<PAGE> 1
FORM 8-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 11, 1994
------------------
BORDEN, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey I-71 13-0511250
- ---------------------------- ------------ ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) file number) Identification No)
180 East Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 614-225-4000
------------
Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<PAGE> 2
Item 5. Other Events
------------
On September 11 and September 23, 1994, Borden, Inc. and The Bank of
New York, as Rights Agent, amended the Rights Agreement between Borden, Inc.
and the Rights Agent on the terms set forth in exhibits (c)(1) and (c)(2)
attached hereto. On September 23, 1994, Borden, Inc. entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger and a Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement on the
terms set forth in exhibits (c)(3) and (c)(4) attached hereto.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
---------------------------------
(c) Exhibits
(1). Third Amendment, dated as of September 11, 1994, to the Rights
Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1986, between Borden, Inc.
and The Bank of New York, as amended.
(2). Fourth Amendment, dated as of September 23, 1994, to the Rights
Agreement dated as of January 28, 1986, between Borden, Inc.
and The Bank of New York, as amended.
(3). Agreement and Plan of Merger among Whitehall Associates,
L.P., Borden Acquisition Corp. and Borden, Inc. dated as of
September 23, 1994.
(4). Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement among Whitehall
Associates, L.P., Borden Acquisition Corp., and Borden, Inc.
dated as of September 23, 1994.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
BORDEN, INC.
Date: September 26, 1994 /s/ James C. Van Meter
----------------------
James C. Van Meter
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial
Officer & Duly Authorized
Signing Officer)
<PAGE> 3
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
Exhibit
No.
-------
(c)(1). Third Amendment, dated as of September 11, 1994, to the Rights
Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1986, between Borden, Inc.
and The Bank of New York, as amended.
(c)(2). Fourth Amendment, dated as of September 23, 1994, to the Rights
Agreement dated as of January 28, 1986, between Borden, Inc.
and The Bank of New York, as amended.
(c)(3). Agreement and Plan of Merger among Whitehall Associates,
L.P., Borden Acquisition Corp. and Borden, Inc. dated as of
September 23, 1994.
(c)(4). Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement among Whitehall
Associates, L.P., Borden Acquisition Corp., and Borden, Inc.
dated as of September 23, 1994.
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit (c)(1)
CONFORMED COPY
THIRD AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
-----------------------------------
AMENDMENT, dated as of September 11, 1994, to the
Rights Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1986, as previously
amended on November 29, 1988 and May 22, 1991 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between Borden, Inc. a New Jersey Corporation (the
"Company"), and The Bank of New York (the "Rights Agent").
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the
meanings ascribed to such terms in the Rights Agreement.
The Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore exe-
cuted and entered into the Rights Agreement. Pursuant to Sec-
tion 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Company and the Rights
Agent may from time to time amend or supplement the Rights
Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 27
thereof. All acts and things necessary to make this Amendment
a valid agreement, enforceable according to its terms, have
been done and performed, and the execution and delivery of this
Amendment by the Company and the Rights Agent have been in all
respects authorized by the Company and the Rights Agent.
In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements set forth in the Rights Agreement and this Amend-
ment, the parties hereby agree to modify and amend the Rights
Agreement as follows:
<PAGE> 2
1. It is hereby confirmed and agreed that the
execution of the Letter Agreement (the "Letter Agreement"), to
be dated as of September 11, 1994 between the Company and
Whitehall Associates, L.P. does not cause Parent, or the
Purchaser (as such terms are defined in the Letter Agreement)
to be the "Beneficial Owner" (as defined in Section 1(c) of the
Rights Agreement) of any Common Shares of the Company.
2. Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby
modified and amended to add at the end thereof the following
paragraph:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, provided that
the Purchaser (as defined in the Letter Agreement),
together with its Affiliates and Associates, does
not after the date hereof and prior to the
consummation of the purchase by it of the Committed
Shares (as defined in the Letter Agreement) acquire
Beneficial Ownership of any shares of Common Stock
of the Company that are not Committed Shares, the
Purchaser (together with its Affiliates and
Associates) shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" by virtue of the consummation of the
purchase by the Purchaser (or an Affiliate thereof)
of the Committed Shares in the manner contemplated
by the Letter Agreement, regardless of the number
-2-
<PAGE> 3
of shares of Common Stock of the Company then
Beneficially Owned by Purchaser (together with its
Affiliates and Associates) provided, further, that
if the Purchaser (or its Affiliates or Associates)
shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of
the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by
reason of the acquisition of the Committed Shares
and shall, after such acquisition, become the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Stock of
the Company, then Purchaser (and/or such Affiliates
and Associates) shall be deemed to be an Acquiring
Person."
3. Section 3(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby
modified and amended to add at the end thereof the following
sentence:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, the execution and
delivery of the Letter Agreement and announcement
of the Offer and the Merger (as such terms are
defined in the Letter Agreement) shall not cause
the Distribution Date to occur."
4. The form of Right Certificate attached to the
Rights Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following
phrase after "May 22, 1991" in the fifth line of the last para-
graph on page 1 thereof:
-3-
<PAGE> 4
"and as of September 11, 1994"
5. This Amendment shall be governed by and con-
strued in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey
and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts
to be made and performed entirely within such State.
6. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instru-
ment.
7. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amend-
ment, and of the Rights Agreement, shall remain in full force
and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invali-
dated.
8. In all respects not inconsistent with the terms
and provisions of this Amendment, the Rights Agreement is here-
by ratified, adopted, approved and confirmed. In executing and
delivering this Amendment, the Rights Agent shall be entitled
to all the privileges and immunities afforded to the Rights
Agent under the terms and conditions of the Rights Agreement.
-4-
<PAGE> 5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed and attested, all as of the
day and year first above written.
Attest: BORDEN, INC.
By: /s/Ellen German Berndt By: /s/David A. Kelly
------------------------- ------------------------
Name: Ellen German Berndt Name: David A. Kelly
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Vice President &
Treasurer
Attest: THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Rights Agent
By: /s/Thomas A. De Angelo By: /s/Jeffrey D. Grosse
------------------------- ------------------------
Name: Thomas A. De Angelo Name: Jeffrey D. Grosse
Title: Assistant Vice Title: Assistant Vice
President President
-5-
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit (c)(2)
CONFORMED COPY
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
------------------------------------
AMENDMENT, dated as of September 23, 1994, to the
Rights Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1986, as previously
amended as of November 29, 1988, May 22, 1991 and September 11,
1994 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Borden, Inc. a New
Jersey Corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank of New York
(the "Rights Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in
the Rights Agreement.
The Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore exe-
cuted and entered into the Rights Agreement. Pursuant to Sec-
tion 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Company and the Rights
Agent may from time to time amend or supplement the Rights
Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 27
thereof. All acts and things necessary to make this Amendment
a valid agreement, enforceable according to its terms, have
been done and performed, and the execution and delivery of this
Amendment by the Company and the Rights Agent have been in all
respects authorized by the Company and the Rights Agent.
In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements set forth in the Rights Agreement and this Amend-
ment, the parties hereby agree to modify and amend the Rights
Agreement as follows:
<PAGE> 2
1. It is hereby confirmed and agreed that the
execution of (a) the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
Agreement"), to be dated as of the date hereof, among the
Company, Whitehall Associates, L.P. ("Parent"), and Borden
Acquisition Corp. ("Purchaser"), and (b) the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement"), to be
dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, Parent and
Purchaser, does not cause Parent or the Purchaser to be the
"Beneficial Owner" (as defined in Section 1(c) of the Rights
Agreement) of any Common Shares of the Company.
2. The last paragraph of Section 1(a) of the Rights
Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, provided that
the Purchaser, together with its Affiliates and
Associates, does not after the date hereof and
prior to the consummation of the purchase by it of
any shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant
to either (X) the Offer (as defined in the Merger
Agreement) (such shares, the "Offer Shares") or (Y)
the Option Agreement (such shares, the "Option
Shares") acquire Beneficial Ownership of any shares
of Common Stock of the Company that are not Offer
Shares or Option Shares, the Purchaser (together
-2-
<PAGE> 3
with its Affiliates and Associates) shall not be
deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" by virtue of the
consummation of the purchase by the Purchaser (or
an Affiliate thereof) of either the Offer Shares or
the Option Shares in the manner contemplated by the
Merger Agreement and the Option Agreement,
respectively, regardless of the number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company then Beneficially Owned
by Purchaser (together with its Affiliates and
Associates) PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if the
Purchaser (or its Affiliates and Associates) shall
become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by
reason of the acquisition of either the Offer
Shares or the Option Shares and shall, after such
acquisition, become the Beneficial Owner of any
additional Common Stock of the Company (including
by subsequent acquisition of the Option Shares or
the Offer Shares, as the case may be), then
Purchaser (and/or such Affiliates and Associates)
shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person."
-3-
<PAGE> 4
3. The last sentence of Section 3(a) of the Rights
Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the execution
and delivery of (1) the Letter Agreement, dated as
of September 11, 1994, among Parent and the
Company, (2) the Merger Agreement or (3) the Option
Agreement or (B) the announcement of the Offer and
the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement)
shall not cause the Distribution Date to occur."
4. The form of Right Certificate attached to the
Rights Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following
phrase after "September 11, 1994" in the fifth line of the last
paragraph on page 1 thereof:
"and as of September 23, 1994"
5. This Amendment shall be governed by and con-
strued in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey
and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts
to be made and performed entirely within such State.
-4-
<PAGE> 5
6. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instru-
ment.
7. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amend-
ment, and of the Rights Agreement, shall remain in full force
and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invali-
dated.
8. In all respects not inconsistent with the terms
and provisions of this Amendment, the Rights Agreement is here-
by ratified, adopted, approved and confirmed. In executing and
delivering this Amendment, the Rights Agent shall be entitled
to all the privileges and immunities afforded to the Rights
Agent under the terms and conditions of the Rights Agreement.
-5-
<PAGE> 6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed and attested, all as of the
day and year first above written.
Attest: BORDEN, INC.
By: /s/Ellen German Berndt By: /s/David A. Kelly
--------------------------- --------------------------
Name: Ellen German Berndt Name: David A. Kelly
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Vice President &
Treasurer
Attest: THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Rights Agent
By: /s/Thomas A. De Angelo By: /s/Jeffrey Grosse
--------------------------- --------------------------
Name: Thomas A. De Angelo Name: Jeffrey Grosse
Title: Assistant Vice Title: Assistant Vice
President President
-6-
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit (c)(3)
CONFORMED COPY
____________________________________________________________
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AMONG
WHITEHALL ASSOCIATES, L.P.,
BORDEN ACQUISITION CORP.
AND
BORDEN, INC.
DATED AS OF
SEPTEMBER 23, 1994
____________________________________________________________
<PAGE> 2
<TABLE>
AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE 1
THE EXCHANGE OFFER . . . . . . . . . . 3
Section 1.1 The Exchange Offer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Section 1.2 Company Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 1.3 Board of Directors; Section 14(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ARTICLE 2
PLAN OF MERGER . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 2.1 The Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 2.2 Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 2.3 Effective Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 2.4 Effects of the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section 2.5 Restatement of Surviving Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 2.6 Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 2.7 Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 2.8 Preparation of Proxy Statement; Shareholder
Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 2.9 Merger Without Meeting of Shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
ARTICLE 3
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK
OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS . . . . . . . 18
Section 3.1 Effect on Capital Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 3.2 Company Stock Options and Related Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Section 3.3 Exchange of Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES . . . . . . . 28
Section 4.1 Representations and Warranties of
the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 4.2 Representations and Warranties of
Purchaser and Parent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Section 4.3 Representations and Warranties of Parent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Section 5.1 Conduct of Business of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Section 5.2 Conduct of Business of Purchaser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Section 5.3 No Solicitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Section 5.4 Access to Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
Section 5.5 Notification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Section 5.6 Best Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Section 5.7 Certain Filings, Consents and Arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Section 5.8 Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Section 5.9 Antitrust Filings and Divestitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Section 5.10 Employee Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Section 5.11 Indemnification and Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Section 5.12 Redemption of Series B Preferred Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Section 5.13 Certain Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Section 5.14 Redemption of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Section 5.15 Affiliates and Certain Stockholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Section 5.16 Proxy Solicitation For Shareholders' Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER . . . . . . . . 89
Section 6.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligations
to Effect the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Section 6.2 Conditions to Obligation of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Section 6.3 Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser
and Parent to Effect the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER . . . . . . . . . . 92
Section 7.1 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Section 7.2 Effect of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Section 7.3 Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Section 7.4 Extension; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Section 8.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Section 8.2 Entire Agreement; Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Section 8.3 Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Section 8.4 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Section 8.5 Gains and Transfer Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Section 8.6 Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Section 8.7 Parties in Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Section 8.8 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Section 8.9 Non-Recourse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Section 8.10 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Section 8.11 Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Section 8.12 Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Section 8.13 Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Section 8.14 Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
</TABLE>
ii
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
ANNEX A -- Conditions to the Offer
EXHIBIT A -- Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
Surviving Corporation
EXHIBIT B -- Affiliate Letter
</TABLE>
iii
<PAGE> 5
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 23, 1994
AMONG BORDEN ACQUISITION CORP.,
A NEW JERSEY CORPORATION ("PURCHASER"),
WHITEHALL ASSOCIATES, L.P., A DELAWARE LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP ("PARENT"), AND BORDEN, INC.,
A NEW JERSEY CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY").
WHEREAS, Parent and the Company have entered into a
letter agreement, dated as of September 11, 1994, setting forth, among other
things, the intention of Parent and the Company to enter into this agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;
WHEREAS the respective Boards of Directors of
Purchaser and the Company have approved the acquisition of the Company by
Purchaser;
WHEREAS, in furtherance thereof, it is proposed that
Purchaser will commence an exchange offer (the "Offer") to exchange shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Holdings Common Stock"), of RJR
Nabisco Holdings Corp., a Delaware Corporation ("Holdings"), owned by Parent
for all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.625
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company (the "Shares") in accordance
with the terms provided herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has
approved the making of the Offer and recommended its acceptance by the
Company's stockholders;
WHEREAS, also in furtherance of such acquisition,
the respective Boards of Directors of Purchaser and the Company have determined
that the merger of Purchaser with and into the Company (the "Merger"), on the
terms and subject to the conditions set
<PAGE> 6
2
forth in this Agreement, would be fair to and in the best interests of their
respective shareholders, and such Boards of Directors have approved such
Merger;
WHEREAS, Parent and Purchaser are unwilling to enter
into this Agreement unless the Company, contemporaneously with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, grants to Purchaser a right (the "Conditional
Purchase Right") to purchase up to 28,138,000 shares of Common Stock (or such
other number of Shares as is equal to 19.9% of the Company's outstanding Shares
on the date hereof) (the "Option Shares"), in exchange for the number of whole
shares of Holdings Common Stock as set forth in the Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement"), among Purchaser, Parent and the Company; and in order to
induce Parent and Purchaser to enter into this Agreement, the Company has
agreed to grant Purchaser the Conditional Purchase Right and to execute and
deliver the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement;
WHEREAS, it is presently contemplated that the right
of Purchaser to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Offer and the
right of Purchaser to exercise the Conditional Purchase Right granted in the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement will be assigned to Parent (or a
direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent);
WHEREAS, Purchaser, Parent and the Company desire to
make certain representations, warranties, covenants and
<PAGE> 7
3
agreements in connection with the Offer and the Merger and also to prescribe
various conditions to the Offer and the Merger; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing
and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set
forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent, Purchaser and
the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Section 1.1 THE EXCHANGE OFFER. (a) Provided that
(i) this Agreement shall not have been terminated in accordance with Section
7.1 and (ii) none of the events set forth in Annex A hereto shall have occurred
or be existing, Parent shall cause Purchaser to commence, and Purchaser shall
commence, the Offer as soon as reasonably practicable following the
effectiveness of a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the Offer
(together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the "Form S-4") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Each Share
accepted by Purchaser in accordance with the Offer shall be converted into the
right to receive from Purchaser that number of fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Holdings Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. The "Exchange
Ratio" shall mean the quotient (rounded to the nearest 1/100,000) obtained by
dividing (i) $14.25 by (ii) the average of the average of the high and low
sales prices of Holdings Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Tape on each of the ten consecutive
<PAGE> 8
4
trading days immediately preceding the second trading day prior to the date of
expiration of the Offer (the "Valuation Period"); provided that the Exchange
Ratio shall not be less than 1.78125 or greater than 2.375. The obligations of
Purchaser to consummate the Offer and to accept for exchange the Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be subject only to the conditions set
forth in Annex A hereto and, without the written consent of the Company,
Purchaser shall not decrease the number of Shares being sought in the Offer,
change the form of consideration payable in the Offer (other than by adding
consideration), add additional conditions to the Offer or make any other change
in the terms or conditions of the Offer which is adverse to the holders of
Shares, it being agreed that a waiver by Purchaser of any condition in whole or
in part at any time and from time to time in its discretion shall not be deemed
to be materially adverse to any holder of Shares; provided that if Purchaser
shall have exercised the Conditional Purchase Right in whole or in part prior
to the termination of the Offer, Purchaser shall not be permitted to waive the
Minimum Condition (as defined herein). Purchaser agrees that upon the request
of the Company (and without limiting the number of times that Purchaser may
extend the Offer, or the total number of days for which the Offer may be
extended), Purchaser shall extend the Offer, one or more times, for an
aggregate of not more than twenty business days.
The Offer shall be made by means of an offering
circular/prospectus and related letter of transmittal (the "Letter of
Transmittal") (collectively, the "Offering Circular").
<PAGE> 9
5
Purchaser expressly reserves the right to increase the number of shares of
Holdings Common Stock to be exchanged for each share of Common Stock in the
Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, Purchaser
will accept (and Parent will cause Purchaser to accept) for exchange any and
all Shares which are validly tendered and not properly withdrawn on or prior to
the expiration of the Offer. Purchaser may, at any time, transfer or assign to
Parent or to one or more corporations directly or indirectly wholly owned by
Parent the right to purchase all or any portion of the Shares tendered pursuant
to the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment shall not relieve Purchaser
of its obligations under the Offer or materially prejudice the rights of
tendering shareholders to receive shares of Holdings Common Stock for Shares
validly tendered and not properly withdrawn and accepted for exchange. In the
event that Purchaser assigns the right to purchase all or any portion of the
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer or an affiliate of Purchaser purchases
Shares under the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, then for purposes
of any provision of this Agreement which is predicated upon Purchaser holding
or owning a specified number or percentage of Shares, the number of Shares held
or owned by Purchaser shall be deemed to include all Shares purchased by any
affiliate or affiliates pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby or by
the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement.
(b) Promptly after the date hereof, in accordance
with Rule 14d-2(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
<PAGE> 10
6
amended (together with the rules and regulations thereunder, the "Exchange
Act"), Parent, pursuant to its Registration Rights Agreement with Holdings
dated July 15, 1990 (the "1990 Registration Rights Agreement") and, if
applicable, its Registration Rights Agreement with Holdings dated February 9,
1989 (the "1989 Registration Rights Agreement"), shall request that Holdings
promptly prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") the Form S-4 covering the registration of the Holdings Common Stock to
be exchanged in the Offer and that will be issued in the Merger, as well as all
other information and exhibits required by law with respect to the registration
and offering of the Holdings Common Stock (the "Offering Materials"). Not
later than the date of commencement of the Offer (which shall be the date that
the definitive Offering Circular is first published, sent or given to
shareholders of the Company), Purchaser shall file with the SEC a Tender Offer
Statement on Schedule 14D-1 (together with all amendments and supplements
thereto, the "Schedule 14D-1") with respect to the Offer. The Schedule 14D-1
shall contain (included as an exhibit) or shall incorporate by reference the
Offering Circular (or portions thereof) and forms of the summary advertisement,
as well as all other information and exhibits required by law. Parent and
Purchaser each agrees promptly to correct any information in the Offering
Materials and the Schedule 14D-1 (together the "Offer Documents") that shall be
or have become false or misleading in any material respect and Parent and
Purchaser each further agrees to request Holdings to
<PAGE> 11
7
take all steps necessary to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be
filed with the SEC and disseminated to holders of Shares, in each case as and
to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. The Company and
its counsel shall be given an opportunity to review each of the Offer Documents
prior to its being filed with the SEC. Parent and Purchaser agree to provide
the Company and its counsel in writing with any written comments Parent and
Purchaser or their respective counsel may receive from the SEC with respect to
the Offer Documents promptly after the receipt of such comments.
Section 1.2 COMPANY ACTION. (a) The Company
hereby approves of and consents to the Offer and represents and warrants that
(x) its Board of Directors, at a meeting duly called and held, has (i)
determined that this Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the
Merger, and thereby, taken together, are fair to the shareholders of the
Company, and has resolved to recommend that holders of Shares (A) accept the
Offer, (B) tender their Shares thereunder to Purchaser and, if required by
applicable law, and (C) approve and adopt this Agreement and Plan of Merger
(collectively, the "Recommendations") and (ii) approved this Agreement and the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, and that such approval constitutes approval of this
Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby for purposes of Sections 14A:10A-4
and
<PAGE> 12
8
14A:10A-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act (the "NJBCA") and Article
VIII of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Charter") and
renders inapplicable the "Change in Control" provisions of the 8-3/8% Sinking
Fund Debentures due 2016, the "Change in Control" provisions of the Medium Term
Notes, Series A, the "Change in Control" provisions of the 9-7/8% Notes due
1997, Paragraph 4.1 of the letter dated November 20, 1987 from the Company to
Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A. with respect to a $20 million line of
credit for Borden Chemical & Plastics Operating Limited Partnership ("BCPO")
and Section 6.5 of the ESOP Loan Agreement dated as of February 6, 1989 between
the Company and First National Bank of Boston and (y) Lazard Freres and Co. and
CS First Boston Corporation have delivered to the Board of Directors of the
Company their respective written opinions to the effect that the consideration
to be received by holders of Shares pursuant to each of the Offer and the
Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of view. The Company
hereby consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the Recommendations,
provided that they have not theretofore been withdrawn as permitted pursuant to
Section 1.2(b) or 5.3 herein.
(b) The Company hereby agrees to file with the SEC
contemporaneously with the commencement of the Offer, and distribute
contemporaneously with the Offering Circular to its shareholders, a Tender
Offer Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with
all amendments and supplements thereto, the "Schedule 14D-9") containing the
<PAGE> 13
9
Recommendations. The Company further agrees, subject to clause (iii) of the
proviso to the first sentence in Section 5.3, not to change the Recommendations
unless the average of the average of the high and the low sales prices of the
Holdings Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape
for the Valuation Period is less than the price per share that would yield an
Exchange Ratio of 2.375 or less without giving effect to the proviso in the
definition of Exchange Ratio. The Company will not have any right to terminate
this Agreement as a result of any such change in the Recommendations and
notwithstanding any such change in the Recommendations, the Company will
continue to be bound by its representations and warranties and covenants
contained herein (except representations and warranties and covenants with
respect to the Recommendations), including, without limitation, those with
respect to the Rights Agreement (as hereinafter defined), antitrust approvals
and divestitures (assuming that following receipt of such approvals Purchaser
purchases at least 28,138,000 Shares), Article VIII of the Charter and Sections
14A:10A-4 and 14A:10A-5 of the NJBCA. The Company, Parent and Purchaser each
agrees promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the
Schedule 14D-9 that shall have become false or misleading in any material
respect, and the Company further agrees to take all steps necessary to cause
the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and disseminated to
holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable
federal securities laws. To the knowledge of the Company after due inquiry,
all the directors of
<PAGE> 14
10
the Company intend to tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer or to vote
their Shares in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger and this Agreement
at the shareholders' meeting referred to in Section 2.8. Parent and Purchaser
and their counsel shall be given an opportunity to review the Schedule 14D-9
prior to its being filed with the SEC.
(c) In connection with the Offer, if requested by
Purchaser, the Company shall promptly furnish Purchaser with mailing labels,
security position listings and any available listing or computer file
containing the names and addresses of the record holders of shares of Common
Stock as of a recent date and shall furnish Purchaser with such information and
assistance (including, without limitation, updated lists of shareholders,
mailing labels and lists of securities positions) as Purchaser or its agents
may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to the record and beneficial
holders of Shares.
Section 1.3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS; SECTION 14(F). (a)
If requested by Parent, the Company shall, following the acceptance for
exchange of the Shares to be exchanged pursuant to the Offer and/or the
purchase of the Option Shares in accordance with the Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, take all actions necessary
to cause the Applicable Percentage (as defined below) of directors (and of
members of each committee of the Board of Directors) (rounded in each case to
the next highest director or member) of the Company selected by Parent to
consist of persons designated or elected by Parent (whether, at the election of
the Company, by means of
<PAGE> 15
11
increasing the size of the board of directors or seeking the resignation of
directors and causing Parent's designees to be elected). The "Applicable
Percentage" means the ratio of (i) the total voting power of all Shares
accepted for exchange pursuant to the Offer and/or purchased in accordance with
the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement to (ii) the total voting power
of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, rounded to the nearest
whole number and expressed as a percentage; provided that if Purchaser has
acquired at least 28,138,000 Shares the Applicable Percentage shall not be less
than 33-1/3%.
(b) The Company's obligations to cause designees of
Parent to be elected or appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company
shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 14f-1
promulgated thereunder. The Company shall promptly take all actions required
pursuant to Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1 in order to fulfill its obligations
under this Section 1.3, and shall include in the Schedule 14D-9 such
information with respect to the Company and its officers and directors as is
required under Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1. Parent and Purchaser will supply
to the Company any information with respect to any of them and their nominees,
officers, directors and affiliates required by Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1.
(c) Following the election or appointment of
Parent's designees pursuant to this Section and prior to the Effective Time (as
hereinafter defined), any amendment by the Company or termination by the
Company of this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement,
extension by the Company for the
<PAGE> 16
12
performance or waiver of the obligations, conditions or other acts of Parent or
Purchaser or waiver by the Company of its rights hereunder or thereunder, will
require the concurrence of a majority of directors of the Company then in
office who are not affiliated with Parent or Purchaser or selected by Parent
for appointment or election to the board of directors of the Company in
accordance with Section 1.3(a) hereof (the "Independent Directors").
ARTICLE 2
PLAN OF MERGER
Section 2.1 THE MERGER. At the Effective Time (as
defined herein) and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, and in accordance with the NJBCA, Purchaser shall be merged
with and into the Company. Upon the Effective Time, the separate existence of
Purchaser shall cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving
corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and shall continue under the name
"Borden, Inc." The manner and basis of converting the shares of Purchaser and
the Company into shares of the Surviving Corporation or into or of any other
corporation or, in whole or in part, into cash shall be as provided for in
Article 3 of this Agreement.
Section 2.2 CLOSING. Unless this Agreement shall
have been terminated and the transactions herein contemplated shall have been
abandoned pursuant to Section 7.1 and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
the conditions set forth in Article 6, the closing of the Merger (the
"Closing") will take place at
<PAGE> 17
13
10:00 a.m. on the second Business Day after satisfaction of the conditions set
forth in Section 6.1 (or as soon as practicable thereafter following
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2 and 6.3)
(the "Closing Date"), at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, 425
Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, unless another date, time or place
is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.
Section 2.3 EFFECTIVE TIME. As promptly as
practicable following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the
Merger set forth in Article 6, the parties shall file a certificate of merger
or other appropriate documents (in any such case, the "Certificate of Merger"),
executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the NJBCA, and shall
make all other filings or recordings required under the NJBCA in connection
with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the
Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
New Jersey, or at such later time as is permissible in accordance with the
NJBCA and as Purchaser and the Company shall agree should be specified in the
Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being the
"Effective Time").
Section 2.4 EFFECTS OF THE MERGER. The Merger
shall have the effects set forth in Section 14A:10-6 of the NJBCA (or any
successor provision). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and
subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges,
powers, immunities, purposes and franchises of the Company and Purchaser shall
vest in the
<PAGE> 18
14
Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of
the Company and Purchaser shall become debts, liabilities, obligations and
duties of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.5 RESTATEMENT OF SURVIVING CORPORATION'S
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS. (a) The Charter, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be restated so as to read in its
entirety in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto, and, as so restated, until
thereafter and further amended or restated as provided therein and under the
NJBCA, it shall be the restated certificate of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) The By-laws of Purchaser as in effect at the
Effective Time shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.
Section 2.6 DIRECTORS. The directors of Purchaser
at the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, each
to hold office in accordance with the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws of the Surviving Corporation and until the earlier of his or her
resignation or removal or until his or her successor is duly elected and
qualified, as the case may be.
Section 2.7 OFFICERS. The officers of the Company
at the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, each
to hold office in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws
of the Surviving Corporation and until the earlier of his or her resignation or
<PAGE> 19
15
removal or until his or her respective successor is duly appointed and
qualified, as the case may be.
Section 2.8 PREPARATION OF PROXY STATEMENT;
SHAREHOLDER MEETING. (a) If approval of the Company's shareholders is
required by applicable law in order to consummate the Merger, provided that the
Minimum Condition is satisfied without being reduced or waived, following the
acceptance for exchange of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Company, acting
through its Board of Directors, shall, in accordance with applicable law, as
soon as practicable following the expiration or termination of the Offer: (a)
duly call, give notice of, convene and, subject to Section 5.16, hold a special
meeting of its shareholders (the "Shareholders' Meeting") for the purpose of
considering and taking action upon this Agreement and the Merger and prepare
and file with the SEC a proxy statement (such proxy statement as amended or
supplemented from time to time, the "Proxy Statement"), and (b) use its best
efforts (i) to obtain and furnish the information required to be included by it
in the Proxy Statement and, after consultation with Parent and Purchaser,
respond promptly to any comments made by the SEC with respect to the Proxy
Statement and any preliminary version thereof and cause the Proxy Statement to
be mailed to its stockholders at the earliest practicable time following the
expiration or termination of the Offer and (ii) to obtain the necessary
approval by its shareholders of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
<PAGE> 20
16
(b) Subject to the Company's right, pursuant to
Section 1.2(b) hereof, to withdraw or modify the Recommendations, the Company
shall include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of its Board of
Directors that holders of Shares vote in favor of the approval and adoption of
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
(c) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Section 2.8, the Company agrees that (i) its obligations pursuant to Section
2.8(a) hereof (including, without limitation, the obligation to submit the
Agreement and the Merger to a vote of its shareholders) shall not be affected
by the withdrawal or modification of the Recommendations (but there shall be no
obligation of the Board of Directors of the Company to continue the
Recommendation that shareholders approve and adopt the Agreement and the
Merger) and (ii) (A) if the Merger is not approved by the shareholders of the
Company following the acceptance for exchange of Shares pursuant to the Offer
or the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement or (B) if the Merger is not submitted to the shareholders of the
Company but Purchaser has acquired at least 28,138,000 Shares, the approval of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Offer and the
Merger, by the Board of Directors of the Company shall constitute, solely for
the purposes of Sections 14A:10A-4 and 14A:10A-5 of the NJBCA and, to the
extent that there are no Continuing Directors (as defined in the Charter),
Article VIII of the Charter, an approval of any future "Business Combination"
(as defined in Section
<PAGE> 21
17
14A:10A-3 of the NJBCA and Article VIII of the Charter) between the Company and
Parent or any affiliate thereof, provided that (x) such "Business Combination"
is approved by a majority of the Independent Directors and (y) if appropriate,
the Company shall have received the opinion of an investment banking firm
selected by the Independent Directors that such "Business Combination" is fair
to the Company's shareholders from a financial point of view (an "Excepted
Future Transaction").
(d) At the Shareholders' Meeting, each of Parent and
Purchaser will vote, or cause to be voted, all Shares acquired in the Offer or
otherwise beneficially owned by it or any of its respective subsidiaries in
favor of the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
(e) The information provided and to be provided by
Purchaser and the Company, respectively, for use in the Proxy Statement shall,
at the date it is first mailed to shareholders of the Company and on the date
of the Shareholders' Meeting, be true and correct in all material respects and
shall not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make such information not misleading, and the Company and
Purchaser each agree to correct any information provided by it for use in the
Proxy Statement which shall have become false or misleading.
Section 2.9 MERGER WITHOUT MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Parent and Purchaser, or any
other direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent
<PAGE> 22
18
shall acquire at least 90% of the outstanding Shares, the parties hereto agree
to take all necessary or appropriate action to cause the Merger to become
effective as soon as practicable after the expiration of the Offer without a
meeting of shareholders of the Company, in accordance with Section 14A:10-5.1
of the NJBCA.
ARTICLE 3
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK
OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS
Section 3.1 EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK. At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
the holder of any shares of Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of
Purchaser:
(a) COMMON STOCK OF PURCHASER. Each share of common
stock of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be converted into a number of shares of common stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Surviving Corporation equal to one one-thousandth of the
total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the
Merger, which shall be all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Surviving Corporation.
(b) CANCELLATION OF TREASURY STOCK AND
PURCHASER-OWNED OR PARENT-OWNED COMMON STOCK. Each share of Common Stock that
is owned by the Company or by any subsidiary of the Company and each share of
Common Stock that is owned by Parent, Purchaser or any other subsidiary of
Parent shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist,
and no cash, Holdings Common
<PAGE> 23
19
Stock or other consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange
therefor.
(c) CONVERSION OF COMMON STOCK. Except as otherwise
provided herein, each issued and outstanding share of Common Stock shall be
converted into the right to receive that number of fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Holdings Common Stock equal to the Final Exchange Ratio (as defined
herein). The aggregate amount of Holdings Common Stock which a holder of
Common Stock is entitled to receive with respect to each such share of Common
Stock shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Merger Consideration". The
"Final Exchange Ratio" shall equal that number of fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Holdings Common Stock that was delivered by the Purchaser with
respect to each share of Common Stock that was validly tendered and not
properly withdrawn and accepted for exchange pursuant to the terms of the
Offer.
(d) CANCELLATION AND RETIREMENT OF COMMON STOCK.
All shares of Common Stock (other than shares referred to in Section 3.1(b))
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall no longer
be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease
to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such shares of
Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the
right to receive, upon surrender of such certificate to the Exchange Agent (as
defined herein) and acceptance thereof in accordance with Section 3.3, the
Merger Consideration (and/or any
<PAGE> 24
20
cash in lieu of fractional shares of Holdings Common Stock to be issued or paid
in consideration therefor).
Section 3.2 COMPANY STOCK OPTIONS AND RELATED
MATTERS. (a) As of the Effective Time, each holder of a then outstanding
option to purchase Common Stock (an "Option") shall receive with respect to
each share subject to such Option an amount in cash equal to the excess, if
any, of (i) the product of the Final Exchange Ratio and the average of the
average of the high and the low sales prices of Holdings Common Stock as
reported on each of the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the
Effective Time over (ii) the per share exercise price of such Option, and the
Company shall cause the surrender and cancellation of each Option (and any
related stock appreciation right) with respect to which a payment by the
Company is made. With respect to Options not so surrendered and cancelled, such
Options shall, if not previously terminated or expired in accordance with their
terms, terminate upon the grantee leaving the Company except upon such
grantee's death, Disability or retirement at or after age sixty-five (or such
earlier age as the Purchaser may expressly agree) and except that, to the
extent provided under any such existing Option, if the grantee is terminated by
the Company without Cause within two years following a Change in Control of the
Company, the grantee shall have a period of ninety days following such
termination within which to exercise such Option. The terms Disability, Change
in Control and Cause for this purpose shall have the meanings set forth in the
plans pursuant to which the Options were granted.
<PAGE> 25
21
No employee who has been previously granted an Option or stock appreciation
right shall be approved for retirement for purposes of any plan or agreement
under which such Option or right has been granted without the express consent
of the Purchaser. The Purchaser and the Company agree to continue to discuss
the manner in which outstanding stock options shall be treated after the
Merger.
(b) In addition to the foregoing, the Company shall
take all steps necessary so that no participant in any employee plans, programs
or arrangements of the Company shall have any right to acquire or receive any
Common Stock or other equity interest in the Company on or after the Effective
Time other than in connection with the exercise of Options outstanding on the
date hereof which have not been cancelled pursuant to Section 3.2(a). On or
prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall amend each of its (and cause the
amendment of each of its affiliate's) qualified defined contribution plans to
eliminate any investment in Common Stock after the Effective Time.
(c) At or immediately prior to the Effective Time,
the Company shall cause an amendment of each of its employee plans, programs
and arrangements pursuant to which an employee may be entitled to receive
Common Stock (each a "Stock Plan") to provide that any employee entitled to
receive Common Stock in respect of previously deferred bonuses or compensation
shall receive instead cash equal to the product of (i) the Final Exchange Ratio
multiplied by the average of the average of the high and the low closing sales
prices of Holdings Common Stock as reported on each
<PAGE> 26
22
of the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Effective Time
and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock so deferred, plus interest equal
to the rate otherwise credited on deferred amounts under the applicable plans
or if no such rate is credited the prime rate established by Chemical Bank from
time to time on such deferred bonuses or compensation from the Effective Time
to the date of distribution.
(d) Subject to the terms of any Company Plan, any
Merger Consideration paid in respect of restricted shares of Common Stock held
by any employee or former employee of the Company or any of its affiliates
shall remain restricted and subject to the same terms and conditions imposed on
such restricted shares.
Section 3.3 EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES. (a)
EXCHANGE AGENT. At or prior to the Effective Time, Purchaser shall deposit
with or for the account of a bank or trust company designated by Parent, which
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the "Exchange Agent"), for the
benefit of the holders of shares of Common Stock, for exchange in accordance
with this Article 3, the Merger Consideration in respect of each Share
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, except the shares of
Common Stock referred to in Section 3.1 (b) (the "Aggregate Merger
Consideration").
(b) EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. As soon as reasonably
practicable after the Effective Time, Purchaser will instruct the Exchange
Agent to mail to each holder of record immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than holders referred to in Section
<PAGE> 27
23
3.1(b)) of a certificate or certificates which represented shares of Company
Stock (the "Certificates") (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 proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent
and shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent or Purchaser
may reasonably specify) (the "Merger Letter of Transmittal") and (ii)
instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange
for Holdings Common Stock. Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of
Certificates, together with such Merger Letter of Transmittal duly executed and
any other required documents, and acceptance thereof by the Exchange Agent,
each holder of a Certificate shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates
representing the number of full shares of Holdings Common Stock into which the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock previously represented by such
Certificate surrendered shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement.
The Exchange Agent shall accept such Certificates upon compliance with such
reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange Agent may impose to effect an
orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal exchange practices. After
the Effective Time, there shall be no further transfer on the books and records
of the Company or its transfer agent of Certificates and if such Certificates
are presented to the Company for transfer, they shall be cancelled against
delivery of certificates for Holdings Common Stock as herein provided. If any
certificate for such Holdings Common Stock is to be issued in
<PAGE> 28
24
a name other than that in which the Certificate surrendered for exchange is
registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed, with signature guaranteed, or otherwise
in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such exchange shall
pay to Purchaser or its transfer agent any transfer or other taxes required by
reason of the issuance of certificates for such Holdings Common Stock in a name
other than that of the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or
establish to the satisfaction of Purchaser or its transfer agent that such tax
has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 3.3(b), each Certificate (other than certificates referred to in
Section 3.1(b) shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger
Consideration as contemplated by Section 3.1.
(c) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. (i) No certificates or
scrip representing fractional shares of Holdings Common Stock shall be issued
upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates, and such fractional share
interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a
stockholder of Holdings; and (ii) notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, each holder of shares of Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the
Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share
of Holdings Common Stock (after taking into account all shares of Common Stock
delivered by such holder) shall receive, in lieu thereof, a cash payment
(without interest)
<PAGE> 29
25
representing such holder's proportionate interest in the net proceeds from the
sale by the Exchange Agent (following the deduction of applicable transaction
costs of third parties other than the Exchange Agent, the Company, the
Purchaser or affiliates of any of the foregoing), on behalf of all such
holders, of the shares (the "Excess Shares") of Holdings Common Stock
representing all such fractions. Such sale shall be made as soon as
practicable after the Effective Time.
(d) DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO UNEXCHANGED
SHARES. No dividends or other distributions with respect to Holdings Common
Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder
of any unsurrendered Certificate for shares of Common Stock with respect to the
shares of Holdings Common Stock represented thereby, and no cash payment in lieu
of fractional shares shall be paid to any such holder pursuant to Section
3.3(c), until the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this Article
3. Subject to the effect of applicable laws, following surrender of any such
Certificate, there shall be delivered to the holder of such Certificate a
certificate representing whole shares of Holdings Common Stock issued in
exchange therefor and, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender or
as promptly after the sale of the Excess Shares as practicable, the amount of
any cash payable in lieu of a fractional share of Holdings Common Stock to
which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(c) and the amount of
dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of
<PAGE> 30
26
Holdings Common Stock and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of
dividends or other distributions payable with respect to such whole shares of
Holdings Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to
such surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender. In no event
shall the persons entitled to receive such dividends or other distributions be
entitled to receive interest on such dividends or other distributions.
(e) NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN COMMON STOCK.
All shares of Holdings Common Stock delivered and cash paid upon the surrender
for exchange of Certificates which represented shares of Common Stock in
accordance with the terms of this Article 3 (including any cash paid pursuant
to Section 3.3(d)) shall be deemed to have been delivered (and paid) in full
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of Common Stock theretofore
represented by such Certificates, subject, however, to the Surviving
Corporation's obligation, with respect to shares of Common Stock, to pay any
dividends or make any other distributions with a record date prior to the
Effective Time which may have been declared or made by the Company on such
shares of Common Stock prior to the date of this Agreement and which remain
unpaid at the Effective Time.
(f) TERMINATION OF EXCHANGE FUND. Any portion of
the Merger Consideration deposited with the Exchange Agent pursuant to this
Article 3 (the "Exchange Fund") which remains undistributed to the holders of
the certificates representing shares of Common Stock for nine months after the
Effective Time
<PAGE> 31
27
shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any holders of shares of Common
Stock who have not theretofore complied with this Article 3 shall thereafter
look only to Parent and only as general creditors thereof for payment of their
claim for Holdings Common Stock (or any security or consideration into which
Holdings Common Stock is converted) and any cash in lieu of fractional shares
of Holdings Common Stock and shall look only to Parent and only as general
creditors thereof for payment of any dividends or distributions with respect to
Holdings Common Stock to which such holders may be entitled.
(g) NO LIABILITY. None of Parent, Purchaser,
Holdings, the Company or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any person in
respect of any shares of Holdings Common Stock (or dividends or distributions
with respect thereto) or cash from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
If any Certificates which represented shares of Common Stock shall not have
been surrendered prior to five years after the Effective Time (or immediately
prior to such earlier date on which any shares of Holdings Common Stock, any
cash in lieu of fractional shares of Holdings Common Stock or any dividends or
distributions with respect to Holdings Common Stock in respect of such
Certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any
Governmental Entity (as defined herein)), any such shares, cash, dividends or
distributions in respect of such certificate shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, become the
<PAGE> 32
28
property of the Parent, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person
previously entitled thereto.
(h) INVESTMENT OF EXCHANGE FUND. The Exchange Agent
shall invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by Parent, on
a daily basis. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments
shall be paid to Parent.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 4.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
COMPANY. The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Purchaser as
follows:
(a) ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND CORPORATE POWER.
Each of the Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries
(as defined herein) is duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which
it is incorporated and has the requisite corporate or
partnership power and authority to carry on its business as
now being conducted, except for failures which, in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect (as
defined herein) with respect to the Company. Each of the
Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries is duly
qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing
as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the
nature of its business or the ownership or leasing of its
properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary,
other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so
<PAGE> 33
29
qualified or licensed (individually or in the aggregate) is not reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. Complete
and correct copies of the Charter and By-laws of the Company are included
within the SEC Documents (as defined herein).
(b) SUBSIDIARIES. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each of the significant subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02
of Regulation S-X of the SEC) of the Company, (the "Significant Subsidiaries";
which term shall include T.M.I. Associates, L.P. ("TMI")) which is a
corporation have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and
all outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary owned
(of record and beneficially) by the Company, by another Significant Subsidiary
of the Company or by the Company and another such Significant Subsidiary are
owned, free and clear of all pledges, claims, options, rights of first refusal,
liens, charges, encumbrances and security interests of any kind or nature
whatsoever (collectively, "Liens"), except for such rights of first refusal,
claims, options, charges and encumbrances as would not in the aggregate have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. Except as set forth in
Section 4.1(b) of the disclosure schedule delivered to Parent by the Company at
the time of execution of this Agreement (the "Disclosure Schedule"), all
ownership interests of each Significant Subsidiary which is not a corporation
and which is held (of record and beneficially)
<PAGE> 34
30
by the Company, by another Significant Subsidiary of the Company or by the
Company and another such Significant Subsidiary have been validly issued and
are owned, free and clear of all Liens, except for such rights of first
refusal, claims, options, charges and encumbrances as would not in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.
(c) CAPITAL STRUCTURE. The authorized capital stock
of the Company consists of (i) 480,000,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii)
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value ("Preferred Stock").
As of the date hereof, there are (i) 141,515,502 shares of Common Stock issued
and outstanding (including the shares of Common Stock held by the trust created
under the Supplemental Benefit Trust Agreement dated December 9, 1993); (ii)
53,465,136 shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company; (iii)
7,357,473 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding Options
(of which 1,408,326 shares, with an average exercise price of $12.31, are
exercisable at prices of $14.25 or less); (iv) 4,779,200 shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance upon exercise of authorized but unissued Options; (v)
45,031 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of
Preferred Stock designated as Preferred Stock-Series B ("Series B Preferred
Stock"), 45,031 shares of which are issuable upon conversion of all outstanding
shares of Series B Preferred Stock; (vi) 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance upon
<PAGE> 35
31
exercise of the Company's Lynx Equity Units (the "Lynx Equity Units"),
5,950,000 shares of which are issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Lynx
Equity Units; (vii) 475,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Preferred
Stock-Series A ("Series A Preferred Stock"), none of which are issued or
outstanding; (viii) 688,700 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, of which 6,822
shares are issued and outstanding; and (ix) 2,400,000 shares of Preferred Stock
designated as Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock ("Series C
Preferred Stock") reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the rights (the
"Rights") distributed to the holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the
Rights Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1986 between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), as amended as of
November 29, 1988, May 22, 1991, September 11, 1994 and the date hereof, none
of which are issued or outstanding. Except as set forth above, no shares of
capital stock or other equity securities of the Company are issued, reserved
for issuance or outstanding. All outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company are, and all shares which may be issued pursuant to the Stock Plans
will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. Except for the Series B
Preferred Stock, the Rights and the Lynx Equity Units, there are no outstanding
bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness or other securities of the
Company having the right to vote (or convertible
<PAGE> 36
32
into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters
on which shareholders of the Company may vote. Except for the Series B
Preferred Stock, the Rights and the Lynx Equity Units, there are no outstanding
securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements,
arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating
the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell,
or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or
other equity or voting securities of the Company or of any of its Significant
Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call,
right, commitment, agreement, arrangement or undertaking. The only outstanding
indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its subsidiaries having (x)
a principal amount of $25,000,000 or more and (y) a maturity of one year or
longer is listed on Section 4.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule. Other than the
Lynx Equity Units, the Stock Options and the Rights there are no outstanding
contractual obligations, commitments, understandings or arrangements of the
Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire or make any payment in respect of any shares of capital stock
of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries. Except with respect to
the Lynx
<PAGE> 37
33
Equity Units, there are no agreements or arrangements to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party pursuant to which the Company is or could be
required to register shares of Common Stock or other securities under the
Securities Act.
(d) AUTHORITY; NONCONTRAVENTION. The Company has
the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, and, subject to the Company
Shareholder Approval (as defined herein) with respect to the Merger, to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement
by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate and shareholder action on the part of the Company, subject, in the
case of the Merger, to the Company Shareholder Approval. Each of this
Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of
<PAGE> 38
34
good faith and fair dealing. Except as set forth in Section 4.1(d) of the
Disclosure Schedule, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement and compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof will
not, conflict with, or result in any breach or 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 a right to
require the purchase or repurchase or give rise to a loss of a material benefit
under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon, any of the properties,
indebtedness or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
under (i) the Charter or By-laws of the Company or the comparable governing or
organizational documents of any of its Significant Subsidiaries, (ii) any loan
or credit agreement (other than the credit agreement dated August 16, 1994
between Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the Company and the credit
agreement dated August 16, 1994 between Citibank, N.A., as administrative
agent, and T.M. Investors Limited Partnership), note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise
or license to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of their respective properties or assets is bound or (iii) except for
the governmental filings
<PAGE> 39
35
and other matters referred to in the following sentence, any judgment, order,
decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or arbitration award
applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective
properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above,
any such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults, rights, losses or Liens
that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company. No consent, approval, order or authorization of,
or registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Federal,
national, state or local government or any court, administrative agency or
commission or other governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a
"Governmental Entity"), is required by or with respect to the Company or any of
its Significant Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement by the
Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, except for (i) the filing of a premerger notification and
report form by the Company under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act") and the applicable requirements, if
any, of any relevant foreign jurisdictions, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (x)
the Offer Documents and the Schedule 14D-9, (y) the Proxy Statement and (z)
such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required by law in connection
with this Agreement, the
<PAGE> 40
36
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey and appropriate documents with
the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified to
do business, (iv) filings, consents and approvals under Environmental Laws (as
defined herein) of jurisdictions in which the Company transacts business, (v)
such reports or filings under the securities laws of the various states or the
securities laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions in connection with the Offer and the
Merger as may be required by law in connection with this Agreement, the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, and (vi) such other consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings or notices as are set
forth in Section 4.1(d) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(e) SEC DOCUMENTS. The Company has filed all
required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the SEC
since January 1, 1990, and the Company has delivered or made available to
Purchaser all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed
with the SEC since such date (collectively, and in each case including all
exhibits and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein,
the "SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied
in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
<PAGE> 41
37
Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of
the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such SEC Documents, and none of
the SEC Documents (including any and all financial statements included
therein), except to the extent revised or superseded by a subsequent filing
with the SEC, as of such dates contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The consolidated
financial statements of the Company included in all SEC Documents filed since
January 1, 1994 (the "SEC Financial Statements") comply as to form in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except, in the case
of unaudited consolidated quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of
the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as
may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the
dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows
for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
<PAGE> 42
38
(f) INFORMATION SUPPLIED. Neither the Schedule
14D-9, nor any of the information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the
Offer Documents, shall, at the respective times such Schedule 14D-9, the Offer
Documents or any amendments or supplements thereto are filed with the SEC or
are first published, sent or given to shareholders, as the case may be, 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Proxy Statement shall not, at the date the Proxy Statement (or
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to shareholders
and at the time of the Shareholders Meeting and at the Effective Time, be false
or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading or necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication
with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Shareholders Meeting which
has become false or misleading. The Schedule 14D-9 and the Proxy Statement and
information statement will comply in all material respects as to form with the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty
(i) with respect to any
<PAGE> 43
39
information supplied by Parent, the Purchaser or Holdings or any of their
representatives which is contained in any of the Offer Documents, the Schedule
14D-9 or the Proxy Statement or (ii) with respect to the Proxy Statement, to
the extent that (A) on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to
shareholders, a majority of the board of directors of the Company shall have
been designated or elected by Parent or (B) if on such date of first mailing a
majority of such board shall not have been designated or elected by Parent,
between the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to shareholders and at the
time of the Shareholders Meeting or at the Effective Time, a majority of the
board of directors of the Company shall have been designated or elected by
Parent and subsequent to such time the Proxy Statement shall have become false
or misleading with respect to any material fact.
(g) ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Except as
disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Section 4.1(g) of the Disclosure Schedule,
since the date of the most recent audited financial statements included in such
SEC Documents, the Company has conducted its business only in the ordinary
course consistent with past practice, and there is not and has not been any
change in the business, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries which has had, or would reasonably be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.
<PAGE> 44
40
(h) BENEFIT PLANS. (i) Section 4.1(h) of the
Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of each "employee
benefit plan" (within the meaning of section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), (including, without
limitation, multiemployer plans within the meaning of ERISA section 3(37)),
stock purchase, stock option, severance, employment, change-in-control, fringe
benefit, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation and
all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other
arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA (including any funding mechanism
therefor now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement
or otherwise), under which any employee or former employee of the Company or
any of its affiliates has any present or future right to benefits or under
which the Company or any of its affiliates has any present or future liability.
All such plans, agreements, programs, policies and arrangements shall be
collectively referred to as the "Company Plans".
(ii) With respect to each Company Plan, the Company has
delivered to Purchaser a current, accurate and complete copy (or, to the extent
no such copy exists, an accurate description) thereof and, to the extent
applicable, any related trust agreement, annuity contract or other funding
instrument; except where the failure to deliver the
<PAGE> 45
41
documents as set forth above, individually or in combination with the breach of
any other representation contained herein, would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) (1) Each Company Plan has been established and
administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms, and in
compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and other applicable laws, rules and
regulations; (2) each Company Plan which is intended to be qualified within the
meaning of Code section 401(a) is so qualified and has received a favorable
determination letter as to its qualification and nothing has occurred, whether
by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(iv) Except to the extent that the inaccuracy of any of
the following (or the circumstances giving rise to such inaccuracy) individually
or in combination with the breach of any other representation contained herein,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (1) with
respect to any Company Plan, no actions, suits or claims (other than routine
claims for benefits in the ordinary course) are pending or threatened and the
Company will promptly notify Purchaser in writing of any pending or threatened
claims arising between the date hereof and the Effective Time; (2) no event
has occurred and no condition exists with respect to a Company Plan that would
<PAGE> 46
42
subject the Company or any of its affiliates, either directly or by reason of
their affiliation with any member of their respective Controlled Groups
(defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of
organizations within the meaning of Code section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)), to
any tax, fine, penalty or other liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other
applicable laws, rules and regulations; (3) for each Company Plan with respect
to which a Form 5500 has been filed, no material change has occurred with
respect to the matters covered by the most recent Form 5500 since the date
thereof; (4) except as disclosed on Section 4.1(h) of the Disclosure Schedule,
each Company Plan may be amended or terminated without obligation or liability
(other than those obligations and liabilities for which specific assets have
been set aside in a trust or other funding vehicle or reserved for on the
Company's most recent audited financial statements included in the Recent SEC
Documents); (5) no Company Plan has incurred any "accumulated funding
deficiency" as such term is defined in ERISA section 302 and Code section 412
(whether or not waived); (6) no event or condition exists which could be deemed
a reportable event within the meaning of ERISA section 4043 which could result
in a liability to the Company, its affiliates or any member of their respective
Controlled Groups; and (7) neither the Company, any affiliate nor any member of
their respective Controlled
<PAGE> 47
43
Groups has engaged in a transaction which could subject any of them to
liability under ERISA section 4069.
(v) With respect to any multiemployer plan (within the
meaning of section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) to which the Company, any affiliate or
any member of their respective Controlled Groups has any liability or
contributes (or has at any time contributed or had an obligation to contribute):
(1) neither the Company, its affiliates nor any member of their respective
Controlled Groups would be subject to withdrawal liability in excess of
$15,000,000 if, as of the Effective Time, the Company, any affiliate or any
member of their respective Controlled Groups were to engage in a complete
withdrawal (as defined in ERISA section 4203) from any such multiemployer plan;
(2) no such multiemployer plan is in reorganization or insolvent (as those
terms are defined in ERISA sections 4241 and 4245, respectively); and (3)
neither the Company, any affiliate nor any member of their respective
Controlled Groups has engaged in a transaction which could subject any of them
to liability under ERISA section 4212(c) which would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(vi) Except as set forth in Section 4.1(h)(vi) of the
Disclosure Schedule, no Company Plan exists which could result in a payment of
$100,000 or more to any employee or former employee of the Company or any
affiliate of any money or other property or rights, or accelerate or provide any
other rights or benefits with a value in the aggregate of
<PAGE> 48
44
$100,000 or more to any such employee or former employee as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement, whether or not such payment would constitute a parachute
payment within the meaning of Code section 280G.
(i) TAX MATTERS. Except where the failure to do so
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, each of the Company
and each of its subsidiaries, and any consolidated, combined, unitary or
aggregate group for tax purposes of which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is or has been a member has timely filed all material Tax Returns
required to be filed by it, has paid all Taxes shown thereon to be due and has
provided adequate reserves in its financial statements for any Taxes that have
not been paid, whether or not shown as being due on any returns. Except as set
forth in Section 4.1(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) no claim for unpaid
Taxes has become a lien or encumbrance of any kind against the property of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or is being asserted against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, except for such claims which have become a lien or
encumbrance which would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) no audit of
any Tax Return of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is being conducted by a
Tax authority, except for such audits which would not have a Material Adverse
Effect; and (iii) no extension of the statute of limitations on the assessment
of any Taxes has been granted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
<PAGE> 49
45
is currently in effect, except for such extensions which would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, "Taxes" shall mean any taxes of any
kind, including but not limited to those measured by or referred to as income,
gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, franchise, profits, license,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation,
premium, value added, property or windfall profits taxes, customs, duties or
similar fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by
any governmental authority, domestic or foreign. Neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries has made an election under Section 341(f) of the Internal
Revenue Code. As used herein, "Tax Return" shall mean any return, report or
statement required to be filed with any governmental authority with respect to
Taxes.
(j) ARTICLE VIII OF THE COMPANY'S RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND SECTIONS 14A:10A-4 AND 14A:10A-5 OF THE NJBCA.
With respect to Article VIII of the Charter and Sections 14A:10A-4 and
104:10A-5 of the NJBCA, the Merger, this Agreement, the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby and any Excepted Future Transactions have been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company. No other state takeover statute or similar statute
or regulation of the State of New Jersey (and, to the knowledge of the Company
after due inquiry, of any other state or jurisdiction)
<PAGE> 50
46
applies or purports to apply to the Merger, this Agreement, the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby and no provision of the Charter (other than with respect to
the Series C Preferred Stock which will be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.15,
subject to the conditions therein) or By-laws of the Company or any governing
instruments of its Significant Subsidiaries would, directly or indirectly,
restrict or impair the ability of Purchaser to vote, or otherwise to exercise
the rights and receive the benefits of a shareholder with respect to,
securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that may be acquired or
controlled by Purchaser, Parent or any subsidiary of Parent or permit any
shareholder to acquire securities of the Company on a basis not available to
Purchaser in the event that Purchaser were to acquire securities of the
Company.
(k) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as set forth in
Section 4.1(k) of the Disclosure Schedule or except to the extent that the
inaccuracy of any of the following (or the circumstances giving rise to such
inaccuracy), individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, in connection with any properties or facilities currently or formerly
owned, leased or used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the current
and former operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries:
(i) the Company or its subsidiaries hold, and are
in compliance with and have been in continuous compliance with
<PAGE> 51
47
for the last five (5) years, all Environmental Permits, and are otherwise in
compliance and have been in compliance for the last five (5) years with all
applicable Environmental Laws and there is no condition that would reasonably
be expected to prevent or materially interfere with compliance by the Company
and its subsidiaries with Environmental Laws in the future;
(ii) no modification, revocation, reissuance,
alteration, transfer, or amendment of the Environmental Permits, or any review
by, or approval of, any third party of the Environmental Permits is required in
connection with the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the continuation of the business
of the Company or its subsidiaries following such consummation;
(iii) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received any Environmental Claim, and neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has knowledge of any threatened Environmental Claim;
(iv) the Company and its subsidiaries have not
entered into, have not agreed to, and are not subject to any judgment, decree,
order or other similar requirement of any governmental authority under any
Environmental Laws, including without limitation those relating to compliance
with Environmental Laws or to investigation, cleanup, remediation or removal of
Hazardous Substances;
<PAGE> 52
48
(v) There are no (A) underground or aboveground
storage tanks, (B) polychlorinated biphenyls, (C) asbestos or
asbestos-containing materials, (D) Hazardous Materials, (E) urea-formaldehyde
insulation, (F) sumps, (G) surface impoundments, (H) landfills or (I) sewer or
septic systems currently or formerly present at or about any of the properties
or facilities currently or formerly owned, leased or otherwise used by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, that would reasonably be expected to give
rise to liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any
Environmental Laws;
(vi) Hazardous Materials have not been generated,
transported, treated, stored, disposed of, released or threatened to be
released at, on, from or under any of the properties or facilities currently
or formerly owned, leased or otherwise used by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, in violation of, or in a manner or to a location that would
reasonably be expected to give rise to liability of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries under, any Environmental Laws.
(vii) For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
"Environmental Claim" means any written notice,
claim, demand, action, suit, complaint, proceeding
or other communication by any person to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries alleging liability or
potential liability (including without limitation
liability or
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49
potential liability for investigatory costs,
cleanup costs, governmental response costs, natural
resource damages, property damage, personal injury,
fines or penalties) arising out of, relating to,
based on or resulting from (i) the presence,
discharge, emission, release or threatened release
of any Hazardous Materials at any location, (ii)
circumstances forming the basis of any violation or
alleged violation of any Environmental Laws or
Environmental Permits, or (iii) otherwise relating
to obligations or liabilities under any
Environmental Law.
"Environmental Permits" means all permits,
licenses, registrations and other governmental
authorizations required under Environmental Laws
for the Company and its subsidiaries to conduct
their operations.
"Environmental Laws" means all applicable
foreign, federal, state and local statutes, rules,
regulations, ordinances, orders, decrees and common
law relating in any manner to pollution or
protection of human health or the environment, to
the extent and in the form that such exist at the
date hereof.
"Hazardous Materials" means all hazardous
or toxic substances, wastes, materials or chemicals,
petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction
thereof) and petroleum products, asbestos and
asbestos-containing materials, pollutants,
contaminants and all other
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50
materials and substances, including but not limited
to electromagnetic fields, regulated pursuant to any
Environmental Laws or that could result in liability
under any Environmental Laws.
(l) BROKERS. No broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other person, other than Lazard Freres and Co. and CS
First Boston Corporation, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the
Company (pursuant to fee agreements, copies of which have been provided to
Purchaser), is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other
similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.
(m) COMPLIANCE. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any law,
rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or by which its or any of their respective properties are
bound or affected, or (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract,
agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation
to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or any of their respective properties
are bound or affected, except for any such conflicts, defaults or violations
which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
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51
(n) REQUIRED COMPANY VOTE. Assuming the Series B
Preferred Stock is redeemed as provided in Section 5.12 the affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the shares of the Common Stock (the "Company Shareholder
Approval") is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the
Company's securities necessary to approve this Agreement, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.
(o) RIGHTS AGREEMENT. The Board of Directors of the
Company, at a meeting duly called and held, has resolved that the Rights shall
be redeemed immediately prior to the acceptance for payment of any of the
outstanding Shares pursuant to the Offer, provided that the Minimum Condition
has been satisfied. The Board of Directors of the Company has amended the
Rights Agreement, prior to the execution of this Agreement and the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, so that none of the execution or the delivery
of this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, or both
such agreements taken together, or commencement of the Offer or the acceptance
of Shares for exchange pursuant to the Offer, or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement
will (i) trigger the exercisability of the Rights (as defined in the Rights
Agreement), the separation of the Rights from the stock certificates to which
they are attached, or any other provisions of the Rights Agreement,
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52
including causing Parent and/or Purchaser from becoming an Acquiring
Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement), the occurrence of a
Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a Shares
Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or (ii) trigger
the right of the holders of the common units of Borden Chemicals and
Plastics Limited Partnership, pursuant to the Second Amended and
Restated Deposit Agreement dated February 16, 1993, to require the
Company to purchase the common units held by them.
(p) DIVIDENDS. The Board of Directors of the
Company, at a meeting duly called and held, has resolved that, until
resolved otherwise, the Company will not declare, set aside or pay any
dividends other than quarterly dividends on the shares of Common Stock
in excess of $0.01 per share.
Section 4.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
PURCHASER AND PARENT. Purchaser and Parent represent and warrant, jointly and
severally, to the Company as follows:
(a) ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND CORPORATE POWER.
Each of Purchaser and Holdings has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and has the corporate power
and authority to own its property and conduct its business as now being
conducted. Each of Purchaser and Holdings is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such
<PAGE> 57
53
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be
in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to
Purchaser or Holdings. Purchaser has delivered to the Company complete and
correct copies of its Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. Complete and
correct copies of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and
By-Laws of Holdings are included within the Holdings SEC Documents (as defined
herein).
(b) SUBSIDIARIES. Purchaser has no direct or
indirect subsidiaries. Each of the Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in
Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC) of Holdings (which, including RJR
Nabisco, Inc. ("RJRN"), R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company ("RJRT"), R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco International, Inc. and Nabisco, Inc. ("NI") are collectively referred
to as the "Holdings Significant Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated, is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its
property and to conduct its business and is duly qualified to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
would not have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Purchaser or Holdings.
All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
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54
each Holdings Significant Subsidiary have been validly issued and are fully
paid and non-assessable and all outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Holdings Significant Subsidiary owned (of record and beneficially) by Holdings,
by another Holdings Significant Subsidiary or by Holdings and another such
Holdings Significant Subsidiary are owned free and clear of all Liens, except
for (i) such rights of first refusal, claims, options, charges and encumbrances
as would not in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to
Holdings and (ii) for shares of capital stock of (x) RJRT and Nabisco Brands,
Inc. that are pledged pursuant to that certain RJRN Pledge Agreement dated May
13, 1992 made by RJRN in favor of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, as
collateral agent, and (y) RJRN that are pledged pursuant to that certain Parent
Pledge Agreement dated as of February 2, 1989, amended and restated December
19, 1991, between Holdings and Chemical Bank, as collateral agent.
(c) CAPITAL STRUCTURE. The authorized capital stock
of Holdings consists of (i) 2,200,000,000 shares of Holdings Common Stock and
(ii) 150,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share. As of
August 31, 1994, there were, (i) 1,147,681,192 shares of Holdings Common Stock
issued and outstanding, (ii) 114,206,576 shares of Holdings Common Stock
reserved for issuance pursuant to Holdings stock plans, (iii) 210,000,000 shares
of Holdings Common Stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Series A
<PAGE> 59
55
Conversion Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Holdings ("Holdings
Series A Stock"), (iv) 15,617,453 shares of Holdings Common Stock reserved for
issuance upon conversion of the ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of Holdings (the "Holdings ESOP Stock"), (v) 266,750,000 shares
of Holdings Common Stock reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Series C
Conversion Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Holdings (the
"Holdings Series C Stock"), (vi) no shares of Holdings Common Stock held by
Holdings in its treasury or by its subsidiaries, (vii) 52,500,000 shares of
Holdings Series A Stock outstanding, (viii) 50,000 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Holdings (the "Holdings Series B Stock")
outstanding, (ix) 15,490,964 shares of Holdings ESOP Stock outstanding and (x)
26,675,000 shares of Holdings Series C Stock outstanding. Except for the
Holdings Common Stock, the Holdings Series A Stock, the Holdings Series B
Stock, the Holdings Series C Stock and the Holdings ESOP Stock, no shares of
capital stock or other equity securities of Holdings are issued, reserved for
issuance or outstanding. All outstanding shares of capital stock of Holdings
are, and all shares which may be issued pursuant to Holdings stock plans will
be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and not subject to preemptive rights. There are no outstanding bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Holdings having the right to vote
(or convertible into, or
<PAGE> 60
56
exchangeable for, securities having the present right to vote) on any matters
on which stockholders of Holdings may vote. Except with respect to preferred
stock and options pursuant to Holdings stock plans referred to above, there are
no outstanding securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments,
agreements, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which Holdings is a
party or by which it is bound obligating Holdings to issue, deliver or sell, or
cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or
other equity or voting securities of Holdings or obligating Holdings to issue,
grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right,
commitment, agreement, arrangement or undertaking. Except with respect to
certain shares of Holdings Common Stock sold to employees of Holdings pursuant
to stock subscription agreements containing standard put and call rights upon
the occurrence of certain events, there are no outstanding contractual
obligations of Holdings to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares
of capital stock of Holdings. The authorized capital stock of Purchaser
consists of 1000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, 100 shares
of which have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are
owned by Parent, free and clear of any Lien. Each share of Holdings Common
Stock to be delivered to shareholders of the Company pursuant to the Offer or
the Merger, or to the Company pursuant to the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement,
<PAGE> 61
57
is a "Registrable Security," as defined in the 1990 Registration Rights
Agreement or, as applicable, the 1989 Registration Rights Agreement.
(d) AUTHORITY; NONCONTRAVENTION. (i) Purchaser
has the requisite corporate power and authority, and Parent has full partnership
authority, to enter into this Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement by Parent and Purchaser and the consummation by
Parent and Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary action, corporate or other, on the part
of Parent and Purchaser. Each of this Agreement and the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Purchaser and Parent and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each of
Purchaser and Parent, enforceable against such party in accordance with its
terms subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and
fair dealing. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by
<PAGE> 62
58
this Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and
compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof will not, conflict with, or
result in any breach or 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 a right to require the
purchase or repurchase or give rise to a loss of a material benefit under, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon, any of the properties, indebtedness or
assets of Purchaser or any of the properties, indebtedness or assets of Parent
under (i) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Purchaser or the
comparable governing or organizational documents of Parent, (ii) any loan or
credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license to which Purchaser or
Parent is a party or by which any of its properties or assets is bound or (iii)
except for the governmental filings and other matters referred to in the
following sentence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule,
regulation or arbitration award applicable to each of Purchaser or Parent or
their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii)
and (iii) above, any such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults, rights,
losses or Liens that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to Purchaser or Parent. No consent, approval,
order or authorization of, or
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59
registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity
is required by or with respect to Purchaser or Parent in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement by Purchaser and Parent or the consummation by Purchaser and
Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except for (i) the
filing with the SEC of (x) the Offer Documents and the Schedule 14D-9, (y) the
Proxy Statement and (z) such reports or filings under the Exchange Act or under
the securities laws of the various states or the securities laws of non-U.S.
jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of the Holdings Common
Stock as may be required by law in connection with this Agreement, the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, and (ii) with respect to Purchaser, except for (A) the
filing of a premerger notification and report form by Purchaser under the HSR
Act and the applicable requirements, if any, of any relevant foreign
jurisdictions, (B) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary
of State of the State of New Jersey, (C) filings, consents and approvals under
Environmental Laws (as defined herein) of jurisdictions in which the Company
transacts business and (D) such other consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings or notices as may be
required under the "takeover" laws of the various states.
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60
(ii) The execution and delivery by Purchaser and
Parent of this Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement
do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and compliance with the
provisions hereof and thereof will not, conflict with, or result in any breach
or 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 a right to require the purchase or repurchase or give rise
to a loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien
upon, any of the properties, indebtedness or assets of Holdings or any of the
Holdings Significant Subsidiaries under (i) the certificate of incorporation or
by-laws of Holdings or any of the Holdings Significant Subsidiaries, (ii) any
loan or credit agreement (other than Holdings' and RJRN's credit agreement
dated as of April 5, 1993, as amended, and Holdings' and RJRN's credit
agreement dated as of December 1, 1991, as amended), note (other than Holdings'
10 1/2% Senior Notes due 1998 and Holdings' 13 1/2% Subordinated Debentures
due 2001), bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument,
permit, concession, franchise or license to which Holdings or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which any of its properties or assets is bound
or (iii) except for the governmental filings and other matters referred to in
the following sentence, any judgment,
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61
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or arbitration award
applicable to Holdings or any of its subsidiaries or their respective
properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above,
any such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults, rights, losses or Liens
that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Holdings. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity
is required by or with respect to Holdings in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement
by Purchaser and Parent or the consummation by Purchaser and Parent of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except for (i) the filing of a
premerger notification and report form by Purchaser under the HSR Act and the
applicable requirements, if any, of any relevant foreign jurisdictions and (ii)
the filing with the SEC of (x) the Form S-4, and (y) such reports or filings
under the Securities Act or Exchange Act or under the securities laws of the
various states or the securities laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions in connection
with the offer and sale of the Holdings Common Stock as may be required by law
in connection with this Agreement, the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
<PAGE> 66
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(e) SEC DOCUMENTS. Holdings has filed all required
reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the SEC since
January 1, 1990, and Purchaser has delivered or made available to the
Company all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed
with the SEC since such date (collectively, and in each case including all
exhibits and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein,
the "Holdings SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the Holdings SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such Holdings SEC
Documents, and none of the Holdings SEC Documents (including any and all
consolidated financial statements included therein), except to the extent
revised or superseded by a subsequent filing with the SEC, as of such date
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The consolidated financial statements of Holdings included in
such Holdings SEC Documents comply as to form in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of
the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (except, in the
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63
case of unaudited consolidated quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q
of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except
as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present the consolidated
financial position of Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the
dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows
for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
(f) INFORMATION SUPPLIED. Neither the Offer
Documents, nor any of the information supplied by Parent or the Purchaser for
inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9, shall, at the respective times such Offer
Documents or Schedule 14D-9 (or any of the amendments or supplements thereto)
are filed with the SEC or are first published, sent or given to shareholders,
as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated or incorporated by reference
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 Purchaser concerning Purchaser and Parent for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement shall not contain any statement which, at such time and in light of
the circumstances under which it shall be made, is false or misleading with
respect to any material fact, or shall omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
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64
therein not false or misleading or necessary to correct any statement in any
earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the
Shareholders Meeting which has become false or misleading. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Purchaser makes no representation or warranty with respect to any
information supplied by the Company or any of its representatives which is
contained in any of the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 or the Proxy
Statement. The Offer Documents and, to the extent that on the date the Proxy
Statement is first mailed to shareholders, at the time of the Shareholders
Meeting or at the Effective Time a majority of the board of directors of the
Company shall have been designated or elected by Parent, the Proxy Statement,
will comply in all material respects as to form with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(g) BROKERS. No broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other person, other than Morgan Stanley & Co., the fees
and expenses of which will be paid by Parent, is entitled to any broker's,
finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of Purchaser or Parent.
(h) INTERIM OPERATIONS OF PURCHASER. Purchaser was
incorporated on September 12, 1994, has engaged in no other business activities
and has conducted its operations only as contemplated hereby.
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65
(i) ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Except as
disclosed in the Holdings SEC Documents, since the date of
the most recent audited financial statements included in
such Holdings SEC Documents, Holdings has conducted its
business only in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice, and there is not and has not been any change in
the business, financial condition or results of operations
of Holdings or any of its subsidiaries which has had, or
would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect with respect to Holdings.
Section 4.3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
PARENT. Parent represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) AUTHORITY. Parent has all requisite power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and the
consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on
the part of Parent and no other proceedings are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions
so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its
terms.
(b) TITLE TO HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK. Subject to any
transfer of shares to Purchaser (or its assignee) in
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66
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, Parent has good and valid title to
the shares of Holdings Common Stock that will serve as the Aggregate Merger
Consideration, free and clear of all Liens. The shares of Holdings Common
Stock that will serve as the aggregate Merger Consideration have been approved
for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(c) NONCONTRAVENTION. The execution and delivery by
Parent of, and the performance by Parent of its obligations under, this
Agreement will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the governing
documents of Parent or any agreement or other instrument, including, without
limitation, the 1990 Registration Rights Agreement or, as applicable, the 1989
Registration Rights Agreement, binding upon Parent or any of its subsidiaries
or any judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction
over Parent or any of its subsidiaries, except for such contravention that
would not, individually, or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Parent.
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ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
Section 5.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY.
Except as contemplated by this Agreement, during the period from the date of
this Agreement to the date on which a majority of the board of directors of the
Company shall consist of designees or representatives of Parent, the Company
and each subsidiary shall conduct its operations according to its ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice and shall use its best efforts
to preserve intact its business organization, to keep available the services of
its current officers and employees and to preserve existing relationships with
licensors, licensees, suppliers, contractors, distributors, customers and
others having business relationships with it to the end that their goodwill and
ongoing businesses shall be unimpaired at the date on which a majority of the
board of directors of the Company shall consist of designees or representatives
of Parent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, or as required by law or contract
existing on the date hereof, prior to the date on which a majority of the board
of directors of the Company shall consist of designees or representatives of
Parent, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall, without the
prior written consent of Parent:
(a) (x) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on,
or make any other distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock
(except (A) dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company to
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its parent, (B) dividends and distributions in the ordinary course of business
by any other subsidiary to its parent and (C) that the Company may continue the
declaration and payment of regular quarterly cash dividends not in excess of
$0.01 per share on the shares of Company Common Stock (with usual record and
payment dates and in accordance with its past dividend policy)), (y) 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 (z), except for the redemption of the Rights
and the Series B Preferred Stock, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other
securities thereof or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such
shares or other securities;
(b) authorize for issuance, issue, deliver, sell or
agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver (whether through the issuance or
granting of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase
or otherwise), pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of its capital stock or
the capital stock of any of its subsidiaries, any other voting securities or
any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire,
any such shares, voting securities or convertible securities or any other
securities or equity equivalents (including without limitation stock
appreciation rights) (other than (x) upon exercise of options outstanding on
the date hereof, as in
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69
effect on the date hereof or as amended pursuant hereto, (y) in connection with
any employment agreements between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
the employees thereof, as in effect on the date hereof, and in each case
subject to the provisions of Section 3.2 or 5.10 hereof, or (z) sales of
capital stock of any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company to the Company or
another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) provided, however, and not in
limitation of the foregoing, no additional equity securities or rights to
purchase equity securities will be granted after the date hereof;
(c) except as provided in Section 3.2 or 5.10
hereof, adopt or amend any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, severance,
termination, stock option, stock appreciation right, pension, retirement,
employment or other employee benefit agreement, trust, plan or other arrangement
for the benefit or welfare of any director, officer or, except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice with respect to employees of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries increase in any manner the compensation
or fringe benefits of any director, officer or, except in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice with respect to employees of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or pay any benefit not required by any
existing agreement or place any assets in any trust for the benefit of
employees or directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than
contributions to the directors
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trust fund created pursuant to the Advisory Directors Plan Trust Agreement in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendments required to be made
to the provisions of any employee pension plan which is intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code in order to maintain such qualified
status may be made;
(d) amend its certificate of incorporation, by-laws
or other comparable charter or organizational documents or alter through
merger, liquidation, reorganization, restructuring or in any other fashion the
corporate structure or ownership of any subsidiary not constituting an inactive
subsidiary of the Company;
(e) acquire or agree to acquire (x) by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the stock or
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association or other business organization or
division thereof or (y) any assets that are material, individually or in the
aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except
purchases of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(f) sell, lease, license, mortgage or otherwise
encumber or subject to any Lien or otherwise dispose of any of its properties
or assets, except sales of (i) inventory in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (ii) properties or assets (A) with a value of
less
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than $10,000,000 individually but not more than $25,000,000 in the aggregate,
(B) that are currently being marketed or sold by the Company pursuant to the
Company's January 1994 restructuring plan to the extent set forth in Section
5.1(f) of the Disclosure Schedule or (C) with respect to which a definitive
agreement has been entered into by the Company prior to September 12, 1994
(PROVIDED that no material modification or amendment shall be made to any such
agreements), (iii) sales of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of
business, (iv) sales or pledges of accounts receivable, or mortgages of other
property in connection with certain financings or refinancings outside of the
United States, in an aggregate amount of such financings or refinancings not to
exceed $250 million, subject to the terms of any such refinanced debt not
becoming materially more restrictive to the Company and the Company paying only
market fees related thereto and (v) in connection with capital expenditures
permitted to be expended by the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(h);
(g) except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and except for (i) an increase in the amount of
up to $300 million of the amount available or outstanding under the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 16, 1994 between the Company and
Citibank, as amended and (ii) the refinancing of two issues of industrial
revenue bonds in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $40,000,000,
subject in the
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case of (i) and (ii) to the terms of such refinanced debt instruments not
becoming materially more restrictive to the Company and the Company paying only
market fees related thereto, (y) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
guarantee any such indebtedness of another person (other than (A) guarantees by
the Company in favor of any of its wholly owned subsidiaries or by any of its
subsidiaries in favor of the Company or (B) guarantees of subsidiaries or, in
the ordinary course of business, 50% owned affiliates of the Company, in an
aggregate amount not exceeding $10,000,000, on market terms (including fees)),
issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any
debt securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, guarantee any debt
securities of another person, enter into any "keep well" or other agreement to
maintain any financial statement condition of another person or enter into any
arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, except for
short-term borrowings incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice or (z) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to,
or investments in, any other person, other than to the Company or any direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
(h) expend funds for capital expenditures other than
in accordance with the Company's current capital expenditure plans;
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(i) waive, release, grant, or transfer any rights of
value or modify or change in any material respect any existing license, lease,
contract or other document, other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
(j) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation
or resolutions providing for or authorizing such a liquidation or a dissolution,
merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or reorganization;
(k) enter into or amend any material collective
bargaining agreement, other than in the ordinary course of business;
(l) change any accounting principle used by it,
unless required by the SEC or the Financial Accounting Standards Board;
(m) make any tax election or settle or compromise
any income tax liability or file the 1994 federal income tax return prior to
the last day (including extensions) prescribed by law, in the case of any of the
foregoing, material to the business, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(n) settle or compromise any litigation (whether or
not commenced prior to the date of this Agreement) or settle, pay or compromise
any claims not required to be paid, individually in an amount in excess of
$1,000,000 and in the aggregate in an amount in excess of $10,000,000,
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74
other than in consultation and cooperation with Purchaser, and, with
respect to any such settlement, with the prior written consent of
Purchaser;
(o) take any action which would cause any debt
securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to no longer be
listed on any national securities exchange or registered pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, other than with respect to any
such debt securities that have become due as a result of the maturity
thereof; or
(p) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any
of, the foregoing actions.
Section 5.2 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF PURCHASER.
During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time,
Purchaser shall not engage in any activities of any nature except as provided
in, or in connection with the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement.
Section 5.3 NO SOLICITATION. Except with respect
to divestitures in accordance with the Company's January 1994 restructuring
plan, neither the Company nor any of is subsidiaries shall, nor shall it or any
of its subsidiaries authorize or permit any of its officers, directors or
employees or any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or
other representative retained by it or any of its subsidiaries to, (a) solicit,
initiate, encourage (including by way of furnishing information), or take any
other action to facilitate, any inquiry or the making of any proposal which
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any acquisition or
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purchase of a substantial amount of assets of, or any equity interest in, the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any tender offer (including a self tender
offer) or exchange offer, merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of
substantially all assets, sale of securities, recapitalization, liquidation,
dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement) or any other transaction the
consummation of which would or could reasonably be expected to impede,
interfere with, prevent or materially delay the Merger or the exercise of the
Conditional Purchase Right or which would or could reasonably be expected to
materially dilute the benefits to Purchaser of the transactions contemplated
hereby (collectively, "Transaction Proposals") or agree to or endorse any
Transaction Proposal or (b) enter into or participate in any discussions or
negotiations regarding any of the foregoing, or furnish to any other person any
information with respect to its business, properties or assets or any of the
foregoing, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in,
facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any other person to do or
seek any of the foregoing; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing clauses (a)
and (b) shall not prohibit the Company from (i) furnishing information pursuant
to an appropriate confidentiality letter concerning the Company and its
businesses, properties or assets to a third party who has made a Transaction
Proposal, (ii) engaging in discussions or negotiations with such a third party
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who has made a Transaction Proposal or (iii) following receipt of a Transaction
Proposal, taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position contemplated by
Rule 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act or changing the Recommendations, but in
each case referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) only after the
Board of Directors of the Company concludes in good faith that such action is
necessary or appropriate in order for the Board of Directors of the Company to
act in a manner which is consistent with its fiduciary obligations under
applicable law. If the Board of Directors of the Company receives a
Transaction Proposal, then the Company shall promptly inform Parent of the
terms and conditions of such proposal and the identity of the person making it
and shall keep Parent generally informed with reasonable promptness of any
steps it is taking pursuant to the proviso of the first sentence with respect
to such Transaction Proposal.
Section 5.4 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. (a) The
Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, afford to Purchaser
and Parent and to the officers, employees, counsel, financial advisors,
environmental consultants and other representatives of Purchaser and Parent
("Parent Representatives") reasonable access during normal business hours
during the period prior to the Effective Time to all its properties, books,
contracts, commitments, personnel and records and, during such period, the
Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, furnish as promptly
as practicable to Purchaser, Parent and Parent Representatives such information
concerning its business, properties, financial conditions,
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operations and personnel as they may from time to time reasonably request.
Parent and Purchaser will hold, and will cause the Parent Representatives to
hold, any nonpublic information obtained from the Company in confidence to the
extent required by, and in accordance with, the provisions of the letter dated
August 1994, between Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and the Company (the
"Company Confidentiality Agreement"), provided that Parent and Purchaser may
disclose any such nonpublic information to lenders or potential lenders who are
advised of the confidentiality of such information to the extent necessary to
satisfy the condition set forth in clause (iv) of the first paragraph of Annex
A hereto. The Company and Parent hereby agree that the terms and provisions of
the Company Confidentiality Agreement, other than with respect to the use of
Evaluation Material (as defined in the Company Confidentiality Agreement),
shall be superseded by this Agreement.
(b) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to
make available to the Company and to the officers, employees, counsel,
financial advisors and other representatives of the Company reasonable access
during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to
all the properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records of
Holdings and, during such period, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts
to furnish as promptly as practicable to the Company such information
concerning the business, properties, financial conditions, operations and
personnel of Holdings as the Company party may from time to time reasonably
request. The Company will
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hold, and will cause its directors, officers, partners, employees, accountants,
counsel, financial advisors and other representatives and affiliates to hold,
any nonpublic information obtained from Parent and Holdings in confidence to
the extent required by, and in accordance with, the provisions of the letter
dated September 11, 1994, between Holdings and the Company.
(c) No investigation pursuant to this Section 5.4
shall affect any representations or warranties of the parties herein or the
conditions to the obligations of the parties hereto.
Section 5.5 NOTIFICATION. Each of the Company,
Parent and Purchaser will, in the event of, or promptly after obtaining
knowledge of the occurrence (or non-occurrence) or threatened occurrence (or
non-occurrence) of, any fact or event which would cause or constitute a
material breach of or failure of any of the representations and warranties,
covenants or conditions set forth herein or, in the case of the Company, would
constitute or result in a Material Adverse Effect, give notice thereof to each
other party hereto and will use its reasonable efforts to prevent or promptly
to remedy such breach or satisfy such conditions; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
delivery of, or failure to deliver, any notice pursuant to this Section 5.5
shall not limit or otherwise affect any remedies available hereunder.
Section 5.6 BEST EFFORTS. Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees
(subject to the last sentence of Section 5.9 and to Section 8.3(f)) to use its
best efforts to take, or cause to be
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taken, all action, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate
with the other parties hereto in doing all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable laws and regulations to ensure that the conditions
set forth in Article 6 and Annex A are satisfied and to consummate and make
effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement, including, without limitation, using its best efforts to obtain all
necessary waivers, consents and approvals, and effecting all necessary
registrations and filings in accordance with Section 5.7. In case at any time
after the Effective Time any further action is necessary or desirable to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement, the proper officers and directors of each
party to this Agreement shall take all such necessary action. The Company and
Parent and Purchaser will execute any additional instruments necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 5.7 CERTAIN FILINGS, CONSENTS AND
ARRANGEMENTS. Parent, Purchaser and the Company will use their best efforts
and cooperate with one another (i) in promptly determining whether any filings
are required to be made or consents, approvals, permits or authorizations are
required to be obtained (or, which if not obtained, would result in an event of
default, termination or acceleration of any agreement) under any United States
or foreign law or regulation or from any Governmental Entity or third parties,
including parties to loan agreements, in connection with the transactions
contemplated by
<PAGE> 84
80
this Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, and the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement and (ii) subject to the last sentence of
Section 5.9 and to Section 8.3(f), in promptly making any such filings,
furnishing information required in connection therewith and in timely seeking
to obtain any such consents, approvals, permits or authorizations.
Section 5.8 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. The initial
press release with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
mutually satisfactory to the parties hereto and thereafter, except as may be
required by applicable laws, court process or by obligations pursuant to any
listing agreement with a national securities exchange, no party shall issue any
press release or make any public filings relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, and the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, without affording the Company, on
the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, the opportunity to review and
comment upon such release or filing.
Section 5.9 ANTITRUST FILINGS AND DIVESTITURES.
The Company and Parent shall, as promptly as practicable, file notification and
report forms under the HSR Act with the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC")
and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the "Antitrust
Division") and make any other necessary filings with the applicable Government
Entities related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
the Offer and the Merger, and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement
and shall use their best efforts
<PAGE> 85
81
to respond as promptly as practicable to all inquiries received from the FTC or
the Antitrust Division or such other Governmental Entities for additional
information or documentation. Provided that following receipt of such
approvals Purchaser (or one of its affiliates) acquires at least 28,138,000
Shares pursuant to the Offer and/or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement, the Company agrees to make any and all divestitures or undertakings
required by the FTC, the Antitrust Division or any other applicable
Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement, which
divestitures in each case shall be reasonably acceptable to Parent and
Purchaser.
Section 5.10 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
(a) Prior to the occurrence of a "Change in Control"
as defined in the Supplemental Benefit Trust Agreement between the Company and
Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A. (the "Trust Agreement"), the Company
shall take all such action as may be necessary so that no funding of the Trust
created thereunder shall occur as a result of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. The Trust Agreement shall be amended prior to a Change in
Control to permit the disposition of all Common Shares it holds. The Company
may amend the plans listed in Section 5.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule that
would have been required to be funded pursuant to the terms of the Trust
Agreement in a manner which provides for a lump-sum distribution to, but does
not result in the constructive receipt of compensation by, a covered employee
of his or her deferred compensation thereunder
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in the event of the involuntary termination or normal retirement (under the
Employees Retirement Income Plan) of such employee.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, Purchaser shall not
request that the Company cancel, and the Company shall be under no obligation
to cancel, the CORE Management Arrangements. For this purpose, "CORE
Management Arrangements" mean those agreements between the Company and the
executives so designated by the Company and disclosed in Section 5.10(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule which provide for certain payments and benefits in the
event of certain terminations of employment.
(c) The Purchaser (or its affiliate) shall continue
the Company's Non-Exempt Associate Assistance Program and Exempt Associate
Assistance Program, on terms no less favorable than the terms in existence on
the date hereof, for the one-year period following the Effective Time. The
Company shall maintain, for the two-year period following the Effective Time,
employee plans and programs which are substantially similar in the aggregate to
those pension and welfare plans maintained for employees of the Company
generally.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates
shall accelerate the payment of any deferred award under any bonus plan or
arrangement nor award or pay any pro rata awards thereunder as a result, or in
anticipation, of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that
the Company may pay the 1994 annual bonuses pursuant to its Management
Incentive Plan or other similar annual bonus plan in a manner which is
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83
consistent with past practice and the achievement of goals set forth therein.
(e) The Company shall ensure that no prohibited
transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the Code)
shall occur with respect to any Company Plan as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(f) With respect to any of the eleven individuals
listed in Section 5.10(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, in lieu of any other
severance arrangement for such individual, the Company shall pay such
individual in the event of that individual's termination by the Company after a
"Change in Control" without "Cause" (as those terms are defined in the Core
Management Agreements referred to in Section 5.10(b)) a cash severance amount
equal to twelve months of salary. The special severance payments set forth in
this Section 5.10(f) shall no longer be applicable when twelve (eighteen for
that individual next to whose name an asterisk appears in Section 5.10(f) of
the Disclosure Schedule) months have elapsed after the Change in Control. For
any executive listed on Schedule 5.10(g), such executive's letter of employment
shall be modified so that a termination without cause prior to the second
anniversary of a Change in Control (as defined in such letters) shall include a
termination by the executive due to the occurrence of any one of the following
events without his advance consent:
i. the executive's office is relocated to a
different city;
ii. the executive's base salary is reduced or
executive's bonus opportunity is materially
lower than other Company executives of
comparable rank;
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iii. there is a material diminution in the nature
or scope of the authority or responsibilities
attached to the executive's position. A
diminution in nature or scope of authority or
responsibilities will not be deemed to occur
simply because the company or business in which
the executive is engaged has changed in size
or structure; or
iv. in the case of the executive next to whose name
a double asterisk appears in Section 5.10(g) of
the Disclosure Schedule, the business (either
separately or as part of a larger business unit)
in which the executive is engaged is sold or
otherwise disposed of.
Section 5.11 INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE. (a)
The Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation shall
contain provisions identical with respect to elimination of personal liability
and indemnification to those set forth in Articles VI and VII of the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation set forth in Exhibit A hereto and Article X of the
By-laws of the Company, respectively, which provisions shall not be amended,
repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Effective
Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of
individuals who at the Effective Time were directors, officers, agents or
employees of the Company.
(b) Surviving Corporation shall maintain in effect
for six years from the Effective Time policies of directors' and officers'
liability insurance containing terms and conditions which are not less
advantageous than those policies maintained by the Company at the date hereof,
with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time, to the extent
available, and having the maximum available coverage under the current policies
of
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directors and officers' liability insurance; provided that the Surviving
Corporation shall not be required to spend in excess of a $3,000,000 annual
premium therefor; provided further that if the Surviving Corporation would be
required to spend in excess of a $3,000,000 premium per annum to obtain
insurance having the maximum available coverage under the current policies, the
Surviving Corporation will be required to spend $3,000,000 to maintain or
procure insurance coverage pursuant hereto, subject to availability of such (or
similar) coverage.
(c) In furtherance of and not in limitation of the
preceding paragraph, Parent and Purchaser agree that the officers and directors
of the Company that are defendants in all litigation commenced by shareholders
of the Company with respect to (x) the performance of their duties as such
officers and/or directors under federal or state law (including litigation
under federal and state securities laws) and (y) Purchaser's offer or proposal
to acquire the Company including, without limitation, any and all such
litigation commenced on or after the date of the Letter Agreement (as defined
herein) (the "Subject Litigation") shall be entitled to be represented, at the
reasonable expense of the Company, in the Subject Litigation by one counsel
(and New Jersey counsel if appropriate and one local counsel in each
jurisdiction in which a case is pending) each of which such counsel shall be
selected by a plurality of such director defendants; provided that neither the
Company nor the Surviving Corporation nor Parent shall be liable for any
settlement effected without its prior written consent (which consent shall
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86
not be unreasonably withheld) and that a condition to the indemnification
payments provided in paragraph 5.11(a) shall be that such officer/director
defendant not have settled any Subject Litigation without the consent of Parent
or the Surviving Corporation; and provided further that the Surviving
Corporation and Parent shall have no obligation hereunder to any
officer/director defendant when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall
ultimately determine, and such determination shall have become final and
non-appealable, that indemnification of such officer/director defendant in the
manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law.
Section 5.12 REDEMPTION OF SERIES B PREFERRED
STOCK. Without limiting the conditions to the Offer set forth in Annex A
hereto and provided that the Minimum Condition is satisfied without having been
waived or lowered, the Company will, promptly after consummation of the Offer,
in the manner and to the extent permitted by the Charter, redeem all of its
outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock prior to any record date in
connection with the Merger at the amount provided for redemption in the
Charter, and the Company agrees, subject to first obtaining any required
approvals under its debt instruments or other agreements to which the Company
is subject, promptly to commence taking all steps necessary to effect such
redemptions.
Section 5.13 CERTAIN AGREEMENTS. Neither the
Company nor any subsidiary will waive any provision of any confidentiality or
standstill or similar agreement to which it is a party without the prior
written consent of Parent, unless the
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board of directors of the Company or such subsidiary concludes in good faith
that waiving such provision is necessary or appropriate in order for the Board
of Directors of the Company to act in a manner which is consistent with its
fiduciary obligations under applicable law.
Section 5.14 REDEMPTION OF RIGHTS. The Company will
redeem all outstanding Rights at a redemption price of one and two-thirds cents
per Right effective immediately prior to the acceptance for exchange of any
Shares pursuant to the Offer, provided that the Minimum Condition will be
satisfied in the Offer. The Company will amend the Rights Agreement in
accordance with Section 4.1(o) hereof prior to the acceptance for payment of
any Shares pursuant to the Offer if the Minimum Condition is waived to permit
only such purchase of Shares. The Company and Parent hereby agree that if the
Company amends any provision of the Rights Agreement in connection with a
Transaction Proposal or with respect to any Person (as defined in Section
7.1(f)) or if the application of the Rights Agreement or any provision thereof
is enjoined with respect to any Person or Transaction Proposal or if the
Company agrees to redeem the Rights on terms more favorable than the terms set
forth with respect to Parent and Purchaser in this Agreement (any of such
events, a "Third Party Rights Amendment") in a manner that makes such Third
Party Rights Amendment less restrictive with respect to such Person, or in
connection with such Transaction Proposal, or is otherwise more favorable with
respect to such Person, or in connection with such Transaction Proposal, than
the Rights Agreement as then in effect
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with respect to Parent and Purchaser, the Company shall be deemed (if and to
the extent possible and without derogating the obligations of the Company
pursuant to the next sentence), without the necessity of any action by the
Company or the Rights Agent, to have so amended the Rights Agreement with
respect to Parent and Purchaser to the same extent or to have agreed to redeem
the Rights with respect to Parent and Purchaser on terms as favorable. The
Company agrees to notify Parent promptly of any Third Party Rights Amendment
and simultaneously with the execution of the Third Party Rights Amendment to
execute a written amendment to the Rights Agreement with respect to the
foregoing.
Section 5.15 AFFILIATES AND CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS.
Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Parent a letter
identifying all persons who are, at the time the Merger is submitted for
approval to the shareholders of the Company, "affiliates" of the Company for
purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause each such person to deliver to Parent on or
prior to the Closing Date a written agreement substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit B hereto. Parent shall not be required to cause Holdings
to maintain the effectiveness of the Form S-4 or any other registration
statement under the Securities Act for the purposes of resale of Holdings
Common Stock by such affiliates and the certificates representing Holdings
Common Stock received by such affiliates in the Merger shall bear a
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customary legend regarding applicable Securities Act restrictions and the
provisions of this Section 5.15.
Section 5.16 PROXY SOLICITATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS'
MEETING. If approval of the Company's shareholders is required by applicable
law in order to consummate the Merger, the Company, Purchaser and Parent agree
that, if the Company or Parent is advised by its respective or joint proxy
solicitors prior to the Shareholders' Meeting that a vote in favor of the
Merger is not likely to be obtained at the Shareholders' Meeting, the
Shareholders' Meeting shall, at the request of the Independent Directors, be
adjourned from time to time, provided that in no event will the Shareholders'
Meeting be required hereunder to be held more than sixty days from the date
that the Proxy Statement was first mailed to the Company's shareholders, which
sixty day period shall be extended by the number of days, if any, that the
Company or Parent is enjoined from soliciting proxies for the Merger in
connection with the Shareholders' Meeting or that the holding of the
Shareholders Meeting or the vote thereat is enjoined.
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
Section 6.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS
TO EFFECT THE MERGER. The respective obligation of each party to effect the
Merger is subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the
following conditions:
(a) If required by New Jersey law or the Charter, the Company
Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained;
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(b) any waiting period applicable to the Merger under the HSR
Act shall have terminated or expired;
(c) Shares shall have been purchased pursuant to the Offer;
(d) The Form S-4 shall have become effective, and any required
post-effective amendment shall have become effective, under the
Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order or
proceedings seeking a stop order, and any material "blue sky" and other
state securities laws applicable to the registration of the Holdings
Common Stock to be exchanged for Common Stock shall have been complied
with; and
(e) no statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, or
injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by
any Governmental Entity which prohibits the consummation of the Merger,
whether temporary, preliminary or permanent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
parties hereto shall use their best efforts to have any such order,
decree or injunction vacated.
Section 6.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE
COMPANY. If fewer than 66 2/3% of the Shares outstanding on a fully diluted
basis (other than dilution due to the Rights) shall have been accepted for
exchange in the Offer, the obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is
further subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time
of the following conditions:
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(a) The representation and warranty of Purchaser
and Parent set forth in Section 4.2(i) of this Agreement
shall be true and correct, as of the date of this Agreement
and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
Closing Date.
Section 6.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF PURCHASER
AND PARENT TO EFFECT THE MERGER. If fewer than 66 2/3% of the Shares
outstanding on a fully diluted basis (other than dilution due to the Rights)
shall have been accepted for exchange in the Offer, the obligations of
Purchaser and Parent to effect the Merger are further subject to the
satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:
(a) The representation and warranty of the Company
set forth in Section 4.1(g) of this Agreement shall be true
and correct, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date;
(b) The Company shall have performed in all
material respects the affirmative covenants required to be
performed by it under Sections 5.1 (except to the extent the
same would not cause a Material Adverse Effect with resect
to the Company), 5.9, 5.12 and 5.14 of this Agreement at or
prior to the Closing Date;
(c) The representation and warranty of the Company
set forth in Section 4.1(e) of this Agreement, applied
MUTATIS MUTANDIS to the SEC Documents filed by the Company
with the SEC since the date of the Agreement, shall be true
and
<PAGE> 96
92
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as
though made on and as of the Closing Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Company or Purchaser and
Parent to effect the Merger are not subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
any of the conditions set forth in this Section 6.2 or 6.3 to the extent that
the failure of any such condition to be satisfied is the result of any action
approved by a majority of those directors of the Company who are designees or
representatives of Parent or to the extent the same results from affirmative
action taken by the Company with the knowledge of the board of directors while
a majority of the directors of the Company consists of persons designated or
elected by Parent.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER
Section 7.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be
terminated and the Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time,
notwithstanding approval thereof by the shareholders of the Company, but prior
to the Effective Time:
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent, Purchaser
and the Company;
(b) by Parent or the Company, if any court of
competent jurisdiction or other governmental body located or
having jurisdiction within the United States or any country
or economic region in which either the Company or Parent,
directly or indirectly, has material assets or operations,
shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any
other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise
<PAGE> 97
93
prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or
other action shall have become final and nonappealable;
(c) by Parent if due to an occurrence or
circumstance which would result in a failure to satisfy any
of the conditions to the Offer set forth in Annex A hereto
Purchaser shall have terminated the Offer, unless such
termination shall have been caused by or resulted from the
failure of Parent or Purchaser to perform in any material
respect their material covenants and agreements contained in
this Agreement.
(d) by Parent, if the Company shall have modified or
amended in any respect materially adverse to Parent or
Purchaser or withdrawn its approval or recommendation of the
Offer, the Merger or this Agreement, PROVIDED that any
communication that advises that the Company has received a
Transaction Proposal or is engaging in an activity permitted
by clauses (i) or (ii) of the proviso to the first sentence
of Section 5.3 hereof with respect to a Transaction Proposal
and that takes no action or position with respect to the
Offer, the Merger, this Agreement or any Transaction
Proposal shall not be deemed to be a withdrawal, modification
or amendment of the Company's approval or recommendation of
the Offer, the Merger or this Agreement and PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that a "stop-look-and-listen" communication with
respect to the Offer, the Merger or this Agreement of the
nature contemplated in Rule 14d-9(e) under the Exchange Act
made by the Company as a result of a
<PAGE> 98
94
Transaction Proposal (whether or not a tender offer), without
more, shall not be deemed to be a modification or amendment
of the Company's approval or recommendation of the Offer,
the Merger or this Agreement that is materially adverse to
Parent or Purchaser, if within 10 business days after the
date of such communication the Company shall have reaffirmed
its recommendation of the Offer, the Merger and this
Agreement;
(e) by Parent if the Company shall have (i) entered
into any definitive agreement to effect the transaction
contemplated by a Transaction Proposal, (ii) recommended any
Transaction Proposal from a person other than Parent or
Purchaser or any of its affiliates or (iii) resolved to do
any of the foregoing;
(f) by Parent, if any corporation (including the
Company or any of its subsidiaries), partnership, person,
other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act) other than Parent or any of its subsidiaries
(collectively, "Persons") shall have become the beneficial
owner of more than 35% of the outstanding Shares (excluding
any dilution due to the Rights)(an "Alternative
Acquisition");
(g) by the Company if (i) due to an occurrence or
circumstance that would result in a failure to satisfy any
of the conditions set forth in Annex A hereto Purchaser
shall have terminated the Offer, unless such termination
shall have been caused by or resulted from the failure of
<PAGE> 99
95
the Company to perform in any material respect its material covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement or (ii) prior to the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer, any person shall have made a bona fide Transaction
Proposal (A) that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good
faith judgement is more favorable to the Company's shareholders than the Offer
and the Merger and (B) as a result of which the Board of Directors concludes in
good faith that termination of this Agreement is necessary or appropriate in
order for the Board of Directors to act in a manner which is consistent with
its fiduciary obligations under applicable law, PROVIDED that such termination
under this clause (ii) shall not be effective until payment of the full fee and
expense reimbursement required by Section 8.3(b) hereof;
(h) by Parent or the Company if, without fault of
the terminating party, the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before
June 30, 1995 (PROVIDED, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this
Section 7.1(h) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill
any obligation under this Agreement has been the cause of, or results in, the
failure of the Merger to have been consummated within such period);
(i) by the Company if (i) on or after December 15,
1994, the termination date of the waiver granted to the Company of the
provisions of Subsection 6.01(j)(iii) of the Credit Agreement dated as of
August 16, 1994 among the
<PAGE> 100
96
Company and the banks party thereto (the "Credit Agreement") shall not then
extend past December 15, 1994 and (ii) the Company (A) shall have received
written notice from the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit
Agreement) pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement that, as a result of
the applicability of the provisions of Subsection 6.01(j)(iii) of the Credit
Agreement, all amounts payable under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall have become and be
forthwith due and payable (and provided that this Agreement shall be deemed to
be terminated hereby without any further action by any party immediately prior
to the receipt by the Company of such notice), (B) shall have been advised in
writing by the Administrative Agent that, as a result of the provisions of
Subsection 6.01(j)(iii) of the Credit Agreement, the Required Banks (as defined
in the Credit Agreement) have requested or consented to such action or (C) the
Company shall reasonably believe either such action referred to in (A) or (B)
above to be imminent based on communications with the Administrative Agent, any
of the banks party to the Credit Agreement or representatives thereof; or
(j) by Parent or the Company if any required
approval of the shareholders of the Company shall not have been obtained by
reason of the failure to obtain the required vote upon a vote held at a duly
held meeting of shareholders or at any adjournment thereof.
<PAGE> 101
97
Section 7.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of
the termination and abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability
on the part of any party or its directors, officers or shareholders, other than
the provisions of this Section 7.2, Section 1.3(a), Section 2.8(c), Section
4.1(j), the last sentences of Sections 5.4(a) and (b), Section 5.14, Section
8.1 and Section 8.3. Nothing contained in this Section shall relieve any party
from liability for any breach of the covenants or agreements contained in this
Agreement.
Section 7.3 AMENDMENT. Subject to Section 1.3(c),
this Agreement may be amended or supplemented at any time before or after the
date on which a majority of the board of directors of the Company shall consist
of designees or representatives of Parent but, after such date, no amendment
shall be made which decreases or increases the Final Exchange Ratio or which
adversely affects the rights of the Company's shareholders hereunder without
the approval of the Company and such shareholders. This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of the parties.
Section 7.4 EXTENSION; WAIVER. Subject to Section
1.3(c), at any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties may (i) extend the
time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other
parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties contained herein of the other parties hereto or in any document,
certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto or (iii) waive
<PAGE> 102
98
compliance by the other parties hereto with any of the agreements or conditions
contained herein. Any agreement on the part of any party to any such extension
or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed
on behalf of such party. The failure of any party hereto to assert any of its
rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES. Except for Section 2.8(c) and 4.1(j), the representations and
warranties made herein shall not survive beyond the Effective Time or a
termination of this Agreement.
Section 8.2 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENT. This
Agreement and the other agreements (other than the Letter Agreement (as defined
below) which has been superseded by this Agreement except to the extent the
terms of the Letter Agreement are expressly referred to herein) referred to
herein (a) constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and, except as provided herein, supersede all other
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties
or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) shall not be
assigned by operation of law or otherwise, provided that Parent may assign its
rights and obligations or those of Purchaser, and Purchaser may assign its
rights and obligations, to Parent or to any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Purchaser,
as the case may be,
<PAGE> 103
99
of its obligations hereunder if such assignee does not perform such
obligations.
Section 8.3 FEES AND EXPENSES. (a) The Company
shall promptly, but in no event later than two business days following written
notice thereof, together with related bills or receipts, reimburse Parent and
Purchaser for all of their Expenses (as defined below) as incurred from time to
time in an aggregate amount of up to $15,000,000, against which aggregate
amount Expenses actually reimbursed (other than the fee in the amount of
$20,000,000 (the "Initial Advisory Fee") reimbursed by the Company upon the
execution of that certain letter agreement dated September 11, 1994 between
Parent and the Company (the "Letter Agreement")) under the Letter Agreement may
be credited. For purposes of this Section 8.3, "Expenses" shall include all
out-of-pocket expenses and fees including the fees and disbursements of
counsel, financial printers, experts, consultants and accountants, as well as
all fees and expenses payable to investment banking firms and other financial
institutions and their respective agents and counsel, whether incurred prior
to, on or after the date hereof, incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Letter Agreement and the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement. The parties acknowledge that the
reimbursement of the Initial Advisory Fee shall not limit the reimbursement of
any additional advisory fees paid by Parent or Purchaser to non-affiliates of
Purchaser.
(b) If (i) (x) prior to termination of this Agreement, any Person shall have
commenced, publicly proposed or
<PAGE> 104
100
communicated to the Company a Transaction Proposal (a "Pre-Termination
Transaction Proposal") (y) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
7.1 and (z) on or prior to June 30, 1996, any Person who commenced, publicly
proposed or communicated to the Company a Pre-Termination Transaction Proposal
enters into any definitive agreement to effect the transaction contemplated by
such Transaction Proposal (whether or not related to such Pre-Termination
Transaction Proposal) or effects an Alternative Acquisition; or (ii) prior to
the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 7.1(d) (other than solely in the event that the average of
the closing sales prices of the Holdings Common Stock as reported on the New
York Stock Exchange Composite Tape for the Valuation Period is less than the
price per share that would yield an Exchange Ratio of 2.375 or less without
giving effect to the proviso in the definition of Exchange Ratio) or (iii)
prior to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(e), 7.1(f) or clause (ii) of Section 7.1(g);
then in each case the Company shall promptly, but in no event later than one
business day after the first of such events shall occur, pay Kohlberg Kravis
Roberts & Co. ("KKR & Co.") a fee of $30,000,000 in cash, which amount shall be
payable in same day funds. No more than $30,000,000 in aggregate shall be
payable to KKR & Co. pursuant to this Section 8.3(b), and no fee shall be
payable to KKR & Co. pursuant to this Section 8.3(b) if $30,000,000 has been
paid to KKR & Co. pursuant to Section 8.3(c).
<PAGE> 105
101
(c) If Parent, together with any subsidiary or
affiliate of Parent including Purchaser) shall acquire beneficial ownership (in
one or more transactions) of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, then the Company shall promptly, but in no event later than one business
day after such event shall occur, pay KKR & Co. a fee of $30,000,000 in cash,
which amount shall be payable in same day funds. No fee shall be payable to
KKR & Co. pursuant to this Section 8.3(c) if $30,000,000 has been paid to KKR &
Co. pursuant to Section 8.3(b).
(d) If the fee of $30,000,000 in cash required to be
paid by the Company to KKR & Co. pursuant to Section 8.3(b) or 8.3(c) hereof
(the "Transaction Fee") is not paid within five business days after the events
set forth in such Sections requiring payment of the Transaction Fee occur, KKR
& Co., at its sole option, may demand (the "Fee Demand") that the Company
tender to KKR & Co., immediately in satisfaction of the Transaction Fee, such
number of shares (rounded to the nearest whole share) of (i) Common Stock ((A)
if it is publicly traded and (B) which at the request of KKR & Co. shall be
issued in shares of treasury stock, if available) or (ii), at the sole option
of KKR & Co. if the Conditional Purchase Right shall have been exercised, and
the Company shall at the time own Holdings Common Stock that is not subject to
any other call or exchange right, Holdings Common Stock equal to (x)
$30,000,000 divided by (y) the Average Market Price. For purposes of this
Section 8.3(d) "Average Market Price" shall mean the average of the
<PAGE> 106
102
average of the high and low prices of Common Stock, or Holdings Common Stock,
as the case may be, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape
on each of the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second
trading day prior to the Fee Demand. The Company acknowledges that it is
obligated hereunder to pay the Transaction Fee in cash and that such obligation
is not derogated in any respect by the existence of the option of KKR & Co. to
seek satisfaction of such obligation by means of the Fee Demand.
(e) In addition to the other provisions of this
Section 8.3, the Company agrees promptly, but in no event later than two
business days following written notice thereof, together with related bills or
receipts, to reimburse KKR & Co., Parent and Purchaser for all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses, including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and the expenses of litigation,
incurred in connection with collecting Expenses and the Transaction Fee as a
result of any willful breach by the Company of its obligations under Section
8.3.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this Section
8.3, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement shall be paid by the party
incurring such expenses (including, in the case of the Company, the costs of
printing the Schedule 14D-9 and any other filings to be printed, and in each
case all exhibits, amendments or supplements thereto). Notwithstanding
<PAGE> 107
103
the foregoing, the costs and expenses of preparing and distributing the Proxy
Statement and obtaining and complying with the antitrust requirements of any
Governmental Entity shall be paid by the Company.
Section 8.4 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this
Agreement:
(a) an "affiliate" of any person means another
person that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such first person;
(b) "Material Adverse Change" or "Material Adverse
Effect" means, when used in connection with any person, any
change or effect that either individually or in the
aggregate with all other such changes or effects is
materially adverse to the business, financial condition or
results of operations of such person and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole or adversely effects the ability of such
person to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement in any material respect;
(c) "person" means an individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity; and
(d) a "subsidiary" of any person means another
person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting
ownership or voting partnership interests of which is
sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of
directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such
voting interests,
<PAGE> 108
104
more than 50% of the equity interests of which) are owned
directly or indirectly by such first person and includes,
in addition, with respect to the Company, BCPO and Borden
Chemicals and Plastics Limited Partnership ("BCPLP").
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
neither BCPO nor BCPLP shall be a "subsidiary" for the
purposes of Article V hereof.
Section 8.5 GAINS AND TRANSFER TAXES. Any
liability with respect to the transfer of the property of the Company arising
out of the New York State Real Property Gains Tax, the New York State Real
Estate Transfer Tax or the New York City Real Property Transfer Tax shall be
borne by the Company and expressly shall not be the liability of the
shareholders of the Company.
Section 8.6 INTERPRETATION. When a reference is
made in this Agreement to a Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall
be to a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. 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. Whenever the words "include",
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to
be followed by the words "without limitation".
Section 8.7 PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto,
and, with respect to the provisions of Section 5.11 and 8.3, shall inure to the
benefit of the persons or entities benefitting from the provisions thereof who
are intended to be
<PAGE> 109
105
third-party beneficiaries thereof. Except as provided in the preceding
sentence, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or
shall confer upon any other person any rights, benefits or remedies of any
nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 8.8 NOTICES. All notices, requests,
claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly received if so given) by
delivery, telegram or telecopy, or by mail (registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or by any courier service, such as
Federal Express, providing proof of delivery. All communications hereunder
shall be delivered to the respective parties at the following addresses:
If to Parent or Purchaser:
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
9 West 57th St.
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Clifton S. Robbins
with a copy to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: David J. Sorkin
if to the Company:
180 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Attention: Frank J. Tasco
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Andrew R. Brownstein, Esq.
<PAGE> 110
106
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
Section 8.9 NON-RECOURSE. Notwithstanding anything
that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, Parent covenants, agrees
and acknowledges and the Company, by its acceptance of the benefits of this
Agreement, covenants, agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding that Parent
is a partnership no recourse under this Agreement or the Conditional
Purchase/Stock Option Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in
connection with this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option
Agreement shall be had against any officer, agent or employee of Parent or
against any partner of Parent or any director, officer, employee, partner,
affiliate or assignee of any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of
any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any
statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and
acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed
on or otherwise be incurred by an officer, agent or employee of Parent or any
partner of Parent or any director, officer, employee, partner, affiliate or
assignee of any of the foregoing, as such for any obligations of Parent under
the Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this
Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement or for any claim
based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing limitation of
<PAGE> 111
107
liability shall in no way constitute a limitation on the rights of the Company
to enforce any remedies it may have against the undistributed assets of Parent
for the collection of any obligations or liabilities in connection with this
Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement.
Section 8.10 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
Jersey, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable
principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
Section 8.11 ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be
entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement
and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any
court of the United States located in the State of New Jersey or the City of
New York, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled
at law or in equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to
submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of (i) the United States District
Court for the District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York in the event any dispute arises out of this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the
extent such courts would have subject matter jurisdiction with respect to such
dispute and (ii) the courts of the State of New Jersey and
<PAGE> 112
108
the State of New York otherwise, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or
defeat such personal jurisdiction or venue by motion or other request for leave
from any such court and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating
to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in
any court other than such courts sitting in the State of New Jersey or the
State of New York.
Section 8.12 DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive
headings used 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.
Section 8.13 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Section 8.14 SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each
provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in
such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but if any
provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this
Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if
such invalid,
<PAGE> 113
109
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused
this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly
authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.
WHITEHALL ASSOCIATES, L.P.
By: KKR Associates, a limited
partnership, its General
Partner
By: /s/ Henry Kravis
----------------------------------
Title: General Partner
BORDEN ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ Clifton S. Robbins
----------------------------------
Name: Clifton S. Robbins
Title: President
BORDEN, INC.
By: /s/ Allan L. Miller
----------------------------------
Name: Allan L. Miller
Title: Senior Vice President,
Chief Administrative
Officer and General
Counsel
<PAGE> 114
ANNEX A
-------
The capitalized terms used herein have the meanings set forth in the Agreement
and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement") to
which this Annex A is attached.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer,
Purchaser shall not be required to accept for exchange, exchange or deliver any
shares of Holdings Common Stock for, subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the
Exchange Act, any Shares tendered and may terminate or (subject to the terms of
the Merger Agreement) amend the Offer or may postpone the acceptance for
exchange of the Shares tendered, if immediately before acceptance for exchange
of any such Shares (whether or not any Shares have theretofore been accepted
for exchange pursuant to the Offer): (i) there shall not have been validly
tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer a number of Shares
which, when added to any Shares previously acquired by Parent or Purchaser
(other than pursuant to the Conditional Purchase Right) represent more than 41%
of the Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis (other than dilution due to
the Rights) (the "Minimum Condition"); (ii) any waiting period under the HSR
Act applicable to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer shall not have
expired or been terminated or the requisite approvals, authorizations or
consents required by the Investment Canada Act, Canada's Competition Act and
the European Community shall not have been obtained; (iii) the obtaining of all
consents and waivers on terms satisfactory to Parent necessary in order that
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement not constitute (A) an event of
default or an event which with or without notice or the passage of time would
constitute an event of default under any indebtedness, partnership agreement or
equityholders agreement of the Company or any subsidiary (or Borden Chemicals
and Plastics Limited Partnership, Borden Chemicals and Plastics Operating
Limited Partnership and T.M. Investors Limited Partnership) ("Indebtedness"),
including, without limitation, the Company's Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of August 16, 1994 with Citibank, N.A. as Administrative
Agent and T.M. Investors Limited Partnership's Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of August 16, 1994 with Citibank, N.A. as Administrative
Agent, or (B) an event which would individually or in combination with other
events give rise to an obligation on the part of the Company to repay or
repurchase any Indebtedness, partnership interest or equity interest, which
event of default or other event described in clause (A) or (B) above would give
rise to, with or without notice or the passage of time and taking into account
any cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions, the obligation to repay
prior to maturity or the acceleration of an aggregate of at least $25 million
of Indebtedness or other obligations; (iv) the Company shall not have
refinanced, or
<PAGE> 115
2
received commitments for refinancing or indications satisfactory to Parent from
lenders that it will be able to refinance, in each case on market terms
reasonably acceptable to Parent, the principal bank credit facilities of the
Company and TMI, provided that such refinancing shall not be required to
increase the available lines of credit under such facilities except to meet the
working capital and other reasonable needs of the Company and its subsidiaries
and shall principally be related to extending maturities and renegotiating
repayment schedules under such facilities as appropriate to meet the business
plan as determined by Parent and the Company; (v) the Form S-4 and any required
post-effective amendment shall not have become effective, under the Securities
Act and shall be the subject of any stop order or proceedings seeking a stop
order, and any material "blue sky" and other state securities laws applicable
to the registration of the Holdings Common Stock to be exchanged for Common
Stock shall not have been complied with; or (vi) any of the following shall
occur and remain in effect and shall, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser
in any such case, make it inadvisable to proceed with the Offer or such
acceptance for exchange of any of the Shares or to proceed with the Merger:
(a) (i) any representation or warranty of the
Company in the Agreement shall have been untrue as of the date of the Agreement
and shall continue to be untrue, which untrue representations or warranties, in
the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; or there
has been a breach by the Company of any covenant or agreement set forth in the
Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement having a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company which has not been cured; (ii) the SEC Documents
filed by the Company with the SEC since the date of the Agreement did not
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder applicable to such SEC Documents, and the SEC Documents
(including any and all financial statements included therein), except to the
extent revised or superseded by a subsequent filing with the SEC, as of such
dates contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; or (iii) the consolidated financial statements of the Company
included in the SEC Documents filed since the date of the Agreement did not
comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto, were not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (except, in the case of unaudited consolidated quarterly statements,
as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the
periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and did not
fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results
<PAGE> 116
3
of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the
case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
(b) there shall be any United states or foreign
statute, rule, regulation, decree, order or injunction promulgated, enacted,
entered into or enforced by any Governmental Entity, that (i) restrains or
prohibits the making or consummation of the Offer or the Merger or restrains or
prohibits the performance of this Agreement or the Conditional Purchase/Stock
Option Agreement, (ii) prohibits or materially limits the ownership or
operation by Parent or Purchaser of all or any substantial portion of the
business or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or compels Parent
or Purchaser to dispose of or to hold separate all or any substantial portion
of the business or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or imposes
any material limitation on the ability of Parent or Purchaser to conduct such
business or own such assets or (iii) imposes material limitations on the
ability of Parent or Purchaser (or any other affiliate of Parent or Purchaser)
to acquire or hold or to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares,
including, but not limited to, the right to vote the Shares purchased by
Purchaser on all matters properly presented to the shareholders of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Parent and Purchaser shall have used their best efforts
to have any such decree, order or injunction vacated or reversed;
(c) any change shall have occurred since the date
hereof in the business, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries which has had, or would reasonably be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company,
including, without limitation, the commencement in respect of, or by, the
Company of an involuntary, or voluntary, proceeding under any applicable
bankruptcy law, decree, order or any other case or proceeding adjudging the
Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or the condition of the Company is such that
it is unable to pay all of its liabilities as such liabilities mature or has
unreasonably small capital for conducting the business theretofore or proposed
to be conducted by it;
(d) there shall have occurred (and the adverse
effect of such occurrence shall, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser, be
continuing) (i) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices
for, securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
market in the United States, (ii) any extraordinary or material adverse change
in United States financial markets generally, including, without limitation, a
decline of at least 25% in either the Dow Jones Average of Industrial Stocks or
the Standard & Poor's 500 index from the date hereof, (iii) a declaration of a
banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the
United States, (iv) any limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any
Governmental Entity, on, or any other event that would reasonably
<PAGE> 117
4
be expected to materially adversely affect, the extension of credit by banks or
other lending institutions, (v) a commencement of a war or armed hostilities or
other national or international calamity directly or indirectly involving the
United States (other than in Haiti) which would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect (or materially delay)
the consummation of the Offer or (vi) in the case of any of the foregoing
existing at the time of commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or
worsening thereof;
(e) the Agreement shall have been terminated in
accordance with its terms or the Offer shall have been amended or terminated
with the consent of the Company.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of
the Parent and Purchaser and may be asserted by the Parent or Purchaser
regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition and may be
waived by the Parent or Purchaser in whole or in part, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that
if Purchaser shall have exercised the Conditional Purchase Right in whole or in
part prior to the termination of the Offer Purchaser shall not be permitted to
waive the Minimum Condition. The Parent's or Purchaser's failure at any time
to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any
such right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be
asserted at any time and from time to time.
<PAGE> 118
EXHIBIT A
---------
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BORDEN, INC.
Pursuant to N.J.S. 14A:9-5(4)
Dated: _____________, 1994
THE UNDERSIGNED corporation certifies that it has adopted the following
restated certificate of incorporation:
ARTICLE I
CORPORATE NAME
The name of the corporation is Borden, Inc.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose for which this corporation is organized
is to engage in any activity within the purposes for which corporations may be
organized under the New Jersey Business Corporation Act.
ARTICLE III
CAPITAL STOCK
1. AUTHORIZED SHARES
The corporation is authorized to issue 300,000,000
shares $.01 par value.
2. PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS
The shareholders of the corporation shall not have
pre-emptive rights.
<PAGE> 119
2
3. SHAREHOLDER VOTE REQUIRED
The affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast by
the shareholders shall be required to authorize or approve any action or matter
to be voted upon by the shareholders, except that directors shall be elected as
provided by law.
ARTICLE IV
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the corporation's current registered
office is 65 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068; the name of the
corporation's current registered agent at that address is John R. MacKay 2nd.
ARTICLE V
CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The current board of directors consists of three
persons whose name and addresses are as follows:
Clifton S. Robbins
9 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019
Scott M. Stuart
9 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019
Alexander Navab
9 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Every person who is or was a director or an officer
of the corporation shall be indemnified by the corporation to the fullest
extent allowed by law, including the indemnification
<PAGE> 120
3
permitted by N.J.S. 14A:3-5(8), against all liabilities and expenses imposed
upon or incurred by that person in connection with any proceeding in which that
person may be made, or threatened to be made, a party, or in which that person
may become involved by reason of that person being or having been a director or
an officer of or of serving or having served in any capacity with any other
enterprise at the request of the corporation, whether or not that person is a
director or an officer or continues to serve the other enterprise at the time
the liabilities or expenses are imposed or incurred. During the pendency of
any such proceeding, the corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, promptly advance expenses that are incurred, from time to time, by a
director or an officer in connection with the proceeding, subject to the
receipt by the corporation of an undertaking as required by law.
ARTICLE VII
PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS OR OFFICERS
A director or officer of the corporation shall not
be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for the breach of
any duty owed to the corporation or its shareholders except to the extent that
an exemption from personal liability is not permitted by the New Jersey
Business Corporation Act.
<PAGE> 121
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned corporation has
caused this certificate to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized
officer as of the date first above written.
BORDEN, INC.
By:_____________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 122
EXHIBIT B
[Closing Date]
RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp.
1301 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019
Gentlemen:
I have been advised that I have been identified as a
possible "affiliate" of Borden, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"),
as that term is defined for purposes of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 of
the General Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), although nothing contained herein should be
construed as an admission of such fact.
Pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of September 23, 1994 (the "Merger Agreement") among Borden
Acquisition Corp., a New Jersey corporation ("Purchaser"), Whitehall
Associates, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and the Company, Purchaser
will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"). As a result of the
Merger, I will receive Merger Consideration (as defined in the Merger
Agreement), including shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
("Holdings Common Stock"), of RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("Holdings") in exchange for shares of common stock, par value
$.625 per share ("Common Stock"), of the Company owned by me at the effective
time of the Merger as determined pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
A. In connection therewith, I represent, warrant
and agree that:
1. I shall not make any sale, transfer or other
disposition of the Holdings Common Stock I receive as a
result of the Merger in violation of the Securities Act or
the Rules and Regulations.
2. I have been advised that the issuance of
Holdings Common Stock to me as a result of the Merger has
been registered with the Commission under the Securities Act
on a Registration Statement on Form S-4. However, I have
also been advised that, because at the time the Merger was
submitted for a vote of the stockholders of the Company I
may have been an "affiliate" of the Company and the
distribution by me of the shares of Holdings Common Stock I
receive as a result of the Merger has not been registered
under the Securities Act, such shares must be held by me
indefinitely unless (i) such distribution of such shares has
been registered under the Securities Act, (ii) a sale of
such shares is made in conformity with the provisions of
<PAGE> 123
2
Rule 145 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities
Act or (iii) such sale is pursuant to a transaction which,
in the opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
Holdings or as described in a "no-action" or interpretive
letter from the staff of the Commission, is not required to
be registered under the Securities Act.
3. I have carefully read this letter and the Merger
Agreement and have discussed the requirements of the Merger
Agreement and other limitations upon the sale, transfer or
other disposition of the shares of Holdings Common Stock to
be received by me, to the extent I have felt necessary, with
my counsel or with counsel for the Company.
B. Furthermore, in connection with the matters set
forth herein, I understand and agree that:
1. Holdings is under no further obligation to
register the sale, transfer or other disposition of the
shares of Holdings Common Stock received by me as a result
of the Merger or to take any other action necessary in order
to make compliance with an exemption from registration
available, except as set forth in paragraph C below.
2. Stop transfer instructions will be given to the
transfer agents of Holdings with respect to the shares of
Holdings Common Stock I will receive as a result of the
merger, and there will be placed on the certificates
representing such shares, or any certificates delivered in
substitution therefor, a legend stating in substance:
"The shares represented by this certificate were
issued in a transaction to which Rule 145 under the
Securities Act of 1933 applies. The shares
represented by this certificate may be
transferred only in accordance with the terms of an
agreement dated , 1994 between the
registered holder hereof and RJR Nabisco Holdings
Corp., a copy of which agreement is on file at the
principal offices of RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp."
3. Unless the transfer by me of my shares of
Holdings Common Stock is a sale made in conformity with the
provisions of Rule 145 of the Rules and Regulations or made
pursuant to a registration under the Securities Act,
Holdings reserves the right to put the following legend on
the certificates issued to my transferee:
"The shares represented by this certificate have
not been registered under the Securities Act of
1933 and were acquired by the holder not with a view
to, or for resale in connection with, any
distribution thereof
<PAGE> 124
3
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and
may not be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred
except pursuant to a registration statement or in
accordance with an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933."
It is understood and agreed that the legends set
forth above shall be removed and substitute certificates shall be delivered
without any such legend and the transfer agents will be instructed to
effectuate transfers of shares of Holdings Common Stock if the undersigned
delivers to Holdings a letter from the staff of the Commission or an opinion of
counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Holdings to the effect
that such legend is not required for the purposes of the Securities Act.
C. Holdings hereby represents, warrants and agrees
that:
For as long as resales of any shares of Holdings
Common Stock owned by me are subject to Rule 145, Holdings
will use all reasonable efforts to make all filings of the
nature specified in paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 of the
Rules and Regulations.
Very truly yours,
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit (c)(4)
CONFORMED COPY
CONDITIONAL PURCHASE/STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
-------------------------------------------
Conditional Purchase/Stock Option Agreement dated as of September 23, 1994
by and among Whitehall Associates, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("Parent"), Borden Acquisition Corp., a New Jersey corporation and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Parent ("Purchaser"), and Borden, Inc., a New Jersey
corporation (the "Company").
RECITALS
--------
Concurrently herewith, Parent, Purchaser and the Company are entering into
an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement";
capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth
in the Merger Agreement), which contemplates, among other things, an offer to
exchange (the "Offer"), pursuant to which each share of Common Stock accepted
by Purchaser in accordance with the Offer shall be converted into the right to
receive from Purchaser that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Holdings Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. Subject to the terms and
conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Offer will be followed by a merger (the
"Merger") of Purchaser with and into the Company.
As a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement,
Parent and Purchaser have required that the Company agree, and believing it to
be in the best interests of the Company, the Company has agreed, among other
things, to grant to Parent the Option (as hereinafter defined).
AGREEMENT
---------
To implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. The Conditional Purchase Option.
-------------------------------
1.1 GRANT OF OPTION. The Company hereby grants to Purchaser an
irrevocable option to purchase up to 28,138,000 shares of Common Stock (the
"Shares"), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein (the
"Option"). At the time that the Option is exercised, the Company shall
designate whether the Shares shall be newly issued Shares or Shares of treasury
stock of the Company.
1.2 Exercise of Option.
------------------
(a) The Option may be exercised by Purchaser (or its designee, which
designee must be Parent or a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent), in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, during the
period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Date, PROVIDED
that if
<PAGE> 2
2
Purchaser (or its designee) has not exercised the Option in whole or in part
prior to the expiration of the Offer, it shall not be entitled to exercise the
Option thereafter if it waives or otherwise reduces the Minimum Condition and
accepts fewer than 41% of the outstanding Shares for payment in the Offer. As
used herein, the term "Expiration Date" means the first to occur of any of the
following dates:
(x) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement); or
(y) March 21, 1995 (unless Purchaser has theretofore sent the
written notice specified in Section 1.2(b)).
(b) If Purchaser wishes to exercise the Option (the "Option Purchase"),
Purchaser shall send a written notice to the Company of its intention to
exercise the Option, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased (and the
denominations of the share certificate or certificates to be issued), whether
Purchaser and/or a designee of Purchaser will be purchasing the Shares and the
place, and, if then known, time and date of the closing of such purchase (the
"Closing Date" or the "Closing"), which date shall not be less than two
business days nor more than ten business days from the date on which such
notice is delivered; PROVIDED, that the Closing shall be held only if (i) such
purchase would not otherwise violate or cause the violation of, any applicable
law or regulations (including, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder, or the
rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE")) and (ii) no statute,
rule, regulation, decree, order or injunction shall have been promulgated,
enacted, entered into or enforced by any governmental agency or authority or
court which prohibits delivery of the Shares, whether temporary, preliminary or
permanent (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the parties hereto shall use their best
efforts to have any such order, decree or injunction vacated or reversed). In
the event the Closing is delayed as a result of clause (i) or (ii) above, the
Closing Date shall be within five business days following the cessation of such
violation, statute, rule, regulation, decree, order or injunction, as the case
may be; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that, notwithstanding any prior notice of intention
to exercise the Option, Purchaser shall not be obligated to purchase any Shares
pursuant to this Section 1.2(b) after the date nine months following the date
of such notice.
(c) At any Closing, the Company shall deliver to Purchaser (or its
designee) all of the Shares to be purchased by delivery of a certificate or
certificates evidencing such Shares in the denominations designated by
Purchaser in the notice required under Section 1.2(b). If at the time of
issuance of any Shares pursuant to an exercise of all or part of the Option
<PAGE> 3
3
hereunder, the Company shall not have redeemed the Rights (as defined in the
Rights Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1986 between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), as amended on November
29, 1988, May 22, 1991, September 11, 1994 and the date hereof), then each
Share issued pursuant to such exercise shall have attached to it Rights or new
rights with terms substantially the same as and at least as favorable to the
Parent as are provided under the Rights.
1.3 Conversion of Option.
--------------------
(a) Upon the Conversion Date (as defined below), if any, the Option will
be converted in part from an irrevocable option to purchase the Shares into an
obligation on the part of Purchaser (or its designee, which designee must be
Parent or a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent) to exercise
the Option to acquire, and of Parent to cause Purchaser to take such action,
subject to applicable law (the "Mandatory Purchase"), on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth herein, such number of Shares, which when added to
the number of Shares purchased in the Offer (together with any Shares
previously purchased pursuant to the Option) as will result in Purchaser
beneficially owning more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the "Mandatory Purchase Shares"). Shares subject to the Option in excess of
the number of Mandatory Purchase Shares shall continue, subject to the terms of
Section 1.2(a), to be subject to purchase at the option of the Purchaser. As
used herein, the term "Conversion Date" means the date, if any, on which
Purchaser or Parent or a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent
acquires more than 41%, but less than 50%, of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer.
(b) If the Conversion Date occurs, Purchaser shall send a written notice
to the Company, specifying the number of Mandatory Purchase Shares (and the
denominations of the share certificate or certificates thereunder), whether
Purchaser or a designee of Purchaser will be purchasing the Mandatory Purchase
Shares and, if then known, the place, time and date of the closing of such
purchase (the "Mandatory Closing Date" or the "Mandatory Closing"), which date
shall not be less than two business days nor more than ten business days from
the date on which such notice is delivered; PROVIDED, that the Mandatory
Closing shall be held only if (i) such purchase would not otherwise violate or
cause the violation of, any applicable law or regulations (including, the HSR
Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, or the rules of
the NYSE) and (ii) no statute, rule, regulation, decree, order or injunction
shall have been promulgated, enacted, entered into, or enforced by any
governmental agency or authority or court which prohibits delivery of the
Mandatory Purchase Shares, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent
(PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to
have any such order,
<PAGE> 4
4
decree or injunction vacated or reversed). In the event the Mandatory Closing
is delayed as a result of clause (i) or (ii) above, the Mandatory Closing Date
shall be within five business days following the cessation of such violation,
statute, rule, regulation, decree, order or injunction, as the case may be.
(c) At the Mandatory Closing, if any, the Company shall deliver to
Purchaser (or its designee) all of the Mandatory Purchase Shares to be
purchased by delivery of a certificate or certificates evidencing such shares
in the denominations designated by Purchaser. If at the time of issuance of
any Mandatory Purchase Shares, the Company shall not have redeemed the Rights,
then each Mandatory Purchase Share issued pursuant to such exercise shall have
attached to it Rights or new rights with terms substantially the same as and at
least as favorable to the Purchaser as are provided under the Rights.
1.4 PAYMENTS. In the event Purchaser exercises the Option (including an
obligatory exercise pursuant to Section 1.3), Purchaser (or, at Purchaser's
option, its designee) shall, at any Closing or Mandatory Closing, as the case
may be, deliver to the Company, such number of shares (rounded to the nearest
whole share) of Holdings Common Stock (the "Exchanged Shares") as shall equal
the product of the Option Exchange Ratio (as defined below) and the number of
Shares purchased pursuant to this Section 1. The "Option Exchange Ratio" shall
mean the quotient (rounded to the nearest 1/100,000) obtained by dividing (i)
$11.00 (the "Option Purchase Price") by (ii) the average of the average of the
high and low prices of Holdings Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Tape on each of the ten consecutive trading days immediately
preceding the second trading day prior to (x) the date of notice of exercise in
the case of an Option Purchase or (y) the date of exercise in the case of a
Mandatory Purchase. In the event that a payment is actually made to Parent
pursuant to Section 8.3(b) of the Merger Agreement, the Option Purchase Price
shall be adjusted upward (retroactively if necessary and net of any taxes or
brokerage fees paid in connection with the sale, tender or exchange of shares
by Purchaser or its designee, which designee must be Parent or a direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent) to reflect (i) with respect to any
Shares sold, tendered, or exchanged in any third party transaction that
triggers a payment pursuant to Section 8.3(b) of the Merger Agreement, the
price per share (subject to the calculation principles set forth in the next
succeeding sentence) actually paid to holders of Common Stock of the Company as
a result of any such third party transaction and (ii) with respect to any
Shares sold, tendered or exchanged to another party or parties by Purchaser (or
its designee) other than pursuant to such third party transaction, the price
per share (subject to the calculation principles set forth in clause (i) of the
next succeeding sentence) actually paid to Purchaser (or its designee) by such
other party or parties in consideration for such Shares (the "Option Purchase
Price Adjustment"). To the extent the "price per share" referred
<PAGE> 5
5
to in the preceding sentence consists in whole or in part of non-cash
consideration, it shall be based on the trading market value thereof or if
there is no trading market for such consideration, the fair market value as
determined by an independent investment banker jointly selected by Purchaser
and the Company. The Option Purchase Price Adjustment shall be payable with
respect to shares actually sold, tendered or exchanged promptly following
receipt of the consideration therefor (and, if necessary, the valuation
thereof), and Purchaser agrees promptly, but in no event later than two
business days following such event, to notify the Company of the receipt of
such consideration. Parent agrees promptly, but in no event later than two
business days following written notice thereof, together with related bills or
receipts, to reimburse the Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs, fees
and expenses, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel and the expenses of litigation, incurred in connection
with collecting the Option Purchase Price Adjustment as a result of any willful
breach by Parent of its obligations under this Section 1.4.
2. Representations and Warranties.
------------------------------
2.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER AND PARENT. Purchaser and
Parent hereby represent and warrant, jointly and severally, to the Company:
(a) DUE AUTHORIZATION. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the
exercise of the Option) have been duly and validly authorized by Purchaser,
and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Purchaser are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
Purchaser and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Purchaser,
enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms subject to the
effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(b) NO CONFLICTS. Except for (i) filings under the HSR Act and the
applicable requirements, if any, of any relevant foreign jurisdictions, (ii)
the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and (iii) the applicable
requirements of state takeover laws, (A) no filing with, and no permit,
authorization, consent or approval of, any state, federal or foreign public
body or authority is necessary for the execution of this Agreement by
Purchaser and the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated
hereby (including the exercise of the Option) and (B) neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by
<PAGE> 6
6
Purchaser nor the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated
hereby (including the exercise of the Option) nor compliance by Purchaser
with any of the provisions hereof shall (1) conflict with or result in any
breach of, or require a vote under, any provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws of Purchaser, (2) result in a violation or breach
of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default
(or give rise to any third party right of termination, cancellation, material
modification or acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Purchaser is a party or
by which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound or (3) violate
any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable
to Purchaser, or any of its properties or assets, except in the case of (2)
or (3) for violations, breaches or defaults which would not, in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, results of
operations or financial condition of Purchaser or materially impair the
ability of Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.
(c) GOOD STANDING. Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and
has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement.
(d) DISTRIBUTION. Any Shares acquired by Purchaser (or any designee of
Purchaser) upon exercise of the Option will not be transferred or otherwise
disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
(e) NO CONFLICTS FOR HOLDINGS. Except for (i) filings under the HSR Act
and the applicable requirements, if any, of any relevant foreign
jurisdictions, (ii) the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and (iii)
the applicable requirements of state takeover laws, (A) no filing with, and
no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any state, federal or
foreign public body or authority is necessary with respect to Holdings in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including the exercise of the Option) and (B) the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the exercise of the Option) or
compliance by Parent with any of the provisions hereof does not (1) conflict
with or result in any breach of, or require a vote under, any provision of
the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Holdings, (2) result in a
violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of
time or both) a default (or give rise to any third party right of
termination, cancellation, material modification or
<PAGE> 7
7
acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract, agreement or other instrument
or obligation to which Holdings is a party or by which it or any of its
properties or assets may be bound other than Holdings' and RJRN's credit
agreement dated as of April 5, 1993, as amended, and Holdings' and RJRN's
credit agreement dated as of December 1, 1991, as amended or (3) violate any
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to
Holdings, or any of its properties or assets, except in the case of (2) or
(3) for violations, breaches or defaults which would not, in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect of the business, results of operations or
financial condition of Holdings or materially impair the ability of Parent or
Purchaser to perform any of its respective obligations hereunder.
2.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT. Parent hereby represents
and warrants to the Company.
(a) DUE AUTHORIZATION. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the
exercise of the Option) have been duly and validly authorized by Parent, and
no other proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and
constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Parent, enforceable against
Parent in accordance with its terms subject to the effects of bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(b) NO CONFLICTS. Except for (i) filings under the HSR Act and the
applicable requirements, if any, of any relevant foreign jurisdictions, (ii)
the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and (iii) the applicable
requirements of state takeover laws, (A) no filing with, and no permit,
authorization, consent or approval of, any state, federal or foreign public
body or authority is necessary for the execution of this Agreement by Parent
and the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including the exercise of the Option) and (B) neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Parent nor the consummation by Parent of the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the exercise of the Option) nor
compliance by Parent with any of the provisions hereof shall (1) conflict
with or result in any breach of, or require a vote under, any provision of
the governing documents of Parent, (2) result in a violation or breach of,
<PAGE> 8
8
or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or
give rise to any third party right of termination, cancellation, material
modification or acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Parent is a party or by
which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound or (3) violate any
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to
Parent, or any of its properties or assets, except in the case of (2) or (3)
for violations, breaches or defaults which would not, in the aggregate, have
a material adverse effect of the business, results of operations or financial
condition of Parent or materially impair the ability of Parent to perform any
of its obligations hereunder.
(c) GOOD STANDING. Parent is a limited partnership duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement.
(d) HOLDINGS SHARES. Subject to any transfer of shares to Purchaser (or
its designee) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Merger Agreement, Parent has good and valid title to the
shares of Holdings Common Stock that will serve as consideration in
connection with the exercise of the Option, free and clear of all claims,
liens, encumbrances, security interests and charges of any nature and upon
delivery thereof to the Company they shall be free and clear of all claims,
liens, encumbrances, security interests and charges of any nature. All of
the shares of Holdings Common Stock to be exchanged in consideration of the
exercise of the Option are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable with no personal liability attached to the ownership thereof
and have been approved for listing on the NYSE.
2.3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to Purchaser and Parent:
(a) DUE AUTHORIZATION. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the
exercise of the Option) have been duly and validly authorized by the Board of
Directors of the Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of
the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms
<PAGE> 9
9
subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing.
(b) SHARES. Subject to Section 2.3(c), the Company has taken all
necessary corporate and other action to authorize, and to permit it to
deliver, and at all times from the date hereof until such time as the
obligation to deliver Shares hereunder terminates will have reserved for
delivery (in the case of Shares of treasury stock) or issuance (in the case
of newly issued Shares), upon exercise of the Option, 28,138,000 shares of
Common Stock. All of such Shares are (in the case of Shares of treasury
stock), or shall be (in the case of newly issued Shares), duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable with no personal liability
attached to the ownership thereof and are approved for listing on the NYSE
(in the case of Shares of treasury stock). Upon delivery of such Shares they
shall be free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrances, security
interests and charges of any nature whatsoever and shall not be subject to
any preemptive right of any shareholder of the Company.
(c) NO CONFLICTS. Except for (i) filings under the HSR Act, if
applicable, (ii) the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and (iii)
the applicable requirements of state takeover laws, (A) no filing with, and
no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any state, federal or
foreign public body or authority is necessary for the execution of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the exercise of the Option) and
(B) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor
the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including the exercise of the Option) nor compliance by the Company with any
of the provisions hereof shall (x) conflict with or result in any breach of,
or require any vote under, any provision of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company (the "Charter") or the By-Laws of the Company,
(y) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice
or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any third party right of
termination, cancellation, material modification or acceleration) under any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of
them or any of their properties or assets may be bound or (z) violate any
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to
the Company or its subsidiaries or any of
<PAGE> 10
10
their properties or assets, except in the case of (y) or (z) for violations,
breaches or defaults which would not, in the aggregate, have a material
adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial
condition of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or materially
impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder.
(d) BOARD ACTION. The Company's Board of Directors, at a meeting duly
called and held, has approved the execution of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the exercise of the Option, prior
to the execution of this Agreement, and such approval constitutes approval of
the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the exercise of the Option, for purposes of
Sections 14A:10A-4 and 14A:10A-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act
(the "NJBCA") and Article VIII of the Charter, and the approval of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall also constitute, solely for the purposes of Sections 14A:10-4
and 14A:10-5 of the NJBCA and, to the extent that there are no Continuing
Directors (as defined in the Charter), Article VIII of the Charter, an
approval of any future "Business Combination" (as defined in Section
14A:10A-3 of the NJBCA and Article VIII of the Charter) between the Company
and Parent or any affiliate thereof, provided that (x) such "Business
Combination" is approved by a majority of the Independent Directors and (y)
if appropriate, the Company shall have received the opinion of an investment
banking firm selected by the Independent Directors that such "Business
Combination" is fair to the Company's shareholders from a financial point of
view.
(e) RIGHTS AMENDMENT. The Company's Board of Directors has amended the
Rights Agreement prior to the execution of this Agreement and the Merger
Agreement so that neither the execution nor the delivery of this Agreement or
the Merger Agreement or both such agreements, taken together, nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will (i) trigger the
exercisability of the Rights (as defined in the Rights Agreement), the
separation of the Rights from the stock certificates to which they are
attached, or any other provisions of the Rights Agreement, including causing
Parent and/or Purchaser from becoming an Acquiring Person (as defined in the
Rights Agreement), the occurrence of a Distribution Date (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) or a Shares Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or (ii) trigger the rights of the holders of the common units of
Borden Chemicals and Plastics Limited Partnership, pursuant to the Second
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated February 16, 1993, to require
the Company to purchase the common units held by them.
<PAGE> 11
11
(f) GOOD STANDING. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and
has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement.
(g) DISTRIBUTION. Exchanged Shares acquired by the Company upon exercise
of the Option will not be transferred or otherwise disposed of except in a
transaction registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
3. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. In the event of any change
in the number (or conversion or exchange) of issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, split-up, merger,
recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares, spin-off or other change in
the corporate or capital structure of the Company which could have the effect
of diluting or otherwise diminishing Purchaser's rights hereunder (including
any issuance of Common Stock or other equity security of the Company at a price
below the fair value thereof), the number and kind of Shares or other
securities subject to the Option and the Option Exchange Ratio therefor shall
be appropriately adjusted so that Purchaser shall receive upon exercise (or, if
such a change occurs between exercise and Closing or Mandatory Closing, as the
case may be, upon Closing or Mandatory Closing, as the case may be) of the
Option the number and kind of shares or other securities or property that
Purchaser would have received in respect of the Shares that Purchaser is
entitled to purchase upon exercise of the Option if the Option had been
exercised (or the purchase thereunder had been consummated, as the case may be)
immediately prior to such event. The rights of Purchaser under this Section
shall be in addition to, and shall in no way limit, its rights against the
Company for breach of the Merger Agreement.
4. REGISTRATION OF SHARES HELD BY PURCHASER (OR ITS DESIGNEE) UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT. (a) If the Option is exercised, the Company agrees to extend
to Purchaser (or its designee) registration rights on the same terms and
subject to the same conditions as Holdings has extended to Parent pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement dated July 15, 1990 between Holdings and
Parent (the "Registration Rights Agreement"); PROVIDED that (i) for purposes of
Section 4(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement, Common Stock of the Company
shall be deemed to have been registered after the date of the agreement under
the Securities Act, (ii) for purposes of Section 4(a) and the definition of
"Demand Party" the reference to 13,600,000 shares of Common Stock shall be
deemed to mean 6,500,000 shares of Common Stock, (iii) for purposes of Section
4(c) of the Registration Rights Agreement, only the first two registrations of
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Rights Agreement) will be at the
expense of the Company and (iv) notices to the respective parties shall be
given as provided in this Agreement.
<PAGE> 12
12
5. REGISTRATION OF SHARES HELD BY THE COMPANY UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. If
the Option is exercised, then subject in all respects to the terms and
conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall succeed with
respect to the shares of Holdings Common Stock acquired as a result of the
exercise of the Option to the rights and obligations of a subsequent Holder
under such agreement, unless, in the written opinion of counsel to Holdings,
which opinion shall be delivered to the Company and which shall be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Company and its counsel, registration
of the shares of Holdings Common Stock acquired as a result of the exercise of
the Option is not required to lawfully sell and distribute such shares in the
manner contemplated by the Company. By its execution of this Agreement, the
Company agrees to be bound by the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.
If the Option is exercised, Parent and the Company agree that the Company will
be entitled to two (2) registrations at the expense of Holdings (or if Holdings
refuses to bear such expenses, at the expense of Parent or Purchaser) of
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Registration Rights Agreement, and, subject to
the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, such other registrations at its
own expense as it shall request.
6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) If requested by Parent, the Company shall,
following the exercise of the Option and the purchase of the Shares, and from
time to time thereafter, take all actions necessary to cause the Applicable
Percentage (as defined below) of directors (and of members of each committee of
the Board of Directors) (rounded in each case to the next highest director or
member) of the Company selected by Parent to consist of persons designated or
elected by Parent (whether, at the election of the Company, by means of
increasing the size of the board of directors or seeking the resignation of
directors and causing Parent's designees to be elected). The "Applicable
Percentage" means the ratio of (i) the total voting power of all Shares
purchased in accordance with the exercise of the Option and/or accepted for
exchange pursuant to the Offer to (ii) the total voting power of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company, rounded to the nearest whole
number and expressed as a percentage; provided that if Purchaser has acquired
at least 28,138,000 Shares the Applicable Percentage shall not be less than
33-1/3%.
(b) The Company's obligations to cause designees of Parent to be elected
or appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company shall be subject to
Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder. The
Company shall promptly take all actions required pursuant to Section 14(f) and
Rule 14f-1 in order to fulfill its obligations under this Section 6 and shall
include in the Schedule 14D-9 such information with respect to the Company and
its officers and directors as is required under Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1.
Parent and Purchaser will supply to the Company any information with respect
<PAGE> 13
13
to any of them and their nominees, officers, directors and affiliates required
by Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1.
(c) Following the election or appointment of Parent's designees pursuant
to this Section 6 and prior to the Effective Time, any amendment by the Company
of this Agreement, extension by the Company for the performance or waiver of
the obligations, conditions or other acts of Parent or Purchaser or waiver by
the Company of its rights hereunder, will require the concurrence of a majority
of the Independent Directors.
7. ANTITRUST FILING AND DIVESTITURES. The Company and Parent shall, as
promptly as practicable, file notification and report forms under the HSR Act
with the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice (the "Antitrust Division") and make any other necessary
filings with the applicable Governmental Entities related to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and shall use their
best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to all inquiries received
from the FTC or the Antitrust Division or such other Governmental Entities for
additional information or documentation. Provided that following receipt of
such approvals Purchaser acquires at least 28,138,000 Shares pursuant to the
exercise of the Option (and/or pursuant to consummation of the Offer), the
Company agrees to make any and all divestitures or undertakings required by the
FTC, the Antitrust Division or any other applicable Governmental Entity in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger
Agreement, which divestitures in each case shall be reasonably acceptable to
Parent and Purchaser. The costs and expenses of obtaining and complying with
the antitrust requirements of the FTC, the Antitrust Division or any other
Governmental Entity shall be paid by the Company. The parties agree to use
their best efforts to cause the other conditions to this Agreement to be
satisfied, and the Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 2.3(d) and 2.3(e) to
continue to be true and correct.
8. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. The initial press release with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be mutually satisfactory to the parties
hereto and thereafter, except as may be required by applicable laws, court
process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with a national
securities exchange, no party shall issue any press release or make any public
filings relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
exercise of the Option, without affording the Company on the one hand, and
Parent on the other, the opportunity to review and comment upon such release or
filing.
9. FURTHER ASSURANCES. From time to time, at the other party's request and
without further consideration, each party hereto shall execute and deliver such
additional documents and take all such further action as may be necessary or
desirable
<PAGE> 14
14
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including,
without limitation, to vest in Purchaser good title to any Shares purchased
hereunder and to vest in the Company good title to any shares of Holdings
Common Stock delivered to the Company hereunder.
10. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The respective
representations and warranties of the Company, Purchaser and Parent contained
herein or in any certificates or other documents delivered at or prior to any
Closing or Mandatory Closing, as the case may be, shall not survive the closing
of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the agreements contained herein
shall survive the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby.
11. Miscellaneous.
-------------
11.1 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement
(i) constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof and (ii) shall not be assigned by operation
of law or otherwise, provided that Parent and Purchaser may each assign its
rights and obligations to Parent or any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Purchaser,
as the case may be, of its obligations hereunder if such assignee does not
perform such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement will be
binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the parties hereto
and their respective successors (including any successor in interest by merger,
sale of all or substantially all of the assets or otherwise) and assigns.
11.2 AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or
supplemented, except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement
executed by the parties hereto.
11.3 NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of
delivery) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address
for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) if to Purchaser or Parent, to
Whitehall Associates, L.P.
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
9 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Clifton S. Robbins
<PAGE> 15
15
with a copy to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: David J. Sorkin, Esq.
(b) if to the Company, to
Borden, Inc.
180 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Attention: Frank J. Tasco
with copies to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Andrew R. Brownstein, Esq.
11.4 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, regardless of the laws
that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws
thereof.
11.5 ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in
the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States
located in the State of New Jersey or the City of New York, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the
personal jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the District
of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the extent such courts would
have subject matter jurisdiction with respect to such dispute and (ii) the
courts of the State of New Jersey and the State of New York otherwise, (b)
agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction or
venue by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (c) agrees
that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than such courts
sitting in the State of New Jersey or the State of New York.
<PAGE> 16
16
11.6 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of
which shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
11.7 DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings used 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.
11.8 SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the
event that the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or upon
the Mandatory Purchase, or the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to be
delivered as consideration therefore, is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable for any reason (including as a result of the failure to obtain
any required vote of stockholders to authorize such issuance), the number of
Shares so issuable, and the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to be so
delivered, shall be reduced to that number which could validly and legally be
issued and/or delivered as the case may be.
11.9 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) an "affiliate" of any person means another person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by,
or is under common control with, such first person;
(b) "person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity; and
(c) a "subsidiary" of any person means another person, an amount of the
voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of
which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of Directors or
other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, more than
50% of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such
first person.
(d) "trading market value per share" means the average of the average of
the high and low prices of a security
<PAGE> 17
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(equitably adjusted to take into account the factors addressed in Section 3
hereof, if applicable) on the principal trading market for that security on
each of the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second
trading day prior to the date of measurement (which shall be agreed upon in
good faith by the Company and Purchaser).
11.10 NON-RECOURSE. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or
implied in this Agreement, Parent covenants, agrees and acknowledges and the
Company, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, covenants, agrees
and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or
instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against
any officer, agent or employee of Parent or against any partner of Parent or
any director, officer, employee, partner, affiliate or assignee of any of the
foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or
equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other
applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal
liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by
any officer, agent or employee of Parent or any partner of Parent or any
director, officer, employee, partner, affiliate or assignee of any of the
foregoing, as such for any obligations of Parent under this Agreement or any
documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement or for any
claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their
creation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing limitation of liability shall
in no way constitute a limitation on the rights of the Company to enforce any
remedies it may have against the undistributed assets of Parent for the
collection of any obligations or liabilities in connection with this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby.
<PAGE> 18
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Parent and Purchaser have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
Borden, Inc.
By: /s/ Allan L. Miller
-------------------
Name: Allan L. Miller
Title: Senior Vice President,
Chief Administrative
Officer and General
Counsel
Whitehall Associates, L.P.
By: KKR Associates, a limited
partnership, its General Partner
By: /s/ Henry Kravis
----------------
Title: General Partner
Borden Acquisition Corp.
By: /s/ Clifton S. Robbins
----------------------
Name: Clifton S. Robbins
Title: President
