SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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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): JANUARY 19, 2000
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
FLORIDA
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-22895 59-2223464
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(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
8700 WEST FLAGLER STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33174
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (305) 485-7000
N/A
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Page 1 of 172
Exhibit Index on Page 7
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On January 19, 2000, Omega Research, Inc. ("Omega") and
onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Online"), entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the "Merger Agreement") under
which Omega and Online are to be merged in a stock-for-stock transaction.
The parties to the Merger Agreement are Omega, Online, Online Trading
Group, Inc., a newly-formed Florida corporation that will be the holding company
for Omega and Online upon completion of the merger transactions ("Holding
Company"), Omega Acquisition Corporation, a newly-formed Florida corporation
that is owned by Holding Company ("Omega Merger Sub"), and Onlinetrading
Acquisition Corporation, a newly-formed Florida corporation that is owned by
Holding Company ("Online Merger Sub"). Under the Merger Agreement, Omega Merger
Sub will merge into Omega, and Online Merger Sub will merge into Online
(collectively, the "Mergers"). Omega and Online, as surviving corporations of
the Mergers, shall then be wholly-owned subsidiaries of Holding Company. In
connection with the Mergers, shareholders of Omega and Online will exchange
their respective shares of common stock in those companies for shares of common
stock of Holding Company (the "Exchanged Holding Company Shares") pursuant to
the formulae described below. Holding Company is to be the publicly-traded
company -- the Exchanged Holding Company Shares are to be registered and are to
be listed on The Nasdaq National Market.
The exchange ratio formulae ("Exchange Ratio") in the Merger Agreement,
including the Exchange Ratio "floor" and "ceiling" relating to Online
shareholders, are designed so that, upon completion of the Mergers, Online's
shareholders will own no less than 38% of the shares of common stock of Holding
Company on a fully diluted basis as of the date of the Merger Agreement, and no
more than approximately 43% of the shares of Holding Company on a fully diluted
basis. Omega's shareholders will own the remaining shares of Holding Company
(62% to approximately 57% on a fully diluted basis).
The Exchange Ratio for Omega common stock is fixed at one Exchanged
Holding Company Share for each outstanding share of Omega common stock owned by
Omega shareholders (a fixed 1 to 1 ratio). The Exchange Ratio (subject to the
"floor" and "ceiling" described below) for Online common stock is (a) $11.0625
(the average of the last sale prices of a share of Online common stock over the
10-day trading period that ended on January 18, 2000), divided by (b) the
average of the last sale prices of a share of Omega common stock over the 10-day
trading period that ends on the third day prior to the closing of the Mergers.
Regardless of the result of such formula, in no event shall the Exchange Ratio
related to the Online common stock be lower than 1.3817 (which results in a 38%
Online shareholders/62% Omega shareholders ownership of Holding Company on a
fully diluted basis) or higher than 1.7172 (which results in an approximate 43%
Online shareholders/57% Omega shareholders ownership of Holding Company on a
fully diluted basis).
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The Board of Directors of Holding Company will, after the Mergers,
initially consist of eight members: five members, including two independent
directors, designated by Omega and three members, including one independent
director, designated by Online.
While the Mergers and the Merger Agreement are subject to approval by
the shareholders of each of Omega and Online, in connection with the execution
of the Merger Agreement (a) certain affiliates of William R. Cruz and Ralph L.
Cruz (the Co-Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers of Omega) owning in the
aggregate approximately 75% of the outstanding shares of Omega common stock have
each entered into a shareholder agreement, a copy of the form of which is
attached as Exhibit 2.2 hereto and incorporated by reference herein (the "Omega
Shareholder Agreement"), with Online and Holding Company, pursuant to which such
shareholders have agreed to vote their shares of Omega common stock in favor of
the Mergers and the approval of the Merger Agreement, and (b) certain officers
and directors of Online (Andrew A. Allen, Farshid Taffazoli, E. Steven zum Tobel
and Derek Hernquist) and/or their respective affiliates and a former director of
Online (Benedict S. Gambino) owning in the aggregate approximately 77% of the
outstanding shares of Online common stock have entered into a shareholder
agreement, a copy of the form of which is attached as Exhibit 2.3 hereto and
incorporated by reference herein (the "Online Shareholder Agreement"), with
Omega and Holding Company, pursuant to which such shareholders have agreed to
vote their shares of Online common stock in favor of the Mergers and the
approval of the Merger Agreement. Each of the Omega Shareholder Agreement and
Online Shareholder Agreement will terminate on, among other events, the
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms.
The closing of the Mergers are also subject to NASD approval of a
change in control of Online, a licensed broker-dealer, the filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and effectiveness of a registration statement
on Form S-4 for the Exchanged Holding Company Shares and the listing of the
Exchanged Holding Company Shares on The Nasdaq National Market, as well as
customary closing conditions.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, Omega and Online also entered
into two Stock Option Agreements (individually, a "Stock Option Agreement" and
collectively, the "Stock Option Agreements"). Pursuant to the Online Stock
Option Agreement, Online granted Omega an option, exercisable under certain
circumstances (including, without limitation, the acceptance by Online's Board
of Directors of an alternative takeover proposal), to purchase up to an
aggregate of 2,294,129 newly issued shares of Online common stock at an exercise
price of $11.0625 per share. Pursuant to the Omega Stock Option Agreement, Omega
granted Online an option, exercisable under certain circumstances (including,
without limitation, the acceptance by Omega's Board of Directors of an
alternative takeover proposal combined with termination of the Merger Agreement
by Omega), to purchase up to an aggregate of 4,892,573 newly issued shares of
Omega common stock at an exercise price of $6.4422 per share. A copy of each of
the Omega Stock Option Agreement and Online Stock Option Agreement is attached
as Exhibits 2.4 and 2.5
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hereto, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein. In addition, Online
agreed to pay Omega a $5.0 million break-up fee in certain circumstances
(including, without limitation, on acceptance by Online's Board of Directors of
an alternative takeover proposal) and Omega agreed to pay Online a $5.0 million
break-up fee in certain circumstances (including, without limitation, on
acceptance by Omega's Board of Directors of an alternative takeover proposal
combined with termination of the Merger Agreement by Omega).
A copy of the Merger Agreement (including exhibits thereto) is filed
herewith as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated by reference herein. The description of
certain terms of the Merger Agreement, the Omega Shareholder Agreement, the
Online Shareholder Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements set forth herein
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the
provisions of such agreements.
On January 20, 2000, Omega and Online issued a joint press release
concerning the execution of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired
Not applicable.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization dated as of January 19, 2000
by and among Omega Research, Inc.,
onlinetradinginc.com corp., Online Trading
Group, Inc., Omega Acquisition Corporation
and Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation,
together with the following exhibits thereto:
(i) Form of Omega Affiliate Agreement; (ii)
Form of Online Affiliate Agreement; (iii)
Form of Employment Agreement; and (iv) Form
of Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure
Agreement
2.2 Form of Omega Shareholder Agreement dated
January 19, 2000 among Online Trading Group,
Inc., onlinetradinginc.com corp. and each
applicable Omega shareholder
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EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
2.3 Form of Online Shareholder Agreement dated
January 19, 2000 among Online Trading Group,
Inc., Omega Research, Inc. and each
applicable Online shareholder
2.4 Omega Stock Option Agreement dated January
19, 2000 between Omega Research, Inc. and
onlinetradinginc.com corp.
2.5 Online Stock Option Agreement dated January
19, 2000 between Omega Research, Inc. and
onlinetradinginc.com corp.
99.1 Press Release of Omega Research, Inc. and
onlinetradinginc.com corp. dated January 20,
2000
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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 thereunto duly authorized.
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
Date: January 28,2000 By: /s/ SALOMON SREDNI
--------------------
Salomon Sredni, President
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT SEQUENTIAL
NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
- ------- ----------- --------
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization dated as of January 19,
2000 by and among Omega Research, Inc.,
onlinetradinginc.com corp., Online
Trading Group, Inc., Omega Acquisition
Corporation and Onlinetrading Acquisition
Corporation, together with the following
exhibits thereto: (i) Form of Omega
Affiliate Agreement; (ii) Form of Online
Affiliate Agreement; (iii) Form of
Employment Agreement; and (iv) Form of
Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure
Agreement 8
2.2 Form of Omega Shareholder Agreement dated
January 19, 2000 among Online Trading
Group, Inc., onlinetradinginc.com corp.
and each applicable Omega shareholder 127
2.3 Form of Online Shareholder Agreement
dated January 19, 2000 among Online
Trading Group, Inc., Omega Research, Inc.
and each applicable Online shareholder 136
2.4 Omega Stock Option Agreement dated
January 19, 2000 between Omega Research,
Inc. and onlinetradinginc.com corp. 146
2.5 Online Stock Option Agreement dated
January 19, 2000 between Omega Research,
Inc. and onlinetradinginc.com corp. 157
99.1 Press Release of Omega Research, Inc. and
onlinetradinginc.com corp. dated January
20, 2000. 168
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EXHIBIT 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
BY AND AMONG
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.,
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM CORP.,
ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC.,
OMEGA ACQUISITION CORPORATION,
AND
ONLINETRADING ACQUISITION CORPORATION
January 19, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I
THE MERGER...............................................................................................2
1.1 The Merger.............................................................................2
1.2 Closing, Effective Time................................................................2
1.3 Effect of the Merger...................................................................3
1.4 Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws......................................................3
1.5 Directors and Officers.................................................................3
1.6 Effect on Capital Stock................................................................5
1.7 Surrender of Certificates..............................................................8
1.8 No Further Ownership Rights in Omega
Capital Stock or Online Capital Stock..................................................9
1.9 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates................................................10
1.10 Tax and Accounting Consequences.......................................................10
1.11 Withholding Rights....................................................................10
1.12 Taking of Necessary Action, Further Action............................................10
ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF OMEGA........................................................10
2.1 Organization, Standing and Power......................................................11
2.2 Capital Structure.....................................................................11
2.3 Authority.............................................................................12
2.4 Omega SEC Documents; Omega Financial Statements.......................................13
2.5 Absence of Certain Changes............................................................14
2.6 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities....................................................14
2.7 Litigation............................................................................14
2.8 Restrictions on Business Activities...................................................15
2.9 Compliance With Laws..................................................................15
2.10 Title to Property.....................................................................15
2.11 Intellectual Property.................................................................16
2.12 Environmental Matters.................................................................17
2.13 Taxes.................................................................................18
2.14 Employee Benefit Plans................................................................19
2.15 Employee Matters......................................................................22
2.16 Interested Party Transactions.........................................................23
2.17 Insurance.............................................................................23
2.18 Regulatory Matters....................................................................23
2.19 Material Contracts....................................................................25
2.20 Omega Options.........................................................................27
2.21 Registration Statement, Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus..............................27
2.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................28
2.23 Omega Affiliate Agreements............................................................28
2.24 State Takeover Statutes...............................................................28
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2.25 Tax and Accounting Treatment..........................................................29
2.26 Brokers' and Finders' Fees............................................................29
2.27 Representations Complete..............................................................29
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ONLINE.........................................................29
3.1 Organization, Standing and Power......................................................29
3.2 Capital Structure.....................................................................30
3.3 Authority.............................................................................31
3.4 Online SEC Documents; Online Financial Statements.....................................32
3.5 Absence of Certain Changes............................................................32
3.6 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities....................................................33
3.7 Litigation............................................................................33
3.8 Restrictions on Business Activities...................................................33
3.9 Compliance With Laws..................................................................34
3.10 Title to Property.....................................................................34
3.11 Intellectual Property.................................................................34
3.12 Environmental Matters.................................................................36
3.13 Taxes.................................................................................37
3.14 Employee Benefit Plans................................................................37
3.15 Employee Matters......................................................................40
3.16 Interested Party Transactions.........................................................41
3.17 Insurance.............................................................................41
3.18 Regulatory Matters....................................................................42
3.19 Material Contracts....................................................................43
3.20 Online Options........................................................................45
3.21 Registration Statement, Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus..............................46
3.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................46
3.23 Online Affiliate Agreements...........................................................46
3.24 State Takeover Statutes...............................................................46
3.25 Tax and Accounting Treatment..........................................................47
3.26 Brokers' and Finders' Fees............................................................47
3.27 Representations Complete..............................................................47
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NEWCO...........................................................47
4.1 Organization, Standing and Power......................................................47
4.2 Capital Structure.....................................................................48
4.3 Authority.............................................................................48
4.4 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities....................................................49
4.5 Litigation............................................................................49
4.6 Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus..............................49
4.7 Tax Treatment.........................................................................50
4.8 Brokers' and Finders' Fees............................................................50
4.9 Representations Complete..............................................................50
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ARTICLE V CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME...............................................................50
5.1 Conduct of Businesses of Omega and Online.............................................50
5.2 Online Conduct of Business............................................................51
5.3 Omega Conduct of Business............................................................52
5.4 No Solicitation.......................................................................52
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.............................................................................53
6.1 Registration Statement, Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus..............................53
6.2 Meetings of Shareholders..............................................................55
6.3 Access to Information.................................................................55
6.4 Confidentiality.......................................................................56
6.5 Public Disclosure.....................................................................56
6.6 Consents; Cooperation.................................................................56
6.7 Reasonable Best Efforts and Further Assurances........................................57
6.8 Blue Sky Laws.........................................................................57
6.9 Nasdaq Quotation......................................................................57
6.10 Public Accounting.....................................................................57
6.11 Affiliate Agreements..................................................................57
6.12 Tax Treatment.........................................................................58
6.13 Omega and Online Options..............................................................58
6.14 Nasdaq Listing of Newco Common Stock..................................................60
6.15 Form 8-A..............................................................................60
6.16 Form S-8..............................................................................60
6.17 Employees.............................................................................60
6.18 Director and Officer Indemnification..................................................60
6.19 Comfort Letters.......................................................................61
6.20 Shareholder Litigation................................................................61
6.21 Observation Rights....................................................................62
6.22 Errors and Omissions Insurance........................................................62
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER.........................................................................62
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger..........................62
7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Online........................................63
7.3 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Newco,
Merger Subs and Omega.................................................................64
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER...............................................................66
8.1 Termination...........................................................................66
8.2 Effect of Termination.................................................................67
8.3 Expenses and Termination Fees.........................................................68
8.4 Amendment.............................................................................69
8.5 Extension; Waiver.....................................................................69
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ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS................................................................................69
9.1 Non-Survival at Effective Time........................................................69
9.2 Notices...............................................................................69
9.3 Interpretation........................................................................70
9.4 Counterparts..........................................................................71
9.5 Entire Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest...............................71
9.6 Severability..........................................................................71
9.7 Remedies Cumulative...................................................................71
9.8 Governing Law.........................................................................71
9.9 Rules of Construction.................................................................72
9.10 Definitions...........................................................................72
9.11 Specific Performance..................................................................72
9.12 Prevailing Party Legal Fees...........................................................72
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SCHEDULES
Omega Disclosure Schedule
Online Disclosure Schedule
Newco Disclosure Schedule
Schedule 6.11(a)
Schedule 6.11(b)
Schedule 6.17(a)
Schedule 6.17(b)
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Intentionally Omitted
Exhibit B - Form of Omega Affiliate Agreement
Exhibit C - Form of Online Affiliate Agreement
Exhibit D-1 - Form of Employment Agreement
Exhibit D-2 - Form of Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION (the
"Agreement") is made and entered into as of January 19, 2000, by and among Omega
Research, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Omega"), onlinetradinginc.com corp., a
Florida corporation ("Online"), Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida
corporation ("Newco"), and Omega Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation
and wholly owned subsidiary of Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"), and Onlinetrading
Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Newco ("Online Merger Sub") (together, Omega Merger Sub and Online Merger Sub
are collectively referred to herein as "Merger Subs") .
R E C I T A L S
A. The Board of Directors of Omega has unanimously (i) determined that
it is advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, Omega and its
shareholders that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, Omega Merger Sub merge with and into Omega, with Omega being the
surviving corporation (which merger, together with the merger described in
paragraph B below, is collectively referred to herein as the "Merger"), (ii)
approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby and (iii) recommended the approval of this Agreement and the Merger by
the shareholders of Omega.
B. The Board of Directors of Online has unanimously (i) determined that
it is advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, Online and its
shareholders that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, Online Merger Sub merge with and into Online, with Online being the
surviving corporation, (ii) approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) recommended the approval of this
Agreement and the Merger by the shareholders of Online.
C. The Board of Directors of Newco has (i) determined that the Merger
is advisable and in the best interests of Newco and its shareholder and (ii)
approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby.
D. Pursuant to the Merger, among other things, the outstanding shares
of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Omega Common Stock"), of Omega shall
be converted into the right to receive the consideration set forth herein and
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Online Common
Stock"), of Online shall be converted into the right to receive the
consideration set forth herein.
E. The parties intend, by executing this Agreement, to adopt a plan of
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), and to cause the Merger to qualify as a
"reorganization" under the provisions of Section 368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(E)
of the Code, and as a pooling of interests for financial accounting purposes.
F. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and as an
inducement to Newco and Merger Subs, Omega and Online to enter into this
Agreement, (a) Omega and Online have entered into a stock option agreement dated
the date hereof (the "Online Option Agreement")
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providing for the purchase under certain circumstances by Omega of newly-issued
shares of Online Common Stock, (b) Omega and Online have entered into a stock
option agreement dated the date hereof (the "Omega Option Agreement") providing
for the purchase under certain circumstances by Online of newly issued shares of
Omega Common Stock, (c) certain affiliates of Omega have on the date hereof
entered into Shareholder Agreements (the"Omega Shareholder Agreements") pursuant
to which they have agreed, among other things, to vote the shares of Omega
Common Stock beneficially owned by such persons to approve this Agreement and
the Merger, and (d) certain affiliates of Online have on the date hereof entered
into Shareholder Agreements (the "Online Shareholder Agreements") pursuant to
which they have agreed, among other things, to vote the shares of Online Common
Stock beneficially owned by such persons to approve this Agreement and the
Merger. The Omega Option Agreement and Online Option Agreement are sometimes
referred to herein as the "Option Agreements."
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 THE MERGER. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2) and
subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the plan of
merger (the "Plan of Merger") in the form of and as set forth in this Agreement
(or such other instrument setting forth the plan of merger as set forth in this
Article I) and the applicable provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act
("Florida Law"), (i) Omega Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Omega, the
separate corporate existence of Omega Merger Sub shall cease and Omega shall
continue as the surviving corporation and (ii) Online Merger Sub shall be merged
with and into Online, the separate corporate existence of Online Merger Sub
shall cease and Online shall continue as the surviving corporation. Omega as the
surviving corporation after the Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as
the "Omega Surviving Corporation," Online as the surviving corporation after the
Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Online Surviving
Corporation," and Omega Surviving Corporation and Online Surviving Corporation
are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Surviving
Corporations."
1.2 CLOSING, EFFECTIVE TIME. The consummation of the Merger (the
"Closing") shall take place as soon as practicable, and in any event not later
than two (2) business days, after the satisfaction or waiver of each of the
conditions set forth in Article VII hereof or at such other time as the parties
hereto may mutually in writing agree (the "Closing Date"). The Closing shall
take place at the offices of Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod LLP, 2500 First
Union Financial Center, Miami, Florida 33131-2336, or at such other location as
the parties hereto may agree in writing. In connection with the Closing, the
parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing the Plan of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Florida, in accordance with
the relevant provisions of Florida Law (the time of such filing, or such later
time
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as may be mutually in writing agreed to by the parties and set forth in the Plan
of Merger, being hereinafter referred to as the "Effective Time").
1.3 EFFECT OF THE MERGER. At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the
applicable provisions of Florida Law. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject to the foregoing, at the Effective Time, (i) all the
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Omega and Omega Merger
Sub shall vest in the Omega Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities
and duties of Omega and Omega Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and
duties of the Omega Surviving Corporation, and (ii) all the property, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of Online and Online Merger Sub shall vest in
the Online Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of
Online and Online Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of
the Online Surviving Corporation.
1.4 ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BYLAWS.
(a) At the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation (the
"Omega Articles of Incorporation") of Omega Merger Sub, as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Omega
Surviving Corporation; provided, however, that Article I of the Omega Articles
of Incorporation shall be amended to read as follows: "The name of the
corporation is OmegaResearch.com, Inc."
(b) The Bylaws of Omega Merger Sub, as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the Omega Surviving
Corporation until thereafter amended.
(c) At the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation (the
"Online Articles of Incorporation") of Online Merger Sub, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Articles of Incorporation
of the Online Surviving Corporation; provided, however, that Article I of the
Online Articles of Incorporation shall be amended to read as follows: "The name
of the corporation is OnlineTradinginc.com corp."
(d) The Bylaws of Online Merger Sub, as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the Online Surviving
Corporation until thereafter amended.
1.5 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
(a) At the Effective Time, Salomon Sredni and Marc J. Stone
shall be the initial directors of the Omega Surviving Corporation and Steven zum
Tobel shall be elected an additional director, which directors shall serve until
their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified. The officers of
Omega at the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Omega Surviving
Corporation, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified.
(b) At the Effective Time, Salomon Sredni and Marc J. Stone
shall be the initial directors of Online Surviving Corporation and Ralph L.
Cruz, Farshid Tafazzoli and Steven zum Tobel shall be elected additional
directors, which directors shall serve until their successors are duly
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elected or appointed and qualified. The officers of Online at the Effective Time
shall be the initial officers of the Online Surviving Corporation, until their
respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.
(c) (i) At the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of Newco
shall be comprised of eight directors. The directors of Newco from and after the
Effective Time, who shall serve until their respective successors have been duly
elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or
removal in accordance with Newco's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, shall
be designated as follows: Omega shall designate five directors (including two
Co- Chairman of the Board and two of whom shall be independent directors (as
hereinafter defined) and Online will designate three directors (including one
Vice Chairman of the Board and one of whom shall be an independent director).
(ii) The executive officers of Newco at the Effective Time,
who shall serve until their respective successors shall have been duly elected
or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal
in accordance with Newco's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, shall be as
follows:
Co-Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief William R. Cruz
Executive Officer
Co-Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Ralph L. Cruz
Executive Officer
President and Chief Operating Officer Salomon Sredni
Vice President Farshid Tafazzoli
Vice President E. Steven zum Tobel
Vice President, General Counsel and Marc J. Stone
Secretary
Vice President of Advertising and Sales Janette Perez
Chief Financial Officer and Vice Gregg Stewart
President of Finance and Treasurer
(iii) For purposes of this subsection (c), an "independent
director" shall mean an individual who both (i) meets the definition of a
"non-employee director" set forth in Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and (ii) meets the requirements of an
independent director pursuant to the rules of The Nasdaq National Market for
purposes of serving as a member of Newco's audit committee, including, without
limitation, being "financially literate" (as defined under such rules) and, in
the case of one of the independent directors designated by Omega, having
"financial expertise" (as defined under such rules). If, pursuant to subsection
(c)(i), Omega or Online shall designate an independent director to serve on the
Board of
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Directors of Newco who does not currently serve on such designating
corporation's Board of Directors, such designation shall require the approval of
the other corporation, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
1.6 EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of Newco, Merger Subs, Omega, Online
or the holders of any of the following securities:
(a) CONVERSION OF OMEGA AND ONLINE CAPITAL STOCK.
(i) Each share of Omega Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any shares of Omega Common
Stock to be canceled pursuant to Section 1.6(b)) will be canceled and
extinguished and be converted automatically into the right to receive one (1)
share (the "Omega Exchange Ratio") of Newco Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share ("Newco Common Stock"), upon surrender of the certificate representing
such share of Omega Common Stock in the manner provided in Section 1.7 (or, in
the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, upon delivery of an
affidavit and, if required, bond in the manner provided in Section 1.9).
(ii) Each share of Online Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any shares of Online Common
Stock to be canceled pursuant to date Section 1.6(b) or any shares of persons
who have not voted such shares for approval of the Merger and with respect to
which such persons shall become entitled to exercise dissenters' rights in
accordance with Florida Law ("Online Dissenting Shares")) will be canceled and
extinguished and be converted automatically into the right to receive the number
of shares of Newco Common Stock as determined pursuant to subparagraph (a)(iii)
hereinbelow (the "Online Exchange Ratio," and together with the Omega Exchange
Ratio, collectively referred to herein as the "Exchange Ratios") upon surrender
of the certificate representing such share of Online Common Stock in the manner
provided in Section 1.7 (or, in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate, upon delivery of an affidavit and, if required, bond in the manner
provided in Section 1.9).
(iii) The Online Exchange Ratio shall be equal to the
quotient, which shall be rounded to four decimal places (the "Quotient"), of (A)
the Average Online Closing Price (as hereinafter defined) divided by the Average
Omega Closing Price (as hereinafter defined); provided, however, that,
notwithstanding the Quotient, in no event shall the Online Exchange Ratio be
less than 1.3817 (the "Minimum Online Exchange Ratio") or more than 1.7172 (the
"Maximum Online Exchange Ratio") and, to the extent the Quotient is less than
the Minimum Online Exchange Ratio, the Online Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted
upward to and be equal to the Minimum Online Exchange Ratio and, to the extent
the Quotient is more than the Maximum Online Exchange Ratio, the Online Exchange
Ratio shall be adjusted downward to and be equal to the Maximum Online Exchange
Ratio. For purposes of this subsection (iii), the "Average Online Closing Price"
means and equals the 10 trading day average of the last sale price of a share of
Online Common Stock as reported on the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq") over the period ending on the
trading day prior to the date of this Agreement; and the "Average
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Omega Closing Price" means and equals the 10 trading day average of the last
sale price of a share of Omega Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq National
Market over the period ending on the third trading day prior to the Closing
Date.
(b) CANCELLATION OF OMEGA AND ONLINE CAPITAL STOCK OWNED BY NEWCO,
MERGER SUBS, OMEGA OR ONLINE. Each share of Omega Common Stock that is owned by
Omega as treasury stock and each share of Omega Common Stock owned by Newco,
Merger Subs or Online or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Newco, Merger Subs, Omega or Online immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be canceled and extinguished without any conversion thereof. Each share of
Online Common Stock that is owned by Online as treasury stock and each share of
Online Common Stock owned by Newco, Merger Subs, Omega or Online or any direct
or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Newco, Merger Subs, Omega or Online
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished
without any conversion thereof.
(c) OMEGA AND ONLINE STOCK OPTION PLANS AND WARRANTS. At the
Effective Time, (i) Omega's 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1997 Nonemployee
Director Stock Option Plan, as amended, and Amended and Restated 1996 Incentive
Stock Plan, as amended (collectively, the "Omega Stock Option Plans"), (ii) all
options to purchase Omega Common Stock ("Omega Options") then outstanding under
the Omega Stock Option Plans and/or assumed by Omega in connection with Omega's
acquisition of Window on WallStreet Inc. ("WOW") and originally granted under
WOW's 1997 Long Term Incentive Plan or otherwise granted to employees of WOW
prior to the adoption of such plan, (iii) Online's 1999 Stock Option Plan, (iv)
all options to purchase Online Common Stock ("Online Options") then outstanding
under the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan and (v) warrants to purchase up to
225,000 shares of Online Common Stock ("Online Warrants") at an exercise price
of $11.55 issued to the underwriters of Online's initial public offering shall
be assumed by Newco in accordance with Section 6.13. It is hereby acknowledged
and agreed that as part of the Merger and obtaining the approval of the Merger
by the shareholders of Omega and Online, the number of shares reserved for
issuance under Omega's Amended and Restated 1996 Incentive Stock Plan, as
amended, shall be increased to 7,500,000.
(d) UNVESTED OMEGA COMMON STOCK AND ONLINE COMMON STOCK. If any
shares of Omega Common Stock or Online Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time are unvested or are subject to a repurchase option,
risk of forfeiture or other condition under any applicable restricted stock
purchase agreement, or other agreement with Omega or Online or under which Omega
or Online has any rights, then (unless such condition terminates by virtue of
the Merger pursuant to the express term of such agreement) the shares of Newco
Common Stock issued in exchange for such shares of Omega Common Stock or Online
Common Stock will also be unvested and subject to the same repurchase option,
risk of forfeiture or other condition, and the certificates representing such
shares of Newco Common Stock may accordingly be marked with appropriate legends.
Omega and Online shall take all action that may be necessary to ensure that,
from and after the Effective Time, Newco is entitled to exercise any such
repurchase option or other right set forth in any such restricted stock purchase
agreement or other agreement.
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(e) CAPITAL STOCK OF MERGER SUBS.
(i) At the Effective Time, each share of Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of Omega Merger Sub ("Omega Merger Sub Common Stock")
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Omega
Surviving Corporation, and the Omega Surviving Corporation shall become a wholly
owned subsidiary of Newco. Each stock certificate of Omega Merger Sub evidencing
ownership of any such shares shall continue to evidence ownership of such shares
of capital stock of the Omega Surviving Corporation.
(ii) At the Effective Time, each share of Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of Online Merger Sub ("Online Merger Sub Common Stock")
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Online
Surviving Corporation, and the Online Surviving Corporation shall become a
wholly owned subsidiary of Newco. Each stock certificate of Online Merger Sub
evidencing ownership of any such shares shall continue to evidence ownership of
such share of capital stock of the Online Surviving Corporation.
(f) ADJUSTMENTS TO EXCHANGE RATIO. Each of the Exchange Ratios
shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the effect of any stock split,
reverse split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of
securities convertible into Omega Common Stock or Online Common Stock),
reorganization, recapitalization or other like change with respect to Omega
Common Stock or Online Common Stock occurring after the date hereof and prior to
the Effective Time so as to provide Omega and Online the same economic effect as
contemplated by this Agreement prior to such stock split, reverse split, stock
dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, like change.
(g) FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fraction of a share of Newco Common
Stock will be issued, but in lieu thereof each holder of shares of Omega Capital
Stock or Online Capital Stock who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a
share of Newco Common Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Newco
Common Stock to be received by such holder) shall receive from Newco an amount
of cash (rounded to the nearest whole cent) equal to the product of (i) such
fraction, multiplied by (ii) the last sale price for a share of Omega Common
Stock as quoted on The Nasdaq National Market on the last full trading day prior
to the Effective Time.
(h) DISSENTERS' RIGHTS. Any Online Dissenting Shares shall not be
converted into Newco Common Stock but shall instead be converted into the right
to receive such consideration as may be determined to be due with respect to
such Online Dissenting Shares pursuant to Florida Law. Online agrees that,
except with the prior written consent of Omega and Newco, or as required under
Florida Law, it will not voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle
or offer to settle, any such purchase demand. Each holder of Online Dissenting
Shares ("Dissenting Shareholder") who, pursuant to the provisions of Florida
Law, becomes entitled to payment of the fair value for shares of Online Common
Stock shall receive payment therefor (but only after the value therefor shall
have
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been agreed upon or finally determined pursuant to such provisions). If, after
the Effective Time, any Online Dissenting Shares shall lose their status as
Online Dissenting Shares, Newco shall issue and deliver, upon surrender by such
shareholder of certificate or certificates representing shares of Online Common
Stock, the number of shares of Newco Common Stock to which such shareholder
would otherwise be entitled under this Section 1.6 and the Agreement.
(i) EXISTING NEWCO CAPITAL STOCK. At the Effective Time, any
shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Newco issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and
extinguished without any conversion thereof.
1.7 SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES.
(a) EXCHANGE AGENT. Omega's transfer agent or another institution
selected by Omega and reasonably acceptable to Online shall act as exchange
agent (the "Exchange Agent") in the Merger.
(b) NEWCO TO PROVIDE COMMON STOCK AND CASH. Promptly after the
Effective Time, Newco shall make available to the Exchange Agent for exchange in
accordance with this Article I, through such reasonable procedures as Newco may
adopt, (i) the shares of Newco Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 1.6(a)
in exchange for shares of Omega Common Stock and Online Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) cash in an amount sufficient to
permit payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 1.6(g).
(c) EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. Promptly after the Effective Time, the
Omega Surviving Corporation and the Online Surviving Corporation shall cause to
be mailed to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates (the
"Certificates") which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
outstanding shares of Omega Common Stock or Online Common Stock, as applicable,
whose shares were converted into the right to receive shares of Newco Common
Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) pursuant to Section 1.6, (i) a
letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon receipt of the
Certificates by the Exchange Agent, and shall be in such form and have such
other provisions as Newco may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use
in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for certificates
representing shares of Newco Common Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional
shares). Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent
or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Newco, together with
such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance
with the instructions thereto, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled
to receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing the number of whole
shares of Newco Common Stock and payment in lieu of fractional shares which such
holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 1.6, and the Certificate so
surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. Until so surrendered, each outstanding
Certificate that, prior to the Effective Time, represented shares of Omega
Common Stock or Online Common Stock will be deemed from and after the Effective
Time, for all corporate purposes, other than the payment of dividends, to
evidence the ownership of the number of whole shares of Newco Common Stock into
which such shares of Omega Common Stock or Online Common Stock shall have been
so converted
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and the right to receive an amount in cash in lieu of the issuance of any
fractional shares in accordance with Section 1.6.
(d) DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO UNEXCHANGED SHARES. No dividends
or other distributions with respect to Newco Common Stock with a record date
after the Effective Time will be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered
Certificate with respect to the shares of Newco Common Stock represented thereby
until the holder of record of such Certificate shall surrender such Certificate.
Subject to applicable law, following surrender of any such Certificate, there
shall be paid to the record holder of the certificates representing whole shares
of Newco Common Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, at the time
of such surrender, the amount of any such dividends or other distributions with
a record date after the Effective Time theretofore payable (but for the
provisions of this Section 1.7(d)) with respect to such shares of Newco Common
Stock.
(e) TRANSFERS OF OWNERSHIP. If any certificate for shares of Newco
Common Stock is to be issued by the Exchange Agent in a name other than that in
which the Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it will be
a condition of the issuance thereof that the Certificate so surrendered will be
properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
requesting such exchange will have paid to Newco or any agent designated by it
any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of a certificate
for shares of Newco or a check in any name other than that of the registered
holder of the Certificate surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of
Newco or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not
payable.
(f) NO LIABILITY. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 1.7, none of the Exchange Agent, the Omega Surviving Corporation or the
Online Surviving Corporation or any party hereto shall be liable to any person
for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable
abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(g) ONLINE DISSENTING SHARES. The provisions of this Section 1.7
shall also apply to Online Dissenting Shares that lose their status as such,
except that the obligations of Newco under this Section 1.7 shall commence on
the date of loss of such status and the holder of such shares shall be entitled
to receive in exchange for such shares the number of shares of Newco Common
Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 1.6.
1.8 NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN OMEGA CAPITAL STOCK OR ONLINE
CAPITAL STOCK. All shares of Newco Common Stock issued (and cash in lieu of
fractional shares paid) upon the surrender for exchange of shares of Omega
Common Stock or Online Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be
deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such
shares of Omega Common Stock or Online Common Stock, and there shall be no
further registration of transfers on the records of the Omega Surviving
Corporation of shares of Omega Common Stock or the Online Surviving Corporation
of shares of Online Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Omega Surviving Corporation or the Online Surviving Corporation for any reason,
they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article I.
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1.9 LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. In the event any
Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall
issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, such shares of Newco
Common Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) as may be required pursuant
to Section 1.6; provided, however, that Newco may, in its discretion and as a
condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificates to deliver a bond in such sum as it may
reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Newco,
the Omega Surviving Corporation, the Online Surviving Corporation or the
Exchange Agent with respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed.
1.10 TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSEQUENCES. It is intended by the parties
hereto that the Merger shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code and a pooling of interests for accounting purposes.
1.11 WITHHOLDING RIGHTS. Newco and the Surviving Corporations shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the number of shares of Newco Common Stock
otherwise deliverable under this Agreement, and from any other payments made
pursuant to this Agreement, such amounts as Newco and the Surviving Corporations
are required to deduct and withhold with respect to such delivery and payment
under the Code or any provision of state, local, provincial or foreign tax law.
To the extent that amounts are so withheld, such withheld amounts shall be
treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been delivered and paid to
the holder of shares of Omega Common Stock or Online Common Stock in respect of
which such deduction and withholding was made by Newco and the Surviving
Corporations.
1.12 TAKING OF NECESSARY ACTION, FURTHER ACTION. If, at any time after
the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out
the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the respective Surviving Corporation
with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of Omega and Omega Merger Sub, on the one
hand, and Online and Online Merger Sub, on the other hand, the officers and
directors of Omega, Online, Newco and Merger Subs are fully authorized in the
name of their respective corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all
such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent
with this Agreement and provided that any action taken by Merger subs must be
duly authorized by Newco.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF OMEGA
Except as disclosed in the document of even date herewith delivered by
Omega to Online prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
referring to the representations and warranties in this Agreement (the "Omega
Disclosure Schedule"), any exception so disclosed in the Omega Disclosure
Schedule to specifically identify the Section or subsection of this Agreement to
which such exception relates, Omega represents and warrants to Online as
follows:
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2.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND POWER. Each of Omega and its direct and
indirect subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of Omega
and its subsidiaries has the corporate power to own its properties and to carry
on its business as now being conducted and is duly qualified to do business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified
and in good standing would have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in Section
9.10) on Omega. Omega has delivered to Online a true and correct copy of the
certificate or articles of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, as amended,
and any other charter or organizational documents, each as amended, of Omega and
each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Neither Omega nor any of its
direct and indirect subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its
certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws or other charter or
organizational documents, each as amended. Omega is the owner of all outstanding
shares of capital stock or voting securities of each of its subsidiaries and all
such shares and voting securities are duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock and
voting securities of each such subsidiary are owned by Omega, free and clear of
all liens, charges, claims or encumbrances or rights of others. Except as
disclosed in the Omega SEC Documents (as defined below), there are no
outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, puts, calls, rights, exchangeable
or convertible securities or other commitments or agreements of any character
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of any such
subsidiary, or otherwise obligating Omega or any such subsidiary to issue,
transfer, sell, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any such securities. The
Omega Disclosure Schedule sets forth all of the direct or indirect subsidiaries
of Omega and the authorized and outstanding capital stock thereof. Except as
disclosed in the Omega SEC Documents and the Omega Disclosure Schedule, Omega
does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interest in, or any
interest convertible or exchangeable or exercisable for, any equity or similar
interest in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business
association or entity.
2.2 CAPITAL STRUCTURE. The authorized capital stock of Omega consists
of 100,000,000 shares of Omega Common Stock, and 25,000,000 shares of Omega's
Preferred Stock, par value $.0l per share ("Omega Preferred Stock"), of which
there were issued and outstanding as of the close of business on January 18,
2000, 24,475,104 shares of Omega Common Stock and no shares of Omega Preferred
Stock. There are no other outstanding shares of capital stock or voting
securities and no outstanding commitments to issue any shares of capital stock
or voting securities after January 18, 2000 other than pursuant to the exercise
of options outstanding as of such date under the Omega Stock Option Plans and
options assumed by Omega in connection with the acquisition of WOW ("WOW"). All
outstanding shares of Omega Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable and are free and clear of any liens or
encumbrances other than any liens or encumbrances created by or imposed upon the
holders thereof, and are not subject to preemptive rights or rights of first
refusal created by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, each as
amended, of Omega or any agreement to which Omega is a party or by which it is
bound. As of the close of business on January 18, 2000, Omega has reserved an
aggregate of 5,175,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance to employees,
consultants and directors pursuant to the Omega Stock Option Plans, of which
237,001 shares have been issued pursuant to option exercises or direct stock
purchases, and 4,166,501 shares are subject to outstanding, unexercised options
(excluding any options to purchase shares of Omega Common Stock under the 1997
Employee Stock Purchase Plan,
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as amended). As of the close of business on January 18, 2000, there were 182,529
shares of Omega Common Stock subject to the WOW Options. Since January 18, 2000,
Omega has not issued or granted additional options under the Omega Stock Option
Plans or otherwise except for outstanding options to purchase by employees under
the Omega 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended. Omega has not issued or
granted any stock appreciation rights or performance units under the Omega Stock
Option Plans or otherwise. Except for the rights created pursuant to this
Agreement, the Omega Stock Option Plans, the WOW Options and the Omega Option
Agreement, there are no other options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or
agreements of any character to which Omega is a party or by which it is bound
obligating Omega to issue, deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause to be
issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any shares of capital stock of
Omega or obligating Omega to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change
the price of, or otherwise amend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
right, commitment or agreement. Except for this Agreement and as provided by
Section 6.11, there are no contracts, commitments or agreements relating to
voting, purchase or sale of Omega's capital stock (i) between or among Omega and
any of its shareholders or (ii) to Omega's knowledge, between or among any of
Omega's shareholders. The terms of the Omega Stock Option Plans and the WOW
Options permit the assumption of options to purchase Omega Common Stock as
provided in this Agreement, without the consent or approval of the holders of
such securities, the Omega shareholders, or otherwise. All agreements and
instruments relating to or issued under the Omega Stock Option Plans and in
connection with the WOW Options have not been amended, modified or supplemented,
and there are no agreements to amend, modify or supplement such agreements or
instruments in any case from the existing forms. All outstanding shares of Omega
Common Stock and all Omega Options (which include the WOW Options) were issued
in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
2.3 AUTHORITY. Omega has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and the Option Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Omega Option Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Omega, subject only to the approval of
the Merger by Omega's shareholders as contemplated by Section 7.1(a). Each of
this Agreement and the Omega Option Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Omega and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Omega,
enforceable against Omega in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium or other
laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally, or (ii) the
rules governing the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or
other equitable remedies and general principles of equity, regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the Omega Option Agreement by Omega does not, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not,
conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default under (with or without
notice or lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit under (i)
any provision of the certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other
charter or organizational documents, each as amended, of Omega or any of its
subsidiaries, or (ii) any material mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement or instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment,
order, decree, statute, law,
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ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Omega or any of its subsidiaries or
any of their properties or assets. No consent, approval, order or authorization
of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any court, administrative
agency or commission, self-regulatory organization ("SRO") or other foreign or
domestic governmental or quasi-governmental authority or instrumentality (each
of the foregoing, a "Governmental Entity") is required by or with respect to
Omega or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement or the Omega Option Agreement, the performance of Omega's
obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, except for (i) the filing of the Plan of Merger
as provided in Section 1.2, (ii) the filing with the SEC and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.21), relating to the Omega
Shareholders Meeting (as defined in Section 2.21), (iii) such notices,
applications, consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings as may be required under applicable federal or state
securities (including, without limitation, under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act") and the Exchange Act or the securities laws of
any foreign country in connection with the Merger, and (iv) such other consents,
authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which, if not obtained or
made, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Omega and would not prevent,
or materially alter or delay, any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the Omega Option Agreement. Omega is not aware of any reason why
the approvals of all Governmental Entities necessary to permit consummation of
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be
received without the imposition of a condition or requirement that would have a
Material Adverse Effect on Omega.
2.4 OMEGA SEC DOCUMENTS; OMEGA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Omega has
furnished or made available (including via EDGAR) to Online a true and complete
copy of each statement, report, registration statement (with the prospectus in
the form filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act), definitive proxy
statement and other filings filed with the SEC by Omega since the date of
initial filing of Omega's registration statement relating to its initial public
offering, and, prior to the Effective Time, Omega will have furnished Online
with true and complete copies of any additional documents filed with the SEC by
Omega prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the "Omega SEC Documents"). In
addition, Omega has made available to Online all exhibits to the Omega SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, and will promptly make available to
Online all exhibits to any additional Omega SEC Documents filed prior to the
Effective Time. All documents required to be filed as exhibits to the Omega SEC
Documents have been so filed, and all material contracts so filed as exhibits
are in full force and effect, except those which have expired in accordance with
their terms, and neither Omega nor any of its subsidiaries is in material
default thereunder. As of their respective filing dates, the Omega SEC Documents
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and
the Securities Act, and none of the Omega SEC Documents contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent
corrected by a subsequently filed Omega SEC Document. The financial statements
of Omega, including the notes thereto, included in the Omega SEC Documents (the
"Omega Financial Statements") were complete and correct in all material respects
as of their respective dates, complied as to form in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with
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respect thereto as of their respective dates, and have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
consistent throughout the periods indicated and consistent with each other
(except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited
statements included in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as permitted by Form 10-Q
of the SEC). The Omega Financial Statements fairly present the consolidated
financial condition and operating results of Omega and its subsidiaries at the
dates and during the periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments).
2.5 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Since December 31, 1998 (the "Omega
Balance Sheet Date"), Omega has conducted its business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice and there has not occurred except as otherwise
disclosed in the Omega SEC Documents: (i) any change, event or condition
(whether or not covered by insurance) that has resulted in, or would reasonably
be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect on Omega; (ii) any
acquisition, sale or transfer of any material asset of Omega or any of its
subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice; (iii) any change in accounting methods or practices (including
any change in depreciation or amortization policies or rates) by Omega or any
revaluation by Omega of any of its or any of its subsidiaries' assets; (iv) any
declaration, setting aside, or payment of a dividend or other distribution with
respect to the shares of Omega, or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase
or other acquisition by Omega of any of its shares of capital stock; (v) any
material contract entered into by Omega or any of its subsidiaries, other than
in the ordinary course of business and as provided to Online, or any material
amendment or termination of, or material default under, any material contract to
which Omega or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound; (vi)
any amendment or change to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Omega;
(vii) any material increase in or material modification of the compensation or
benefits payable or to become payable by Omega to any of its directors, officers
or employees (except in the case of employees (other than officers) increases in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices; (viii) any
material change in the interest rate risk management and hedging policies,
procedures or practices of Omega or any of its subsidiaries, or any failure to
comply with such policies, procedures and practices; or (ix) any negotiation or
agreement by Omega or any of its subsidiaries to do any of the things described
in the preceding clauses (i) through (viii) (other than negotiations with Online
and its representatives regarding the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement).
2.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. None of Omega or any of its
subsidiaries has any material obligations or liabilities of any nature (matured
or unmatured, fixed or contingent) other than (i) those set forth or adequately
provided for in the balance sheet of Omega and subsidiaries included in Omega's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1999
(the "Omega Balance Sheet"), (ii) those incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since the Omega Balance Sheet Date and
which have not had and are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Omega, and (iii) those incurred in connection with the execution of
this Agreement.
2.7 LITIGATION. There is no private or governmental action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration, inquiry, examination, inspection or
investigation pending by or before any Governmental
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Entity, agency, court or tribunal, foreign or domestic or, to the knowledge of
Omega or any of its subsidiaries, threatened against Omega or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or any of their respective
officers or directors (in their capacities as such) that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially
delay any of the transactions contemplated hereby or would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Omega. There is no judgment,
decree or order against Omega or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge
of Omega and its subsidiaries, any of their respective directors or officers (in
their capacities as such), that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Omega.
2.8 RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. There is no agreement,
judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon Omega or any of its
subsidiaries which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or materially impairing any current or future business practice of
Omega or any of its subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by Omega or any of
its subsidiaries or the conduct of business by Omega or any of its subsidiaries
as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by Omega or any of its
subsidiaries.
2.9 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each of Omega and its subsidiaries has
complied in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local,
self-regulatory and foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations,
and is not in violation in any material respect of, and has not received any
notices of material violation with respect to, its respective certificate or
articles of incorporation or bylaws or other charter or organizational
documents, or any federal, state, local, self-regulatory or foreign statute,
law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the conduct of its business or
the ownership or operation of its business.
2.10 TITLE TO PROPERTY. Omega and its subsidiaries have good, valid and
marketable title to all of their respective properties, interests in properties
and assets, real and personal, reflected in the Omega Balance Sheet or acquired
after the Omega Balance Sheet Date (except properties, interests in properties
and assets sold or otherwise disposed of since the Omega Balance Sheet Date in
the ordinary course of business), or in the case of leased properties and
assets, valid leasehold interests in, free and clear of all mortgages, liens,
pledges, charges or encumbrances of any kind or character, except (i) the lien
of current taxes not yet due and payable, (ii) such imperfections of title,
liens and easements as do not and will not materially detract from or interfere
with the use of the properties subject thereto or affected thereby, or otherwise
materially impair business operations involving such properties and (iii) liens
securing debt which is reflected on the Omega Balance Sheet or in any Omega SEC
document filed with respect to the Omega Balance Sheet Date. The plants,
property and equipment of Omega and its subsidiaries that are used in the
operations of their businesses are in generally good operating condition and
repair. All properties used in the operations of Omega and its subsidiaries are
reflected in the Omega Balance Sheet to the extent generally accepted accounting
principles require the same to be reflected. SCHEDULE 2.10 of the Omega
Disclosure Schedule identifies each parcel of real property owned or leased by
Omega or any of its subsidiaries.
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2.11 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(a) Omega and its subsidiaries are the sole and exclusive owners
of, or are licensed or otherwise possess legally enforceable and unencumbered
rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain
names, database rights, copyrights, and any applications therefor, maskworks,
net lists, schematics, technology, know-how, trade secrets, inventory, ideas,
algorithms, processes, computer software programs or applications (in both
source code and object code form), and tangible or intangible proprietary
information or material ("Omega Intellectual Property") that are used in and are
material to the business of Omega and its subsidiaries as currently conducted by
Omega and its subsidiaries. Omega has not (i) licensed any Omega Intellectual
Property in source code form to any party or (ii) entered into any exclusive
agreements relating to Omega Intellectual Property.
(b) SCHEDULE 2.11 of the Omega Disclosure Schedule lists (i) all
patents and patent applications and all registered and unregistered trademarks,
trade names and service marks, registered and unregistered copyrights, and
maskworks included in Omega Intellectual Property, including the jurisdictions
in which each such Omega Intellectual Property right has been issued or
registered or in which any application for such issuance and registration has
been filed, (ii) all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which
Omega is a party and pursuant to which any person is authorized to use Omega
Intellectual Property, and (iii) all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements
as to which Omega or any of its subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which
Omega is authorized to use any third party patents, trademarks or copyrights,
including software or other intellectual property ("Omega Third Party
Intellectual Property Rights"), which is incorporated in, is, or forms a part of
any product or service of Omega or any of its subsidiaries or which is otherwise
used by Omega or any of its subsidiaries (excluding commercially available,
off-the-shelf software). No material royalties or other continuing payment
obligations are or will be due in respect of Omega Third Party Intellectual
Property Rights, except as disclosed in the Omega SEC Documents.
(c) To the knowledge of Omega, there is no unauthorized use,
improper disclosure, infringement or misappropriation of any Omega Intellectual
Property rights of Omega or any of its subsidiaries, or any Omega Intellectual
Property right of any third party to the extent licensed by or through Omega or
any of its subsidiaries, by any third party, including any employee or former
employee of Omega or any of its subsidiaries. Neither Omega nor any of its
subsidiaries has entered into any agreement to indemnify any other person
against any charge of unauthorized use, improper disclosure, misappropriation or
infringement of any Omega Intellectual Property.
(d) None of Omega or its subsidiaries is, nor will any of them be
as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance
of its obligations under this Agreement, in breach of or cause a right to
terminate any license, sublicense or other agreement relating to any Omega
Intellectual Property or Omega Third Party Intellectual Property Rights which
would have a Material Adverse Effect on Omega.
(e) All patents, registered trademarks, service marks and
copyrights held by Omega and its subsidiaries are valid and subsisting. Neither
Omega nor any of its subsidiaries (i)
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has been charged in any suit, action or proceeding with any infringement,
violation, misappropriation, improper disclosure or unauthorized use of any
patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights or violation of any trade secret
or other proprietary right of any third party or a breach of any license or
other agreement involving Omega Intellectual Property nor has a claim been made
with respect thereto or (ii) has brought any action, suit or proceeding for
infringement, violation, misappropriation, improper disclosure or unauthorized
use of Omega Intellectual Property or breach of any license or other agreement
involving Omega Intellectual Property against any third party. To the knowledge
of Omega, neither the manufacturing, use, marketing, licensing or sale of the
products or services of Omega or any of its subsidiaries constitutes an
infringement, violation, misappropriation, unauthorized use or improper
disclosure in any material respect of any patent, trademark, service mark,
copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right of any third party.
(f) Omega has secured valid written assignments from all
consultants and employees who contributed to the creation or development of
Omega Intellectual Property of the rights to such contributions that Omega does
not already own by operation of law.
(g) Omega has taken reasonable steps consistent with prevailing
industry practice to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all Omega
Intellectual Property not otherwise protected by patents, patent applications or
copyright ("Omega Confidential Information"). All use, disclosure or
appropriation of Omega Confidential Information owned by Omega or any of its
subsidiaries by or to a third party has been pursuant to the terms of a written
agreement between Omega or its subsidiary and such third party. All use,
disclosure or appropriation by Omega and its subsidiaries of Omega Confidential
Information not owned by Omega or any such subsidiary has been pursuant to the
terms of a written agreement between Omega or its subsidiary and the owner of
such Omega Confidential Information, or is otherwise lawful.
2.12 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) The following terms shall be defined as follows:
(i) "Environmental and Safety Laws" shall mean any federal,
state or local laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, rules, policies and orders
that are intended to assure the protection of the environment, or that classify,
regulate, call for the remediation of, require reporting with respect to, or
list or define air, water, groundwater, solid waste, hazardous or toxic
substances, materials, wastes, pollutants or contaminants, or which are intended
to assure the safety of employees, workers or other persons, including the
public.
(ii) "Hazardous Materials" shall mean any toxic or hazardous
substance, material or waste or any pollutant or contaminant, or infectious or
radioactive substance or material, including without limitation, those
substances, materials and wastes defined in or regulated under any Environmental
and Safety Laws.
(iii) For purposes of this Section 2.12 only, "Property" shall
mean all real property leased or owned by Omega or its subsidiaries either
currently or in the past.
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(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.12 only, "Facilities"
shall mean all buildings and improvements on the Property of Omega or its
subsidiaries.
(b) Omega represents and warrants as follows: (i) to Omega's
knowledge no ethylene chloride or asbestos is contained in or has been used at
or released from the Facilities; (ii) to Omega's knowledge all Hazardous
Materials have been disposed of in accordance with all Environmental and Safety
Laws; (iii) Omega and its subsidiaries have received no written notice of any
noncompliance of the Facilities or its past or present operations with
Environmental and Safety Laws; (iv) to Omega's knowledge no notices,
administrative actions or suits are pending or threatened relating to a
violation of any Environmental and Safety Laws; (v) to Omega's knowledge neither
Omega nor any of its subsidiaries are a potentially responsible party under the
federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA), or state analog statute, arising out of events occurring prior to the
Effective Time; (vi) to Omega's knowledge there have not been in the past, and
are not now, any Hazardous Materials on, under or migrating to or from the
Facilities or any Property; (vii) to Omega's knowledge there have not been in
the past, and are not now, any underground tanks or underground improvements at,
on or under any Property including without limitation, treatment or storage
tanks, sumps, or water, gas or oil wells; (viii) to Omega's knowledge there are
no polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) deposited, stored, disposed of or located on
the Property or Facilities or any equipment on the Property containing PCBs at
levels in excess of 50 parts per million; (ix) to Omega's knowledge there is no
formaldehyde on the Property or in the Facilities, nor any insulating material
containing urea formaldehyde in the Facilities; (x) Omega's and its
subsidiaries' uses of and activities in Facilities and Property have at all
times complied in all material respects with all Environmental and Safety Laws;
and (xi) Omega and its subsidiaries have all the permits and licenses required
to be issued under Environmental and Safety Laws and are in compliance in all
material respects with the terms and conditions of those permits.
2.13 TAXES. Omega and each of its subsidiaries, and any consolidated,
combined, unitary or aggregate group for Tax (as defined below) purposes of
which Omega or any of its subsidiaries is or has been a member have properly
completed and timely filed all Tax Returns (as defined below) required to be
filed by them and have paid all Taxes shown thereon to be due, other than any
Taxes for which adequate reserves under generally accepted accounting principles
have been recorded in the Omega Financial Statements. Omega has provided
adequate accruals in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
its financial statements for any Taxes that have not been paid, whether or not
shown as being due on any Tax Returns. Omega has no material liability for
unpaid Taxes accruing after the date of its latest Financial Statements the
Omega Balance Sheet other than Taxes arising in the ordinary course of its
business. Except as disclosed in the Omega SEC Documents, there is (i) no
material claim for Taxes that is a lien against the property of Omega or any of
its subsidiaries or is being asserted against Omega or any of its subsidiaries
other than liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (ii) Omega has not been
notified that any audit of any Tax Return of Omega or any of its subsidiaries is
being conducted by a Tax authority, (iii) no extension of the statute of
limitations on the assessment of any Taxes granted by Omega or any of its
subsidiaries is currently in effect, and (iv) there is no agreement, contract or
arrangement to which Omega or any of its subsidiaries is a party that may result
in the payment of any amount that would not be
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deductible by reason of Sections 280G, 162 or 404 of the Code. There has been no
change in ownership of Omega or any of its subsidiaries that has caused the
utilization of any losses of such entities to be limited pursuant to Section 382
of the Code. Omega has not been and will not be required to include any material
adjustment in Taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof) pursuant to
Section 481 or 263A of the Code or any comparable provision under state or
foreign Tax laws as a result of transactions, events or accounting methods
employed prior to the Merger. Neither Omega nor any of its subsidiaries has
filed or will file any consent to have the provisions of paragraph 341(f)(2) of
the Code (or comparable provisions of any state Tax laws) apply to Omega or any
of its subsidiaries. Neither Omega nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any
Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement nor does Omega or any of its
subsidiaries owe any amount under any such agreement. Neither Omega nor any of
its subsidiaries has filed any disclosures under Section 6662 or comparable
provisions of state, local or foreign law to prevent the imposition of penalties
with respect to any Tax reporting position taken on any Tax Return. Neither
Omega nor any of its subsidiaries has ever been a member of a consolidated,
combined or unitary group of which Omega was not the ultimate parent
corporation. Omega and each of its subsidiaries have in their possession
receipts for any Taxes paid to foreign Tax authorities. For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings: "Tax" (and, with
correlative meaning, "Taxes" and "Taxable") means (i) any net income,
alternative or add-on minimum tax, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property,
environmental or windfall profit tax, custom, duty or other tax, governmental
fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest or any penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any
Governmental Entity (a "Tax authority") responsible for the imposition of any
such tax (domestic or foreign), (ii) any liability for the payment of any
amounts of the type described in (i) as a result of being a member of an
affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any Taxable period and
(iii) any liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in (i)
or (ii) as a result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other
person. As used herein, "Tax Return" shall mean any return, statement, report or
form (including, without limitation, estimated Tax returns and reports,
withholding Tax returns and reports and information reports and returns)
required to be filed with respect to Taxes. Omega and each of its subsidiaries
are in full compliance with all terms and conditions of any Tax exemptions and
the consummation of the Merger shall not have any adverse effect on the
continued validity and effectiveness of any such Tax exemptions.
2.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) SCHEDULE 2.14 of the Omega Disclosure Schedule lists, with
respect to Omega, any subsidiary of Omega and any trade or business (whether or
not incorporated) which is treated as a single employer with Omega (an "Omega
ERISA Affiliate") within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the
Code, (i) all material employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")), (ii)
each loan to a non-officer employee in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000), loans to officers and directors and any stock option, stock purchase,
phantom stock, stock appreciation right, supplemental retirement, severance,
sabbatical, medical, dental, vision care, disability, employee relocation,
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cafeteria benefit (Code Section 125) or dependent care (Code Section 129), life
insurance or accident insurance plans, programs or arrangements, (iii) all
bonus, pension, profit sharing, savings, deferred compensation or incentive
plans, programs or arrangements, (iv) other fringe or employee benefit plans,
programs or arrangements that apply to senior management of Omega and that do
not generally apply to all employees, and (v) any current or former employment
or executive compensation or severance agreements, written or otherwise, are
still operative and in effect for the benefit of, or relating to, any present or
former employee, consultant or director of Omega (together, the "Omega Employee
Plans").
(b) Omega has furnished to Online a copy of each of the Omega
Employee Plans and related plan documents (including trust documents, insurance
policies or contracts, employee booklets, summary plan descriptions and other
authorizing documents, and any material employee communications relating
thereto) and has, with respect to each Omega Employee Plan which is subject to
ERISA reporting requirements, provided copies of the Form 5500 reports filed for
the last three plan years. Any Omega Employee Plan intended to be qualified
under Section 401 (a) of the Code has either obtained from the Internal Revenue
Service a favorable determination letter as to its qualified status under the
Code, including all amendments to the Code effected by the Tax Reform Act of
1986 and subsequent legislation, or has applied to the Internal Revenue Service
for such a determination letter prior to the expiration of the requisite period
under applicable Treasury Regulations or Internal Revenue Service pronouncements
in which to apply for such determination letter and to make any amendments
necessary to obtain a favorable determination. Omega has also furnished Online
with the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter issued with
respect to each such Omega Employee Plan, and nothing has occurred since the
issuance of each such letter which could reasonably be expected to cause the
loss of the tax-qualified status of any Omega Employee Plan subject to Code
Section 401 (a). Omega has also furnished Online with all registration
statements and prospectuses prepared in connection with each Omega Employee
Plan.
(c) (i) None of the Omega Employee Plans promises or provides
retiree medical or other retiree welfare benefits to any person; (ii) there has
been no "prohibited transaction," as such term is defined in Section 406 of
ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to any Omega Employee Plan,
which could reasonably be expected to have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect; (iii) each Omega Employee Plan has been administered in accordance with
its terms and in compliance with the requirements prescribed by any and all
statutes, rules and regulations (including ERISA and the Code), except as would
not have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and Omega and each
subsidiary or Omega ERISA Affiliate have performed in all material respects all
obligations required to be performed by them under, are not in any material
respect in default under or violation of, and have no knowledge of any material
default or material violation by any other party to, any of the Omega Employee
Plans; (iv) neither Omega nor any subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is subject to
any material liability or penalty under Sections 4976 through 4980 of the Code
or Title I of ERISA with respect to any of the Omega Employee Plans; (v) all
material contributions required to be made by Omega or any subsidiary or Omega
ERISA Affiliate to any Omega Employee Plan have been made on or before their due
dates and a reasonable amount has been accrued for contributions to each Omega
Employee Plan for the current plan years; (vi) with respect to each Omega
Employee Plan, no "reportable event" within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA
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(excluding any such event for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has
been waived under the regulations to Section 4043 of ERISA) nor any event
described in Section 4062, 4063 or 4041 or ERISA has occurred; (vii) each Omega
Employee Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the
Effective Time in accordance with its terms, without liability to Newco (other
than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination
event); (viii) all premiums required by any Omega Employee Plan have been paid
thereunder or accrued on the books of Omega; (ix) all outstanding indebtedness
for services performed or accrued vacation, holiday pay, earned commissions,
accrued bonuses or other benefits owned to any present or former employee,
consultant or director have been paid when due or accrued on the books of Omega;
and (x) no action or failure to act with respect to any Omega Employee Plan
could subject Omega, Surviving Corporations or Newco or any of their respective
affiliates or any Omega Employee Plan to any material tax, penalty or other
liability, for breach of fiduciary duty or otherwise, under ERISA or any other
applicable law, whether by way of indemnity or otherwise. With respect to each
Omega Employee Plan subject to ERISA as either an employee pension plan within
the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA or an employee welfare benefit plan within
the meaning of Section 3(l) of ERISA, Omega has prepared in good faith and
timely filed all requisite governmental reports (which were true and correct in
all material respects as of the date filed) and has properly and timely filed
and distributed or posted all notices and reports to employees required to be
filed, distributed or posted with respect to each such Omega Employee Plan,
except to the extent the failure to timely or properly file or comply would not,
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Omega. No suit,
administrative proceeding, action or other litigation has been brought, or to
the knowledge of Omega is threatened, against or with respect to any such Omega
Employee Plan, including any audit or inquiry by the IRS or United States
Department of Labor, and, to the knowledge of Omega, there are no facts that
could give rise to any material liability in the event of any such suit,
proceeding, action or other litigation. No payment or benefit which will or may
be made (either as a result of the Merger or otherwise) by Omega to any employee
will be characterized as an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of
Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code. Neither Omega nor any Omega subsidiary or other
ERISA Affiliate is a party to, or has ever been a party to, or has made any
contribution to or otherwise incurred any obligation under, any "multiemployer
plan" as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA. Neither Omega nor any Omega
subsidiary or Omega ERISA Affiliate currently maintain, sponsor, participate in
or contribute to, nor has it ever maintained, established, sponsored,
participated in, or contributed to, any pension plan (within the meaning of
Section 3(2) of ERISA) which is subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of
ERISA, Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
(d) With respect to each Omega Employee Plan, Omega and each of
its subsidiaries have complied with (i) the applicable health care continuation
and notice provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985 ("COBRA") and the regulations (including proposed regulations) thereunder,
(ii) the applicable requirements of the Family Medical and Leave Act of 1993 and
the regulations thereunder, except to the extent that such failure to comply
would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) the
applicable requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act of 1996 and the regulations (including proposed regulations) thereunder,
except to the extent that such failure to comply would not, in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(e) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not (either alone or when taken together with any additional or
subsequent events) (i) entitle any current or former employee or other service
provider of Omega, any Omega subsidiary or any other Omega ERISA Affiliate to
severance benefits or any other payment, except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the
amount of compensation due any such employee or service provider.
(f) There has been no amendment to, or written interpretation or
announcement (whether or not written) by Omega, any Omega subsidiary or other
ERISA Affiliate relating to, or change in participation or coverage under, any
Omega Employee Plan which would materially increase the expense of maintaining
such Plan above the level of expense incurred with respect to that Plan for the
most recent fiscal year included in Omega's financial statements.
(g) There has been no deferral of any cash or securities under the
Omega Stock Option Plans.
2.15 EMPLOYEE MATTERS.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any
payment (including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation,
golden parachute, bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any director or employee
of Omega or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) materially increase any benefits
otherwise payable by Omega or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of
payment or vesting of any such benefits.
(b) Omega and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance in
all material respects with all currently applicable laws and regulations
respecting employment, discrimination in employment, terms and conditions of
employment, wages, hours and occupational safety and health and employment
practices, and is not engaged in any unfair labor practice. Omega and each of
its subsidiaries has withheld all material amounts required by law or by
agreement to be withheld from the wages, salaries, and other payments to
employees, and is not liable for any material arrears of wages or any material
taxes or any material penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.
Omega is not liable for any material payment to any trust or other fund or to
any governmental or administrative authority, with respect to unemployment
compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for
employees (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of
business and consistent with past practice). There are no pending material
claims against Omega or any of its subsidiaries under any workers compensation
plan or policy or for long term disability. Neither Omega nor any of its
subsidiaries has any obligations under COBRA with respect to any former
employees or qualifying beneficiaries thereunder, except for obligations that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
Omega. There are no material controversies pending or, to the knowledge of
Omega, threatened between Omega or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and
any of their respective employees, on the other hand, which controversies have
or would reasonably be expected to result in an action, suit, proceeding, claim,
arbitration or investigation before any agency, court or tribunal which would
have a Material
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Adverse Effect on Omega. Neither Omega nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to
any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract; nor does
Omega know of any activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any
such employees. To Omega's knowledge, no employees of Omega are in violation in
any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure
agreement, noncompetition agreement, or any restrictive covenant to a former
employer relating to the right of any such employee to be employed by Omega
because of the nature of the business conducted or presently proposed to be
conducted by Omega or to the use of trade secrets or proprietary information of
others. Except as disclosed in the Omega SEC Documents filed prior to the date
of this Agreement, Omega does not have any employment agreement with any of its
officers or other employees.
(c) All employees of Omega or any of its subsidiaries engaged in
the business of, acting as, or performing the duties of a registered
representative, registered principal or similar registered personnel or agent
(under the definition of such terms in the rules of the NASD, The Nasdaq
National Market, any other SRO or any state which has jurisdiction over Omega or
any of its subsidiaries (if applicable)) are properly registered to act in the
capacity of a registered representative, registered principal or similar
registered personnel or agent under the rules of the NASD, The Nasdaq National
Market, any other SRO or any state which has jurisdiction over Omega or any of
its subsidiaries (if applicable).
2.16 INTERESTED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Except as disclosed in the Omega
SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, neither Omega nor any
of its subsidiaries is indebted to any director, officer, employee or agent of
Omega or any of its subsidiaries (except for amounts due as normal salaries and
bonuses and in reimbursement of ordinary expenses), and no such person is
indebted to Omega or any of its subsidiaries other than an employee (who is not
an officer) for nonmaterial amounts, and there have been no other transactions
of the type required to be disclosed pursuant to Items 402 and 404 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
2.17 INSURANCE. Omega and each of its subsidiaries have policies of
insurance and bonds of the type and in amounts customarily carried by persons
conducting businesses or owning assets similar to those of Omega and its
subsidiaries. There is no material claim pending under any of such policies or
bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the
underwriters of such policies or bonds. All premiums due and payable under all
such policies and bonds have been paid and Omega and its subsidiaries are
otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the terms of such policies
and bonds. Omega has no knowledge of any threatened termination of, or material
premium increase with respect to, any of such policies.
2.18 REGULATORY MATTERS.
(a) Omega and each of its subsidiaries have obtained each federal,
state, county, local or foreign governmental consent, license, permit, grant, or
other authorization of a Governmental Entity (i) pursuant to which Omega or any
of its subsidiaries currently operates or holds any interest in any of its
properties or (ii) that is required for the operation or conduct of Omega's or
any of its subsidiaries' business or the holding of any such interest ((i) and
(ii) herein
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collectively called "Omega Authorizations"), and all of such Omega
Authorizations are in full force and effect and there are no circumstance which
indicate that any of such Omega Authorizations may not be renewed or withdrawn
or amended, in whole or in part, except where the failure to obtain or have any
of such Omega Authorizations would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Omega.
(b) Omega and its subsidiaries have complied, and are in
compliance, in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local
and self-regulatory laws, statutes, licensing requirements, rules, and
regulations. Each of Omega and its subsidiaries has, and is in compliance in all
material respects with, all material authorizations, consents, licenses, permits
(temporary or otherwise), orders, approvals, waivers, franchises and other
rights ("Governmental Permits") necessary to conduct their businesses,
including, but not limited to, Governmental Permits of the SEC, the NASD, the
NASD Regulation, Inc., The Nasdaq Stock Market, any state or foreign securities
or prosecutorial authority or any other Governmental Entity required to operate
their respective businesses and maintain their respective assets. Each of Omega
and its subsidiaries has obtained all material Governmental Permits of any and
all Governmental Entities required for the carrying on of its business and the
maintenance of its assets and such material Governmental Permits are in full
force and effect, and there are no circumstances of which Omega is aware which
indicate that any of such material Governmental Permits may be revoked or not
renewed or withdrawn or (except to an immaterial or beneficial extent) amended,
in whole or in part. SCHEDULE 2.18 to the Omega Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
true and complete list of all Governmental Permits held by Omega or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective employees (including all registered
personnel). Neither Omega nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice
from any Governmental Entity (i) asserting that Omega or any of its Subsidiaries
is not in compliance in any material respect with any of the statutes,
regulations, or ordinances that such Governmental Entity enforces or (ii)
threatening to revoke cancel or not renew any Permit or (iii) restricting or
disqualifying their activities. After giving effect to the Merger all
Governmental Permits of the Omega Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries
shall continue to be valid and in full force and effect to the same extent as
they presently are for Omega and its subsidiaries. There is no order issued,
investigation or proceeding pending or (to Omega's knowledge) threatened, or
notice served which remains outstanding or unresolved, with respect to any
material violation of any law, statute, ordinance, order, writ, decree, rule, or
regulation issued by any Governmental Entity applicable to either Omega or any
of its subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or
agents.
(c) Neither Omega nor any of its subsidiaries is a party or
subject to any agreement, consent decree or order, or other understanding or
arrangement with, or any directive of any Governmental Entity which imposes any
material restrictions on, or otherwise affects in any material respect, the
conduct of the business of Omega or any of its subsidiaries. SCHEDULE 2.18 of
the Omega Disclosure Schedule sets forth all compliance or enforcement
proceedings or, to the knowledge of Omega, examinations, inspections,
investigations or inquiries convened, and all fines, sanctions and other
measures imposed by any Governmental Entity or body against, concerning or
relating to Omega, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective predecessor
entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents.
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(d) Each of Omega and its subsidiaries, to the extent required to
so register (the "Broker-Dealers"), is duly registered as a broker-dealer with
the SEC and under all applicable state, federal, foreign or related laws and is
a member of the NASD and a member of Securities Investor Protection Act ("SIPC")
and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. None of the Broker- Dealers has
exceeded in any material respect the business activities enumerated in any
applicable restriction or membership agreements or other limitations imposed in
connection with its registrations, forms (including Form BDs) and reports filed
with the NASD or any other Governmental Entity. The information contained in
such registrations, forms and reports was or will be true and complete in all
material respects as of the date hereof and, except as indicated on a subsequent
registration form or report filed before the Closing, will continue to be true
and complete in all material respects. Each such registration is in full force
and effect, except where the failure to be so would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on Omega.
(e) None of Omega or any of its subsidiaries is required to be
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended (the "Advisers Act") or under any state, federal and foreign
investment adviser or related laws.
(f) None of Omega, its subsidiaries or their respective operations
are required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.19 MATERIAL CONTRACTS.
(a) Except for the contracts included as an exhibit to the Omega
SEC Documents or in connection with this transaction, neither Omega nor any of
its subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any of the following (collectively
and including the contracts which are included as exhibits to the Omega SEC
Documents, the "Omega Material Contracts"):
(i) any contract or agreement for the acquisition or sale of
securities or any material portion of the assets or business of or to any other
person or entity whether completed or pending other than pursuant to Omega
Options (including the WOW Options);
(ii) any contract or agreement for the purchase of materials,
supplies, equipment, services or data involving in the case of any such contract
or agreement more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) over the life of the
contract or agreement;
(iii) any contract, agreement or instrument that expires or
may be renewed at the option of any person other than Omega or its subsidiaries
so as to expire more than six months after the date of this Agreement, or which
is not terminable by Omega or a subsidiary (as applicable) on sixty or fewer
days' notice at any time without penalty, and involves the receipt or payment by
Omega or any of its subsidiaries of more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000)
during any twelve month period;
(iv) any indenture, mortgage, note, loan agreement,
installment obligation or other contract, agreement or instrument for the
borrowing of money, any currency exchange,
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commodities or other hedging arrangement, any letter of credit or any leasing
transaction of the type required to be capitalized in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
(v) any contract or agreement for capital expenditures in
excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) individually or in the aggregate with
other similar contracts or agreements;
(vi) any contract or agreement limiting the freedom of Omega
or any of its subsidiaries or (to the extent known to Omega) any of its officers
or key employees to engage in any line of business or to compete with any person
(as that term is defined in the Exchange Act) or any confidentiality, secrecy or
non-disclosure contract or agreement other than an ancillary provision included
as part of a contract or agreement entered into by Omega or any of its
subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(vii) any contract or agreement involving payments during any
twelve- month period of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) or more, pursuant to
which Omega or any of its subsidiaries is a lessor or lessee of any real
property, machinery, equipment, motor vehicles, office furniture, fixtures or
other personal property;
(viii) any material contract or agreement with any person with
whom Omega or any of its subsidiaries does not deal at arm's length within the
meaning of the Code;
(ix) any agreement of guarantee, support, indemnification,
assumption or endorsement of, or any similar commitment with respect to, the
obligations, liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) or
indebtedness of any other person;
(x) any material consulting agreement;
(xi) any distribution, reseller, dealer, agency, franchise,
advertising, revenue sharing, marketing or similar agreement;
(xii) any clearing agency, investment banking, placement,
broker or similar agreement;
(xiii) any agreement with any Governmental Entity (including
any SRO);
(xiv) any agreement to provide brokerage services or directly
or indirectly participate in brokerage activities, commissions or fees in any
manner (including any forms of customer brokerage agreements);
(xv) any data redistribution or other agreement with any
vendor of financial market data or relating in any manner to financial market
data;
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(xvi) any product and/or service warranties, price protection
or return agreement or written policy or any similar written undertaking by or
for which Omega or any of its subsidiaries remains responsible to perform (a
form of any of the foregoing will be sufficient);
(xvii) any material agreement which would be terminable other
than by Omega or its subsidiaries or any agreement that provides for the payment
of money, accelerates or increases benefits, vesting or compensation or entitles
any person to take actions or receive benefits or otherwise triggers obligations
as a result of the Merger or consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement not otherwise disclosed in the Omega Disclosure
Schedule; or
(xviii) any other agreement which is material to the
operations of Omega's or any of its subsidiaries' businesses or operations or
which may have a material affect on Omega's assets, properties or the Merger.
(b) Each of Omega and its subsidiaries has performed all of
the material obligations required to be performed by it and is entitled to all
accrued benefits under, and is not in material default, nor to Omega's knowledge
has a claim been made that it is in material default in respect of, each Omega
Material Contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound. Each of the
Omega Material Contracts is in full force and effect and there exists no
material default or event of default or event, occurrence, condition or act,
with respect to Omega or any of its subsidiaries or, to Omega's knowledge, with
respect to any other contracting party, which, with the giving of notice, the
lapse of time or the happening of any other event or condition, would become a
material default or event of default under any Omega Material Contract. There
are no unwritten obligations or agreements or course of dealings contrary in any
material respect to the specific terms and conditions of any Material Contract.
True, correct and complete copies of all Omega Material Contracts have been
delivered to Online or filed as an exhibit to the Omega SEC Documents.
2.20 OMEGA OPTIONS. Since December 31, 1998,Omega has not granted any
options, stock appreciation rights or other rights to acquire securities other
than annual grants of stock options to its employees and grants of stock options
to new employees and consultants in accordance with the ordinary course of its
business consistent with past practices, or accelerated, amended or changed the
period of exercisability or vesting of options or other rights granted, under
the Omega Stock Option Plans or authorized cash payments in exchange for any
options or other rights granted under any of the Omega Stock Option Plans.
2.21 REGISTRATION STATEMENT, JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. The
information supplied by Omega for inclusion in the registration statement on
Form S-4 (or such other successor form as shall be appropriate) pursuant to
which the shares of Newco Common Stock to be issued in the Merger will be
registered with the SEC (the "Registration Statement") shall not at the time the
Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto) is
declared effective by the SEC 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. The information supplied by Omega for inclusion
in the joint proxy statement/prospectus to be sent to the shareholders of Omega
in connection with the
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meeting of Omega's shareholders to consider the Merger (the "Omega Shareholders
Meeting") and to the shareholders of Online in connection with the meeting of
Online's shareholders to consider the Merger (the "Online Shareholders Meeting"
and, together with the Omega Shareholders Meeting, collectively herein referred
to as "Shareholders Meetings") (such joint proxy statement/prospectus, together
with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, in each case in the form or
forms sent as aforesaid, the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus") shall not, on
the date the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus" is first mailed to either the
shareholders of Omega or Online, at the time of the either of the Shareholders
Meetings or at the Effective Time, contain any statement which, at such time, is
false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading; or omit
to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier
communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for either of the
Shareholders Meetings which has become false or misleading. If at any time prior
to the Effective Time any event or information should be discovered by Omega
which should be set forth in an amendment to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus", Omega shall promptly
inform Online of such event or information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Omega
makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information
supplied by Online which is contained in any of the foregoing documents.
2.22 OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. Omega has been advised by its
financial advisor, FleetBoston Robertson Stephens ("Robertson Stephens"), that
in such advisor's opinion, as of the date hereof, the Merger is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the shareholders of Omega. A copy of the written
opinion to the foregoing effect of Robertson Stephens dated as of the date of
this Agreement has been delivered to Online or will be delivered to Online
within five business days from the date of this Agreement.
2.23 OMEGA AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS. Each Affiliate (as defined below) of
Omega has entered into a Omega Affiliate Agreement in the form attached hereto
as EXHIBIT B (the "Omega Affiliate Agreements"). Omega shall use its best
efforts to obtain such a written agreement from any other person as soon as
practicable after the date on which such person becomes as an Affiliate of Omega
prior to the Effective Time. For purposes of this Agreement, persons and/or
entities deemed affiliates of an entity within the meaning of Rule 144 of the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Securities Act for
purposes of Accounting Series, Releases 130 and 135, as amended, of the SEC are
referred to as "Affiliates."
2.24 STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES. The Board of Directors of Omega has taken
all actions so that the restrictions contained in Section 607.0902 of the
Florida Law applicable to "control shares" (as defined in such Section 607.0902)
will not apply to the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the
Shareholder Agreements or the Option Agreement or the consummation of the Merger
or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Omega Shareholder
Agreements or the Omega Option Agreement. No other state takeover statute is
applicable to the Merger, this Agreement, the Omega Option Agreement, the Omega
Shareholder Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
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2.25 TAX AND ACCOUNTING TREATMENT. Neither Omega nor any of its
directors or officers has taken any action that would interfere with Newco's or
the Surviving Corporations', Omega's or Online's ability to account for the
Merger as a pooling of interests or would prevent the Merger from constituting a
transaction qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code. Neither Omega nor, to Omega's knowledge, any of its affiliates or
agents is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would
interfere with Newco's, the Surviving Corporations', Omega's or Online's ability
to account for the Merger as a pooling of interests or prevent the Merger from
qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
2.26 BROKERS' AND FINDERS' FEES. Omega has not incurred, nor will it
incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or
agents' commissions or investment bankers' fees or any similar charges in
connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, other
than under its engagement letter with Robertson Stephens.
2.27 REPRESENTATIONS COMPLETE. None of the representations or
warranties made by Omega herein or in any schedule hereto, including the Omega
Disclosure Schedule, or certificate furnished by Omega pursuant to this
Agreement, or the Omega SEC Documents, when all such documents are read together
in their entirety, contains or will contain at the Effective Time any untrue
statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit at the Effective Time to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which made, not
misleading.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ONLINE
Except as disclosed in the document of even date herewith delivered by
Online to Omega prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
referring to the representations and warranties in this Agreement (the "Online
Disclosure Schedule"), any exception so disclosed in the Online Disclosure
Schedule to specifically identify the Section or subsection of this Agreement to
which such exception relates, Online represents and warrants to Omega, Newco and
Merger Subs as follows:
3.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND POWER. Each of Online and its direct and
indirect subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of Online
and its subsidiaries has the corporate power to own its properties and to carry
on its business as now being conducted and is duly qualified to do business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified
and in good standing would have a Material Adverse Effect on Online. Online has
delivered to Omega a true and correct copy of the certificate or articles of
incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, as amended, and any other charter or
organizational documents, each as amended, of Online and each of its direct and
indirect subsidiaries. Neither Online nor any of its direct and indirect
subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its certificate or
articles of incorporation or bylaws or other charter or
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organizational documents, each as amended. Online is the owner of all
outstanding shares of capital stock or voting securities of each of its
subsidiaries and all such shares and voting securities are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All of the outstanding shares of
capital stock and voting securities of each such subsidiary are owned by Online
free and clear of all liens, charges, claims or encumbrances or rights of
others. Except as disclosed in the Online SEC Documents (as defined below),
there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, puts, calls, rights,
exchangeable or convertible securities or other commitments or agreements of any
character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities
of any such subsidiary, or otherwise obligating Online or any such subsidiary to
issue, transfer, sell, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any such
securities. The Online Disclosure Schedule sets forth all of the direct and
indirect subsidiaries of Online and the authorized and outstanding capital stock
thereof. Except as disclosed in the Online SEC Documents and the Online
Disclosure Schedule, Online does not directly or indirectly own any equity or
similar interest in, or any interest convertible or exchangeable or exercisable
for, any equity or similar interest in, any corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other business association or entity.
3.2 CAPITAL STRUCTURE. The authorized capital stock of Online consists
of 100,000,000 shares of Online Common Stock, and 1,000,000 shares of Online
Preferred stock, par value $.0l per share ("Online Preferred Stock"), of which
there were issued and outstanding as of the close of business on January 18,
2000, 11,476,388 shares of Online Common Stock and no shares of Online Preferred
Stock. There are no other outstanding shares of capital stock or voting
securities and no outstanding commitments to issue any shares of capital stock
or voting securities after January 18, 2000 other than pursuant to the exercise
of options outstanding as of such date under the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan
and the Online Warrants. All outstanding shares of Online Common Stock are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are free and clear
of any liens or encumbrances other than any liens or encumbrances created by or
imposed upon the holders thereof, and are not subject to preemptive rights or
rights of first refusal created by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws, each as amended, of Online or any agreement to which Online is a party
or by which it is bound. As of the close of business on January 18, 2000, Online
has reserved an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance to
employees, consultants and directors pursuant to the Online 1999 Stock Option
Plan, of which no shares have been issued pursuant to option exercises and
460,500 shares are subject to outstanding, unexercised options. Since January
18, 2000, Online has not issued or granted additional options under the Online
1999 Stock Option Plan or otherwise. Online has not issued or granted any stock
appreciation rights or performance units under the Online 1999 Stock Option
Plans or otherwise. Except for the rights created pursuant to this Agreement,
the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan, the Online Warrants and the Online Option
Agreement, there are no other options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or
agreements of any character to which Online is a party or by which it is bound
obligating Online to issue, deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause to be
issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any shares of capital stock of
Online or obligating Online to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change
the price of, or otherwise amend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
right, commitment or agreement. Except for this Agreement and as provided by
Section 6.11, there are no contracts, commitments or agreements relating to
voting, purchase or sale of Online's capital stock (i) between or among Online
and any of its shareholders and (ii) to Online's knowledge,
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between or among any of Online's shareholders. The terms of the Online 1999
Stock Option Plan and Online Warrants permit the assumption of options and
warrants (as the case may be) to purchase Online Common Stock as provided in
this Agreement, without the consent or approval of the holders of such
securities, the Online shareholders, or otherwise. True and complete copies of
all agreements and instruments relating to or issued under the Online 1999 Stock
Option Plan and in connection with the Online Warrants have been provided to
Omega and such agreements and instruments have not been amended, modified or
supplemented, and there are no agreements to amend, modify or supplement such
agreements or instruments in any case from the form provided to Omega. All
outstanding shares of Online Common Stock and all Online Options and Online
Warrants were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state
securities laws.
3.3 AUTHORITY. Online has all requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and the Option Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Online Option Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Online, subject only to the approval
of the Merger by Online's shareholders as contemplated by Section 7.1(a). Each
of this Agreement and the Online Option Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Online and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Online,
enforceable against Online in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium or other
laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally, or (ii) the
rules governing the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or
other equitable remedies and general principles of equity, regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the Online Option Agreement by Online does not, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not,
conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default under (with or without
notice or lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit under (i)
any provision of the certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other
charter or organizational documents, each as amended, of Online or any of its
subsidiaries, or (ii) any material mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement or instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment,
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Online
or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets. No consent,
approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing
with, any court, administrative agency or commission, SRO or other Governmental
Entity is required by or with respect to Online or any of its subsidiaries in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Online
Option Agreement, the performance of Online's obligations hereunder or
thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, except for (i) the filing of the Plan of Merger as provided in Section
1.2, (ii) the filing with the SEC and the NASD of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus relating to the Online Shareholders Meeting, (iii) such
notices, applications, consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable
federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act) in connection with the Merger, (iv) such
other consents, authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which, if
not obtained or made, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Online and
would not prevent, or materially alter or
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delay, any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Omega
Option Agreement. Online is not aware of any reason why the approvals of all
Governmental Entities necessary to permit consummation of the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be received without
the imposition of a condition or requirement that would have a Material Adverse
Effect on Online.
3.4 ONLINE SEC DOCUMENTS; ONLINE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Online has
furnished or made available (including via EDGAR) to Omega a true and complete
copy of each statement, report, registration statement (with the prospectus in
the form filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act), definitive proxy
statement and other filings filed with the SEC by Online since the date of
initial filing of Online's registration statement relating to its initial public
offering, and, prior to the Effective Time, Online will have furnished Omega
with true and complete copies of any additional documents filed with the SEC by
Online prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the "Online SEC Documents").
In addition, Online has made available to Omega all exhibits to the Online SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, and will promptly make available to
Omega all exhibits to any additional Online SEC Documents filed prior to the
Effective Time. All documents required to be filed as exhibits to the Online SEC
Documents have been so filed, and all material contracts so filed as exhibits
are in full force and effect, except those which have expired in accordance with
their terms, and neither Online nor any of its subsidiaries is in material
default thereunder. As of their respective filing dates, the Online SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the Securities Act, and none of the Online SEC Documents
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading,
except to the extent corrected by a subsequently filed Online SEC Document. The
financial statements of Online, including the notes thereto, included in the
Online SEC Documents (the "Online Financial Statements") were complete and
correct in all material respects as of their respective dates, complied as to
form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as of their
respective dates, and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a basis consistent throughout the periods
indicated and consistent with each other (except as may be indicated in the
notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements included in Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-QSB, as permitted by Form 10-QSB of the SEC or except to the
extent corrected by a subsequently filed Online SEC Document filed prior to the
date hereof). The Online Financial Statements fairly present the consolidated
financial condition and operating results of Online and its subsidiaries at the
dates and during the periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments).
3.5 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Since January 31, 1999 (the "Online
Balance Sheet Date"), Online has conducted its business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice and there has not occurred except as otherwise
disclosed in the Online SEC Documents: (i) any change, event or condition
(whether or not covered by insurance) that has resulted in, or would reasonably
be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect on Online; (ii) any
acquisition, sale or transfer of any material asset of Online or any of its
subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of business
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and consistent with past practice; (iii) any change in accounting methods or
practices (including any change in depreciation or amortization policies or
rates) by Online or any revaluation by Online of any of its or any of its
subsidiaries' assets; (iv) any declaration, setting aside, or payment of a
dividend or other distribution with respect to the shares of Online, or any
direct or indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition by Online of any of
its shares of capital stock; (v) any material contract entered into by Online or
any of its subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business and as
provided to Omega, or any material amendment or termination of, or material
default under, any material contract to which Online or any of its subsidiaries
is a party or by which it is bound; (vi) any amendment or change to the Articles
of Incorporation or Bylaws of Online; (vii) any material increase in or material
modification of the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable by
Online to any of its directors, officers or employees except in the case of
employees (other than officers) increases in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices; (viii) any material change in the interest rate
risk management and hedging policies, procedures or practices of Online or any
of its subsidiaries, or any failure to comply with such policies, procedures and
practices; or (ix) any negotiation or agreement by Online or any of its
subsidiaries to do any of the things described in the preceding clauses (i)
through (viii) (other than negotiations with Omega and its representatives
regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
3.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. None of Online or any of its
subsidiaries has any material obligations or liabilities of any nature (matured
or unmatured, fixed or contingent) other than (i) those set forth or adequately
provided for in the balance sheet of Online and subsidiaries included in
Online's Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the fiscal quarter ended November
30, 1999 (the "Online Balance Sheet"), (ii) those incurred in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice since the Online Balance Sheet
Date and which have not had and are not reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Online, and (iii) those incurred in connection with the
execution of this Agreement.
3.7 LITIGATION. There is no private or governmental action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration, inquiry, examination, inspection or
investigation pending by or before any Governmental Entity, agency, court or
tribunal, foreign or domestic or, to the knowledge of Online or any of its
subsidiaries, threatened against Online or any of its subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties or any of their respective officers or directors (in
their capacities as such) that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay any of the
transactions contemplated hereby or would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Online. There is no judgment, decree or order against
Online or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of Online and its
subsidiaries, any of their respective directors or officers (in their capacities
as such), that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Online.
3.8 RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. There is no agreement,
judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon Online or any of its
subsidiaries which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or materially impairing any current or future business
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practice of Online or any of its subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by
Online or any of its subsidiaries or the conduct of business by Online or any of
its subsidiaries as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by Online
or any of its subsidiaries.
3.9 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each of Online and its subsidiaries has
complied in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local,
self-regulatory and foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations,
and is not in violation in any material respect of, and has not received any
notices of material violation with respect to, its respective certificate or
articles of incorporation or bylaws or other charter or organizational
documents, or any federal, state, local, self-regulatory or foreign statute,
law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the conduct of its business or
the ownership or operation of its business.
3.10 TITLE TO PROPERTY. Online and its subsidiaries have good, valid
and marketable title to all of their respective properties, interests in
properties and assets, real and personal, reflected in the Online Balance Sheet
or acquired after the Online Balance Sheet Date (except properties, interests in
properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of since the Online Balance
Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business), or in the case of leased
properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, free and clear of all
mortgages, liens, pledges, charges or encumbrances of any kind or character,
except (i) the lien of current taxes not yet due and payable, (ii) such
imperfections of title, liens and easements as do not and will not materially
detract from or interfere with the use of the properties subject thereto or
affected thereby, or otherwise materially impair business operations involving
such properties and (iii) liens securing debt which is reflected on the Online
Balance Sheet or in any Online SEC Document filed subsequent to the Online
Balance Sheet Date. The plants, property and equipment of Online and its
subsidiaries that are used in the operations of their businesses are in
generally good operating condition and repair. All properties used in the
operations of Online and its subsidiaries are reflected in the Online Balance
Sheet to the extent generally accepted accounting principles require the same to
be reflected. SCHEDULE 3.10 of the Online Disclosure Schedule identifies each
parcel of real property owned or leased by Online or any of its subsidiaries.
3.11 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(a) Online and its subsidiaries are the sole and exclusive owners
of, or are licensed or otherwise possess legally enforceable and unencumbered
rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain
names, database rights, copyrights, and any applications therefor, maskworks,
net lists, schematics, technology, know-how, trade secrets, inventory, ideas,
algorithms, processes, computer software programs or applications (in both
source code and object code form), and tangible or intangible proprietary
information or material ("Online Intellectual Property") that are used in and
are material to the business of Online and its subsidiaries as currently
conducted or as proposed to be conducted by Online and its subsidiaries. Online
has not (i) licensed any Online Intellectual Property in source code form to any
party or (ii) entered into any exclusive agreements relating to Online
Intellectual Property.
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(b) SCHEDULE 3.11 of the Online Disclosure Schedule lists (i) all
patents and patent applications and all registered and unregistered trademarks,
trade names and service marks, registered and unregistered copyrights, and
maskworks included in Online Intellectual Property, including the jurisdictions
in which each such Intellectual Property right has been issued or registered or
in which any application for such issuance and registration has been filed, (ii)
all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which Online is a party and
pursuant to which any person is authorized to use Online Intellectual Property,
and (iii) all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which Online or
any of its subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which Online is authorized to
use any third party patents, trademarks or copyrights, including software or
other intellectual property ("Online Third Party Intellectual Property Rights"),
which is incorporated in, is, or forms a part of any product or service of
Online or any of its subsidiaries or which is otherwise used by Online or any of
its subsidiaries (excluding commercially available, off-the-shelf software). No
material royalties or other continuing payment obligations are or will be due in
respect of Online Third Party Intellectual Property Rights, except as disclosed
in the Online SEC Documents.
(c) To the knowledge of Online, there is no unauthorized use,
improper disclosure, infringement or misappropriation of any Online Intellectual
Property rights of Online or any of its subsidiaries, or any Online Intellectual
Property right of any third party to the extent licensed by or through Online or
any of its subsidiaries, by any third party, including any employee or former
employee of Online or any of its subsidiaries. Neither Online nor any of its
subsidiaries has entered into any agreement to indemnify any other person
against any charge of unauthorized use, improper disclosure, misappropriation or
infringement of any Online Intellectual Property.
(d) None of Online or its subsidiaries is, nor will any of them be
as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance
of its obligations under this Agreement, in breach of or cause a right to
terminate any license, sublicense or other agreement relating to any Online
Intellectual Property or Online Third Party Intellectual Property Rights which
would have a Material Adverse Effect on Online.
(e) All patents, registered trademarks, service marks and
copyrights held by Online and its subsidiaries are valid and subsisting. Neither
Online nor any of its subsidiaries (i) has been charged in any suit, action or
proceeding with any infringement, violation, misappropriation, improper
disclosure or unauthorized use of any patents, trademarks, service marks,
copyrights or violation of any trade secret or other proprietary right of any
third party or a breach of any license or other agreement involving Online
Intellectual Property nor has a claim been made with respect thereto or (ii) has
brought any action, suit or proceeding for infringement, violation,
misappropriation, improper disclosure or unauthorized use of Online Intellectual
Property or breach of any license or agreement involving Online Intellectual
Property against any third party. To the knowledge of Online, neither the
manufacturing, use, marketing, licensing or sale of the products or services of
Online or any of its subsidiaries constitutes an infringement, violation,
misappropriation, unauthorized use or improper disclosure in any material
respect of any patent, trademark, service mark, copyright, trade secret or other
proprietary right of any third party.
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(f) Online has secured valid written assignments from all
consultants and employees who contributed to the creation or development of
Online Intellectual Property of the rights to such contributions that Online
does not already own by operation of law.
(g) Online has taken reasonable steps consistent with prevailing
industry practice to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all Online
Intellectual Property not otherwise protected by patents, patent applications or
copyright ("Online Confidential Information"). All use, disclosure or
appropriation of Online Confidential Information owned by Online or any of its
subsidiaries by or to a third party has been pursuant to the terms of a written
agreement between Online or its subsidiary and such third party. All use,
disclosure or appropriation by Online and its subsidiaries of Online
Confidential Information not owned by Online or any such subsidiary has been
pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between Online or its subsidiary
and the owner of such Online Confidential Information, or is otherwise lawful.
3.12 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) For purposes of this Section 3.12 only, the following terms
shall be defined as follows:
(i) For purposes of this Section 3.12 only, "Property" shall
mean all real property leased or owned by Online or its subsidiaries either
currently or in the past.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 3.12 only, "Facilities"
shall mean all buildings and improvements on the Property of Online or its
subsidiaries.
(b) Online represents and warrants as follows: (i) to Online's
knowledge, no methylene chloride or asbestos is contained in or has been used at
or released from the Facilities; (ii) to Online's knowledge, all Hazardous
Materials have been disposed of in accordance with all Environmental and Safety
Laws; (iii) Online and its subsidiaries have received no written notice of any
noncompliance of the Facilities or its past or present operations with
Environmental and Safety Laws; (iv) to Online's knowledge, no notices,
administrative actions or suits are pending or threatened relating to a
violation of any Environmental and Safety Laws; (v) to Online's knowledge,
neither Online nor any of its subsidiaries are a potentially responsible party
under CERCLA, or state analog statute, arising out of events occurring prior to
the Effective Time; (vi) to Online's knowledge, there have not been in the past,
and are not now, any Hazardous Materials on, under or migrating to or from the
Facilities or any Property; (vii) to Online's knowledge, there have not been in
the past, and are not now, any underground tanks or underground improvements at,
on or under any Property including without limitation, treatment or storage
tanks, sumps, or water, gas or oil wells; (viii) to Online's knowledge, there
are no PCBs deposited, stored, disposed of or located on the Property or
Facilities or any equipment on the Property containing PCBs at levels in excess
of 50 parts per million; (ix) to Online's knowledge, there is no formaldehyde on
the Property or in the Facilities, nor any insulating material containing urea
formaldehyde in the Facilities; (x) Online's and its subsidiaries' uses of and
activities in the Facilities and Property have at all times complied in all
material respects with all Environmental and Safety Laws; and (xi) Online and
its subsidiaries have
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all the permits and licenses required to be issued under Environmental and
Safety Laws and are in compliance in all material respects with the terms and
conditions of those permits.
3.13 TAXES. Online and each of its subsidiaries, and any consolidated,
combined, unitary or aggregate group for Tax (as defined below) purposes of
which Online or any of its subsidiaries is or has been a member have properly
completed and timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by them and have
paid all Taxes shown thereon to be due, other than any Taxes for which adequate
reserves under generally accepted accounting principles have been recorded in
the Online Financial Statements. Online has provided adequate accruals in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in its financial
statements for any Taxes that have not been paid, whether or not shown as being
due on any Tax Returns. Online has no material liability for unpaid Taxes
accruing after the date of the Online Balance Sheet other than Taxes arising in
the ordinary course of its business. Except as disclosed in the Online SEC
Documents, there is (i) no material claim for Taxes that is a lien against the
property of Online or any of its subsidiaries or is being asserted against
Online or any of its subsidiaries other than liens for Taxes not yet due and
payable, (ii) Online has not been notified that any audit of any Tax Return of
Online or any of its subsidiaries is being conducted by a Tax authority, (iii)
no extension of the statute of limitations on the assessment of any Taxes
granted by Online or any of its subsidiaries is currently in effect and (iv)
there is no agreement, contract or arrangement to which Online or any of its
subsidiaries is a party that may result in the payment of any amount that would
not be deductible by reason of Sections 280G, 162 or 404 of the Code. There has
been no change in ownership of Online or any of its subsidiaries that has caused
the utilization of any losses of such entities to be limited pursuant to Section
382 of the Code. Online has not been and will not be required to include any
material adjustment in Taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof)
pursuant to Section 481 or 263A of the Code or any comparable provision under
state or foreign Tax laws as a result of transactions, events or accounting
methods employed prior to the Merger. Neither Online nor any of its subsidiaries
has filed or will file any consent to have the provisions of paragraph 341(f)(2)
of the Code (or comparable provisions of any state Tax laws) apply to Online or
any of its subsidiaries. Neither Online nor any of its subsidiaries is a party
to any Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement nor does Online or any of its
subsidiaries owe any amount under any such agreement. Neither Online nor any of
its subsidiaries has filed any disclosures under Section 6662 or comparable
provisions of state, local or foreign law to prevent the imposition of penalties
with respect to any Tax reporting position taken on any Tax Return. Neither
Online nor any of its subsidiaries has ever been a member of a consolidated,
combined or unitary group of which Online was not the ultimate parent
corporation. Online and each of its subsidiaries have in their possession
receipts for any Taxes paid to foreign Tax authorities. Online and each of its
subsidiaries are in full compliance with all terms and conditions of any Tax
exemptions and the consummation of the Merger shall not have any adverse effect
on the continued validity and effectiveness of any such Tax exemptions.
3.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) SCHEDULE 3.14 of the Online Disclosure Schedule lists, with
respect to Online, any subsidiary of Online and any trade or business (whether
or not incorporated) which is treated as a single employer with Online (an
"Online ERISA Affiliate") within the meaning of Section 414(b),
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(c), (m) or (o) of the Code, (i) all material employee benefit plans (as defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA, (ii) each loan to a non-officer employee in excess of
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), loans to officers and directors and any stock
option, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation right, supplemental
retirement, severance, sabbatical, medical, dental, vision care, disability,
employee relocation, cafeteria benefit (Code Section 125) or dependent care
(Code Section 129), life insurance or accident insurance plans, programs or
arrangements, (iii) all bonus, pension, profit sharing, savings, deferred
compensation or incentive plans, programs or arrangements, (iv) other fringe or
employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements that apply to senior management
of Online and that do not generally apply to all employees, and (v) any current
or former employment or executive compensation or severance agreements, written
or otherwise, are still operative and in effect for the benefit of, or relating
to, any present or former employee, consultant or director of Online (together,
the "Online Employee Plans").
(b) Online has furnished to Online a copy of each of the Online
Employee Plans and related plan documents (including trust documents, insurance
policies or contracts, employee booklets, summary plan descriptions and other
authorizing documents, and any material employee communications relating
thereto) and has, with respect to each Online Employee Plan which is subject to
ERISA reporting requirements, provided copies of the Form 5500 reports filed for
the last three plan years. Any Online Employee Plan intended to be qualified
under Section 401 (a) of the Code has either obtained from the Internal Revenue
Service a favorable determination letter as to its qualified status under the
Code, including all amendments to the Code effected by the Tax Reform Act of
1986 and subsequent legislation, or has applied to the Internal Revenue Service
for such a determination letter prior to the expiration of the requisite period
under applicable Treasury Regulations or Internal Revenue Service pronouncements
in which to apply for such determination letter and to make any amendments
necessary to obtain a favorable determination. Online has also furnished Omega
with the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter issued with
respect to each such Online Employee Plan, and nothing has occurred since the
issuance of each such letter which could reasonably be expected to cause the
loss of the tax-qualified status of any Online Employee Plan subject to Code
Section 401 (a). Online has also furnished Omega with all registration
statements and prospectuses prepared in connection with each Online Employee
Plan.
(c) (i) None of the Online Employee Plans promises or provides
retiree medical or other retiree welfare benefits to any person; (ii) there has
been no "prohibited transaction," as such term is defined in Section 406 of
ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to any Online Employee Plan,
which could reasonably be expected to have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect; (iii) each Online Employee Plan has been administered in accordance with
its terms and in compliance with the requirements prescribed by any and all
statutes, rules and regulations (including ERISA and the Code), except as would
not have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and Online and each
subsidiary or Online ERISA Affiliate have performed in all material respects all
obligations required to be performed by them under, are not in any material
respect in default under or violation of, and have no knowledge of any material
default or material violation by any other party to, any of the Online Employee
Plans; (iv) neither Online nor any subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is subject to
any material liability or penalty under Sections 4976 through 4980 of the Code
or Title I of ERISA with respect to any of the Online Employee Plans; (v) all
material contributions
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required to be made by Online or any subsidiary or Online ERISA Affiliate to any
Online Employee Plan have been made on or before their due dates and a
reasonable amount has been accrued for contributions to each Online Employee
Plan for the current plan years; (vi) with respect to each Online Employee Plan,
no "reportable event" within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA (excluding any
such event for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has been waived
under the regulations to Section 4043 of ERISA) nor any event described in
Section 4062, 4063 or 4041 or ERISA has occurred; (vii) each Online Employee
Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Effective
Time in accordance with its terms, without liability to Newco (other than
ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event);
(viii) all premiums required by any Online Employee Plan have been paid
thereunder or accrued on the books of Online; (ix) all outstanding indebtedness
for services performed or accrued vacation, holiday pay, earned commissions,
accrued bonuses or other benefits owned to any present or former employee,
consultant or director have been paid when due or accrued on the books of
Online; and (x) no action or failure to act with respect to any Online Employee
Plan could subject Online, Surviving Corporations or Newco or any of their
respective affiliates or any Online Employee Plan to any material tax, penalty
or other liability, for breach of fiduciary duty or otherwise, under ERISA or
any other applicable law, whether by way of indemnity or otherwise. With respect
to each Online Employee Plan subject to ERISA as either an employee pension plan
within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA or an employee welfare benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 3(l) of ERISA, Online has prepared in good faith
and timely filed all requisite governmental reports (which were true and correct
in all material respects as of the date filed) and has properly and timely filed
and distributed or posted all notices and reports to employees required to be
filed, distributed or posted with respect to each such Online Employee Plan,
except to the extent the failure to timely or properly file or comply would not,
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Online. No suit,
administrative proceeding, action or other litigation has been brought, or to
the knowledge of Online is threatened, against or with respect to any such
Online Employee Plan, including any audit or inquiry by the IRS or United States
Department of Labor, and, to the knowledge of Online, there are no facts that
could give rise to any material liability in the event of any such suit,
proceeding, action or other litigation. No payment or benefit which will or may
be made (either as a result of the Merger or otherwise) by Online to any
employee will be characterized as an "excess parachute payment" within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code. Neither Online nor any Online
subsidiary or other ERISA Affiliate is a party to, or has ever been a party to,
or has made any contribution to or otherwise incurred any obligation under, any
"multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA. Neither Online nor
any Online subsidiary or Online ERISA Affiliate currently maintain, sponsor,
participate in or contribute to, nor has it ever maintained, established,
sponsored, participated in, or contributed to, any pension plan (within the
meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) which is subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of
Title I of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
(d) With respect to each Online Employee Plan, Online and each of
its subsidiaries have complied with (i) the applicable health care continuation
and notice provisions of COBRA and the regulations (including proposed
regulations) thereunder, (ii) the applicable requirements of the Family Medical
and Leave Act of 1993 and the regulations thereunder, except to the extent that
such failure to comply would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect
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and (iii) the applicable requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations (including proposed regulations)
thereunder, except to the extent that such failure to comply would not, in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not (either alone or when taken together with any additional or
subsequent events) (i) entitle any current or former employee or other service
provider of Online, any Online subsidiary or any other Online ERISA Affiliate to
severance benefits or any other payment, except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the
amount of compensation due any such employee or service provider.
(f) There has been no amendment to, or written interpretation or
announcement (whether or not written) by Online, any Online subsidiary or other
ERISA Affiliate relating to, or change in participation or coverage under, any
Online Employee Plan which would materially increase the expense of maintaining
such Plan above the level of expense incurred with respect to that Plan for the
most recent fiscal year included in Online's financial statements.
(g) There has been no deferral of any cash or securities under the
Online Stock Option Plans.
3.15 EMPLOYEE MATTERS.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any
payment (including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation,
golden parachute, bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any director or employee
of Online or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) materially increase any benefits
otherwise payable by Online or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of
payment or vesting of any such benefits.
(b) Online and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance in all
material respects with all currently applicable laws and regulations respecting
employment, discrimination in employment, terms and conditions of employment,
wages, hours and occupational safety and health and employment practices, and is
not engaged in any unfair labor practice. Online and each of its subsidiaries
has withheld all material amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld
from the wages, salaries, and other payments to employees, and is not liable for
any material arrears of wages or any material taxes or any material penalty for
failure to comply with any of the foregoing. Online is not liable for any
material payment to any trust or other fund or to any governmental or
administrative authority, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits,
social security or other benefits or obligations for employees (other than
routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent with
past practice). There are no pending material claims against Online or any of
its subsidiaries under any workers compensation plan or policy or for long term
disability. Neither Online nor any of its subsidiaries has any obligations under
COBRA with respect to any former employees or qualifying beneficiaries
thereunder, except for obligations that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Online. There are no
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material controversies pending or, to the knowledge of Online, threatened
between Online or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of their
respective employees, on the other hand, which controversies have or would
reasonably be expected to result in an action, suit, proceeding, claim,
arbitration or investigation before any agency, court or tribunal which would
have a Material Adverse Effect on Online. Neither Online nor any of its
subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor
union contract; nor does Online know of any activities or proceedings of any
labor union to organize any such employees. To Online's knowledge, no employees
of Online are in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment
contract, patent disclosure agreement, noncompetition agreement, or any
restrictive covenant to a former employer relating to the right of any such
employee to be employed by Online because of the nature of the business
conducted or presently proposed to be conducted by Online or to the use of trade
secrets or proprietary information of others. Except as disclosed in the Online
SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, Online does not have
any employment agreement with any of its officers or other employees.
(c) All employees of Online or any of its subsidiaries engaged in
the business of, acting as, or performing the duties of a registered
representative, registered principal or similar registered personnel or agent
(under the definition of such terms in the rules of the NASD, The Nasdaq
National Market, any other SRO or any state which has jurisdiction over Online
or any of its subsidiaries (if applicable)) are properly registered to act in
the capacity of a registered representative, registered principal or similar
registered personnel or agent under the rules of the NASD, The Nasdaq National
Market, any other SRO or any state which has jurisdiction over Online or any of
its subsidiaries (if applicable).
3.16 INTERESTED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Except as disclosed in the Online
SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, neither Online nor any
of its subsidiaries is indebted to any director, officer, employee or agent of
Online or any of its subsidiaries (except for amounts due as normal salaries and
bonuses and in reimbursement of ordinary expenses), and no such person is
indebted to Online or any of its subsidiaries other than an employee (who is not
an officer) for nonmaterial amounts, and there have been no other transactions
of the type required to be disclosed pursuant to Items 402 and 404 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
3.17 INSURANCE. Online and each of its subsidiaries have policies of
insurance and bonds of the type and in amounts customarily carried by persons
conducting businesses or owning assets similar to those of Online and its
subsidiaries. There is no material claim pending under any of such policies or
bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the
underwriters of such policies or bonds. All premiums due and payable under all
such policies and bonds have been paid and Online and its subsidiaries are
otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the terms of such policies
and bonds. Online has no knowledge of any threatened termination of, or material
premium increase with respect to, any of such policies.
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3.18 REGULATORY MATTERS.
(a) Online and each of its subsidiaries have obtained each
federal, state, county, local or foreign governmental consent, license, permit,
grant, or other authorization of a Governmental Entity (i) pursuant to which
Online or any of its subsidiaries currently operates or holds any interest in
any of its properties or (ii) that is required for the operation or conduct of
Online's or any of its subsidiaries' business or the holding of any such
interest ((i) and (ii) herein collectively called "Online Authorizations"), and
all of such Online Authorizations are in full force and effect and there are no
circumstances which indicate that any of such Online Authorizations may not be
renewed or withdrawn or amended, in whole or in part, except where the failure
to obtain or have any of such Online Authorizations could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Online.
(b) Online and its subsidiaries have complied, and are in
compliance, in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local
and self-regulatory laws, statutes, licensing requirements, rules, and
regulations. Each of Online and its subsidiaries has, and is in compliance in
all material respects with, all material Governmental Permits necessary to
conduct their businesses, including, but not limited to, Governmental Permits of
the SEC, the NASD, the NASD Regulation, Inc., The Nasdaq Stock Market, any state
or foreign securities or prosecutorial authority or any other Governmental
Entity required to operate their respective businesses and maintain their
respective assets. Each of Online and its subsidiaries has obtained all material
Governmental Permits of any and all Governmental Entities required for the
carrying on of its business and the maintenance of its assets and such material
Governmental Permits are in full force and effect, and there are no
circumstances of which Online is aware which indicate that any of such material
Governmental Permits may be revoked or not renewed or withdrawn or (except to an
immaterial or beneficial extent) amended, in whole or in part. SCHEDULE 3.18 to
the Online Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all
Governmental Permits held by Online or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective employees (including all registered personnel). Neither Online nor
any of its subsidiaries has received any notice from any Governmental Entity (i)
asserting that Online or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance in any
material respect with any of the statutes, regulations, or ordinances that such
Governmental Entity enforces or (ii) threatening to revoke cancel or not renew
any Permit or (iii) restricting or disqualifying their activities. After giving
effect to the Merger all Governmental Permits of the Online Surviving
Corporation and its subsidiaries shall continue to be valid and in full force
and effect to the same extent as they presently are for Online and its
subsidiaries. There is no order issued, investigation or proceeding pending or
(to Online's knowledge) threatened, or notice served which remains outstanding
or unresolved, with respect to any material violation of any law, statute,
ordinance, order, writ, decree, rule, or regulation issued by any Governmental
Entity applicable to either Online or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective directors, officers, employees or agents.
(c) Neither Online nor any of its subsidiaries is a party or
subject to, any agreement, consent decree or order, or other understanding or
arrangement with, or any directive of any Governmental Entity which imposes any
material restrictions on, or otherwise affects in any material respect, the
conduct of the business of Online or any of its subsidiaries. SCHEDULE 3.18 of
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the Online Disclosure Schedule sets forth all compliance or enforcement
proceedings or, to the knowledge of Online, examinations, inspections,
investigations or inquiries convened, and all fines, sanctions and other
measures imposed by any Governmental Entity or body against, concerning or
relating to Online, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective predecessor
entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents.
(d) Each of Online and its subsidiaries, to the extent required to
so register (the "Online Broker-Dealers"), is duly registered as a broker-dealer
with the SEC and under all applicable state, federal, foreign or related laws
and is a member of the NASD and a member of SIPC and the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board. Online has delivered or made available to Omega a true and
complete copy of Online's currently effective Form BD as filed with the NASD, a
copy of any restriction agreement, its NASD membership agreement, and all
Government Permits, including, all currently effective SEC, NASD, and state
registrations. Online has also made available to Omega all prior Form BD's filed
with the NASD and any state, as well as any state registration filings submitted
on state specific forms. Online has also made available to Omega all
correspondence between Online and any Governmental Entity, including the SEC,
NASD and all applicable state regulators, within the last five years, and will
provide Omega such forms and reports as are filed from and after the date hereof
and prior to the Closing. None of the Online Broker-Dealers has exceeded in any
material respect the business activities enumerated in any applicable
restriction or membership agreements or other limitations imposed in connection
with its registrations, forms (including Form BDs) and reports filed with the
NASD or any other Governmental Entity. The information contained in such
registrations, forms and reports was or will be true and complete in all
material respects as of the date hereof and, except as indicated on a subsequent
registration form or report filed before the Closing, will continue to be true
and complete in all material respects. Each such registration is in full force
and effect, except where the failure to be so would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on Online.
(e) None of Online or any of its subsidiaries is required to be
registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or under any state,
federal and foreign investment adviser or related laws.
(f) None of Online, its subsidiaries or their respective
operations are required to be registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(g) Schedule 3.18(g) of the Online Disclosure Schedule sets forth
a list of all bank, brokerage and proprietary trading accounts maintained by or
on behalf of Online, and the persons authorized as signatories or to conduct
transactions relating thereto.
3.19 MATERIAL CONTRACTS.
(a) Except for the contracts included as an exhibit to the Online
SEC Documents or in connection with this transaction, neither Online nor any of
its subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any of the following (collectively
and including the contracts which are included as exhibits to the Online SEC
Documents, the "Online Material Contracts"):
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(i) any contract or agreement for the acquisition or sale of
securities or any material portion of the assets or business of or to any other
person or entity whether completed or pending other than pursuant to Online
Options or Online Warrants;
(ii) any contract or agreement for the purchase of materials,
supplies, equipment, services or data involving in the case of any such contract
or agreement more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) over the life of the
contract or agreement;
(iii) any contract, agreement or instrument that expires or
may be renewed at the option of any person other than Online or its subsidiaries
so as to expire more than six months after the date of this Agreement, or which
is not terminable by Online or a subsidiary (as applicable) on sixty or fewer
days' notice at any time without penalty, and involves the receipt or payment by
Online or any of its subsidiaries of more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000)
during any twelve month period;
(iv) any indenture, mortgage, note, loan agreement,
installment obligation or other contract, agreement or instrument for the
borrowing of money, any currency exchange, commodities or other hedging
arrangement, any letter of credit or any leasing transaction of the type
required to be capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
(v) any contract or agreement for capital expenditures in
excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) individually or in the aggregate with
other similar contracts or agreements;
(vi) any contract or agreement limiting the freedom of Online
or any of its subsidiaries or (to the extent known to Online) any of its
officers or key employees to engage in any line of business or to compete with
any person (as that term is defined in the Exchange Act) or any confidentiality,
secrecy or non-disclosure contract or agreement other than an ancillary
provision included as part of a contract or agreement entered into by Online or
any of its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(vii) any contract or agreement involving payments during any
twelve- month period of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) or more, pursuant to
which Online or any of its subsidiaries is a lessor or lessee of any real
property, machinery, equipment, motor vehicles, office furniture, fixtures or
other personal property;
(viii) any material contract or agreement with any person with
whom Online or any of its subsidiaries does not deal at arm's length within the
meaning of the Code;
(ix) any agreement of guarantee, support, indemnification,
assumption or endorsement of, or any similar commitment with respect to, the
obligations, liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) or
indebtedness of any other person;
(x) any material consulting agreement;
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(xi) any distribution, reseller, dealer, agency, franchise,
advertising, revenue sharing, marketing or similar agreement;
(xii) any clearing agency, investment banking, placement,
broker or similar agreement;
(xiii) any agreement with any Governmental Entity (including
any SRO);
(xiv) any agreement to provide brokerage services or directly
or indirectly participate in brokerage activities, commissions or fees in any
manner (including any forms of customer brokerage agreements);
(xv) any data redistribution or other agreement with any
vendor of financial market data or relating in any manner to financial market
data;
(xvi) any product and/or service warranties, price protection
or return agreement or written policy or any similar written undertaking by or
for which Online or any of its subsidiaries remains responsible to perform (a
form of any of the foregoing will be sufficient);
(xvii) any material agreement which would be terminable other
than by Online or its subsidiaries or any agreement that provides for the
payment of money, accelerates or increases benefits, vesting or compensation or
entitles any person to take actions or receive benefits or otherwise triggers
obligations as a result of the Merger or consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement not otherwise disclosed in the Online Disclosure
Schedule; or
(xviii) any other agreement which is material to the
operations of Online's or any of its subsidiaries' businesses or operations or
which may have a material affect on Online's assets, properties or the Merger.
(b) Each of Online and its subsidiaries has performed all of the
material obligations required to be performed by it and is entitled to all
accrued benefits under, and is not in material default, nor to Online's
knowledge has a claim been that it is in material default in respect of, each
Online Material Contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound. Each of
the Online Material Contracts is in full force and effect and there exists no
material default or event of default or event, occurrence, condition or act,
with respect to Online or any of its subsidiaries or, to Online's knowledge,
with respect to any other contracting party, which, with the giving of notice,
the lapse of time or the happening of any other event or condition, would become
a material default or event of default under any Online Material Contract. There
are no unwritten obligations or agreements or course of dealings contrary in any
material respect to the specific terms and provisions of any Material Contract.
True, correct and complete copies of all Online Material Contracts have been
delivered to Omega or filed as an exhibit to the Online SEC Documents.
3.20 ONLINE OPTIONS. Since January 31, 1999, Online has not granted any
options, stock appreciation rights or other rights to acquire securities other
than grants of stock options to new
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employees in accordance with the ordinary course of its business consistent with
past practices, or accelerated, amended or changed the period of exercisability
or vesting of options or other rights granted, under Online's 1999 Stock Option
Plan or authorized cash payments in exchange for any options or other rights
granted under such plan.
3.21 REGISTRATION STATEMENT, JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. The
information supplied by Online for inclusion in the Registration Statement shall
not at the time the Registration Statement (including any amendments or
supplements thereto) is declared effective by the SEC 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. The information
supplied by Online for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall
not, on the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is first mailed to either
the shareholders of Omega or Online, at the time of either of the Shareholders
Meetings or at the Effective Time, contain any statement which, at such time, is
false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading; or omit
to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier
communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for either of the
Shareholders Meetings which has become false or misleading. If at any time prior
to the Effective Time any event or information should be discovered by Online
which should be set forth in an amendment to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Online shall promptly inform
Omega of such event or information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Online makes
no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied
by Omega, Newco or the Merger Subs which is contained in any of the foregoing
documents.
3.22 OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. Online has been advised by its
financial advisor, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. ("Raymond James") that in
such advisor's opinion, as of the date hereof, the consideration to be received
by the shareholders of Online in the Merger is fair, from a financial point of
view, to the shareholders of Online. A copy of the written opinion to the
foregoing effect of Raymond James dated as of the date of the Agreement has been
delivered to Omega or will be delivered to Omega within five business days from
the date of this Agreement.
3.23 ONLINE AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS. Each Affiliate (as defined below) of
Online has entered into a Online Affiliate Agreement in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit C (the "Online Affiliate Agreements"). Online shall use its best
efforts to obtain such a written agreement from any other person as soon as
practicable after the date on which such person becomes as an Affiliate of
Online prior to the Effective Time. For purposes of this Agreement, persons
and/or entities deemed affiliates of an entity within the meaning of Rule 144 of
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Securities Act for
purposes of Accounting Series, Releases 130 and 135, as amended, of the SEC are
referred to as "Affiliates."
3.24 STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES. The Board of Directors of Online has
taken all actions so that the restrictions contained in Section 607.0902 of the
Florida Law applicable to "control shares" (as defined in such Section 607.0902)
will not apply to the execution, delivery or performance of this
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Agreement, the Shareholder Agreements or the Option Agreement or the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Online Shareholder Agreements or the Online Option Agreement. No
other state takeover statute is applicable to the Merger, this Agreement, the
Online Option Agreement, the Online Shareholder Agreements or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
3.25 TAX AND ACCOUNTING TREATMENT. Neither Online nor any of its
directors or officers has taken any action that would interfere with Newco's,
the Surviving Corporations', Omega's or Online's ability to account for the
Merger as a pooling of interests or would prevent the Merger from constituting a
transaction qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code. Neither Online nor, to Online's knowledge, any of its affiliates or
agents is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would
interfere with Newco's, the Surviving Corporations', Omega's or Online's ability
to account for the Merger as a pooling of interests or prevent the Merger from
qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
3.26 BROKERS' AND FINDERS' FEES. Online has not incurred, nor will it
incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or
agents' commissions or investment bankers' fees or any similar charges in
connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, other
than under its engagement letter with Raymond James.
3.27 REPRESENTATIONS COMPLETE. None of the representations or
warranties made by Online herein or in any schedule hereto, including the Online
Disclosure Schedule, or certificate furnished by Online pursuant to this
Agreement, or the Online SEC Documents, when all such documents are read
together in their entirety, contains or will contain at the Effective Time any
untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit at the Effective Time
to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which made, not
misleading.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NEWCO
Except as disclosed in the document of even date herewith delivered by
Newco to Omega and Online prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and referring to the representations and warranties in this Agreement (the
"Newco Disclosure Schedule'), any exception so disclosed in the Newco Disclosure
Schedule to specifically identify the Section, Subsection or clause of this
Agreement to which such exception relates, Newco represents and warrants to
Omega and Online as follows:
4.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND POWER. Each of Newco and Merger Subs are
corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Florida. Newco and Merger Subs have all requisite corporate
power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
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4.2 CAPITAL STRUCTURE. The authorized capital stock of Newco consists
of 200,000,000 shares of Newco Common Stock and 25,000,000 shares of Newco
preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of which there were issued and
outstanding as of the close of business on January 18, 2000, 100 shares of Newco
Common Stock. There are no other outstanding shares of capital stock or voting
securities and no outstanding commitments to issue any shares of capital stock
or voting securities after January 18, 2000, other than as contemplated pursuant
to this Agreement. All outstanding shares of Newco Common Stock are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non- assessable and are free and
clear of any liens or encumbrances other than any liens or encumbrances created
by or imposed upon the holders thereof, and are not subject to preemptive rights
or rights of first refusal created by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation
or Bylaws, each as amended, of Newco or any agreement to which Newco is a party
or by which it is bound. Except for (i) the rights created pursuant to this
Agreement, there are no other options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or
agreements of any character to which Newco is a party or by which it is bound
obligating Newco to issue, deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause to be
issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any shares of capital stock of
Newco or obligating Newco to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change
the price of, or otherwise amend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
right, commitment or agreement. There are no contracts, commitments or
agreements relating to voting, purchase or sale of Newco's capital stock (i)
between or among Newco and any of its stockholders and (ii) to Newco's
knowledge, between or among any of Newco's stockholders. All outstanding shares
of Newco Common Stock were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and
state securities laws.
4.3 AUTHORITY. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Newco and Merger
Subs. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Newco and Merger
Subs, and constitutes the valid and binding obligations of Newco and Merger
Subs, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium or other
laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally, or (ii) the
rules governing the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or
other equitable remedies and general principles of equity, regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default under
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of a benefit
under (i) any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Newco or
Merger Subs, as amended, or (ii) any material mortgage, indenture, lease,
contract or other agreement or instrument, permit, concession, franchise,
license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation
applicable to Newco or Merger Subs or their respective properties or assets. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or
filing with, any Governmental Entity, is required by or with respect to Newco or
Merger Subs in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Newco and Merger Subs or the consummation by Newco and Merger Subs of the
transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing of the Plan of
Merger as provided in Section 1.2 hereof, (ii) the filing with the SEC and the
NASD of the Registration Statement and the
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effectiveness thereof, (iii) the filing of a Form 8-K with the SEC and the NASD,
(iv) any filings, applications and consents as may be required under applicable
federal, SRO or state securities laws or the securities laws of any foreign
country, (v) the filing of a registration statement on Form 8-A ("Form 8-A") to
register the Newco Common Stock under the Exchange Act, (vi) the filing with The
Nasdaq National Market of a listing application and agreement with respect to,
and The Nasdaq National Market's acceptance for listing of, the shares of Newco
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Omega Common Stock and the Online
Common Stock in the Merger and upon exercise of the options under the Omega
Stock Option Plans and Online 1999 Stock Option Plan, the WOW Options and the
Online Warrants assumed by Newco, (vii) the filing of a registration statement
on Form S-8 (or other applicable form) with the SEC covering the shares of Newco
Common Stock issuable pursuant to outstanding options under the Omega Stock
Option Plans, the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan and the WOW Options assumed by
Newco, and (viii) such other consents, authorizations, filings, approvals and
registrations which, if not obtained or made, would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on Newco and would not prevent or materially alter or delay any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.4 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Newco has no material
obligations or liabilities of any nature (matured or unmatured, fixed or
contingent) other than those incurred or to be incurred in connection with the
Merger and the transactions related thereto and/or contemplated pursuant hereto
and which have not had and are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Newco.
4.5 LITIGATION. There is no judgment, decree or order against Newco or
any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Newco, any of their respective
directors or officers (in their capacities as such) that could prevent, enjoin,
alter or materially delay any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
4.6 REGISTRATION STATEMENT; JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. The
information supplied by Newco for inclusion in the Registration Statement (or
such other successor form as shall be appropriate) shall not at the time the
Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto) is
declared effective by the SEC 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. The information supplied by Newco for inclusion
in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall not, on the date the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus is first mailed to either of Omega's or Online's
shareholders, at the times of the Shareholders Meetings and at the Effective
Time, contain any statement which, at such time, is false or misleading with
respect to any material fact, or omits to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not false or misleading; or omit to state any material fact
necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the solicitation of proxies for the Online Shareholders Meetings which has
become false or misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any event
or information should be discovered by Newco which should be set forth in an
amendment to the Registration Statement or in a supplement to the Joint Proxy
Statement/ Prospectus, Newco will promptly inform Omega and Online of such event
or information.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Newco nor Merger Subs makes any
representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by
or on behalf of Online or any of its affiliates which is contained in any of the
foregoing documents.
4.7 TAX TREATMENT. Neither Newco nor any of its directors or officers
has taken any action that would prevent the Merger from constituting a
transaction qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code. Neither Newco nor, to Newco's knowledge, any of its affiliates or
agents is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent
the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code.
4.8 BROKER'S AND FINDERS' FEES. Newco has not incurred, nor will it
incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or
agents' commissions or investment bankers' fees or any similar charges in
connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby other than
those incurred by Omega and Online.
4.9 REPRESENTATIONS COMPLETE. None of the representations or warranties
made by Newco and Merger Subs herein or in any Schedule hereto, including the
Newco Disclosure Schedule, or certificate furnished by Newco pursuant to this
Agreement, when all such documents are read together in their entirety, contains
or will contain at the Effective Time any untrue statement of a material fact,
or omits or will omit at the Effective Time to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements contained herein or therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which made, not misleading.
ARTICLE V
CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME
5.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESSES OF OMEGA AND ONLINE. During the period from
the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination
of this Agreement or the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by
this Agreement, each of Omega, Online and Newco shall not do, cause or permit
any of the following, or allow, cause or permit any of its subsidiaries to do,
cause or permit any of the following, without the prior written consent of the
others:
(a) CHARTER DOCUMENTS. Cause or permit any amendment,
modification, alteration or rescission of its certificate or articles of
incorporation, bylaws or other charter or organizational documents;
(b) DIVIDENDS: CHANGES IN CAPITAL STOCK. Declare or pay any
dividends on or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or
property) in respect of any of its capital stock or 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, or repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
shares of its capital stock except from former employees, directors and
consultants in accordance with agreements providing for the repurchase of shares
in connection with any termination of service to it or its subsidiaries; or
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(c) OPTIONS. Grant any options, stock appreciation rights or other
rights to acquire securities other than stock options to its employees and
consultants in accordance with the ordinary course of its business consistent
with past practices (meaning, with respect to Omega, grants of stock options to
its employees (other than executive officers) and to new employees consistent
with past practices not exceeding in the aggregate from the date hereof until
the Effective Time stock options to purchase 200,000 shares of Omega Common
Stock and, with respect to Online, grants of stock options to its employees
(other than executive officers) and new employees consistent with past practices
not exceeding in the aggregate from the date hereof until the Effective Time
stock options to purchase 50,000 shares of Online Common Stock), or accelerate,
amend or change the period of exercisability or vesting of options or other
rights granted under its stock plans or authorize cash payments in exchange for
any options or other rights granted under any of such plans.
5.2 ONLINE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. During the period from the date of this
Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement
or the Effective Time, Online agrees (except to the extent expressly otherwise
permitted or required by this Agreement or as consented to in writing by Omega),
to carry on its business in the ordinary course in substantially the same manner
as heretofore conducted, to pay debts and Taxes when due subject to good faith
disputes over such debts or Taxes, to pay or perform other obligations when due,
and to use all reasonable best efforts consistent with past practice and
policies to preserve intact its present business organizations, keep available
the services of its present officers and key employees and preserve its
relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and
others having business dealings with it, to the end that its goodwill and
ongoing businesses shall be unimpaired at the Effective Time. Online agrees to
promptly notify Omega of any event or occurrence not in the ordinary course of
its business, and of any event which could have a Material Adverse Effect on it
or its subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Online
shall not, unless consented to in writing, in advance, by Omega: enter into,
amend, violate or waive any material term of any Material Contract or
commitment; issue or propose to issue any shares of its capital stock; acquire
or dispose of, or obtain or grant licenses for, any intellectual property
rights; sell, lease, license, dispose of or acquire any material asset; incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money or assume, guarantee, cancel, release, pay,
discharge, assign or modify any material obligation or amount of indebtedness;
make any loan; enter into, modify or cancel any real property, operating or
capital lease (or waive any material right or obligation thereunder); make any
material capital expenditure, modify any insurance provided by existing
insurance policies; create, adopt, amend, cancel or implement any employee plans
or pay any special bonus or remuneration to any officer or employee, or increase
wages or benefits generally or to any officer or key employee, or agree to or
pay any severance payments to officers or key employees, or accelerate the
vesting of any stock option or any other benefits of any employee, consultant or
other person, commence any action, suit or proceeding (legal or quasi-legal);
acquire or agree to acquire directly or indirectly by merging or consolidating
with, or by purchase or otherwise, a substantial portion of the assets of, or by
any other manner (including without limitation, a purchase of securities), any
business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business
organization or division thereof; enter into or agree to enter into any
strategic alliance with any business or part thereof; make or change any
material election in respect of Taxes (including accounting methods or Tax
Return amendments) or enter into any settlement or closing agreement regarding
Taxes; revalue or restate any of its assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses or
cash flows;
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change any of its accounting methods, procedures, policies or practices; or
change or fail to renew any existing domain names.
5.3 OMEGA CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Omega shall not, unless consented to in
writing, in advance, by Online, acquire or agree to acquire by merging or
consolidating with or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or by
any other manner (including, without limitation, a strategic alliance (which
shall not include business-to-business marketing relationships such as the ones
that exist with Wall Street Access)) any business or any corporation
partnership, association or other business organization operating as a
broker-dealer.
5.4 NO SOLICITATION. For purposes of this Section, the term "Company"
shall apply to either Omega or Online and "the other such party" or words of
similar import shall refer to either Omega or Online as the context so dictates.
Company and its subsidiaries and the officers, directors, employees, agents,
representatives and advisors of Company and its subsidiaries (collectively,
Company's "Representatives") will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any
action to solicit, initiate, encourage (including by way of furnishing
information) or take any other action designed to facilitate or agree to any
Takeover Proposal (as defined in Section 8.3(e) hereof) or (ii) subject to the
next three sentences, engage in negotiations with, or disclose any nonpublic
information relating to Company or any of it subsidiaries to, or afford access
to the properties, books or records of Company or any of its subsidiaries to,
any person that has advised Company that it may be considering making, or that
has made, a Takeover Proposal, or whose efforts to formulate a Takeover Proposal
would be assisted thereby; provided, nothing herein shall prohibit Company's
Board of Directors from taking and disclosing to Company's shareholders a
position with respect to an unsolicited tender offer pursuant to Rules 14d-9 and
14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the immediately
preceding sentence, if an unsolicited Takeover Proposal shall be received by the
Board of Directors of Company, then, to the extent the Board of Directors of
Company believes in good faith (after receiving written advice from its
financial advisor) that such Takeover Proposal would, if consummated, result in
a transaction more favorable to Company's shareholders from a financial point of
view than the transaction contemplated by this Agreement (any such more
favorable Takeover Proposal being referred to in this Agreement as a "Superior
Proposal") and the Board of Directors of Company determines in good faith after
advice from outside legal counsel that it is necessary for the Board of
Directors of Company to further entertain and consider the Superior Proposal in
order to comply with its fiduciary duties to shareholders under applicable law,
Company and its Representatives may furnish information to the party, making
such Superior Proposal and engage in negotiations with such party, and such
actions shall not be considered a breach of this Section 5.4 or any other
provisions of this Agreement; provided that in each such event Company notified
the other party of such determination by the Company Board of Directors and has
delivered to the other party a true and complete copy of the Superior Proposal
(or summary of any oral proposal) received from such third party and all
documents containing or referring to non-public information of Company that are
supplied to such third party. Further, Company shall provide such non-public
information pursuant to a nondisclosure agreement at least as restrictive on
such third party as the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined in Section 6.4) is
on the other party. In addition, in the case of Online, Online shall not agree
to or endorse, and shall not permit any of its officers, directors, employees or
other representatives to agree to or endorse, any Takeover Proposal or
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withdraw its recommendation of the Merger unless the Board of Directors of
Online believes in good faith (after receiving written advice from its financial
advisors) that such action is required in order for the Board of Directors to
comply with it fiduciary duties to shareholders under applicable law, Online has
provided Omega at least five (5) business days prior notice thereof and within
such five (5) business days Online has not received a proposal from Omega
superior in value to the Superior Proposal as determined by Online's Board of
Directors acting in good faith consistent with complying with its fiduciary
duties to shareholders under applicable law, has terminated this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1(g) and has paid Omega all amounts payable to Omega
pursuant to and within the time period set forth in Section 8.3, and, in the
case of Omega, Omega shall not withdraw, and shall not permit any of its
officers, directors, employees or other representatives to withdraw its
recommendation of the Merger unless the Board of Directors of Omega believes in
good faith (after receiving written advice from its financial advisors) that
such action is required in order for the Board of Directors to comply with it
fiduciary duties to shareholders under applicable law, Omega has provided Online
at least five (5) business days prior notice thereof, has terminated this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(f) and has paid Online all amounts payable to
Online pursuant to and within the time period set forth in Section 8.3. Company
will promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) notify the other party after
receipt of any Takeover Proposal or any notice that any person is considering
making a Takeover Proposal or any request for non-public information relating to
Company or any of its subsidiaries or for access to the properties, books or
records of Company or any of its subsidiaries by any person that has advised
Company that it may be considering making, or that has made, a Takeover
Proposal, or whose efforts to formulate a Takeover Proposal would be assisted
thereby (such notice to include the identity of such person or persons), and
will keep the other party fully informed of the status and details of any such
Takeover Proposal notice, request or any correspondence or communications
related thereto and shall provide the other party with a true and complete copy
of such Takeover Proposal notice or request or correspondence or communications
related thereto, if it is in writing, or a complete written summary thereof, if
it is not in writing. Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated
any discussion or negotiations with any persons conducted that may have existed
with respect to a Takeover Proposal prior to the execution of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
6.1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT, JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS.
(a) As soon as practicable after the execution of this
Agreement, Omega and Online shall prepare and file with the SEC preliminary
proxy materials relating to the Shareholders Meetings and the vote of the
shareholders of each of Omega and Online with respect to the Merger. As soon as
practicable following receipt of SEC comments on the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, Omega and Online shall file with the SEC definitive proxy
materials relating to the Shareholders Meetings and Newco shall file with the
SEC the Registration Statement, which shall include the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus as a prospectus, in connection with the registration under
the Securities Act of the shares of Newco Common Stock to be distributed to
holders of Omega
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Common Stock and Online Common Stock pursuant to the Merger. Each of Newco,
Omega and Online shall use its reasonable best efforts to have or cause the
Registration Statement to become effective (including clearing the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus with the SEC) as promptly as practicable, and shall take
any and all actions required under any applicable federal or state securities
laws or blue sky laws in connection with the issuance of Newco Common Stock
pursuant to the Merger. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each
of Omega and Online shall (i) notify the other as promptly as practicable after
the receipt by it of any written or oral comments of the SEC on, or of any
written or oral request by the SEC or any other governmental official for
amendments or supplements to, or any other filing or supplemental or additional
information relating to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration
Statement, and shall promptly supply the other with copies of all correspondence
between it or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or any
other governmental official, on the other hand, with respect to any of the
foregoing filings, and (ii) use all reasonable efforts, after consultation with
the other such party, to respond promptly to any comments made by the SEC with
respect to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including each preliminary
version thereof) and the Registration Statement (including each amendment
thereof and supplement thereto). As promptly as practicable after the
Registration Statement shall have become effective, each of Omega and Online
shall mail or cause to be mailed its Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its
respective shareholders.
(b) Omega and Online shall each cause the Registration Statement
and the Joint Proxy Statement Prospectus to comply in all material respects with
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and all other applicable federal and state
securities law requirements. Each of Omega and Online shall, and shall cause its
respective representatives to, fully cooperate with the other such party and its
respective representatives in the preparation of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement, and shall provide promptly
to the other such information concerning it and its affiliates, directors,
officers and stockholders as the other may reasonably request in connection with
the preparation of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration
Statement. If at any time prior to the Effective Time Omega or Online shall
become aware of any fact, event or circumstance that is required to be set forth
in an amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, Omega or Online, as the case may be, shall promptly notify
the other of such fact, event or circumstance and the parties shall cooperate
with each other in filing with the SEC or any other governmental official, and
(in the case of a supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus) mailing to
shareholders of Omega or Online, as appropriate, such amendment or supplement.
(c) (i) The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall contain the
unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors of Omega that the Omega
shareholders approve this Agreement and the Merger and the conclusion of the
Board of Directors that the terms and conditions of the Merger are advisable and
fair to, and in the best interests of, the shareholders of Omega PROVIDED that
no such recommendation need be included, and any such recommendation may be
withdrawn if previously included, if a Superior Proposal has been made and Omega
and Omega's Board of Directors withdraw or modify such recommendation in
compliance with, and otherwise have complied in all respects with, Section 5.4.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Omega shall not
include in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus any information with
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respect to Online or its affiliates or associates, the form and content of which
information shall not have been approved by Online prior to such inclusion.
(ii) The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall contain the
unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors of Online that the Online
shareholders approve this Agreement and the Merger and the conclusion of the
Board of Directors that the terms and conditions of the Merger are advisable and
fair to, and in the best interests of, the shareholders of Online PROVIDED that
no such recommendation need be included, and any such recommendation may be
withdrawn if previously included, if a Superior Proposal has been made and
Online and Online's Board of Directors withdraw or modify such recommendation in
compliance with, and otherwise have complied in all respects with Section 5.4.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Online shall not
include in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus any information with respect to
Omega or its affiliates or associates, the form and content of which information
shall not have been approved by Omega prior to such inclusion.
6.2 MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS. Omega and Online shall, consistent with
Florida Law and its respective Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, call and
hold, in the case of Omega, the Omega Shareholders Meeting and, in the case of
Online, the Online Shareholders Meeting, as promptly as practicable for the
purpose of voting upon the adoption or approval of this Agreement and shall use
all reasonable best efforts to hold their respective meetings as soon as
practicable after the date on which the Registration Statement becomes
effective, but in no event later than 35 days after the effective date of the
Registration Statement. Omega and Online shall each use its best efforts to
solicit from its respective shareholders proxies in favor of the Merger and
shall take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent
of shareholders required to effect the Merger provided that such solicitation
efforts need not be made (although all efforts required to hold its respective
Shareholders Meeting will continue to be required and, in that regard, its
respective Shareholders Meeting shall be held and not canceled unless this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to and as permitted under the terms of this
Agreement prior to its respective Shareholders Meeting), if a Superior Proposal
has been made and Omega or Online and its respective Board of Directors withdraw
or modify such recommendation in compliance with, and otherwise have complied in
all respects with, Section 5.4.
6.3 ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
(a) At all times prior to the Effective Time, Omega and Online
shall each afford the other such party and its accountants, counsel and other
representatives, reasonable access during normal business hours to (i) all of
its properties, books, contracts, commitments and records as well as those of
its subsidiaries, (ii) all of its Tax Returns and accountants' work papers and
all other information relating to Taxes of it and its subsidiaries, and (iii)
all other information concerning the business, properties and personnel of it
and its subsidiaries as the other party may reasonably request. Omega and Online
each agree to provide to the other party and its accountants, counsel and other
representatives copies of internal financial statements, budgets, operating
plans and projections promptly upon request.
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(b) Subject to compliance with applicable law, from the date
hereof until the Effective Time, each of Omega and Online shall confer on a
regular and frequent basis with one or more representatives of the other party
to report material operational matters and the general status of ongoing
operations.
(c) No information or knowledge obtained in any investigation
pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall affect or be deemed to modify any
representation or warranty contained herein or the conditions to the obligations
of the parties to consummate the Merger.
6.4 CONFIDENTIALITY. The parties acknowledge that each of Omega and
Online have previously executed a mutual nondisclosure agreement dated November
15, 1999 (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), which Confidentiality Agreement
shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, except to
the extent necessary to comply with the terms of this Agreement.
6.5 PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. Unless otherwise permitted by this Agreement,
Omega and Online shall consult with each other before issuing any press release
or otherwise making any public statement or making any other public (or
non-confidential) disclosure (whether or not in response to an inquiry)
regarding the terms of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and Online shall not issue any such press release or make any such
statement or disclosure without the prior approval of Omega (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except as may be required by law
or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with Nasdaq, in which case
Online shall use commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the Omega
before issuing such press release or making such public statement or disclosure.
6.6 CONSENTS; COOPERATION. Each of Newco, Merger Subs, Omega and Online
will, and will cause their respective subsidiaries to, take all reasonable
actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements which may be
imposed on them with respect to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and will promptly cooperate with and furnish
information to any party hereto necessary in connection with any such
requirements imposed upon such other party in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and will take all reasonable
actions necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with the other parties hereto in
obtaining) any consent, approval, order or authorization of, or any
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or other
person, required to be obtained or made in connection with the taking of any
action contemplated by this Agreement. In the event an injunction or other order
shall have been issued which prevents, alters or delays the Merger or any other
transaction contemplated hereby, each party agrees to use its reasonable best
efforts to have such injunction or other order lifted. Without limiting the
foregoing, each of Omega and Online shall use its reasonable best efforts to
obtain all necessary consents, waivers and approvals under any of its material
contracts in connection with the Merger for the assignment thereof or otherwise.
As soon as practicable following the execution hereof, Omega, Online and Newco
shall file all necessary forms and take all necessary actions, and thereafter
shall use its reasonable best efforts, to file any required notice or
application and to obtain prior to the Closing Date approval of the change of
control or ownership of Omega and Online and its respective subsidiaries from
The
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Nasdaq Stock Market or the NASD and any applicable state and all other notices,
licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and
orders of Governmental Entities and parties to contracts, agreements, licenses
or other instruments relating to the business as may be required in order to
enable each of Omega, Online and Newco, respectively, to perform its obligations
hereunder and so as to permit the Closing to occur at the earliest possible
date.
6.7 REASONABLE BEST EFFORTS AND FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each of the parties
to this Agreement shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby and to fulfill and cause to be fulfilled the
conditions to Closing under this Agreement. Each party hereto, at the reasonable
request of another party hereto, shall execute and deliver such other
instruments and do and perform such other acts and things as may be necessary or
desirable for effecting completely the consummation of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
6.8 BLUE SKY LAWS. Newco shall take such steps as may be necessary to
comply with the securities and blue sky laws of all jurisdictions which are
applicable to the issuance of the shares of Newco Common Stock in connection
with the Merger. Omega and Online shall use its best efforts to assist Newco as
may be necessary to comply with the securities and blue sky laws of all
jurisdictions which are applicable in connection with the issuance of the shares
of Newco Common Stock in connection with the Merger.
6.9 NASDAQ QUOTATION. Omega agrees to continue the quotation of Omega
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market during the term of the Agreement so
that, to the extent necessary, appraisal rights will not be available to
shareholders of Omega under Section 1302 of the Florida Law.
6.10 PUBLIC ACCOUNTING. Omega and Online shall each use its best
efforts to cause the business combination to be effected by the Merger to be
accounted for as a pooling of interests under generally accepted accounting
principles and applicable SEC rules and regulations. Each of Omega and Online
shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates not to take any
action that would adversely affect the ability of Newco or the Surviving
Corporations to account for the business combination to be effected by the
Merger as a pooling of interests. At all times at and following the Effective
Time, Newco may impose stop transfer instructions or elect to not permit the
transfer of shares of Newco Common Stock or the issuance of a new certificate
representing such shares unless and until such a transfer can be made without
adversely affecting the ability of Newco or the Surviving Corporations to
account for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling
of interests.
6.11 AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS.
(a) SCHEDULE 6.11(a) of the Omega Disclosure Schedule sets forth
those persons who may be deemed Affiliates of Omega. Omega shall provide Online
with such information and documents as Online shall reasonably request for
purposes of reviewing such list. Omega shall deliver or cause to be delivered to
Online, no later than five (5) business days after the execution of this
Agreement, from each of the Affiliates of Omega an executed Omega Affiliate
Agreement.
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Newco shall be entitled to place appropriate legends on the certificates
evidencing shares of Newco Common Stock to be received by such Affiliates of
Omega pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and to issue appropriate stop
transfer instructions to the transfer agent for Newco Common Stock, in each of
the foregoing cases in accordance with the terms of such Omega Affiliate
Agreement.
(b) SCHEDULE 6.11(b) of the Online Disclosure Schedule sets forth
those persons who may be deemed Affiliates of Online. Online shall provide Omega
with such information and documents as Omega shall reasonably request for
purposes of reviewing such list. Online shall deliver or cause to be delivered
to Omega, no later than five (5) business days after the execution of this
Agreement, from each of the Affiliates of Online an executed Online Affiliate
Agreement. Newco and Merger Subs shall be entitled to place appropriate legends
on the certificates evidencing shares of Newco Common Stock to be received by
such Affiliates of Online pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and to issue
appropriate stop transfer instructions to the transfer agent for Newco Common
Stock, in each of the foregoing cases in accordance with the terms of such
Online Affiliate Agreement.
6.12 TAX TREATMENT. The parties shall use their reasonable best efforts
to cause the Merger to qualify as a "reorganization" within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
6.13 OMEGA AND ONLINE OPTIONS.
(a) At the Effective Time, the Omega Stock Option Plans and each
outstanding option to purchase shares of Omega Common Stock under the Omega
Stock Option Plans or which is part of the WOW Options, whether vested or
unvested, will be assumed by Newco. Omega represents and warrants to Online that
SCHEDULE 6.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule hereto sets forth a true and
complete list as of the date hereof of all holders of outstanding options under
the Omega Stock Option Plans and the WOW Options, including the number of shares
of Omega capital stock subject to each such option, the exercise or vesting
schedule, the exercise price per share and the term of each such option. On the
Closing Date, Omega shall deliver to Online an updated SCHEDULE 6.13(a) current
as of such date. Each such option so assumed by Newco under this Agreement shall
continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions set forth in
the Omega Stock Option Plans and/or the applicable stock option agreements,
immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that (i) such option will be
exercisable for that number of whole shares of Newco Common Stock equal to the
product of the number of shares of Omega Common Stock that were issuable upon
exercise of such option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by
the Omega Exchange Ratio and rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares
of Newco Common Stock, and (ii) the per share exercise price for the shares of
Newco Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such assumed option will be equal
to the quotient determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Omega
Common Stock at which such option was exercisable immediately prior to the
Effective Time by the Omega Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole
cent, subject to any adjustments necessary to protect the status of any option
as an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. It is the
intention of the parties that the options so assumed by Newco qualify, to the
maximum extent permissible following the Effective Time as incentive stock
options as defined in Section 422 of the Code to the extent such options
qualified as incentive stock options
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prior to the Effective Time. Within 30 business days after the Effective Time,
Newco will issue to each person who, immediately prior to the Effective Time was
a holder of an outstanding option under the Omega Stock Option Plans or a holder
of WOW Options a document evidencing the foregoing assumption of such option by
Newco.
(b) All outstanding rights of Omega which it may hold immediately
prior to the Effective Time to repurchase unvested shares of Omega Common Stock
(the "Omega Repurchase Options") shall be assigned to Newco in the Merger and
shall thereafter be exercisable by Newco upon the same terms and conditions in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that the shares
purchasable pursuant to the Omega Repurchase Options and the purchase price per
share shall be adjusted to the extent necessary to reflect the Omega Exchange
Ratio.
(c) At the Effective Time, the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan and
each outstanding option to purchase shares of Online Common Stock under the
Online 1999 Stock Option Plan, whether vested or unvested, and the Online
Warrants will be assumed by Newco. Online represents and warrants to Omega that
SCHEDULE 6.13(c) to the Online Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and
complete list as of the date hereof of (i) all holders of outstanding options
under the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan, including the number of shares of
Online capital stock subject to each such option, the exercise or vesting
schedule, the exercise price per share and the term of each such option, and
(ii) all holders of the Online Warrants, including the number of shares of
Online capital stock subject to each Online Warrant, the exercise or vesting
schedule, the exercise price per share and the term of the Online Warrants. On
the Closing Date, Online shall deliver to Omega an updated SCHEDULE 6.13(c)
current as of such date. Each such option so assumed by Newco under this
Agreement shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and
conditions set forth in the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan and the applicable
stock option agreements immediately prior to the Effective Time, and each such
Online Warrant so assumed by Newco under this Agreement shall continue to have,
and is subject to, the same terms and conditions set forth in the applicable
warrant agreements immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that (i) such
option will be exercisable for that number of whole shares of Newco Common Stock
equal to the product of the number of shares of Online Common Stock that were
issuable upon exercise of such option immediately prior to the Effective Time
multiplied by the Online Exchange Ratio and rounded down to the nearest whole
number of shares of Newco Common Stock, and (ii) the per share exercise price
for the shares of Newco Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such assumed
option will be equal to the quotient determined by dividing the exercise price
per share of Online Common Stock at which such option was exercisable
immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Online Exchange Ratio, rounded up
to the nearest whole cent, subject to any adjustments necessary to protect the
status of any option as an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of
the Code. It is the intention of the parties that the options so assumed by
Newco qualify, to the maximum extent permissible following the Effective Time as
incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Code to the extent such
options qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time. Within
30 business days after the Effective Time, Newco will issue to each person who,
immediately prior to the Effective Time was a holder of an outstanding option
under the Online 1999 Stock Option Plan or a holder of an Online Warrant, a
document evidencing the foregoing assumption of such option or warrant by Newco.
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(d) All outstanding rights of Online which it may hold
immediately prior to the Effective Time to repurchase unvested shares of Online
Common Stock (the "Repurchase Options") shall be assigned to Newco in the Merger
and shall thereafter be exercisable by Newco upon the same terms and conditions
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that the shares
purchasable pursuant to the Repurchase Options and the purchase price per share
shall be adjusted to the extent necessary to reflect the Online Exchange Ratio.
6.14 NASDAQ LISTING OF NEWCO COMMON STOCK. Prior to the Effective Time,
Omega shall cause Newco to (a) file with The Nasdaq National Market a listing
application and agreement in order to list the Newco Common Stock on the Nasdaq
National Market and (b) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the
shares of Newco Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Omega Common
Stock and Online Common Stock in the Merger and upon exercise of the options
under the Omega Stock Option Plans and Online 1999 Stock Option Plan, the WOW
Options and the Online Warrants assumed by Newco listed for trading on The
Nasdaq National Market on or prior to the Effective Time, subject to official
notice of issuance.
6.15 FORM 8-A. Prior to the Effective Time, Omega shall cause Newco to
(a) file a Form 8-A ("Form 8-A") with the SEC in order to register the Newco
Common Stock and (b) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Form
8-A declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the Effective Time.
6.16 FORM S-8. Newco agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to file as soon as practicable after the Effective Time (and in any event no
later than twenty (20) business days after the Effective Time), a registration
statement on Form S-8 covering the shares of Newco Common Stock issuable
pursuant to outstanding options under the Omega Stock Option Plans and Online
1999 Stock Option Plan and pursuant to the WOW Options assumed by Newco. Omega
and Online shall cooperate with and assist Newco in the preparation of such
registration statement.
6.17 EMPLOYEES.
(a) Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, each of the
individuals set forth on SCHEDULE 6.17(a) attached hereto shall have delivered
to Newco an executed Employment Agreement in the form of EXHIBIT D-1 attached
hereto.
(b) Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, each of the
individuals set forth on SCHEDULE 6.17(b) attached hereto shall have delivered
to Newco an executed Non- Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement
("Non-Competition Agreement") in the form of EXHIBIT D-2 attached hereto.
6.18 DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Newco agrees not to cause or allow the Omega Surviving
Corporation or the Online Surviving Corporation to modify any rights to
indemnification or exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring
at or prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of the officers
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and directors of Omega or Online, respectively, and their respective
subsidiaries as provided in their respective articles of incorporation or bylaws
(or comparable organizational documents) and any indemnification agreements of
Omega or Online and/or their respective subsidiaries.
(b) For two years after the Effective Time, Newco directly will or
will cause the Omega Surviving Corporation and Online Surviving Corporation to
use commercially reasonable efforts to provide officers' and directors'
liability insurance in respect of acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the
Effective Time covering each such person currently covered by Omega's and
Online's respective officers' and directors' liability insurance policy on terms
reasonably comparable to those of such policy in effect on the date hereof,
provided that in satisfying its obligation under this paragraph, Newco shall not
be obligated to (i) pay or to cause the Omega Surviving Corporation to pay
premiums in excess of 150% of the amount per annum Omega paid in its last full
fiscal year, which amount has been disclosed in writing to Online and, if Newco
or the Omega Surviving Corporation (as the case may be) is unable to obtain the
insurance required by this paragraph, it shall obtain as much comparable
insurance as possible for an annual premium equal to such maximum amount, or
(ii) pay or to cause the Online Surviving Corporation to pay premiums in excess
of 150% of the amount per annum Online paid in its last full fiscal year, which
amount has been disclosed in writing to Omega, and if the Newco or the Online
Surviving Corporation (as the case may be) is unable to obtain the insurance
required by this paragraph, it shall obtain as much comparable insurance as
possible for an annual premium equal to such maximum amount.
6.19 COMFORT LETTERS.
(a) Online shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be
delivered to Omega a procedures letter of Online's independent auditors, dated a
date within two (2) business days before the date on which the Registration
Statement shall become effective and at the Closing Date and addressed to Newco,
Omega and Online, in form reasonably satisfactory to Omega and customary in
scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.
(b) Omega shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be
delivered to Online a procedures letter of Omega's independent auditors, dated a
date within two (2) business days before the date on which the Registration
Statement shall become effective and at the Closing Date addressed to Newco,
Omega and Online, in form reasonably satisfactory to Online and customary in
scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.
6.20 SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION. Unless and until Online has withdrawn its
recommendation of the Merger in compliance with Section 5.4, Online shall give
Omega the opportunity to participate in or, in the event Omega is named in any
such litigation, to lead, in each case at its own expense, in the defense of any
shareholder litigation against Omega or Online and/or its respective directors
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Omega Stock
Option Agreement or Online Stock Option Agreement. In the event Omega is leading
any such shareholder litigation,
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Online shall be given the opportunity to participate at its own expense in the
defense of such shareholder litigation.
6.21 OBSERVATION RIGHTS. Andrew A. Allen shall be entitled to attend as
an observer all meetings of the Board of Directors of Newco (including
telephonic meetings); provided, however, that (a) Newco's Board of Directors may
require that such individual not attend any particular Board meeting or be
excused from any portions of meetings that involve matters or business that
Newco's Board of Directors, in its reasonable discretion, determines involve
matters or business necessary to be considered by the Board of Directors without
Mr. Allen being in attendance; and (b) such rights shall exist for such
individual only for so long as such individual owns at least 5.0% of the
outstanding shares of Newco Common Stock. Except with respect to matters or
business as to which Newco's Board of Directors has determined should be
considered by the Board of Directors without Mr. Allen being in attendance and
for so long as such individual is entitled to attend Board meetings, such
individual shall be provided with the same meeting notices and materials as the
members of Newco's Board of Directors, including but not limited to copies of
all proposed and final resolutions, minutes and written consents.
6.22 ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE. Within thirty (30) days from the
date of this Agreement, Online will obtain errors and omissions insurance in an
amount of at least $5,000,000 in form and content and from an insurer reasonably
satisfactory to Omega.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
7.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY TO EFFECT THE MERGER. The
respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to consummate and effect
the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective
Time of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in
writing, by agreement of all the parties hereto:
(a) SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. This Agreement and the Merger shall have
been approved and adopted by the holders of a majority of the shares of Omega
Common Stock outstanding as of the record date set for the Omega Shareholders
Meeting. This Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved and adopted by
the holders of a majority of the shares of Online Common Stock outstanding as of
the record date set for the Online Shareholders Meeting.
(b) REGISTRATION STATEMENTS EFFECTIVE. The SEC shall have declared
the Registration Statement and Form 8-A effective. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or Form 8-A or any part thereof
shall have been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose, and no similar
proceeding shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC in respect of the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and all requests for additional information on
the part of the SEC shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction
of the parties hereto.
(c) NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS, ILLEGALITY. No temporary
restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by
any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint or
prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger shall
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be in effect, nor shall any proceeding brought by an administrative agency or
commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or
foreign, seeking any of the foregoing be pending; nor shall there be any action
taken, or any statute, rule, regulation or order enacted, entered, enforced or
deemed applicable to the Merger, which in the opinion of counsel to either of
the respective parties prevents or prohibits the consummation of the Merger. In
the event an injunction or other order shall have been issued, each party agrees
to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such injunction or other
order lifted.
(d) NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET LISTING. The Newco Common Stock shall
have been listed for trading on The Nasdaq National Market, subject to official
notice of issuance.
(e) GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL. Newco, Merger Subs, Omega and Online
and their respective subsidiaries, if applicable, shall have obtained from each
Governmental Entity and each Regulatory Entity all approvals, waivers and
consents, if any, necessary for consummation of or in connection with the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby, including such approvals,
waivers and consents as may be required under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, or any SRO constitution or rules, any state Blue Sky laws, the failure of
which to obtain would reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Newco or either of the Surviving Corporations or would prevent or materially
restrict or impede the consummation and effectiveness of the Merger.
7.2 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF ONLINE. The obligations of
Online to consummate and effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction
at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of
which may be waived, in writing, by Online:
(a) REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. (i) The
representations and warranties of Newco and Omega in this Agreement shall be
true and correct when made on and as of the Effective Time as though such
representations and warranties were made on and as of such time (other than
representations and warranties expressly relating to an earlier date, which
shall have been true and correct as of such earlier date) except (A) where the
failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct
(without giving effect to any limitation as to "materiality" or "Material
Adverse Effect" or words of similar import set forth therein) does not have and
is not reasonably likely to have individually or in the aggregate a Material
Adverse Effect on Omega and Newco taken as a whole and (B) as otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) Newco, Merger Subs and Omega
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants,
obligations and conditions of this Agreement required to be performed and
complied with by them at or prior to the Effective Time.
(b) CERTIFICATE OF OMEGA. Online shall have been provided with a
certificate executed on behalf of Omega by its President and its Chief Financial
Officer certifying that the condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) has been
fulfilled.
(c) TAX OPINION. Online shall have received a written opinion of
Broad & Cassel dated on or about the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus
is first mailed to shareholders of
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Online and Omega and on the Closing Date to the effect that the Merger will
constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code,
and such opinion shall not have been withdrawn. In rendering such opinion,
counsel shall be entitled to rely upon, among other things, reasonable
assumptions as well as representations of Newco, Merger Subs, Omega and Online.
(d) THIRD PARTY CONSENTS. Online shall have been furnished with
evidence satisfactory to it of the consent or approval of those persons whose
consent or approval shall be required in connection with the Merger under any
Material Contract of Omega or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise, the failure
of which to obtain would reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Newco or the Surviving Corporations or would prevent or materially restrict
or impede the consummation and effectiveness of the Merger.
(e) INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS ON CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. No temporary
restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by
any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint
provision materially limiting or restricting the conduct or operation of the
business of Omega Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries following the
Merger shall be in effect, nor shall any proceeding brought by an administrative
agency or commission, SRO or other Governmental Entity, domestic or foreign,
seeking the foregoing be pending.
(f) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGES. There shall not have occurred any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), properties,
assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, business, operations, results
of operations or prospects of Omega and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(g) COMPANY AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS. Newco shall have received from
each Affiliate of Omega an executed Omega Affiliate Agreement.
(h) EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. Newco shall have entered into (or be
willing to enter into) an Employment Agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit D-1 with each of the employees on SCHEDULE 6.17(a).
7.3 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF NEWCO, MERGER SUBS AND
OMEGA. The obligations of Newco, Merger Subs and Omega to consummate and effect
the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective
Time of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in
writing, by Omega:
(a) REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. (i) The
representations and warranties of Online in this Agreement shall be true and
correct when made on and as of the Effective Time as though such representations
and warranties were made on and as of such time (other than representations and
warranties expressly relating to an earlier date, which shall have been true and
correct as of such earlier date) except (A) where the failure of such
representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect
to any limitation as to "materiality" or
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"Material Adverse Effect" or words of similar import set forth therein) does not
have and is not reasonably likely to have individually or in the aggregate a
Material Adverse Effect on Online taken as a whole and (B) as otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) Online shall have performed
and complied in all material respects with all covenants, obligations and
conditions of this Agreement required to be performed and complied with by it at
or prior to the Effective Time.
(b) CERTIFICATE OF ONLINE. Omega shall have been provided with a
certificate executed on behalf of Online by its President and Chief Financial
Officer certifying that the condition set forth in Section 7.3(a) has been
fulfilled.
(c) THIRD PARTY CONSENTS. Omega shall have been furnished with
evidence satisfactory to it of the consent or approval of those persons whose
consent or approval shall be required in connection with the Merger under any
Material Contract of Online or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise, the failure
of which to obtain would reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Newco or the Surviving Corporations or would prevent or materially restrict
or impede the consummation and effectiveness of the Merger.
(d) INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS ON CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. No temporary
restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by
any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint
provision materially limiting or restricting the conduct or operation of the
business of Online Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries following the
Merger shall be in effect, nor shall any proceeding brought by an administrative
agency or commission, SRO or other Governmental Entity, domestic or foreign,
seeking the foregoing be pending.
(e) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGES. There shall not have occurred any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), properties,
assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, business, operations, results
of operations or prospects of Online and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(f) COMPANY AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS. Newco shall have received from
each Affiliate of Online an executed Online Affiliate Agreement.
(g) EMPLOYMENT AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENTS/WAIVERS. Each of the
employees of Online set forth on SCHEDULE 6.17(a) shall have accepted employment
with Newco and shall have entered into an Employment Agreement substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1. Each of the individuals set forth on
SCHEDULE 6.17(B) shall have entered into a Non-Competition Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-2.
(h) TAX OPINION. Omega shall have received a written opinion of
Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod, LLP dated on or about the date the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus is first mailed to shareholders of Online and Omega
and on the Closing Date to the effect that the Merger will constitute a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and such
opinion shall not have been withdrawn. In rendering such opinion, counsel shall
be entitled to rely upon,
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among other things, reasonable assumptions as well as representations of Newco,
Merger Subs, Omega and Online.
(i) POOLING LETTERS. Omega shall have received letters, each dated
the Closing Date, from Ahearn, Jasco & Company, P.A., Online's independent
auditors, and Arthur Andersen LLP, Omega's independent auditors, to the effect
that the Merger qualifies for pooling of interests accounting treatment if
consummated in accordance with this Agreement.
(j) ONLINE DISSENTING SHARES. The aggregate number of Online
Dissenting Shares shall not equal more than 5% of the outstanding shares of
Online Common Stock as of the Closing Date.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
8.1 TERMINATION. At any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger
by the shareholders of Omega and/or Online, this Agreement may be terminated:
(a) by mutual written, executed consent of Omega and Online;
(b) by either Omega or Online, if the Closing shall not have
occurred on or before July 31, 2000 (provided that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose
action or failure to act has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the
Merger to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to act
constitutes a material breach of this Agreement);
(c) by Omega, if (i) Online shall breach any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or obligations hereunder to an extent
that would cause the condition set forth in Section 7.3(a) not to be satisfied
and such breach shall not have been cured within twenty (20) business days
following receipt by Online of written notice of such breach (provided that the
right to terminate this Agreement by Omega shall not be available to Omega where
Omega is at that time in material breach of this Agreement), (ii) the Board of
Directors of Online shall have withdrawn or modified its recommendation of this
Agreement or the Merger or any transaction contemplated hereby in a manner
adverse to Omega or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing, (iii) Online
shall have failed to comply in any material respect with the Online Option
Agreement or with Section 5.4 or Section 6.2 of this Agreement, or (iv) the
Board of Directors of Online shall have recommended, endorsed, accepted or
agreed to a Takeover Proposal or shall have resolved to do so;
(d) by Online, if (i) Omega shall breach any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or obligations hereunder to an extent
that would cause the condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) not to be satisfied
and such breach shall not have been cured within twenty (20) business days
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following receipt by Omega of written notice of such breach (provided that the
right to terminate this Agreement by Online shall not be available to Online
where Online is at that time in material breach of this Agreement), (ii) the
Board of Directors of Omega shall have withdrawn or modified its recommendation
of this Agreement or the Merger or any transaction contemplated hereby in a
manner adverse to Online or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing, or
(iii) Omega shall have failed to comply in any material respect with the Omega
Option Agreement or with Section 5.4 or Section 6.2 of this Agreement;
(e) by Omega, if a Trigger Event (as defined in Section 8.3(d)) or
Takeover Proposal shall have occurred in connection with Online and Online's
Board of Directors, in connection therewith, does not within five (5) business
days of such occurrence (i) reconfirm its approval and recommendation of the
Merger and this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii)
reject such Takeover Proposal or Trigger Event;
(f) by Omega, if (i) a Takeover Proposal shall have occurred in
connection with Omega and, in connection therewith, Omega's Board of Directors
in compliance with the procedure set forth in Section 5.4 determines in good
faith that such Takeover Proposal is a Superior Proposal and that it is required
by its fiduciary duty to accept such Takeover Proposal and advises Online in
writing thereof or (ii) a Trigger Event shall have occurred in connection with
Omega and Omega's Board of Directors, in connection therewith determines, within
five (5) business days of such occurrence, acting in good faith that it is
required by its fiduciary duty to withdraw its recommendation of the Merger and
in either case Omega terminates this Agreement;
(g) by Online, if a Takeover Proposal shall have occurred in
connection with Online and, in connection therewith, Online's Board of Directors
in compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 5.4 determines in good
faith that such Takeover Proposal is a Superior Proposal and that it is required
by its fiduciary duty to accept such Takeover Proposal and advises Omega in
writing thereof; or
(h) by either Omega or Online if any permanent injunction or other
order of a court or other competent authority preventing the consummation of the
Merger shall have become final and nonappealable.
8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termination of this
Agreement as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void
and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Newco, Merger Subs,
Omega or Online or their respective officers, directors, stockholders or
affiliates, except to the extent that such termination results from fraud or the
wilful or intentional breach or failure to perform by Omega or Online of any of
its representations, warranties or covenants set forth in this Agreement or the
Omega Option Agreement or Online Option Agreement (as the case may be), in which
event the breaching party shall pay to the non- breaching party as liquidated
damages an amount equal to $5,000,000 by wire transfer to an account designated
by the non-breaching party within five (5) business days from the termination of
this Agreement; provided that (a) the provisions of Section 6.4
(Confidentiality), Section 8.3 (Expenses
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and Termination Fees) and this Section 8.2 shall remain in full force and effect
and survive any termination of this Agreement.
8.3 EXPENSES AND TERMINATION FEES.
(a) Subject to Section 8.2 and subsections (b), (c), (d), (e) and
(f) of this Section 8.3, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of its
advisers, brokers, finders, agents, accountants and legal counsel) shall be paid
by the party incurring such expense, except that expenses incurred in connection
with printing the proxy materials and the Registration Statement, registration
and filing fees incurred in connection with the Registration Statement, the
proxy materials and the Nasdaq listing of the Newco Common Stock pursuant to
Section 6.14 shall be shared equally by Omega and Online.
(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 8.1(e) or Section 8.1(g), Online shall promptly (but in all events
within five (5) business days of the failure to reaffirm the recommendation of
the Merger as required under Section 8.1(e) or on or prior to Online's
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(g), as the case may be)
pay Omega an amount equal to $5,000,000 by wire transfer to an account
designated by Omega.
(c) In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 8.1(f), Omega shall promptly (but in all events on or prior to Omega's
termination of this Agreement) pay Online an amount equal to $5,000,000 by wire
transfer to an account designated by Online.
(d) As used herein, a "Trigger Event" shall occur if any person
(as that term is defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the
regulations promulgated thereunder) acquires securities representing ten percent
(10%) or more, or commences a tender or exchange offer, open market purchase
program or other publicly announced initiative following the successful
consummation of which the offeror and its affiliate would beneficially own
securities representing ten percent (10%) or more, of the voting power of Omega
or Online (as the case may be).
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Takeover Proposal" means any
offer or proposal for, or any written indication of interest in, a merger or
other business combination involving Omega or Online (as the case may be) or any
of its subsidiaries or the acquisition of ten percent (10%) or more of the
outstanding shares of capital stock, or a significant portion of the assets of,
Omega or Online (as the case may be) or any of its subsidiaries, other than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(f) In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 8.1(c) or 8.1(d), the non-terminating party shall pay to and reimburse
the terminating party the actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
terminating party in connection with this transaction by wire transfer to an
account designated by the terminating party within five (5) business days from
the non- terminating party's receipt of a statement from the terminating party
indicating the amount of such out-of-pocket expenses that have been incurred. In
addition, in the event this Agreement has been
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terminated pursuant to Section 8.1(c) or 8.1(d) as a result of a nonwillful
material breach of or failure to perform the provisions of this Agreement by the
non-terminating party, the terminating party shall have the right to recover any
damages arising from such nonwillful material breach or failure to perform.
8.4 AMENDMENT. The boards of directors of the parties hereto may cause
this Agreement to be amended at any time by execution of an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto; provided that an
amendment made subsequent to adoption of the Agreement by the shareholders of
Omega or Online shall not (i) alter or change the amount or kind of
consideration to be received on conversion of the Omega Common Stock or the
Online Common Stock, or (ii) alter or change any of the terms and conditions of
the Agreement if such alteration or change would materially adversely affect the
holders of Omega Common Stock or Online Common Stock.
8.5 EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective Time any
party hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such
party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii)
waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of
such party contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of such party.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
9.1 NON-SURVIVAL AT EFFECTIVE TIME. The representations, warranties and
agreements set forth in this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time,
except that the agreements set forth in Article I, Sections 6.4
(Confidentiality), 6.7 (Reasonable Best Efforts and Further Assurances), 6.10
(Public Accounting), 6.16 (Form S-8), 6.18 (Director and Officer
Indemnification), 6.21 (Observation Rights), 8.2 (Effect of Termination), 8.3
(Expenses and Termination Fees), 8.4 (Amendment), and this Article IX shall
survive the Effective Time.
9.2 NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or by commercial
delivery service, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested) or sent via facsimile (with confirmation of receipt) to the parties
at the following address (or at such other address for a party as shall be
specified by like notice):
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(a) if to Omega, Newco or Merger Subs to:
Omega Research, Inc.
8700 West Flagler Street, Suite 250
Miami, Florida 33174
Attention: Salomon Sredni, President
Facsimile No.: (305) 485-7019
Telephone No.: (305) 485-7000
with a copy to:
Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod LLP
2500 First Union Financial Center
Miami, Florida 33131-2336
Attention: Alan D. Axelrod, Esq.
Facsimile No: (305) 374-7593
Telephone No: (305) 374-7580
(b) if to Online, to:
onlinetradinginc.com corp.
2700 N. Military Trail
Suite 200
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
Attention: Steven zum Tobel, President
Facsimile No.: (561) 995-0606
Telephone No.: (561)995-1010
with a copy to:
Broad & Cassel
201 South Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 3000
Miami, Florida 33131
Attention: Leonard H. Bloom, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (305) 995-6428
Telephone No.: (305) 373-9400
9.3 INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to an Exhibit or Schedule to this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words "include," "includes" and
"including" when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the
words "without limitation." The phrase "made available" in this Agreement shall
mean that the information referred to has been made available if requested by
the party to whom such information is to be made available. The phrases "the
date of this Agreement", "the date hereof, and
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terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed
to refer to the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement. The
table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
9.4 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart.
9.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NONASSIGNABILITY; PARTIES IN INTEREST. This
Agreement and the documents and instruments and other agreements specifically
referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto, including the Exhibits, the
Schedules, including the Omega Disclosure Schedule, the Online Disclosure
Schedule and the Newco Disclosure Schedule, (a) constitute the entire agreement
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof, except for the Confidentiality
Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect, and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement or the Closing, in accordance with its terms; (b)
are not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies
hereunder, except as set forth in Sections 1.6(a)-(c)-(d)-(f)-(g)-(h) (Effect on
Capital Stock), 1.7 (Surrender of Certificates), 6.13 (Omega and Online
Options), 6.16 (Form S-8), 6.18 (Director and Officer Indemnification) and 6.21
(Observation Rights); and (c) shall not be assigned or transferred (in whole or
in part) by operation of law or otherwise except with the prior written consent
of the parties hereto.
9.6 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or
the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of
this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of
such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as
reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree
to replace such illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision of this
Agreement with a legal, valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to
the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such illegal,
void, invalid or unenforceable provision.
9.7 REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and
all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative
with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby or by law or equity
upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude
the exercise of any other remedy.
9.8 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Florida. Each of the parties hereto
irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of any court located within
the State of Florida in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of
this Agreement or the matters contemplated herein, agrees that process may be
served upon them in any manner authorized by the laws of the State of Florida
for such persons and
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waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might
otherwise have to such jurisdiction and such process.
9.9 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. The parties hereto agree that they have been
represented by counsel during the negotiation, preparation and execution of this
Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding
or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other
document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or
document.
9.10 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, "Material Adverse
Effect" means any event, change, condition or effect that is, or would be
reasonably expected to be, materially adverse to the condition (financial or
otherwise), properties, assets (including, without limitation, intangible
assets), liabilities, business, operations, results of operations or prospects
of such person or entity and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided,
however, that in no event shall a decrease in such person's or entity's stock
price in and of itself be considered a "Material Adverse Effect," (b)
"subsidiary" means, with respect to a party, any corporation, partnership or
other organization or entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, in which
such party has, directly or indirectly, a fifty percent (50%) or greater
interest and (c) any reference to a party's "knowledge" means such party's
actual knowledge after reasonable inquiry of officers and other employees, of
such party charged with senior administrative or operational responsibility for
such matters.
9.11 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties acknowledge and agree that any
breach of the terms of this Agreement would give rise to irreparable harm for
which money damages would not be an adequate remedy and accordingly the parties
agree that, in addition to any other remedies, each shall be entitled to enforce
the terms of this Agreement by a decree of specific performance without the
necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy.
9.12 PREVAILING PARTY LEGAL FEES. The prevailing party(s) in any
litigation or other proceeding brought to enforce the terms of this Agreement
shall be entitled to receive from the nonprevailing party(s) its reasonable
attorneys' and paralegals' fees and costs before and at trial and at all
appellate and other tribunal levels, in addition to its other remedies hereunder
or at law or in equity.
[SIGNATURES ARE ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Online, Omega, Newco, Omega Merger Sub and Online
Merger Sub, have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by their
respective officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written
above.
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
By: /S/ RALPH L. CRUZ
----------------------------------
Name: RALPH L. CRUZ
--------------------------------
Title: CO-CEO
-------------------------------
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM CORP.
By: /S/ STEVEN ZUM TOBEL
----------------------------------
Name: STEVEN ZUM TOBEL
--------------------------------
Title: PRESIDENT
-------------------------------
ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC.
By: /S/ RALPH L. CRUZ
----------------------------------
Name: RALPH L. CRUZ
--------------------------------
Title: CO-CEO
-------------------------------
OMEGA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By: /S/ RALPH L. CRUZ
----------------------------------
Name: RALPH L. CRUZ
--------------------------------
Title: CO-CEO
-------------------------------
ONLINETRADING ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By: /S/ RALPH L. CRUZ
----------------------------------
Name: RALPH L. CRUZ
--------------------------------
Title: CO-CEO
-------------------------------
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SCHEDULE 6.11(a)
AFFILIATES OF OMEGA
William R. Cruz
Ralph R. Cruz
Peter A. Parandjuk
Salomon Sredni
Marc J. Stone
Brian D. Smith
Stephen C. Richards
WRCF-I 1997 Limited Partnership
WRCF-II 1997 Limited Partnership
RLCF-I 1997 Limited Partnership
RLCF-II 1997 Limited Partnership
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 6.11(b)
AFFILIATES OF ONLINE
Andrew A. Allen
Farshid Tafazzoli
E. Steven zum Tobel
Derek J. Hernquist
Lothar Mayor
Eldren P. Nalley
Robert Scarpetti
Benedict S. Gambino
Andrew A. Allen Family Limited Partnership
Tafazzoli Family Limited Partnership
zum Tobel Family Limited Partnership
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 6.17(a)
INDIVIDUALS EXECUTING EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Farshid Tafazzoli
E. Steven zum Tobel
Derek J. Hernquist
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 6.17(b)
INDIVIDUALS EXECUTING NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT
Andrew A. Allen
Farshid Tafazzoli
Benedict S. Gambino
E. Steven zum Tobel
Derek J. Hernquist
William R. Cruz
Ralph L. Cruz
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF OMEGA AFFILIATE AGREEMENT
January 19, 2000
Online Trading Group, Inc.
8700 West Flagler Street
Miami, Florida 33174
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization, dated as of January 19, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and
among Omega Research, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Company"),
onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Online"), Online Trading
Group, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Newco"), Omega Acquisition Corporation, a
Florida corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"),
and Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly
owned subsidiary of Newco ("Online Merger Sub" and, together with Omega Merger
Sub, the "Merger Subs"), Newco has agreed (i) to acquire Company through the
merger of Omega Merger Sub with and into Company and (ii) to acquire Online
through the merger of Online Merger Sub with and into Online (collectively, the
"Transaction").
The undersigned has been advised that as of the date hereof the
undersigned may be deemed to be (but does not hereby admit to be) an "affiliate"
of Company, as the term "affiliate" is (i) defined for purposes of paragraphs
(c) and (d) of Rule 145 of the rules and regulations (the "Rules and
Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and/or (ii)
used in and for purposes of Accounting Series Releases 130, 135 and 146 and
Staff Accounting Bulletin Two, as amended, of the SEC.
The undersigned understands that the representations, warranties and
covenants set forth herein will be relied upon by Newco, other stockholders of
Newco, Merger Subs, Online, Company and their respective counsel and accounting
firms. Except to the extent written notification to the contrary is received by
Newco from the undersigned prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the
representations and warranties contained herein shall be accurate at all times
from the date hereof through the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger
Agreement).
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to and agrees with Newco
that in the event the undersigned receives any shares of Newco Common Stock (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) as a result of the Transaction:
<PAGE>
1. The undersigned has power and authority to execute and deliver this
letter agreement and to make the representations and warranties set forth herein
and to perform the undersigned's obligations hereunder;
2. The undersigned has carefully read this letter agreement and the
Merger Agreement and, to the extent the undersigned felt necessary, discussed
the requirements of such documents and other applicable limitations upon the
undersigned's ability to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of Newco
Common Stock with the undersigned's counsel or counsel for the Company;
3. The undersigned is the owner of the number of shares (the "Shares")
of Omega Common Stock (as defined in the Merger Agreement) set forth below, and
did not acquire any of the Shares in contemplation of the Transaction;
4. The undersigned will not make any sale, transfer, pledge or other
disposition of Omega Common Stock, Online Common Stock or Newco Common Stock (i)
in violation of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations or (ii) to a
transferee that has not agreed in writing to be bound hereby;
5. The undersigned has been advised that the issuance of Newco Common
Stock to the undersigned in connection with the Transaction has been or will be
registered with the SEC under the Securities Act on a Registration Statement on
Form S-4. However, the undersigned has also been advised that, since at the time
the Transaction was or will be submitted for a vote of the shareholders of the
Company the undersigned may be deemed to be or have been an affiliate of the
Company and the distribution by the undersigned of any Newco Common Stock has
not been registered under the Securities Act, the undersigned may not sell,
transfer, or otherwise dispose of Newco Common Stock issued to the undersigned
in the Transaction unless (i) such sale, transfer, or other disposition has been
registered under the Securities Act, (ii) such sale, transfer, or other
disposition is made in conformity with the volume and other limitations of Rule
145 or (iii) in the opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to Newco, such
sale, transfer, or other disposition is otherwise exempt from registration under
the Securities Act;
6. The undersigned understands that, except as provided in the Merger
Agreement, Newco is under no obligation to register the sale, transfer, or other
disposition of Newco Common Stock by the undersigned or on the undersigned's
behalf under the Securities Act or to take any other action necessary in order
to make compliance with an exemption from such registration available;
7. The undersigned also understands that stop transfer instructions
will be given to Newco's transfer agent with respect to Newco Common Stock
issued to the undersigned and that there will be placed on the certificates for
Newco Common Stock issued to the undersigned, or any substitutions therefor, a
legend stating in substance:
"THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED IN A
TRANSACTION TO WHICH RULE 145 PROMULGATED UNDER
-2-
<PAGE>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, APPLIES. THE SECURITIES
EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 19, 2000 BETWEEN THE
REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF AND ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC., A COPY OF
WHICH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF ONLINE TRADING
GROUP, INC.;
8. The undersigned also understands that, unless the sale, transfer, or
other disposition by the undersigned of Newco Common Stock issued to the
undersigned has been registered under the Securities Act or is a sale made in
conformity with the provisions of Rule 145, Newco reserves the right to put the
following legend on the certificates issued to any transferee of the
undersigned:
"THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ACQUIRED
FROM A PERSON WHO RECEIVED SUCH SHARES IN A TRANSACTION TO WHICH RULE
145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, APPLIES,
AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED BY THE HOLDER WITH A VIEW TO TRANSFER, OR FOR
RESALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION THEREOF WITHIN THE MEANING
OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY
THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, UNLESS SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, OR OTHER DISPOSAL IS
MADE IN CONNECTION WITH AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS OR IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT, THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS IN EFFECT THEREUNDER AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS";
9. Any other provisions of this letter agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, except as set forth below, during the 30-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Time, the undersigned has not engaged and will not
engage, and after the Effective Time until such time as results covering at
least 30 days of combined operations of Newco and the Surviving Corporations (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) have been published by Newco, in the form of a
quarterly earnings report, an effective registration statement filed with the
SEC, a report to the SEC on Form 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-K, or any other public filing
or announcement which includes such combined results of operations (the period
commencing 30 days prior to the Effective Time and ending on the date of the
publication of the post-Transaction financial results is referred to herein as
the "Pooling Period"), the undersigned will not engage in any sale, transfer, or
other disposition of, or reduce the undersigned's risk in respect of, any of the
following:
-3-
<PAGE>
a. any shares of Newco Common Stock which the undersigned may
acquire in connection with the Transaction, or any securities which may
be paid as a dividend or otherwise distributed thereon or with respect
thereto or issued or delivered in exchange or substitution therefore
(all such shares and other securities being referred to herein,
collectively, as "Restricted Securities"), or any option, right or
other interest with respect to any Restricted Securities;
b. the shares of Newco Common Stock and options or warrants to
purchase Newco Common Stock beneficially owned by the undersigned; or
c. any shares of Newco Common Stock or any other equity
securities of Newco which the undersigned purchases or otherwise
acquires after the execution of this letter agreement and prior to the
expiration of the Pooling Period.
10. As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, Newco will
publish results covering at least 30 days of combined operations of Newco and
Surviving Corporations in the form of a quarterly earnings report, an effective
registration statement filed with the SEC, a report to the SEC on Form 10-K,
10-Q, 8-K, or any other public filing or announcement which includes such
combined results of operations; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Newco will under no
circumstance be obligated to publish such results earlier than that time at
which Newco publishes results for its first full fiscal quarter during which
such 30 days of combined operations occurs.
11. This Omega Affiliate Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Florida
without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof and may be
executed in counterparts.
(SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)
-4-
<PAGE>
Very truly yours,
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
(print name)
Number of Shares of Omega Common
Stock beneficially owned as of the
date hereof:
------------
Accepted as of _________ _____, 2000
ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC.
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SIGNATURE PAGE TO OMEGA AFFILIATE AGREEMENT
-5-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF ONLINE AFFILIATE AGREEMENT
January 19, 2000
Online Trading Group, Inc.
8700 West Flagler Street
Miami, Florida 33174
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization, dated as of January 19, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and
among Omega Research, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Omega"),
onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Company"), Online Trading
Group, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Newco"), Omega Acquisition Corporation, a
Florida corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"),
and Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly
owned subsidiary of Newco ("Online Merger Sub" and, together with Omega Merger
Sub, the "Merger Subs"), Newco has agreed (i) to acquire Omega through the
merger of Omega Merger Sub with and into Omega and (ii) to acquire Company
through the merger of Online Merger Sub with and into Company (collectively, the
"Transaction").
The undersigned has been advised that as of the date hereof the
undersigned may be deemed to be (but does not hereby admit to be) an "affiliate"
of Company, as the term "affiliate" is (i) defined for purposes of paragraphs
(c) and (d) of Rule 145 of the rules and regulations (the "Rules and
Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and/or (ii)
used in and for purposes of Accounting Series Releases 130, 135 and 146 and
Staff Accounting Bulletin Two, as amended, of the SEC.
The undersigned understands that the representations, warranties and
covenants set forth herein will be relied upon by Newco, other stockholders of
Newco, Merger Subs, Omega, Company and their respective counsel and accounting
firms. Except to the extent written notification to the contrary is received by
Newco from the undersigned prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the
representations and warranties contained herein shall be accurate at all times
from the date hereof through the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger
Agreement).
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to and agrees with Newco
that in the event the undersigned receives any shares of Newco Common Stock (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) as a result of the Transaction:
<PAGE>
1. The undersigned has power and authority to execute and deliver this
letter agreement and to make the representations and warranties set forth herein
and to perform the undersigned's obligations hereunder;
2. The undersigned has carefully read this letter agreement and the
Merger Agreement and, to the extent the undersigned felt necessary, discussed
the requirements of such documents and other applicable limitations upon the
undersigned's ability to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of Newco
Common Stock with the undersigned's counsel or counsel for the Company;
3. The undersigned is the owner of the number of shares (the "Shares")
of Online Common Stock (as defined in the Merger Agreement) set forth below, and
did not acquire any of the Shares in contemplation of the Transaction.
4. The undersigned will not make any sale, transfer, pledge or other
disposition of Online Common Stock, Omega Common Stock or Newco Common Stock (i)
in violation of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations or (ii) to a
transferee that has not agreed in writing to be bound hereby;
5. The undersigned has been advised that the issuance of Newco Common
Stock to the undersigned in connection with the Transaction has been or will be
registered with the SEC under the Securities Act on a Registration Statement on
Form S-4. However, the undersigned has also been advised that, since at the time
the Transaction was or will be submitted for a vote of the shareholders of the
Company the undersigned may be deemed to be or have been an affiliate of the
Company and the distribution by the undersigned of any Newco Common Stock has
not been registered under the Securities Act, the undersigned may not sell,
transfer, or otherwise dispose of Newco Common Stock issued to the undersigned
in the Transaction unless (i) such sale, transfer, or other disposition has been
registered under the Securities Act, (ii) such sale, transfer, or other
disposition is made in conformity with the volume and other limitations of Rule
145 or (iii) in the opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to Newco, such
sale, transfer, or other disposition is otherwise exempt from registration under
the Securities Act;
6. The undersigned understands that, except as provided in the Merger
Agreement, Newco is under no obligation to register the sale, transfer, or other
disposition of Newco Common Stock by the undersigned or on the undersigned's
behalf under the Securities Act or to take any other action necessary in order
to make compliance with an exemption from such registration available;
7. The undersigned also understands that stop transfer instructions
will be given to Newco's transfer agent with respect to Newco Common Stock
issued to the undersigned and that there will be placed on the certificates for
Newco Common Stock issued to the undersigned, or any substitutions therefor, a
legend stating in substance:
"THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED IN A
TRANSACTION TO WHICH RULE 145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE
-2-
<PAGE>
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, APPLIES. THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED
BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 19, 2000 BETWEEN THE REGISTERED
HOLDER HEREOF AND ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC., A COPY OF WHICH AGREEMENT
IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC.;
8. The undersigned also understands that, unless the sale, transfer, or
other disposition by the undersigned of Newco Common Stock issued to the
undersigned has been registered under the Securities Act or is a sale made in
conformity with the provisions of Rule 145, Newco reserves the right to put the
following legend on the certificates issued to any transferee of the
undersigned:
"THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ACQUIRED
FROM A PERSON WHO RECEIVED SUCH SHARES IN A TRANSACTION TO WHICH RULE
145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, APPLIES,
AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED BY THE HOLDER WITH A VIEW TO TRANSFER, OR FOR
RESALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION THEREOF WITHIN THE MEANING
OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY
THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, UNLESS SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, OR OTHER DISPOSAL IS
MADE IN CONNECTION WITH AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS OR IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT, THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS IN EFFECT THEREUNDER AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS";
9. Any other provisions of this letter agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, except as set forth below, during the 30-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Time, the undersigned has not engaged and will not
engage, and after the Effective Time until such time as results covering at
least 30 days of combined operations of Newco and the Surviving Corporations (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) have been published by Newco, in the form of a
quarterly earnings report, an effective registration statement filed with the
SEC, a report to the SEC on Form 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-K, or any other public filing
or announcement which includes such combined results of operations (the period
commencing 30 days prior to the Effective Time and ending on the date of the
publication of the post-Transaction financial results is referred to herein as
the "Pooling Period"), the undersigned will not engage in any sale, transfer, or
other disposition of, or reduce the undersigned's risk in respect of, any of the
following:
-3-
<PAGE>
a. any shares of Newco Common Stock which the undersigned may
acquire in connection with the Transaction, or any securities which may
be paid as a dividend or otherwise distributed thereon or with respect
thereto or issued or delivered in exchange or substitution therefore
(all such shares and other securities being referred to herein,
collectively, as "Restricted Securities"), or any option, right or
other interest with respect to any Restricted Securities;
b. the shares of Newco Common Stock and options or warrants to
purchase Newco Common Stock beneficially owned by the undersigned; or
c. any shares of Newco Common Stock or any other equity
securities of Newco which the undersigned purchases or otherwise
acquires after the execution of this letter agreement and prior to the
expiration of the Pooling Period.
10. As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, Newco will
publish results covering at least 30 days of combined operations of Newco and
the Surviving Corporations in the form of a quarterly earnings report, an
effective registration statement filed with the SEC, a report to the SEC on Form
10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, or any other public filing or announcement which includes such
combined results of operations; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Newco will under no
circumstance be obligated to publish such results earlier than that time at
which Newco publishes results for its first full fiscal quarter during which
such 30 days of combined operations occurs.
11. This Online Affiliate Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Florida
without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof and may be
executed in counterparts.
(SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)
-4-
<PAGE>
Very truly yours,
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
(print name)
Number of Shares of Online Common
Stock beneficially owned as of the
date hereof:
------------
Accepted as of _________ _____, 2000
ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC.
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ONLINE AFFILIATE AGREEMENT
-5-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D-1
FORM OF
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT, dated as of January 19, 2000 and to be effective as of
and after the Effective Time (as defined in that certain Agreement and Plan of
Merger and Reorganization (the "Merger Agreement") among Omega Research, Inc.,
onlinetradinginc.com corp., Online Trading Group, Inc. ("Newco"), Omega
Acquisition Corporation and Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation, is by and
between onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Employer"),
and_____(1)_____________ ("Employee").
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
1. This Agreement to be effective as of and after the Effective Time
covers various subjects, including (i) protection of Employer's trade secrets
and confidential information, (ii) non- solicitation of Employer's customers,
licensees, independent contractors, consultants and employees, (iii)
restrictions on Employee's ability to compete with Employer or participate in
competitive businesses both during and after Employee's employment, (iv)
ownership of work product developed in whole or in part by Employee, (v) misuse
of trade secrets or confidential information belonging to others and
interference with rights of others, (vi) the full-time, exclusive nature of
Employee's employment commitment, and (vii) unfair business practices. Each of
these subjects is equally important, and if Employee accepts employment or
continued employment with Employer, Employee is agreeing to faithfully and fully
observe all covenants and agreements set forth below relating to each subject
addressed, without exception.
2. Employee has been informed by Employer, and understands, that (a)
Employer has developed and owns, as a result of substantial effort and expense
on the part of Employer, valuable trade secrets and other valuable confidential
business information to which Employee has and/or will have substantial access,
(b) Employee has developed and/or will be developing important and substantial
relationships with other valuable employees of Employer and/or with certain of
Employer's customers, licensees, independent contractors, consultants, strategic
partners, vendors and/or other third parties having dealings or contractual
relationships with Employer, and (c) Employer has devoted and/or will be
devoting substantial efforts and expense to train Employee to perform Employee's
employment duties, which has resulted (or, if this is a new employment, assuming
it continues, will likely result) in the development by Employee of specialized
and valuable skills, knowledge and abilities.
3. In light of all of the foregoing, in order to protect Employer's
legitimate business interests, including its goodwill with its customers,
licensees, independent contractors, consultants,
- --------
(1)The following individuals are entering into new Employment
Agreements: Farshid Tafazzoli, E. Steven zum Tobel and Derek J. Hernquist.
<PAGE>
strategic partners, vendors, other third parties having dealings or contractual
relationships with Employer, and other employees and Employer's trade secrets,
and as a condition to Employee's employment with Employer (or, if Employee is
already employed by Employer, as a condition to Employer agreeing to continue to
employ Employee), Employee has agreed to make for the benefit of Employer the
reasonable covenants and agreements set forth below. As an employee of Employer,
Employee agrees to observe all of the provisions of this Agreement, as well as
all other rules and policies that Employer may announce from time to time.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:
1. POSITION AND COMPENSATION
Employee will be employed in the position and at the annual base
salary and with an annual discretionary bonus as described in the attached
Schedule A, which may be changed or modified hereafter from time to time.
2. BENEFITS
Employee will be offered all group benefits, if any, made available
by Employer to its employees generally and to employees in similar positions as
Employee, and Employee will be eligible to be considered for bonuses, all of
which are subject to change by Employer at any time and from time to time.
3. CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF EMPLOYEE
(a) TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. The term of employment hereunder shall
commence on the Effective Time and shall end on the day preceding the second
anniversary date of the Effective Time, subject to earlier termination as
hereinafter provided (the "Employment Term"). After the expiration of the
Employment Term unless extended in writing by mutual agreement of the parties
hereto, the employment relationship thereafter will continue as employment "at
will" and, accordingly after the expiration of the Employment Term, Employee and
Employer will be each free to terminate such employment relationship at any
time, for any reason, with or without notice or cause. Employer may terminate
Employee's employment under this Agreement at any time, without prior notice,
for "due cause" upon the good faith determination by the Board of Directors of
Employer (the "Board"), which will be the parent of Employer, that "due cause"
exists for the termination of the employment relationship. The term "due cause"
shall mean any of the following events: (i) any intentional misapplication by
Employee of Employer's funds or any fraud committed by Employee upon Employer;
or (ii) Employee's conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony,
or (iii) Employee's breach, non-performance or non-observance of the terms of
this Agreement which is not cured (if curable) within ten (10) days of
Employee's receipt of written notice thereof; or (iv) any other action by
Employee involving willful and deliberate malfeasance or gross negligence in the
performance of Employee's duties, responsibilities and agreements; or (v)
Employee's death; or (vi) Employee's disability or mental or physical incapacity
resulting in his inability to substantially perform all of his duties and
responsibilities for Employer for a period of at least ninety (90) consecutive
days. During the Employment Term, Employer may also terminate
2
<PAGE>
the employment of Employee other than for "due cause" provided that in such
event Employee shall be entitled to receive the remaining base salary payments
due hereunder for the remainder of the Employment Term, but in no event less
than three months' base salary, and any accrued and unpaid bonus. In the event
of such termination for other than "due cause," all other rights and benefits
Employee may have under the employee and/or executive benefit plans and
arrangements of Employer generally shall be determined in accordance with the
terms and conditions of such plans and arrangements. The parties acknowledge and
agree that during the Employment Term, Employer shall not (i) decrease
Employee's annual base salary, (ii) materially diminish Employee's duties and
responsibilities or (iii) require Employee to relocate on a full time basis from
outside the geographic area comprised of Broward and Palm Beach Counties in the
state of Florida (the "Geographic Area").
(b) CHANGE IN CONTROL. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, if a "Change in Control" (as defined below) of
Employer occurs and, during the Employment Term Employee's duties and
responsibilities are materially diminished or Employee is required to relocate
on a full time basis from outside of the Geographic Area, Employee may terminate
employment upon 30 days prior written notice to Employer and shall be entitled
to receive the remaining base salary payments due hereunder for the remainder of
the Employment Term, but in no event less than three months' base salary, and
any accrued and unpaid bonus payable in a lump sum within 30 days after the date
of termination. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "Change in Control"
of Employer shall be defined as and shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any
"person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is
used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
directly or indirectly of securities of Employer or Newco representing 50% or
more of the combined voting power of Employer's or Newco's then outstanding
securities (as the case may be), (ii) the Board ceases to consist of a majority
of Continuing Directors (as defined below) or (iii) a person (as defined in
clause (i) above) acquires (or, during the 12-month period ending on the date
for the most recent acquisition by such person or group of persons, has
acquired) gross assets of Employer that have an aggregate market value greater
than or equal to over 50% of the fair market value of all of the gross assets of
Employer immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Continuing Director" shall mean a member of the Board who
either (i) is a member of the Board immediately after the Effective Time of the
merger in connection with which this Agreement is being executed and delivered
or (ii) is nominated or appointed to serve as a director by a majority of
Continuing Directors (including those nominated or appointed pursuant to this
clause (ii)) prior to such acquisition or acquisitions.
4. EMPLOYMENT AS SOLE OCCUPATION
Employee agrees to devote Employee's full business time, attention,
skill and effort exclusively to the duties that Employer assigns to Employee
from time to time. Employee agrees that Employee may not engage in any business
activities or render any services of a business, commercial or professional
nature, whether or not for compensation, for the benefit of anyone other than
Employer, unless Employer has given its consent in writing in advance; provided,
however, that
3
<PAGE>
this Section shall not preclude Employee from (i) engaging in any activities
that are solely personal or social in nature or (ii) serving on boards of
directors of not-for-profit organizations, and, in all events, that are not a
source of secondary income and will not impede the performance of his duties and
responsibilities hereunder.
5. NON-DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
(a) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employee acknowledges that Employee
has been informed by Employer that it is Employer's policy and the policy of its
parent company, subsidiaries and affiliates (hereinafter "the Companies") to
maintain as secret and confidential all information and materials (whether or
not stamped or marked "Confidential" or bearing some other indicia of
confidentiality) relating to (i) the financial condition, operations and
business interests, objectives, plans and strategies of the Companies, (ii) the
systems, know-how, records, products, product plans, product designs, marketing
plans, specifications, drawings, product development, services, cost
information, inventions, computer programs, technology, marketing and sales
strategies, techniques and/or programs, trading and investment strategies and
analysis, formulae, methods, methodologies, manuals, customer lists and other
trade secrets from time to time acquired, sold, developed, maintained and/or
used by the Companies, (iii) the nature and terms of the Companies'
relationships with their customers, licensees, suppliers, lenders, underwriters,
stock exchanges, clearing brokers, vendors, consultants, independent
contractors, strategic partners, other third parties having dealings or
contractual relationships with the Companies, attorneys, accountants and
employees, and (iv) any proposed public or private offering of the Companies
(all such information and materials are collectively referred to as
"Confidential Information").
(b) PROHIBITED DISCLOSURE. Employee agrees that Employee will not
directly or indirectly at any time (including after the date on which Employee's
employment terminates) divulge or disclose for any purpose (except as
specifically authorized by the Companies) to any persons, firms, corporations or
other entities (collectively, "Third Parties"), or use or cause or authorize any
Third Parties to use, any such Confidential Information, except in the capacity
of an employee of Employer pursuant to any duties in the course and scope of his
employment. "Confidential Information" does not include information that, at the
time of disclosure, is part of the public domain or is generally known in the
Companies' respective industries without the fault or carelessness of Employee,
or information which Employee can demonstrate was known to or developed by
Employee prior to the date of Employee's commencement of employment with any of
the Companies without reliance upon or use of Confidential Information. If
Employee is required by order of a court or other governmental or
self-regulating authority to disclose any Confidential Information, Employee
shall immediately notify Employer so that Employer and/or the other Companies
may attempt to obtain an appropriate protective order, and, in all events,
Employee shall only disclose the portion of the Confidential Information
required by such order to be disclosed.
(c) EMPLOYER'S MATERIALS. Employee further agrees that (i) Employee
will at no time transfer, electronically transmit or remove from the premises of
Employer any products, prototypes, drawings, designs, specifications, notebooks,
software programs or disks, tapes or similar
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containers of software, e-mail, manuals, data, books, records, materials or
documents of any kind or description containing Confidential Information for any
purpose unconnected with the strict performance of Employee's duties with
Employer, and (ii) upon the termination of Employee's employment with Employer
for any reason, Employee shall immediately deliver or cause to be delivered to
Employer any and all such drawings, designs, specifications, notebooks, software
programs or disks, tapes or similar containers of software, e-mail, manuals,
data, books, records, materials and other documents and materials (and all
copies thereof) in Employee's possession or under Employee's control relating to
any Confidential Information or any other materials which are the property of
Employer.
(d) EMPLOYEE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Employee acknowledges that Employee
is aware that Employee may be subject to severe criminal penalties (including
fines and lengthy imprisonment) under both federal and state law, including
Title 18, Sections 1831, et. seq. of the United States Code (The Economic
Espionage Act of 1996) and Section 812.081, Florida Statutes, as well as
substantial civil liability, for (i) stealing, or without Employer's permission,
taking, misappropriating or concealing, or by fraud or deception procuring,
trade secrets, as defined therein, or (ii) without Employer's permission,
receiving, possessing, altering, destroying, copying, sending, downloading,
uploading or conveying trade secrets or other Confidential Information. Employee
further acknowledges that any person or entity to whom trade secrets or other
Confidential Information are given by Employee may also become subject to severe
criminal penalties and civil liability.
6. COVENANT-NOT-TO-COMPETE
(a) COVENANT-NOT-TO-COMPETE. Employee covenants and agrees that,
during Employee's employment with Employer and for a period of two (2) years
after the date Employee ceases for any reason to be employed by Employer,
Employee shall not, directly or indirectly (as defined below) in any capacity,
(i) market, sell, provide or license, or be involved in the marketing, sale,
provision or licensing of, any Financial Market Data Software Products or
Software-Related Services (as defined below) to any person or entity who is or
was a distributor, retailer, reseller, licensee, subscriber, or customer of
Employer or any of the other Companies at any time during Employee's employment
with Employer and for or to whom Employer or any of the other Companies has
performed such services or sold or licensed such products at any time during the
one- year period ending on Employee's termination of employment, or (ii) engage
or participate in any venture, enterprise, activity or business which involves
the sale, licensing, performance or provision of Financial Market Data Software
Products or Software-Related Services, in whole or in part via electronic
commerce, telemarketing, telecommunication, cable, the Web or the Internet,
anywhere within the world. "Financial Market Data Software Products or
Software-Related Services" means (A) software products and/or services
(including, without limitation, all browser based and other Internet related
applications) which (1) collect or deliver financial market data (including but
not limited to stocks, bonds, options, futures, commodities, other securities
and/or fundamental company data), and/or (2) supply financial data to support
online investing and trading, including in the form of financial Web sites and
communities, and Internet-delivered streaming or other market data
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services; and/or (3) are or can be used to make, review or devise investment
analyses or strategies, including, without limitation, charting, technical
analysis and/or trading or investment strategy design, testing and/or automation
and/or (B) securities brokerage services (including, without limitation, in
connection with revenue sharing arrangements) and trading and other investment
services and services and products ancillary to any such securities brokerage,
trading or other investment services; provided, however, that "Financial Market
Data Software Products or Software- Related Services" shall not include the
activities specifically set forth on Schedule B annexed hereto. Employee
acknowledges that the businesses of Employer and the other Companies are
international in scope, that, due to the electronic and telephonic nature of
Employer's and such other Companies' businesses and the nature of Employer's and
such other Companies' licensees and customers, one could effectively compete
with such business from nearly anywhere in the world, and that, therefore, such
geographical area of restriction is reasonable in the circumstances to protect
Employer's trade secrets and other legitimate business interests.
(b) DEFINITION OF "DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY." For purposes of Section
6(a), "directly or indirectly" means to engage or participate in any venture,
enterprise, activity or business which is materially involved (as hereinafter
defined) in the marketing, selling, licensing or provision of Financial Market
Data Software Products or Software-Related Services, passively (except for
passive investments in publicly-traded companies) or actively, as a sole
proprietor or owner, director, officer, shareholder, partner, member,
consultant, independent contractor, advisor, participant, employee or agent or
in any other manner. For purposes hereof, "materially involved" means that the
venture, enterprise, activity or business directly or indirectly or together
with any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or partners or through strategic
alliances or any specific division or business unit of any such venture,
enterprise, activity or business either (1) derives in any year 5% or more of
its gross revenue from Financial Market Data Software Products or
Software-Related Services or (2) incurs in any year 5% or more of its expenses
(operating and/or capital) in connection with or as a result of Financial Market
Data Software Products or Software-Related Services.
(c) PAYMENT FOR COVENANT-NOT-TO-COMPETE. Employer and Employee both
believe that, due to the specialized nature of Employer's and the other
Companies businesses, it would not be difficult for Employee, upon termination
of Employee's employment, to find gainful employment or have other business
pursuits which are not violative of the restrictions set forth above, as there
are several industries and lines of business in which Employee could work which
are dissimilar to, and not competitive with, Employer's business. However,
Employer understands that such restrictions may limit Employee's new employment
options following a termination of Employee's employment with Employer.
Accordingly, if following termination of employment with Employer, Employee is
offered a position which, if accepted, would violate the restrictive covenants
set forth above, Employer will either (i) consent to Employee accepting
employment restricted by subsection (a) above, or (ii) not consent, but pay
Employee additional consideration for Employee remaining bound by such
restrictions. In order to receive the benefit of these provisions, Employee must
be and remain in compliance with all provisions of this Agreement, and must
comply with the following procedures. Upon Employee's receipt of a written offer
of employment which Employee desires to accept and which, if accepted, would
constitute a violation of subsection
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(a) above, Employee shall promptly notify Employer of such offer and provide to
Employer a copy thereof together with a written statement explaining in
reasonable detail Employee's job responsibilities at the new employment. Within
ten (10) days following the date that Employer has been given a copy of such
offer and written statement, Employer will notify Employee that either (x)
Employer consents to Employee accepting such new employment (but such consent
shall extend only to the job responsibilities described in the written statement
and shall not under any circumstances authorize Employee to disclose or use any
Confidential Information or to fail to comply with any other provision of this
Agreement), or (y) Employee may not accept the new employment. If Employer
decides that Employee may not accept the new employment, Employer shall pay to
Employee each month an amount equal to 1/24th of Employee's annual base salary
in effect at the date of termination of Employee's employment in excess of any
other severance payments being received by Employee hereunder upon termination
of employment (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 3(a) or 3(b)
hereof) less applicable federal and state withholding ("Additional Monthly
Payments"). Such Additional Monthly Payments will cease at the end of the 24th
month following the date of Employee's termination of employment, provided that,
if Employee commences other full-time employment during such 24-month period,
such Additional Monthly Payments shall cease upon the commencement of such new
employment. Employee shall promptly notify Employer if Employee accepts any such
new employment. If Employee fails to notify Employer of new full-time employment
and continues to accept Additional Monthly Payments from Employer after
commencing new full-time employment, Employee shall be obligated to repay to
Employer all Additional Monthly Payments received from Employer pursuant to
these provisions.
7. NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT
(a) NON-SOLICITATION OF OTHER PERSONNEL. Employee acknowledges that
Employer devotes substantial time, effort and expense to the recruitment,
selection, training, development and promotion of talented individuals for
positions of significant responsibility with Employer. Employee further
acknowledges that it would be unfair to use Employee's familiarity with
Employer's business and other employees and Employer's independent contractors
and consultants to participate, directly or indirectly, in any activities
designed to cause any of Employer's other employees to leave Employer's employ
or to cause any of Employer's independent contractors or consultants to cease
performing services for Employer. Accordingly, Employee covenants and agrees
that, during Employee's employment with Employer and for a period of two (2)
years after the date Employee ceases for any reason to be employed by Employer,
Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit the services of or recruit,
whether on Employee's own behalf or on behalf of others, any of the following
types of employees, independent contractors or consultants of Employer: (i)
executives, managers, supervisors or department directors; (ii) technicians,
engineers, programmers, designers, developers or information, Web or Internet
services workers (whether employees, independent contractors or consultants);
(iii) product, project or task managers or supervisors (whether employees,
independent contractors or consultants); (iv) sales, marketing, public or
customer relations personnel or consultants; (v) brokers, traders, securities
associates or salespersons or other similar types of personnel; (vi) financial
or accounting services personnel or
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consultants; (vii) legal personnel; (viii) customer support personnel or
consultants; or (ix) human resources personnel; provided, however, that such
provision does not apply to Employee's attorneys, accountants, investment
bankers and other professional advisors; or otherwise persuade or cause, or
attempt to persuade or cause, any such employee, independent contractor or
consultant to leave Employer's employ or cease performing services for Employer.
(b) DAMAGES FOR BREACH. Employee acknowledges that breach or
violation of this covenant would cause substantial damages to Employer. Employee
agrees that, in the event of a breach or violation of this covenant of
non-solicitation, Employee will be liable to compensate Employer for all
damages, including, without limitation, consequential damages, not limited to
lost profits, expense incurred to replace the employee or business relationship,
finder's fees, sign-on bonuses, and compensation, remuneration and/or benefits
premiums paid to employees, independent contractors and consultants to secure
their services or to replace the lost business relationship(s). The payment of
such damages shall not limit, impair or diminish Employer's right to seek and
obtain (x) any appropriate equitable relief (including but not limited to
specific performance, temporary restraining order and temporary and permanent
injunction), (y) other monetary relief, and other relief, at law or in equity,
for other causes of action which may have resulted from Employee's breach or
violation (such as intentional interference with contractual or business
relations in the event an employee is solicited by Employee for a competitive
position and such employee is subject to a covenant-not-to-compete), or (z)
monetary and other relief, at law or in equity, from or against persons or
entities other than Employee.
8. EMPLOYER'S REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF SECTIONS 5, 6 AND 7
In addition to the remedies referred to in Section 7(b) above,
Employee agrees that if Employee breaches or violates any of Employee's
covenants or agreements in Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof, Employer shall be
entitled to an accounting and repayment of any and all profits, compensation,
commissions, payments and benefits which Employee directly or indirectly has
realized and realizes as a result of, or in connection with, any such breach or
violation. In addition, in the event of a breach or violation or threatened or
imminent breach or violation of any provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof,
Employer shall be entitled to a temporary and permanent injunction or any other
appropriate decree of specific performance or equitable relief (without, unless
otherwise required by statute, being required to post bond or other security)
from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to prevent, prohibit or restrain
any such breach or violation or threatened or imminent breach or violation by
Employee. Employer shall be entitled to such injunctive or other equitable
relief in addition to any ascertainable damages which are suffered. It is
understood that resort by Employer to such injunctive or other equitable relief
shall not be deemed to waive or to limit in any respect any other rights or
remedies which Employer may have with respect to such breach or violation.
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9. REASONABLENESS OF RESTRICTIONS
(a) REASONABLENESS. Employee acknowledges that any breach or
violation of Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof will likely cause irreparable injury and
damage to Employer and that it would be very difficult or impossible to measure
all of the damages resulting from any such breach or violation. Employee further
acknowledges that Employee has carefully read and considered the provisions of
Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions and
remedies set forth in such Sections (including the time period, geographical
limits and scope of activity restricted) are fair and reasonable and do not
impose a greater restraint than is necessary for the protection of the trade
secrets, goodwill and other legitimate business interests of Employer.
(b) SEVERABILITY. Employee understands and intends that each
provision and restriction agreed to by Employee in Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof be
construed as separate and divisible from every other provision and restriction.
In the event that any one of the provisions of, or restrictions in, Sections 5,
6 and 7 hereof shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, and is not reformed
by a court of competent jurisdiction (which a court, in lieu of striking a
provision entirely, is urged by the parties to do), the remaining provisions and
restrictions shall continue to be valid and enforceable as though the invalid or
unenforceable provision or restriction had not been included. In the event that
any such provision relating to time period, geographical limits or scope of
activity restricted (collectively "Limitations") shall be declared by a court of
competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum or permissible Limitations such
court deems reasonable and enforceable, Limitations shall be deemed to become
and shall then be the maximum Limitations which such court deems reasonable and
enforceable.
(c) SURVIVABILITY. The restrictions, acknowledgments, covenants and
agreements of Employee set forth in Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
and 18 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of Employee's employment
(for any or no reason, including expiration of the Employment Term).
10. OWNERSHIP OF WORK DEVELOPED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY EMPLOYEE
Employee covenants and agrees with Employer that any and all
formulae, devices, patterns, know-how, technology, computer programs,
documentation, processes, lists, compilations, literature, inventions,
methodologies, techniques and other work product ("Work") created or developed
in whole or in part by Employee (whether alone or in cooperation with others)
while an employee of Employer, if created or developed in whole or in part (i)
on Employer's premises, or (ii) during Employee's normal working hours, or (iii)
with the use of Employer's resources, or (iv) based upon Employee's access to or
knowledge of Confidential Information, no matter what such Work relates to or is
about, shall immediately be disclosed by Employee to Employer and is and shall
be solely Employer's property. Employee further covenants and agrees with
Employer that any Work created or developed in whole or in part by Employee
(whether alone or in cooperation with others) during the term of Employee's
employment, even if wholly developed or created off Employer's premises, on
Employee's own time, and without use of Employer's resources or Confidential
Information, if related to Employer's or any of the other Companies' businesses,
shall
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immediately be disclosed by Employee to Employer and is and shall be solely
Employer's property. In all such cases, Employee agrees that Employer is the
"person for whom the work was prepared" for the purposes of determining
authorship of any copyright in the Work, and all of the Work shall be deemed
"work made for hire" as that term is defined in Section 101 of the U.S.
Copyright Act. In addition, all inventions, discoveries, improvements, trade
secrets, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, know-how, names, ideas and
other proprietary rights and intellectual property rights, whether or not
patentable, embodied in, represented by, incorporated in, part of, or relating
to any of the Work (collectively, "Other Intellectual Property Rights") are, and
shall be, as between Employer and Employee, the property of solely Employer,
and, so there will be no doubt, Employee hereby assigns to Employer and its
successors and assigns all of Employee's right, title and interest in and to all
Other Intellectual Property Rights. If, for any reason, any of the Work is
determined not to be a "work made for hire" under U.S. law or the law of any
other jurisdiction, Employee agrees to assign, and does hereby assign, to
Employer and its successors and assigns all of Employee's right, title and
interest in and to all copyrights in all of the Work. Employee shall execute and
deliver to Employer from time to time upon Employer's request such confirmatory
assignments, instruments and other documents so as to evidence and confirm full
record and beneficial ownership of Employer in all such Work. Employee hereby
irrevocably appoints Employer as Employee's attorney-in-fact for the purpose of
signing and delivering such assignments, instruments and other documents, such
appointment being coupled with an interest. "Work" does not include works or
inventions which do not relate to Employer's business and are wholly created or
developed by Employee off Employer's premises, on Employee's own time and
without use of Employer's resources or Confidential Information.
11. NON-INTERFERENCE WITH THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS
By signing this Agreement, and accepting employment or continued
employment with Employer, Employee is representing and warranting to Employer
that (a) Employee is free to accept or continue employment with Employer,
meaning that Employee has no contractual or other commitments which restrict
Employee from performing Employee's employment duties to the fullest extent, and
(b) only Employer is entitled to the benefit of Employee's work and efforts.
Employer advises Employee that Employer has no interest in using any other
person's patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets or confidential or
proprietary information ("Intellectual Property Rights") in an unlawful manner,
and Employee agrees that Employee will not, in performing Employee's employment
duties, make use of any Intellectual Property Rights belonging to another which
Employer has no right to use. If Employee has any doubt about whether Employee
is misusing Intellectual Property Rights of another, Employee shall promptly
notify the General Counsel of Newco ("General Counsel"), so that General Counsel
can ensure that Employer may investigate and make the appropriate decision.
12. VIOLATION OF POLICIES BY OTHER EMPLOYEES
Many, if not most, of Employer's employees are or will be required
to sign this Agreement (or a similar agreement) as a condition of employment or
continued employment with Employer. If Employee becomes aware that any other
employee of Employer is violating any provisions of this Agreement, Employee
shall promptly report such violation to the General Counsel.
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The information provided, and its source, will be treated confidentially to the
extent possible in the circumstances. While Employer understands that it is not
always easy or pleasant to report wrongdoings of a co-worker, it is critically
important that these provisions be observed by Employee, as violations of this
Agreement may cause substantial and irreparable harm to Employer's business
which would cause all employees of Employer to suffer.
13. UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES
If, during Employee's employment with Employer, Employee learns or
suspects that any unfair or questionable business practice may be occurring,
Employee shall advise the General Counsel promptly. This obligation is
intentionally broad and general because it is difficult to anticipate all
possible circumstances, and Employee should resolve all doubts by reporting the
information in question to the General Counsel. In particular, if Employee
receives an offer of any kind (kickbacks, job offers, gifts, offers of money in
exchange for information, etc.) from any outside party or another employee of
Employer, Employee shall immediately notify Employer and provide all information
relating to such offer; provided, however, that this provision shall not require
Employee to report a bona fide job offer that is not received in exchange for
Employer's or other Companies' information or in connection with any
questionable, improper or illegal purpose. No gift, favor, offer, benefit,
promise to pay or other thing of value shall be offered, made or authorized by
Employee for any questionable, improper or illegal purpose, nor shall any bribe
or kickback be offered, made or authorized by Employee, directly or indirectly,
regardless of motive, to or for the benefit of any customer, supplier or other
person or entity doing business with Employer or any of the other Companies, or
any employee or agent thereof, or to or for the benefit of any governmental
official or employee.
14. LAW APPLICABLE
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed pursuant to the
laws of the State of Florida. In the event of a dispute, exclusive venue shall
be in the state or federal courts for Miami-Dade County, Florida.
15. SUCCESSION
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their
respective heirs, administrators, legal representatives, successors (by merger
or otherwise) and assigns and shall be binding upon the parties and their
respective heirs, administrators, legal representatives and successors; however,
this Agreement may not be assigned by Employee.
16. NO WAIVER
A waiver of any breach or violation of any term, provision or
covenant contained in this Agreement shall not be deemed a continuing waiver or
a waiver of any future or past breach or violation. No oral waiver shall be
effective or binding.
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17. PRIOR OR SEPARATE AGREEMENTS
This Agreement contains the entire agreement between Employer and
Employee as of and after the Effective Time in Employee's capacity as an
employee of Employer concerning its subject matter, and supersedes as of and
after the Effective Time all prior and contemporaneous agreements, written or
oral, including, without limitation, that certain Employment Agreement made as
of February 1, 1999, between Employer and Employee, except that (i) any
preexisting or prior agreements regarding confidentiality, non-solicitation,
inventions, work product, proprietary rights, trade secrets and non-competition
shall survive to the extent necessary to allow Employer maximum protection for
its trade secrets, confidential information, goodwill and employee, licensee,
independent contractor, consultant, distributor, retailer, reseller, customer
and other business relationships and (ii) this Agreement and the covenants and
agreements set forth herein are separate and independent of any Non-Competition
and Non-Disclosure Agreement that has been executed and delivered by Employee
concurrently herewith and the covenants and agreements set forth therein and,
accordingly, no pursuit or enforcement of any particular right, power, privilege
or remedy under this Agreement or such Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure
Agreement (as the case may be) at any particular time or from time to time,
singly or together with others, or any partial exercise thereof, shall operate
as a waiver of, or preclude the exercise or availability of, any right, power,
privilege or remedy of Employer under this Agreement, such Non-Competition and
Non-Disclosure Agreement or any other agreement (as the case may be)(2).
18. ATTORNEY'S FEES
In the event either party hereto prevails in any dispute arising
from or relating to this Agreement, the non-prevailing party will be liable for
the prevailing party's reasonable and necessary attorneys' and paralegals' fees
and expenses and court costs before and at trial, in any other proceedings and
at all appellate levels.
19. EFFECTIVENESS
This Agreement shall be effective as of and after the Effective
Time. In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated before the Effective Time,
this Agreement shall be null and void and of no further force and effect.
[SIGNATURES ARE ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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(2)In the case of the Employment Agreement with E. Steven zum Tobel the
following will be added: "and (iii) that certain letter dated March 1, 1999,
from Employer to and accepted by Employee relating to the issuance to Employee
of 444,444 shares (including 44,444 shares received by Employee as a dividend
from Employer) of common stock, $.01 par value, of Employer and the vesting
thereof shall remain in full force and effect."
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Employment
Agreement as of the day and year first written above to be effective as of and
after the Effective Time.
EMPLOYEE:
Signature:___________________________
Print Name:__________________________
EMPLOYER:
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM CORP.
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
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SCHEDULE A
POSITION AND COMPENSATION
Position: (3)
Annual Base Salary: (4)
Bonus: (5)
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(3) Farshid Tafazzoli - Chief Information Officer of Employer and Vice
President of Newco; E. Steven zum Tobel - President of Employer and Vice
President of Newco; and Derek J. Hernquist - Supervisor of Investment Research
and Development and of Trading Desk of Employer.
(4) $200,000 for Mr. Tafazzoli; $150,000 for Mr. zum Tobel; and
$100,000 for Mr. Hernquist.
(5) With respect to Mr. Tafazzoli: "Employee will be eligible for an
annual discretionary bonus as, when and based on similar criteria that William
R. Cruz and Ralph L. Cruz are so eligible and as otherwise determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Newco"; with respect to Mr.
zum Tobel: "Employee will be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus in line
with bonuses (if any) of other executive officers of Newco having a similar
position and consistent with his responsibilities and as otherwise determined by
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Newco"; and with respect
to Mr. Hernquist: "Employee will be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus
consistent with his responsibilities and as otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors of Employer or the Compensation Committee thereof."
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE B
PERMITTED ACTIVITIES
See attached list of activities.
<PAGE>
NON-COMPETE EXCEPTIONS SCHEDULE
Securities trading for registered or unregistered hedge funds or as a firm
trader for a broker-dealer.
Auditing or other strictly accounting services for broker-dealers that provide
no Internet-based services; Teacher of securities related subjects at a college
or university; Owner of, and/or Instructor at, schools or seminars preparing
students for securities licensing tests; Financial planning/estate planning
services (including without limitation acting as a Registered Investment
Advisor); Investment banking services for any industry or market segment.
Owning or operating a software development or similar company unrelated to the
securities industry or to securities or financial market analysis.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D-2
FORM OF
NON-COMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of January 19, 2000 to be effective as of
and after the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement described
below) is by and among Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida corporation, Omega
Research, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Omega"), and onlinetradinginc.com corp.
("Online"), a Florida corporation, on the one hand, and _____________________
("Shareholder"), on the other hand.
A. RECITALS
1. Shareholder is, and will be up to and through the consummation
of the mergers (collectively, the "Merger") contemplated under the Agreement and
Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement"), the owner of
certain outstanding shares of either the common stock, $.01 par value, of Online
("Online Common Stock") or the common stock, $.01 par value, of Omega ("Omega
Common Stock"). Pursuant to the Merger, Shareholder will receive either common
stock, $.01 par value, of Newco ("Newco Common Stock") and cash for fractional
shares in exchange for Online Common Stock owned by Shareholder or will receive
Newco Common Stock in exchange for Omega Common Stock owned by Shareholder.
2. Upon consummation of the Merger at the Effective Time, (i) Omega
Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"), will be merged with and into Omega, and the separate
corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and Omega will continue as the
surviving corporation and (ii) Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation, a Florida
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Newco ("Online Merger Sub" and,
together with Omega Merger Sub, the "Merger Subs") will be merged with and into
Online, and the separate corporate existence of Online Merger Sub will cease and
Online will continue as the surviving corporation.
3. As a further result of the consummation of the Merger at the
Effective Time, Newco will own one hundred percent of the common stock of the
Surviving Corporations (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and Shareholder,
together with all the other holders of Online Common Stock and Omega Common
Stock, will effectively transfer ownership of the businesses of Online and Omega
to Newco.
4. Shareholder anticipates that the consummation of the Merger will
cause Shareholder significant financial gain and advantage. Shareholder
acknowledges and understands that the execution and delivery by Shareholder of
this Agreement is a specific condition precedent to Newco, Omega, Online and
Merger Subs entering into the Merger Agreement and the obligation of Newco,
Omega, Online and Merger Subs to consummate and effect the Merger, and
Shareholder is executing
<PAGE>
this Agreement in consideration of Newco, Omega, Online and Merger Subs entering
into the Merger Agreement and consummation by Newco, Omega, Online and Merger
Subs of, and as material inducement to Newco, Omega, Online and Merger Subs to
consummate the Merger, resulting in Shareholder's receipt of the Newco Common
Stock (and cash for fractional shares in the case of a shareholder of Online).
5. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that certain covenants
are necessary to protect the value of the goodwill evidenced by the Online
Common Stock or Omega Common Stock (as the case may be) relinquished by
Shareholder in exchange for the Newco Common Stock, as well as the goodwill
evidenced by the Newco Common Stock to be received by Shareholder in the Merger.
The parties further agree that, since Shareholder's execution and delivery of
this Agreement is a condition precedent to consummation of the Merger, this
Agreement is therefore beneficial to all of the parties hereto.
6. This Agreement covers various subjects, including (i) protection
of Omega's and Online's goodwill, trade secrets and confidential information,
(ii) non-solicitation of Omega and Online's customers, licensees, independent
contractors, consultants and employees, and (iii) restrictions on Shareholder's
ability to compete with Omega or Online or participate in competitive businesses
for a reasonable period of time on and after the Effective Time of this
Agreement. Each of these subjects is equally important, and Shareholder agrees
to faithfully and fully observe all covenants and agreements set forth below
relating to each subject addressed, without exception.
7. Shareholder has been informed and understands, that (a) Omega
and Online have developed and own, and after the Merger will continue to
collaboratively develop and own, at substantial effort and expense, products,
services and valuable trade secrets and other valuable confidential business
information, all of which have enhanced and are expected to continue to enhance
the value of the Newco Common Stock, Omega Common Stock and Online Common Stock;
(b) Omega and Online have developed and/or will be developing important and
substantial relationships with customers, licensees, independent contractors,
consultants, strategic partners, vendors and/or other third parties having
dealings or contractual relationships with Omega and Online many of which have
been known to or will be made known to Shareholder in connection with
Shareholder's business relationships with Omega and Online. In light of all of
the foregoing, in order to protect Omega's and Online's legitimate business
interests, including their goodwill and trade secrets, and in consideration for,
and in order to induce, consummation of the Merger, Shareholder has agreed to
make, for the separate benefit of and enforcement by each of Omega, Online and
Newco, the reasonable covenants and agreements set forth below, all of which
shall be effective as of and after the Effective Time.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:
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B. COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
1. NON-DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
(a) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Shareholder acknowledges that
Shareholder has been informed by Omega and Online that it is Omega's and
Online's policy to maintain as secret and confidential all information and
materials (whether or not stamped or marked "Confidential" or bearing some other
indicia of confidentiality) relating to (i) the financial conditions, operations
and business interests, objectives, plans and strategies of Omega and Online,
(ii) the systems, know-how, records, products, product plans, product designs,
marketing plans, specifications, drawings, product development, services, cost
information, inventions, computer programs, technology, marketing and sales
strategies, techniques and/or programs, trading and investment strategies and
analyses, formulae, methods, methodologies, manuals, proprietary software,
customer lists and other trade secrets from time to time acquired, sold,
developed, maintained and/or used by Omega and Online, (iii) the nature and
terms of Omega's and Online's relationships with their respective customers,
licensees, subscribers, suppliers, lenders, underwriters, stock exchanges,
clearing brokers, vendors, consultants, independent contractors, strategic
partners, other third parties having dealings or contractual relationships with
Omega and Online, attorneys, accountants and employees, and (iv) any proposed
public or private offering of Omega and Online (all such information and
materials are collectively referred to as "Confidential Information").
(b) PROHIBITED DISCLOSURE. Shareholder agrees that Shareholder will
not directly or indirectly at any time (including after the date on which
Shareholder's employment, if any, with Online or Omega (as the case may be)
terminates and including after Shareholder's ownership of any Newco Common Stock
or Online Common Stock or Omega Common Stock (as the case may be) terminates)
divulge, or disclose for any purpose (except as specifically authorized by both
Omega and Online) to any persons, firms, corporations or other entities
(collectively, "Third Parties"), or use or cause or authorize any Third Parties
to use, any such Confidential Information, except in the capacity of an employee
of Omega or Online pursuant to any duties in the course and scope of his
employment. "Confidential Information" does not include information that, at the
time of disclosure, is part of the public domain or is generally known in
Omega's and/or Online's industry without the fault or carelessness of
Shareholder. If Shareholder is required by order of a court or other
governmental or self-regulatory authority to disclose any Confidential
Information, Shareholder will immediately notify Omega and Online so that Omega
and Online may attempt to obtain an appropriate protective order, and, in all
events, Shareholder will only disclose the portion of the Confidential
Information required by such order to be disclosed.
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2. COVENANT-NOT-TO-COMPETE
(a) COVENANT-NOT-TO-COMPETE. Shareholder covenants and agrees that
for a period of ____(1)____ (__) years after the Effective Time (the "Effective
Period"), Shareholder will not, directly or indirectly (as defined below), in
any capacity (i) market, sell, provide or license, or be involved in the
marketing, sale, provision or licensing of, any Financial Market Data Software
Products or Software-Related Services (as defined below) to any person or entity
who is or was a distributor, retailer, reseller, licensee, subscriber, client or
customer of Omega or Online at any time during the two (2) years preceding the
Effective Time through the conclusion of the Effective Period, or (ii) market,
sell, provide or license, or be involved in the marketing, sale, provision or
licensing of, any Financial Market Data Software Products or Software-Related
Services (as defined below), in whole or in part via electronic commerce,
telemarketing, telecommunication, cable, the Web or the Internet, anywhere
within the world. "Financial Market Data Software Products or Software- Related
Services" means (A) software products and/or services (including, without
limitation, all browser based and other Internet related applications) which (1)
collect or deliver financial market data (including but not limited to stocks,
bonds, options, futures, commodities, other securities and/or fundamental
company data), and/or (2) supply financial data to support online investing and
trading, including in the form of financial Web sites and communities, and
Internet-delivered streaming or other market data services, and/or (3) are or
can be used to make, review or devise investment analyses or strategies,
including, without limitation, charting, technical analysis and/or trading or
investment strategy design, testing and/or automation and/or (B) securities
brokerage services (including, without limitation, in connection with revenue
sharing arrangements) and trading and other investment services and services and
products ancillary to any such securities brokerage, trading or other investment
services; provided, however, that "Financial Market Data Software Products or
Software-Related Services" shall not include the activities specifically set
forth on Exhibit A annexed hereto. Shareholder acknowledges that the businesses
of Omega and Online are international in scope, that, due to the electronic and
telephonic nature of Omega's and Online's businesses and the nature of their
licensees, subscribers and customers, one could effectively compete with such
businesses from nearly anywhere in the world, and that, therefore, such
geographical area of restriction is reasonable in the circumstances to protect
Omega's and Online's respective goodwill, trade secrets and other legitimate
business interests.
(b) DEFINITION OF "DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY." For purposes of Section
2(a), "directly or indirectly" means to engage or participate in any venture,
enterprise, activity or business which is materially involved (as hereinafter
defined) in the marketing, selling, licensing or provision of Financial Market
Data Software Products or Software-Related Services, passively (except for
passive
- --------
(1) Four (4) years for each of Andrew A. Allen, Farshid Tafazzoli and
Benedict S. Gambino, William R. Cruz and Ralph L. Cruz and two (2) years for
each of E. Steven zum Tobel and Derek J. Hernquist.
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investments in publicly-traded companies) or actively, as a sole proprietor,
owner, director, officer, shareholder, partner, member, consultant, independent
contractor, advisor, participant, employee or agent, or in any other manner. For
purposes hereof, "materially involved" means that the venture, enterprise,
activity or business directly or indirectly or together with any of its
subsidiaries, affiliates or partners or through strategic alliances or any
specific division or business unit of any such venture, enterprise, activity or
business either (i) derives in any year 5% or more of its gross revenue from
Financial Market Data Software Products or Software-Related Services or (ii)
incurs in any year 5% or more of its expenses (operating and/or capital) in
connection with or as a result of Financial Market Data Software Products or
Software-Related Services.
3. NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS.
(a) NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS. Shareholder
acknowledges that Omega and Online each devotes substantial time, effort and
expense to the recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion of
talented individuals for positions of significant responsibility with Omega and
Online. Shareholder further acknowledges that it would be unfair to use
Shareholder's familiarity with Omega's and Online's businesses, employees,
independent contractors and consultants, to participate, directly or indirectly,
in any activities designed to cause any of Omega's and Online's businesses,
employees, independent contractors or consultants to cease performing services
for either or both of Omega and Online. Accordingly, Shareholder covenants and
agrees that for the later to occur of (i) one year following the date of
termination of the direct and/or indirect beneficial ownership by Shareholder of
all Newco Common Stock or (ii) two (2) years after the Effective Time,
Shareholder will not, directly or indirectly, solicit the services of or
recruit, whether on Shareholder's own behalf or on behalf of others, any of the
following types of employees, independent contractors or consultants of Omega
and Online: (i) executives, managers, supervisors or department directors; (ii)
technicians, engineers, programmers, designers, developers or information, Web
or Internet services workers (whether employees, independent contractors or
consultants); (iii) product, project or task managers or supervisors (whether
employees, independent contractors or consultants); (iv) sales, marketing,
public or customer relations personnel or consultants; (v) brokers, traders,
securities associates or salespersons or other similar types of personnel; (vi)
financial or accounting services personnel or consultants; (vii) legal
personnel; (viii) customer support personnel or consultants; or (ix) human
resources personnel; provided, however, that such provision does not apply to
Shareholder's attorneys, accountants, investment bankers and other professional
advisors. Shareholder agrees not to persuade or cause, or attempt to persuade or
cause, any such employee, independent contractor or consultant to leave Omega's
or Online's employ or cease performing services for Omega or Online.
(b) DAMAGES. Shareholder acknowledges that breach or violation of
this covenant would cause substantial damages to Omega and/or Online.
Shareholder agrees that, in the event of a breach or violation of this covenant
of non-solicitation, Shareholder will be liable to compensate Omega and/or
Online for all damages, including, without limitation, consequential damages,
not limited to lost profits, expenses incurred to replace the employee or
business relationship, finder's fees, sign-on bonuses and compensation,
remuneration and/or benefits premiums paid to employees,
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independent contractors and consultants to secure their services to replace the
lost relationship(s). The payment of such damages shall not limit, impair or
diminish Omega's and/or Online's right to seek and obtain (x) any appropriate
equitable relief (including but not limited to specific performance, temporary
restraining order and temporary and permanent injunction), (y) other monetary
and other relief, at law or in equity, for other causes of action which may have
resulted from Shareholder's breach or violation (such as intentional
interference with contractual or business relations in the event an employee is
solicited by Shareholder for a competitive position and such employee is subject
to a covenant-not-to-compete), or (z) monetary and other relief, at law or in
equity, from or against persons or entities other than Shareholder.
4. REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF SECTIONS 1, 2 AND 3
In addition to the remedies referred to in Section 3(b), above
Shareholder agrees that, if Shareholder breaches or violates any of
Shareholder's covenants or agreements in Section 1, 2 and 3 hereof, Omega and
Online shall be entitled to an accounting and repayment of any and all profits,
compensation, commissions, payments and benefits which Shareholder directly or
indirectly has realized and realizes as a result of, or in connection with, any
such violation or breach. In addition, in the event of a breach or violation or
threatened or imminent breach or violation of any provisions of Section 1, 2 and
3 hereof, Omega and Online shall be entitled to a temporary and permanent
injunction or any other appropriate decree of specific performance or equitable
relief (without, unless otherwise required by statute, being required to post
bond or other security) from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to
prevent, prohibit or restrain any such breach or violation or threatened breach
or violation by Shareholder. Omega and Online shall be entitled to such
injunctive or other equitable relief in addition to any ascertainable damages
which are suffered. It is understood that resort by Omega and Online (or either
of them) to such injunctive or other equitable relief shall not be deemed to
waive or to limit in any respect any other rights or remedies which Omega and
Online (or either of them) may have with respect to such breach or violation.
5. REASONABLENESS OF RESTRICTIONS
(a) REASONABLENESS. Shareholder acknowledges that any breach or
violation of Section 1, 2 or 3 hereof will likely cause irreparable injury and
damage to each of Omega and Online and that it would be very difficult or
impossible to measure all of the damages resulting from any such breach or
violation. Shareholder further acknowledges that Shareholder has carefully read
and considered the provisions of Sections 1, 2 and 3 hereof and, having done so,
agrees that the restrictions and remedies set forth in such Sections (including
the time period, geographical limits and scope of activity restricted) are fair
and reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary for the
protection of the trade secrets, goodwill and other legitimate business
interests of each of Omega and Online.
(b) SEVERABILITY. Shareholder understands and intends that each
provision and restriction agreed to by Shareholder in Sections 1, 2 and 3 hereof
be construed as separate and divisible from every other provision and
restriction. In the event that any one of the provisions of,
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or restrictions in, Sections 1, 2 and/or 3 hereof shall be held to be invalid or
unenforceable, and is not reformed by a court of competent jurisdiction (which a
court, in lieu of striking a provision entirely, is urged by the parties to do),
the remaining provisions and restrictions shall continue to be valid and
enforceable as though the invalid or unenforceable provision or restriction had
not been included. In the event that any provision relating to time period,
geographical limits or scope of activity restricted (collectively,
"Limitations") shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed
the maximum or permissible Limitations such court deems reasonable and
enforceable, said Limitations shall be deemed to become and shall then be the
maximum Limitations which such court deems reasonable and enforceable.
(c) DEFINITIONS. For purposes of Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this
Agreement, the terms Omega and Online (a "Company") each includes such Company
(and its successor by merger or otherwise) and any parent corporations of such
Company (or its successors) and all direct and indirect subsidiaries of such
Company (or its successor) and its parent corporation.
6. LAW APPLICABLE
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed pursuant to the
laws of the State of Florida. In the event of a dispute, exclusive venue shall
lie in the state or federal courts for Miami-Dade County, Florida.
7. SUCCESSION
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their
respective heirs, administrators, legal representatives, successors (by merger
or otherwise) and assigns and shall be binding upon the parties and their
respective heirs, administrators, legal representatives and successors.
8. NO WAIVER
A waiver of any breach or violation of any term, provision or
covenant contained in this Agreement shall not be deemed a continuing waiver or
a waiver of any future or past breach or violation. No oral waiver shall be
effective or binding.
9. SEPARATE AGREEMENT; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES
This Agreement and the covenants and agreements set forth herein
are separate and independent of any Employment Agreement that has been executed
and delivered by Shareholder in connection with the Merger or any other
agreement previously executed by Shareholder with either Omega or Online and the
covenants and agreements set forth therein. Accordingly, no pursuit or
enforcement of any particular right, power, privilege or remedy under this
Agreement or under such Agreement Regarding Employment (as the case may be) at
any particular time or from time to time, singly or together with others, or any
partial exercise thereof, shall operate as a waiver of, or
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preclude the exercise or availability of, any right, power, privilege or remedy
of Omega or Online under this Agreement, such Employment Agreement or any other
agreement (as the case may be).
10. ATTORNEY'S FEES
In the event any party hereto prevails in any dispute arising from
or relating to this Agreement, the nonprevailing party will be liable for the
prevailing party's reasonable and necessary attorneys' and paralegals' fees and
expenses and court costs before and at trial, in any other proceedings and at
all appellate levels.
11. TERMINATION OF MERGER AGREEMENT.
In the event that the Merger is not consummated and the Merger
Agreement is terminated before the Effective Time, this Agreement shall be null
and void and of no further force or effect.
[SIGNATURES ARE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this
Non-Competition and Non- Disclosure Agreement as of the day and year first above
written to be effective as of and after the Effective Time.
SHAREHOLDER:
Signature:___________________________
Print Name:__________________________
ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC.
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM CORP.
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
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EXHIBIT A
PERMITTED ACTIVITIES
See attached list of activities.
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NON-COMPETE EXCEPTIONS SCHEDULE
Securities trading for registered or unregistered hedge funds or as a firm
trader for a broker-dealer.
Auditing or other strictly accounting services for broker-dealers that provide
no Internet-based services; Teacher of securities related subjects at a college
or university; Owner of, and/or Instructor at, schools or seminars preparing
students for securities licensing tests; Financial planning/estate planning
services (including without limitation acting as a Registered Investment
Advisor); Investment banking services for any industry or market segment.
Owning or operating a software development or similar company unrelated to the
securities industry or to securities or financial market analysis.
EXHIBIT 2.2
OMEGA
SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
This SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of January 19, 2000 between Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida corporation
("Newco"), onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Online"), and the
undersigned shareholder ("Shareholder") of Omega Research, Inc., a Florida
corporation ("Company"). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement described
below.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization
dated as of January 19, 2000 by and among Company, Online, Newco, Omega
Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"), and Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation, a Florida
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Newco, (such agreement as it may be
amended is hereinafter referred to as the "Merger Agreement"), Newco has agreed,
among other things, to acquire by merger (collectively, the "Merger"): (i) the
outstanding securities of Company pursuant to a statutory merger of Omega Merger
Sub with and into Company in which each outstanding share of common stock of
Company (the "Company Capital Stock") will be converted into shares of common
stock of Newco (the "Newco Common Stock") at the exchange rate set forth in the
Merger Agreement; and (ii) the outstanding securities of Online pursuant to a
statutory merger of Online Merger Sub with and into Online in which each
outstanding share of common stock of Online will be converted into shares of
Newco Common Stock at the exchange rate set forth in the Merger Agreement
(collectively, the "Transaction");
WHEREAS, in order to induce Newco and Online to enter into the Merger
Agreement and consummate the Transaction, each shareholder of Company who is an
affiliate of Company has agreed to execute and deliver to Newco and Online a
Shareholder Agreement upon the terms set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Shareholder is the registered and beneficial owner of such
number of shares of the outstanding Company Capital Stock as is indicated on the
signature page of this Agreement (the "Shares").
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. AGREEMENT TO RETAIN SHARES.
1.1 TRANSFER AND ENCUMBRANCE.
(a) Shareholder is the beneficial owner of the
Shares and, except as otherwise set forth on the signature page hereto, (A) has
held each such Shares at all times since the date such Shares were originally
issued by Company, and (B) did not acquire any shares of Company Capital Stock
in contemplation of the Merger. The Shares constitute Shareholder's entire
interest in the outstanding capital stock and voting securities of Company. No
other person or entity not a signatory to this Agreement has a beneficial
interest in or a right to acquire the Shares or any portion
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of the Shares. The Shares are, and will be at all times up until the Expiration
Date, free and clear of any liens, claims, options, charges or other
encumbrances. Shareholder's principal residence or place of business is
accurately set forth on the signature page hereto.
(b) Shareholder agrees not to transfer (except
as may be specifically required by court order or by operation of law, in which
case any such transferee shall agree to be bound hereby), sell, exchange, pledge
or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Shares or any New Shares (as defined
below), or to make any offer or agreement relating thereto, at any time prior to
the Expiration Date (as defined hereinafter). As used herein, the term
"Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time or
(ii) termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.
1.2 NEW SHARES. Shareholder agrees that any shares of capital
stock or voting securities of Company that Shareholder purchases or with respect
to which Shareholder otherwise acquires beneficial ownership after the date of
this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Date ("New Shares") shall be subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they
constituted Shares.
2. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES. Prior to the Expiration Date, at every
meeting of the stockholders of Company at which any of the following is
considered or voted upon, and at every adjournment thereof, and on every action
or approval by written resolution of the stockholders of Company with respect to
any of the following, Shareholder shall vote the Shares and any New Shares in
favor of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and of the Transaction
and all matters related thereto.
3. IRREVOCABLE PROXY. Shareholder hereby agrees to timely deliver to
Online a duly executed proxy in the form attached hereto as Annex A (the
"Proxy"), such Proxy to cover the Shares and all New Shares in respect of which
Shareholder is entitled to vote at each meeting of the stockholders of Company
(including, without limitation, each written consent in lieu of a meeting)
related to the Merger Agreement and the Transaction. In the event that
Shareholder is unable to provide any such Proxy in a timely manner, Shareholder
hereby grants to certain designees of Online a power of attorney to execute and
deliver such Proxy for and on behalf of Shareholder, such power of attorney,
which being coupled with an interest, shall survive any death, disability,
bankruptcy, or any other such impediment of Shareholder. Upon the execution of
this Agreement by Shareholder, Shareholder hereby revokes any and all prior
proxies or powers of attorney given by Shareholder with respect to the Shares
related to the Merger Agreement and the Transaction and agrees not to grant any
subsequent proxies or powers of attorney with respect to the Shares related to
the Merger Agreement and the Transaction until after the Expiration Date.
4. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF SHAREHOLDER.
Shareholder hereby represents, warrants and covenants to Newco and Online as
follows:
(a) Shareholder has full power and legal
capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
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Shareholder and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Shareholder,
enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Shareholder does not, and the performance of
Shareholder's obligations hereunder will not, result in any breach of or
constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both
would become a default) under, or give to others any right to terminate, amend,
accelerate or cancel any right or obligation under, or result in the creation of
any lien of encumbrance on any Shares or New Shares pursuant to, any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or
other instrument or obligation to which Shareholder is a party or by which
Shareholder or the Shares or New Shares are or will be bound or affected.
(b) Until the Expiration Date, Shareholder will
not (and will use Shareholder's reasonable best efforts to cause Company, its
affiliates, officers, directors and employees and any investment banker,
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by Shareholder, Company or any of
the same, not to), except to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 5.4 of
the Merger Agreement: (i) initiate or solicit, directly or indirectly, any
proposal, plan or offer to acquire all or any material part of the business or
properties or capital stock of Company, whether by merger, purchase of assets,
tender offer or otherwise, or to liquidate Company or otherwise distribute to
the stockholders of Company all or any substantial part of the business,
properties or capital stock of Company (each, an "Acquisition Proposal"); (ii)
initiate, directly or indirectly, any contact with any person in an effort to or
with a view towards soliciting any Acquisition Proposal; (iii) furnish
information concerning Company's business, properties or assets to any
corporation, partnership, person or other entity or group (other than a party to
the Merger Agreement, or any associate, agent or representative of a party to
the Merger Agreement) under any circumstances that could reasonably be expected
to relate to an actual or potential Acquisition Proposal; or (iv) negotiate or
enter into discussions or an agreement, directly or indirectly, with any entity
or group with respect of any potential Acquisition Proposal. In the event
Shareholder shall receive or become aware of any Acquisition Proposal subsequent
to the date hereof, Shareholder shall promptly inform Online as to any such
matter and the details thereof to the extent possible without breaching any
other agreement to which such Shareholder is a party or violating Shareholder's
fiduciary duties.
(c) Shareholder understands and agrees that if
Shareholder attempts to transfer or vote or provide any other person with the
authority to vote any of the Shares with respect to any vote or other
stockholder action related to the Merger Agreement and the Transaction other
than in compliance with this Agreement, Company shall not, and Shareholder
hereby unconditionally and irrevocably instructs Company to not, permit any such
transfer on its books and records, issue a new certificate representing any of
the Shares or record such vote unless and until Shareholder shall have complied
with the terms of this Agreement. Shareholder further understands and agrees
that the Company may elect to not permit the transfer of shares of the Company
Capital Stock or the issuance of a new certificate representing such shares
unless and until such a transfer can be made without adversely affecting the
ability of Newco and/or each of the Surviving Corporations to account for the
business combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling of interests.
5. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. Shareholder hereby covenants and agrees to
execute and deliver any additional documents necessary or desirable, in the
reasonable opinion of Newco or Online, to carry out the purpose and intent of
this Agreement.
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6. CONSENT AND WAIVER. Shareholder hereby gives any consents or waivers
that are reasonably required for the consummation of the Merger Agreement and
the Transaction under the terms of any agreement to which Shareholder is a party
or pursuant to any rights Shareholder may have.
7. TERMINATION. This Agreement and the Proxy delivered in connection
herewith shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect as of the
Expiration Date.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY. Shareholder agrees (i) to hold any information
regarding this Agreement and the Transaction in strict confidence, and (ii) not
to divulge any such information to any third person, except to the extent any of
the same is hereafter publicly disclosed by Online and Company.
9. FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, to the extent Shareholder is or becomes during the term hereof a
director or officer of the Company, Shareholder is not making (nor shall be
deemed to have made) any agreement or understanding herein in his or her
capacity as such director or officer. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Shareholder is executing this Agreement solely in his, her or its
capacity as the record and/or beneficial owner, as applicable, of the Shares and
nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by Shareholder (or a
designee of such Shareholder) in his or her capacity as an officer or director
of the Company in exercising his or her or the Company's or the Company's Board
of Director's rights in connection with the Merger Agreement or otherwise.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
10.1 SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, then the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
10.2 BINDING EFFECT AND ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and all of
the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, but,
except as otherwise specifically provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any
of the rights, interests or obligations of the parties hereto may be assigned by
either of the parties without the prior written consent of the other. This
Agreement is intended to bind Shareholder solely as a security holder of Company
only with respect to the specific matters set forth herein.
10.3 AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. This Agreement may not be
modified, amended, altered or supplemented except by the execution and delivery
of a written agreement executed by the parties hereto.
10.4 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE, INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The parties
hereto acknowledge that Newco and Online will be irreparably harmed and that
there will be no adequate remedy at law for a violation of any of the covenants
or agreements of Shareholder set forth herein. Therefore, it is
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agreed that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available to Newco or
Online upon any such violation, Newco shall have the right to enforce such
covenants and agreements by specific performance, injunctive relief or by any
other means available to Newco or Online at law or in equity and Shareholder
hereby waives any and all defenses which could exist in its favor in connection
with such enforcement and waives any requirement for the security or posting of
any bond in connection with such enforcement.
10.5 NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands or other
communications that are required or may be given pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered by hand or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or
sent by facsimile transmission, as follows:
(a) If to Shareholder, at the address set forth
below Shareholder's signature at the end hereof.
(b) if to Newco, to:
c/o Omega Research, Inc.
8700 West Flagler Street, Suite 250
Miami, Florida 33174
Attention: Salomon Sredni, President
Facsimile No.: (305) 485-7019
Telephone No.: (305) 485-7000
with a copy to:
Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod LLP
2500 First Union Financial Center
Miami, Florida 33131-2336
Attention: Alan D. Axelrod, Esq.
Facsimile No. (305) 374-7593
Telephone No. (305)374-7580
(c) if to Online, to:
onlinetradinginc.com corp.
2700 N. Military Trail
Suite 200
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
Attention: Steven zum Tobel, President
Facsimile No.: (561) 955-0606
Telephone No.: (561) 995-1010
5
<PAGE>
with a copy to:
Broad & Cassel
201 South Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 3000
Miami, Florida 33131
Attention: Leonard H. Bloom, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (305) 995-6428
Telephone No.: (305) 373-9400,
or to such other address as any party hereto may designate for itself by notice
given as herein provided.
10.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by,
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
Florida without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
10.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Proxy contain
the entire understanding of the parties in respect of the subject matter hereof,
and supersede all prior negotiations and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.
10.8 COUNTERPART. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
10.9 EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The section headings herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of
this Agreement.
10.10 PREVAILING PARTY LEGAL FEES. The prevailing party in any
litigation or other proceeding brought to enforce the terms of this Agreement
shall be entitled to receive from the nonprevailing party its reasonable
attorneys' and paralegals' fees and costs before and at trial and at all
appellate and other tribunal levels, in addition to its other remedies hereunder
or at law or in equity.
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO OMEGA SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT ON NEXT PAGE]
6
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Omega Shareholder
Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC. SHAREHOLDER
By:
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Name: (Signature)
-------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
(Signature of Spouse)
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM CORP.
-----------------------------------------
By: (Print Name of Shareholder)
---------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
(Print Street Address)
-----------------------------------------
(Print City, State and Zip)
-----------------------------------------
(Print Telephone Number)
-----------------------------------------
(Social Security or Tax I.D. Number)
Total Number of Shares of Company Capital Stock owned on the date hereof-
Common Stock:
----------------------------------
Principal Residence or Place of Business:
--------------------------------------
SIGNATURE PAGE TO OMEGA SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
7
<PAGE>
ANNEX A
IRREVOCABLE PROXY
TO VOTE STOCK OF
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
The undersigned shareholder of Omega Research, Inc., a Florida
corporation ("Company"), hereby irrevocably (to the full extent permitted by the
Florida Business Corporation Act) appoints Andrew A. Allen and E. Steven zum
Tobel (collectively, "Proxies") and each of them, or any other designee of such
Proxies, as the sole and exclusive attorneys and proxies of the undersigned,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote and exercise all
voting and related rights (to the full extent that the undersigned is entitled
to do so) with respect to all of the shares of capital stock of Company that now
are or hereafter may be beneficially owned by the undersigned, and any and all
other shares or securities of Company issued or issuable in respect thereof on
or after the date hereof (collectively, the "Shares") in accordance with the
terms of this Irrevocable Proxy. The Shares beneficially owned by the
undersigned shareholder of Company as of the date of this Irrevocable Proxy are
listed on the final page of this Irrevocable Proxy. Upon the undersigned's
execution of this Irrevocable Proxy, any and all prior proxies given by the
undersigned with respect to any Shares relating to the subject matter of this
Irrevocable Proxy are hereby revoked and the undersigned agrees not to grant any
subsequent proxies with respect to the Shares relating to the subject matter of
this Irrevocable Proxy until after the Expiration Date (as defined below).
This Irrevocable Proxy is irrevocable (to the extent provided in the
Florida Business Corporation Act), is coupled with an interest, including, but
not limited to, that certain Affiliate Agreement dated as of even date herewith
by and among Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Newco"), and
the undersigned, and is granted in consideration of Newco and
onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Online"), entering into that
certain Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the "Merger Agreement")
by and among Newco, Online, Omega Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation
and wholly owned subsidiary of Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"), Onlinetrading
Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Newco ("Online Merger Sub"), and Company, which Merger Agreement provides for
the merger of Omega Merger Sub with and into Company and Online Merger Sub with
and into Online (collectively, the "Merger"). As used herein, the term
"Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time as
the Merger shall become effective in accordance with the terms and provisions of
the Merger Agreement, and (ii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement.
The Proxies named above, and each of them acting singularly or
together, are hereby authorized and empowered by the undersigned, at any time
prior to the Expiration Date, to act as the undersigned's attorney and proxy to
vote the Shares, and to exercise all voting and other rights of the undersigned
with respect to the Shares (including, without limitation, the power to execute
and deliver written consents pursuant to the Florida Business Corporation Act),
at every annual, special
8
<PAGE>
or adjourned meeting of the stockholders of Company and in every written consent
in lieu of such meeting in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement and of any and all of the transactions and matters contemplated
thereby.
The Proxies named above may not exercise this Irrevocable Proxy on any
other matter except as provided above. The undersigned shareholder may vote the
Shares on all other matters.
All authority herein conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of
the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding
upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the
undersigned.
This Irrevocable Proxy is coupled with an interest as aforesaid and is
irrevocable.
Dated: ______________, 2000
-----------------------------------------
(Signature of Shareholder)
-----------------------------------------
(Print Name of Shareholder)
Shares beneficially owned:
__________ shares of Company Common Stock
9
EXHIBIT 2.3
ONLINE
SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
This SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of January 19, 2000 between Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida corporation
("Newco"), Omega Research, Inc., a Florida Corporation ("Omega") and the
undersigned shareholder ("Shareholder") of onlinetradinginc.com corp., a
Florida corporation ("Company"). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Merger
Agreement described below.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization
dated as of January 19, 2000 by and among Company, Omega, Newco, Omega
Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Newco and Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and
wholly owned subsidiary of Newco (such agreement as it may be amended is
hereinafter referred to as the "Merger Agreement"), Newco has agreed, among
other things, to acquire by merger (collectively, the "Merger"): (i) the
outstanding securities of Company pursuant to a statutory merger of Online
Merger Sub with and into Company in which each outstanding share of common stock
of Company (the "Company Capital Stock") will be converted into shares of common
stock of Newco (the "Newco Common Stock") at the exchange rate set forth in the
Merger Agreement and (ii) the outstanding securities of Omega pursuant to a
statutory merger of Omega Merger Sub with and into Omega in which each
outstanding share of common stock of Omega will be converted into shares of
Newco Common Stock at the exchange rate set forth in the Merger Agreement
(collectively, the "Transaction");
WHEREAS, in order to induce Newco and Omega to enter into the Merger
Agreement and consummate the Transaction, each shareholder of Company who is an
affiliate of Company has agreed to execute and deliver to Newco and Omega a
Shareholder Agreement upon the terms set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Shareholder is the registered and beneficial owner of such
number of shares of the outstanding Company Capital Stock as is indicated on the
signature page of this Agreement (the "Shares").
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. AGREEMENT TO RETAIN SHARES.
1.1 TRANSFER AND ENCUMBRANCE.
(a) Shareholder is the beneficial owner of the
Shares and, except as otherwise set forth on the signature page hereto, (A) has
held each such Shares at all times since the date such Shares were originally
issued by Company, and (B) did not acquire any shares of Company Capital Stock
in contemplation of the Merger. The Shares constitute Shareholder's entire
interest in the outstanding capital stock and voting securities of Company. No
other person or entity not a signatory to this Agreement has a beneficial
interest in or a right to acquire the Shares or any portion
<PAGE>
of the Shares. The Shares are, and will be at all times up until the Expiration
Date, free and clear of any liens, claims, options, charges or other
encumbrances. Shareholder's principal residence or place of business is
accurately set forth on the signature page hereto.
(b) Shareholder agrees not to transfer (except
as may be specifically required by court order or by operation of law, in which
case any such transferee shall agree to be bound hereby), sell, exchange, pledge
or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Shares or any New Shares (as defined
below), or to make any offer or agreement relating thereto, at any time prior to
the Expiration Date (as defined hereinafter) except as disclosed on Schedule I
attached hereto. As used herein, the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the
earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time or (ii) termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.
1.2 NEW SHARES. Shareholder agrees that any shares of capital
stock or voting securities of Company that Shareholder purchases or with respect
to which Shareholder otherwise acquires beneficial ownership after the date of
this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Date ("New Shares") shall be subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they
constituted Shares.
2. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES. Prior to the Expiration Date, at every
meeting of the stockholders of Company at which any of the following is
considered or voted upon, and at every adjournment thereof, and on every action
or approval by written resolution of the stockholders of Company with respect to
any of the following, Shareholder shall vote the Shares and any New Shares in
favor of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and of the Transaction
and all matters related thereto.
3. IRREVOCABLE PROXY. Shareholder hereby agrees to timely deliver to
Omega a duly executed proxy in the form attached hereto as Annex A (the
"Proxy"), such Proxy to cover the Shares and all New Shares in respect of which
Shareholder is entitled to vote at each meeting of the stockholders of Company
(including, without limitation, each written consent in lieu of a meeting)
related to the Merger Agreement and the Transaction. In the event that
Shareholder is unable to provide any such Proxy in a timely manner, Shareholder
hereby grants to certain designees of Omega a power of attorney to execute and
deliver such Proxy for and on behalf of Shareholder, such power of attorney,
which being coupled with an interest, shall survive any death, disability,
bankruptcy, or any other such impediment of Shareholder. Upon the execution of
this Agreement by Shareholder, Shareholder hereby revokes any and all prior
proxies or powers of attorney given by Shareholder with respect to the Shares
related to the Merger Agreement and the Transaction and agrees not to grant any
subsequent proxies or powers of attorney with respect to the Shares related to
the Merger Agreement and the Transaction until after the Expiration Date.
4. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF SHAREHOLDER.
Shareholder hereby represents, warrants and covenants to Newco and Omega as
follows:
(a) Shareholder has full power and legal
capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
2
<PAGE>
Shareholder and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Shareholder,
enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Shareholder does not, and the performance of
Shareholder's obligations hereunder will not, result in any breach of or
constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both
would become a default) under, or give to others any right to terminate, amend,
accelerate or cancel any right or obligation under, or result in the creation of
any lien of encumbrance on any Shares or New Shares pursuant to, any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or
other instrument or obligation to which Shareholder is a party or by which
Shareholder or the Shares or New Shares are or will be bound or affected.
(b) Until the Expiration Date, Shareholder will
not (and will use Shareholder's reasonable best efforts to cause Company, its
affiliates, officers, directors and employees and any investment banker,
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by Shareholder, Company or any of
the same, not to), except to the extent otherwise permitted under Section 5.4 of
the Merger Agreement: (i) initiate or solicit, directly or indirectly, any
proposal, plan or offer to acquire all or any material part of the business or
properties or capital stock of Company, whether by merger, purchase of assets,
tender offer or otherwise, or to liquidate Company or otherwise distribute to
the stockholders of Company all or any substantial part of the business,
properties or capital stock of Company (each, an "Acquisition Proposal"); (ii)
initiate, directly or indirectly, any contact with any person in an effort to or
with a view towards soliciting any Acquisition Proposal; (iii) furnish
information concerning Company's business, properties or assets to any
corporation, partnership, person or other entity or group (other than a party to
the Merger Agreement, or any associate, agent or representative of a party to
the Merger Agreement) under any circumstances that could reasonably be expected
to relate to an actual or potential Acquisition Proposal; or (iv) negotiate or
enter into discussions or an agreement, directly or indirectly, with any entity
or group with respect of any potential Acquisition Proposal. In the event
Shareholder shall receive or become aware of any Acquisition Proposal subsequent
to the date hereof, Shareholder shall promptly inform Omega as to any such
matter and the details thereof to the extent possible without breaching any
other agreement to which such Shareholder is a party or violating Shareholder's
fiduciary duties.
(c) Shareholder understands and agrees that if
Shareholder attempts to transfer or vote or provide any other person with the
authority to vote any of the Shares with respect to any vote or other
stockholder action related to the Merger Agreement and the Transaction other
than in compliance with this Agreement, Company shall not, and Shareholder
hereby unconditionally and irrevocably instructs Company to not, permit any such
transfer on its books and records, issue a new certificate representing any of
the Shares or record such vote unless and until Shareholder shall have complied
with the terms of this Agreement except in the event of and in connection with a
foreclosure of the lien described on Schedule I. Shareholder further understands
and agrees that the Company may elect to not permit the transfer of shares of
Company Capital Stock or the issuance of a new certificate representing such
shares unless and until such a transfer can be made without adversely affecting
the ability of Newco and/or each of the Surviving Corporations to account for
the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling of interests.
3
<PAGE>
5. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. Shareholder hereby covenants and agrees to
execute and deliver any additional documents necessary or desirable, in the
reasonable opinion of Newco or Omega, to carry out the purpose and intent of
this Agreement.
6. CONSENT AND WAIVER. Shareholder hereby gives any consents or waivers
that are reasonably required for the consummation of the Merger Agreement and
the Transaction under the terms of any agreement to which Shareholder is a party
or pursuant to any rights Shareholder may have.
7. TERMINATION. This Agreement and the Proxy delivered in connection
herewith shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect as of the
Expiration Date.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY. Shareholder agrees (i) to hold any information
regarding this Agreement and the Transaction in strict confidence, and (ii) not
to divulge any such information to any third person, except to the extent any of
the same is hereafter publicly disclosed by Omega and Company.
9. FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, to the extent Shareholder is or becomes during the term hereof a
director or officer of the Company, Shareholder is not making (nor shall be
deemed to have made) any agreement or understanding herein in his or her
capacity as such director or officer. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Shareholder is executing this Agreement solely in his, her or its
capacity as the record and/or beneficial owner, as applicable, of the Shares and
nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by Shareholder (or a
designee of such Shareholder) in his or her capacity as an officer or director
of the Company in exercising his or her or the Company's or the Company's Board
of Director's rights in connection with the Merger Agreement or otherwise.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
10.1 SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, then the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
10.2 BINDING EFFECT AND ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and all of
the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, but,
except as otherwise specifically provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any
of the rights, interests or obligations of the parties hereto may be assigned by
either of the parties without the prior written consent of the other. This
Agreement is intended to bind Shareholder solely as a security holder of Company
only with respect to the specific matters set forth herein.
10.3 AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. This Agreement may not be
modified, amended, altered or supplemented except by the execution and delivery
of a written agreement executed by the parties hereto.
4
<PAGE>
10.4 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE, INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The parties
hereto acknowledge that Newco and Omega will be irreparably harmed and that
there will be no adequate remedy at law for a violation of any of the covenants
or agreements of Shareholder set forth herein. Therefore, it is agreed that, in
addition to any other remedies that may be available to Newco or Omega upon any
such violation, Newco shall have the right to enforce such covenants and
agreements by specific performance, injunctive relief or by any other means
available to Newco or Omega at law or in equity and Shareholder hereby waives
any and all defenses which could exist in its favor in connection with such
enforcement and waives any requirement for the security or posting of any bond
in connection with such enforcement.
10.5 NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands or other
communications that are required or may be given pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered by hand or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or
sent by facsimile transmission, as follows:
(a) If to Shareholder, at the address set forth
below Shareholder's signature at the end hereof.
(b) if to Newco or Omega, to:
c/o Omega Research, Inc.
8700 West Flagler Street, Suite 250
Miami, Florida 33174
Attention: Salomon Sredni, President
Facsimile No.: (305) 485-7019
Telephone No.: (305) 485-7000
with a copy to:
Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod LLP
2500 First Union Financial Center
Miami, Florida 33131-2336
Attention: Alan D. Axelrod, Esq.
Facsimile No. (305) 374-7593
Telephone No. (305)374-7580,
or to such other address as any party hereto may designate for itself by notice
given as herein provided.
10.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by,
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
Florida without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
5
<PAGE>
10.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Proxy contain
the entire understanding of the parties in respect of the subject matter hereof,
and supersede all prior negotiations and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.
10.8 COUNTERPART. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
10.9 EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The section headings herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
10.10 PREVAILING PARTY LEGAL FEES. The prevailing party in any
litigation or other proceeding brought to enforce the terms of this Agreement
shall be entitled to receive from the nonprevailing party its reasonable
attorneys' and paralegals' fees and costs before and at trial and at all
appellate and other tribunal levels, in addition to its other remedies hereunder
or at law or in equity.
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ONLINE SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT ON NEXT PAGE]
6
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Online Shareholder
Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
ONLINE TRADING GROUP, INC. SHAREHOLDER
By:
---------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Name: (Signature)
--------------------------
Title:
-------------------------
-------------------------------------------
(Signature of Spouse)
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
-------------------------------------------
By: (Print Name of Shareholder)
----------------------------
Name:
--------------------------
Title:
-------------------------
-------------------------------------------
(Print Street Address)
-------------------------------------------
(Print City, State and Zip)
-------------------------------------------
(Print Telephone Number)
-------------------------------------------
(Social Security or Tax I.D. Number)
Total Number of Shares of Company Capital Stock owned on the date hereof-
Common Stock:
--------------------
Principal Residence or Place of Business:
--------------------------------------
SIGNATURE PAGE TO ONLINE SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
7
<PAGE>
ANNEX A
IRREVOCABLE PROXY
TO VOTE STOCK OF
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM
The undersigned shareholder of onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida
corporation ("Company"), hereby irrevocably (to the full extent permitted by the
Florida Business Corporation Act) appoints William R. Cruz and Ralph L. Cruz
(collectively, "Proxies") and each of them, or any other designee of such
Proxies, as the sole and exclusive attorneys and proxies of the undersigned,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote and exercise all
voting and related rights (to the full extent that the undersigned is entitled
to do so) with respect to all of the shares of capital stock of Company that now
are or hereafter may be beneficially owned by the undersigned, and any and all
other shares or securities of Company issued or issuable in respect thereof on
or after the date hereof (collectively, the "Shares") in accordance with the
terms of this Irrevocable Proxy. The Shares beneficially owned by the
undersigned shareholder of Company as of the date of this Irrevocable Proxy are
listed on the final page of this Irrevocable Proxy. Upon the undersigned's
execution of this Irrevocable Proxy, any and all prior proxies given by the
undersigned with respect to any Shares relating to the subject matter of this
Irrevocable Proxy are hereby revoked and the undersigned agrees not to grant any
subsequent proxies with respect to the Shares relating to the subject matter of
this Irrevocable Proxy until after the Expiration Date (as defined below).
This Irrevocable Proxy is irrevocable (to the extent provided in the
Florida Business Corporation Act), is coupled with an interest, including, but
not limited to, that certain Affiliate Agreement dated as of even date herewith
by and among Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Newco"), and
the undersigned, and is granted in consideration of Newco and Omega Research,
Inc., a Florida corporation ("Omega"), entering into that certain Agreement and
Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the "Merger Agreement") by and among Newco,
Omega, Omega Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"), Onlinetrading Acquisition Corporation,
a Florida corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Newco ("Online Merger
Sub"), and Company, which Merger Agreement provides for the merger of Omega
Merger Sub with and into Omega and Online Merger Sub with and into Company
(collectively, the "Merger"). As used herein, the term "Expiration Date" shall
mean the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time as the Merger shall become
effective in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement,
and (ii) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement.
The Proxies named above, and each of them acting singularly or
together, are hereby authorized and empowered by the undersigned, at any time
prior to the Expiration Date, to act as the undersigned's attorney and proxy to
vote the Shares, and to exercise all voting and other rights of the undersigned
with respect to the Shares (including, without limitation, the power to execute
and deliver written consents pursuant to the Florida Business Corporation Act),
at every annual, special
8
<PAGE>
or adjourned meeting of the stockholders of Company and in every written consent
in lieu of such meeting in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement and of any and all of the transactions and matters contemplated
thereby.
The Proxies named above may not exercise this Irrevocable Proxy on any
other matter except as provided above. The undersigned shareholder may vote the
Shares on all other matters.
All authority herein conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of
the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding
upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the
undersigned.
This Irrevocable Proxy is coupled with an interest as aforesaid and is
irrevocable.
Dated: _______________, 2000
-------------------------------------------
(Signature of Shareholder)
-------------------------------------------
(Print Name of Shareholder)
-------------------------------------------
Shares beneficially owned:
__________ shares of Company Common Stock
9
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
LIEN
10
EXHIBIT 2.4
OMEGA
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of January
19, 2000, by and between, Omega Research, Inc., a Florida corporation
("Company"), and onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Online").
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings set
forth in the Merger Agreement referred to below.
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Newco"), Company,
Online, Omega Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"), and Onlinetrading Acquisition
Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Newco ("Online
Merger Sub"), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization, dated as of the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant
to which, among other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
thereof, Online Merger Sub will be merged with and into Online with Online
continuing as the surviving corporation, and Omega Merger Sub will be merged
with and into Company with Company continuing as the surviving corporation
(collectively, the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Online's willingness
to enter into the Merger Agreement, Online has required that Company agree, and
Company has agreed, to grant to Online an option to purchase certain newly
issued shares of Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Company
Common Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the
mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTION. Company hereby grants to Online an
irrevocable option (the "Company Option") to purchase up to 4,892,573 shares
(the "Company Shares") of Company Common Stock in the manner set forth below at
a price (the "Exercise Price") of $6.4422 per Company Share, payable in cash.
2. EXERCISE OF OPTION. The Company Option may be exercised by
Online, in whole or in part at any time or from time to time prior to its
termination when provided herein and on and after the occurrence of any of the
events which obligate Company to pay Online the amount set forth in Section 8.2
or Section 8.3 (c) of the Merger Agreement. In the event Online wishes to
exercise the Company Option, Online shall deliver to Company a written notice
(an "Exercise Notice") specifying the total number of Company Shares it wishes
to purchase; PROVIDED that, if prior notification to or approval of the
Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and/or any other regulatory
or antitrust agency is required in connection with such purchase, Online shall
promptly file the required notice or application for approval, shall promptly
notify Company of such filing, and shall expeditiously process the same and the
period of time that otherwise would run
<PAGE>
pursuant to this sentence shall run instead from the date on which any required
notification periods have expired or been terminated or such approvals have been
obtained and any requisite waiting period or periods shall have passed. Each
closing of a purchase of Company Shares (an "Option Closing") shall occur at a
place, on a date and at a time designated by Online in an Exercise Notice
delivered at least two business days prior to the date of the Option Closing.
The Company Option shall terminate upon (unless exercised pursuant to the terms
hereof prior to) the earlier of: (i) the Effective Time; (ii) the termination of
the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 thereof (other than a termination
pursuant to Section 8.1(f) thereof or resulting from fraud or the wilful breach
or failure to perform of Company of any of its representations, warranties or
covenants set forth in the Merger Agreement or this Agreement (a "Wilful
Breach")); and (iii) one hundred eighty (180) days following any termination of
the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(f) thereof or resulting from a
Wilful Breach by Company (or if, at the expiration of such one hundred eighty
(180) day period, the Company Option cannot be exercised by reason of any
applicable judgment, decree, order, law or regulation, 10 business days after
such impediment to exercise shall have been removed or shall have become final
and not subject to appeal).
3. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING. The obligation of Company to issue
the Company Shares to Online hereunder is subject to the conditions that (a) all
consents, approvals, orders or authorizations of, or registrations, declarations
or filings with, any Governmental Entity, if any, required in connection with
the issuance of the Company Shares hereunder shall have been obtained or made,
as the case may be; and (b) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other
order by any court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting or otherwise
restraining such issuance shall be in effect.
4. CLOSING. At each Option Closing, (a) Company will deliver
to Online a certificate or certificates in definitive form representing the
number of Company Shares designated by Online in its Exercise Notice, such
certificate or certificates to be registered in the name of Online or its
designee and to bear the legend set forth in Section 10, and (b) Online will
deliver to Company the aggregate Exercise Price for the Company Shares so
designated by wire transfer of immediately available funds or certified check or
bank check. At any Option Closing at which Online is exercising the Company
Option in part, Online shall present and surrender this Agreement to Company,
and Company shall deliver to Online an executed new agreement with the same
terms as this Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the remaining balance
of the shares of Company Common Stock purchasable hereunder.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY. Company
represents and warrants to Online that (a) Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Florida and has the corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to carry out its obligations hereunder, (b) the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Company and the consummation by Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Company
are necessary to authorize this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby, (c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Company, enforceable
against Company
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in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors
generally and general principles of equity, (d) Company has taken all action
necessary to authorize and reserve for issuance and to permit it to issue, upon
exercise of the Company Option, and at all times from the date hereof through
the expiration of the Company Option will have reserved, that number of unissued
Company Shares that are subject to the Company Option, all of which, upon their
issuance and delivery in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (e) upon delivery of the Company
Shares to Online upon the exercise of the Company Option, Online will acquire
the Company Shares free and clear of all liens, claims, charges, encumbrances
and security interests of any nature whatsoever except those imposed by Online,
(f) assuming that the consents approvals, authorizations, permits, filings and
notifications referred to in subsection (g) are obtained or made, as applicable,
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Company does not, and the
performance of this Agreement by Company will not, conflict with, or result in
any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation or the loss of a benefit under, or the creation of a lien,
pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on assets pursuant to (any such
conflict, violation, default, right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration, loss or creation, a "Violation"), (A) any provision of the
articles of incorporation or by-laws, each as amended, of Company or (B) any
provisions of any material mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, or license or (C) any
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to Company or its properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (B) and
(C) immediately above, for violations which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Company, and (g) except as
described in Section 2.3 of the Merger Agreement, the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Company does not, and the performance of this Agreement by
Company will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or
filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ONLINE. Online represents
and warrants to Company that (a) Online is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Florida and has the
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its
obligations hereunder, (b) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Online and the consummation by Online of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Online and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Online are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (c)
this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Online and constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of Online, enforceable against Online in accordance
with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy and
other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and general
principles of equity, (d) assuming that the consents, approvals, authorizations,
permits, filings and notifications referred to in subsection (e) are obtained or
made, as applicable, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Online does
not, and the performance of this Agreement by Online will not, result in any
Violation pursuant to, (A) any provision of the articles of incorporation or
by-laws, each as amended, of Online, (B) any provisions of any material
mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement,
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instrument, permit, concession, franchise, or license or (C) any judgment,
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Online
or its properties or assets, except in the case of each of clauses (B) and (C)
immediately, above, for Violations which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Online, (e) except as described in
Section 3.3 of the Merger Agreement and Section 2 of this Agreement, and except
as may be required under the Exchange Act, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Online does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Online
will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing
with or notification to, any Governmental Entity and (f) any Company Shares
acquired upon exercise of the Company Option will not be, and the Company Option
is not being, acquired by Online with a view to the public distribution thereof
and Online will not sell or otherwise dispose of such shares in violation of
applicable law or this Agreement.
7. PUT.
(a) EXERCISE. At any time during which the Company
Option is exercisable hereunder (the "Repurchase Period"), upon demand by
Online, Online shall have the right to sell to Company (or any successor entity
thereof) and Company (or such successor entity) shall be obligated to repurchase
from Online (the "Put"), all or any portion of the Company Option, to the extent
not previously exercised, at the price set forth in subparagraph (i) below,
and/or all or any portion of the Company Shares purchased by Online pursuant
thereto, at a price set forth in subparagraph (ii) below:
(i) the difference between the
"Market/Tender Offer Price" for shares of Company Common Stock as of the date
(the "Notice Date") notice of exercise of the Put is given to the other party
(defined as the greater of (A) the price per share offered as of the Notice Date
pursuant to any tender or exchange offer or other Takeover Proposal which was
made prior to the Notice Date and not terminated or withdrawn as of the Notice
Date (the "Tender Price") or (B) the 10 day trading average of the last sale
price of a share of Company Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq National
Market over the period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the
Notice Date (the "Market Price")), and the Exercise Price, multiplied by the
number of Company Shares purchasable pursuant to the Company Option (or portion
thereof with respect to which Online is exercising its rights under this Section
7), but only if the Market/Tender Offer Price is greater than the Exercise
Price;
(ii) the Exercise Price paid by Online for
the Company Shares acquired pursuant to the Company Option plus the difference
between the Market/Tender Offer Price and the Exercise Price, but only if the
Market/Tender Offer Price is greater than the Exercise Price, multiplied by the
number of Company Shares so purchased;
(b) PAYMENT AND REDELIVERY OF COMPANY OPTION OR
SHARES. In the event Online exercises its rights under this Section 7, Company
shall, within 10 business days of the Notice Date, pay the required amount (the
"Repurchase Price") to Online in immediately available funds and Online shall
surrender to Company the Company Option or the certificates evidencing the
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Company Shares purchased by Online pursuant thereto, and Online shall represent
and warrant that it owns such shares and that such shares are then free and
clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances of any kind or nature
whatsoever, other than any of the same created by Company or its affiliates.
(c) PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS. To the extent that Company
is prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of
administrative policy, from repurchasing the Company Option and /or Company
Shares in full, Company shall immediately so notify Online and thereafter
deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to Online the portion of
the Repurchase Price that it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within
five business days after the date on which Company is no longer so prohibited;
PROVIDED that, if Company at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase
pursuant to Section 7(a) is prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as
a consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to Online the Repurchase
Price in full (and Company hereby undertakes to use its reasonable best efforts
to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required
notices as promptly as practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase),
Online may revoke its notice of the Put whether in whole or to the extent of the
prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Company shall promptly (1) deliver
to Online that portion of the Repurchase Price that Company is not prohibited
from delivering and (2) deliver to Online as appropriate, (A) a new Agreement
evidencing the right of Online to purchase that number of shares of Company
Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Company Common
Stock for which the surrendered Agreement was exercisable at the time of
delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to Online
and the denominator of which is the Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to Online, a
certificate for the Company Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.
8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Following any exercise of the Company Option,
Online may by written notice (the "Registration Notice") to Company request
Company to register under the Securities Act all or any part of the shares of
Company Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Agreement, including any voting
securities issued by way of dividend, distribution or otherwise in respect
thereof (the "Restricted Shares"), beneficially owned by Online (the
"Registrable Securities") in order to permit the sale or other distribution of
such Registrable Securities, including pursuant to a firm commitment
underwritten public offering; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such Registration
Notice must relate to a number of shares equal to at least 3% of the outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock and that any rights to require registration
hereunder shall terminate with respect to any Shares that may be sold in any
90-day period pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The Registration
Notice shall include a certificate executed by Online and its proposed managing
underwriter, which underwriter shall be an investment banking firm of nationally
recognized standing (the "Manager"), stating that Manager in good faith believes
that, based on the then prevailing market conditions, it will be able to sell
the Registrable Securities at a per share price equal to at least 85% of the
Fair Market Value of such shares. For purposes of this Section 8, the term "Fair
Market Value" shall mean the 10 day trading average of the last sale price of a
share of
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Company's Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq National Market over the period
ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the Registration
Notice.
(b) Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to effect, as promptly as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act
of the unpurchased Registrable Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) Online
shall not be entitled to more than two effective registration statements
hereunder and (ii) Company will not be required to file any such registration
statement during any period of time (not to exceed 60 days after such request in
the case of clause (A) below or 90 days in the case of clauses (B) and (C)
below) when (A) Company is in possession of material non-public information
which it reasonably believes would be detrimental to be disclosed at such time
and, based on consultation with counsel to Company, such information would have
to be disclosed if a registration statement were filed at that time; (B) Company
is required under the Securities Act to include audited financial statements for
any period in such registration statement and such financial statements are not
yet available for inclusion in such registration statement; or (C) Company
determines, in its reasonable good faith, judgment, that such registration would
interfere with any financing, acquisition or other material transaction
involving Company or any of its affiliates. If consummation of the sale of any
Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration hereunder does not occur
within 180 days after the filing with the SEC of the initial registration
statement, then such registration shall not be taken into account as an
effective registration for purposes of clause (i) above. Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause any Registrable Securities registered
pursuant to this Section 8 to be qualified for sale under the securities or Blue
Sky laws of such jurisdictions as Online may reasonably request and shall
continue such registration or qualification in effect in such jurisdiction;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Company shall not be required to qualify to do business
in, or consent to general service of process in, any jurisdiction by reason of
this provision.
(c) The registration rights set forth in this Section
8 are subject to the condition that Online shall provide Company with such
information with respect to Online's Registrable Securities, the plans for the
distribution thereof, and such other information with respect to Online as, in
the reasonable judgment of counsel for Company, is necessary to enable Company
to include in such registration statement all material facts required to be
disclosed with respect to a registration thereunder.
(d) If Company securities of the same type as the
Registrable Securities are then authorized for quotation or trading or listing
on the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq or any other
securities exchange or automated quotations system, Company, upon the request of
Online, shall promptly file an application, if required, to authorize for
quotation, trading or listing the shares of Registrable Securities on such
exchange or system and will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain approval,
if required, of such quotation, trading or listing as soon as practicable.
(e) A registration effected under this Section 8
shall be effected at Company's expense, except for underwriting discounts and
commissions and fees and expenses of
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counsel to Online, and Company shall provide to the underwriters such
documentation (including certificates, opinions of counsel and "comfort" letters
from auditors) as are customary in connection with underwritten public offerings
as such underwriters may reasonably require. In connection with any such
registration, the parties agree (i) to indemnify each other and the underwriters
in the customary manner and (ii) to enter into an underwriting agreement in form
and substance customary for transactions of the type contemplated hereby with
the Manager and the other underwriters participating in such offering.
9. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.
(a) In the event of any change in Company Common
Stock by reason of stock dividends, splits, mergers (other than the Merger),
recapitalizations, combinations, exchange of shares or the like, the type and
number of shares or securities subject to the Company Option, and the Exercise
Price per share, shall be adjusted appropriately, and proper provision shall be
made in the agreements governing such transaction so that Online shall receive,
upon exercise of the Company Option, the number and class of shares or other
securities or property that Online would have received in respect of the Company
Common Stock if the Company Option had been exercised immediately prior to such
event or the record date therefor, as applicable.
(b) In the event that Company shall enter in an
agreement: (i) to consolidate with or merge into any person, other than in
connection with the Merger or into Online or any of its subsidiaries, and shall
not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger;
(ii) to permit any person, other than in connection with the Merger or Online or
one of its subsidiaries, to merge into Company and Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the
then-outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of Company or any other person or cash
or any other property or the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock
immediately prior to such merger shall after such merger represent less than 50%
of the outstanding shares and share equivalents of the merged company; or (iii)
to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any
person, other than Online or any of its subsidiaries, then, and in each such
case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provision so
that upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein, Online shall receive for each Company Share with
respect to which the Company Option has not been exercised an amount of
consideration in the form of and equal to the per share amount of consideration
that would be received by the holder of one share of Company Common Stock less
the Exercise Price (and, in the event of an election or similar arrangement with
respect to the type of consideration to be received by the holders of Company
Common Stock, subject to the foregoing, proper provision shall be made so that
the holder of the Company Option would have the same election or similar rights
as would the holder of the number of shares of Company Common Stock for which
the Company Option is then exercisable).
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10. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS. Each certificate representing shares
of Company Common Stock issued to Online hereunder shall, to the extent
applicable, include a legend in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY BE REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN
EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO
SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK OPTION
AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY 19, 2000, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM
THE ISSUER.
11. BINDING EFFECT; NO ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Neither this Agreement nor the rights or the
obligations of either party hereto are assignable, except by operation of law,
or with the written consent of the other party. Nothing contained in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than
the parties hereto and their respective permitted assigns any rights or remedies
of any nature whatsoever by reason of this Agreement. Any Restricted Shares sold
by Online in compliance with the provisions of Section 8 shall, upon
consummation of such sale, be free of the restrictions imposed with respect to
such shares by this Agreement, unless and until Online shall repurchase or
otherwise become the beneficial owner of such shares, and any transferee of such
shares shall not be entitled to the rights of Online. Certificates representing
shares sold in a registered public offering pursuant to Section 8 shall not be
required to bear the legend set forth in Section 10.
12. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties recognize and agree that
if for any reason any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached, immediate and
irreparable harm or injury would be caused for which money damages would not be
an adequate remedy. Accordingly, each party agrees that, in addition to other
remedies, the other party shall be entitled to an injunction restraining any
violation or threatened violation of the provisions of this Agreement. In the
event that any action should be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of
this Agreement, neither party will allege, and each party hereby waives the
defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement
(including the Online Disclosure Schedule, the Omega Disclosure Schedule and the
Newco Disclosure Schedule relating thereto) constitute the entire agreement
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all
other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.
14. FURTHER ASSURANCE. Each party will execute and deliver all
such further documents and instruments and take all such further action as may
be necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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15. VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
the other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect. In the event any court or other competent authority holds any provision
of this Agreement to be null, void or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith the execution and delivery of an amendment to this
Agreement in order, as nearly as possible, to effectuate, to the extent
permitted by law, the intent of the parties hereto with respect to such
provision. Each party agrees that, should any court or other competent authority
hold any provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be null, void or
unenforceable, or order any party to take any action inconsistent herewith, or
not take any action required herein, the other party shall not be entitled to
specific performance of such provision or part hereof or to any other remedy,
including but not limited to money damages, for breach hereof or of any other
provision of this Agreement or part hereof as the result of such holding or
order.
16. NOTICES. Any notice or communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, telecopied or
sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to be
given, dated and received when so delivered personally, telecopied or, if
mailed, five business days after the date of mailing to the following address or
telecopy number, or to such other address or addresses as such person may
subsequently designate by notice given hereunder.
(a) if to Online, to:
onlinetradinginc.com corp.
2700 N. Military Trail
Suite 200
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
Attention: Steven zum Tobel, President
Facsimile No.: (561) 995-0606
Telephone No.: (561) 995-1010
with a copy to:
Broad & Cassel
201 South Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 3000
Miami, Florida 33131
Attention: Leonard Bloom, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (305) 995-6428
Telephone No.: (305) 373-9400
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(b) if to Company, to:
Omega Research, Inc.
8700 West Flagler Street, Suite 250
Miami, Florida 33174
Attention: Salomon Sredni, President
Facsimile No.: (305) 485-7019
Telephone No.: (305) 485-7000
with a copy to:
Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod LLP
2500 First Union Financial Center
Miami, Florida 33131-2336
Attention: Alan D. Axelrod, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (305) 374-7593
Telephone No.: (305) 374-7580
17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State without regard to
any applicable conflicts of law rules.
18. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings herein are
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
19. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which,
taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.
20. EXPENSES. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or
in the Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring
such expenses.
21. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties hereto and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived only by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto, or, in the
case of a waiver, by an instrument signed on behalf of the party waiving
compliance.
22. PREVAILING PARTY LEGAL FEES. The prevailing party in any
litigation or other proceeding brought to enforce the terms of this Agreement
shall be entitled to receive from the nonprevailing party its reasonable
attorneys' and paralegals' fees and costs before and at trial and at
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all appellate and other tribunal levels, in addition to its other remedies
hereunder or at law or in equity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the
date first above written.
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM CORP.
By: /s/ STEVEN ZUM TOBEL
---------------------------------
Name: STEVEN ZUM TOBEL
Title: PRESIDENT
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
By: /s/ RALPH L. CRUZ
------------------------------
Name: RALPH L. CRUZ
Title: CO-CEO
11
EXHIBIT 2.5
ONLINE
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of January
19, 2000, by and between, Omega Research, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Omega"),
and onlinetradinginc.com corp., a Florida corporation ("Company"). Capitalized
terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in
the Merger Agreement referred to below.
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Online Trading Group, Inc., a Florida corporation ("Newco"), Company,
Omega, Omega Acquisition Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of Newco ("Omega Merger Sub"), and Onlinetrading Acquisition
Corporation, a Florida corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Newco ("Online
Merger Sub"), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization, dated as of the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant
to which, among other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
thereof, Omega Merger Sub will be merged with and into Omega with Omega
continuing as the surviving corporation, and Online Merger Sub will be merged
with and into Company with Company continuing as the surviving corporation
(collectively, the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Omega's willingness
to enter into the Merger Agreement, Omega has required that Company agree, and
Company has agreed, to grant to Omega an option to purchase certain newly issued
shares of Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Company Common
Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the
mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTION. Company hereby grants to Omega an
irrevocable option (the "Company Option") to purchase up to 2,294,129 shares
(the "Company Shares") of Company Common Stock in the manner set forth below at
a price (the "Exercise Price") of $11.0625 per Company Share, payable in cash.
2. EXERCISE OF OPTION. The Company Option may be exercised by
Omega, in whole or in part at any time or from time to time prior to its
termination when provided herein and on or after the occurrence of any of the
events which obligate Company to pay Omega the amounts set forth in Section 8.2
or Section 8.3(b) of the Merger Agreement. In the event Omega wishes to exercise
the Company Option, Omega shall deliver to Company a written notice (an
"Exercise Notice") specifying the total number of Company Shares it wishes to
purchase; PROVIDED that, if prior notification to or approval of the Department
of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and/or any other regulatory or
antitrust agency is required in connection with such purchase, Omega shall
promptly file the required notice or application for approval, shall promptly
notify Company of such filing, and shall expeditiously process the same and the
period of time that otherwise would run
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pursuant to this sentence shall run instead from the date on which any required
notification periods have expired or been terminated or such approvals have been
obtained and any requisite waiting period or periods shall have passed. Each
closing of a purchase of Company Shares (an "Option Closing") shall occur at a
place, on a date and at a time designated by Omega in an Exercise Notice
delivered at least two business days prior to the date of the Option Closing.
The Company Option shall terminate upon (unless exercised pursuant to the terms
hereof prior to) the earlier of: (i) the Effective Time; (ii) the termination of
the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 thereof (other than a termination
pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or Section 8.1(g) thereof or resulting from fraud or
the wilful breach or failure to perform of Company of any of its
representations, warranties or covenants set forth in the Merger Agreement or
this Agreement (a "Wilful Breach")); (iii) one-hundred eighty (180) days
following any termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or
Section 8.1(g) thereof or resulting from a Wilful Breach (or if, at the
expiration of such one-hundred eighty (180) day period, the Company Option
cannot be exercised by reason of any applicable judgment, decree, order, law or
regulation, 10 business days after such impediment to exercise shall have been
removed or shall have become final and not subject to appeal).
3. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING. The obligation of Company to issue
the Company Shares to Omega hereunder is subject to the conditions that (a) all
consents, approvals, orders or authorizations of, or registrations, declarations
or filings with, any Governmental Entity, if any, required in connection with
the issuance of the Company Shares hereunder shall have been obtained or made,
as the case may be; and (b) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other
order by any court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting or otherwise
restraining such issuance shall be in effect.
4. CLOSING. At each Option Closing, (a) Company will deliver
to Omega a certificate or certificates in definitive form representing the
number of Company Shares designated by Omega in its Exercise Notice, such
certificate or certificates to be registered in the name of Omega or its
designee and to bear the legend set forth in Section 10, and (b) Omega will
deliver to Company the aggregate Exercise Price for the Company Shares so
designated by wire transfer of immediately available funds or certified check or
bank check. At any Option Closing at which Omega is exercising the Company
Option in part, Omega shall present and surrender this Agreement to Company, and
Company shall deliver to Omega an executed new agreement with the same terms as
this Agreement evidencing the right to purchase the remaining balance of the
shares of Company Common Stock purchasable hereunder.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY. Company
represents and warrants to Omega that (a) Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Florida and has the corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to carry out its obligations hereunder, (b) the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Company and the consummation by Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Company
are necessary to authorize this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby, (c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Company, enforceable
against Company
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in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors
generally and general principles of equity, (d) Company has taken all action
necessary to authorize and reserve for issuance and to permit it to issue, upon
exercise of the Company Option, and at all times from the date hereof through
the expiration of the Company Option will have reserved, that number of unissued
Company Shares that are subject to the Company Option, all of which, upon their
issuance and delivery in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (e) upon delivery of the Company
Shares to Omega upon the exercise of the Company Option, Omega will acquire the
Company Shares free and clear of all liens, claims, charges, encumbrances and
security interests of any nature whatsoever except those imposed by Omega, (f)
assuming that the consents approvals, authorizations, permits, filings and
notifications referred to in subsection (g) are obtained or made, as applicable,
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Company does not, and the
performance of this Agreement by Company will not, conflict with, or result in
any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation or the loss of a benefit under, or the creation of a lien,
pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on assets pursuant to (any such
conflict, violation, default, right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration, loss or creation, a "Violation"), (A) any provision of the
articles of incorporation or by-laws, each as amended, of Company or (B) any
provisions of any material mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, or license or (C) any
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to Company or its properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (B) and
(C) immediately above, for violations which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Company, and (g) except as
described in Section 3.3 of the Merger Agreement, the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Company does not, and the performance of this Agreement by
Company will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or
filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF OMEGA. Omega represents
and warrants to Company that (a) Omega is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Florida and has the
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its
obligations hereunder, (b) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Omega
and the consummation by Omega of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Omega and no
other corporate proceedings on the part of Omega are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (c) this Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Omega and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of Omega, enforceable against Omega in accordance with its terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws
affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and general principles
of equity, (d) assuming that the consents, approvals, authorizations, permits,
filings and notifications referred to in subsection (e) are obtained or made, as
applicable, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Omega does not, and
the performance of this Agreement by Omega will not, result in any Violation
pursuant to, (A) any provision of the articles of incorporation or by-laws, each
as amended, of Omega, (B) any provisions of any material mortgage, indenture,
lease, contract or other agreement,
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instrument, permit, concession, franchise, or license or (C) any judgment,
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Omega
or its properties or assets, except in the case of each of clauses (B) and (C)
immediately, above, for Violations which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Omega, (e) except as described in
Section 2.3 of the Merger Agreement and Section 2 of this Agreement, and except
as may be required under the Exchange Act, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Omega does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Omega will
not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with
or notification to, any Governmental Entity and (f) any Company Shares acquired
upon exercise of the Company Option will not be, and the Company Option is not
being, acquired by Omega with a view to the public distribution thereof and
Omega will not sell or otherwise dispose of such shares in violation of
applicable law or this Agreement.
7. PUT.
(a) EXERCISE. At any time during which the Company
Option is exercisable hereunder (the "Repurchase Period"), upon demand by Omega,
Omega shall have the right to sell to Company (or any successor entity thereof)
and Company (or such successor entity) shall be obligated to repurchase from
Omega (the "Put"), all or any portion of the Company Option, to the extent not
previously exercised, at the price set forth in subparagraph (i) below, and/or
all or any portion of the Company Shares purchased by Omega pursuant thereto, at
a price set forth in subparagraph (ii) below:
(i) the difference between the
"Market/Tender Offer Price" for shares of Company Common Stock as of the date
(the "Notice Date") notice of exercise of the Put is given to the other party
(defined as the greater of (A) the price per share offered as of the Notice Date
pursuant to any tender or exchange offer or other Takeover Proposal which was
made prior to the Notice Date and not terminated or withdrawn as of the Notice
Date (the "Tender Price") or (B) the 10 day trading average of the last sale
price of a share of Company Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq SmallCap
Market over the period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the
Notice Date (the "Market Price")), and the Exercise Price, multiplied by the
number of Company Shares purchasable pursuant to the Company Option (or portion
thereof with respect to which Omega is exercising its rights under this Section
7), but only if the Market/Tender Offer Price is greater than the Exercise
Price;
(ii) the Exercise Price paid by Omega for
the Company Shares acquired pursuant to the Company Option plus the difference
between the Market/Tender Offer Price and the Exercise Price, but only if the
Market/Tender Offer Price is greater than the Exercise Price, multiplied by the
number of Company Shares so purchased;
(b) PAYMENT AND REDELIVERY OF COMPANY OPTION OR
SHARES. In the event Omega exercises its rights under this Section 7, Company
shall, within 10 business days of the Notice Date, pay the required amount (the
"Repurchase Price") to Omega in immediately available funds and Omega shall
surrender to Company the Company Option or the certificates evidencing the
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Company Shares purchased by Omega pursuant thereto, and Omega shall represent
and warrant that it owns such shares and that such shares are then free and
clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances of any kind or nature
whatsoever, other than any of the same created by Company or its affiliates.
(c) PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS. To the extent that Company
is prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of
administrative policy, from repurchasing the Company Option and /or Company
Shares in full, Company shall immediately so notify Omega and thereafter deliver
or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to Omega the portion of the
Repurchase Price that it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five
business days after the date on which Company is no longer so prohibited;
PROVIDED that, if Company at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase
pursuant to Section 7(a) is prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as
a consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to Omega the Repurchase
Price in full (and Company hereby undertakes to use its reasonable best efforts
to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required
notices as promptly as practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase),
Omega may revoke its notice of the Put whether in whole or to the extent of the
prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Company shall promptly (1) deliver
to Omega that portion of the Repurchase Price that Company is not prohibited
from delivering and (2) deliver to Omega as appropriate, (A) a new Agreement
evidencing the right of Omega to purchase that number of shares of Company
Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Company Common
Stock for which the surrendered Agreement was exercisable at the time of
delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to Omega and
the denominator of which is the Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to Omega, a
certificate for the Company Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.
8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Following any exercise of the Company Option,
Omega may by written notice (the "Registration Notice") to Company request
Company to register under the Securities Act all or any part of the shares of
Company Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Agreement, including any voting
securities issued by way of dividend, distribution or otherwise in respect
thereof (the "Restricted Shares"), beneficially owned by Omega (the "Registrable
Securities") in order to permit the sale or other distribution of such
Registrable Securities, including pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten
public offering; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such Registration Notice must
relate to a number of shares equal to at least 3% of the outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock and that any rights to require registration hereunder shall
terminate with respect to any Shares that may be sold in any 90-day period
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The Registration Notice shall
include a certificate executed by Omega and its proposed managing underwriter,
which underwriter shall be an investment banking firm of nationally recognized
standing (the "Manager"), stating that Manager in good faith believes that,
based on the then prevailing market conditions, it will be able to sell the
Registrable Securities at a per share price equal to at least 85% of the Fair
Market Value of such shares. For purposes of this Section 8, the
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term "Fair Market Value" shall mean the 10 day trading average of the last sale
price of a share of Company's Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq SmallCap
Market over the period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date
of the Registration Notice.
(b) Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to effect, as promptly as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act
of the unpurchased Registrable Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) Omega
shall not be entitled to more than two effective registration statements
hereunder and (ii) Company will not be required to file any such registration
statement during any period of time (not to exceed 60 days after such request in
the case of clause (A) below or 90 days in the case of clauses (B) and (C)
below) when (A) Company is in possession of material non-public information
which it reasonably believes would be detrimental to be disclosed at such time
and, based on consultation with counsel to Company, such information would have
to be disclosed if a registration statement were filed at that time; (B) Company
is required under the Securities Act to include audited financial statements for
any period in such registration statement and such financial statements are not
yet available for inclusion in such registration statement; or (C) Company
determines, in its reasonable good faith judgment, that such registration would
interfere with any financing, acquisition or other material transaction
involving Company or any of its affiliates. If consummation of the sale of any
Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration hereunder does not occur
within 180 days after the filing with the SEC of the initial registration
statement, then such registration shall not be taken into account as an
effective registration for purposes of clause (i) above. Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause any Registrable Securities registered
pursuant to this Section 8 to be qualified for sale under the securities or Blue
Sky laws of such jurisdictions as Omega may reasonably request and shall
continue such registration or qualification in effect in such jurisdiction;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Company shall not be required to qualify to do business
in, or consent to general service of process in, any jurisdiction by reason of
this provision.
(c) The registration rights set forth in this Section
8 are subject to the condition that Omega shall provide Company with such
information with respect to Omega's Registrable Securities, the plans for the
distribution thereof, and such other information with respect to Omega as, in
the reasonable judgment of counsel for Company, is necessary to enable Company
to include in such registration statement all material facts required to be
disclosed with respect to a registration thereunder.
(d) If Company securities of the same type as the
Registrable Securities are then authorized for quotation or trading or listing
on the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq or any other
securities exchange or automated quotations system, Company, upon the request of
Omega, shall promptly file an application, if required, to authorize for
quotation, trading or listing the shares of Registrable Securities on such
exchange or system and will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain approval,
if required, of such quotation, trading or listing as soon as practicable.
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(e) A registration effected under this Section 8
shall be effected at Company's expense, except for underwriting discounts and
commissions and fees and expenses of counsel to Omega, and Company shall provide
to the underwriters such documentation (including certificates, opinions of
counsel and "comfort" letters from auditors) as are customary in connection with
underwritten public offerings as such underwriters may reasonably require. In
connection with any such registration, the parties agree (i) to indemnify each
other and the underwriters in the customary manner and (ii) to enter into an
underwriting agreement in form and substance customary for transactions of the
type contemplated hereby with the Manager and the other underwriters
participating in such offering.
9. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.
(a) In the event of any change in Company Common
Stock by reason of stock dividends, splits, mergers (other than the Merger),
recapitalizations, combinations, exchange of shares or the like, the type and
number of shares or securities subject to the Company Option, and the Exercise
Price per share, shall be adjusted appropriately, and proper provision shall be
made in the agreements governing such transaction so that Omega shall receive,
upon exercise of the Company Option, the number and class of shares or other
securities or property that Omega would have received in respect of the Company
Common Stock if the Company Option had been exercised immediately prior to such
event or the record date therefor, as applicable.
(b) In the event that Company shall enter in an
agreement: (i) to consolidate with or merge into any person, other than in
connection with the Merger or into Omega or any of its subsidiaries, and shall
not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger;
(ii) to permit any person, other than in connection with the Merger or Omega or
one of its subsidiaries, to merge into Company and Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the
then-outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of Company or any other person or cash
or any other property or the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock
immediately prior to such merger shall after such merger represent less than 50%
of the outstanding shares and share equivalents of the merged company; or (iii)
to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any
person, other than Omega or any of its subsidiaries, then, and in each such
case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provision so
that upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein, Omega shall receive for each Company Share with
respect to which the Company Option has not been exercised an amount of
consideration in the form of and equal to the per share amount of consideration
that would be received by the holder of one share of Company Common Stock less
the Exercise Price (and, in the event of an election or similar arrangement with
respect to the type of consideration to be received by the holders of Company
Common Stock, subject to the foregoing, proper provision shall be made so that
the holder of the Company Option would have the same election or similar rights
as would the holder of the number of shares of Company Common Stock for which
the Company Option is then exercisable).
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10. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS. Each certificate representing shares
of Company Common Stock issued to Omega hereunder shall, to the extent
applicable, include a legend in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY BE REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN
EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO
SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK OPTION
AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY 19, 2000, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM
THE ISSUER.
11. BINDING EFFECT; NO ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Neither this Agreement nor the rights or the
obligations of either party hereto are assignable, except by operation of law,
or with the written consent of the other party. Nothing contained in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than
the parties hereto and their respective permitted assigns any rights or remedies
of any nature whatsoever by reason of this Agreement. Any Restricted Shares sold
by Omega in compliance with the provisions of Section 8 shall, upon consummation
of such sale, be free of the restrictions imposed with respect to such shares by
this Agreement, unless and until Omega shall repurchase or otherwise become the
beneficial owner of such shares, and any transferee of such shares shall not be
entitled to the rights of Omega. Certificates representing shares sold in a
registered public offering pursuant to Section 8 shall not be required to bear
the legend set forth in Section 10.
12. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties recognize and agree that
if for any reason any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached, immediate and
irreparable harm or injury would be caused for which money damages would not be
an adequate remedy. Accordingly, each party agrees that, in addition to other
remedies, the other party shall be entitled to an injunction restraining any
violation or threatened violation of the provisions of this Agreement. In the
event that any action should be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of
this Agreement, neither party will allege, and each party hereby waives the
defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law.
13 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement
(including the Online Disclosure Schedule, the Omega Disclosure Schedule and the
Newco Disclosure Schedule relating thereto) constitute the entire agreement
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all
other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.
14. FURTHER ASSURANCE. Each party will execute and deliver all
such further documents and instruments and take all such further action as may
be necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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15. VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
the other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect. In the event any court or other competent authority holds any provision
of this Agreement to be null, void or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith the execution and delivery of an amendment to this
Agreement in order, as nearly as possible, to effectuate, to the extent
permitted by law, the intent of the parties hereto with respect to such
provision. Each party agrees that, should any court or other competent authority
hold any provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be null, void or
unenforceable, or order any party to take any action inconsistent herewith, or
not take any action required herein, the other party shall not be entitled to
specific performance of such provision or part hereof or to any other remedy,
including but not limited to money damages, for breach hereof or of any other
provision of this Agreement or part hereof as the result of such holding or
order.
16. NOTICES. Any notice or communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, telecopied or
sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to be
given, dated and received when so delivered personally, telecopied or, if
mailed, five business days after the date of mailing to the following address or
telecopy number, or to such other address or addresses as such person may
subsequently designate by notice given hereunder.
(a) if to Omega, to:
Omega Research, Inc.
8700 West Flagler Street, Suite 250
Miami, Florida 33174
Attention: Salomon Sredni, President
Facsimile No.: (305) 485-7019
Telephone No.: (305) 485-7000
with a copy to:
Bilzin Sumberg Dunn Price & Axelrod LLP
2500 First Union Financial Center
200 South Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33131-2336
Attention: Alan D. Axelrod, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (305) 374-7593
Telephone No. (305) 374-7580
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(b) if to Company, to:
onlinetradinginc.com corp.
2700 N. Military Trail
Suite 200
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
Attention: Steven zum Tobel, President
Facsimile No.: (561) 995-0606
Telephone No.: (561) 995-1010
with a copy to:
Broad & Cassel
201 South Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 3000
Miami, Florida 33131
Attention: Leonard H. Bloom, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (305) 995-6428
Telephone No.: (305) 373-9400
17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State without regard to
any applicable conflicts of law rules.
18. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings herein are
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
19. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which,
taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.
20. EXPENSES. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or
in the Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring
such expenses.
21. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties hereto and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived only by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto, or, in the
case of a waiver, by an instrument signed on behalf of the party waiving
compliance.
22. PREVAILING PARTY LEGAL FEES. The prevailing party in any
litigation or other proceeding brought to enforce the terms of this Agreement
shall be entitled to receive from the
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nonprevailing party its reasonable attorneys' and paralegals' fees and costs
before and at trial and at all appellate and other tribunal levels, in addition
to its other remedies hereunder or at law or in equity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the
date first above written.
OMEGA RESEARCH, INC.
By: /s/ RALPH L. CRUZ
------------------------------
Name: RALPH L. CRUZ
Title: CO-CEO
ONLINETRADINGINC.COM CORP.
By: /s/ STEVEN ZUM TOBEL
------------------------------
Name: STEVEN ZUM TOBEL
Title: PRESIDENT
11
EXHIBIT 99.1
OMEGA RESEARCH AND ONLINETRADING.COM AGREE TO $300
MILLION MERGER TO CREATE WORLD'S FIRST INSTITUTIONAL
LEVEL TRADING PLATFORM FOR THE ACTIVE ONLINE TRADER
COMBINATION HERALDS NEXT PHASE OF ONLINE TRADING REVOLUTION
MIAMI/BOCA RATON, January 20, 2000 - Omega Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: OMGA), a
leading provider of real-time analytical tools for active traders, and
OnlineTradinginc.com Corp. (Nasdaq: LINE), a leading direct ECN access online
broker for active traders, today announced a definitive agreement to merge the
two companies in an all-stock combination valued at approximately $300 million.
The combination will create the world's first institutional level trading
platform for the active trader.
The strategic combination of these companies will create a seamlessly-integrated
trading platform that will for the first time, deliver a complete solution to
the active trader: powerful decision-support analytics, streaming real-time
market quotes and news, and direct ECN online order execution.
The agreement calls for Omega Research shareholders to receive one share of
common stock of a newly-formed holding company, Online Trading Group, Inc., for
each share of Omega Research currently held. The exchange ratio for
OnlineTrading.com shareholders will range from 1.3817 to 1.7172 shares of Online
Trading Group common stock for each share of OnlineTrading.com. The exchange
ratio for OnlineTrading.com decreases to the extent, if any, that the average
last sale price of Omega Research stock for the 10-day trading period ending on
the third trading day prior to the closing of the merger has appreciated. The
1.3817 exchange ratio is reached if the average last sale price of Omega
Research common stock has appreciated to $8.01 per share. At the 1.7172 exchange
ratio, Online Trading Group will be owned approximately 57% by Omega Research
shareholders and 43% by OnlineTrading.com shareholders. At the 1.3817 exchange
ratio, Online Trading Group will be owned 62% by Omega Research shareholders and
38% by OnlineTrading.com shareholders. Omega Research currently has 26.4 million
shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis, and OnlineTrading.com currently has
11.7 million shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis. The merger will be
accounted for as a pooling-of-interests and constitute a tax-free
reorganization.
Bill Cruz, co-chairman of the board and co-chief executive officer of Omega
Research, said, "This strategic merger will position us at the forefront of the
online trading revolution. The online brokerage business is expanding at an
accelerating pace, but what most observers lose sight of is that about 20
percent of online traders
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represent about 80 percent of online trading volume. By integrating Omega
Research's best-of-breed analytics technology with OnlineTrading.com's
state-of-the- art order execution, we believe that we will be offering a unique
and compelling solution to that 20 percent."
Steven zum Tobel, president of OnlineTrading.com, said, "With over 40,000 users
world-wide, Omega Research's TradeStation has clearly established itself as the
industry-leading decision support tool for the active trader. Its ability to
empower a user to design, historically test and automate custom trading
strategies is unmatched. Seamlessly integrating this powerful tool with
OnlineTrading.com's order-execution technology will, we believe, create a
complete solution that will appeal not only to the tens of thousands of
TradeStation users, but to all active online traders who are searching for a
better solution."
Closing of the transaction, which is currently expected to occur in May, is
subject to customary closing conditions, as well as NASD approval of a change of
control of OnlineTrading.com, a licensed broker-dealer, and the filing with the
SEC and effectiveness of a registration statement for Online Trading Group's
shares and the listing of such shares on The Nasdaq National Market. While the
merger is also subject to approval by shareholders of both companies,
managements of the two companies each represent more than the requisite majority
of shares required to approve the merger.
ONLINE TRADING GROUP MANAGEMENT
While the individual businesses will continue to be run by their pre-merger
management teams, the companies disclosed the proposed structure of Online
Trading Group, the new holding company formed to facilitate the merger. Omega
Research executives William R. Cruz and Ralph L. Cruz will serve as co-chairmen
and co-chief executive officers; Salomon Sredni has been named president and
chief operating officer; Marc J. Stone will be the company's vice president,
general counsel and secretary; Gregg F. Stewart will serve as chief financial
officer and vice president of finance and treasurer; and Janette Perez has been
named vice president of advertising and sales. OnlineTrading.com executives
Farshid Tafazzoli and Steven zum Tobel will be named vice presidents of Online
Trading Group. Andrew A. Allen, Chairman and CEO of OnlineTrading.com, has
announced that upon completion of the merger he has decided to leave the
management team to devote time to his family. The board of directors of Online
Trading Group will initially consist of eight members: Five members, including
two independent directors, designated by Omega Research; and three members,
including one independent director, designated by OnlineTrading.com.
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ABOUT ONLINETRADING.COM
OnlineTrading.com offers real-time direct ECN trading over the Internet and
through traditional brokers. The firm caters to a client base of active traders
composed of high net worth individuals and small to mid-size financial
institutions. It has approximately $750 million in customer assets. The firm's
customers can choose the exchange, market maker or ECN that executes their
trade. OnlineTrading.com's policy of not accepting payment for order flow helps
ensure that customers receive the best available execution. The company
maintains a clearing and custodial relationship with Bear Stearns.
ABOUT OMEGA RESEARCH
Founded in 1982, Omega Research, Inc. is a leading provider of branded real-time
trading tools for the active trader.
Omega Research's principal products currently include TradeStation/registered
trademark/2000i, OptionStation/registered trademark/2000i,
RadarScreen/trademark/2000i, and Omega Research ProSuite/trademark/2000i. Omega
Research's 2000i line of software products is compatible with the following
real-time Internet and broadcast data services: Data Broadcasting Corporation's
(Nasdaq: DBCC) eSignal (Internet), InSite (Internet), and BMI (Broadcast); Data
Transmission Network (Nasdaq: DTLN) DTN Real Time and DTNstant (Broadcast); and
Hyperfeed Technologies, Inc.'s (formerly PC Quote, Inc.) (Nasdaq: HYPR)
Hyperfeed/trademark/ (Internet and Broadcast). With the click of a mouse, the
2000i products can use the Internet to access the on-line brokerage services of
E*Trade (Nasdaq: EGRP) and Wall Street Access.
WindowOnWallStreet.com, the company's new Internet service, due to be launched
next week, offers traders award-winning tools as well as streaming real-time
charts, quotes, news, portfolio updates and more. For additional information
about the service, visit www.WindowOnWallstreet.com.
Later this year, Omega Research intends to launch TradeStation.com, which the
company believes will be the Internet's first decision support portal dedicated
to serving the needs of the active trader. TradeStation.com will combine all the
strategy development, back-testing and automation of TradeStation with the
streaming real- time delivery of market information and all other features and
functions incorporated in WindowOnWallStreet.com. Omega Research intends to
support the launch of TradeStation.com with aggressive advertising and use the
company's experienced direct sales force to market it to active traders.
The company plans to offer WindowOnWallStreet.com to third-party partners as a
business-to-business solution.
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CONFERENCE CALL:
Today at 11:00 AM EST, Omega Research will host an analyst conference call to
discuss the Company's strategic merger with OnlineTradinginc.com Corp. The
conference call will be broadcast live, on-line from the Company's "corporate"
page at www.omegaresearch.com and at www.streetfusion.com. A rebroadcast of the
call will be accessible at these websites from approximately 3:00 p.m., January
20, 2000, to approximately 11:45 p.m., January 25, 2000.
Visit the Omega Research web site at www.OmegaResearch.com.
THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS STATEMENTS THAT ARE FORWARD-LOOKING AND ARE MADE
PURSUANT TO THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION
REFORM ACT OF 1995. WHEN USED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE THE WORDS "BELIEVES,"
"PLANS," "ESTIMATES," "EXPECTS," "INTENDS," "ANTICIPATES," "MAY," "WILL,"
"SHOULD," "COULD," "UPCOMING" AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, TO THE EXTENT USED, ARE
INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. ALL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
ARE BASED LARGELY ON CURRENT EXPECTATIONS AND BELIEFS CONCERNING FUTURE EVENTS
THAT ARE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. ACTUAL RESULTS MAY
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE RESULTS SUGGESTED HEREIN. FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE OR
CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FAILURE TO
CONSUMMATE THE MERGER AT ALL (OR ON A TIMELY BASIS) DUE TO REGULATORY ISSUES OR
OTHER REASONS; DIFFICULTY INTEGRATING THE COMPANIES FROM TECHNOLOGY, OPERATIONAL
AND MARKETING ASPECTS; POTENTIAL NASD OR OTHER REGULATORY ISSUES ARISING FROM
THE MERGER, THE INTEGRATION OF THE TECHNOLOGIES, THE ANTICIPATED CO- MARKETING
OF THE COMPANIES' RESPECTIVE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, AND THE PLANNED RESIGNATION
OF ANDREW ALLEN UPON CLOSING OF THE MERGER; THE SUCCESS (AND COST) OF MARKETING
STRATEGIES; THE NEW COMPANY'S ABILITY TO EFFECTUATE AND FURTHER DEVELOP ITS
INTERNET STRATEGIES AND TO DEVELOP AND MARKET THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
DESCRIBED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE AT ALL OR ON A TIMELY BASIS (AND THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED THEREWITH); THEIR ACCEPTANCE IN THE MARKETPLACE; TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES OR ERRORS IN THE PRODUCTS AND/OR SERVICES; MARKET PRESSURE TO LOWER
SUBSTANTIALLY OR ELIMINATE PRICING ON THE TYPES OF OMEGA RESEARCH INTERNET
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES DESCRIBED AS A RESULT OF SUCH SERVICES BEING PROVIDED AT
LOW OR NO ADDITIONAL COSTS BY BROKERAGES, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER
FINANCIAL COMPANIES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, OR FOR OTHER MARKET REASONS; OMEGA
RESEARCH'S CUSTOMER AND ACTIVE PROSPECT BASE CONTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER
NUMBER OF INTERESTED SUBSCRIBERS THAN THE COMPANY ANTICIPATES;
ONLINETRADING.COM'S CLIENT BASE NOT GROWING TO THE EXTENT ANTICIPATED OR NOT
BEING DESIROUS OF OMEGA RESEARCH'S ANALYTICAL TOOLS TO THE EXTENT ANTICIPATED;
THE NEW COMPANY'S FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN ANY MERGER OR OTHER STRATEGIC
ALLIANCE; UNFAVORABLE CRITICAL REVIEWS; INCREASED COMPETITION (INCLUDING PRODUCT
AND PRICE COMPETITION); THE LEVEL OF MARKET DEMAND FOR REAL-TIME DECISION
SUPPORT TOOLS, REAL-TIME DATA AND/OR ON-LINE BROKERAGE SERVICES AND/OR WEBSITE
SERVICES GENERALLY; THE SCALABILITY, PERFORMANCE FAILURES AND RELIABILITY OF THE
FINANCIAL DATA CAST NETWORK; THE ENTRANCE OF NEW COMPETITORS INTO
4
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THE MARKET; OMEGA RESEARCH'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THIRD PARTIES
TO EXECUTE ITS BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS STRATEGY; TIMING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF
ADDITIONAL NEW PRODUCT AND SERVICE INTRODUCTIONS BY OMEGA RESEARCH AND
ONLINETRADING.COM AND THEIR COMPETITORS; GENERAL ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS,
INCLUDING CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND FINANCIAL MARKETS; THE ADEQUACY OF WORKING
CAPITAL, CASH FLOWS AND AVAILABLE FINANCING TO FUND THE BUSINESS MODELS
DESCRIBED; AND OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES INDICATED FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE
COMPANIES' FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AS WELL AS THEIR
OTHER PRESS RELEASES.
CONTACTS:
Omega Research, Inc.
Gregg F. Stewart, Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President of Finance & Treasurer
305-485-7004
OnlineTradinginc.com Corp.
Steven zum Tobel, President
561-995-1010
5
