<PAGE> 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 7, 1997
----------------
SEARCH CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
----------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 0-9539 41-1356819
- ---------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
700 N. PEARL STREET
SUITE 400
DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-7490
- -------------------------- ----------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (214) 965-6000
--------------
NOT APPLICABLE
------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On February 7, 1997, Registrant entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of February 7, 1997 (the Merger Agreement") with MS Financial,
Inc. ("MS") pursuant to which a wholly-owned subsidiary of Registrant will
merge into MS (the "Merger"), resulting in MS becoming a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Registrant. Pursuant to the Merger, each outstanding share of
common stock of MS will be converted at the effective time of the Merger into
the right to receive a fraction (the "Exchange Ratio") of a share of common
stock of Registrant determined by reference to the average price per share of
the common stock of Registrant for the 10 day-trading period ending on the
fifth business day prior to the special meeting of stockholders of MS at which
the Merger Agreement will be considered for adoption (the "Average Trading
Price"). The Exchange Ratio will equal $2.00 (the "Per Share Amount") divided
by the Average Trading Price, subject to a maximum of .46 and a minimum of .34.
The Per Share Amount and the maximum and minimum Exchange Ratios are subject to
adjustment in certain circumstances.
The Merger is subject to customary conditions, including the receipt
of regulatory approval and the finalization of acceptable arrangements with MS'
lenders. The Merger is expected to be submitted to stockholders for approval
in April. Approval of the Merger by MS' stockholders requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of MS. Pursuant
to a Stockholders Agreement dated as of February 7, 1997 (the "Stockholders
Agreement"), MS' principal stockholders, which together own approximately 77%
of MS' outstanding common stock, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of
the Merger.
The Merger Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement are filed herewith
as Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2, respectively. Reference is hereby made to those
Exhibits for a more complete description of the provisions of those agreements
referred to herein, and each such reference herein is qualified in its entirety
by the reference to such Exhibits. The press release issued by Registrant and
MS with respect to the transactions described herein is filed herewith as
Exhibit 99.
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
EXHIBITS.
(c) EXHIBITS.
Exhibit No. Description
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
February 7, 1997 by and among Search Capital
Group, Inc., Search Capital Acquisition Corp.
and MS Financial, Inc. (A copy of the
Schedules to the Agreement and Plan of Merger
will be furnished to the Commission
supplementally upon request)
2.2 Stockholders Agreement dated as of February
7, 1997 by and among Search Capital Group,
Inc., MS Diversified Corporation, MS
Financial Services, Inc. and Golder Thoma
Cressy Rauner Fund IV, L.P. (A copy of the
Exhibits and Schedule to the Stockholders
Agreement will be furnished to the Commission
supplementally upon request)
99 Press Release dated February 7, 1997
<PAGE> 4
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 hereunto duly authorized.
SEARCH CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Ellis A. Regenbogen
----------------------------------
Ellis A. Regenbogen
Executive Vice President
Dated: February 11, 1997
<PAGE> 5
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
- ----------- -----------
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February 7, 1997 by and
among Search Capital Group, Inc., Search Capital Acquisition Corp.
and MS Financial, Inc. (A copy of the Schedules to the Agreement
and Plan of Merger will be furnished to the Commission
supplementally upon request)
2.2 Stockholders Agreement dated as of February 7, 1997 by and among
Search Capital Group, Inc., MS Diversified Corporation, MS
Financial Services, Inc. and Golder Thoma Cressy Rauner Fund
IV, L.P. (A copy of the Exhibits and Schedule to the
Stockholders Agreement will be furnished to the Commission
supplementally upon request)
99 Press Release dated February 7, 1997
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
BY AND AMONG
SEARCH CAPITAL GROUP, INC.,
SEARCH CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.,
AND
MS FINANCIAL, INC.,
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 7, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
1. PLAN OF REORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
1.1. The Merger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
(a) The Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
(b) Effects of the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
(c) Certificate of Incorporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
(d) Bylaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
(e) Directors and Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
1.2. Conversion of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
(a) Capital Stock of Newco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
(b) Cancellation of Certain Shares of Capital Stock of MS Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
(c) Conversion of Capital Stock of MS Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
(d) Maximum and Minimum Exchange Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -3-
(f) Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -3-
(g) Adjustments for Financial Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -3-
1.3. Exchange of Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5-
(a) Exchange Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5-
(b) Exchange Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5-
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares of MS Financial Stock . . . . . . . . . . -6-
(d) Termination of Exchange Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6-
(e) No Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6-
(f) Withholding Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6-
(g) No Further Ownership Rights in Capital Stock of MS Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6-
(h) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -6-
1.4. Stock Transfer Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7-
1.5. Stock Options and Other Rights to MS Financial Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7-
1.6. Dissenting Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -7-
2. CLOSING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -8-
2.1. Certificate of Merger Filing; Closing Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -8-
2.2. Documents to be Delivered at Closing by MS Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -8-
2.3. By Search/Newco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -9-
3.1. Due Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10-
3.2. Authorization; Validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10-
3.3. No Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -11-
3.4. Permits and Intangibles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12-
3.5. Capital Stock of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12-
3.6. Transactions in Capital Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12-
3.7. Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12-
3.8. Predecessor Status; etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12-
3.9. Spin-off by the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -13-
3.10. Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -13-
3.11. SEC Filings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -13-
3.12. Liabilities and Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -14-
3.13. Accounts and Notes Receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -15-
3.14. Finance Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -15-
3.15. Offices, FTC; Warranties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -17-
3.16. Environmental Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -17-
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(a) Hazardous Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . -17-
(b) Hazardous Materials Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . -17-
(c) Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . -18-
(d) Environmental Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . -18-
3.17. Real and Personal Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -18-
3.18. Significant Car Dealers, Material Contracts and Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -18-
3.19. Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -19-
3.20. Compensation; Employment Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -19-
3.21. Employee Benefit Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -20-
3.22. Employee Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -21-
3.23. Conformity with Law; Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -21-
3.24. Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -21-
3.25. Government Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -22-
3.26. Absence of Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -22-
3.27. Bank Accounts Powers of Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -24-
3.28. Relations with Governments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -24-
3.29. Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
3.30. Opinion of Financial Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
3.31. Vote Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
3.32. Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
3.33. Absence of Claims Against Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
3.34. Complete Copies of Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
3.35. Compliance with Laws of Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
3.36. Hart-Scott-Rodino Filing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
4. REPRESENTATIONS OF SEARCH AND NEWCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -25-
4.1. Due Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -26-
4.2. Authorization; Validity of Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -26-
4.3. No Conflicts; Required Filings and Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -26-
4.4. Permits and Intangibles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -27-
4.5. Capitalization of Search and Ownership of Search Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -27-
4.6. SEC Filings; Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -28-
4.7. Absence of Certain Changes or Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -29-
4.8. Conformity with Law; Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -30-
4.9. Ownership of Newco; No Prior Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -30-
4.10. Vote Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -30-
4.11. Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -30-
4.12. Transactions in Capital Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -30-
4.13. Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31-
4.14. Complete Copies of Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31-
4.15. Hart-Scott-Rodino Filing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31-
4.16. Review of Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31-
4.17. Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31-
5. COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -32-
5.1. Access to Information; Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -32-
5.2. Conduct of Business by MS Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -33-
5.3. Prohibited Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -34-
5.4. No Solicitation of Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -36-
5.5. Notification of Certain Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -36-
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
5.6. Cooperation in Obtaining Required Consents and Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -36-
5.7. Tax Returns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -37-
5.8. Registration Statement; Proxy Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -37-
5.9. Stockholders Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -38-
5.10. Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -38-
5.11. Obligations of Newco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40-
5.12. Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40-
5.13. Delivery of SEC Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40-
5.14. Further Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40-
5.15. Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40-
5.16. Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -41-
5.17. Tax Reorganization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-
5.18. Search Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-
5.19. Directorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-
6. CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-
6.1. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -43-
6.2. Conditions to the Obligations to Search and Newco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-
(b) No Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-
(c) Consents and Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-
(d) Cold Comfort Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44-
(e) Bank Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
(f) Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
6.3. Conditions to the Obligations of MS Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
(b) No Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
(c) Consents and Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
7. GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
7.1. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -45-
7.2. Effect of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -47-
7.3. Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -47-
7.4. Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -47-
7.5. Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -47-
7.6. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -47-
7.7. Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -48-
7.8. Specific Performance; Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -49-
7.9. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -49-
7.10. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50-
7.11. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50-
7.12. Absence of Third Party Beneficiary Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50-
7.13. Mutual Drafting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50-
7.14. Further Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50-
7.15. Amendment; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50-
7.16. Survival of Certain Clauses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50-
8. DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -51-
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 5
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "Agreement") is made as of
February 7, 1997, by and among (i) Search Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Search"), (ii) Search Capital Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Search ("Newco"), and (iii) MS
Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("MS Financial").
BACKGROUND
A. MS Financial is a Mississippi-based consumer finance company
engaged in the financing and servicing of non- prime automobile installment
loans; and
B. The respective Boards of Directors of Search, Newco and MS
Financial deem it advisable and in the best interests of Search, Newco and MS
Financial and their respective stockholders that Newco merge with and into MS
Financial (the "Merger") pursuant to this Agreement and the applicable
provisions of the Delaware Statutes.
C. This Agreement is intended as a plan of reorganization within the
provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code.
D. Some of the capitalized terms set forth below are defined in
Article 8 below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, which are
incorporated herein by reference, and of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements herein contained, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged by all
parties, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
1.1. The Merger.
(a) The Merger. At the Effective Time, Newco shall be
merged with and into MS Financial pursuant to this Agreement and the
Delaware Statutes, the separate corporate existence of Newco shall
cease and MS Financial shall continue as the surviving corporation of
the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation").
(b) Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the
effects provided therefor by the Delaware Statutes. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective
Time (i) all the rights, privileges, powers and franchises, of a
public as well as of a private nature, and all property, real and
personal, and all debts due on whatever account, including without
limitation subscriptions to shares, and all other choses in action,
and all and every other interest of or belonging to or due to MS
Financial or Newco, shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation
without further act or deed, and all property, rights and privileges,
powers and franchises and all and every other interest shall be
thereafter as effectually the property of the Surviving Corporation as
they were of MS Financial and Newco immediately prior to the Effective
Time, and (ii) all debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of MS
Financial and Newco shall be the debts, liabilities, duties and
obligations of the Surviving Corporation.
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<PAGE> 6
(c) Certificate of Incorporation. At the Effective Time,
the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of MS Financial
shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation, until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms of
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and the
Delaware Statutes.
(d) Bylaws. From and after the Effective Time, the
Bylaws of Newco as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
amended in accordance with the terms of the Bylaws and Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and the Delaware Statutes.
(e) Directors and Officers. The directors of Newco
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors
of the Surviving Corporation, each such director to hold office in
accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until a successor to such director is elected
and has qualified or until such director's death, resignation, removal
or disqualification. The officers of Newco immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving
Corporation, each such officer to hold office in accordance with the
Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until a successor to such officer
is duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until such officer's
death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
1.2. Conversion of Securities. At the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of Search, Newco, MS Financial or
any stockholder of Newco or MS Financial, the shares of capital stock of each
of Newco and MS Financial shall be converted as follows:
(a) Capital Stock of Newco. Each share of Newco Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Certain Shares of Capital Stock of MS
Financial. All shares of capital stock of MS Financial that are owned
directly or indirectly by Search, Newco, MS Financial or the
Subsidiary of MS Financial immediately prior to the Effective Time (as
treasury shares or otherwise) shall be canceled and no stock of Search
or other consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Capital Stock of MS Financial. Subject
to Sections 1.2 (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h), each share of MS Financial
Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 1.2(b) and
Dissenting Shares, if any), shall automatically be canceled and
extinguished and converted, without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, into the right to receive that number of shares of
Search Common Stock as equals the Exchange Ratio. At the Effective
Time, all such shares of MS Financial Stock shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall
cease to exist, and each holder of a Certificate shall cease to have
any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the
shares of Search Common Stock to which such holder is entitled under
this Section 1.2(c).
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<PAGE> 7
(d) Maximum and Minimum Exchange Ratio. Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 1.2(c) above and except for any adjustment
made pursuant to Sections 1.2(e), (g) and (h) in no event will the
Exchange Ratio exceed 0.46 or be less than 0.34.
(e) Adjustment of Exchange Ratio. Subject to the
provisions of Section 5.18 hereof, if, between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Time, the outstanding shares of Search
Common Stock, or, subject to compliance with Section 5.3 below, MS
Financial Stock, shall have been changed into a different number of
shares, or a different class, by reason of any reclassification,
recapitalization, split up, stock dividend, stock combination or
exchange of shares, then the Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly
adjusted.
(f) Fractional Shares. No certificates or scrip evidencing
fractional shares of Search Common Stock shall be issued, but in lieu
thereof each holder of shares of MS Financial Stock who would
otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Search
Common Stock shall, at the option of Search, either receive from
Search an amount of cash equal to the Valuation Period Market Value
multiplied by Exchange Ratio multiplied by the fraction of a share of
Search Common Stock to which such holder would otherwise be entitled,
as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, or the Exchange Agent
shall sell in the open market all such fractional share interests, as
agent of the holder, and remit such proceeds to the holder. If Search
elects to have the Exchange Agent sell such fractional shares, Search
shall pay all brokers' commissions associated with such sales.
(g) Adjustments for Financial Changes.
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections
1.2(c) and (d), the Per Share Amount and the maximum and minimum
Exchange Ratio figures in Section 1.2(d) shall be adjusted as set
forth in Section 1.2(g)(ii) if, at the Effective Time, the unaudited
financial statements of MS Financial for the last month ending before
the Effective Time (provided, however, that if the Effective Time is
on or before the 15th day of a month, then the unaudited financial
statements for the second month before the Effective Time shall
govern) (the "Most Recent Financial Statements")) prepared in
accordance with GAAP and MS Financial's past practice but adjusting
stockholders' equity in accordance with (A), (B) and (C) below (as so
adjusted, the "Adjusted Stockholders' Equity"), show that
stockholders' equity is less than the stockholders' equity shown on
the Current Balance Sheet.
(A) The actual stockholders' equity
reflected on the balance sheet included in the Most
Recent Financial Statements (the "Adjustment Balance
Sheet") shall be adjusted to reflect (1) that no
decrease in stockholders' equity shall be made for
the aggregate $2,995,500 in costs shown on Schedule
1.2(g), (2) no increase in the amount of
stockholders' equity shall be made for the first
$2,300,000 of income tax refunds in excess of
$4,000,000, and (3) no decrease in stockholders'
equity shall be made for the payments required by
Section 5.16(f) below. The actual stockholders'
equity on the Adjustment Balance Sheet shall be
further adjusted in the event that KPMG requires any
changes to stockholders' equity as a result of
requiring changes in the "Allowance for Losses"
account shown on the Current Balance Sheet, but
adjusted for unearned discount (as so adjusted,
"Allowance for Losses") against the "Notes Receivable
--C.A.R.S."
-3-
<PAGE> 8
account shown on the Current Balance Sheet, but
adjusted for unearned discount (as so adjusted, "Net
Managed Receivables"). In the event of a KPMG
required change, no increase in such Allowance for
Losses shall be subtracted from stockholders' equity
and no decrease in such Allowance for Losses shall be
added to stockholders' equity. (As reflected in the
Current Balance Sheet, the Allowance for Losses was
$12,567,932 against Net Managed Receivables of
$132,742,638, for a ratio of 9.5%.)
(B) If the Delinquency Rate Percentage
for the month to which the Most Recent Financial
Statements relate exceeds by 25% or more the
Delinquency Rate Percentage for December 1996 (which
was 19.3%), stockholders' equity shall be adjusted by
an amount equivalent to 50% of the income statement
net after tax effect of charging off all Finance
Contracts reflected in the "Notes Receivable --
C.A.R.S." account that are 91 days or more
contractually past due, first, by charging the
Allowance for Losses shown on the Adjustment Balance
Sheet for the dollar amount of such charge-offs and,
second, by debiting the Provision for Losses account
on the statement of income included in the Most
Recent Financial Statement (the "Adjustment Income
Statement") by an amount sufficient to restore the
ratio of the Allowance for Losses (less the amount of
additional changes required by KPMG as of December
31, 1996 as discussed in paragraph (A) above) to Net
Managed Receivables to 9.5%.
(C) If, for the period between January
1, 1997 and the end of the month to which the Most
Recent Financial Statements relate, the total amount
of Net Managed Receivables charged off, and that
should have been charged off, by MS Financial (other
than charge-offs made pursuant to paragraph (B)
above) according to GAAP and MS Financial's general
accounting practices in place between July 1, 1996
and December 31, 1996, exceeds $7 million,
stockholders' equity shall be adjusted by an amount
equivalent to 50% of the income statement net after
tax effect of debiting the Provision for Losses
account on the Adjustment Income Statement by an
amount sufficient to restore the ratio of the
Allowance for Losses (less the amount of additional
changes required by KPMG as of December 31, 1996 as
discussed in paragraph (A) above) to Net Managed
Receivables to 9.5%.
(ii) The formula for calculating the Per Share
Amount adjustment is as provided in this Section 1.2(g)(ii). If the
Adjusted Decrease in Stockholders' Equity (as defined below) is
$2,100,000 or less, no adjustment to the Per Share Amount shall be
made. If the Adjusted Decrease in Stockholders' Equity is more than
$2,100,000 but less than $3,100,000, then 50% of such decrease shall
be applied to the following calculation of the Adjusted Per Share
Amount. If the Adjusted Decrease in Stockholders' Equity is
$3,100,000 or more, then 100% of such decrease shall be applied to the
following calculation of the Adjusted Per Share Amount. For purposes
of this Section 1.2(g), "Adjusted Decrease in Stockholders' Equity"
shall be equal to stockholders equity as shown on the Current Balance
Sheet less the Adjusted Stockholders' Equity multiplied by the
applicable percentage (50% or 100%) required by the foregoing;
provided, that the Adjusted Decrease in Stockholders' Equity shall be
zero if the Adjusted Stockholders' Equity is greater than the
stockholders' equity on the Current Balance Sheet. The dollar amount
of the
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<PAGE> 9
Adjusted Decrease in Stockholders' Equity shall then be divided by the
total number of shares of MS Financial Stock to be exchanged in the
Merger, the resulting decimal number shall be subtracted from the
otherwise applicable Per Share Amount, and the resulting figure shall
become the adjusted Per Share Amount (the "Adjusted Per Share Amount")
to be used in the Merger. The formula for calculating the adjusted
maximum and minimum Exchange Ratio figures is as follows: the figures
in Section 1.2(d) shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the Adjusted Per Share Amount and the denominator of which is
the Per Share Amount prior to any adjustment.
(h) Adjustment of Exchange Ratio. In the event that the
adjustments provided for in Section 1.2(g) are made, the Adjusted Per
Share Amount (rounded to the nearest hundredth of a share) shall
replace the Per Share Amount in the calculation of the Exchange Ratio
to be made pursuant to the definition of Exchange Ratio.
1.3. Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. At or before the Effective Time,
Search shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the
Exchange Agent for the benefit of the holders of shares of MS
Financial Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Article 1,
through the Exchange Agent, the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent
shall, pursuant to instructions from Search, deliver the Search Common
Stock and any cash contemplated to be distributed pursuant to this
Article 1 out of the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Fund shall not be
used for any other purpose.
(b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as reasonably
practicable after the Effective Time, Search will instruct the
Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate, (i)
a letter of transmittal which shall specify that delivery shall be
effected, and that 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 customary
provisions as Search may reasonably specify and (ii) instructions for
use in effecting the surrender of such holders' Certificates in
exchange for certificates evidencing shares of Search Common Stock.
Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent
together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and such
other customary documents as may be required pursuant to such
instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration and the
Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Subject to
Section 1.3(h), under no circumstances will any holder of a
Certificate be entitled to receive any part of the Merger
Consideration until such holder shall have surrendered such
Certificate. In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of MS
Financial Stock which is not registered in the transfer records of MS
Financial, the Merger Consideration may be paid in accordance with
this Article 1 to the transferee if the Certificate evidencing such
shares of MS Financial Stock is presented to the Exchange Agent,
accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such
transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have
been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 1.3(b)
(but subject to Section 1.3(h)), each Certificate shall be deemed at
any time after the Effective Time to evidence only the right to
receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration. No interest
shall be paid on the Merger Consideration.
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares of
MS Financial Stock. No dividends or other distributions declared or
made after the Effective Time with respect to Search
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<PAGE> 10
Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid
to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the
shares of Search Common Stock constituting the Merger Consideration
with respect to such unsurrendered Certificate, until the holder of
such Certificate shall surrender such Certificate to the Exchange
Agent (or Search, after termination of the Exchange Fund in accordance
with Section 1.3(d)). Subject to the effect of applicable laws,
following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid to
the holder of such Certificate, in addition to the Merger
Consideration, without interest, the amount of dividends or other
distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore
paid with respect to the whole shares of Search Common Stock
constituting the Merger Consideration, with respect to such
Certificate.
(d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the
Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of MS
Financial Stock for one year after the Effective Time shall be
delivered to Search, upon demand and, subject to Section 1.3(e), any
holders of MS Financial Stock who have not theretofore complied with
this Article 1 shall thereafter look only to Search for the Merger
Consideration to which they are entitled.
(e) No Liability. Neither Search nor the Surviving
Corporation shall be liable to any holder of shares of MS Financial
Stock for any shares of Search Common Stock or cash (or dividends or
distributions with respect thereto), delivered to a public official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(f) Withholding Rights. Search shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant
to this Agreement to any holder of shares of MS Financial Stock such
amounts as Search is required to deduct and withhold with respect to
the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of state,
local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld
by Search, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of
this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of MS
Financial Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was
made by Search.
(g) No Further Ownership Rights in Capital Stock of MS
Financial. All Merger Consideration issued or paid upon the
conversion of shares of MS Financial Stock in accordance with the
terms hereof shall be deemed to have been issued or paid in full
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of MS Financial
Stock.
(h) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event
any Certificate(s) shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the
Exchange Agent shall cause payment of the Merger Consideration to be
made in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate(s)
upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof;
provided, however, that Search may, in its reasonable discretion and
as a condition precedent thereto, require the owner of such lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificate(s) to deliver a bond in such sum as it
may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against Search with respect to the Certificate(s) alleged to have been
lost, stolen or destroyed.
1.4. Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock
transfer books of MS Financial shall be closed and there shall be no further
registration of transfers of shares of MS Financial Stock
-6-
<PAGE> 11
thereafter on the records of MS Financial. If, after the Effective Time,
Certificates are presented to MS Financial for any reason, they shall be
canceled and exchanged as provided in Section 1.3.
1.5. Stock Options and Other Rights to MS Financial Stock.
(a) All Company Options outstanding at the Effective Time
shall remain outstanding following the Effective Time. At the
Effective Time, the Company Options shall, by virtue of the Merger and
without any further action on the part of MS Financial or the holder
thereof, be assumed by Search in such manner that Search (i) is a
corporation "assuming a stock option in a transaction to which Section
424(a) applied" within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code or (ii)
to the extent that Section 424 of the Code does not apply to any such
Company Options, would be such a corporation were Section 424 of the
Code applicable to such Company Options. From and after the Effective
Time, all references to MS Financial in the MS Financial Stock Option
Plans and the applicable stock option agreements issued thereunder
shall be deemed to refer to Search, which shall have assumed the MS
Financial Stock Option Plans as of the Effective Time by virtue of
this Agreement and without any further action. Each Company Option
assumed by Search shall be exercisable upon the same terms and
conditions as under the applicable MS Financial Stock Option Plan and
the applicable option agreement issued thereunder, except that (A)
each such Company Option shall be exercisable for, and represent the
right to acquire, that whole number of shares of Search Common Stock
(rounded up or down to the nearest whole share) equal to the number of
shares of MS Financial Stock subject to such Company Option multiplied
by the Exchange Ratio, and (B) the option price per share of Search
Common Stock shall be an amount equal to the option price per share of
MS Financial Stock subject to such Company Option in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio
(the option price per share, as so determined, being rounded upward to
the nearest full cent). No payment shall be made for fractional
interests.
(b) The MS Financial Employee Stock Purchase Plan shall
be canceled in accordance with its terms immediately prior to the
Effective Time.
1.6. Dissenting Shares.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, and only in the event that a stockholder of MS Financial
is entitled to exercise rights under Section 262 of the Delaware
Statutes with respect to the Merger, then any Dissenting Shares held
by such holder shall not be converted into or represent the right to
receive the Merger Consideration. If stockholders of MS Financial are
not entitled to exercise rights under Section 262 of the Delaware
Statutes with respect to the Merger, this Section 1.6 shall be
inapplicable. A holder of Dissenting Shares shall be entitled to
receive payment of the fair value of such holder's Dissenting Shares
in accordance with the provisions of Section 262 of the Delaware
Statutes, except that all shares of MS Financial Stock held by
stockholders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall
have withdrawn or lost their rights to appraisal of such shares of MS
Financial Stock under Section 262 of the Delaware Statutes shall not
be considered Dissenting Shares and shall be governed by the
provisions of this Agreement applicable to the conversion of MS
Financial Stock other than Dissenting Shares.
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<PAGE> 12
(b) MS Financial shall give Search (i) prompt notice upon
receipt by MS Financial, at any time prior to the Effective Time, of
any demand for appraisal of shares of MS Financial Stock in accordance
with Section 262 of the Delaware Statutes and withdrawals of any such
notice and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under Section 262 of
the Delaware Statutes. MS Financial shall not, except with the prior
written consent of Search, or as required by the Delaware Statutes,
make any payment with respect to any demands for the appraisal of
shares of MS Financial Stock or offer to settle or settle any such
demands.
2. CLOSING.
2.1. Certificate of Merger Filing; Closing Time. As promptly as
practicable, and in no event later than the first business day following the
satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth in Article
6 (or such other date as may be agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto),
the parties hereto will cause the Merger to be consummated by filing a
certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger"), together with any required
officers' certificates and/or other required filings, with the Secretary in
such form as is required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant
provisions of the Delaware Statutes. The Merger shall become effective at the
Effective Time. Immediately prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger,
the Closing will be held at the offices of Search in Dallas, Texas, or such
other place as the parties may agree.
2.2. Documents to be Delivered at Closing by MS Financial. At the
Closing the following documents, in a form satisfactory to Search, acting
reasonably, and fully executed by the appropriate party or parties thereto,
shall be delivered to Search by MS Financial:
(a) A Closing Certificate signed by the President of MS
Financial stating (i) that the representations and warranties in
Article 3 of this Agreement are true and correct in all material
respects as of the Closing, with corrections to any representations
and warranties that have changed since the date of this Agreement,
(ii) that all of the terms, covenants, agreements and conditions of
this Agreement and such Related Documents required to be complied
with, performed or satisfied by MS Financial prior to the Closing have
been complied with, performed or satisfied by MS Financial in all
material respects.
(b) Copies of the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of MS Financial and the stockholders of MS Financial
authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the Transactions, duly certified as of the Closing by
the Secretary of MS Financial;
(c) Corporate good standing certificates dated within ten
(10) days of Closing of MS Financial and its Subsidiary, with respect
to each state in which either MS Financial or its Subsidiary does
business or is qualified to do business, and incumbency certificates
for MS Financial and its Subsidiary dated as of the Closing Date;
(d) All consents or approvals required to (i) avoid
default under any material contracts to which MS Financial or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party, or (ii) avoid any penalties imposed by
any Governmental Authority and (iii) to consummate the Transactions;
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<PAGE> 13
(e) Evidence of the cancellation of the MS Financial
Employee Stock Purchase Plan;
(f) The Most Recent Financial Statements, together with
all other information necessary to make the calculations provided for
in Section 1.2(g) and (h);
(g) All other documents required to be delivered by MS
Financial which are listed on the Closing Checklist;
(h) The resignations of all of the existing officers and
directors of MS Financial's Subsidiary and the resignations of the
directors of MS Financial; and
(i) The certification by MS Financial's Secretary on this
Agreement pursuant to Section 251 of the Delaware Statutes stating
that a majority of the outstanding stock of MS Financial entitled to
vote on this Agreement has been voted for the adoption of this
Agreement.
2.3. By Search/Newco. At the Closing, the following documents, in
a form satisfactory to MS Financial, acting reasonably, and fully executed by
the appropriate party or parties thereto, shall be delivered to MS Financial by
Search and Newco:
(a) Closing Certificates for Search and Newco signed by
their Presidents stating (i) that the representations and warranties
in Article 4 of this Agreement are true and correct in all material
respects as of the Closing, with corrections to any representations
and warranties that have changed since the date of this Agreement, and
(ii) that all of the terms, covenants, agreements and conditions of
this Agreement and the Related Documents required to be complied with,
performed or satisfied by Search and Newco, respectively, prior to the
Closing, have been complied with, performed or satisfied by Search and
Newco in all material respects, provided that if any change is made
based upon the occurrence of a Search Material Adverse Effect, MS
Financial shall have the rights set out in Section 7.1 of this
Agreement.
(b) Copies of the resolutions adopted by the Boards of
Directors of Search and Newco authorizing the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, duly
certified as of the Closing by the Secretary of Search and Newco,
respectively;
(c) Corporate good standing certificates from the State
of Delaware for Search and Newco, each such certificate dated within
ten (10) days of Closing, and an incumbency certificate for each of
Search and Newco dated as of the Closing Date;
(d) All consents or approvals required to (i) avoid
default under any material contracts to which Search or Newco is a
party or (ii) avoid any penalties imposed by any Governmental
Authority and (iii) consummate the Transactions;
(e) All other documents required to be delivered by
Search or Newco which are listed on the Closing Checklist;
(f) Written evidence reasonably satisfactory to MS
Financial that the Exchange Agent has been given instructions
regarding the issuance of shares of Search Common Stock pursuant to
this Agreement and has been provided with cash sufficient to make
payment for fractional shares
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<PAGE> 14
as required by this Agreement or is authorized to accumulate
fractional shares and sell same in accordance with Section 1.2(f); and
(g) The certification by Newco's Secretary on this
Agreement pursuant to Section 251 of the Delaware statutes stating
that a majority of the outstanding stock of Newco entitled to vote on
this Agreement has been voted for the adoption of this Agreement.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MS FINANCIAL
To induce Search and Newco to enter into this Agreement and consummate
the Transactions, MS Financial represents and warrants to Search and Newco as
set forth below.
3.1. Due Organization. The Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation. The Company has the requisite corporate
power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The Company is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or held under lease or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where
the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3.1,
contains a list of all jurisdictions in which the Company is authorized or
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation. The Company has delivered
to Search true, complete and correct copies of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company. The Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws are in full force and effect and have not been
amended, modified, revoked, terminated or cancelled or in any other manner
varied from the documents delivered to Search. The Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are collectively referred to as the "MS
Charter Documents." The Company has made available to Search true, complete and
correct sets of the minute books of the Company, and the copies thereof
delivered to Search are complete and accurate copies of all materials included
therein for the periods covered thereby. The Company is not in violation of
any provision of the MS Charter Documents.
3.2. Authorization; Validity. The Company has all requisite
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all of
the agreements and documents referred to on the Closing Checklist (the "Related
Documents") to which the Company is a party and, with respect to the Merger,
upon the adoption of this Agreement by MS Financial's stockholders in
accordance with this Agreement, the Related Documents and the Delaware
Statutes, to perform its obligations pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
and all of the Related Documents to which the Company is a party and to
consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement and the Related Documents to which the Company is a party and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement and such
Related Documents have been duly and validly authorized by the Board of
Directors of the Company and by all other necessary corporate action other than
adoption of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding
shares of MS Financial Stock and the filing and recordation of the Certificate
of Merger as required by the Delaware Statutes. This Agreement has been, and
the Related Documents to which the Company is a party will be, duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Company and are, or upon their execution will be,
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited by principles of public policy and subject to the laws of general
application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and
rules of Law governing specific performance, injunctive relief or other
equitable remedies.
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<PAGE> 15
3.3. No Conflicts; Compliance.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Related Documents by the Company, and the
consummation of the Transactions, will not:
(i) conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, any
of the MS Charter Documents;
(ii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3.3(a)(ii), conflict with,
or result in a default (or would constitute a
default but for any requirement of notice or lapse of time or
both), or require the consent of any third party, under any
document, agreement or other instrument or obligation,
including, without limitation, those relating to the Warehouse
Loans and the Securitization Trusts, to which the Company is a
party or by which the Company or any assets of the Company are
bound or affected, other than conflicts or defaults which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on any of the
Company's properties, other than liens, charges, or
encumbrances which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(iii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3.3(a)(iii),result in any
impairment of, or give to any other Person any right of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation with respect to, any permit,
license, franchise, contractual right or other authorization of the
Company material to MS Financial and its Subsidiary taken as a whole;
or
(iv) violate any Law to which the Company is subject
or by which any assets of the Company are bound or affected,
the violation of which would have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.3(b), the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the
performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, require any
consent, approval, authorization or permission of, or filing with or
notification to, any Governmental Authority except (i) for applicable
requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, and
Blue Sky Laws, and filing and recordation of the Certificate of Merger
as required by the Delaware Statutes, (ii) such notice as is necessary
to comply with HSR, and (iii) where failure to obtain such consents,
approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or
notifications, would not prevent or delay consummation of the Merger,
or otherwise prevent MS Financial from performing its obligations
under this Agreement.
3.4. Permits and Intangibles. The Company owns or holds all
Material Permits, and Schedule 3.4 contains a list of all Material Permits.
The Material Permits are valid, and the Company has not received any notice
that any Governmental Authority intends to modify, suspend, cancel, terminate
or not renew any Material Permit. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.4, the
Company is not in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any Law
applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is
bound or affected, (ii) any of the Material Permits or (iii) any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, or other instrument or
obligation to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any
property or asset of the Company is bound or affected except as would not have
a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Transactions will not result in a
default under or a
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<PAGE> 16
breach or violation of, or adversely affect the rights and benefits afforded to
the Company by, any Material Permit.
3.5. Capital Stock of the Company. The authorized capital stock of
MS Financial consists of 50,000,000 shares of MS Financial Stock, 10,429,926
shares of which are issued and outstanding, 374,000 shares of which are held as
treasury shares, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.001 per
share, none of which is issued or outstanding. The authorized capital stock of
the Subsidiary and its par value are indicated on Schedule 3.5 hereto. All of
the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and not
subject to preemptive rights. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the
capital stock of the Company and any other securities sold by the Company and
the Securitization Trusts were offered, issued, sold and delivered by the
Company in compliance with all applicable state and federal Laws concerning the
issuance, offer and sale of securities. Further, none of such shares was
issued in violation of any preemptive rights.
3.6. Transactions in Capital Stock. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.6, no option, warrant, call, subscription right, conversion right or other
contract or commitment of any kind exists of any character, written or oral,
which may obligate the Company to issue or sell any shares of capital stock or
other equity interests. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.6, the Company has
no obligation (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any of its equity securities or any interests therein or to pay any
dividend or make any distribution in respect thereof.
3.7. Subsidiary. Except as listed in Schedule 3.7, the Company
does not presently own, of record or beneficially, or control, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock, securities convertible into capital stock or any
other equity interest in any corporation, association or business entity, nor
is the Company, directly or indirectly, a participant in any joint venture,
partnership or other noncorporate entity. The only Subsidiary of MS Financial
is MS Auto Receivables Company. MS Financial owns all of the capital stock of
MS Auto Receivables Company.
3.8. Predecessor Status; etc. Schedule 3.8 sets forth a listing of
all names of all predecessor companies of the Company during the five-year
period immediately preceding the date hereof, including without limitation the
names of any entities from whom the Company has acquired material assets.
Except as specified in Schedule 3.8, the Company has not at any time during the
five-year period immediately preceding the date hereof been a Subsidiary or
division of another corporation or a part of an acquisition which was later
rescinded.
3.9. Spin-off by the Company. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.9,
there has not been, nor does there exist any agreement in respect of, any sale
or spin-off of material assets of either the Company, or any Affiliate of the
Company, within the past two years and there are no plans for any such sale or
spin-off.
3.10. Financial Statements. Schedule 3.10 includes (a) true,
complete and correct copies of the Company's audited Consolidated Balance Sheet
as of December 31, 1995 (the end of its most recent completed fiscal year for
which audited financial statements are available), and audited Consolidated
Statements of Income, Cash Flows and Stockholders' Equity for the three years
ended December 31, 1995 (collectively, the "Reviewed Financials") and (b) true,
complete and correct copies of the Company's unaudited Consolidated Balance
Sheet (the "Current Balance Sheet") as of December 31, 1996 (the "Balance Sheet
Date"), and unaudited Consolidated Statement of Income for the twelve month
period ended
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<PAGE> 17
December 31, 1996 (the "Current Income Statement"; the Current Balance Sheet
and the Current Income Statement are sometimes referred to collectively as the
"Unaudited Financials;" and together with the Reviewed Financials, the "Company
Financial Statements"). The Company Financial Statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP throughout the periods indicated (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto), subject, in the case of the Unaudited
Financials, to year-end audit adjustments and to the omission of footnote
information. The balance sheets included in the Company Financial Statements
and each of the statements of income, cash flows and stockholders' equity
included in the Company Financial Statements present fairly in all material
respects the consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows
and changes in stockholders' equity of MS Financial and its consolidated
Subsidiary as at the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods
indicated therein (subject, in the case of the Unaudited Financials, to
year-end audit adjustments). Since December 31, 1996, there have been no
material changes in the Company's accounting policies.
3.11. SEC Filings.
(a) MS Financial has timely filed all Company SEC Reports
and has delivered true and complete copies thereof to Search. The
Company SEC Reports, and all similar SEC filings and reports for the
Securitization Trusts, (i) were prepared in all material respects in
accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations
thereunder and (ii) did not, at the time they were filed (or at the
effective date thereof in the case of registration statements),
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. MS Financial's Subsidiary
is not currently required to file any form, report or other document
with the SEC under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
(b) The information supplied by the Company for inclusion
in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement shall not, at
(i) the time the Registration Statement is declared effective, (ii)
the time the Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto) is first mailed to the stockholders of MS Financial and
Search, (iii) the time of each of the MS Financial Stockholders
Meeting and the Search Stockholders Meeting, and (iv) the Effective
Time, contain any statement which, at such time and in light of the
circumstances under which it is made, is 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 therein not false or misleading or necessary to correct any
statement in any earlier communication with respect to the
solicitation of proxies for the MS Financial Stockholders Meeting and
the Search Stockholders Meeting which shall have become false or
misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any event or
circumstance relating to the Company, or their respective officers or
directors, is discovered by the Company which should be set forth in
an amendment or a supplement to the Registration Statement or Proxy
Statement, Company shall promptly inform Search and cooperate with
Search in the preparation, filing and mailing of an appropriate
amendment or supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
makes no representation or warranty with respect to any information
supplied by Search or any of its representatives in the Proxy
Statement. All documents that the Company is responsible for filing
with the SEC in connection with the Transactions will comply as to
form and substance in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
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<PAGE> 18
(c) MS Financial has heretofore furnished to Search
complete and correct copies of all amendments and modifications (if
any) that have not been filed by MS Financial with the SEC to all
agreements, documents and instruments previously filed by MS Financial
as exhibits to the Company SEC Reports and currently in effect.
(d) Except for the transactions described in Schedule
3.11(d), all transactions involving the Company that are required to
be disclosed in the Company SEC Reports in accordance with Item 404 of
Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act have been so
disclosed, and since January 1, 1996 the Company has not entered into
any transactions that would be required to be disclosed in future
public filings under the Exchange Act pursuant to such Item which have
not already been disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to
the date hereof.
3.12. Liabilities and Obligations.
(a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.12, the Company is
not liable for or subject to any liabilities except for:
(i) those liabilities reflected on the Current
Balance Sheet and not previously paid or discharged;
(ii) those liabilities disclosed in any Company SEC
Report filed by the Company after December 31, 1996;
(iii) those liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice such as was
in place between July 1, 1996 and December 31, 1996; and
(iv) those liabilities that would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
For purposes of this Section 3.12, the term "liabilities" shall include without
limitation any direct or indirect liability or obligation, indebtedness,
guaranty, endorsement, claim, loss, damage, deficiency, cost, expense,
obligation or responsibility, either accrued, absolute, contingent, mature,
unmature or otherwise and whether known or unknown, fixed or unfixed, choate or
inchoate, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured.
(b) The Company has no liability for sale or other excise
taxes that would be accelerated due to the Merger.
3.13. Accounts and Notes Receivable. Schedule 3.13 contains an
accurate list, as of a date not more than two business days prior to the date
hereof, of the accounts and notes receivable of the Company (including without
limitation receivables from and advances to employees and the Stockholders, but
excluding those applicable to Finance Contracts) which includes all aging of
all accounts and notes receivable, but excluding those applicable to Finance
Contracts, showing amounts due in 30-day aging categories. The Company knows
of no defenses to the accounts receivable or notes receivable.
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<PAGE> 19
3.14 Finance Contracts. Each Finance Contract acquired by the
Company, whether or not pursuant to a Car Dealer Agreement, including all
Related Security under such Finance Contract
(a) has been fully performed by Company and, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, the Car Dealer party thereto,
(b) is an installment sale agreement or other deferred
payment obligation providing for the retention of a first lien or
security interest in the underlying personal property to secure
payment of the obligation evidenced thereby and such lien has been,
or, in the case of Finance Contracts purchased in the last 60 days, is
in the process (which process is being timely and properly pursued
consistent with industry standards and legal requirements) of being
duly perfected in accordance with applicable Law,
(c) is owned by the Company and the Company owns all
rights to receive all amounts payable thereunder, except for the
rights of Lenders and trustees of the Securitization Trusts disclosed
on Schedule 3.14(c);
(d) is in one of the forms attached as Schedule 3.14(d),
or, to the Company's best knowledge, is otherwise in full compliance
with all applicable Laws, except where such non-compliance is
immaterial and would not invalidate the Finance Contract or the
Company's rights (after the Merger) to enforce full performance of
same by the related obligor;
(e) except as required by applicable law, does not impose
any obligation upon Company or any other Person, which, if not
performed, would give rise to any right of offset, counterclaim or
other defense on the part of the related obligor to any amount payable
by it under the Finance Contract,
(f) except as disclosed in Schedule 3.14(f), is free of
any dispute, adverse claim, counterclaim, offset or defense
(including, without limitation, the material breach of (i) any
warranty by the Car Dealer of the goods covered by such Finance
Contract or (ii) any service contract, extended service warranty or
like agreement by such Car Dealer) of the obligor or such other Person
or entity as may have guaranteed or secured the obligations of the
obligor (except for (y) the insolvency of such obligor or such other
Person or entity as may have guaranteed or secured the obligations of
the obligor and (z) the right of an obligor to receive a rebate of the
unearned finance charge in the event of payment in full prior to
maturity) except for (1) the interest of the obligor in the goods sold
pursuant to such Finance Contract, (2) the security interests created
in favor of such Car Dealer and the Company, and (3) mechanics' or
similar statutory liens subordinate to such security interests
resulting from actions of the obligor,
(g) to the best of the Company's knowledge does not, and
the Company has received no claims that it does, contravene any Laws
applicable thereto and no party thereto has at any time violated any
such Laws with respect thereto,
(h) grants to the respective Car Dealer and assigns to
Company a valid, enforceable and perfected first priority security
interest in and to such Finance Contract and such Related Security
which is free and clear of any adverse claims subject to the
exceptions stated in clause (f) above,
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<PAGE> 20
(i) has no effective financing statement or lien notation
on any certificate of title or other instrument similar in effect
covering all or any part of such Finance Contract or Related Security,
which would give the Person filing, named on or entitled to the
benefit of such statement or instrument priority senior to or pari
passu with Company, on file in any recording office or is otherwise
effective except such as may be filed in favor of the Car Dealer or
Company and collaterally assigned to the Senior Bank Lender,
(j) requires Company to be named as loss payee or
beneficiary (as may be applicable) under any insurance policy with
respect to such Finance Contract, and entitles Company to the benefits
of such insurance policy,
(k) refers to motor vehicles, including any equipment
sold and financed in connection with the Finance Contract, which to
the extent required under applicable Law, are duly registered and
licensed and are or, in the case of Finance Contracts purchased in the
last 60 days will timely and properly be the subject of a certificate
of title issued in the name of the obligor which indicates a security
interest therein held by the Company, in the appropriate form and in
compliance with all appropriate procedures as may be necessary under
applicable Law to cause a perfected and first priority security
interest to exist in favor of the Company to secure the obligations of
such obligor under such Finance Contract;
(l) if purchased from a Car Dealer from which Company has
purchased five (5) or more Finance Contracts, was validly assigned to
Company by a Car Dealer in connection with a Car Dealer Agreement in
substantially the form of one of the forms set forth in Schedule
3.14(l) and Car Dealer Assignment in substantially one of the forms of
assignment contained in Schedule 3.14(l) or appearing at the bottom
of the second page of each of the forms of the Finance Contract
contained in Schedule 3.14(d), free and clear of all liens and adverse
claims and (i) to the best of the Company's knowledge, constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of such Car Dealer enforceable
against such Car Dealer in accordance with its terms, and (ii)
pursuant to which Company is in physical possession of such Finance
Contract and all writings comprising such Related Security; and
(m) contains representations and warranties from the Car
Dealer to Company with respect to such Finance Contract under the Car
Dealer Assignment related thereto all of which are to the best of the
Company's knowledge true and correct.
3.14. Offices, FTC; Warranties.
(a) Each of the Company's offices is and has been
operated as a licensed location in any jurisdiction requiring such
license in conformity with all such licensing and other Laws
applicable to the purchase of Finance Contracts, and the sale of
insurance coverage related thereto, including, without limitation,
Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Acts, Sales Finance Agency
Acts, or any other Law regulating the business of acquiring Finance
Contracts and the sale of insurance coverage related thereto, except
where any failure would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
The Company is familiar with the Federal Trade Commission's used car
rule and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, based on "as is"
sheets provided by Car Dealers, its Car Dealers are in compliance with
such rule.
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<PAGE> 21
(b) Each Finance Contract has been originated by a Car
Dealer pursuant to a Car Dealer Agreement that, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, is enforceable in accordance with its terms
against such Car Dealer. To the extent that the Finance Contracts
finance so-called "extended warranty plans," or "service contracts"
to the best of the Company's knowledge, such plans are in substantial
compliance with all applicable consumer credit Laws, including any and
all special insurance Laws relating thereto.
3.16 Environmental Matters.
(a) Hazardous Material. The Company does not have any
liability for claims arising out of events involving underground
storage tanks, or any substance that has been designated by any
Governmental Authority or by applicable Law to be radioactive, toxic,
hazardous or otherwise a danger to health or the environment,
including, without limitation, PCBs, asbestos, petroleum,
urea-formaldehyde and all substances listed as hazardous substances
pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or defined as a hazardous waste
pursuant to the United States Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
of 1976, as amended, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to said
Laws, but excluding office and janitorial supplies properly and safely
maintained (a "Hazardous Material") present in, on or under any
property, including the land and the improvements, ground water and
surface water thereof, that the Company has at any time owned,
operated, occupied or leased.
(b) Hazardous Materials Activities. The Company does not
have any liability for claims arising out of events involving the
transportation, storage, use, manufacture, disposal of, release of, or
exposure of its employees or others to Hazardous Materials in
violation of any Law in effect on or before the Closing Date, nor from
the disposal of, transportation, sale, or manufacture of any product
containing a Hazardous Material (collectively, "Company Hazardous
Materials Activities") in violation of any Laws promulgated by any
Governmental Authority in effect prior to or as of the date hereof to
prohibit, regulate or control Hazardous Materials or any Hazardous
Material Activity.
(c) Permits. The Company currently does not hold, and is
not required to hold, any environmental approvals, permits, licenses,
clearances and consents (the "Environmental Permits") necessary for
the conduct of the Company's Hazardous Material Activities and other
business of the Company as such activities and business are currently
being conducted.
(d) Environmental Liabilities. No action, proceeding,
revocation proceeding, amendment procedure, writ, injunction or claim
is pending, or threatened concerning any Environmental Permit,
Hazardous Material or any Company Hazardous Materials Activity. The
Company is not aware of any fact or circumstance which could involve
the Company in any environmental litigation or impose upon the Company
any material environmental liability.
3.17 Real and Personal Property. Schedule 3.17 sets forth an
accurate list of all owned and leased real property, all personal property
included in "Furniture and Fixtures" and "Leasehold Improvements" on the
Current Balance Sheet and all other personal property owned or leased by the
Company with a value in excess of $5,000 (a) as of the Balance Sheet Date and
(b) acquired since the Balance Sheet Date, including in each case a true,
complete and correct copy of the lease for each item of equipment with an
annual rental payment of $5,000 or more and all real properties on which are
situated
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<PAGE> 22
buildings, warehouses, workshops, garages and other structures used in the
operation of the business of the Company and also including an indication as to
which assets are currently owned, or were formerly owned, by any Stockholder or
business or personal Affiliates of the Company or any Stockholder. To the best
knowledge of the Company, all leases set forth on Schedule 3.17 are in full
force and effect and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company
and, to the best knowledge of the Company, of the other parties thereto in
accordance with their respective terms. All fixed assets used by the Company
that are material to the operation of its business are either owned by the
Company or leased under an agreement listed on Schedule 3.17. Schedule 3.17
includes true, complete and correct copies of all title reports and title
insurance policies received or owned by the Company that are still in effect.
Schedule 3.17 also includes a summary description of all plans or projects
involving the opening of new operations, expansion of any existing operations
or the acquisition of any real property or existing business, to which
management of the Company has made any material expenditure in the two-year
period prior to the date of this Agreement, which if pursued by the Company or
the Surviving Corporation would require additional material expenditures of
capital.
3.18 Significant Car Dealers, Material Contracts and Commitments.
(a) Schedule 3.18 includes a complete and accurate list
of all Car Dealers that originated $50,000 or more in Finance
Contracts during 1996. Schedule 3.18 also contains an accurate list
of all material contracts, commitments, leases, instruments,
agreements, licenses or permits to which Company is a party or by
which it or its properties are bound (including without limitation
contracts with directors, employees, any of the Stockholders, Car
Dealers, joint venture or partnership agreements, real estate leases,
equipment leases, software licenses, contracts with any labor
organizations, loan agreements, servicing agreements, securitization
agreements, indemnity or guaranty agreements, bonds, mortgages,
options to purchase land, liens, pledges or other security agreements)
(i) as of the Balance Sheet Date and (ii) entered into since the
Balance Sheet Date (collectively, the "Material Contracts"). The
Company has made available to Search true, complete and correct copies
of the Material Contracts and all amendments thereto. Except to the
extent set forth on Schedule 3.18, (w) none of Company's Car Dealers
has canceled or substantially reduced or is currently attempting or
threatening to cancel or substantially reduce its sale of Finance
Contracts to the Company, (x) the Company has complied with all of its
commitments and obligations and is not in default under any of the
Material Contracts and no notice of default has been received with
respect to any of the Material Contracts and (y) there are no Material
Contracts that were not negotiated at arm's length with third parties
not Affiliated with Company or any officer, director or Stockholder of
Company and (z) the Company has no knowledge that any of the Material
Contracts will not be complied with by the parties thereto.
(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the
Company, is in full force and effect, is, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, enforceable against the parties thereto (other than the
Company) in accordance with its terms and is not subject to any
default (or event that, with notice or the passage of time, or both
would constitute a default) thereunder by any party obligated to
Company pursuant thereto. The Company has used its best efforts to
fully comply in all material respects with the provisions of each
Material Contract. Company has used its best efforts to obtain, or
will obtain prior to the Closing, all necessary consents, waivers and
approvals of parties to any Material Contracts as are required in
connection with any of the Transactions, or as are required of any
Governmental Authority or other third party in order that any such
Material Contract remain in effect without modification after the
Merger and without giving rise to any
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<PAGE> 23
default or right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or loss
of any right or benefit thereunder. All Company Third Party Consents
are listed on Schedule 3.18.
3.19. Insurance. Schedule 3.19 sets forth an accurate list of all
insurance policies carried by the Company and all insurance loss runs or
workmen's compensation claims received for the past two policy years. The
Company has delivered to Search, prior to the date of this Agreement, true,
complete and correct copies of all current insurance policies, all of which are
in full force and effect. All premiums payable under all such policies have
been paid and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, the Company is otherwise
in full compliance with the terms of such policies (or other policies providing
substantially similar insurance coverage). Such policies of insurance are of
the type and in amounts customarily carried by similarly situated Persons
conducting businesses similar to that of the Company. The Company does not
know of any threatened termination of or material premium increase with respect
to, any of such policies. The Company maintains insurance adequate to
indemnify all of its officers and directors for any liability arising from
events that occurred prior to Closing and such insurance shall remain effective
notwithstanding the Merger.
3.20. Compensation; Employment Agreements. Schedule 3.20 hereto
sets forth an accurate list of all officers, directors and key employees of the
Company, as of the date hereof, all employment agreements with such officers,
directors and key employees and the rate of compensation (and the portions
thereof attributable to salary, bonus and other compensation, respectively) of
each of such Persons as of (a) the Balance Sheet Date and (b) the date hereof.
The Company has provided to Search true, complete and correct copies of all
employment, management, severance and other compensation or benefit contracts,
commitments and arrangements with Persons listed on Schedule 3.20.
3.21. Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) All employee benefit plans, programs and policies
(whether formal or informal, and whether maintained for the benefit of
a single individual or more than one individual) maintained or
contributed to by the Company for the benefit of any current or former
employee of the Company or in which such employees are entitled to
participate are listed in Schedule 3.21 (the "Benefit Plans"). Copies
of all such written Benefit Plans, written descriptions of all such
oral Benefit Plans, and all other documentation relating to such
Benefit Plans have been delivered or made available to Search. The
Company does not sponsor and has not participated in any "defined
benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(25) of ERISA.
(b) Each Benefit Plan and the operation and
administration thereof complies, and has at all times complied, in all
material respects with the requirements of all applicable Laws
including without limitation the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") and the Code. (a) Each Benefit Plan
which is an employee pension benefit plan as defined in Section 3(2)
of ERISA and is intended to qualify under section 401(a) of the Code
so qualifies and has received a favorable determination letter from
the Internal Revenue Service that it is so qualified and nothing has
occurred since the date of such letter to affect the qualified status
of such Plan, and each trust which forms a part of any such plan is
tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Code, (b) no liability has been
incurred or is expected to be incurred under Title IV of ERISA to any
party with respect to any Benefit Plan, or any other plan presently or
heretofore maintained or contributed to by the Company, any
predecessor to the Company or any entity that is or at any time was a
member of a controlled group, as defined in Section 412(n) (6) (B) of
the
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<PAGE> 24
Code, which includes or included the Company ("Controlled Group
Member"), and no fact exists or event has occurred that would
reasonably be expected to give rise to any such liability, (c) neither
the Company nor any Controlled Group Member has incurred any liability
for any tax imposed under section 4971 through 4980B of the Code or
civil liability under section 502(i) or (1) of ERISA, (d) no Benefit
Plan is a multi-employer plan within the meaning of section 3(37) of
ERISA, (e) no Benefit Plan provides health or death benefit coverage
beyond the termination of an employee's employment, except as required
by Part 6 of Title I of ERISA or section 4980B of the Code, (f) no
material "reportable event" (within the meaning of section 4043 of
ERISA) has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan or any plan
maintained by a Controlled Group Member since the effective date of
said section 4043, (g) no suit, actions or other litigation (excluding
claims for benefits incurred in the ordinary course of plan
activities) have been brought against or with respect to any Benefit
Plan, and (h) all contributions to Benefit Plans that were required to
be made under such Benefit Plans have been made as of the Balance
Sheet Date, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan
will have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved in
accordance with GAAP as of such date and the Company will have
performed by the Closing Date all material obligations required to be
performed as of such date under Benefit Plans.
(c) The Company and the Subsidiary have not incurred any
liability under, and have complied in all respects with, the Worker
Adjustment Retraining Notification Act and no fact or event exists
that could give rise to liability under such act, except for such
occurrences, noncompliances and liabilities as would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.22. Employee Matters. The Company is not bound by or subject to
(and none of its respective assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any
arrangement with any labor union. No employee of the Company is represented by
any labor union or covered by any collective bargaining agreement and no
campaign to establish such representation is in progress. There is no pending
or threatened labor dispute involving the Company and any group of its
employees nor has the Company experienced any labor interruptions over the past
three years that resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect and the Company
considers its relationship with its employees to be good.
3.23. Conformity with Law; Litigation. (a) The Company has not
violated any Law or any Order of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction
over it other than violations which would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. (b) Except as described in Schedule 3.23, there are no claims,
counterclaims, actions, suits, investigations or other proceedings, pending or
threatened, against or affecting the Company, or seeking to delay or prevent
consummation of the Merger, at law or in equity, or before or by any arbitrator
or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it and no notice of any
claim, counterclaim, action, suit or proceeding, whether pending or threatened,
has been received. (c) There are no judgments, orders, injunctions, decrees,
stipulations or awards (whether rendered by a Governmental Authority or by
arbitration) against the Company or against any of its properties or
businesses.
3.24. Taxes.
(a) Other than as set forth on Schedule 3.24(a), the
Company has timely filed or will timely file all requisite federal,
state and other Tax returns, reports and forms ("Returns") for all
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periods ended on or before the Closing Date, other than Returns with
respect to which the failure to file would not result in penalties,
fines, or other payments totaling more than $5,000 in the aggregate.
(b) Other than as set forth on Schedule 3.24(b), there
are no examinations in progress or claims against the Company for
Taxes for any period or periods and no notice of any claim for Taxes,
whether pending or threatened, has been received.
(c) The amounts shown as accruals for Taxes on the
Current Balance Sheet are sufficient for the payment of all Taxes,
whenever determined, for all fiscal periods ended on or before that
date.
(d) The Company has a taxable year ended on December 31.
(e) The Company currently utilizes the accrual method of
accounting for income tax purposes and such method of accounting has
not changed in the past five years.
(f) The Company has paid or has fully accrued for all
Taxes and will have withheld with respect to its employees all federal
and state income taxes, FICA, FUTA and other taxes required to be
withheld, whenever determined, with respect to periods ending on or
before the Closing Date.
(g) Copies of (i) any Tax examinations, (ii) extensions
of statutory limitations for the collection or assessment of Taxes and
(iii) the Returns of the Company for the last three (3) fiscal years
are included as part of Schedule 3.24(g).
(h) There are (and as of immediately following the
Closing there will be) no liens, pledges, charges, claims, security
interests or other encumbrances of any sort ("Liens") on the assets of
the Company relating to or attributable to Taxes (excluding current
year property or ad valorem taxes).
(i) None of the Company's assets are treated as "tax
exempt use property" within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code.
(j) As of the Effective Time, there will not be any
contract, agreement, plan or arrangement, including but not limited to
the provisions of this Agreement, covering any employee or former
employee of the Company that, individually or collectively, could give
rise to the payment of any amount that would not be deductible
pursuant to Section 280G, 404 or 162 of the Code.
(k) The Company has not filed any consent agreement under
Section 341(f)(2) of the Code or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of
the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Company.
(l) The Company is not a party to a tax sharing, tax
indemnity or allocation agreement nor does the Company owe any amount
under any such agreement.
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(m) The Company is not, and has not been at any time, a
"United States real property holding corporation" within the meaning
of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(n) The Company's tax basis in its assets for purposes of
determining its future amortization, depreciation and other federal
income tax deductions is accurately reflected on the Company's tax
books and records.
(o) The Company has not taken or agreed to take any
action that would prevent the Merger from constituting a
reorganization qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a) of
the Code.
3.25. Government Contracts. The Company is not a party to any
governmental contracts subject to price redetermination or renegotiation.
3.26. Absence of Changes. Since December 31, 1996, except as
disclosed in Schedule 3.26 or agreed to by Search in writing, there has not
been:
(a) any event giving rise to a Company Material Adverse
Effect,
(b) any damage, destruction or loss (whether or not
covered by insurance) adversely affecting the properties or business
of the Company that would have a Company Material Adverse Effect,
(c) any change in the authorized capital of the Company
or in its outstanding securities or any grant of any options,
warrants, calls, conversion rights or commitments,
(d) any declaration or payment of any dividend or
distribution in respect of the capital stock or any direct or indirect
redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any of the capital stock
of the Company,
(e) any increase in the compensation, bonus, sales
commissions or fee arrangements payable or to become payable by the
Company to any of its officers, directors, Stockholders, employees,
consultants or agents other than in the ordinary course of business
and in accordance with and consistent with past practices,
(f) any work interruptions, labor grievances or claims
filed, or any similar event or condition of any character, which would
result in a Company Material Adverse Effect,
(g) any sale or transfer, or any agreement to sell or
transfer, any asset, property or right of the Company having an
original cost of $5,000 or more to any Person, including without
limitation the Stockholders and their Affiliates,
(h) any cancellation, or agreement to cancel, any
indebtedness or other obligation owing to the Company, including
without limitation any indebtedness or obligation of any Stockholders
or any Affiliate thereof, provided that the Company may negotiate and
adjust bills in the course of good faith disputes with customers in a
manner consistent with past practice,
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<PAGE> 27
(i) any plan, agreement or arrangement granting any
preferential rights to purchase or acquire any interest in any of the
assets, property or rights of the Company or requiring consent of any
party to the transfer and assignment of any such assets, property or
rights,
(j) any purchase or acquisition of, or agreement, plan or
arrangement to purchase or acquire, any property, rights or assets
outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company,
(k) any waiver of any material rights or claims of the
Company,
(l) any breach, amendment or termination of any Material
Contract,
(m) any transaction by the Company outside the ordinary
course of business,
(n) any capital expenditure or commitment by the Company,
individually or in the aggregate, exceeding $5,000 other than those
listed on Schedule 3.26(n),
(o)_ change in the accounting methods or practices
(including any change in depreciation or amortization policies or
rates) by the Company or the revaluation by the Company of any of its
assets,
(p) any creation or assumption by the Company of any
mortgage, pledge, security interest or lien or other encumbrance on
any asset, other than those listed on Schedule 3.26(p),
(q) any entry into, amendment of, relinquishment,
termination or nonrenewal by the Company of any contract, lease
transaction, commitment or other right or obligation requiring
aggregate payments by the Company in excess of $50,000, other than
those listed on Schedule 3.26(q),
(r) loan by the Company to any Person or entity,
incurring by the Company of any indebtedness (excluding indebtedness
under the Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of May
1, 1996 among MS Financial, Fleet Bank, N.A., as Agent, and the Banks
party thereto, as amended by the First Amendment to the Fourth Amended
and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of December 16, 1996 by and among
MS Financial, Fleet Bank, N.A., as Agent, and the Banks party thereto
and proposed to be further amended pursuant to the Bank Loan Term
Sheet (the "MS Loan Agreement") guaranteeing by the Company of any
indebtedness or debt securities of others or issuance or sale of any
debt securities of the Company,
(s) the commencement or notice or threat of commencement
of any lawsuit or proceeding against or investigation of the Company
or any of its affairs not otherwise disclosed on Schedule 3.23, or
(t) agreement by the Company or any officer or employee
thereof to do any of the things described in the preceding clauses (a)
through (s) (other than agreements with Search regarding the
Transactions), or
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(u) any change of servicer or notice of an impending
change of servicer for any of the Securitization Trusts.
3.27. Bank Accounts Powers of Attorney. Schedule 3.27 sets forth an
accurate list, as of the date of this Agreement, of:
(a) the name of each financial institution in which the
Company has any account or safe deposit box
(b) the names in which the accounts or boxes are held (c)
the type of account and (d) the name of each Person authorized to draw
thereon or have access thereto.
Schedule 3.27 also sets forth the name of each Person, corporation, firm or
other entity holding a general or special power of attorney from the Company
and a description of the terms of such power.
3.28. Relations with Governments. The Company has not made, offered
or agreed to offer anything of value to any governmental official, political
party or candidate for government office and it has not taken any action that
would cause the Company to be in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
of 1977, as amended, or any Law of similar effect.
3.29. Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Company
contained in this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state any material fact necessary to make any statement herein not
misleading.
3.30. Opinion of Financial Advisor. MS Financial has received the
opinion of Bear, Stearns & Co. ("Bear Stearns") on the date of this Agreement
to the effect that the Merger is fair from a financial point of view to MS
Financial's stockholders as of the date thereof. As soon as practicable after
the date of this Agreement, MS Financial will deliver a written copy of such
opinion to Search dated as of the date of the Proxy Statement and such written
opinion will be attached to the Proxy Statement. A copy of the Bear Stearns
engagement letter dated October 25, 1996, as amended by the letter agreement
dated November 21, 1996 (the "Engagement Letter"), has previously been
delivered to Search.
3.31. Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the then outstanding shares of MS Financial Stock is the only vote
of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of MS Financial
necessary to adopt this Agreement and consummate the Transactions.
3.32. Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other than
Bear Stearns) is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission
in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on
behalf of MS Financial. The Engagement Letter is the only agreement pursuant
to which Bear Stearns will be entitled to any payment relating to the
Transactions.
3.33. Absence of Claims Against Company. To the best knowledge of
the Company, the Stockholders have no claims against the Company.
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<PAGE> 29
3.34. Complete Copies of Materials. The Company has delivered to
Search true, correct and complete copies (or summaries) of each agreement,
contract, commitment or other document that is referred to in the Schedules or
that has been requested by Search or its counsel in writing.
3.35. Compliance with Laws of Delaware. Without limiting any of the
other representations or warranties contained herein, MS Financial shall comply
with all provisions of the Delaware Statutes applicable to the Transaction,
including but not limited to Section 262 thereof.
3.36. Hart-Scott-Rodino Filing. The Company will file any and all
documentation, notices and responses, and will cooperate with Search with
respect to any and all filings, notices and responses, to Governmental
Authorities necessary to comply with HSR and to obtain the pre-clearance for
the Merger to be effectuated.
3.37. Review of Search. Without in any way affecting the
importance, scope or effectiveness of, or impacting its reliance on, any other
provision of this Agreement, and without acknowledging the accuracy or
completeness of any materials provided to it, the Company acknowledges that it
has had a full opportunity to request from Search and Newco all information
concerning Search and Newco that the Company deems relevant to its decision to
enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions, and has reviewed
the information provided by Search and Newco.
4. REPRESENTATIONS OF SEARCH AND NEWCO
To induce MS Financial to enter into this Agreement and consummate the
Transactions, each of Search and Newco represents and warrants to MS Financial
as follows:
4.1. Due Organization. Search and Newco are corporations duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Search and Newco have the requisite corporate power to carry on
their respective businesses as they are now being conducted. Search and Newco
are duly qualified as foreign corporations and are in good standing in each
jurisdiction where the character of either of their properties owned or held
under lease or the nature of their respective activities makes such
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Search Material
Adverse Effect. Search and Newco have delivered to MS Financial true, complete
and correct copies of their Certificates of Incorporation and Bylaws. The
Certificates of Incorporation and Bylaws are in full force and effect and, as
of the date of this Agreement, have not been amended, modified, revoked,
terminated or cancelled or in any other manner varied from the documents
delivered to MS Financial. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are
collectively referred to as the "Search Charter Documents." Search and Newco
have made available to MS Financial true, complete and correct sets of their
minute books. Neither Search nor Newco is in violation of any provision of the
Search Charter Documents.
4.2. Authorization; Validity of Obligations. Search and Newco have
all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Related Documents and, with respect to the Merger and the
issuance of the shares of Search Common Stock in connection with the Merger, if
required by the rules of the NASD, upon the approval thereof by Search's
stockholders in accordance with those rules, the Search Charter Documents, this
Agreement and the Delaware Statutes, to perform their respective obligations
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Related Documents to which they
are a party and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and such
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Related Documents by Search and Newco and the performance by each of Search and
Newco of their respective obligations under this Agreement and such Related
Documents have been duly and validly authorized by the respective Boards of
Directors of Search and Newco, and by all other necessary corporate action
other than approval of the issuance of Search Common Stock pursuant to the
Merger by holders of a majority of the total votes cast with respect thereto by
the stockholders of Search at the Search Stockholders Meeting pursuant to the
Delaware Statutes, the Search Charter Documents and the rules of the NASD, and
the filing and recordation of the Certificate of Merger. This Agreement has
been, and the Related Documents to which either Search or Newco is a party will
be, duly and validly executed and delivered by Search and/or Newco, as the case
may be, and will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of Search and/or
Newco enforceable against Search and/or Newco in accordance with their terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by principles of public policy and
subject to the laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency
and the relief of debtors and rules of Law governing specific performance,
injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.
4.3. No Conflicts; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Related Documents, the consummation of the
Transactions and the fulfillment of the terms hereof and thereof will
not:
(i) conflict with, or result in a breach or
violation of, the Search Charter Documents;
(ii) conflict with, or result in a default (or
would constitute a default but for any requirement of
notice or lapse of time or both) under any document, agreement
or other instrument to which either Search or Newco is a
party, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance on any of Search's or Newco's properties
pursuant to (y) any Law to which either Search or Newco or any
of their respective property is subject, or (z) any judgment,
order or decree to which Search or Newco is bound or any of
their respective property is subject, other than such as would
not individually or in the aggregate have a Search Material
Adverse Effect;
(iii) result in termination of, or give to any other
Person any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation with respect to any permit, license, franchise,
contractual right or other authorization of Search or Newco
material to Search and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or
(iv) violate any Law to which Search or Newco is
subject or by which any assets of Search or Newco are bound or
affected the violation of which would have a Search Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Search and Newco do not, and the performance of this Agreement by
Search and Newco will not, require any consent, approval,
authorization or permission of, or filing with or notification to, any
Governmental Authority except (i) for applicable requirements, if any,
of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, and Blue Sky Laws, and filing
and recordation of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary as
required by the Delaware Statutes (ii) such notice as is necessary to
comply with HSR and (iii) where failure
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<PAGE> 31
to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to
make such filings or notifications, would not prevent or delay
consummation of the Merger, or otherwise prevent Search or Newco from
performing its obligations under this Agreement.
4.4. Permits and Intangibles. Search and Newco own or hold all
Search Material Permits. The Search Material Permits are valid, and neither
Search nor Newco has received any notice that any Governmental Authority
intends to modify, suspend, cancel, terminate or not renew any Search Material
Permit. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.4, neither Search nor Newco is in
conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any Law applicable to Search
or Newco or by which any property or asset of Search or Newco is bound or
affected, (ii) any of the Search Material Permits or (iii) any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, or other instrument or
obligation to which Search or Newco is a party or by which Search or Newco or
any property or asset of Search or Newco is bound or affected except as would
not have a Search Material Adverse Effect. The Transactions will not result in
a default under, or a breach or violation of, or adversely affect the rights
and benefits afforded to Search or Newco by, any Search Material Permit.
4.5. Capitalization of Search and Ownership of Search Stock.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Search consists of
130,000,000 shares of Search Common Stock and 60,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock. 3,181,861 shares of Search Common Stock, 50,000
shares of 12% Senior Convertible Preferred Stock and 2,456,098 shares
of 9%/7% Convertible Preferred Stock were outstanding on January 31,
1997. At that date, warrants and options to purchase 751,649 shares of
Search Common Stock were outstanding and Search was obligated to issue
an additional 146,381 shares of Search Common Stock and Search had
committed to issue warrants and options to purchase an additional
817,500 shares of Search Common Stock. A total of 7,968,294 shares of
Search Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon conversion of the
outstanding shares of 12% Senior Convertible Preferred Stock and 9%/7%
Convertible Preferred Stock. The authorized capital stock of Newco
consists of 1,000 shares of Common Stock, all of which are outstanding
and outstanding owned beneficially and of record by Search. All of
the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of Search and
Newco have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. All of the issued
and outstanding shares of the capital stock of Search and Newco were
offered, issued, sold and delivered by Search or Newco, as the case
may be, in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws
concerning the issuance, offer and sale of securities. Further, none
of such shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights.
(b) The shares of Search Common Stock to be issued pursuant
to the Merger will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights created by statute,
the Search Charter Documents or any agreement to which Search is a
party or by which Search is bound and will, when issued, be registered
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and applicable Blue Sky
Laws, unless exempt therefrom.
4.6. SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
(a) Search has filed all Search SEC Reports. The Search
SEC Reports (i) were prepared in all material respects in accordance
with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as
the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (ii) did
not, at the
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time they were filed (or at the effective date thereof in the case of
registration statements), contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No
Subsidiary of Search is currently required to file any form, report or
other document with the SEC under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
(b) The information supplied by Search for inclusion in
the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement shall not, at (i)
the time the Registration Statement is declared effective, (ii) the
time the Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto) is first mailed to the stockholders of Search and MS
Financial, (iii) the time of the MS Financial Stockholders Meeting or
the Search Stockholders Meeting, and (iv) the Effective Time, contain
any statement which, at such time and in light of the circumstances
under which it is made, is 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 therein
not false or misleading or necessary to correct any statements in any
earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for
the MS Financial Stockholders Meeting and the Search Stockholders
Meeting which shall have become false or misleading. If at any time
prior to the Effective Time any event or circumstance relating to
Search or any Search Subsidiary, or their respective officers or
directors, should be discovered by Search which should be set forth in
an amendment or a supplement to the Registration Statement or Proxy
Statement, Search shall promptly inform MS Financial. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Search and Newco make no representation or warranty
with respect to any information supplied by MS Financial, the
Stockholders, or any of their representatives which is contained in
the Proxy Statement. All documents that Search is responsible for
filing with the SEC in connection with the Transactions will comply as
to form and substance in all material aspects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) Search has heretofore furnished to MS Financial
complete and correct copies of all amendments and modifications (if
any) that have not been filed by Search with the SEC to all
agreements, documents and instruments previously filed by Search as
exhibits to the Search SEC Reports and currently in effect as of the
date of this Agreement.
(d) Each of the consolidated financial statements
(including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in the Search
SEC Report for the transition period ended March 31, 1996 and the
unaudited consolidated financial statements of Search and its
consolidated Subsidiaries for the six months ended September 30, 1996
were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto and except that financial statements included with
interim reports do not contain all GAAP notes to such financial
statements) and each fairly presented in all material respects the
consolidated financial positions, results of operations and changes in
stockholders' equity and cash flows of Search and the consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and for the respective
periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited
statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which were
not and are not expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a
Search Material Adverse Effect). Since September 30, 1996, there have
been no material changes in Search's accounting policies.
(e) Except for the transactions described in Schedule
4.6(e), all transactions involving Search or any of its subsidiaries
that are required to be disclosed in the Search SEC Reports in
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<PAGE> 33
accordance with Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the
Securities Act have been so disclosed, and between September 30, 1996
and the date of this Agreement, neither Search nor any of its
subsidiaries has entered into any transactions that would be required
to be disclosed in future public filings under the Exchange Act
pursuant to such Item which have not already been disclosed in the
Search SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof.
4.7. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since September 30,
1996 and prior to the date of this Agreement, except (a) as contemplated by, or
disclosed pursuant to, this Agreement or any Schedule to this Agreement, (b)
disclosed by Search to MS Financial in writing on the date hereof, or (c)
disclosed in any Search SEC Report, Search and its subsidiaries have conducted
their businesses only in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with
past practice and, since September 30, 1996, there has not been (i) any event
or events (whether or not covered by insurance), individually or in the
aggregate, having a Search Material Adverse Effect other than changes or
effects affecting the non-prime automobile finance industry generally, (ii) any
material change by Search in its accounting methods, principles or practices,
or (iii) any entry by Search or any Search Subsidiary into any commitment or
Transaction material to Search or the Search Subsidiaries, except in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.
4.8. Conformity with Law; Litigation.
(a) Search and Newco have not violated any Law or any
Order of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over either of
them other than violations which would not have a Search Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as disclosed in any Search SEC Report, there are no
claims, counterclaims, actions, suits, investigations or other
proceedings, pending or, to the best of Search's and Newco's
knowledge, threatened, against or affecting Search or Newco, or
seeking to delay or prevent consummation of the Merger, at law or in
equity, or before or by any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority
having jurisdiction over either of them and no notice of any such
claim, counterclaim, action, suit or proceeding, whether pending or
threatened, has been received by either of them. Except as disclosed
in any Search SEC Report, there are no judgments, orders, injunctions,
decrees, stipulations or awards (whether rendered by a Governmental
Authority or by arbitration) against Search or Newco or against any of
either of their properties or businesses having a Search Material
Adverse Effect.
4.9. Ownership of Newco; No Prior Activities.
(a) Newco was formed solely for the purpose of engaging
in the Transactions.
(b) As of the date hereof and the Effective Time, except
for obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its
incorporation or organization and the Transactions and except for this
Agreement and any other agreements or arrangements, contemplated by
this Agreement, Newco has not and will not have incurred, directly or
indirectly, through any subsidiary or Affiliate, any obligations or
liabilities or engaged in any business activities of any type or kind
whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with any
Person.
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<PAGE> 34
4.10. Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of Search Common Stock and Preferred
Stock voted is the only vote, if any, of the holders of any class or series of
capital stock of Search necessary to approve the issuance of shares of Search
Common Stock to the stockholders of MS Financial pursuant to the Merger.
4.11. Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other than
Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated and Tri- River Capital Group) is entitled to
any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the
Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Search or Newco.
4.12. Transactions in Capital Stock. Except as set forth in Section
4.5(a), the Search SEC Reports and, as contemplated by this Agreement, as of
the date of this Agreement, no option, warrant, call, subscription right,
conversion right or other contract or commitment of any kind exists of any
character, written or oral, which may obligate Search to issue or sell any
shares of capital stock or other equity interests. Except as set forth in the
Search SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement or in Schedule
4.12, neither Search nor Newco has any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its equity securities or any
interests therein or to pay any dividend or make any distribution in respect
thereof.
4.13. Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Search or Newco
contained in this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state any material fact necessary to make any statement herein or
therein not misleading.
4.14. Complete Copies of Materials. Except as set forth in Schedule
4.14, Search and Newco have made available to MS Financial true and complete
copies (or summaries) of each agreement, contract, commitment or other document
which pertains to Search or Newco, or to which Search or Newco is a party, and
which is referred to in the Closing Checklist or in the Schedules, or that has
been requested in writing by MS Financial or its counsel.
4.15. Hart-Scott-Rodino Filing. Search and Newco will file any and
all documentation, notices and responses, and will cooperate with MS Financial
with respect to any and all filings, notices and responses to Governmental
Authorities necessary to comply with HSR or required by Law and to obtain the
pre-clearance for the Merger to be effectuated.
4.16. Review of Company. Without in any way affecting the
importance, scope or effectiveness of, or impacting its reliance on, any other
provision of this Agreement, and without acknowledging the accuracy or
completeness of any materials provided to it, Search acknowledges that it has
had a full opportunity to request from the Company, all information concerning
the Company that Search deems relevant to its decision to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the Transactions and that it has reviewed such
information as has been provided to it.
4.17. Taxes.
(a) Search and Newco have timely filed or will timely
file all requisite Returns for all periods ended on or before the
Effective Time.
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(b) There are no examinations in progress or claims
against Search or Newco for Taxes for any period or periods and no
notice of any claim for Taxes, whether pending or threatened, has been
received.
(c) The amounts shown as accruals for Taxes on Search's
current balance sheet are sufficient for the payment of all Taxes,
whenever determined, for all fiscal periods ended on or before that
date.
(d) Search has a taxable year ending on March 31 in each
year.
(e) Search and Newco currently use the accrual method of
accounting for income tax purposes and such method of accounting has
not changed in the past five years.
(f) Search and Newco have paid or have fully accrued for
all Taxes and will have withheld with respect to its employees all
federal and state income taxes, FICA, FUTA and other taxes required to
be withheld, whenever determined, with respect to periods ending on or
before the Closing Date.
(g) Copies of (i) any Tax examinations and (ii)
extensions of statutory limitations for the collection or assessment
of Taxes are included as part of Schedule 4.17.
(h) There are (and as of immediately following the
Closing there will be) no liens, pledges, charges, claims, security
interests or other encumbrances of any sort ("Liens") on the assets of
Search or Newco relating to or attributable to Taxes (excluding
current year property or ad valorem taxes).
(i) None of Search's or Newco's assets are treated as
"tax exempt use property" within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the
Code.
(j) Search and Newco have not filed any consent agreement
under Section 341(f)(2) of the Code or agreed to have Section
341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f)
asset (as defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by Search or
Newco.
(k) Neither Search nor Newco is or has been at any time,
a "United States real property holding corporation" within the meaning
of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(l) Search's tax basis in its assets for purposes of
determining its future amortization, depreciation and other federal
income tax deductions is accurately reflected on Search's tax books
and records.
(m) Neither Search nor Newco has taken or agreed to take
any action that would prevent the Merger from constituting a
reorganization qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a) of
the Code.
5. COVENANTS
5.1. Access to Information; Confidentiality.
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(a) Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective
Time, Search and MS Financial will, and each will direct its
Subsidiaries to, afford to the other and its officers and authorized
representatives access to (i) all of their sites, properties, books
and records, including, without limitation, in the case of MS
Financial, the records of the Securitization Trusts, and (ii) such
additional financial and operating data and other information as to
their respective businesses and properties as each may from time to
time reasonably request, including but not limited to verification of
the other party's compliance with all of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and access to employees, customers and vendors for due
diligence inquiry. Each of Search and MS Financial will cooperate and
will direct its Subsidiaries to cooperate with the other and its
representatives in the preparation of any documents or other material
which may be required in connection with this Agreement. The
representations, warranties, covenants and obligations as set forth in
this Agreement shall not be affected or modified in any manner
whatsoever by any due diligence inquiry. In addition, any due
diligence inquiry shall not be a defense to any breach of any of the
representations, warranties, covenants or obligations contained
herein.
(b) Each of the Company, on the one hand, and Search and
Newco on the other hand, agrees that it will not disclose any
confidential or proprietary information which it obtains or acquires
regarding the other or its Subsidiary to any Person, firm,
corporation, association or other entity for any purpose or reason
whatsoever, except to authorized employees or other authorized
representatives of the respective parties and to counsel, lenders,
secured creditors, underwriters, investment bankers and other
advisers; provided, that such advisors agree to the confidentiality
provisions of this Section 5.1(b), subject to Section 5.1(c) below.
(c) The confidentiality obligations of a party hereto
shall be terminated regarding any confidential or proprietary
information obtained or acquired if (i) such information becomes known
to the public generally through no fault of the receiving party, (ii)
disclosure is required by Law or the order of any Governmental
Authority under color of Law, or (iii) the disclosing party reasonably
believes that such disclosure is required in connection with the
defense of a lawsuit against the disclosing party; provided, that
prior to disclosing any information pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above, such party shall, if possible, give prior written notice
thereof to the other party and provide the other party with the
opportunity to contest such disclosure.
5.2. Conduct of Business by MS Financial. Subject to the
limitations of that certain budget approved pursuant to the Bank Loan Term
Sheet, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, unless otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions
of Section 5.16, or agreed to by Search in writing, MS Financial will, and will
cause its Subsidiary, to:
(a) carry on their respective businesses only in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice as was in
effect between July 1, 1996 and December 31, 1996 and not introduce
any new method of management, operation or accounting;
(b) use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve
substantially intact its business organization, to keep available the
services of its current officers, management and marketing employees
and to preserve its current relationships with dealers, suppliers,
lenders, and other Persons with which any of them has a significant
business relationship;
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(c) maintain their respective properties and facilities,
including those held under leases, in as good working order and
condition as at present, ordinary wear and tear excepted;
(d) perform in a timely manner all of their obligations
under this Agreement and the Related Documents to which they are a
party and all other material agreements relating to or affecting any
of their respective assets, the failure of which to perform would,
when aggregated with all other agreements not performed, have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) keep in full force and effect present insurance
policies or other comparable insurance coverage;
(f) use all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain
and preserve the goodwill associated with their respective businesses,
and their respective relationships with customers and others having
business relations with them;
(g) maintain compliance with all Material Permits and
Laws;
(h) maintain present debt and lease instruments and not
enter into new or amended debt or lease instruments; and
(i) inform Search immediately if any event occurs that
may have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
5.3. Prohibited Activities. Without the prior written consent of
Search, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, MS Financial will not,
and will cause its Subsidiary not to:
(a) amend any of the MS Charter Documents;
(b) (i) declare or pay any dividend, or make any other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of
their respective stock whether now or hereafter outstanding, (ii)
split, combine or reclassify any of their respective capital stock,
(iii) issue or authorize the issuance of any shares of capital stock,
or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of
any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock, or any other
ownership interest (including, without limitation, any phantom
interest), or (iv) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for
value any shares of their respective stock (including without
limitation the right to acquire any shares and any phantom interest),
except that MS Financial may issue shares of MS Financial Stock
pursuant to Company Options outstanding on the date of this Agreement
and pursuant to the MS Financial Employee Stock Purchase Plan; (MS
Financial acknowledges that any such a prohibited occurrence which
relates to the distribution of MS Financial stock could affect
Search's compliance with the relevant securities laws in the
distribution of the Search Common Stock);
(c) incur or agree to incur any indebtedness other than
under the MS Loan Agreement or make any capital expenditures in excess
of $5,000 in the aggregate other than those listed in Schedule 5.3(c),
enter into any other contract or commitment involving an expenditure
in excess of $5,000 (other than to purchase Finance Contracts), or
guarantee any indebtedness of a third party;
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(d) except in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, (i) increase the compensation payable or to become
payable to any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent, (ii)
make any bonus or management fee payment to any such Person, (iii)
make any loans or advances to any Person other than travel or
entertainment advances in the ordinary course of business to employees
and directors, (iv) adopt or amend any employee benefit plan, (v)
grant, or enter into any agreement providing for, any severance or
termination pay or (vi) in any other manner increase the compensation
payable, or fringe benefits provided, to any of the aforesaid Persons;
(e) directly or indirectly make or cause to be made any
payment to an Affiliate other than in accordance with existing
agreements and then only in accordance with past practices or enter
into any new agreement with any Affiliate;
(f) create or assume any mortgage, pledge or other lien
or encumbrance upon any assets or properties whether now owned or
hereafter acquired except pursuant to the MS Financial Debt in the
ordinary course of business;
(g) sell, assign, lease, pledge or otherwise transfer or
dispose of any property or equipment, except in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(h) acquire or negotiate for the acquisition of (by
merger, consolidation, purchase of a substantial portion of assets or
otherwise) any business or the start-up of any new business, or
otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets that are material,
individually or in the aggregate, to MS Financial and its Subsidiary
taken as a whole;
(i) merge or consolidate or agree to merge or consolidate
with or into any other corporation;
(j) waive any material rights or claims ;
(k) commit a breach (or take any action that with notice
or the passage of time, or both, would cause a breach) of, or amend or
terminate, any agreement, permit, license or other right;
(l) enter into (i) any material contracts or (ii) any
other transaction outside the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice or prohibited hereunder;
(m) either (i) commence a lawsuit other than for routine
collection of Finance Contracts or (ii) settle or compromise any
pending or threatened litigation which would result in a Company
Material Adverse Effect;
(n) take, or agree (in writing or otherwise) to take, any
of the actions described in Sections 5.3(a) through (m) above, or any
action which would make any of the representations and warranties of
MS Financial contained in this Agreement untrue and result in a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(o) If MS Financial wishes to take any action otherwise
prohibited by paragraphs (a) through (n) of this Section 5.3, it must
notify Search in writing as provided for in Section 7.9 of its intended
prohibited action, provide Search with a justification for the taking
of such action and request Search's consent to such prohibited action.
Search shall have two business days from receipt of such notice and
information it may reasonably request regarding such prohibited action
to consent to or deny such request. If Search does not respond to MS
Financial's request by the end of said time period, Search shall be
deemed to have consented to such action.
5.4. No Solicitation of Transactions. Neither MS Financial, nor
its Subsidiary shall, directly or indirectly, through any officer, director,
employee, agent or otherwise, solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of
any proposal or offer from any Person relating to any acquisition or purchase
of all or any material portion of the assets of, or any equity interest in, MS
Financial, Subsidiary of MS Financial or any Securitization Trust, or any
merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or other similar
transaction with MS Financial, the Subsidiary of MS Financial or any
Securitization Trust, or participate in any negotiations or discussions
regarding, or furnish to any other Person any information with respect to, 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 nothing contained in this Section 5.4 shall
prohibit the Board of Directors of MS Financial from authorizing MS Financial
or the Board's other designees to review, or to furnish information to, or
entering into discussions or negotiations with, any Person in connection with
an unsolicited proposal in writing by such Person to acquire MS Financial
pursuant to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or
other similar transaction or to acquire all or substantially all of the assets
of MS Financial or any of its Subsidiaries received by the Board of Directors
of MS Financial after the date of this Agreement, if, and only to the extent
that, (a) the Board of Directors of MS Financial, after consultation with its
independent legal and financial advisors and taking into consideration the
advice of such advisors, determines in good faith that such action is required
for the Board of Directors of MS Financial to comply with its fiduciary duties
to stockholders imposed by Delaware Law and (b) prior to furnishing such
information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with, such Person,
MS Financial (i) gives Search as promptly as practicable prior oral and written
notice of MS Financial's intention to furnish such information or begin such
discussions and (ii) receives from such Person an executed confidentiality
agreement on terms no less favorable to MS Financial than those contained in
the Confidentiality Agreement between Search and MS Financial dated October 15,
1996. MS Financial shall notify Search promptly if any proposal or offer, or
any inquiry or contact with any Person with respect thereto, is made and
shall, in any such notice to Search, indicate in reasonable detail the terms
and conditions of such proposal, offer, inquiry or contact. MS Financial
agrees not to release any third party from, or waive any provision of, any
confidentiality or standstill agreement to which MS Financial is a party. MS
Financial immediately shall cease and cause to be terminated all existing
discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect
to any of the foregoing.
5.5. Notification of Certain Matters. Each party hereto shall give
prompt notice to the other parties hereto of (a) the occurrence or
non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or nonoccurrence of which would be
likely to cause any representation or warranty of it contained herein to be
untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at or prior to the Closing and (b)
any material failure of such party to comply with or satisfy any covenant,
condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by such party
hereunder. The delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not,
without the express written consent of the other parties be deemed to (x)
modify the representations or warranties hereunder of the
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party delivering such notice, (y) modify the conditions set forth in Article 6,
or (z) limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party
receiving such notice.
5.6. Cooperation in Obtaining Required Consents and Approvals. For
all consents and approvals which MS Financial is required to obtain pursuant to
this Agreement, Search shall cooperate and provide to MS Financial such
documentation or other information as MS Financial shall reasonably request.
For all consents and approvals which Search is required to obtain pursuant to
this Agreement, MS Financial shall cooperate and provide to Search such
documentation or other information as Search shall reasonably request.
5.7. Tax Returns. MS Financial shall timely file, and shall cause
its Subsidiary to timely file, subject to any permissible extensions, all
federal and state income tax returns due before the Effective Time for taxable
periods ending on or prior to the Closing and have paid or will pay all Taxes
attributable to such periods, subject to any permissible extensions. Such
returns will be prepared and filed in accordance with applicable Law and in a
manner consistent with past practices and shall be subject to review by Search.
5.8. Registration Statement; Proxy Statement.
(a) As promptly as practicable after the execution of
this Agreement, Search shall prepare a Registration Statement
including therein a combined Proxy Statement and Prospectus, in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the
shares of Search Common Stock to be issued to the stockholders of MS
Financial pursuant to the Merger. Search shall send the Registration
Statement to MS Financial for MS Financial's review and comment prior
to the filing of the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement with
the SEC. As promptly as practicable, MS Financial shall review and
approve the contents of the Registration Statement and Proxy
Statement, as they may be revised, its approval not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
As promptly as practicable, Search shall file the Registration
Statement in the form approved by MS Financial with the SEC. Search
and MS Financial each shall use all reasonable efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable,
and, prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, Search
shall take all or any action required under any applicable federal or
Blue Sky laws in connection with the issuance of shares of Search
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger. Each of MS Financial and Search
shall pay its own expenses incurred in connection with the
Registration Statement, Proxy Statement, MS Financial Stockholders
Meeting and Search Stockholders Meeting, including, without
limitation, the fees and disbursements of their respective counsel,
accountants and other representatives, except that MS Financial and
Search each shall pay one-half of any printing, filing and other fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the Registration Statement.
MS Financial shall furnish all information concerning MS Financial and
the Stockholders as Search may reasonably request in connection with
such actions and the preparation of the Registration Statement and
Proxy Statement. As promptly as practicable after the Registration
Statement shall have become effective, Search, if required, and MS
Financial shall mail the Proxy Statement to their respective
stockholders. The Proxy Statement shall include the recommendations
of the Boards of Directors of Search, if required, and MS Financial in
favor of the Merger, unless otherwise prohibited by the applicable
fiduciary duties of such directors, as determined by such directors in
good faith after consultation with and duly considering the written
advice of independent legal counsel, subject to Section 5.4.
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(b) No amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or
the Registration Statement will be made by Search or MS Financial
without the approval of the other, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Search and MS Financial each will advise the other,
promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the
Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or
amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order, the
suspension of the qualification of the Search Common Stock issuable in
connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
or any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement or the
Registration Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or
requests by the SEC for additional information.
(c) Search shall promptly prepare and submit to the NASD
an application for quotation of the shares of Search Common Stock
issuable in the Merger on NASDAQ, and shall use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain, prior to the Effective Time, approval for the
quotation of such Search Common Stock on NASDAQ, subject to official
notice of issuance. MS Financial shall cooperate with Search with
respect to such application.
(d) MS Financial, Search and Newco each hereby (i)
consents to the use of its name and, on behalf of its Subsidiaries and
Affiliates, the names of such Subsidiaries and Affiliates and to the
inclusion of financial statements and business information relating to
such party and its Subsidiary and Affiliates (in each case, to the
extent required by applicable securities laws) in the Registration
Statement and the Proxy Statement, (ii) agrees to use all reasonable
efforts to obtain the written consent of any Person or entity retained
by it which may be required to be named (as an expert or otherwise) in
the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement, and (iii) agrees to
reasonably cooperate, and agrees to use all reasonable efforts to
cause its Subsidiary and Affiliates to reasonably cooperate, with any
legal counsel, investment banker, accountant or other agent or
representative retained by any of the parties specified in clause (i)
above in connection with the preparation of any and all information
required, as determined after consultation with each party's counsel,
to be disclosed by applicable securities laws in the Registration
Statement or the Proxy Statement.
5.9. Stockholders Meetings. MS Financial shall call and hold a
meeting of its stockholders (the "MS Financial Stockholders Meeting") as
promptly as practicable for the purpose of voting upon the adoption of this
Agreement. If required by the rules of the NASD, Search shall call and hold a
meeting of its stockholders (the "Search Stockholders Meeting") as promptly as
practicable for the purpose of voting upon the approval of the issuance of
additional shares of Search Common Stock pursuant to the Merger. MS Financial
and Search shall use all reasonable efforts to hold the respective MS Financial
Stockholders Meeting and Search Stockholders Meeting on the same day and as
soon as practicable after the date on which the Registration Statement becomes
effective. MS Financial and Search shall use all reasonable efforts to solicit
from their respective stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption of this
Agreement in the case of MS Financial, and in favor of the issuance of
additional shares of Search Common Stock pursuant to the Merger in the case of
Search, and shall take all other action reasonably necessary or advisable to
secure the vote or consent of stockholders required by the Delaware Statutes to
obtain such approvals (including unanimously recommending such approval),
unless otherwise necessary and mandatory under the applicable fiduciary duties
of the directors of MS Financial or Search, as determined by such directors in
good faith under applicable Law after consultation with and duly considering
the written advice of independent legal counsel, subject to Section 5.4.
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5.10. Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.
(a) MS Financial and Search shall use their best
reasonable efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate
action, and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable Law or required to be taken by any
Governmental Authority or otherwise to consummate and make effective
the Transactions as promptly as practicable, (ii) obtain from any
Governmental Authority any consents, licenses, permits, waivers,
approvals, authorizations or orders required to be obtained or made by
Search or MS Financial or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with
the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the Transactions, including, without limitation, the
Merger, and (iii) as promptly as practicable, make all necessary
filings, and thereafter make any other required submissions and
responses to inquiries as promptly as possible, with respect to this
Agreement and the Merger required under or by (A) the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act, and any other applicable federal securities or
Blue Sky Laws, (B) the rules and regulations of the NASD, (C) the
Delaware Statutes, (D) HSR and the Federal Trade Commission and the
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, and (E) any other
applicable Law or Governmental Authority; provided, that Search and MS
Financial shall cooperate with each other in connection with the
making of all such filings and responses, including providing copies
of all such documents to the non- filing party and its advisors prior
to filing or responding to inquiries and, if requested, accepting all
reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested in connection
therewith. MS Financial and Search shall use reasonable best efforts
to furnish to each other all information required for any application
or other filing to be made pursuant to any applicable Law (including
all information required to be included in the Proxy Statement and the
Registration Statement) in connection with the Transactions.
(b) Each of Search and MS Financial shall give (or shall
cause their respective Subsidiaries to give) any notices to third
parties, and use, and cause their respective subsidiaries to use,
their reasonable best efforts to obtain any third party consents, (i)
necessary to consummate the Transactions, (ii) disclosed or required
to be disclosed in the Schedules hereto, or (iii) required to prevent
a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Search Material Adverse Effect
from occurring prior to or after the Effective Time.
(c) In the event that Search or MS Financial shall fail
to obtain any third party consent described in subsection (b) above,
it shall use all reasonable efforts, and shall take any such actions
reasonably requested by the other party, to minimize any adverse
effect upon MS Financial and Search, their respective Subsidiaries,
their respective stockholders, and their respective businesses
resulting, or which could reasonably be expected to result after the
Effective Time, from the failure to obtain such consent.
(d) From the date of this Agreement until the Effective
Time, each party shall promptly notify the other parties of any
pending, or to the best knowledge of the first party, threatened,
action, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental
Authority or any other Person (i) challenging or seeking material
damages in connection with the Merger or the conversion of MS
Financial Stock into Search Common Stock pursuant to the Merger or
(ii) seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Merger or
otherwise limit the right of Search or, the knowledge of such first
party, Newco or any other Search Subsidiary to own or operate all or
any portion of the businesses or assets of MS Financial or its
Subsidiary, which in
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either case is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect prior to the Effective Time, or a Search Material Adverse
Effect (including the Surviving Corporation) after the Effective Time.
5.11. Obligations of Newco. Search shall take all action necessary
to cause Newco to perform its agreements, covenants, and obligations under this
Agreement and to consummate the Merger on the terms and subject to conditions
set forth in this Agreement. This obligation of Search shall terminate at the
Effective Time.
5.12. Public Announcements. Search and MS Financial shall consult
with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public
statements with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions and shall not
issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such
consultation. The parties have agreed on the text of a joint press release by
which Search and MS Financial will announce the execution of this Agreement.
5.13. Delivery of SEC Documents. Each of MS Financial and Search
shall promptly deliver to the other true and correct copies of any report,
statement or schedule filed by it with the SEC subsequent to the date of this
Agreement.
5.14. Further Action. At any time before or after the Effective
Time, and from time to time, each party to this Agreement agrees, subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to take such actions and to execute
and deliver such documents as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of
this Agreement at the earliest practicable time.
5.15. Indemnification.
(a) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation and its Subsidiary shall contain provisions that
acknowledge and agree that the provisions relating to limitation on
liability that are set forth in the MS Charter Documents as of the
date of this Agreement shall remain effective for a period of four
years from the Effective Time with respect to individuals who at any
time prior to the Effective Time were directors, officers, employees,
fiduciaries or agents of MS Financial or any of its Subsidiaries in
respect of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective
Time, including, without limitation, the Transactions, and the
Surviving Corporation shall not amend (in any manner that would
materially diminish the effect of such provisions) or repeal such
provisions for a period of four years from the Effective Time.
(b) The Surviving Corporation shall use reasonable
efforts to maintain in effect for three years from the Effective Time
the current directors' and officers' liability insurance coverage
listed, and identified as such, in Schedule 5.15(b) (provided, that
the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies of at least
the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions which
are not materially less advantageous to such officers and directors)
with respect to individuals who at any time prior to the Effective
Time were directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries or agents of MS
Financial in respect of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to
the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the matters
contemplated by this Agreement); provided, however, that in no event
shall the Surviving Corporation be required to expend pursuant to this
Section 5.15(b) more than $332,500 in the aggregate, including any
amounts paid prior to the Effective Time by MS Financial, for such
coverage.
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(c) If the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors
or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of
its properties and assets to any Person other than in the ordinary
course of business or as part of a securitization transaction, then,
and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the
successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation, or at Search's
option, Search, shall assume the obligations of the Surviving
Corporation set forth in this Section 5.15.
(d) The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation shall contain provisions with respect to
indemnification and advancement of expenses no less favorable than
those that are set forth in the MS Charter Documents as of the date of
this Agreement, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or
modified in any manner that would diminish their effect, for a period
of three years from the Effective Time for all matters other than the
Proxy Statement described in Section 5.8 above, and for a period of
four years from the Effective Time with respect to said Proxy
Statement, with respect to individuals who at any time prior to the
Effective Time were directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries or
agents of MS Financial in respect of actions or omissions occurring at
or prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the
matters contemplated by this Agreement).
(e) The obligations of the Surviving Corporation under
this Section 5.15 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner
as to adversely affect any director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
agent to whom this Section 5.15 applies without the consent of each
affected director, officer, employee, fiduciary and agent (it being
expressly agreed that the directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries
and agents to whom this Section 5.15 applies shall be third-party
beneficiaries of this Section 5.15).
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any obligation of the
Surviving Corporation relating to indemnification shall be subject to
such liability first being satisfied out of the directors' and
officers' liability insurance coverage referred to in Section 5.15(b)
and second any Merger Consideration held in escrow pursuant to the
Stockholders Agreement dated of even date herewith between the
Stockholders and Search (the "Stockholders Agreement"), if applicable,
and third, and then only to the extent that the insurance does not
fully cover such liability, shall the Surviving Corporation be
responsible for such indemnification obligations.
5.16. Operations. Between the date hereof and the Effective Time,
subject to the fiduciary duties of MS Financial's Board of Directors, MS
Financial will use its best efforts to conduct its business utilizing its
current personnel and current operating policies and procedures subject to the
following provisions:
(a) Beginning at the first to occur of either the
expiration or termination of the HSR waiting period, or, if an HSR
filing is not required, the execution of this Agreement, MS Financial
shall cause its President to consult with Search's President and Chief
Executive Officer or Senior Executive Vice President - Operations
Director on a daily basis regarding the Company's day-to-day
operations, including, without limitation, implementation of such
marketing, servicing, collection and administrative policies,
procedures and programs as such officers of Search shall approve, and
take any and all suggestions into account with respect the operations
of MS Financial and its Subsidiary. Except with regard to matters
provided for in subsections (b), and (d) below, MS Financial shall not
be required to implement any suggestion made by Search's personnel,
but
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agrees to take such suggestions into account with respect to the
Company's operations. In addition, MS Financial agrees to permit
Search's President and Chief Executive Officer, its Senior Executive
Vice President - Operations Director, its Executive Vice President -
Operations and its Executive Vice President - Marketing access to MS
Financial and its Subsidiary and to the operations of MS Financial and
its Subsidiary in order to observe and participate in the day-to-day
operations of MS Financial and its Subsidiary.
(b) No Finance Contracts will be purchased by MS
Financial or its Subsidiary unless such Finance Contracts meet
Search's underwriting criteria, a copy of which is included in
Schedule 5.16, or are otherwise approved by either the President and
Chief Executive Officer or the Senior Executive Vice President -
Operations Director of Search. Search shall cause its Subsidiary,
Search Funding Corp., to abide by the letter agreement contained in
Schedule 5.16, pursuant to which it agrees to purchase Finance
Contracts that meet Search's underwriting criteria from MS Financial.
(c) MS Financial will allow Search to monitor and
evaluate MS Financial's collection activities, policies and
procedures. Beginning at the first to occur of either the expiration
or termination of the HSR waiting period, or, if an HSR filing is not
required, the execution of this Agreement, MS Financial agrees to
implement those collection policies, procedures and practices as shall
be agreed upon by MS Financial's President and either the President
and Chief Executive Officer or Senior Executive Vice President -
Operations Director of Search and to take any and all suggestions into
account with respect to the operations of MS Financial and its
Subsidiary. Such individuals will cause an analysis of Finance
Contracts owned by MS Financial to be conducted to determine the
amount of any additional reserves or charge-offs to be recognized
prior to the Effective Time.
(d) MS Financial agrees not to change any existing
policies or procedures and not to implement any new policies or
procedures without the prior written approval of Search's President
and Chief Executive Officer or Senior Executive Vice President -
Operations Director.
(e) Day-to-day operations and operating policies and
procedures will be the responsibility of MS Financial's President. No
salary or other compensation increases other than pursuant to Section
5.3(d) or employee terminations will be made by MS Financial without
the approval of MS Financial's President, who will first consult with
the President and Chief Executive Officer or the Senior Executive Vice
President - Operations Director of Search.
(f) For Search's assistance as set forth in this Section
5.16, MS Financial shall pay Search $100,000 per month, payable on or
before the first business day of each month. This fee shall be
included in Search's Expenses unless previously paid. Any payments
made pursuant to this Section 5.16(f) shall be credited against the
Search Fee and shall not be taken into account when making the
calculations required by Section 1.2(g). The fee shall be pro rated
for the month in which this Agreement is executed and shall be payable
with respect to that month within three business days of the date of
this Agreement; and a similar pro ration for the month in which this
Agreement is terminated shall be made and any excess portion shall be
credited to the Search Fee and/or Search's Expenses, or refunded to
the Company by Search if no Search Fee or Expenses are payable
pursuant to the terms of Article 7 below.
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5.17. Tax Reorganization. After the date of this Agreement, Search
will not, prior to the Effective Time, and will not permit the Surviving
Corporation after the Effective Time, to take any action inconsistent with the
guidelines provided to Search by MS Financial prior to the Effective Time, and
accepted by Search, acting reasonably, regarding spin-offs and other corporate
transactions that might affect the qualification of the Transaction as a
reorganization qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code.
5.18. Search Stock. Search shall not, between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Time, change the outstanding shares of Search
Common Stock into a different number of shares, or a different class, by reason
of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, stock dividend, stock
combination or exchange of shares without the prior written consent of MS
Financial, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
5.19. Directorship. The Board of Directors of Search shall elect
James Stuart Jr. to the Board of Directors of Search for a term expiring at the
1999 annual meeting of the stockholders of Search, effective at the Effective
Time.
6. CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER.
6.1. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The obligations
of MS Financial, Search and Newco to consummate the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) this Agreement and the Transactions shall have been
approved and adopted by (i) the affirmative vote of the stockholders
of MS Financial in accordance with the Delaware Statutes and MS
Financial's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and (ii) if
required by the rules of the NASD, the stockholders of Search in
accordance with the Delaware Statutes, Search's Restated Certificate
of Incorporation and the rules of the NASD;
(b) the Registration Statement shall have been declared
effective, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall be in effect and no proceeding for that
purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC;
(c) no Governmental Authority shall have issued, enacted,
promulgated, enforced or entered any order, stay, decree, judgment or
injunction (each an "Order") or Law which is in effect and has the
effect of making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting
consummation of the Merger and the other Transactions;
(d) the waiting period applicable to the Merger under the
HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated;
(e) Search and MS Financial each shall have received an
opinion of Haynes & Boone, LLP, reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to Search and MS Financial, to the effect that the Merger
will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a reorganization
qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code, which
shall be dated on or about the date that is two business days prior to
the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to stockholders of MS
Financial and which shall be updated as of the Effective Time.
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(f) the Stockholders Agreement shall be in full force and
effect at the Effective Time; and
(g) MS Financial shall have delivered to Search, prior to
the expiration or termination of the HSR pre-clearance waiting period,
a letter identifying all persons who are anticipated to be, at the
time of the MS Financial Stockholders Meeting, Affiliates of MS
Financial for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act. MS
Financial shall have used its best efforts to cause each Person who is
identified as an Affiliate in such letter to deliver, on or before the
date which is 30 days prior to the Effective Time, a written agreement
in connection with restrictions on Affiliates under Rule 145 in
substantially the form of Schedule 6.1(g).
(h) On or before February 19, 1997 (i) Search and MS
Financial shall have entered into the Bank Loan Term Sheet on terms
acceptable to Search and MS Financial and (ii) MS Financial shall
receive from the Senior Bank Lenders such Lenders' consent to the
provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions
by MS Financial. A copy of the Bank Loan Term Sheet shall be attached
hereto as Exhibit 6.1(h) after the Bank Loan Term Sheet is fully
executed.
6.2. Conditions to the Obligations to Search and Newco. The
obligations of Search and Newco to consummate the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of, or waiver by Search and Newco, at or before the Closing, of
the following further conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance of
Obligations. All of the representations and warranties of MS
Financial contained in this Agreement shall be true, correct and
complete in all material respects on and as of the Effective Time with
the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been
made on and as of such time, and all of the terms, covenants,
agreements and conditions of this Agreement shall have been complied
with, performed or satisfied by MS Financial, in all material
respects,
(b) No Litigation. No Order issued by any Governmental
Authority limiting or restricting the Company's conduct or operation
of its businesses following the Merger shall be in effect, nor shall
any proceeding brought by a Governmental Authority seeking any such
Order be pending. There shall be no action, suit, claim or proceeding
of any nature pending, except as set forth on Schedule 3.23, or
threatened against Search, Newco or MS Financial or its Subsidiary,
their respective properties or any of their officers or directors that
could have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Consents and Approvals. All necessary Company Third
Party Consents relating to the consummation of the Transactions shall
have been obtained.
(d) Cold Comfort Letter. Search shall have received from
MS Financial "cold comfort" letters of KPMG Peat Marwick L.L.P. of the
kind contemplated by the Statement of Auditing Standards with respect
to Letters for Underwriters promulgated by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants (the "AICPA Statement") dated the date on
which the Registration Statement shall become effective and the
Effective Time, respectively, and addressed to Search, in connection
with the procedures undertaken by it with respect to the financial
statements of MS Financial and its Subsidiaries contained in the
Registration Statement and the other matters
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contemplated by the AICPA Statement and customarily included in
comfort letters relating to transactions similar to the Merger.
(e) Bank Financing. MS Financial, Search and MS
Financial's lenders shall have entered into the Acquisition Date
Amendment Documents, as that term is defined in the Bank Loan Term
Sheet included in Schedule 6.2(f), and there shall have been no Event
of Default, as such term is defined in the Acquisition Date Amendment
Documents.
(f) Insurance. The current directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy maintained by MS Financial shall have been
continued on a "tail" basis on terms reasonably acceptable to Search
for a period of three years after the Effective Time with respect to
matters occurring prior to the Effective Time.
6.3. Conditions to the Obligations of MS Financial. The
obligations of MS Financial to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of, or waiver by MS Financial of, the following conditions at or
before the Closing:
(a) Representations and Warranties; Performance of
Obligations. All of the representations and warranties of Search and
Newco contained in this Agreement shall be true, correct and complete,
so as not to give rise to any Search Material Adverse Effect, on and
as of the Effective Time with the same effect as though such
representations and warranties had been made on and as of such time,
and all of the terms, covenants, agreements and conditions of this
Agreement shall have been complied with, performed or satisfied by
Search and Newco in all material respects.
(b) No Litigation. There shall be no action, suit, claim
or proceeding of any nature pending or threatened against Search,
Newco or MS Financial or its Subsidiary, their respective properties
or any of their officers or directors that could have a Company
Material Adverse Effect or a Search Material Adverse Effect, or which
would prohibit the Transactions.
(c) Consents and Approvals. All necessary Search Third
Party Consents relating to the consummation of the Transactions shall
have been obtained and made.
7. GENERAL
7.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the
Transactions may be abandoned, at any time prior to the Effective Time,
notwithstanding any requisite approval and adoption of this Agreement and the
Transactions, as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Boards of Directors
of Search and MS Financial;
(b) by either Search or MS Financial if the Effective
Time shall not have occurred on or before June 30, 1997; provided,
that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b)
shall not be available to any party whose material misrepresentation,
breach of warranty or failure to fulfill any obligation under this
Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the
Effective Time to occur on or before such date;
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(c) by (i) Search if there is or has been a breach,
failure to fulfill or default on the part of the Company of any of its
representations and warranties contained herein or in the due and
timely performance and satisfaction of any of the covenants,
agreements or conditions contained herein, such that the conditions
set forth in Articles 2 and 6 would not be satisfied, and such default
or failure shall not have been cured or shall not reasonably be
expected to be cured before the Closing, and (ii) MS Financial if
there has been a Search Material Adverse Effect or is or has been a
breach, failure to fulfill or default on the part of Search or Newco
of any of its representations and warranties contained herein or in
the due and timely performance and satisfaction of any of the
covenants, agreements or conditions contained herein, such that the
conditions set forth in Articles 2 and 6 would not be satisfied, and
such default or failure shall not have been cured or shall not
reasonably be expected to be cured before the Closing;
(d) by either Search or MS Financial if there shall be a
final nonappealable order in effect preventing consummation of the
Merger, or there shall be any action taken, or any Law or Order
enacted, promulgated or issued or deemed applicable to the Merger by
any Governmental Authority which would make consummation of the Merger
illegal (provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this subsection (d) shall not be available to any party which has
not complied with its obligations under Sections 5.10, 3.35, 3.36 and
4.14;
(e) by Search, if (i) the Board of Directors of MS
Financial shall have withdrawn, modified or changed its recommendation
of this Agreement or the Merger in a manner adverse to Search or shall
have resolved to do so, (ii) the Board of Directors of MS Financial
shall have recommended to the stockholders of MS Financial any
Business Combination Transaction or resolved to do so, or (iii) a
tender offer or exchange offer for 50% or more of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of MS Financial is commenced, and the Board of
Directors of MS Financial shall have failed to recommend against the
stockholders of MS Financial tendering their shares in such tender
offer or exchange offer;
(f) by Search, if Section 262 of the Delaware Statutes is
applicable to the Merger and Dissenting Shares represent more than ten
percent (10%) of the MS Financial Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time;
(g) by MS Financial, if the Board of Directors of Search
shall have withdrawn its recommendation of approval of the issuance of
additional shares of Search Common Stock pursuant to the Merger or
shall have resolved to do so;
(h) by MS Financial, if, in the exercise of its good
faith judgment (subject to Section 5.4) as to its fiduciary duties
under the Delaware Statutes, the Board of Directors of MS Financial in
good faith under applicable Law determines (after consultation with
its financial advisers and legal counsel and duly considering the
written advice of such legal counsel) that such termination is
required by such fiduciary duties by reason of a proposal that either
constitutes a Business Combination Transaction or may reasonably be
expected to lead to a Business Combination Transaction (a "Business
Combination Transaction Proposal"); provided that any termination of
this Agreement by MS Financial pursuant to this Section 7.1(h) shall
be conditioned on MS Financial paying the full Search Fee required by
Section 7.7 hereof;
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(i) by either Search or MS Financial, if the stockholders
of MS Financial or Search shall have failed to approve and adopt this
Agreement, the Merger and the Transactions at meetings duly convened
therefor;
(j) by Search if either MS Financial or its Subsidiary
shall have filed a petition for liquidation or re-organization in
bankruptcy, or have become the subject of an involuntary bankruptcy
petition, which involuntary petition is not rejected by a court having
jurisdiction over such proceedings within 30 days of the filing
thereof; and
(k) by Search if KPMG has not completed its annual audit
of the Company and issued its opinion with respect to such audit by
March 10, 1997 or such later date to which Search and MS financial may
agree.
7.2. Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, this Agreement shall become void and,
except as herein provided, there shall be no liability or obligation on the
part of any party hereto or its officers, directors or stockholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, (a) the provisions of this Section 7.2
and Sections 5.1(b) and Article 7 shall remain in full force and effect and
survive any termination of this Agreement, and (b) MS Financial as one party,
and Search and Newco as one party, shall remain liable to the other for any
breach of this Agreement by such party prior to this Agreement's termination.
7.3. Cooperation. MS Financial, and Search and Newco shall each
deliver or cause to be delivered to the other at the Closing, and at such other
times and places as shall be reasonably agreed to, such additional instruments
as the other may reasonably request for the purpose of effectuating this
Agreement.
7.4. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the rights of the
parties hereunder may not be assigned (including by operation of law) without
the written consent of all parties.
7.5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (which includes the
Schedules hereto) and the confidentiality agreement dated October 15, 1996
between Search and MS Financial set forth the entire understanding of the
parties hereto with respect to the Transactions. It shall not be amended or
modified except by a written instrument duly executed by each of the parties
hereto. Any and all other previous agreements and understandings between or
among the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral,
are superseded by this Agreement.
7.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and any party hereto may execute any such counterpart, each of
which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which counterparts taken together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts
taken together shall have been executed and delivered (which deliveries may be
by telefax) by the parties.
7.7. Fees and Expenses.
(a) MS Financial shall pay Search a fee (the "Search
Fee") of Seven Hundred Thousand ($700,000) in immediately available
funds, which amount is inclusive of all Expenses, if:
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(i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 7.1(e) or (h), in which case the Search Fee will be
paid on the business day immediately following such
termination; or
(ii) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 7.1(i) as a result of the failure of the stockholders
of MS Financial to approve the Merger and a Business
Combination Transaction Proposal shall have been made prior to
such termination, and any Business Combination Transaction
involving MS Financial is thereafter consummated within 18
months of such termination, in which case the Search Fee will
be paid on the business day immediately following such
consummation.
(b) Search shall be entitled to receive its Expenses in
immediately available funds in the event that this Agreement is
terminated either by Search pursuant to Section 7.1(c) or (e) or by MS
Financial pursuant to Section 7.1(h).
(c) Search shall pay MS Financial a fee (the "MS Financial
Fee") of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) in immediately
available funds, which amount is inclusive of all Expenses, if this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(g); provided that
nothing in this Section 7.7(c) shall obligate Search to pay any or all
of the MS Financial Fee if Search's stockholders do not approve the
adoption of this Agreement and the Transactions after Search's Board
of Directors has approved the same.
(d) No termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
7.1(c) shall prejudice the ability of a non-breaching party to seek
damages from any other party for any breach of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and the right to pursue
any remedy at law or in equity. If Search is required to file suit to
seek the Search Fee and it ultimately succeeds on the merits, it shall
be entitled to receive (in addition to the Search Fee or any other
Expenses) all expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees
and expenses, which it has incurred in enforcing its rights under
Section 7.2. If MS Financial is required to file suit to seek the MS
Financial Fee and it ultimately succeeds on the merits, MS Financial
shall be entitled to receive (in addition to the MS Financial Fee) all
expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses,
which it has incurred in enforcing its rights under Section 7.2.
(e) Except as set forth in this Section 7.7 and Section
5.8(a), all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring
such expenses, whether or not any transaction contemplated thereby is
consummated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, MS Financial shall pay to
or incur Expenses from only those Persons listed on Schedule 7.7(e),
provided that such Persons may not include legal counsel to the
Stockholders.
7.8. Specific Performance; Remedies. Each party hereto
acknowledges that the other parties will be irreparably harmed and that there
will be no adequate remedy at law for any violation by any of them of any of
the covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, including without
limitation, the confidentiality obligations set forth in Section 5.1(b) and
(b). It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedies which may
be available upon the breach of any such covenants or agreements, each party
hereto shall have the right to obtain injunctive relief to restrain a breach or
threatened breach of, or
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otherwise to obtain specific performance of, the other parties' covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement.
7.9. Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, waiver, consent,
approval or other communication which is required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or sent by
facsimile transmission (with confirmation of receipt), by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized courier service, as follows:
If to Search or Newco to: Search Capital Group, Inc.
700 N. Pearl Street
Suite 400, L.B. 401
Dallas, Texas 75201-2809
Attention: George C. Evans,
Chairman, President & CEO and
Ellis Regenbogen, Executive Vice
President and General Counsel
Facsimile No.: 214-965-6098
With a copy to: Riezman & Blitz, P.C.
120 S. Central, 10th Floor
St. Louis, Missouri 63105
Attention: Richard M. Riezman
Facsimile No.: 314-727-6458
If to MS Financial: MS Financial, Inc.
715 S. Pear Orchard Road
Suite 300
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Attn: Phillip J. Hubbuch, Jr.
Facsimile No.: 601-856-1611
With a copy to: Brunini, Grantham, Grover & Hewes, PLLC
1400 Trustmark Building
248 East Capitol
Jackson, MS 39201
Attn: Robert D. Drinkwater, Esq.
Facsimile No.: 601-960-6902
or to such other address as the Person to whom notice is to be given may have
specified in a notice duly given to the sender as provided herein. Such
notice, request, claim, demand, waiver, consent, approval or other
communication shall be deemed to have been given as of the date so delivered,
transmitted by facsimile, mailed or dispatched and, if given by any other
means, shall be deemed given only when actually received by the addressees.
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7.10. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly in that State.
7.11. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any Person or circumstances is held invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the remainder hereof, and the application of
such provision to such Person or circumstances in any jurisdiction, shall not
be affected thereby, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement shall be
severable.
7.12. Absence of Third Party Beneficiary Rights. No provision of
this Agreement is intended, nor will be interpreted, to provide or to create
any third party beneficiary rights or any other rights of any kind in any
client, customer, Affiliate, shareholder, employee, partner of any party hereto
or any other Person or entity.
7.13. Mutual Drafting. This Agreement is the mutual product of the
parties hereto, and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual
consultation, negotiation and agreement of each of the parties, and shall not
be construed for or against any party hereto.
7.14. Further Representations. Each party to this Agreement
acknowledges and represents that it has been represented by its own legal
counsel in connection with the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
with the opportunity to seek advice as to its legal rights from such counsel.
Each party further represents that it is being independently advised as to the
tax consequences of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement and is not
relying on any representation or statements made by the other party as to such
tax consequences.
7.15. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties hereto at any time prior to the Effective Time by execution of an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto; provided,
that after the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Transactions by
the stockholders of MS Financial, no amendment may be made that would reduce
the amount or change the type of consideration into which each share of MS
Financial Stock shall be converted upon consummation of the Merger. At any
time prior to the Effective Time, any party may (a) extend the time for the
performance of any obligation of any other party, (b) waive any inaccuracy in
the representations and warranties of any other party and (c) waive compliance
with any agreement or conditions contained herein. Any extension or waiver by
any party of any provision hereto shall be valid only if set forth in an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.
7.16. Survival of Certain Clauses. None of the representations,
warranties, covenants and indemnities made by MS Financial, Search or Newco in
or pursuant to this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this
Agreement and the Related Documents shall survive the Effective Time or any
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1 except as follows: the
agreements set forth in Section 5.1(b), 5.15, and Sections 7.2 through 7.16
shall survive the Effective Time and shall remain in effect indefinitely.
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8. DEFINITIONS. When a capitalized term is used in this Agreement and
such term is not defined elsewhere in this Agreement, such term shall have the
meaning ascribed to it pursuant to the following provisions of this Article 8:
8.1. "Acquisition Date Amendment Documents" is defined in Section
6.2(f).
8.2. "Adjusted Decrease in Stockholders' Equity" is defined in
Section 1.2(g)(i).
8.3. "Adjusted Per Share Amount" is defined in Section 1.2(g)(ii).
8.4. "Adjusted Stockholders' Equity" is defined in Section 1.2(g).
8.5. "Adjustment Balance Sheet" is defined in Section 1.2(g)(i).
8.6. "Adjustment Income Statement" is defined in Section 1.2(g)(i).
8.7. "Affiliate" means each "Affiliate" or "associate" of the
applicable Person (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange
Act as of the Effective Time), whether or not such Person is such an Affiliate
or Associate as of the Effective Time, and each officer and director of such
Person.
8.8. "Agreement" is defined in the preamble.
8.9. "AICPA Statement" is defined in Section 6.2(e).
8.10. "Allowance for Losses" is defined in Section 1.2(g).
8.11. "Balance Sheet Date" is defined in Section 3.10.
8.12. "Bank Loan Term Sheet" means the bank loan term sheet included
as Exhibit 6.1(h) hereto.
8.13. "Benefit Plans" is defined in Section 3.21(a).
8.14. "Blue Sky Laws" means state securities or "blue sky" laws.
8.15. "Business Combination Transaction" means any of the following
involving MS Financial or its Subsidiary: (1) any merger, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination or other similar transaction (other than the
transactions contemplated hereby); (2) any sale, lease, exchanges, transfer or
other disposition (other than a pledge or mortgage) of 25% or more of the
assets of MS Financial and the Subsidiary, as applicable, taken as a whole, in
a single transaction or series of transactions; or (3) the acquisition by a
Person or entity or any "group" (as such term is defined under Section 13(d) of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder) of beneficial
ownership of 50% or more of the shares of MS Financial Stock, as applicable,
whether by tender offer, exchange offer or otherwise.
8.16. "Business Combination Transaction Proposal" is defined in
Section 7.1(h).
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8.17. "Car Dealer" means any retail vendor of motor vehicles with
which MS Financial or its Subsidiary has an agreement pursuant to which MS
Financial or its Subsidiary purchases Finance Contracts from such vendor.
8.18. "Car Dealer Agreement" means any agreement between the Company
and a Car Dealer, substantially in the form of Schedule 3.14(l).
8.19. "Car Dealer Assignment" means any assignment substantially in
the form of Schedule 3.14(l).
8.20. "Certificate of Merger" is defined in Section 2.1.
8.21. "Company Hazardous Materials Activities" is defined in Section
3.16(b).
8.22. "Certificate" means a stock certificate or certificates which
immediately prior to the Effective Time evidenced outstanding shares of MS
Financial Stock (other than Dissenting Shares, if any, and shares to be
canceled pursuant to Section 1.2(b)).
8.23. "Closing" means a closing held at the offices of Search in
Dallas, Texas, or such other place and time as the parties may agree.
8.24. "Closing Checklist" means the list of documents to be
delivered or provided in connection with the Transactions, in the form of
Schedule 8.24 hereto.
8.25. "Closing Certificate" means the certificates described in
sections 2.2(a) and 2.3(a) hereof.
8.26. "Closing Date" shall mean the date upon which the Closing is
to occur.
8.27. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
8.28. "Company" means MS Financial and its Subsidiary.
8.29. "Company Material Adverse Effect" means any change, effect,
or circumstance that is, individually or when taken together with all other
changes, effects and circumstances that have occurred prior to the date of
determination of the occurrence of the Company Material Adverse Effect, is or
is reasonably likely to be material and adverse to the condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, properties, results of operations, or business or
prospects of MS Financial and its Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or would
materially impair the ability of MS Financial and its Subsidiary, taken as a
whole, to perform its obligations under this Agreement or impede the
consummation of the Transactions.
8.30. "Company Options" means options to acquire MS Financial Stock
under the MS Financial Stock Option Plans.
8.31. "Company Third Party Consents" means all consents of Persons
not party to this Agreement required to be obtained by MS Financial to prevent
any breach of this Agreement by MS Financial or to consummate the Transactions.
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8.32. "Company SEC Reports" means all forms, reports and documents
required to be filed by MS Financial with the SEC since January 1, 1995.
8.33. "Controlled Group Member" is defined in Section 3.21(b).
8.34. "Current Balance Sheet" is defined in Section 3.10.
8.35. "Current Income Statement" is defined in Section 3.10.
8.36. "Delaware Statutes" means the Delaware General Corporation
Law, as amended.
8.37. "Delinquency Rate Percentage" means, with respect to a
calendar month Period, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, equal to the
sum of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of Finance Contracts owned
and/or serviced by the Company that are past due as of the end of such month
for more than 30 days divided by the aggregate outstanding principal balance of
Finance Contracts owned and/or serviced by the Company as of the end of such
calendar month.
8.38. "Determination Date" means the date that is five business days
prior to the date of the MS Financial Stockholders Meeting or, if that date is
not a NASDAQ trading day, the NASDAQ trading day immediately preceding that
date.
8.39. "Dissenting Shares" means any issued and outstanding shares of
MS Financial Stock which are held by stockholders of MS Financial who have not
voted in favor of the Merger and who are entitled to file, and have filed, with
MS Financial, in full compliance with Section 262 of the Delaware Statutes,
prior to the taking of the vote of the stockholders of MS Financial on the
Merger, a written notice of intent to demand appraisal of such shares of MS
Financial Stock.
8.40. "Effective Time" means the date and time of the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary, or such later time as may be
specified in the Certificate of Merger filed with the Secretary.
8.41. "Engagement Letter" is defined in Section 3.30.
8.42. "Environmental Permits" is defined in Section 3.16(c).
8.43. "ERISA" is defined in Section 3.21(b).
8.44. "Exchange Act" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
8.45. "Exchange Agent" means American Securities Transfer, Inc.
8.46. "Exchange Fund" means certificates evidencing the shares of
Search Common Stock, issuable pursuant to Section 1.2 and an estimated amount
of cash required to be delivered pursuant to Article 1 in exchange for
fractional shares of Search Common Stock.
8.47. "Exchange Ratio" shall mean the number of shares of Search
Common Stock having a value equal to the Per Share Amount, determined as of the
Determination Date except as otherwise provided in Sections 1.2(d), (e), (g)
and (h) The number of shares having a value equal to the Per Share
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Amount determined as of the Determination Date shall be determined by dividing
the Per Share Amount by the Valuation Period Market Value.
8.48. "Expenses" means all out-of-pocket expenses and fees actually
incurred or accrued by Search, Newco or MS Financial, as applicable, or on
their respective behalf in connection with the Transactions prior to the
termination of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all fees and
expenses of counsel, financial advisors, banks or other entities providing
financing to Search (including financing, commitment and other fees payable
thereto), accountants, environmental and other experts and consultants, and all
registration fees and expenses and all printing and advertising expenses) and
in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, performance and
termination of this Agreement, the structuring of the Transactions, any
agreements relating thereto, and any filings to be made in connection
therewith.
8.49. "Finance Contract" means a motor vehicle installment sales
contract assigned to MS Financial or owned by a Securitization Trust that is
secured by title to, security interests in, or liens on a motor vehicle under
applicable provisions of the motor vehicle or other similar Law of the
jurisdiction in which the motor vehicle is titled and registered by the
purchaser at the time the contract is originated.
8.50. "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis.
8.51. "Governmental Authority" shall mean any United States
(federal, state or local) or foreign (to the extent having any jurisdiction
over the parties or the Transactions) government, or governmental, regulatory
or administrative authority, agency, department, board, bureau, instrumentality
commission or court of competent jurisdiction.
8.52. "Hazardous Material" is defined in Section 3.16(a).
8.53. "HSR" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976 (Antitrust Improvements Act) Pub.L. 94-435, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat.
1383, as amended.
8.54. "KPMG" means KPMG Peat Marwick L.L.P.
8.55. "Law" means statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders,
judgments or decrees of any Governmental Authority.
8.56. "Liens" is defined in Section 3.24(h).
8.57. "Material Contracts" is defined in Section 3.18(a).
8.58. "Material Permits" means licenses, franchises, consents,
approvals, orders, permits and other governmental authorizations, including
without limitation titles (including without limitation motor vehicle titles
and current registrations), fuel permits, certificates, trademarks, trade
names, patents, patent applications and copyrights, necessary to conduct the
businesses of MS Financial or its Subsidiary and the failure of MS Financial or
its Subsidiary to hold or possess would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
8.59. "Merger" is defined in the preamble.
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8.60. "Merger Consideration" means certificates evidencing the
number of whole shares of Search Common Stock and cash (in lieu of fractional
shares) to which a holder of MS Financial Stock is entitled as the result of
the Merger.
8.61. "Most Recent Financial Statements" is defined in Section
1.2(g)(i).
8.62. "MS Financial" is defined in the preamble.
8.63. "MS Charter Documents" is defined in Section 3.1.
8.64. "MS Financial Employees' Equity Incentive Plan" means the MS
Financial Amended and Restated Employees' Equity Incentive Plan substantially
in the form of Schedule 8.63 hereto.
8.65. "MS Financial Fee" is defined in Section 7.7(c).
8.66. "MS Financial Stock" means the common stock of MS Financial,
par value $.001 per share.
8.67. "MS Financial Stock Option Plans" means the MS Financial
Employees' Equity Incentive Plan and the Non- Employee Directors Stock Option
Plan.
8.68. "MS Financial Stockholders Meeting" is defined in Section 5.9.
8.69. "MS Loan Agreement" is defined in Section 3.26(r).
8.70. "Net Managed Receivables" is defined in Section 1.2(g).
8.71. "Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan" means the stock
option plan substantially in the form of Schedule 8.70 hereto.
8.72. "NASD" means the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or any successor entity.
8.73. "NASDAQ" means the NASD Automated Quotations -National Market
System.
8.74. "Newco" is defined in the preamble.
8.75. "Newco Stock" means the common stock of Newco, par value $.01
per share.
8.76. "Order" is defined in Section 6.1(c).
8.77. "Per Share Amount" means $2.00, or such amount adjusted
pursuant to Section 1.2(e) or Section 1.2(g) if such an adjustment is to be
made.
8.78. "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership
or other entity, including without limitation, any "person" or "group" within
the meaning of Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act.
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8.79. "Proxy Statement" means the proxy statement, which may be a
joint proxy statement, to be sent to the stockholders of Search, if required,
and MS Financial.
8.80. "Registration Statement" means a registration statement on
Form S-4 (together with all amendments thereto) filed by Search in respect of
the issuance of Search Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement.
8.81. "Related Documents" is defined in Section 3.2.
8.82. "Related Security" means all security documents, including,
without limitation, Uniform Commercial Code Financing statements, evidencing a
security interest in a Finance Contract.
8.83. "Returns" is defined in Section 3.24(a).
8.84. "Reviewed Financials" is defined in Section 3.10.
8.85. "Search" is defined in the preamble.
8.86. "Search Charter Documents" is defined in Section 4.1.
8.87. "Search Common Stock" means the common stock of Search, $.01
par value per share.
8.88. "Search Fee" is defined in Section 7.7(a).
8.89. "Search Material Adverse Effect" means any change, effect or
circumstance that, individually, or when taken together with all other changes,
effects and circumstances that have occurred prior to the date of determination
of the occurrence of the Search Material Adverse Effect (i) is or is reasonably
likely to be material and adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, properties, results of operations, business or prospects of Search,
or (ii) would or is reasonably likely to impair Search's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or impede the consummation of the
Transactions.
8.90. "Search Material Permits" means licenses, franchises,
consents, approvals, orders, permits and other governmental authorizations,
including without limitation titles (including without limitation motor vehicle
titles and current registrations), fuel permits, certificates, trademarks,
trade names, patents, patent applications and copyrights, necessary to conduct
the businesses of Search or its Subsidiaries and the failure of Search or its
Subsidiaries to hold or possess would have a Search Material Adverse Effect.
8.91. "Search SEC Reports" means all forms, reports and documents
required to be filed by Search with the SEC since December 31, 1993.
8.92. "Search Stockholders Meeting" is defined in Section 5.9.
8.93. "Search Third Party Consents" means all consents of Persons not
party to this Agreement required to be obtained by Search or Newco to prevent
any breach of this Agreement by Search.
8.94. "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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<PAGE> 60
8.95. "Secretary" means the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware.
8.96. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
8.97. "Securitization Trusts" means MS Auto Grantor Trust 1995-1, MS
Auto Grantor Trust 1994-1, and MS Auto Grantor Trust 1993-1.
8.98. "Senior Bank Lender" means the lenders referred to in the Bank
Loan Term Sheet.
8.99. "Stockholders" means MS Diversified Corporation, MS Financial
Services, Inc., and Golder Thoma Chessy Rauner IV, L.P.
8.100. "Stockholders Agreement" is defined in Section 5.15(f).
8.101. "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, an Affiliate
controlled by such person directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries.
8.102. "Surviving Corporation" is defined in Section 1.1(a).
8.103. "Tax" means any tax or similar governmental charge, import or
levy (including without limitation income taxes, franchise taxes, transfer
taxes or fees, sales taxes, use taxes, gross receipts taxes, value added taxes,
employment taxes, excise taxes, ad valorem taxes, property taxes, withholding
taxes, payroll taxes, minimum taxes or windfall profit taxes) together with any
related penalties, fines, additions to tax or interest imposed by any
Governmental Authority.
8.104. "Transactions" means the Merger and all other actions or
events described or required by this Agreement.
8.105. "Unaudited Financials" is defined in Section 3.10.
8.106. "Valuation Period Market Value" means the average of the
closing prices of a share of Search Common Stock, as quoted on NASDAQ for the
10 NASDAQ trading days immediately preceding and including the Determination
Date or, if the Search Common Stock is not quoted on NASDAQ, the average of the
high bid and low ask prices of a share of Search Common Stock as quoted in the
over-the-counter market for such 10 trading day period.
8.107. "Warehouse Loans" means loans pursuant to the transaction
entered into pursuant to that certain Repurchase Agreement dated as of April 1,
1995 between the Company and Telluride Funding Corp. and certain other related
documents, as such may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or
replaced, in connection with which Financial Security Assurance Inc. issued a
financial guaranty insurance policy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
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SEARCH CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ George C. Evans
----------------------------------
Name: George C. Evans
Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
SEARCH CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ Robert D. Idzi
----------------------------------
Name: Robert D. Idzi
Title: Senior Executive Vice President
MS FINANCIAL, INC.
By: /s/ Vann R. Martin
----------------------------------
Name: Vann R. Martin
Title: President and Chief
Operating Officer
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<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 2.2
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 7, 1997 (the
"Stockholders Agreement"), is entered into by and among Search Capital Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Search"), and the undersigned holders (the
"Stockholders") of shares of the common stock, $.001 par value, of MS
Financial, Inc. (the "MS Financial Stock"), MS Diversified Corporation, a
Mississippi corporation ("MSD"), MS Financial Services, Inc., a Mississippi
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSD ("MSDSub"), and Golder Thoma
Cressy Rauner Fund IV, L.P. ("GTCR IV").
RECITALS
Search, Search Capital Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Search ("Newco"), and MS Financial, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("MS Financial"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in
the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which Newco would be merged (the "Merger")
with and into MS Financial and each outstanding share of MS Financial Stock
would be converted into the right to receive that number of shares of Search
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("Search Common Stock"), specified in
the Merger Agreement;
As a condition of its entering into the Merger Agreement, Search has
required each Stockholder to agree, and each Stockholder has agreed, to enter
into this Stockholders Agreement.
Prior to the date hereof, Search and the Stockholders had no
agreement, arrangement or understanding (as defined in Section 203 of the
Delaware Statutes) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing
of shares of Search Common Stock.
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the inducement
of Search and Newco to consummate the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS. Each Stockholder
represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to Search as follows:
1.1 OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES. Such Stockholder is the record and
beneficial owner of the number of shares of MS Financial Stock set forth
immediately beneath such Stockholder's name on the signature page(s) to this
Stockholders Agreement (the "Existing Securities," and together with any shares
of MS Financial Stock or other securities of MS Financial hereafter acquired by
the Stockholder prior to the Merger, whether upon exercise of options,
conversion of convertible securities, purchase, exchange or otherwise, the
"Subject Securities"). On the date
<PAGE> 2
hereof, such Stockholder does not own any securities of MS Financial other than
the Existing Securities. The Stockholder has sole voting power and sole power
to issue instructions with respect to the voting of the Existing Securities,
sole power of disposition, sole power of exercise or conversion and the sole
power to demand appraisal rights, in each case with respect to all of the
Existing Securities and, on the date of the MS Financial Stockholders Meeting,
will have sole voting power and sole power to issue instructions with respect
to the voting of all of such Stockholder's Subject Securities, sole power of
disposition, sole power of exercise or conversion and the sole power to demand
appraisal rights, in each case with respect to all of such Stockholder's
Subject Securities.
1.2 POWER; BINDING AGREEMENT. Such Stockholder has full legal
partnership, or corporate, as the case may be, capacity, power and authority to
enter into and perform all of such Stockholder's obligations under this
Stockholders Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Stockholders Agreement by such Stockholder will not violate any other agreement
to which such Stockholder is a party, including, without limitation, any trust
agreement, voting agreement, stockholders agreement or voting trust. This
Stockholders Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such
Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder,
enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except that
(i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors' rights
generally, and (ii) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other
forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
1.3 NO CONFLICTS. No filing with, and no permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary for the
execution of this Stockholders Agreement by such Stockholder and the
consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
neither the execution and delivery of this Stockholders Agreement by such
Stockholder nor the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby, nor compliance by such Stockholder with any of the
provisions hereof, conflicts or will conflict with, or results or will result
in, any breach of any applicable partnership or other organizational documents
applicable to such Stockholder or (with or without notice or lapse of time or
both) a default (or give rise to any third-party right of termination,
cancellation, material modification or acceleration) under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license,
contract, commitment, arrangement, understanding, agreement or other instrument
or obligation of any kind to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such
Stockholder's properties or assets may be bound or, to the best of such
Stockholders' knowledge, violate any Law applicable to such Stockholder or any
of such Stockholder's properties or assets.
1.4 NO LIENS. Except to the extent set forth below in Section
6.3, the Existing Securities are, and as of the Effective Time the Subject
Securities will be, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests,
proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements or any
other encumbrances whatsoever, except for any encumbrances arising hereunder.
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1.5 DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTS. Except as disclosed in the Schedules
to the Merger Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements and arrangements to
which (a) GTCR and MS Financial and/or its Subsidiary are parties and (b) MSD
and/or MSD Sub and MS Financial and/or its Subsidiary are parties.
1.6 ACCESS TO SECURITIES INFORMATION. Search has made available
to each Stockholder a copy of all Search SEC Reports and such other documents
and information as have been requested by such Stockholder in connection with
the issuance of the Search Common Stock to such Stockholder in the Merger
(collectively the "Search Disclosure Documents"). In addition, Search has made
available to such Stockholder those officers or representatives of Search as
are necessary to respond to any questions such Stockholder may reasonably have
regarding Search and the Search Common Stock. Such Stockholder (a) has such
knowledge, sophistication, experience, and net worth such that such Stockholder
is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Search
Common Stock, (b) fully understands the nature, scope, and duration of the
limitations on transfer contained in this Stockholders Agreement, and (c) can
bear the economic risk of any investment in the Search Common Stock. Such
Stockholder has had an adequate opportunity to ask questions and receive
answers (and has asked such questions and received answers to its satisfaction)
from the officers of Search concerning the business, operations and financial
condition of Search and/or the Search SEC Reports. Stockholder has no
contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement, written or oral, with any
other person to sell, transfer or grant participations in any shares of Search
Common Stock to be acquired by Stockholder in the Merger and is not acquiring
the Search Common Stock with a view to its distribution. In addition,
Stockholder understands and agrees to abide by the nature of the restrictions
imposed by Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act as well as
the other restrictions imposed by this Stockholders Agreement.
2. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES PRIOR TO MERGER. At every meeting of the
stockholders of MS Financial called with respect to any of the following, and
at every adjournment thereof, and on every action or approval by written
consent of the stockholders of MS Financial with respect to any of the
following, each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, agrees that it shall
vote all the Subject Securities that it owns, directly or beneficially, on the
record date of any such vote as follows: (a) in favor of the Merger, the
adoption, execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and the approval of
the terms thereof and the Transactions; (b) against any action or agreement
that would result in a breach in any material respect of any covenant,
representation, or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of MS
Financial under the Merger Agreement; (c), except as otherwise agreed to in
writing in advance by Search, against any of the following actions (other than
the Merger and the Transactions), which shall be known as an "Alternate
Transaction": (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving MS Financial or its
Subsidiary; or (ii) a sale, lease or transfer of a material amount of assets
of MS Financial, its Subsidiary or any Securitization Trust, or a
reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution or liquidation of MS Financial or
its Subsidiary, or any purchase or redemption of MS Financial Stock from the
Stockholder or any other Stockholder; and (d) against (i) any change in the
majority of the Board of Directors of MS Financial, (ii) any material
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<PAGE> 4
change in the present capitalization of MS Financial or any amendment of MS
Financial's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or (iii) any other material
change in MS Financial's corporate structure or business.
3. IRREVOCABLE PROXY. EACH STOCKHOLDER HEREBY, SEVERALLY AND NOT
JOINTLY, GRANTS TO, AND APPOINTS NEWCO AND THE TREASURER OF NEWCO IN HIS
CAPACITY AS AN OFFICER OF NEWCO, AND ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO SHALL HEREAFTER SUCCEED
TO SUCH OFFICE OF NEWCO AND ANY OTHER DESIGNEE OF NEWCO, AND EACH OF THEM
INDIVIDUALLY, SUCH STOCKHOLDER'S PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (WITH FULL POWER OF
SUBSTITUTION) TO VOTE OR ACT BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO SUCH
STOCKHOLDER'S SUBJECT SECURITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2 HEREOF. THIS
PROXY IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE FOR THE TERM OF THIS
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, AND EACH STOCKHOLDER WILL TAKE SUCH FURTHER ACTION AND
EXECUTE SUCH OTHER INSTRUMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE INTENT OF
THIS PROXY AND HEREBY REVOKES ANY PROXY PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY IT WITH RESPECT
TO THE SUBJECT SECURITIES.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SEARCH.
4.1 POWER; BINDING AGREEMENT. Search has full corporate power and
authority to enter into and perform all of Search's obligations under this
Stockholders Agreement. This Stockholders Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Search and constitutes a valid and binding agreement
of Search, enforceable against Search in accordance with its terms, except that
(i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors' rights
generally, and (ii) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other
forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
4.2 NO CONFLICTS. No filing with, and no permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary for the
execution of this Stockholders Agreement by Search and the consummation by
Search of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the execution and
delivery of this Stockholders Agreement by Search nor the consummation by
Search of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by Search with
any of the provisions hereof, conflicts or will conflict with, or results or
will result in, any breach of any organizational documents applicable to Search
or (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to
any third-party right of termination, cancellation, material modification or
acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment, arrangement,
understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation of any kind to which
Search is a party or by which Search's properties or assets may be bound or
violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to Search or any of Search's properties or assets.
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<PAGE> 5
5. COVENANTS OF EACH STOCKHOLDERS PRIOR TO MERGER. Each Stockholder,
severally and not jointly, hereby agrees and covenants that prior to the
Effective Time:
5.1 NO SOLICITATION. Such Stockholder shall not, directly or
indirectly, solicit, initiate or encourage (including by way of furnishing
information) or respond to any inquiries or the making of any proposal by any
person or entity (other than Search or any Search Affiliate) with respect to MS
Financial or any Securitization Trust that constitutes or could reasonably be
expected to lead to an Alternative Transaction. If any Stockholder receives any
such inquiry or proposal, then it shall promptly inform Search of the terms and
conditions, if any, of such inquiry or proposal and the identity of the person
making it. Such Stockholder will immediately cease and cause to be terminated
any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted
heretofore that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to an
Alternative Transaction.
5.2 RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER, PROXIES AND NONINTERFERENCE. Such
Stockholder shall not, except as contemplated by this Stockholders Agreement:
(i) directly or indirectly offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge,
encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or
other arrangement or understanding with respect to, or consent to the offer for
sale, sale, transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other
disposition of, any or all of such Stockholder's Subject Securities; (ii) grant
any proxies or powers of attorney with respect to any of such Stockholder's
Subject Securities; (iii) deposit any of such Stockholder's Subject Securities
into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any of
such Stockholder's Subject Securities; or (iv) take any action that would make
any representation or warranty contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the
effect of preventing or disabling such Stockholder from performing its
obligations under this Stockholders Agreement.
5.3 WAIVER OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Such Stockholder shall not assert
and hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger
that such Stockholder may hold or possess.
5.4 RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AGAINST MS FINANCIAL. Such Stockholder
shall not pursue or make any claim such Stockholder has or may possess against
MS Financial or any of the directors, officers or other employees of MS
Financial and agrees to sign a release at or prior to the Closing, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 5.4, releasing all claims
such Stockholder has or may possess against MS Financial and MS Financial's
directors, officers and other employees for all acts, actions, events or
occurrences arising or occurring at any time to and including the Effective
Time and (b) terminating all contracts described in Section 1.5 above, except
for (i) those agreements specifically described in Section 15.1 below, (ii) the
Merger Agreement, (iii) the Related Documents and (iv) those contracts that
Search requests not be terminated.
5.5 PERFORMANCE BY MS FINANCIAL. Each Stockholder shall cause MS
Financial to comply with the provisions of Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement.
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6. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDERS. Each Stockholder, severally and
not jointly, hereby agrees and covenants as follows:
6.1 NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES/CUSTOMERS.
(a) Scope. From the date hereof until the expiration of the
period of two (2) years following the Effective Time (the "Restrictive
Period"), it will not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or attempt
to induce any employee of Search or MS Financial to leave the
employment of either such employer, or (ii) solicit or otherwise
encourage any customer, client, borrower, lender, supplier, vendor, or
dealer of MS Financial, Search or any Subsidiary of Search or MS
Financial to cease or discontinue doing business with either MS
Financial or Search or any Subsidiary of Search or MS Financial.
(b) Reasonableness of Restraints. Each Stockholder
agrees that the covenants contained in this Section 6.1 are
independent and severable covenants from the other covenants contained
in this Stockholders Agreement. Each Stockholder agrees that the
period of time and other limitations set forth in the aforesaid
covenants are reasonable and acceptable to such Stockholder. Each
Stockholder agrees that the covenants in this Section 6.1 are
necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of Search and
the Surviving Corporation. If a Stockholder violates, or threatens to
violate, this Section 6.1, such Stockholder will cause irreparable
injury to Search and the Surviving Corporation that may not be capable
of being remedied by monetary damages. Therefore, with respect to
each and every breach or violation by such Stockholder of any of the
covenants in this Section 6.1, Search, in addition to all other
remedies, shall be entitled to enjoin the continuance thereof and may,
with notice to such Stockholder, apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for entry of an immediate restraining order or
injunction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Search shall be entitled to
recover all damages which Search and/or the Surviving Corporation
suffer due to any violation of this Section 6.1 which shall include
all profits related to such Stockholder's violation of any term or
condition of this Section 6.1. Search and/or the Surviving
Corporation may pursue either or both of the remedies (injunction and
damages) described above concurrently or consecutively in any order,
as to any such breach or violation, and the pursuit of one of such
remedies at any time will not be deemed an election of remedies or
waiver of the right to pursue the other of such remedies. It is
agreed that if a specific covenant in this Section 6.1 is not
enforceable in a specific state, that same covenant may be enforced in
all other states in which it is enforceable. Any judgment prohibiting
enforcement of a covenant herein in a specific state shall not
prohibit enforcement of that covenant in any other state. It is
expressly recognized and agreed that in the event any covenant of this
Section 6.1 be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, that the same shall not affect any other covenant of
this Section 6.1, and that the remaining covenants in this Section 6.1
shall remain in full force and effect. If the invalidity or
unenforceability of any covenant in this Section 6.1 is due to the
unreasonableness of the restrictions imposed by any of said covenants
or is due to any other reasons, said
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<PAGE> 7
covenants shall nevertheless be effective for such period of time, for
such geographical area and for such restrictions, and subject to such
other terms and conditions as may be determined to be reasonable by a
court of competent jurisdiction. The parties hereto expressly
authorize and direct the court to make any revisions to the
restrictions that are necessary in order to make them enforceable
(such judicial revisions shall apply only to the state affected by the
judgment unless Search consents to applying the judicial revisions to
all states).
6.2 TAX REPRESENTATIONS. Each Stockholder covenants that, at or
immediately prior to the Effective Time, it will execute and deliver to Search
and MS Financial a letter in substantially the form of Exhibit 6.2 hereto. Each
Stockholder acknowledges that the representations made in such letter will be
relied upon by counsel in opining that the Merger constitutes a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. In
addition, for purposes of maintaining shareholder continuity of interest in the
ownership of the Surviving Corporation as a reorganization within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and except as set forth below,
no Stockholder shall be permitted to transfer pursuant to Section 7 below more
than fifty percent (50%) of the Search Common Stock such Stockholder receives
as a result of the Merger for a period of twenty-four (24) months.
Notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in the immediately preceding
sentence: (a) if, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the
regulations promulgated thereunder ("Treasury Regulations"), the shareholder
continuity of interest criteria for a tax-free reorganization can be satisfied
notwithstanding a greater or lesser change of ownership, or a change of
ownership during a shorter or longer holding period, than is required by the
immediately preceding sentence, the minimum percentage of ownership and/or
holding period required to satisfy said continuity of interest criteria shall
become the minimum percentage of ownership and/or holding period which must be
satisfied by each Stockholder in their respective holdings of Search Common
Stock, and (b) a Transfer may occur not in accordance with the prohibitions of
the immediately preceding sentence if (i) Search receives an opinion of tax
counsel satisfactory to Search that a Transfer may occur without jeopardizing
the shareholder continuity of interest criteria for a tax-free reorganization,
(ii) said opinion is rendered to and for the benefit of Search, and (iii) said
tax opinion is rendered at no cost to Search.
6.3 PLEDGED STOCK. MSD has pledged 1,250,000 shares of the
Existing Securities (the "Pledged Existing Securities") to Trustmark National
Bank ("Lienholder"), and Lienholder has agreed to release the Pledged Existing
Securities from its lien and accept Search Common Stock as substitute
collateral following the Effective Time provided that Lienholder receives as
promptly as possible after the Effective Time certificates representing the
shares of Search Common Stock MSD are entitled to receive pursuant to the
Merger in respect of the Pledged Existing Securities. At all times that such
Search Common Stock is pledged to Lienholder, MSD shall retain the right to
vote said Search Common Stock in accordance with and subject to the terms of
this Stockholders Agreement. MSD shall take all actions necessary to satisfy
the terms of this Section 6.3 at or prior to Closing.
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<PAGE> 8
7. SEARCH COMMON STOCK TRANSFER; SALE.
7.1 TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.
(a) No Stockholder shall Transfer any part of such
Stockholder's Search Common Stock except as set forth in Section 6.3
and this Section 7. All Transfers shall be subject to such
limitations as are applicable under Section 6.2 above. Each
Stockholder covenants and agrees that such Stockholder shall not
Transfer or permit the Transfer of any part or all of such
Stockholder's Search Common Stock for a period of one-hundred eighty
(180) days from and after the Effective Time, except as may be
required pursuant to Section 12 below (the "Lock-Up Period"). Each
Stockholder further covenants, acknowledges and agrees that as an
Affiliate of MS Financial and/or Search, such Stockholder will not
Transfer, or make any offer or agreement to Transfer with respect to,
any shares of Search Common Stock that the Stockholder acquires in
connection with the Merger, except (i) in a transaction permitted
pursuant to Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act
or (ii) pursuant to a valid registration statement under the
Securities Act.
(b) The Transfer during the term of this Stockholders
Agreement of some portion or all of a Stockholder's Search Common
Stock to its stockholders or partners shall be permitted, provided,
that (i) any such Transfer shall be made only in accordance with the
terms of this Stockholders Agreement and federal and state securities
Law after the end of the Lock-Up Period, (ii) the recipient(s) of such
Search Common Stock pursuant to a Transfer described in this Section
7.1(b) agree not to Transfer the shares of Search Common Stock
distributed to them until the expiration of two years from the
Effective Time without Search's prior written consent, provided, that
if at the time of Transfer such Stockholder owns less than 5% of the
issued and outstanding shares of Search Common Stock, this clause (ii)
shall not apply, (iii) certificates representing shares of Search
Common Stock Transferred shall bear a legend setting forth the
restriction referred to in subsection (b)(ii) and such other
restrictions as are applicable under federal and state securities Law,
(iv) any such Transfer shall not affect the Merger as constituting a
tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, and (v) such
Stockholder shall pay for all of the costs and expenses associated
with any such Transfer described in this Section 7.1(b). If required
in order to comply with applicable federal and state securities Law,
Search will register the shares of Search Common Stock with the SEC
which such Stockholder proposes to distribute to its stockholders or
partners at such Stockholder's expense.
7.2 RULE 145. From and after the end of the Lock-Up Period and
for so long as is necessary in order to permit each Stockholder to sell the
Search Common Stock held by such Stockholder pursuant to Rule 145 promulgated
by the SEC under the Securities Act, Search will use its reasonable efforts to
file on a timely basis all reports required to be filed by it pursuant to the
Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as the same shall be in
effect at the time, referred to in paragraph (c) of Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, in order to permit such
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<PAGE> 9
Stockholder to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Search Common Stock
held by it pursuant to the terms and conditions of Rule 145.
7.3 LEGENDS. Each Stockholder also understands and agrees that
stop transfer instructions will be given to Search's transfer agent with
respect to certificates evidencing the Search Common Stock such Stockholder may
acquire pursuant to the Merger and that there will be placed on the certificate
evidencing the Search Common Stock such Stockholder may acquire pursuant to the
Merger legends stating in substance:
"THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED IN A
TRANSACTION TO WHICH RULE 145 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, APPLIES. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE
MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, EXCHANGED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE
DISPOSED OF EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE OTHER CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THAT
CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 7, 1997 AMONG SEARCH
CAPITAL GROUP, INC., AND THE STOCKHOLDERS, A COPY OF WHICH STOCKHOLDER
AGREEMENT WILL BE MAILED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE WITHIN
FIVE DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR."
Search agrees to notify the transfer agent of the removal of such stop transfer
instructions and legend upon (i) the transfer of the Search Common Stock
represented by such certificate pursuant to a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act or in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 145
under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, paragraph (d)
thereof), (ii) the expiration of the restrictive period set forth in Rule
145(d), or (iii) the delivery by Stockholder to Search of a copy of a letter
from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Search, to the effect that the shares subject
thereto may be offered and sold without registration under the Securities Act.
7.4 ESCROW LEGEND. The Stockholders acknowledge and agree that
even after removal of the legend described in Section 7.3 on the certificates
representing the Search Common Stock, the legend required by the Escrow
Agreement shall remain on any certificates representing shares of Search Common
Stock which are held by the Escrow Agent. Search agrees to remove promptly the
escrow legend by delivery of substitute certificates without such legend upon
the proper release of the aforesaid Search Common Stock from escrow.
7.5 STOCKHOLDER REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Pursuant to the terms of this
Section 7.5, the Stockholders are being granted certain demand and "piggyback"
registration rights in connection with the Search Common Stock they receive
pursuant to the Merger. Section 7.5(a) provides for certain demand
registration rights, Section 7.5(b) provides for certain piggyback registration
rights, and Section 7.5(d) provides Search with certain rights upon receiving a
demand for a
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<PAGE> 10
registration, namely (1) proceeding with such registration, (2) postponing such
registration, and (3) purchasing the shares of Search Common Stock requested to
be included in such registration.
(a) Demand Registrations. Subject to Section 7.5(d)
below, at any time after the end of the Lock- Up Period and so long as
such Stockholder either (y) is subject to Rule 145(d)(1) in respect of
the Search Common Stock acquired by such Stockholder pursuant to the
Merger, or (z) holds at least 5% of the issued and outstanding shares
of Search Common Stock, the Stockholders, as holders of the
Registrable Securities may request one, but not more than one,
registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their
Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form
registration ("Long-Form Registrations"), or, if Search is eligible
for same, on Forms S-2 or S-3 or any similar short-form registration
("Short-Form Registrations"), for which Search will pay all
registration expenses, provided that the expected aggregate net cash
proceeds to all sellers of Registrable Securities in any underwritten
offering is not less than $5 million. The Stockholders (either
jointly or severally)collectively will be entitled to request only one
(1) registration under this Section 7.5(a). A registration will not
count as the one permitted registration until it has become effective;
provided, that if, within 60 days after it has become effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or
requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court, such
registration will be deemed not to have been effected. The
registration under this Section 7.5(a) shall be, at the option of the
Stockholders after consultation with Search, either (w) a shelf
registration which Search agrees to keep effective for a period of not
less than ninety (90) days, or (x) an underwritten registration.
Search shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and
manager(s) to administer any underwritten offering, subject to the
consent of the Stockholder whose shares are being registered
thereunder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
registration requested pursuant to this Section 7.5(a) is referred to
herein as a "Demand Registration." The Demand Registration will be a
Short-Form Registration whenever Search is permitted to use any
applicable short form.
(i) Priority on Demand Registrations.
Within fifteen (15) days after Search has provided the
requesting Stockholder with the "Section 7.5(d) Notice" (as
defined in section 7.5(d) below) indicating its intention to
proceed with a registration as provided under subparagraphs
(i) or (ii) of Section 7.5(d), Search will give written notice
of such request to the Stockholders and will include in such
Demand Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to
which Search has received written requests for inclusion
therein within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of Search's
notice. If the managing underwriter of the Demand
Registration advises Search in writing that in its opinion the
number of Registrable Securities and other securities
requested to be included exceeds the number of Registrable
Securities and other securities which can be sold in such
offering or is reasonably expected to result in a reduction of
more than 5% in the estimated public offering price for the
Registrable Securities, Search will include in such
registration (1) the Registrable Securities of the
Stockholder(s) which initiated the
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<PAGE> 11
Demand Registration, (2) Registrable Securities of the other
Stockholders requested to be included in such registration, if
any, and (3) other securities requested to be included in such
registration pro rata among the respective holders thereof on
the basis of their securities requested to be included
therein.
(ii) Restrictions on Registrations.
Search will not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration
within six months after the effective date of a registration
in which the holders or Registrable Securities were given
piggyback rights pursuant to Section 7.5(b) below and in which
there was no reduction in the number of Registrable Securities
requested to be included.
(iii) Registrable Securities. As to any
particular Registrable Securities, the securities held by a
Stockholder will cease to be Registrable Securities at such
time as said Stockholder is either no longer subject to Rule
145(d)(1) or owns less than 5% of the issued and outstanding
shares of Search Common Stock. For purposes of this
Stockholders Agreement, a Person will be deemed to be a holder
of Registrable Securities whenever such Person has the right
to acquire such Registrable Securities (by conversion or
otherwise, but disregarding any legal restrictions upon the
exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has
actually been effected. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event of any Transfer of Registrable Securities which is
permitted under this Agreement, then such shares shall
continue to be "Registrable Securities" for purposes of this
Agreement, provided, that if any Transfer is made by a
Stockholder to its stockholders or partners pursuant to
Section 7.1(b) above, and a Demand Registration request is
made pursuant to this Section 7.5, it shall be the obligation
of such Transferring Stockholder to obtain from its
stockholders or partners (as the case may be) at its expense
all information required by Search (acting in a commercially
reasonable manner) necessary to prepare such registration
statement and the Stockholders indemnification obligations
under Section 7.5(c)(vi)(2) shall include such information as
if the information related to the Stockholder obtaining it
from its stockholders or partners
(b) "Piggyback" Registration Rights.
(i) Beginning with the end of the Lock-Up
Period and continuing until such time as said Stockholder is
either no longer subject to Rule 145(d)(1) or owns less than
5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Search Common
Stock, at any time that Search intends to file a registration
statement under the Securities Act for purposes of a public
offering, (including, but not limited to, registration
statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of
Search, but excluding registration statements relating to
employee benefit plans and corporate reorganizations), Search
shall notify that Stockholder in writing of its intent to file
such registration statement at least twenty (20) days prior to
the filing thereof and will afford each Stockholder an
opportunity to include in such registration
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<PAGE> 12
statement all or part of such Stockholder's Registrable
Securities. Each Stockholder desiring to include in any such
registration statement all or any part of its Registrable
Securities shall, within ten (10) days after receipt of the
above-mentioned notice from Search, so notify Search in
writing. Such Stockholder's notice shall state the intended
method of disposition of the Registrable Securities by such
Stockholder. If a Stockholder decides not to include all of
its Registrable Securities in a registration statement
thereafter filed by Search, such Stockholder shall
nevertheless continue to have the right to include any of its
Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration
statement or registration statements as may be filed by Search
with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein.
(ii) All Stockholders proposing to
distribute their Registrable Securities pursuant to the
registration statement shall enter into an underwriting
agreement in customary form with the underwriter or
underwriters selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof, if the underwriter determines in
good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the
number of shares to be underwritten, the number of shares that
may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated, first,
to Search; and second, to the Stockholders and other
stockholders having registration rights on a pro rata basis
based on the total number of shares of Registrable Securities
held by the Stockholders and such other stockholders. No such
reduction shall reduce the securities being offered by Search
for its own account to be included in the registration and
underwriting.
(c) General Provisions Relating to Registration.
(i) Fees. Search shall bear all fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the registrations
under this Section 7.5, including without limitation all
registration, filing, qualification, printers' and accounting
fees, fees and disbursements of counsel to Search, except as
set forth in Section 7.1(b). The Stockholders shall bear all
underwriting discounts and commissions.
(ii) Copies. Search shall also furnish to
the Stockholders such number of copies of the registration
statement and the prospectus included therein (including each
preliminary prospectus) as such persons may reasonably request
in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the
Search Common Stock covered by such registration statement.
(iii) Blue Sky. Search shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the
Search Common Stock covered by such registration statement
under Blue Sky Laws in those states chosen by Search, and in
the states of Mississippi, Texas, Illinois and New York to the
extent legally required; if a Stockholder desires for Search
to register or qualify the Search Common Stock in
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<PAGE> 13
another Blue Sky jurisdiction, such Stockholder shall pay for
the fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
(iv) Inspection. Search shall make
available for inspection by the Stockholders, and any
attorney, accountant, or other agent retained by each
Stockholder, all financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents, and properties of Search, and cause
Search's officers, directors, and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by each such Stockholder or
any such attorney, accountant, or agent in connection with
such registration statement.
(v) Stockholder Information. In connection
with any registration pursuant to this Section 7.5, each
Stockholder will furnish to Search in writing such information
with respect to itself and the proposed distribution by it of
Search Common Stock as shall be reasonably requested by Search
in order to assure compliance with federal and applicable
state securities laws. Search shall immediately notify the
Stockholders at any time of the happening of any event as a
result of which the prospectus contained in such registration
statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of
material fact or omits to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing.
(vi) Reciprocal Indemnification.
(1) By Search. If any of a
Stockholder's Registrable Securities is registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,
Search will indemnify and hold harmless such
Stockholder against any losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities, to which such Stockholder may become
subject under the Securities Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in
any registration under which any of such
Stockholder's Registrable Securities were registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,
any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or any violation by Search of any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Securities Act
applicable to Search and relating to action or
inaction by Search in connection with any such
registration, and will reimburse such Stockholder for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
them in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action;
provided, however, that Search will not be liable in
any such case if and to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage, or liability
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<PAGE> 14
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in such registration statement or
amendment or supplement thereto or in any such
preliminary, final or summary prospectus in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information with
respect to such Stockholder furnished to Search by
such Stockholder for use in the preparation thereof.
(2) By Stockholders. If any of a
Stockholder's Registrable Securities is registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,
such Stockholder (and its underwriter, if any) shall
indemnify and hold harmless Search against any
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities, to which
Search may become subject under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any registration under which any of such
Stockholder's Registrable Securities were registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,
any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information with respect to such
Stockholder furnished to Search by such Stockholder
for use in the preparation of such registration
statement, preliminary, final or summary prospectus
or amendment or supplement, or a document
incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing,
or any violation by such Stockholder of any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Securities Act
applicable to such Stockholder and relating to action
or inaction by such Stockholder in connection with
any such registration. Such Stockholder will
reimburse Search for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by Search in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action.
(3) Procedure. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the
commencement of any action for which indemnification
may be obtained hereunder, the indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made
against an indemnifying party hereunder, notify the
indemnifying party in writing thereof; but the
omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability
which the indemnifying party may have to the
indemnified party other than under this Section
7.5(c) and, in any event, only to the extent the
indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by
the indemnified party's failure to provide the
indemnifying party with such notice. In case any
such action shall be brought against the
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<PAGE> 15
indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate in and, to the extent the
indemnifying party shall agree that it is liable to
the indemnified party for indemnification hereunder,
to assume and undertake the defense thereof with
counsel of the indemnifying party's own choosing,
and, after notice from the indemnifying party to the
indemnified party of the indemnifying party's
election so to assume and undertake the defense
thereof and of its agreement that it is liable for
indemnification hereunder, the indemnifying party
shall not be liable to the indemnified party under
this Section 7.5(c) for any legal expenses
subsequently incurred by indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with
counsel so elected; provided, however, that if the
defendants in any such action include both the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party, and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be reasonable defenses available to
the indemnified party which are different from or
additional to those available to the indemnifying
party or if the interests of indemnified party
reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the
interests of the indemnifying party, the indemnified
party shall have the right to select separate
counsel, satisfactory to the indemnifying party in
its commercially reasonable discretion, and to assume
such legal defenses and otherwise to participate in
the defense of such action, with the reasonable
expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other
expenses related to such participation to be
reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred.
(d) Search's Rights in the Event of a Demand
Registration. In the event the Stockholder(s) delivers a request for
a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 7.5(a), Search shall have a
fifteen (15)- day period to notify the requesting Stockholder(s) in
writing (a "Section 7.5(d) Notice") of Search's intent to proceed
under either subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii) of this Section 7.5(d),
as follows:
(i) Prompt Registration. Search shall
proceed with the filing of the registration statement pursuant
to such Demand Registration, and shall file such registration
statement with the SEC within thirty (30) days from the date
the Section 7.5(d) Notice was delivered to the Stockholder,
and shall use all reasonable efforts to have the SEC declare
the registration statement effective as soon as practicable
thereafter.
(ii) Delayed Registration. If Search
reasonably concludes that the filing of a registration
statement would require disclosure of material information
which Search has a bona fide business purpose for preserving
confidential, Search's Section 7.5(d) Notice may so inform the
requesting Stockholder, in which case Search may delay the
registration but, in any event, shall file such registration
statement with the SEC within sixty (60) days from the date
the Section 7.5(d) Notice was delivered to the Stockholder,
and shall use all
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<PAGE> 16
reasonable efforts to have the SEC declare the registration
statement effective as soon as practicable thereafter.
(iii) Purchase of Search Common Stock. If
a Demand Registration request is received, in lieu of
proceeding with the registration as provided in Sections
7.5(d)(i) or 7.5(d)(ii) above, Search shall thereupon have the
right to purchase, or cause a third party designated by Search
to purchase, all, but not less than all, of the Stockholder's
Search Common Stock identified in the such Demand Registration
request. If Search or the designated third party exercises
Search's right to purchase, Search shall notify the
Stockholder of the same within fifteen (15) days of receipt of
such Demand Registration request. If Search or the designated
third party does not timely exercise Search's right to
purchase, such right shall lapse and be null and void with
respect to the number of shares of Registrable Securities
described in such Demand Registration request. The purchase
price for the Registrable Securities identified in such Demand
Registration request shall be in cash and in an amount agreed
to by the parties and such purchase shall be consummated
within thirty (30) days from the date the Section 7.5(d)
Notice is delivered to the Stockholder. If, however, the
parties are unable to agree on the purchase price within
fifteen (15) days from the date the Section 7.5(d) Notice is
delivered, then Search must proceed under clause (i) or (ii)
above.
8. STANDSTILL PROVISIONS.
8.1 STANDSTILL COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDERS. For the period of time
set forth below in Section 13.2, and subject to Section 9 below, the
Stockholders severally covenant that the Stockholders shall not, and the
Stockholders shall cause each Stockholder Affiliate (and each such Affiliate's
own affiliates and associates) not to:
(a) No Acquisition of Additional Search Securities:
acquire, offer or propose to acquire, or agree to acquire, directly or
indirectly, alone or in concert with any other Person, by purchase,
exchange, gift or otherwise, any Search Securities or direct or
indirect rights, warrants or options to acquire (through purchase,
exchange, conversion or otherwise) any Search Securities, or any
securities issued in connection with any merger, consolidation, sale
of assets, combination or otherwise to which Search or any Search
Affiliate is a party, other than the Search Common Stock which such
Stockholder acquires pursuant to the Merger or which Search issues to
such Affiliate as part of an employment or other arrangement with
Search or Newco.
(b) No Proxy Solicitation: (i) make, or in any way
participate in, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with
others, any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are defined or
used in Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, as in effect at the
Effective Time) or become a "participant" in any "election contest"
(as such terms are defined or used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange
Act) with respect to Search or any
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<PAGE> 17
Search Affiliate; or (ii) seek to advise or influence any Person with
respect to the voting of any Search Securities, or (iii) initiate,
propose or otherwise solicit Search Securities holders for the
approval of one or more stockholders' or other securities holders'
proposals or induce or attempt to induce any other Person to initiate
any stockholder or other securities holder proposal.
(c) No Formation of a Group; No Influence: take any
action, alone or in concert with any other Person, to (i) form, join
or in any way participate in a Group with respect to any Search
Securities; (ii) acquire or affect the control of Search or any Search
Affiliate; (iii) control or influence the management, Board of
Directors, policies or affairs of Search or any Search Affiliate; or
(iv) participate in or encourage any Persons to take any action which
is prohibited to be taken by the Stockholders or any Stockholder
Affiliate pursuant to this Stockholders Agreement.
(d) No Election of Directors: other than for James Stuart
Jr., or any replacement MSD designee to Search's Board of Directors
approved by Search's management (acting in a commercially reasonable
manner) if Mr. Stuart is unable or unwilling to serve on Search's
Board of Directors, vote their shares for the election of any director
to Search's Board of Directors not approved by the management of
Search.
(e) No Statements: publicly propose any transaction with
respect to Search or any Search Affiliate, including but not limited
to a tender offer for voting securities of Search, or a merger or
other business combination, sale or transfer of assets, liquidation or
other corporate transaction by Search or any Search Affiliate, or any
demand, request or proposal to amend, waive or terminate any provision
of this Stockholders Agreement.
(f) No Shopping: alone, or in concert with any other
Person, solicit, encourage, entertain or discuss with any Person, any
proposal with respect to Search or any Search Affiliate, including but
not limited to, a business combination or other transaction with, or a
change of control of, Search or any Search Affiliate; provided,
however, that the terms of this Section 8.1(f) shall not apply to any
efforts by a Stockholder to Transfer all or any part of its Search
Common Stock, subject to the terms of Section 6.2 of this Stockholders
Agreement.
(g) No Tender Offers: make, solicit, encourage, discuss
or participate in, alone or in concert with any other Person, a tender
offer for or exchange for any Search Securities.
(h) No Asset Acquisition Offers: acquire, offer to
acquire or agree to acquire, directly or indirectly, alone or in
concert with any other Person, by purchase, exchange or otherwise (i)
all or a substantial portion of the assets, tangible and/or
intangible, of Search and/or any Search Affiliate, or (ii) direct or
indirect rights, warrants or options to acquire any assets of Search
and/or any Search Affiliate.
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<PAGE> 18
(i) No Financing: arrange, or in any way participate in
or encourage, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with any
other Person, any financing for the purchase, exchange, acquisition or
transfer of any assets of Search or any Search Affiliate or any of the
Search Securities.
(j) No Call of Meeting: alone or in concert with any
other Person (i) call, or seek to call, any meeting of Search's
shareholders, noteholders, securities holders and/or other creditors,
or (ii) in connection with such meeting make any request to examine,
copy or make extracts from any of Search's books, records, or list of
shareholders.
(k) No Announcement: announce an intention to do, or
enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any other
Person to do, any of the actions restricted or prohibited under this
Section 8, including but not limited to announcing a change in their
intent, purpose, plans or proposals with respect to either Search, any
Search Affiliate or any of the Search Securities.
(l) No Creditor Actions; Bankruptcy: alone, or in
concert with any other Person, (i) communicate with any of Search's
creditors regarding Search or any Search Affiliate; (ii) file, or
initiate the filing of any bankruptcy petition against Search or any
Search Affiliate; or (iii) take any other action which has a material
negative effect on Search's financial condition.
8.2 PERMITTED COMMUNICATIONS. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, each of the Stockholders may (i) file any documents required by the
SEC and (ii) respond to any legal subpoena requiring the production of
documents relating to, or governed by the terms of, this Stockholders
Agreement, provided that such Stockholder shall provide Search with notice of
the subpoena, including the information requested thereunder, immediately
following its receipt of such subpoena.
9. SEARCH BOARD DESIGNEE. Nothing contained in this Stockholders
Agreement shall be construed as preventing James Stuart, Jr. (or any
replacement for Mr. Stuart if Mr. Stuart is unable or unwilling to serve on
Search's Board of Directors) from serving on Search's Board of Directors and
taking any necessary action as a Director of Search which he is required to
take to fulfill his fiduciary duty as a Director of Search.
10. INDEMNIFICATION BY STOCKHOLDERS.
10.1 INDEMNIFICATION. Each Stockholder, for such Stockholder and
its successors and assigns (individually, an "Indemnifying Party" and
collectively, the "Indemnifying Parties"), covenants and agrees to indemnify,
defend, protect and hold harmless Search, Newco and the Surviving Corporation
and their respective officers, directors, employees, successors and assigns
(individually, a "Search Indemnified Party" and collectively "Search
Indemnified Parties") from, against and in respect of:
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<PAGE> 19
(a) all liabilities, losses, claims, damages, punitive
damages, causes of action, lawsuits, administrative proceedings
(including informal proceedings), investigations, audits, demands,
assessments, adjustments, judgments, settlement payments,
deficiencies, penalties, fines, interest (including interest from the
date of such damages) and costs and expenses (including without
limitation reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements of every kind,
nature and description) (collectively, "Claims") suffered, sustained,
incurred or paid by the Search Indemnified Parties in connection with,
resulting from or arising out of, directly or indirectly:
(i) any Securities Claim, as that term
is defined in the document listed as the last item on Schedule
3.19 to the Merger Agreement, whether or not such Claim is
covered by that document; or
(ii) item 7 on Schedule 3.7 of the
Merger Agreement (the "Texas Litigation"), or claims alleged
or substantiated by other individuals which are based upon the
same events or occurrences as have been alleged in the Texas
Litigation, to the extent that all Claims incurred in
connection therewith exceed $400,000; or
(b) any and all Claims incident to any of the foregoing
or to the enforcement of this Section 10.
(c) The Stockholders' obligations as Indemnifying Parties
under this Stockholders Agreement shall be joint and several. Subject
to Section 10.3(a)(ii) below, the Stockholders' respective obligations
as Indemnifying Parties under this Section 10 shall be limited to the
amount of Search Common Stock deposited into the General Escrow Fund
on behalf of the Stockholders pursuant to Section 12.1 below.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 10, if (i) any Claim governed by this Section 10 which arises
or accrues prior to Closing is reflected in the Most Recent Financial
Statements (as defined in Section 1.2(g) of the Merger Agreement, and
(ii) a purchase price adjustment occurs pursuant to Section 1.2(g) of
the Merger Agreement, then all such Claims, to the extent reflected in
the Most Recent Financial Statements, shall not be subject to
indemnification by the Indemnifying Parties pursuant to this Section
10.
10.2 NOTICE OF CLAIMS
(a) Any Search Indemnified Party seeking indemnification
hereunder shall give to the Indemnifying Party a notice (a "Claim
Notice") describing in reasonable detail the facts giving rise to any
Claim and shall include in such Claim Notice (if then known) the
amount or the method of computation of the amount of such Claim;
provided, that a Claim Notice in respect of any action at law or suit
in equity by or against a third person as to which indemnification
will be sought shall be given promptly after the action or suit
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has commenced; provided, further, that failure to give such notice
shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder
except to the extent it shall have been materially prejudiced by
such failure.
(b) After the giving of any Claim Notice pursuant hereto,
the amount of indemnification to which a Search Indemnified Party
shall be entitled under this Section 10 shall be determined, to the
extent feasible: (i) by the written agreement between the Search
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party; (ii) by a binding
nonappealable award in an arbitration proceeding; (iii) by a final
judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction; or (iv) by
any other means to which the Search Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party shall agree. The judgment or decree of a court
shall be deemed final when the time for appeal, if any, shall have
expired and no appeal shall have been taken or when all appeals taken
shall have been finally determined. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
unless the Indemnifying Parties dispute the coverage of the Claim by
this Section 10, the Search Indemnified Party shall be entitled to
receive from the Escrow Fund its costs and expenses incurred regarding
investigating and defending any such Claim regardless of whether the
parties have agreed to the exact amount of indemnification coverage as
set forth above in this Section 10.2(b).
10.3 THIRD PERSON CLAIMS.
(a) (i) Subject to Section 10.3(b), the
Search Indemnified Party shall have the right to conduct and
control, through counsel of its choosing, the defense,
compromise or settlement of any third person claim, action or
suit (a "Third Person Claim") against such Search Indemnified
Party as to which indemnification will be sought hereunder,
and in any such case the Indemnifying Party shall cooperate in
connection therewith and shall furnish such records,
information and testimony and attend such conferences,
discovery proceedings, hearings, trials and appeals as may be
reasonably requested by the Search Indemnified Party in
connection therewith; provided, that the Indemnifying Party
may participate, through counsel chosen by it and at its own
expense, in the defense of any such Third Person Claim as to
which the Search Indemnified Party has so elected to conduct
and control the defense thereof; and provided, further, that
the Search Indemnified Party shall not, without the written
consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), pay, compromise or settle any such
Third Person Claim, except that no such consent shall be
required if, following a written request from the Search
Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall fail, within
fifteen (15) days after the making of such request, to
acknowledge and agree in writing that, if such Third Person
Claim shall be adversely determined, such Indemnifying Party
has an obligation to provide indemnification hereunder to such
Search Indemnified Party.
(ii) Provided the Indemnifying Party has
acknowledged its indemnification obligation pursuant to
Section 10.3(a)(i) above, in respect of a
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Third Party Claim and if the Search Indemnified Party obtains
a preliminary settlement from a third party regarding such
Third Person Claim, the Search Indemnified Party shall submit
such preliminary settlement, including the proposed settlement
amount, to the Indemnifying Party for approval. If such
preliminary settlement is rejected by the Indemnifying Party,
and subsequently such Third Party Claim is settled by the
Indemnifying Party, the amount by which the settlement reached
by the Indemnifying Party is equal to the proposed settlement
amount shall be paid to the Search Indemnified party from
Escrow, and any excess amount of the settlement reached by the
Indemnifying shall be paid to the Search Indemnified Party in
an equivalent amount of Search Common Stock by the
Indemnifying Party within one business day after the date of
the settlement. Any such excess payment shall not be subject
to the maximum limit in the Escrow Fund.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Search Indemnified Party shall have the right to pay, settle
or compromise any such Third Person Claim without the
Indemnifying Party's consent, provided that in such event the
Search Indemnified Party shall waive any right to indemnity
therefor hereunder unless such consent is unreasonably
withheld.
(b) If any Third Person Claim is solely for money damages
within the escrow amount or will have no continuing effect in any
material respects on the business of the Surviving Corporation, then
the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to conduct and control,
through counsel of its choosing, the defense, compromise or settlement
of any such Third Person Claim if the Indemnifying Party has
acknowledged and agreed in writing that, if the same is adversely
determined, the Indemnifying Party has an obligation to provide
indemnification to the Search Indemnified Parties in connection
therewith; provided, that the Search Indemnified Party may
participate, through counsel chosen by it and at its own expense, in
the defense of any such Third Person Claim, provided, that in such
event the Search Indemnified Party shall waive any right to indemnity
therefor hereunder unless the Search Indemnified Party shall have
sought the consent of the Indemnifying Party to such payment,
settlement or compromise and such consent was unreasonably withheld,
in which event no Claim therefor hereunder shall be waived.
11. RESERVED.
12. ESCROWS OF SEARCH COMMON STOCK.
12.1 GENERAL ESCROW. Subject to Section 12.2, upon the Closing,
that number of shares of Search Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to
Section 1.3 of the Merger Agreement to or for the account of the Stockholders
having a value, based on the Valuation Period Market Value, equal to Two
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) (the "Escrow Fund") shall be
delivered to the Escrow Agent to be held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the
Escrow Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Schedule 12.1. The parties
hereto, and the Escrow Agent, shall execute the Escrow Agreement at Closing.
The portion of the Escrow
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Fund to be delivered to the Escrow Agent for the account of each Stockholder
shall be equal to the ratio that the Merger Consideration received by that
Stockholder bears to the aggregate Merger Consideration receivable by all of
the Stockholders. The Escrow Agent shall hold all of the Escrow Fund pursuant
to the Escrow Agreement and shall distribute the same pursuant to the terms of
the Escrow Agreement, joint instructions signed by Search and the Stockholders,
or pursuant to court order. The Escrow Agreement shall provide that subject to
the existence of an indemnification claim or Pending Claim, the Escrow Agent
shall, commencing 12 months from the Effective Time and continuing every six
(6) months thereafter, transfer to the Stockholders from the Escrow Fund pro
rata an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the original number of
shares of Search Common Stock constituting the Escrow Fund (as adjusted for
stock splits, etc.) not reserved for such indemnification claim or Pending
Claim. To the extent there is an indemnification claim, the Escrow Agent shall
transfer to Search shares of Search Common Stock to the extent necessary to
satisfy the indemnification claims in accordance with Section 10 and the Escrow
Agreement. If there are any Pending Claims existing at the time the Escrow
Agent would otherwise make an interim or the final distribution according to
the provisions of this Section 12.1, the parties hereto shall attempt to
negotiate the value of such Pending Claims. If a value has been agreed upon by
the parties hereto, the Escrow Agent shall retain 1.5 times the agreed upon
value for disposition upon the determination of liabilities in regard to the
Pending Claims. If the parties are not able to agree to a value of the Pending
Claims, then the Escrow Agent shall retain all of the securities remaining in
the Escrow Fund until final resolution of the Pending Claims. Upon the final
resolution of any Pending Claims, the Escrow Agent shall distribute any shares
of Search Common Stock, including dividends, remaining in Escrow.
12.2 ADJUSTMENT OF ESCROW FUND SIZE. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in Section 12.1, if Search, acting in a commercially reasonable
manner, believes it is necessary to increase the size of the Escrow Fund prior
to Closing, based on the likelihood or magnitude of Claims, it shall notify the
Stockholders of the same and the amount of the proposed increase, in any event
at least ten days prior to Closing. The maximum amount of the increase to the
Escrow Fund which can be proposed by Search pursuant to this Section 12.2 shall
be One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00). If the Stockholders agree with the
proposed increase, additional Search Common Stock shall be contributed to the
Escrow Fund at Closing pro rata by or on behalf of the Stockholders. If,
however, the Stockholders dispute in whole or part the amount of the proposed
increase in the Escrow Fund, they shall notify Search of such dispute, in which
event Search and the Stockholders shall attempt to reasonably resolve their
differences prior to Closing. If the Stockholders and Search are unable to
reconcile their differences, the parties shall follow the procedures set forth
below in Section 16.7.
12.3 STOCKHOLDERS RECEIVE BENEFIT OF VALUE INCREASE. If the value
of the Search Common Stock held in the Escrow Fund (but not in the Tax Holdback
Fund set forth in Section 12.4) increases above the value of the Escrow Fund as
of Closing (not including any additional contribution of Search Common Stock to
the Escrow Fund which may occur pursuant to Section 12.2 above), the
Stockholders shall be entitled to receive the benefit of any such increase in
the value of the Escrow Fund in excess of the original Escrow Fund value. For
example, if 500,000 shares of Search Common Stock valued at $5.00 per share is
contributed to the Escrow Fund at
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Closing, and at the time of the final distribution by the Escrow Agent the
parties agree that Pending Claims exist totalling $2.5 Million, and the value
of the Search Common Stock has increased to $10.00 per share, 250,000 shares of
Search Common Stock shall be retained in Escrow to satisfy the Pending Claims,
and the remaining 250,000 shares shall be distributed to the Stockholders pro
rata. (The foregoing example ignores the interim distributions to the
Stockholders pursuant to 12.1.) Conversely, if the value of the Escrow Fund
decreases below the original Escrow Fund value, the Stockholders shall not be
obligated to contribute any additional shares of Search Common Stock to the
Escrow Fund to restore the Escrow Fund to its original value.
12.4 TAX HOLDBACK ESCROW. MS Financial has represented to Search
that MS Financial is entitled to receive a total of $6.3 million of income tax
refunds from the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing authorities,
in regard to which MS Financial has already reflected on the Current Balance
Sheet an income tax receivable of at least $4,000,000. As assurance that such
income tax refunds will be collected by MS Financial or the Surviving
Corporation, upon the Closing, that number of shares of Search Common Stock to
be delivered pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Merger Agreement to or for the
account of the Stockholders having a value, based on the Valuation Period
Market Value, equal to Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,300,000)
(the "Tax Holdback Fund") shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to be held by
the Escrow Agent pursuant to Escrow Agreement. The portion of the Tax Holdback
Fund to be delivered to the Escrow Agent for the account of each Stockholder
shall be equal to the ratio that the Merger Consideration received by that
Stockholder bears to the aggregate Merger Consideration receivable by all of
the Stockholders. The Escrow Agent shall hold all of the Tax Holdback Fund
pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Escrow Agreement and shall
distribute the same pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, joint
instructions signed by Search and the Stockholders, or pursuant to court order.
On a quarterly basis, shares of Search Common Stock held in the Tax Holdback
Fund shall be released from escrow in an amount that is determined by
multiplying (i) the number of shares of Search Common Stock originally
transfered into the Tax Holdback Fund at the Closing by (ii) the fraction
determined by dividing (A) the total dollar amount of income tax refunds
received by MS Financial or the Surviving Corporation in excess of $4,000,000
by (B) $2,300,000 and (b) subtracting from the product the total number of
shares of Search Common Stock, if any, previously released from the Tax
Holdback Escrow Fund pursuant to this sentence. It is agreed by the parties
that upon receipt by the Surviving Corporation of the full income tax refund,
the Escrow Agent shall make the final distribution from the Tax Holdback Fund;
provided, however, that, if any portion of the income tax refund has not been
received by MS Financial or the Surviving Corporation by the first annual
anniversary of the Closing, all of the remaining Search Common Stock held in
the Tax Holdback Fund shall revert to Search; provided, further, that, to the
extent that any portion of the income tax refund is received by the Surviving
Corporation subsequent to such reversion, Search shall transfer to the
Stockholders either, at Search's option, cash in the amount of any portion of
the income tax refund so received or that number of shares of Search Common
Stock that would have been released from escrow pursuant to this Section 12.4
had such portion of the income tax refund been received prior to first annual
anniversary of the Closing.
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13. TERM; TERMINATION.
13.1 GENERAL RULE. Except as set forth below in Section
13.2, this Stockholders Agreement and the obligations of each
Stockholder hereunder shall terminate on the first to occur of (i) the
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the terms of
such Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, the termination
of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(h) thereof); or (ii)
if the Merger Agreement is not terminated and the Merger is
consummated, then on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective
Time. If this Stockholders Agreement is terminated, each party shall
bear its own expenses with respect to this Stockholders Agreement.
13.2 EXCEPTIONS. Notwithstanding Section 13.1 above, (a)
Section 8 shall terminate on the earlier of (i) two years after the
Effective Time, and (ii) when the amount of Search Common Stock which
that Stockholder owns is less than five percent (5%) of all of the
issued and outstanding Search Common Stock; and (b) Sections 10 and 12
shall terminate upon full distribution of the Escrow Fund pursuant to
the terms of Section 12.1 and the Escrow Agreement.
14. DEFINED TERMS. Terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have
the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
for purposes of this Stockholders Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following definitions:
"Group" has the same meaning as the term "group" set forth in Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
"Pending Claim" shall mean any Claim governed by Section 10 which has
not been resolved as of any interim or final distribution date under
Section 12.1.
"Registrable Securities" means (i) any Search Common Stock held by the
Stockholders and (ii any securities issued or issuable with respect to
the Search Common Stock referred to in clause (i) by way of a stock
dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and
(iii) any other shares of Search Common Stock held by persons holding
securities described in clauses (i) or (ii) above.
"Search Affiliate" means each "affiliate" or "associate" of Search
(as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act as of
the Effective Time), whether or not such Person is such an Affiliate
as of the Effective Time, and each officer, director, employee,
shareholder, consultant, agent, representative, successor and assign,
of either Search or any Search Affiliate; excluding, however, each of
the Stockholders and any Stockholder Affiliate.
"Search Securities" means all common stock (including but not limited
to the Search Common Stock issued to the Stockholders pursuant to the
Merger), preferred stock,
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options, warrants, notes, and debentures (whether senior or
subordinated, secured or unsecured, convertible or nonconvertible),
and any other securities, which have been issued prior to the
Effective Time and/or which are issued during the term of this
Stockholders Agreement, by Search or any member of the Search Group.
"Stockholder Affiliate" means each "affiliate" or "associate" of a
Stockholder (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the
Exchange Act as of the Effective Time), whether or not such Person is
such an Affiliate as of the Effective Time, and each officer,
director, employee, shareholder, consultant, agent, representative,
successor and assign, of either a Stockholder or any Stockholder
Affiliate; excluding, however, Search and any Search Affiliate.
"Transfer" means to pledge, sell, hypothecate, give, exchange, assign,
convey or otherwise transfer.
15. MSD AGREEMENTS.
15.1 TRADEMARK; SUBLEASE; MIS. MSD hereby covenants and agrees
that: (a) a modified, royalty free license agreement reasonably acceptable to
Search related to use of the "MS" logo and trademark will be entered into at or
prior to Closing between itself as Licensor and MS Financial as Licensee
effective as of the Effective Time; (b) the Office Building Sublease Agreement
dated as of January 1, 1994 by and between MSD as sublandlord and MS Financial
as subtenant shall not be modified or amended prior to the Effective Time and
shall terminate at the end of its current term on October 31, 1997; and (c) the
Data Processing Hardware System Service Agreement dated January 1, 1994 between
MSD and MS Financial, as amended, will be further amended to provide that it
will terminate ninety (90) days after the Effective Time at no cost to Search
other than obligations existing in said agreement on the date this Stockholders
Agreement is signed.
15.2 MSDSUB OBLIGATIONS. MSD covenants and agrees to take all
action necessary to cause MSDSub to perform all of its agreements, covenants
and obligations under this Stockholders Agreement. MSD shall be liable for any
breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of MSDSub and for
any breach of this covenant.
16. MISCELLANEOUS.
16.1 NOTICES. All notices and other communications given or made
pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
or made if and when delivered personally or by overnight courier or sent by
electronic transmission, with confirmation received, to the telecopy numbers
specified below:
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If to MSD or
MSDSub: MS Diversified Corporation
715 N. Pear Orchard Road, Suite 400
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Telecopier No.: 601-978-6756
Telephone No.: 601-978-6709
Attention: James B. Stuart, Jr.
President and CEO
If to GTCR IV: Golder, Thoma, Cressy, Rauner, Inc.
6100 Sears Tower
Chicago, IL 60606-6402
Telecopier No.: 312-382-2201
Telephone No.: 312-382-2200
Attention: Phil Canfield
If to Search
or Newco: Search Capital Group, Inc.
700 N. Pearl Street, Suite 400, L.B. 401
Dallas, TX 75201-2809
Telecopier No.: 214-965-6098
Telephone No.: 214-965-6000
Attention: George C. Evans,
Chairman, President & CEO and
Ellis Regenbogen, Executive Vice
President and General Counsel
With a copy
to: Riezman & Blitz, P.C.
120 S. Central, 10th Floor
St. Louis, MO 63105
Telecopier No.: 314-727-6458
Telephone No.: 314-727-0101
Attention: Richard M. Riezman, Esq.
or to such other address or telecopy number as any party may have furnished to
the other parties in writing in accordance herewith.
16.2 ASSIGNMENT; BENEFITS. The rights and obligations of Search
hereunder may be assigned, in whole or in part, to Newco or any other direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of Search, to the extent and for so long as it remains
a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Search. Other than as permitted in the
preceding sentence, this Stockholders Agreement may not be assigned by any
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party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. This
Stockholders Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit
of, Search and its successors and permitted assigns.
16.3 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable harm would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Stockholders Agreement were not performed in accordance with its 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
Stockholders Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof in any court of the United States or any state thereof having
jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are
entitled at law or in equity.
16.4 AMENDMENT. This Stockholders Agreement may not be amended or
modified, except by an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of each of
the parties hereto. This Stockholders Agreement may not be waived by either
party hereto, except by an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of the
party granting such waiver.
16.5 GOVERNING LAW. This Stockholders Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware.
16.6 COUNTERPARTS. This Stockholders Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
16.7 DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Unless otherwise provided herein, in the
event that any dispute shall arise in connection with this Agreement, the
parties hereto shall agree on the use of a form of alternate dispute resolution
for the resolution of such dispute. If the parties are unable to agree on the
form of alternate dispute resolution, then such dispute shall be finally
settled by arbitration by three (3) arbitrators in Dallas, Texas, pursuant to
the Commercial Arbitration Rules then pertaining of the American Arbitration
Association, it being the intent of the parties that such arbitration shall be
concluded as promptly as reasonably practicable. If such an arbitration
occurs, the arbitrators shall be required to award reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses to the prevailing party, which shall be paid by the non-prevailing
party in cash or its ready equivalent. Judgment upon the award may be entered
in any court having jurisdiction. If any dispute arises regarding Articles 10
and/or 12 hereof, and Search is the prevailing party, the required award of
attorneys' fees and expenses shall not be governed or limited by the maximum
limit of the Escrow Fund, nor shall the amount of such attorneys fees and
expenses be credited against the Escrow Fund in any manner.
* * * * *
-27-
<PAGE> 28
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Stockholders Agreement has been executed by
or on behalf of each of the parties hereto, all as of the date first above
written.
SEARCH CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
("Search")
By: /s/ George C. Evans
--------------------------------------------
Title: President/CEO
MS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
("MSDSub")
By: /s/ James Stuart
--------------------------------------------
Title: President
Shares of MS Financial Stock Owned: 3,070,000
-----------------------------------------------------
MS DIVERSIFIED CORPORATION
("MSD")
By: /s/ James Stuart
--------------------------------------------
Title: President
Shares of MS Financial Stock Owned: 1,250,000
---------------------------------------------------
GOLDER, THOMA, CRESSY, RAUNER FUND IV, L.P.
("GTCR IV")
By: GTCR IV, L.P., its General Partner
By: Golder, Thoma, Cressy, Rauner, Inc.,
its General Partner
By: /s/ David A. Donnini
------------------------------------
Authorized Officer
Shares of MS Financial Stock Owned: 3,720,000
-----------------------------------------------------
-28-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99
Contact: James F. Leary
Vice Chairman, Finance
Search Capital Group, Inc.
(214) 965-6000
or
Philip J. Hubbuch, Jr.
Vice Chairman and CEO
MS Financial, Inc.
(601) 978-6673
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 1997
SEARCH CAPITAL TO ACQUIRE MS FINANCIAL
Dallas, Texas -- Search Capital Group, Inc. and MS Financial, Inc. announced
today that they have signed a definitive agreement for Search to acquire MS
Financial, Inc., a Jackson, Mississippi-based non-prime auto finance company,
in a stock swap valued at about $21 million.
"The acquisition of MS Financial will be by far the largest step in
our acquisition program to date. This transaction more than triples Search's
managed loan portfolio and expands our geographical coverage through access to
MS Financial's branch system and network of automobile dealers," said George C.
Evans, Search's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
According to Evans, upon consummation of the acquisition, proforma
estimates indicate that Search's gross receivables under management will
increase from $74.7 million to approximately $250 million and Search's net
worth will increase to about $52 million from $33.6 million. Realization of
additional revenues from the MS Financial portfolio, combined with the
consolidation or elimination of duplicate operating and administrative
expenses, should sharply increase Search's earnings during fiscal 1998 (April
1, 1997 to March 31, 1998). Evans emphasized that the acquisition of MS
Financial is another step in Search's continuing plan to emerge as an industry
leader in the ongoing consolidation in the non prime auto finance sector.
James B. Stuart, Jr., chairman of MS Financial's board, said, "We are
impressed with the Search Capital management team and the company operations,
and Mr. Evans has an excellent track record in the consumer finance industry."
MS Financial, Inc.'s board of directors has unanimously voted to approve this
transaction with Search Capital Group, Inc. and recommends that the
shareholders approve the merger.
Under the terms of the agreement, MS Financial stockholders will
receive the equivalent of $2.00 in Search common stock in exchange for each MS
Financial share, subject to certain minimum and maximum numbers of Search
shares and to adjustments in certain circumstances. There are approximately
10.4 million MS Financial shares outstanding.
<PAGE> 2
The transaction is intended to be a tax-free exchange of shares and is
expected to close by the end of April 1997. The transaction is subject to
customary conditions, including regulatory approvals and the finalization of
acceptable arrangements with MS Financial's lenders.
The merger is expected to be submitted to stockholders for approval in
April 1997. MS Financial's two principal stockholders, which own approximately
77% of MS Financial's common stock, have agreed to vote their shares in favor
of the transaction. Until final closing of the transaction, Search will assist
MS Financial in managing its collections and other operations and MS Financial
has agreed to apply Search's loan underwriting guidelines to its loan
purchasing activities. Search will purchase automobile loans from MS
Financial.
Search Capital Group, Inc. is a specialized financial services company
engaged in the purchasing, financing and servicing of non-prime automobile
installment loans. Search is also initiating non-auto consumer finance
operations. Search common shares and its 9%/7% convertible preferred shares
are traded on the over the counter bulletin board under the symbols "SCGI" and
"SCGIP", respectively.
MS Financial (NASDAQ: MSFI) is a specialized consumer finance company
that purchases and services retail installment contracts on new and used cars
and light duty trucks. The company serves more than 800 dealerships in 13
states.
SEC Cautionary Safe Harbor Language
This press release contains certain forward looking statements, as defined in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to the
effects of the acquisition of MS Financial on Search's financial position and
earnings. These statements are based on current expectations that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially.
Factors that may cause or contribute to such differences include Search's
actual growth rate, delinquency and default rates with respect to the contracts
included in its and MS Financial's portfolio, the extent to which expected
operating efficiencies are realized, changes in business and market conditions
and the economy in general, increased competition, changes in governmental and
regulatory matters, unforeseen litigation and other risk factors identified in
Search's SEC filings under the caption "Risk Factors".
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