanding Options granted under the Stock Plans, (3) no shares of preferred
stock were issued and outstanding, and (4) no shares of Common Stock and no
shares of preferred stock were held, in the aggregate, by the Company's
Subsidiaries. All issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly
authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are not
subject to, nor were they issued in violation of, any preemptive rights. Except
as set forth in Section 3.01(c) there are not as of the date hereof, and at the
Effective Time there will not be, any outstanding or authorized shares of
capital stock of the Company, options, warrants, rights, subscriptions, claims
of any character, agreements, rights of redemption, convertible or exchangeable
securities, or other commitments, contingent or otherwise, relating to Common
Stock or any other shares of capital stock of the Company, pursuant to which the
Company is or may become obligated to issue shares of Common Stock, any other
shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into, exchangeable
for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for, any shares of the capital stock
of the Company.
(ii) The Company Disclosure Letter lists all of the Company's
Subsidiaries. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity
interests of each of the Company's Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, are not subject to, nor were
they issued in violation of, any preemptive rights, and are owned, of record and
beneficially, by the Company or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned
Subsidiaries, and except for liens held by Bank of America in connection with
the Existing Credit Facility (as defined in Section 4.03(b)), free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances, options or claims whatsoever. No shares of capital
stock of any of the Company's Subsidiaries are reserved for issuance and there
are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, subscriptions,
claims of any character, agreements, obligations, rights of redemption,
convertible or exchangeable securities, or other commitments, contingent or
otherwise, relating to the capital stock of any Subsidiary, pursuant to which
such Subsidiary is or may become obligated to issue any shares of capital stock
of such Subsidiary or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for, or
evidencing the right to subscribe for, any shares of such Subsidiary. Except for
restrictions under applicable law, there are no restrictions of any kind which
prevent the payment of dividends by any of the Company's Subsidiaries to the
Company. The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock,
equity or ownership interest in any Person (other than the Subsidiaries listed
on the Disclosure Schedule) that has any material assets or liabilities and
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any obligation or
requirement to provide material funds for or to make any material investment (in
the form of a loan or capital contribution) to or in any Person.
(d) Consents and Approvals; No Violations. In the event (i) the
filings required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
as amended (the "HSR Act"), are made and any applicable waiting period
thereunder has been terminated or has expired, (ii) the requirements of the
Exchange Act relating to the Proxy Statement and the Offer, the Securities Act
and the various "blue sky laws" are met, (iii) the filing of the Articles of
Merger and other appropriate merger documents, if any, as required by the FBCA
are properly made, (iv) any required approval by the Company's shareholders in
connection with the consummation of the Merger is received, and (v) filings with
the Nasdaq National Market are properly made, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not: (1) violate any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or the comparable governing documents of
any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, as amended; (2) violate any law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, order or decree of any court or of any governmental
or regulatory body, agency or authority applicable to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or by which any of their respective properties or assets may be
bound; (3) require on the part of the Company any filing with, or permit,
consent or approval of, or the giving of any notice to, any governmental or
regulatory body, agency or authority; or (4) result in a violation or breach of,
conflict with, constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both)
a default (or give rise to any right of termination, amendment, cancellation,
payment or acceleration) under, or result in the creation of any lien, security
interest, charge or encumbrance (each an "Encumbrance") upon any of the
properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license,
franchise, permit, agreement, lease, franchise agreement or other instrument or
obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by
which it or any of their respective properties or assets are bound except, in
the case of clauses (2), (3) and (4) above, for any such filing, permit,
consent, approval, the failure to obtain or make which, and except for any
breach, violation or Encumbrance which, would not have and would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or would not
prevent or materially delay, and would not be reasonably likely to prevent or
materially delay, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(e) Company Reports and Financial Statements. Since January 1, 1998,
the Company has filed all forms, reports, schedules and documents, with the Com-
mission required to be filed by it pursuant to the federal securities laws and
the Commission rules and regulations thereunder (as such reports have been
amended since the date of their filing, collectively, the "Commission Filings").
Except to the extent amended or superseded by a subsequent filing with the
Commission made prior to the date hereof, as of their respective dates, the
Commission Filings (a) 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, or (b) complied in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case
may be, and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
None of the Company's Subsidiaries is required to file any forms, reports,
schedules or other documents with the Commission under the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act. The financial statements of the Company included in the
Commission Filings (collectively, the "Financial Statements"), complied, as of
the respective dates of filing with the Commission, in all material respects
with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations
of the Commission with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") (as in effect from time to
time) applied on a consistent basis in all material respects, (except as may be
indicated therein or in the notes or schedules thereto and except, in the case
of unaudited interim statements, as may be permitted under the Exchange Act or
the Securities Act) and fairly present, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries
as of the dates thereof and the results of their operations and changes in cash
flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of the unaudited
financial statements, to the absence of notes and normal recurring year-end
audit adjustments).
(f) Absence of Certain Changes. Except as otherwise contemplated by
this Agreement, since December 31, 1999, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries
have, in all material respects, conducted their respective businesses only in
the ordinary course, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
taken any of the actions restricted by Sections 4.03(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
(v), (viii), (ix), (xi), (xii) and (xiv) or (c), and (iii) the Company and its
Subsidiaries have not suffered any change constituting a Material Adverse Effect
or that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Compliance with Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in
compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, orders, judgments and decrees
(other than with respect to taxes, Environmental Laws, employee benefits and
federal securities laws, which are the subject of specific representations
contained in this Agreement) except where the failure to so comply would not
have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company and would not, and would not be reasonably likely to, prevent or
materially delay consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and no written notice or claim has been received by the Company or to the
Company's knowledge, has been filed, commenced or, threatened against the
Company alleging or investigating any violation or potential violation of any of
the foregoing, except alleged violations that individually or in the aggregate,
would not have, and would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect. All licenses, permits and approvals required under such laws, rules and
regulations are in full force and effect except where the failure to be in full
force and effect would not have, and would not be reasonably likely to have, a
Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding at law or in
equity, or any arbitration or any administrative or other proceeding by or
before (or to the knowledge of the Company any investigation by) any
governmental or other instrumentality or agency, pending against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their properties or rights which would have,
or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company or would, or would be reasonably likely to, prevent or materially delay
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (nor any of their respective assets) is
subject to any judgment, order, decree or settlement agreement entered in any
lawsuit, proceeding or investigation which would, or would be reasonably likely
to, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or would, or would be
reasonably likely to, prevent or materially delay consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(i) Employee Benefit Plans. Section 3.01(i) of the Company Disclosure
Letter contains a true and complete list of any material bonus, incentive
compensation, deferred compensation, pension, profit sharing, retirement, stock
purchase, stock option, stock ownership, stock appreciation rights, phantom
stock, cafeteria, life insurance, health, accident, disability, or other
insurance, severance, separation or other employee benefit plan, or policy,
including, but not limited to, any "employee benefit plan" within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), contributed to, maintained or sponsored by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
has any liability or potential liability, and under which any employee or former
employee, or director or independent agent or independent contractor of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any beneficiary thereof is covered, is
eligible for coverage or has benefits (each, an "Employee Benefit Plan"). Except
to the extent that any breach of the representations set forth in this sentence,
individually or in the aggregate, would not have, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company: (i) each Employee
Benefit Plan is in compliance with applicable law and has at all times been
administered and operated in all respects in accordance with its terms; (ii)
each Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to be "qualified" within the
meaning of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), has received a favorable determination letter regarding its
tax-qualified status, from the Internal Revenue Service and, to the knowledge of
the Company , no event has occurred and no condition exists which would result
in the revocation of any such determination, (iii) no Employee Benefit Plan is
subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA or covered by Title
IV of ERISA; (iv) neither the Company or any Person, who is, or at any time
within the six-year period ending on the date hereof was, a member of a
controlled group (within the meaning of Section 412(n)(6) of the Code) that
includes, or at any time within the six-year period ending on the date hereof
included, the Company or any Subsidiary or any predecessor of the foregoing, has
incurred, and no circumstances exist pursuant to which they would reasonably
expect to incur, any unsatisfied liability under (A) Title IV of ERISA, (B)
Chapter 43 of the Code or (C) Section 502(i) or (l) of ERISA; (v) except as
described in Section 3.01(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no benefit under
any Employee Benefit Plan, including, without limitation, any severance or
parachute payment plan or agreement, will be established or become accelerated,
vested or payable by reason of any transaction contemplated under this
Agreement; (vi) no tax has been incurred under Section 511 of the Code with
respect to any Employee Benefit Plan (or trust or other funding vehicle pursuant
thereto); (vii) no Employee Benefit Plan provides welfare benefit coverage
beyond the termination of an employee's employment, except as required by Part 6
of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the Code ("COBRA") or any
State laws requiring continuation of benefits coverage following termination of
employment; (viii) no liability, claim, action or litigation, has been made,
commenced or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened with respect to any
Employee Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits payable in the
ordinary course, and appeals of denied such claims); and (ix) all contributions
to Employee Benefit Plans that were required to be made on or before the date
hereof under such Employee Benefit Plans have been made, and all benefits
accrued under any unfunded Employee Benefit Plan that is a deferred compensation
plan or pension plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA have been paid,
accrued or otherwise adequately reserved in accordance with GAAP, all of which
accruals under such unfunded Employee Benefit Plans are as disclosed in Section
3.01(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(j) Taxes. (a) Except to the extent that the failure to do so would
not have, and would not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has properly
filed or caused to be properly filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax
returns and tax reports which are required to be filed by, or with respect to,
each of the Company and its Subsidiaries on or prior to the Effective Date
(taking into account any extension of time to file granted to or on behalf of
the Company or such Subsidiary) (collectively, the "Returns"). Except to the
extent that the failure to be would not have, and would not be reasonably
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, all such Returns are
true, correct and complete. Except to the extent that the failure to do so would
not, and would not be reasonably likely to, have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, franchise,
gross receipts, payroll, sales, employment, use, property, withholding, excise
and other taxes, duties or assessments of any nature whatsoever (together with
all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts)
("Taxes") due and payable by the Company including all amounts shown to be due
on any Return have been properly paid or fully provided for on the books and
records of the Company in accordance with GAAP, and except to the extent that
the following would not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole:
(i) there are no written waivers in effect of the applicable statutory period of
limitation for Taxes of the Company for any taxable period, (ii) no deficiency
assessment or proposed adjustment with respect to any tax liability of the
Company for any taxable period is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, (iii) there are no outstanding requests by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries for any ruling of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"); (iv)
there are no liens for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and
payable for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with
GAAP) on the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (v) neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any agreement
providing for the allocation or sharing of Taxes with any entity which is not,
either directly or indirectly, a Subsidiary of the Company; and (vi) neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a member of any "affiliated group"
(as defined in section 1504(a) of the Code) or has any liability for Taxes of
any Person other than the Company or any Subsidiary as a transferee or
successor, by Contract, or otherwise.
(k) Intellectual Properties. Except as would not have, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company , the
Company and its Subsidiaries own free and clear of all liens or have valid,
binding and enforceable rights to use all U.S. and foreign patents, trademarks,
trade names, service marks, service names, domain names, URLs, copyrights,
registrations and applications therefor and licenses or other rights in respect
thereof, computer technology (including all computer hardware, software,
databases, systems and embedded chips, (collectively, "Computer Technology"))
trade secrets, proprietary information, inventions, know-how, processes and
procedures ("Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on the business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, without any known conflict with the rights of
others. To the knowledge of the Company, the conduct of the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, and the use by them of the Intellectual Property,
do not infringe any rights of any Person that would have, or would reasonably be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice in writing from any
other person pertaining to or challenging the right of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to own or use any Intellectual Property, except with respect to
rights the loss of which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have, and
would not reasonably be likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
(l) Proxy Statement and Schedule 14D-9. The definitive proxy statement
and related materials, if any (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto),
to be furnished to the holders of Common Stock in connection with the Merger
pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof (the "Proxy Statement") will comply in all
material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder
and any other applicable laws. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any
event occurs which should be described in an amendment or supplement to the
Proxy Statement, the Company will file and disseminate, as required, an
amendment or supplement which complies in all material respects with the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and any other applicable
laws. Prior to its filing with the Commission, the amendment or supplement shall
be delivered to Parent and its counsel. None of the information supplied by the
Company in writing for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, will, at the date such
information is mailed to the Company's shareholders, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstance under which they are made, not misleading.
(m) Broker's or Finder's Fee. Except for Allen & Company Incorporated
(whose fees and expenses will be paid by the Company in accordance with the
Company's agreement with such firm, a copy of which has been delivered to
Parent), no agent, broker, Person or firm acting on behalf of the Company is, or
will be, entitled to any broker's, financial advisor's, finder's fees or similar
fee from any of the parties hereto, or from any Person controlling, controlled
by, or under common control with any of the parties hereto, in connection with
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(n) Environmental Laws and Regulations. Except as would not, and would
not reasonably be likely to, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole:
(i) Hazardous Materials have not been generated, used, treated or
stored on any Company Property by the Company, except for quantities
used or stored at such Company Property in compliance with
Environmental Laws and required in connection with the normal
operations and maintenance of such Company Property.
(ii) Hazardous Materials have not been Released or disposed of on
any Company Property by the Company, except for quantities released or
disposed of on such Company Property in compliance with Environmental
Laws and required in connection with the normal operation and
maintenance of such Company Property.
(iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with
Environmental Laws and the requirements of permits issued under such
Environmental Laws with respect to any Company Property.
(iv) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened Environmental Claims against the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or, any Company Property.
(v) To the best knowledge of the Company, there are no
underground storage tanks located on any Company Property.
As used in this Section 3.01(n), the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:
(i) "Company Property" means any real property and improvements
owned, leased (as lessee or lessor), operated or occupied by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time.
(ii) "Hazardous Materials" means (a) any petroleum or petroleum
products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that is friable,
urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, and
radon gas; and (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as
or included in the definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous
wastes," "hazardous materials," "extremely hazardous substances,"
"restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic pollutants,"
or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law and
(c) any other substance prohibited or regulated pursuant to the
provisions of any Environmental Law.
(iii) "Environmental Law" means any federal, state or local
statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of
common law in effect and in each case as amended as of the Effective
Date, and any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof as of
the Effective Date, including any judicial or administrative order,
consent decree or judgment, relating to the environment, health,
safety or Hazardous Materials, including the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq.; the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. ss. 1251 et seq.;
the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 2601 et seq.; the
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7401 et seq.; the Occupational Safety and
Health Act, 29 U.S.C. ss. 651 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42
U.S.C. ss. 300f et seq.; the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. ss.
2701 et seq.; and their state and local counterparts and equivalents.
(iv) "Environmental Claims" means administrative, regulatory or
judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens,
notices of non-compliance or violation, investigations or proceedings
relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any permit issued
under any such Law (hereafter "Claims"), including (a) Claims by
governmental or regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup,
removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to
any applicable Environmental Law, and (b) Claims by any third party
seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery,
compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials
or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety
or the environment.
(v) "Release" means disposing, discharging, injecting, spilling,
leaking, leaching, dumping, emitting, escaping, emptying, seeping,
placing and the like, into or upon any land or water or air, or
otherwise entering into the environment.
(o) State Takeover Statutes . Assuming the accuracy of the
representations of the Purchaser contained in Section 3.02(e) of this Agreement,
the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the Offer, the Merger, the
Voting and Tender Agreement and this Agreement and Sections 607.0901 and
607.0902 of the FBCA are inapplicable to the Offer, the Merger, this Agreement,
the Voting and Tender Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Voting and Tender Agreement. In the event the Special Meeting
is required to approve the Merger and the adoption of this Agreement, the
approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
is the only vote required to approve the Merger and the adoption of this
Agreement.
(p) Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received the opinion
of Allen & Company Incorporated, to the effect that, as of the date of this
Agreement, the consideration to be received in the Offer and the Merger by the
Company's shareholders (other than Purchaser and Parent) is fair to the
Company's shareholders from a financial point of view and a copy of such opinion
has been, or will be, delivered to Parent and Purchaser.
(q) Rights Agreement. The Board of Directors of the Company has taken
all necessary action to authorize, and the Company has taken, or will take
promptly, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement will
continue to take promptly, all necessary action to (i) render the Rights
Agreement inapplicable with respect to the Offer, the Voting and Tender
Agreement and the Merger and (ii) ensure that (A) neither Purchaser nor any of
its Affiliates (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or Associates (as defined in
the Rights Agreement) is considered to be an Acquiring Person (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) and (B) provisions of the Rights Agreement, including the
occurrence of a Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), are not
and shall not be triggered by reason of the announcement or consummation of the
Offer, the Voting and Tender Agreement or the Merger.
(r) Material Contracts. There exists no default on the part of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any material contract or agreement to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, except for such default
which would not, and would be reasonably likely not to, have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.
3.02 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Purchaser. Each of
Parent and Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) Due Organization; Good Standing and Corporate Power. Each of
Parent and Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and, to
the extent applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation. Each of Parent and Purchaser has all requisite corporate power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted except where the failure to have such power and
authority, individually or in the aggregate, would not prevent or materially
delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Purchaser was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, has engaged in no other business activities and
has conducted its operations only as contemplated hereby. Purchaser has
previously delivered to the Company correct and complete copies of the articles
of incorporation and by-laws (or other comparable charter or organizational
documents) of Purchaser.
(b) Authorization and Validity of Agreement. Each of Parent and
Purchaser has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser, and the consummation by each of them of
the transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized by the Board of
Directors of Parent and the Board of Directors and sole shareholder of
Purchaser. No other corporate action on the part of either Parent or Purchaser
is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by each of Parent and Purchaser and the consummation by each of them
of the transactions contemplated hereby (other than, in the case of Purchaser,
the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by the
FBCA). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and
Purchaser and is a valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and Purchaser,
enforceable against each of Parent and Purchaser in accordance with its terms,
except that such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally, and general equitable principles.
(c) Consents and Approvals; No Violations. In the event (i) the
filings required under the HSR Act are made and any applicable waiting period
thereunder has been terminated or has expired, (ii) the requirements of the
Exchange Act relating to the Proxy Statement and the Offer and the various "blue
sky laws" are met, and (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger and other
appropriate merger documents, if any, as required by the FBCA, the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser and the consummation by
Parent and Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby will not: (1)
violate any provision of the charter documents of Parent or the Articles of
Incorporation or By-Laws of Purchaser; (2) violate any statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, order or decree of any court or of any governmental or regulatory
body, agency or authority applicable to Parent or Purchaser or by which either
of their respective properties or assets may be bound; (3) require any filing
with, or permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any notice to any
governmental or regulatory body, agency or authority; or (4) result in a
violation or breach of, conflict with, constitute (with or without due notice or
lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration) under, or result in the creation of any
Encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or Purchaser or any
of their subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any
note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, franchise, permit, agreement, lease or
other instrument or obligation to which Parent or Purchaser or any of their
subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or their respective properties or
assets may be bound except, in the cases of clauses (2), (3) and (4) above, for
any such filing, permit, consent, approval, the failure to obtain or make which,
and except for any breach, violation or Encumbrance which, would not prevent or
materially delay consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(d) Broker's or Finder's Fee. Except for Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
(whose fees and expenses as financial advisor to Parent and Purchaser will be
paid by Parent or Purchaser), no agent, broker, Person or firm acting on behalf
of Parent or Purchaser is, or will be, entitled to any fee, commission or
broker's or finder's fees from any of the parties hereto, or from any Person
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with any of the parties
hereto, in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(e) Parent Not an Affiliated Shareholder. As of the date hereof, (i)
neither Parent nor any of its affiliates is, with respect to the Company, an
"interested shareholder" as such term is defined in Section 607.0901 of the FBCA
and (ii) Parent and its subsidiaries collectively hold directly or indirectly
less than 1% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company.
(f) Financing. Parent will provide, or cause to be provided, to
Purchaser sufficient funds to consummate the Offer and the Merger in accordance
with this Agreement and to make all other necessary payments of fees and
expenses required to be paid by Parent and Purchaser to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE IV
TRANSACTIONS PRIOR TO EFFECTIVE DATE
4.01 Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records. (a)
During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Effective
Date, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, upon
reasonable notice, afford Parent, Purchaser, and their officers, employees,
counsel, accountants, consultants and other authorized representatives,
reasonable access during normal business hours to the properties, books,
contracts, commitments and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The
Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to
Parent and Purchaser (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement
and other document filed by it or any of its Subsidiaries during such period
pursuant to the requirements of Federal or state securities laws and (b) all
other information concerning its or its Subsidiaries' business, properties and
personnel as Purchaser may reasonably request.
4.02 Confidentiality. Unless otherwise required by law or regulation
(including stock exchange rules) and until the Appointment Date, information
obtained by Parent and Purchaser and their respective officers, employees,
counsel, accountants, consultants and other authorized representatives pursuant
to Section 4.01 hereof shall be subject to the provisions of the Confidentiality
Agreement between the Company and Parent dated January 11, 2000 (the
"Confidentiality Agreement").
4.03 Conduct of the Business of the Company Pending the Effective
Date. The Company agrees that, except as permitted, required or contemplated by,
or otherwise described in this Agreement or otherwise consented to or approved
by Parent in writing (which consent or approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the period commencing on the date
hereof and ending on the earlier of (x) the date of termination of this
Agreement in accordance with Article VI hereof and (y) the time the designees of
Parent have been elected to, and shall constitute a majority of, the Board of
Directors of the Company pursuant to Section 1.03 hereof (the "Appointment
Date"):
(a) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries will conduct their
respective operations only according to their ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, or current plans, and will use their commercially
reasonable efforts to preserve in all material respects their business
organizations, keep available the services of their officers and key employees
and maintain their existing relationships with material customers, suppliers,
distributors, licensors, clients and others having business relationships with
them;
(b) except as permitted, required or contemplated by this Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall: (i) make any change in or
amendment to its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws (or comparable governing
documents); (ii) authorize for issuance, issue, sell or deliver (or agree or
commit to issue, sell or deliver), whether pursuant to the issuance or granting
of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase or
otherwise, any shares of its capital stock (other than in connection with the
exercise of Options outstanding on the date hereof); (iii) sell or pledge or
agree to sell or pledge any stock owned by it in any of its Subsidiaries or any
other entity in which it has an equity interest; (iv) acquire (by merger,
consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) any material
corporation, partnership or other business or division thereof; (v) except in
the ordinary course of business and except to the extent required under existing
employee and director benefit plans, agreements or arrangements as in effect on
the date of this Agreement, (a) increase the compensation or fringe benefits of
any of its directors, officers or employees, (b) grant any severance or
termination pay not currently required to be paid under existing severance
plans, (c) enter into any employment, consulting or severance agreement or
arrangement with any present or former director, officer or employee of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (d) establish, adopt, enter into or amend
or terminate any collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing, thrift,
compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred
compensation, employment, termination, severance or other plan, agreement,
trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit of any directors, officers or
employees; (vi) except in the ordinary course of business, transfer, lease,
license, guarantee, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of, encumber or subject to
any lien, any material assets or incur or modify any indebtedness for borrowed
money (other than indebtedness incurred under the Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of July 30, 1999, between the Company and Bank of America
(the "Existing Credit Facility")); (vii) make any material tax election or
settle or compromise any material tax liability; (viii) except as required by
applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles, make any change in
its method of accounting; (ix) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other
reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not constituting an
inactive Subsidiary (other than the Merger); (x) make any material loans,
advances or capital contributions to, or investment in, any other Person other
than to any Subsidiary of the Company; (xi) declare, set aside or pay any
dividends on, or make or cause to be made any other distributions in respect of,
any of its capital stock or other equity securities or any interest in any
Person other than dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect Subsidiary
of the Company to its parent; (xii) split, combine or reclassify any of its
capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock;
(xiii) enter into any agreement providing for the acceleration of payment or
performance or other consequences as a result of the transactions contemplated
hereby or any other change of control of the Company except to the extent
permitted under Section 4.07; (xiv) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or any rights, warrants
or options to acquire any such shares or other securities; (xv) enter into any
contract or commitment with respect to capital expenditures (individually or in
the aggregate) in an amount in excess of $2 million over the aggregate budgeted
amount for all capital expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole, (xvi) other than in the ordinary course of business, cancel, amend or
modify, in any material respect, any material contract or agreement to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or enter into any material
contract, or (xvii) agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing
actions.
(c) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to purchase or acquire, or offer to purchase or acquire, any shares
of capital stock of the Company.
4.04 Proxy Statement. If shareholder approval of the Merger is
required by law, as promptly as practicable after the purchase of shares of
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, the Company will prepare and file a
preliminary Proxy Statement with the Commission and will use its reasonable
efforts to respond to the comments of the Commission in connection therewith and
to furnish all information required to prepare the definitive Proxy Statement
(including, without limitation, financial statements and supporting schedules
and certificates and reports of independent public accountants). Purchaser and
the Company will cooperate with each other in connection with the preparation of
the Proxy Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent
and Purchaser will furnish to the Company the information relating to it
required by the Exchange Act to be set forth in the Proxy Statement. Promptly
after the purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, if required
by the FBCA to consummate the Merger, the Company will cause the definitive
Proxy Statement to be mailed to the shareholders of the Company and, if
necessary, after the definitive Proxy Statement shall have been so mailed,
promptly circulate amended, supplemental or supplemented proxy material and, if
required in connection therewith, resolicit proxies.
4.05 Shareholder Approval.
(a) Promptly after the purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to
the Offer, if required by the FBCA to consummate the Merger, the Company, acting
through its Board of Directors, shall, in accordance with applicable law, duly
call, convene and hold a special meeting of the holders of Common Stock (the
"Special Meeting") for the purpose of voting upon this Agreement and the Merger
and the Company agrees that this Agreement and the Merger shall be submitted at
such special meeting. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to solicit
from its shareholders proxies, and, subject always to the fiduciary obligations
of the Company's directors under applicable law as determined in good faith by
them after consulting with outside counsel, shall take all other action
necessary and advisable, to secure the vote of shareholders required by
applicable law to obtain the approval for this Agreement and the Merger. Subject
to the fiduciary obligations of the Company's directors under applicable law as
determined in good faith by them after consulting with outside counsel, the
Company agrees that it will include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of
its Board of Directors that holders of Common Stock approve and adopt this
Agreement and approve the Merger. Parent and Purchaser will cause all shares of
Common Stock owned by them and their affiliates to be voted in favor of the
Merger.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Purchaser shall
acquire at least 80% of the outstanding Company Common Stock pursuant to the
Offer, the Company agrees, at the request of Purchaser, subject to Article V, to
take all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become
effective as soon as reasonably practicable after such acquisition, without a
meeting of the Company's shareholders, in accordance with Section 607.1104 of
the FBCA.
4.06 Reasonable Efforts. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions
provided herein, each of the Company and Parent and Purchaser shall, and the
Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, cooperate and use their
respective commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
appropriate action, and to make, or cause to be made, all filings necessary,
proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without
limitation, their respective reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the
Effective Date, all licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations,
qualifications and orders of governmental authorities and parties to contracts
with the Company and its Subsidiaries as are necessary for consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to fulfill the conditions to the
Offer and the Merger.
(b) Prior to the Closing, each party shall promptly consult with the
other parties hereto with respect to and, subject to such confidentiality
agreements as may be reasonably necessary or requested, will provide any
necessary information with respect to and provide the other (or its counsel)
copies of, all filings made by such party with any governmental authority or any
other information supplied by such party to a governmental authority in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Each party hereto shall promptly inform the other of any
communication from any governmental authority regarding any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement unless otherwise prohibited by law. If any party
hereto or affiliate thereof receives a request for additional information or
documentary material from any such governmental authority with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then such party will endeavor in
good faith to make, or cause to be made, as soon as reasonably practicable and
after consultation with the other party, an appropriate response in compliance
with such request. To the extent that transfers of permits are required as a
result of execution of this Agreement or consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts
to effect such transfers.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to require Parent, Purchaser or the Company to defend against any
litigation brought by any governmental authority seeking to prevent the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.07 No Solicitation of Other Offers.
(a) The Company will notify Parent and Purchaser promptly, and in any
event within one Business Day following the date of receipt thereof by the
Company (or if received, or requested or initiated or continued with someone
other than the Company when knowledge thereof is actually obtained by the
Company), if, on or after the date of this Agreement, any proposals are received
by, any information is requested from, or any negotiations or discussions are
sought to be initiated or continued with the Company or any of its officers,
directors, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other
agents, in each case in connection with any Acquisition Proposal (as hereinafter
defined) or the possibility or consideration of making an Acquisition Proposal
("Acquisition Proposal Interest") indicating, in connection with such notice,
the name of the Person making such Acquisition Proposal or indicating such
Acquisition Proposal Interest and the material terms and conditions of any
proposals or offers. Subject to Sections 4.07(b), (c) and (d), the Company
agrees that it will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore
with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Proposal Interest. The
Company agrees that it shall keep Parent and Purchaser informed, on a current
basis, of the status and material terms of any Acquisition Proposal or
Acquisition Proposal Interest.
"Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any proposal or offer from any
Person or group relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of a
substantial amount of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of all
or any portion of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would
result in any Person beneficially owning all or any portion of any class of
equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any merger,
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation or
dissolution involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any transaction
or series of transactions having similar economic effect, other than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Except as provided in Section 4.07(c), the Company, from the date
of this Agreement until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, will not, nor shall it authorize or permit its officers,
directors, employees, to (and the Company will use commercially reasonable
efforts to ensure that such persons and the Company's investment bankers,
attorneys, accountants and other agents do not), directly or indirectly (i)
initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage, or knowingly take any action to
facilitate the making of, any offer or proposal which constitutes or is
reasonably likely to lead to any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into any
agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) in the event of an
unsolicited Acquisition Proposal for the Company, engage in negotiations or
discussions with, or provide any information or data to, any Person (other than
Parent, any of its affiliates or representatives) relating to any Acquisition
Proposal; provided, however that nothing contained in this Section 4.07 shall
prohibit the Company or the Board of Directors from (A) taking and disclosing to
the Company's shareholders its position with respect to an offer by a third
party pursuant to Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, (B)
making such disclosure to the Company's shareholders as the Board of Directors
determines in good faith, after receipt of advice from outside legal counsel, is
required under applicable law or (C) otherwise complying with their fiduciary
duties to shareholders.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may furnish information
concerning its business, properties or assets to any Person pursuant to a
confidentiality agreement with terms no less favorable to the Company than those
contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (as from time to time amended or
waived) and may negotiate and participate in discussions and negotiations with
such Person concerning an Acquisition Proposal if (x) such entity or group has
on an unsolicited basis submitted a bona fide written proposal to the Company
relating to any such transaction which the Board of Directors determines in good
faith, after receiving advice from a nationally recognized investment banking
firm, is (or could result in) a transaction superior to the Offer and the Merger
and (y) in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, after consultation
with outside legal counsel, providing such information or access or engaging in
such discussions or negotiations is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders and failure to provide such information or access or engage in such
discussion or negotiations is inconsistent with the exercise of the fiduciary
duties of the Board under applicable law (an Acquisition Proposal which
satisfies clauses (x) (without regard to the phrase in parentheses) and (y)
being referred to herein as a "Superior Proposal"). The Company shall promptly,
and in any event within one Business Day following receipt of a Superior
Proposal, notify Parent of the receipt thereof. The Company shall promptly
provide to Parent any material non-public information regarding the Company
provided to any other party which was not previously provided to Parent.
(d) Except as set forth herein, neither the Board of Directors nor any
committee thereof permitted by law to do so shall (i) withdraw or modify, or
propose (publicly or to a third party) to withdraw or modify, in any manner
adverse to Parent or Purchaser, the approval or recommendation by such Board of
Directors or any such committee of the Offer, this Agreement or the Merger, (ii)
approve or recommend or propose (publicly or to a third party) to approve or
recommend, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) enter into any acquisition
agreement with respect to, or any other agreement which would approve, adopt or
effect, any Acquisition Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement as
contemplated by Section 4.07(c)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of
Directors may (I) withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the
Offer, this Agreement or the Merger to the extent where not to do so would be
inconsistent with the Board's fiduciary duties under applicable law and (II)
approve or recommend a Superior Proposal, or enter into an acquisition agreement
with respect to, or any other agreement which would approve, adopt or effect, a
Superior Proposal, in the case of either clause (I) or (II), at any time after
the third business day following the Company's delivery to Parent of written
notice advising Parent that the Board of Directors intends to enter into an
agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal.
4.08 Notification. The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent and
Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (a) the occurrence (or
non-occurrence) of any event the occurrence (or non-occurrence) of which would,
or would reasonably be expected to, cause either (i) any representation or
warranty of such party contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in
any material respect at any time from the date hereof to the Effective Time or
(ii) any condition set forth in Annex A to be unsatisfied in any material
respect at any time from the date hereof to the date Purchaser purchases Shares
pursuant to the Offer (except to the extent any such condition refers to a
specific date) and (b) any material failure of the Company, Purchaser or Parent,
as the case may be, or any officer, director, employee or agent thereof, to
comply with any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with, satisfied
or performed by it hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice
pursuant to this Section 4.08 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies
available hereunder to the party receiving such notice or the representations
and warranties of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the
parties hereto.
4.09 HSR Act. The Company and Purchaser shall, as soon as practicable
and in any event within five business days from the date of this Agreement, file
Notification and Report Forms under the HSR Act with the Federal Trade
Commission (the "FTC") and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice
(the "Antitrust Division") and shall use their best efforts to respond as
promptly as practicable to all inquiries received from the FTC or the Antitrust
Division, including without limitation a request for additional information or
documentation.
4.10 Employee Benefits.
(a) Until December 31, 2000, Purchaser and its affiliates shall ensure
that all employees and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries receive (i)
the salary or wage level and bonus opportunity, to the extent applicable, at
least equal to that in effect immediately prior to the date hereof, and (ii)
benefits and other terms and conditions of employment that are substantially
comparable in the aggregate to the benefits and terms and conditions received by
such individuals immediately prior to the date hereof. Subject to the preceding
sentence, nothing contained in this Agreement shall require Purchaser and its
affiliates to provide comparable awards of equity-based compensation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the Effective Time, the Purchaser may
terminate the employment of any employee (subject, for any such termination
prior to January 1, 2001, to the payment of severance benefits payable to the
employee in connection with such termination under any plan, practice or policy
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and full payment and satisfaction of
the employee's rights under any employment agreement). Until December 31, 2000,
Purchaser and its affiliates shall keep in effect all severance and retention
plans, practices and policies that are applicable to employees and officers of
the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the date hereof.
(b) Following the Effective Time, each employee benefit plan or
policy, including without limitation, vacation, floating holiday, sickness, paid
time off, retirement, severance and welfare plans sponsored by Purchaser or its
affiliates shall credit, for purposes of eligibility to participate and vesting
but not benefit accrual, all continuous service immediately prior to the
Effective Time of employees and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries
with the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors.
4.11 Indemnification of Directors and Officers of the Company.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless any person who is now, or has been at any
time prior to the date hereof, or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, an
officer or director (the "Indemnified Party") of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses), judgments, fines,
losses, and amounts paid in settlement (provided that any such settlement is
effected with the written consent of Parent or the Surviving Corporation, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) in connection with any actual or
threatened action, suit, claim, proceeding or investigation (whether arising
before or after the Effective Time) (each a "Claim") to the extent that any such
Claim is based on, or arises out of, (i) the fact that such person is or was a
director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is or was
serving at the request of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a director
or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, or (ii) this Agreement, or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby, in each case to the extent that any such Claim pertains to any matter or
fact arising, existing, or occurring prior to or at the Effective Time,
regardless of whether such Claim is asserted or claimed prior to, at or after
the Effective Time, to the full extent permitted under applicable law or the
Company's Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws or indemnification agreements in
effect at the date hereof, including provisions relating to advancement of
expenses incurred in the defense of any action or suit. Without limiting the
foregoing, in the event any Indemnified Party becomes involved in any capacity
in any Claim, then from and after the Effective Date, the Surviving Corporation
shall periodically advance to such Indemnified Party its reasonable legal and
other expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation incurred
in connection therewith), subject to the provision by such Indemnified Party of
an undertaking to reimburse the amounts so advanced in the event of a final
non-appealable determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that such
Indemnified Party is not entitled thereto.
(b) All rights to indemnification and all limitations on liability
existing in favor of an Indemnified Party as provided in the Company's Articles
of Incorporation, By-Laws or indemnification agreements as in effect as of the
date hereof shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and
effect, without any amendment thereto, for a period of six years from the
Effective Date to the extent such rights are consistent with applicable law;
provided, that in the event any claim or claims are asserted or made within such
six-year period, all rights to indemnification in respect of any such claim or
claims shall continue until disposition of any and all such claims; provided,
further, that any determination required to be made with respect to whether an
Indemnified Party's conduct complies with the standards set forth under Florida
law, the Company's Article of Incorporation or By-Laws or such agreements, as
the case may be, shall be made by independent legal counsel selected by the
Indemnified Party and reasonably acceptable to the Surviving Corporation; and
provided, further, that nothing in this Section 4.11 shall impair any rights or
obligations of any present or former directors or officers of the Company.
(c) In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any of its
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and
shall not be the surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger
or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and
assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this Section 4.11, proper provision shall be made so
that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation, as the case may
be, assume the obligations set forth in this Section 4.11 and none of the
actions described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall be taken until such
provision is made.
(d) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall cause to be maintained in effect, without any lapses in
coverage, policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance (or a "tail"
policy), for the benefit of those persons who are covered by the Company's
directors' and officers' liability insurance policies as of the date hereof,
providing coverage with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time
that is at least equal to the coverage provided under the Company's current
directors' and officers' liability insurance policies (copies of which have
heretofore been delivered to Parent), to the extent that such liability
insurance can be maintained at an annual cost to the Surviving Corporation of
not greater than 200 percent of the premium for the current Company directors'
and officers' liability insurance, provided that if such insurance (or "tail"
policy) cannot be so maintained at such cost, the Surviving Corporation shall
maintain as much of such insurance as can be so maintained at a cost equal to
200 percent of the current annual premiums of the Company for such insurance.
(e) This Section 4.11 is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall
be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties, their heirs and personal
representatives, and shall be binding on Parent and the Surviving Corporation
and their successors and assigns.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MERGER
5.01 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Parent, Purchaser and the
Company. The respective obligations of Parent and Purchaser, on the one hand,
and the Company, on the other hand, to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by,
respectively, the Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, to
the extent permitted by applicable law:
(a) Approval of Company's Shareholders. To the extent required by
applicable law, this Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved and
adopted by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock
of the Company entitled to vote in accordance with applicable law (if required
by applicable law) and the Company's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws;
(b) HSR Act. Any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof)
under the HSR Act applicable to the Merger shall have expired or been
terminated;
(c) Injunction. No preliminary or permanent injunction or other order
shall have been issued by any court or by any governmental or regulatory agency,
body or authority which prohibits the consummation of the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and which is in effect at the
Effective Time; provided, however, that, in the case of a decree, injunction or
other order, any party asserting this condition shall have used its reasonable
efforts to prevent the entry of any such decree, injunction or other order and
to appeal as promptly as possible any decree, injunction or other order that may
be entered;
(d) Statutes. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree or
order of any kind shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by
any United States or United Kingdom court or governmental authority which
prohibits the consummation of the Merger; and
(e) Payment for Common Stock. Purchaser shall have accepted for
payment and paid for the Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to
the Offer; provided, that the foregoing shall not be a condition to Purchaser's
obligation to consummate the Merger if Purchaser's failure to purchase any
Shares violates the terms of the Offer.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT
6.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned, at any time prior to the
Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the Merger by the Company's
shareholders:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Company, on the one hand, and of
Parent, on the other hand;
(b) by either Parent, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other
hand, if any governmental or regulatory agency shall have issued an order,
decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or
otherwise prohibiting the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, shares of
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer or the Merger and such order, decree or
ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable;
(c) by Parent, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, if
Purchaser has not purchased all shares of Common Stock tendered pursuant to the
Offer within 90 days after commencement of the Offer (the "Outside Date"),
unless such purchase shall not have occurred because of a material breach of any
representation, warranty, obligation, covenant or agreement set forth in this
Agreement on the part of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement;
(d) by Parent if the Offer is terminated or expires in accordance with
its terms without Purchaser having purchased any Common Stock thereunder due to
an occurrence which would result in a failure to satisfy any of the conditions
set forth on Annex A hereto, unless any such failure shall have been caused by
or resulted from the material breach by Purchaser or Parent of any
representation, warranty, obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement;
(e) by Parent, if, prior to the purchase of shares of Common Stock in
the Offer, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this
Agreement which are not qualified by "Material Adverse Effect" shall not be true
and correct and the fact, matter or circumstance giving rise to such untruth or
incorrectness would have, or would reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and the representations and warranties that are qualified by "Material
Adverse Effect" shall not be true in any respect, at any time after the date
hereof (except for those representations and warranties that address matters
only as of a particular date or only with respect to a specific period of time
which need only be true and accurate as of such date or with respect to such
period), or the Company shall have breached or failed to perform or comply in
any material respect with any obligation, agreement or covenant required by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by it, and, with respect to any such
breach or failure to perform that is reasonably capable of being remedied within
the time periods set forth below, the breach or failure to perform is not
remedied prior to the earlier of (x) 10 days after Parent or Purchaser has
furnished the Company with written notice of such breach or failure to perform
or (y) two business days prior to the date on which the Offer expires; provided,
however, that Parent shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 6.01(e) if it or Purchaser is in material breach of its
representations and warranties, covenants or other obligations under this
Agreement;
(f) by the Company to allow the Company to enter into an agreement in
accordance with Section 4.07(d) with respect to a Superior Proposal which the
Board of Directors has determined is more favorable to the shareholders of the
Company than the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the
Company shall have complied in all material respects with Section 4.07,
including the notice provision, and that it makes simultaneous payment of the
Termination Fee;
(g) by Purchaser, if the Board of Directors of the Company or any
committee thereof, shall have (i) withdrawn, modified or changed in a manner
adverse to Parent or Purchaser its approval or recommendation of the Offer, the
Merger or this Agreement or (ii) approved, taken a neutral position with respect
to, or recommended to the shareholders of the Company any alternative
Acquisition Proposal;
(h) by the Company, if prior to purchase of shares in the Offer there
shall have been a breach or failure to perform on the part of Purchaser or
Parent of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement and such breach or failure to perform has a material
adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser or Parent to consummate the Offer or
the Merger, and, with respect to any such breach or failure to perform that is
reasonably capable of being remedied within the time periods set forth below,
the breach or failure to perform is not remedied prior to the earlier of (x) 10
days after the Company has furnished Parent with written notice of such breach
or failure to perform or (y) two business days prior to the date on which the
Offer expires unless such failure shall have been caused by the failure of the
Company to satisfy the conditions set forth in paragraph (c) or (d) of Annex A;
(i) by the Company, if Purchaser shall have (i) failed to commence the
Offer within seven Business Days following the date of this Agreement, or (ii)
terminated the Offer or the Offer shall have expired without Purchaser having
purchased any Shares thereunder unless such failure shall have been caused by
the failure of the Company to satisfy the conditions set forth in paragraph (c)
or (d) of Annex A.
6.02 Effect of Termination. (a) In the event of the termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.01 hereof by Purchaser, on the one hand, or
the Company, on the other hand, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given
to the other party or parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which
such termination is made, and this Agreement shall become void and have no
effect, and there shall be no liability hereunder on the part of Parent,
Purchaser or the Company, except (i) as set forth in Sections 4.02, 7.01 and
this Section 6.02 hereof, which shall survive any termination of this Agreement,
and (ii) nothing in this Section 6.02 shall relieve any party to this Agreement
of liability for breach of this Agreement.
(b) If the Company shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to
Section 6.01(f), then the Company shall pay simultaneously with such termination
a fee (the "Termination Fee") of $13.5 million which amount shall be payable by
wire transfer to such account as Parent may designate in writing to the Company.
(c) If the Purchaser shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to
Section 6.01(g), then the Company shall pay within two Business Days following
such termination to Parent the Termination Fee which shall be payable by wire
transfer to such account as Parent may designate in writing to the Company.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
7.01 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.02,
all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such costs and expenses.
7.02 Representations and Warranties. The respective representations
and warranties of the Company, on the one hand, and Purchaser, on the other
hand, contained herein or in any certificates or other documents delivered prior
to or at the Closing Date shall not be deemed waived or otherwise affected by
any investigation made by any party. Each and every such representation and
warranty shall expire with, and be terminated and extinguished by, the Effective
Time and thereafter none of the Company or Purchaser shall be under any
liability whatsoever with respect to any such representation or warranty. This
Section 7.02 shall have no effect upon any other obligation of the parties
hereto, whether to be performed before or after the Effective Time.
7.03 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
parties hereto, by action taken by or on behalf of the respective Boards of
Directors of the Company or Purchaser, may (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
herein by any other applicable party or in any document, certificate or writing
delivered pursuant hereto by any other applicable party or (iii) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any
agreement on the part of any party to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.
7.04 Public Announcements. The Company, on the one hand, and
Purchaser, on the other hand, agree to consult promptly with each other prior to
issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statement with respect
to the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall not issue any such press
release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation and review
by the other party of a copy of such release or statement. To the extent, if
any, that the Confidentiality Agreement is inconsistent with this Section 7.04,
the Confidentiality Agreement is hereby amended.
7.05 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered in person or
mailed, certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, or sent by telex,
telegram or telecopier, as follows:
(a) if to the Company, to it at:
Travel Services International, Inc.
220 Congress Park Drive
Delray Beach, FL 33445
Telecopier: (561) 266-6186
Attention: Suzanne Bell, Esq.
with a copy to:
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Telecopier: (212) 354-8113
Attention: John M. Reiss, Esq.
Jorge L. Freeland, Esq.
(b) if to Purchaser or Parent, to it at:
Airtours plc
Parkway One, Parkway Business Centre
300 Princess Road
Manchester M 147QU
United Kingdom
Telecopier: 011-44-161-232-6562
Attention: James Jennings, Esq.
Greg McMahon
with copies to:
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
101 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10178
Telecopier: (212) 309-6273
Attention: John Whitehead, Esq.
and
Addleshaw Booth & Co.
100 Barbirolli Square
Manchester M2 3AB England
Telecopier: 011-44-161-934-6060
Attention: Paul Devitt
or to such other Person or address as any party shall specify by notice in
writing to each of the other parties. All such notices, requests, demands,
waivers and communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of
delivery unless if mailed, in which case on the third Business Day after the
mailing thereof except for a notice of a change of address, which shall be
effective only upon receipt thereof.
7.06 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the annex, schedules and
other documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto, collectively
contain the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter contained herein and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, oral and written, with respect thereto.
7.07 Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and, with respect to
the provisions of Sections 4.10 or 4.11 hereof, shall inure to the benefit of
the Persons benefiting from the provisions thereof who are intended to be third
party beneficiaries thereof, and, in each such case, their respective successors
and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. Except as
specified in the previous sentence, nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties hereto or
their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies,
obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.
7.08 GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN, AND IN ALL RESPECT
SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY IN SUCH
STATE. The parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the federal
courts of the United States of America located in the State of Florida and the
state courts of the State of Florida, solely in respect of the interpretation
and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and in respect of the
transactions contemplated hereby and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a
defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement
hereof, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding
may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue
thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement may not be enforced in or
by such courts, and the parties irrevocably agree that all claims with respect
to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such a court. The
parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person
of such parties and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that
mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or
proceeding in the manner provided in Section 7.05, or in such other manner as
may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.
(b) IN ANY CIVIL ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR PROCEEDING, WHETHER AT LAW OR
IN EQUITY, WHICH ARISES OUT OF, CONCERNS, OR RELATES TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND ANY
AND ALL TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER, THE PERFORMANCE HEREOF, OR THE
RELATIONSHIP CREATED HEREBY, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT
LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, TRIAL WILL BE TO A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AND
NOT TO A JURY. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A
TRIAL BY JURY. ANY PARTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS
AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES
HERETO OF THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. NEITHER PARTY HAS MADE OR
RELIED UPON ANY ORAL REPRESENTATIONS TO OR BY ANY OTHER PARTY REGARDING THE
ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS PROVISION. EACH PARTY HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE EFFECT
OF THIS JURY WAIVER PROVISION.
7.09 Amendment and Modification. Subject to applicable law, this
Agreement may be amended, modified and supplemented in writing by the parties
hereto in any and all respects before the Effective Time (notwithstanding any
shareholder approval), by action taken by the respective Boards of Directors of
Purchaser and the Company or by the respective officers authorized by such
Boards of Directors; provided, however, that after any such shareholder
approval, no amendment shall be made which by law requires further approval by
such shareholders without such further approval.
7.10 Further Actions. Each of the parties hereto agrees that, subject
to its legal obligations, it will use its best efforts to fulfill all conditions
precedent specified herein, to the extent that such conditions are within its
control, and to do all things reasonably necessary to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby
7.11 Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Articles and
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, do not constitute
a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
7.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
7.13 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory
policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions
contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in
no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
7.14 Certain Definitions.
(a) "Business Day" shall mean any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a day on which banks located in New York, New York shall be authorized or
required by law to close.
(b) "Knowledge" Defined. When any representation or warranty contained
in this Agreement or in the Company Disclosure Letter is expressly qualified by
the knowledge of the Company, such knowledge shall mean the actual knowledge of
Messrs. Joseph Vittoria and John Balson.
(c) "Person" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a
joint venture, a corporation, a trust, a limited liability company, an
unincorporated organization, a group and a government or other department or
agency thereof.
(d) "Subsidiary" with respect to the Company, shall mean and include
(x) any partnership of which the Company or any Subsidiary is a general partner
or (y) any other entity in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owns or
has the power to vote 50% or more of the equity interests in such entity having
general voting power to participate in the election of the governing body of
such entity.
7.15 Transfer Taxes. All stamp, transfer, documentary, sales, use,
registration and other such taxes and fees (including any penalties and
interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (collectively, the "Transfer Taxes") shall be paid by
Purchaser, and Purchaser shall, at its own expense, procure any stock transfer
stamps required by, and properly file on a timely basis all necessary tax
returns and other documentation with respect to, any Transfer Tax and provide to
the Company evidence of payment of all Transfer Taxes.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of Parent, Purchaser and the Company have
caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be executed by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first above written.
AIRTOURS plc
By /s/ James S. Jennings
-------------------------------
Name: James S. Jennings
Title: Director of Corporate Development
BLUE SEA FLORIDA ACQUISITION INC.
By /s/ James S. Jennings
-------------------------------
Name: James S. Jennings
Title: Vice President
TRAVEL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By /s/ Suzanne B. Bell
-------------------------------
Name: Suzanne B. Bell
Title: Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
<PAGE>
ANNEX A
The capitalized terms used in this Annex A shall have the meanings set
forth in the Agreement to which it is annexed, except that the term "Merger
Agreement" shall be deemed to refer to the Agreement to which this Annex A is
appended.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, and in addition to
(and not in limitation of) Purchaser's right to extend and amend the Offer at
any time in its sole discretion (subject to the provisions of the Merger
Agreement), Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to
any applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c)
under the Exchange Act, pay for any Shares validly tendered pursuant to the
Offer and may postpone the acceptance of and, subject to the restrictions
referred to above, payment for, Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, (i) if
any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been
terminated or (ii) there shall not have been validly tendered and not properly
withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer that number of Shares
representing more than 50% of all Shares outstanding (calculated on a fully
diluted basis, which shall mean, as of any date, the number of Shares that are
actually issued and outstanding plus the number of Shares that the Company is
required to issue pursuant to obligations outstanding under convertible
securities, Options and otherwise on the date of purchase) (the "Minimum
Condition"). Additionally and without limiting the foregoing, notwithstanding
any other provision of the Offer but only in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.01(a) of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser shall not be required to
accept for payment or, subject to the restrictions referred to above, pay for
any Shares, and may terminate or amend the Offer and may postpone the acceptance
of, subject to the restrictions referred to above, payment for Shares, if at any
time on or after the date of the Merger Agreement and at or before the time of
payment for any such Shares (whether or not any Shares have theretofore been
accepted for payment or paid for pursuant to the Offer) any of the following
events shall occur:
(a) there shall be any statute, rule, regulation, legislation,
interpretation, judgment, order or injunction enacted, entered, enforced,
promulgated, amended, issued, or applied by, any legislative body, court,
government or governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency,
domestic or foreign, other than the routine application of the waiting period
provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer or to the Merger, which is in effect and
would, or would be reasonably likely to: (i) make illegal or otherwise directly
or indirectly prohibit the Offer or the Merger, (ii) prohibit or materially
limit the ownership or operation by Parent or Purchaser of all or any material
portion of the business or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or of Parent or to compel Purchaser or Parent to dispose of or hold
separately all or any material portion of the business or assets of Parent, the
Company and their respective Subsidiaries, in each case taken as a whole, or
seeking to impose any material limitation on the ability of Purchaser to conduct
its business or own such assets, (iii) impose material limitations on the
ability of Purchaser or render the Purchaser unable, to accept, pay for or
purchase some or all of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Merger, or (iv)
seek to impose material limitation on the ability of Purchaser or Parent
effectively to exercise rights of ownership of the shares of Common Stock,
including, without limitation, the right to vote any shares of Common Stock
acquired or owned by Purchaser on all matters properly presented to the
Company's shareholders, or require divestiture by Purchaser of any shares of
Common Stock;
(b) there shall be threatened in writing or pending any suit, action
or proceeding by any United States or United Kingdom governmental authority
against the Purchaser, Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that
is reasonably likely to result, directly or indirectly, in any of the
consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (a) above;
(c) any of the representations or warranties made by the Company in
the Merger Agreement that are qualified by Material Adverse Effect shall be
untrue or incorrect, or any such representation and warranty that is not so
qualified shall be untrue or incorrect to the extent that such inaccuracy would,
in each case as of the date of the final scheduled expiration of the Offer
result in a Material Adverse Effect, except (i) for changes specifically
permitted by this Agreement and (ii) that those representations and warranties
which address matters only as of a particular date shall remain true and
correct, as of such date;
(d) the Company shall have failed in a material respect to perform or
to comply with any agreement or covenant of the Company to be performed or
complied with by it under this Agreement and, with respect to any such breach or
failure to perform that is reasonably capable of being remedied within the time
periods set forth below, the breach or failure to perform is not remedied prior
to the earlier of (x) 10 days after the Purchaser has furnished the Company with
written notice of such breach or failure to perform or (y) two business days
prior to the date on which the Offer expires;
(e) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
its terms; or
(f) since the date of this Agreement, there shall have occurred any
change (or any development that would be reasonably likely to result in any
change) that constitutes a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
(g) the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof
shall have withdrawn, modified or changed in a manner adverse to Parent or the
Purchaser its approval or recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or this
Agreement, or approved or recommended any Acquisition Proposal or the Company
shall have entered into any acquisition agreement with respect to, or any other
agreement that would approve, adopt or effect, any Superior Proposal in
accordance with Section 4.07(d) of this Agreement; or
(h) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of trading
in, or limitation on prices for, securities on the London Stock Exchange, the
New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market
for a period in excess of 24 hours (excluding suspensions or limitations
resulting solely from physical damage or interference with such exchanges not
related to market conditions), (ii) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any
suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States or the United
Kingdom (whether or not mandatory), (iii) a commencement of a war, armed
hostilities or other international or national calamity directly or indirectly
involving the United States or the United Kingdom that constitutes a Company
Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affects or delays the
consummation of the Offer, or (iv) any material limitation (whether or not
mandatory) by any United States or United Kingdom governmental authority on the
extension of credit generally by banks or other financial institutions;
which, in the good faith judgment of Purchaser, in any such case, and
regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such condition, make it
inadvisable to proceed with the Offer and/or with such acceptance or payment or
payments for shares of Common Stock.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and
Purchaser and, subject to the provisions of the Agreement may be asserted by
Parent or Purchaser regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such
condition and may be waived by Parent or Purchaser in whole or in part. The
failure by Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall
not be deemed a waiver of any right, and each such right shall be deemed an
ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I THE OFFER................................................... 2
1.01 The Offer....................................................2
1.02 Company Actions..............................................3
1.03 Composition of the Board of Directors........................5
ARTICLE II THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS.............................. 6
2.01 The Merger...................................................6
2.02 Closing......................................................6
2.03 Effective Time...............................................6
2.04 Effect of Merger.............................................6
2.05 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation..........6
2.06 Conversion of Stock..........................................7
2.07 Dissenting Stock.............................................7
2.08 Surrender of Certificates....................................8
2.09 Payment......................................................8
2.10 No Further Rights of Transfers...............................9
2.11 Stock Option and Other Plans.................................9
2.12 Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation......10
2.13 By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation........................10
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..............................10
3.01 Representations and Warranties of the Company...............10
(a) Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power...10
(b) Authorization and Validity of Agreement...............11
(c) Capitalization........................................11
(d) Consents and Approvals; No Violations.................12
(e) Company Reports and Financial Statements..............13
(f) Absence of Certain Changes............................13
(g) Compliance with Laws..................................13
(h) Litigation............................................14
(i) Employee Benefit Plans................................14
(j) Taxes.................................................15
(k) Intellectual Properties...............................16
(l) Proxy Statement and Schedule 14D-9....................16
(m) Broker's or Finder's Fee..............................16
(n) Environmental Laws and Regulations....................17
(o) State Takeover Statutes ..............................18
(p) Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................18
(q) Rights Agreement......................................18
3.02 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Purchaser......19
(a) Due Organization; Good Standing and Corporate Power...19
(b) Authorization and Validity of Agreement...............19
(c) Consents and Approvals; No Violations.................20
(d) Broker's or Finder's Fee..............................20
(e) Parent Not an Affiliated Shareholder..................20
(f) Financing.............................................20
ARTICLE IV TRANSACTIONS PRIOR TO EFFECTIVE DATE........................21
4.01 Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records.....21
4.02 Confidentiality.............................................21
4.03 Conduct of the Business of the Company Pending the
Effective Date..............................................21
4.04 Proxy Statement.............................................22
4.05 Shareholder Approval........................................23
4.06 Reasonable Efforts..........................................23
4.07 No Solicitation of Other Offers.............................24
4.08 Notification................................................26
4.09 HSR Act.....................................................26
4.10 Employee Benefits...........................................26
4.11 Indemnification of Directors and Officers of the Company....27
ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MERGER..............................28
5.01 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Parent, Purchaser
and the Company.............................................28
(a) Approval of Company's Shareholders.................29
(b) HSR Act............................................29
(c) Injunction.........................................29
(d) Statutes...........................................29
(e) Payment for Common Stock...........................29
ARTICLE VI TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT.................................29
6.01 Termination.................................................29
6.02 Effect of Termination.......................................31
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS...............................................31
7.01 Fees and Expenses...........................................31
7.02 Representations and Warranties..............................32
7.03 Extension; Waiver...........................................32
7.04 Public Announcements........................................32
7.05 Notices.....................................................32
7.06 Entire Agreement............................................34
7.07 Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment.........................34
7.08 Governing Law And Venue; Waiver Of Jury Trial...............34
7.09 Amendment and Modification..................................35
7.10 Further Actions.............................................35
7.11 Headings....................................................35
7.12 Counterparts................................................35
7.13 Severability................................................35
7.14 Certain Definitions.........................................35
7.15 Transfer Taxes..............................................36
EXHIBIT A Voting and Tender Agreement................................. A
EXHIBIT 4.1
AMENDMENT
AMENDMENT, dated as of February 21, 2000, to the Share Purchase Rights
Plan, dated as of January 28, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), by and between
TRAVEL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York corporation (the "Rights
Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore executed and
entered into the Rights Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Company wants to exempt Airtours plc, Blue Sea Florida
Acquisition Inc. and their wholly-owned subsidiaries from the provisions of the
Rights Agreement in connection with that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of February 21, 2000, by and among Airtours plc, Blue Sea Florida
Acquisition Inc. and the Company, as may be amended from time to time;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 26 of the Rights Agreement, the Company
and the Rights Agent may from time to time amend the Rights Agreement in
accordance with the provisions of Section 26 thereof; and
WHEREAS, all actions necessary to make this Amendment a valid
agreement, enforceable according to its terms have been taken, and the execution
and delivery of this Amendment by the Company and the Rights Agent have been in
all respects duly authorized by the Company and the Rights Agent;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, the Company and the Rights Agent agree as follows:
1. (a) Amendment of Section 1(a). Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement
is amended to add the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
Airtours plc nor Blue Sea Florida Acquisition Inc. nor any of their Affiliates
or Associates (as defined in the Rights Agreement) shall be deemed to be an
Acquiring Person by virtue of (i) the approval, execution or delivery of the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 21, 2000, by and among
Airtours plc, Blue Sea Florida Acquisition Inc. and the Company, as may be
amended from time to time (the "Merger Agreement") and the Stock Voting and
Tender Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2000, by and among Airtours plc, Blue
Sea Florida Acquisition Inc. and the individuals listed on Schedule 1 thereto,
as may be amended from time to time (the "Voting and Tender Agreement"), (ii)
the consummation of the Offer (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (iii) the
consummation of the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (iv) the
consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated in the Merger
Agreement and the Voting and Tender Agreement, including, without limitation,
the voting or tendering of shares pursuant the Voting and Tender Agreement, or
(v) the public announcement of any of the foregoing."
(b) Amendment of Section 1(k). Section 1(k) of the Rights Agreement is
amended to add the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a
Distribution Date shall not be deemed to have occurred as the result of (i) the
approval, execution or delivery of the Merger Agreement and the Voting and
Tender Agreement, (ii) the consummation of the Offer, (iii) the consummation of
the Merger, (iv) the consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated
in the Merger Agreement and the Voting and Tender Agreement, including, without
limitation, the voting or tendering of shares pursuant the Voting and Tender
Agreement, or (v) the public announcement of any of the foregoing (the "Airtours
Transactions")."
(c) Amendment of Section 13. Section 13 of the Rights Agreement is
amended to add the following sentence at the end thereof:
"Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing herein
shall preclude the consummation of the Airtours Transactions, and upon
consummation of the Merger pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the
Merger Agreement, all Rights shall expire and be of no further force or effect."
2. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws
of the State of Florida and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and to be
performed entirely within such State.
3. Except as hereinabove expressly provided, all provisions of the
Rights Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
4. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts all of
which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective
as of the date hereof when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to each of the other parties.
* * *
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to
be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
TRAVEL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ Suzanne B. Bell
--------------------------------
Name: Suzanne B. Bell
Title: Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Carolyn B. O'Neill
--------------------------------
Name: Carolyn B. O'Neill
Title: Vice President
Contact: Joseph V. Vittoria - (561) 266-0860
TRAVEL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL
AGREES TO ACQUISITION BY AIRTOURS PLC
DELRAY BEACH, FL, February 21, 2000 - Travel Services International, Inc.
(NASDAQ: TRVL) announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger
agreement providing for the acquisition of the Company by Airtours plc for cash
consideration of $26 per share, or an aggregate of approximately $385 million.
Airtours, based in the U.K., is one of the largest tour operators in the world.
Joseph Vittoria, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented:
"The combination with Airtours brings great shareholder value to our existing
holders. It also provides the Company with significant opportunities to expand
its product offerings to its customers and continue its strategic investments in
technology and the Internet. As a member of the Airtours group, the Company will
have enhanced resources to further its development as a global distributor of
leisure and travel services."
Airtours will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding
shares of the Company's common stock no later than March 1, 2000. The tender
offer will remain open for 20 business days, unless extended pursuant to the
merger agreement, and is conditioned on the tender of a sufficient number of
shares to give Airtours ownership of at least a majority of the fully diluted
outstanding shares of the Company. Shares not tendered will be converted in the
merger into the right to receive the same $26 per share in cash. The merger
agreement contains customary closing conditions, including the need to obtain
regulatory approvals.
Travel Services International is a leading specialized distributor of travel
products including cruise vacations, vacation packages, domestic and
international airline tickets and European auto rentals, and is a leading
provider of travel services, such as electronic hotel reservation services,
specialized hotel programs and services and incentive travel programs. The
Company provides its services to both travel agents and travelers, offering a
unique combination of specialized expertise, the ability to compare options from
multiple travel providers and competitive prices. More information about the
Company can be found at www.mytravelco.com.
The Airtours group is the largest air inclusive tour operator in the world,
carrying 10 million passengers per annum. The group's earnings derive from tour
operations in the U.K., Ireland, Scandinavia, the U.S., Canada, Poland, Belgium,
France, Holland and, through its associate FTi, in Germany, Austria and
Switzerland. In addition, Airtours operates retail travel agencies, hotels,
vacation ownership developments, aircraft and cruise ships. Shares of Airtours
are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
CERTAIN STATEMENTS MADE IN THIS RELEASE ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN
THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH
STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON CURRENT EXPECTATIONS AND ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE TO
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY EXPECTED FUTURE RESULTS OR PERFORMANCE, EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED, BY THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO
RESPONSIBILITY TO UPDATE ANY OF THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER
TO SELL SHARES OF THE COMPANY. AT THE TIME THE OFFER IS COMMENCED, AIRTOURS WILL
FILE A TENDER OFFER STATEMENT WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
AND THE COMPANY WILL FILE A SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE OFFER. THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A
RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH
SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.
THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER OFFER
DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT, WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY, AT NO EXPENSE TO THEM. THE TENDER
OFFER STATEMENT (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, THE RELATED LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE COMMISSION) AND THE
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE
COMMISSION'S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.
