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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): SEPTEMBER 10, 1997
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FIELDCREST CANNON, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE 1-5137 56-0586036
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(State of (Commission (IRS Employer
Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
One Lake Circle Drive, Kannapolis, NC 28081
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (704) 939-2000
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NYFS01...:\07\45207\0003\139\FRM9127P.330
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On September 10, 1997, Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. (the "Company"),
Pillowtex Corporation ("Pillowtex") and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pillowtex
("Newco") entered into an agreement (the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which,
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Newco will be
merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"), and the Company will thereby
become a wholly owned subsidiary of Pillowtex. A copy of the Merger Agreement is
filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by this reference.
On September 11, 1997, Pillowtex issued a press release announcing
the Merger. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is
incorporated herein by this reference.
At the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), (i) each
outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company
("Fieldcrest Common Stock") will be converted into a right to receive total
consideration valued at $34.00, consisting of (a) $27.00 in cash and (b) a
number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pillowtex
("Pillowtex Common Stock") equal to the quotient (the "Conversion Number")
obtained by dividing $7.00 by the average of the closing sales prices per share
of Pillowtex Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") for each
of the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the fifth trading day
prior to the date (the "Closing Date") on which the Merger is consummated (the
"Determination Price"), provided that the Conversion Number will not be more
than 0.333 or less than 0.269, and provided further that, if the Determination
Price is less than $21.00, the Company will have the right to elect to increase
the cash portion of such merger consideration and/or the Conversion Number such
that the sum of (1) the cash portion of such merger consideration and (2) the
product of (A) the Conversion Number and (B) the Determination Price equals
$34.00 and, if the Company does not so elect, Fieldcrest will have the right to
terminate the Merger Agreement, and (ii) each outstanding share of $3.00 Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, other
than shares converted into Fieldcrest Common Stock prior to the Merger, will be
converted into a right to receive total consideration valued at $58.12,
consisting of (a) a cash payment equal to the product of (1) the cash portion of
the merger consideration to be paid for each share of Fieldcrest Common Stock
and (2) 1.7094 and (b) a number of shares of
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Pillowtex Common Stock equal to the product of (1) the Conversion Number and(2)
1.7094.
The obligations of the Company and Pillowtex to consummate the
Merger are conditioned upon, among other things, (i) approval and adoption of
the Merger Agreement by the Company's stockholders; (ii) approval by Pillowtex's
shareholders of the issuance of shares of Pillowtex Common Stock and Pillowtex
preferred stock in connection with the Merger and related financing
transactions; (iii) the absence of any order or injunction that prohibits the
consummation of the Merger; (iv) the shares of Pillowtex Common Stock to be
issued in connection with the Merger having been authorized for listing on the
NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; (v) a Registration Statement on
Form S-4 having been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and not being subject to any stop order or proceeding seeking the
same; and (vi) the waiting period pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, having expired or been terminated.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 10, 1997, by
and among Pillowtex Corporation, Pegasus Merger Sub, Inc.
and Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc.
99.1 Press release, dated September 11, 1997, issued by Pillowtex
Corporation
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
FIELDCREST CANNON, INC.
By: /s/Mark R. Townsend
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Mark R. Townsend
Dated: September 12, 1997
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT
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2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September
10, 1997, by and among Pillowtex Corporation,
Pegasus Merger Sub, Inc. and Fieldcrest
Cannon, Inc.
99.1 Press release, dated September 11, 1997,
issued by Pillowtex Corporation
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EXHIBIT 2.1
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
PILLOWTEX CORPORATION
PEGASUS MERGER SUB, INC.
and
FIELDCREST CANNON, INC.
dated as of September 10, 1997
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of September 10, 1997, among
PILLOWTEX CORPORATION, a Texas corporation ("Parent"), PEGASUS MERGER SUB, INC.,
a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Purchaser"), and
FIELDCREST CANNON, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Company").
W I T N E S E T H :
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and
Company have determined that it would be advisable and in the best interests of
their respective stockholders for Parent to acquire Company, by means of a
merger of Purchaser with and into Company (the "Merger"), pursuant and subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Parent, Purchaser and Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), the Merger shall be effected and Purchaser
shall be merged with and into Company at the Effective Time (as hereinafter
defined in Section 1.3). At the Effective Time, the separate existence of
Purchaser shall cease and Company shall continue as the surviving corporation
(sometimes herein referred to as the "Surviving Corporation").
SECTION 1.2 Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and
the transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to
Article VIII, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent
permissible) of all of the conditions set forth in Article
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VII, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place at 10:00 a.m. on
the fifth business day following satisfaction or waiver (to the extent
permissible) of all of the conditions set forth in Article VII, other than those
conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject
to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions (the "Closing Date"), at the
offices of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York,
unless another date, time or place is agreed to in writing by the parties
hereto.
SECTION 1.3 Effective Time. The parties hereto will file with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Secretary of State")
on the date of the Closing (or on such other date as Parent and Company may
agree) a certificate of merger or other appropriate documents, executed in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, and make all other filings
or recordings required under the DGCL in connection with the Merger. The Merger
shall become effective upon the filing of the certificate of merger with the
Delaware Secretary of State, or at such later time as is specified in the
certificate of merger (the "Effective Time").
SECTION 1.4 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set
forth in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the
properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Company and Purchaser
shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties
of Company and Purchaser shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the
Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 1.5 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. At the Effective Time,
the certificate of incorporation of Purchaser as in effect at the Effective Time
shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the certificate of incorporation of
the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended in accordance with
the provisions thereof and applicable law. At the Effective Time, the by-laws of
Purchaser as in effect at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective
Time, be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or
amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable law.
SECTION 1.6 Directors; Officers. From and after the Effective Time, (a)
the directors of Purchaser shall be the
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directors of the Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation
or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified,
as the case may be, and (b) the officers of Company shall be the officers of the
Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation or removal or
until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case
may be.
ARTICLE II
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL
STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS
SECTION 2.1 Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of shares of
Company's common stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Shares"), or any other
capital stock of Company or any shares of capital stock of Purchaser:
(a) Common Stock of Purchaser. Each share of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the
Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Shares and Parent- Owned Shares. Each
Share and each share of Company's $3.00 Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(individually, a "Preferred Share" and collectively the "Preferred Shares")
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is owned by
Company or any Subsidiary of Company or by Parent, Purchaser or any other
Subsidiary of Parent (other than shares in trust accounts, managed accounts,
custodial accounts and the like that are beneficially owned by third parties)
shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no
cash or other consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange
therefor.
(c) Conversion of Shares. Each Share issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares to be cancelled in
accordance with Section 2.1(b) and any Dissenting Shares (as hereinafter
defined)) shall be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration
(as defined below) upon surrender of the
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certificate formerly representing such Share in accordance with this Agreement.
(d) Conversion of Preferred Shares. Each Preferred Share issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Preferred Shares
to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.1(b) and any Dissenting Shares)
shall be converted into the right to receive the Preferred Merger Consideration
(as defined below) upon surrender of the certificate formerly representing such
Preferred Share in accordance with this Agreement.
(e) Merger Consideration; Preferred Merger Consideration. (i)
"Merger Consideration" shall mean, subject to Section 2.4 below, (A) a cash
payment in an amount equal to $27.00 and (B) a number of fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Parent's common stock, $0.01 par value per share
("Parent Common Stock"), equal to the Conversion Number, meaning the quotient,
rounded to the third decimal place, obtained by dividing $7.00 by the average of
the closing sales prices of Parent Common Stock as reported on the NYSE (as
hereinafter defined in Section 9.3) Composite Transactions List for each of the
20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the fifth trading day prior to
the Closing Date (the "Determination Price"); provided, that if the actual
quotient obtained thereby is less than 0.269, the Conversion Number shall be
0.269 and if the actual quotient obtained thereby is more than 0.333, the
Conversion Number shall be 0.333; provided, further that if the Determination
Price is less than $21.00, Parent shall have the right to give written notice to
Company (a "Top-Up Intent Notice") that Parent elects to increase the cash
portion of the Merger Consideration and/or the Conversion Number such that the
sum of (i) the cash portion of the Merger Consideration and (ii) the product of
the Conversion Number and the Determination Price shall equal $34.00. Any Top-Up
Intent Notice shall be delivered to Company no later than 2:00 p.m. New York
City time on the third business day prior to the Closing Date. If, in such case,
Parent does not deliver a Top-Up Intent Notice, Company shall have the right to
give written notice to Parent (a "Termination Notice") that Company elects to
terminate this Agreement. Any Termination Notice shall be delivered to Parent no
later than 2:00 p.m. New York City time on the business day prior to the Closing
Date.
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(ii) "Preferred Merger Consideration" shall mean, subject to
Section 2.4 below, (A) a cash payment equal to the product of (1) the cash
portion of the Merger Consideration and (2) 1.7094 and (B) a number of fully
paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the product of (1)
the Conversion Number and (2) 1.7094.
(f) Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, Shares or Preferred Shares issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time held by a holder (if any) who has the right to
demand, and who properly demands, an appraisal of such Shares or Preferred
Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (or any successor provision)
("Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into a right to receive the Merger
Consideration or the Preferred Merger Consideration, as applicable, unless such
holder fails to perfect or otherwise loses such holder's right to such
appraisal, if any. If, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect or
loses any such right to appraisal, each such Share or Preferred Share of such
holder shall be treated as a Share or Preferred Share that had been converted as
of the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger Consideration or the
Preferred Merger Consideration, as applicable, in accordance with this Section
2.1. At the Effective Time, any holder of Dissenting Shares shall cease to have
any rights with respect thereto, except the rights provided in Section 262 of
the DGCL (or any successor provision) and as provided in the immediately
preceding sentence. Company shall give prompt notice to Parent of any demands
received by Company for appraisal of Shares or Preferred Shares, and Parent
shall have the right to participate in and direct all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to such demands. Company shall not, except with the
prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to, or settle or
offer to settle, any such demands.
SECTION 2.2 Stock Options. (a) Each holder of a then outstanding option to
purchase Shares (collectively, "Options") under Company's Director Stock Option
Plan, 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan or Stock Option Agreement, dated as of
September 11, 1991, with James M. Fitzgibbons (collectively, the "Stock Option
Plans"), whether or not then exercisable or fully vested, may elect, prior to
the Effective Time, in settlement thereof, to receive from Company immediately
prior to the Effective Time for each Share subject to such Option an amount in
cash equal to the
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difference between $34.00 and the per share exercise price of such Option, to
the extent $34.00 is greater than the per share exercise price of such Option
(such excess amount, the "Option Consideration").
(b) At the Effective Time, each outstanding Option other than
Options for which an election to receive cash in settlement thereof has been
made pursuant to Section 2.2(a), shall be assumed by Parent and shall constitute
an option to acquire, on substantially the same terms and subject to
substantially the same conditions as were applicable under such Option,
including, without limitation, term, exercisability, status as an "incentive
stock option" under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), and termination provisions, the number of shares of Parent Common
Stock, rounded up to the nearest whole share, determined by multiplying the
number of Shares subject to such Option immediately prior to the Effective Time
by the Option Conversion Number at an exercise price per share of Parent Common
Stock (increased to the nearest whole cent) equal to the exercise price per
share of Shares subject to such Option divided by the Option Conversion Number;
provided, however, that in the case of any Option to which Section 421 of the
Code applies by reason of its qualification as an incentive stock option under
Section 422 of the Code, the conversion formula shall be adjusted if necessary
to comply with Section 424(a) of the Code. "Option Conversion Number" shall mean
the quotient, rounded to the third decimal place, obtained by dividing $34.00 by
the Determination Price; provided, that if the actual quotient obtained thereby
is less than 1.308, the Option Conversion Number shall be 1.308, and if the
actual quotient obtained thereby is more than 1.619, the Option Conversion
Number shall be 1.619; provided, further, that if a Top-Up Intent Notice has
been delivered to Company pursuant to Section 2.1(e), the Option Conversion
Number shall be increased such that the product of the Option Conversion Notice
and the Determination Price shall equal $34.00.
(c) Not later than 30 days prior to the Effective Time, Company
shall provide each holder of an Option an election form pursuant to which each
such holder may make the election specified in Section 2.2(a). Company also
shall use its best efforts to obtain all necessary waivers, consents or releases
from holders of Options under the Stock Option Plans and take any such other
action as may be reasonably necessary to give effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Section 2.2 and, with respect to the
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Options for which an election to receive cash in settlement thereof has been
made, to cause each such Option to be surrendered to Company and cancelled,
whether or not any Option Consideration is payable with respect thereto, at the
Effective Time. The surrender of an Option to Company shall be deemed a release
of any and all rights the holder had or may have had in such Option, other than
the right to receive the Option Consideration in respect thereof.
(d) Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for
issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock for delivery upon
exercise of substitute Options pursuant to the terms set forth in Section
2.2(b). As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the shares of Parent
Common Stock subject to Options will be covered by an effective registration
statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form) or another appropriate form and
Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of
such registration statements for so long as the substitute Options remain
outstanding. In addition, Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to cause the
shares of Parent Common stock subject to Options to be listed on the NYSE and
such other exchanges as Parent shall determine.
SECTION 2.3 Share Purchase Rights. Each reference in this Article II and
in Article III to a "Share" is a reference to such Share together with the Right
(as hereinafter defined in Section 4.1(b)), if any, associated with such Share.
SECTION 2.4 Failure To Approve Share Issuance. If Parent's stockholders
fail to approve the Share Issuance (as hereinafter defined in Section 4.2(c)) at
the Parent Stockholders Meeting (as hereinafter defined in Section 6.2(b)),
then, notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, (i) the Merger
Consideration shall be a cash payment in an amount equal to $34.00, (ii) the
Preferred Merger Consideration shall be a cash payment in an amount equal to
$58.12, (iii) the provisions of Section 2.2(a) shall apply to all Options
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and the provisions of
Section 2.2(b) shall have no further force or effect, and (iv) Sections
7.1(a)(ii) and 7.1(c) hereof shall be deemed to be deleted.
SECTION 2.5 Stock Appreciation Rights. At or immediately prior to the
Effective Time, Company shall pay to each holder of a stock appreciation right
issued by
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Company pursuant to the Director Stock Option Plan or its salary reduction plan
a cash amount equal to the product of (i) the difference between $34.00 and the
grant price of such stock appreciation right and (ii) the number of shares
subject to such stock appreciation right.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENT FOR SHARES
SECTION 3.1 Payment For Shares. (a) Payment Fund. Concurrently with the
Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with or
for the account of a bank or trust company designated by Parent, which shall be
reasonably satisfactory to Company (the "Paying Agent"), for the benefit of the
holders of Shares and Preferred Shares, (i) certificates for the shares of
Parent Common Stock representing the aggregate stock portion of the Merger
Consideration and the Preferred Merger Consideration and (ii) cash in an
aggregate amount sufficient to pay the aggregate cash portion of the Merger
Consideration and the Preferred Merger Consideration (hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Payment Fund").
(b) Letters of Transmittal; Surrender of Certificates. As soon as
reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall instruct the
Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record (other than Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or Parent, Purchaser or any of their Subsidiaries) of a certificate
or certificates which, immediately prior to the Effective Time, evidenced
outstanding Shares or Preferred Shares (the "Certificates"), (i) a form of
letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery
of the Certificates to the Paying Agent, and shall be in such form and have such
other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use
in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for payment therefor.
Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying 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 respect thereof (A) a certificate
representing that number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock (and cash in
lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock as contemplated by
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this Section 3.1) which the aggregate number of Shares or Preferred Shares, as
applicable, previously represented by such certificate or certificates
surrendered shall have been converted into the right to receive pursuant to
Section 3.1 of this Agreement and (B) cash in an amount equal to the product of
(1) the number of Shares or Preferred Shares, as applicable, theretofore
represented by such Certificate and (2) the cash portion of the Merger
Consideration or the Preferred Merger Consideration, as applicable, and, in
either case, the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. No
interest shall be paid or accrued on the Merger Consideration or the Preferred
Merger Consideration payable upon the surrender of any Certificate. If payment
is to be made to a person other than the person in whose name the surrendered
Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the
Certificate so surrendered shall be promptly endorsed or otherwise in proper
form for transfer and that the person requesting such payment shall pay any
transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than
the registered holder of the surrendered Certificate or established to the
satisfaction of Parent and the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid
or is not applicable.
(c) Cancellation and Retirement of Shares; No Further Rights. As of
the Effective Time, all Shares and Preferred Shares (other than Shares and
Preferred Shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.1(b) and any
Dissenting Shares if applicable) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a Certificate
theretofore representing any such Shares or Preferred Shares shall cease to have
any rights with respect thereto (including, without limitation, the right to
vote), except the right to receive the Merger Consideration or the Preferred
Merger Consideration, as applicable, without interest, upon surrender of such
Certificate in accordance with this Article III, and until so surrendered, each
such Certificate shall represent for all purposes only the right, subject to
Section 2.1(f), if applicable, to receive the Merger Consideration or the
Preferred Merger Consideration, as applicable, without interest. The Merger
Consideration or the Preferred Merger Consideration, as applicable, paid upon
the surrender for exchange of Certificates in accordance with the terms of this
Article III shall be deemed to have been issued and paid in full satisfaction of
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all rights pertaining to the Shares or Preferred Shares theretofore represented
by such Certificates.
(d) No Fractional Shares. (i) No certificates or scrip representing
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for
exchange of certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented Shares or Preferred Shares which have been converted pursuant to
Section 2.1, and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner
thereof to vote or to any rights of a stockholder of Parent.
(ii) In lieu of any such fractional shares, each holder of
Shares or Preferred Shares who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction
of a Parent Common Stock upon surrender of Certificates for exchange pursuant to
this Section 3.1 will be paid an amount in cash (without interest), rounded to
the nearest cent, determined by multiplying (A) the per share closing price on
the NYSE of Parent Common Stock (as reported on the NYSE Composite Transactions
List) on the date on which the Effective Time occurs (or, if Parent Common Stock
does not trade on the NYSE on such date, the first date of trading of Parent
Common Stock on the NYSE after the Effective Time) by (B) the fractional
interest to which such holder otherwise would be entitled. Promptly upon request
from the Paying Agent, Parent will make available to the Paying Agent the cash
necessary for this purpose.
(e) Investment of Payment Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest the
cash portion of the Payment Fund, as directed by Parent, in (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America, (ii) obligations for which the full
faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide for the
payment of principal and interest, (iii) commercial paper rated the highest
quality by either Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
Corporation, or (iv) certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or
bankers' acceptances of commercial banks with capital exceeding $500 million.
Any net earnings with respect to the Payment Fund shall be the property of and
paid over to Parent as and when requested by Parent; provided, however, that any
such investment or any such payment of earnings shall not delay the receipt by
holders of Certificates of the Merger Consideration or the Preferred Merger
Consideration, as applicable, or otherwise impair such holders' respective
rights hereunder.
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(f) Termination of Payment Fund. Any portion of the Payment Fund
which remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates for 180 days after
the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any holders of
Certificates that have not theretofore complied with this Article III shall
thereafter look only to Parent, and only as general creditors thereof, for
payment of their claim for any Merger Consideration or Preferred Merger
Consideration, as applicable.
(g) No Liability. None of Parent, Purchaser, the Surviving
Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any
payments or distributions payable from the Payment Fund delivered to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
If any Certificates shall not have been surrendered prior to five years after
the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which any
Merger Consideration or Preferred Merger Consideration, as applicable, in
respect of such Certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of
any Governmental Entity (as hereinafter defined), any amounts payable in respect
of such certificate shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the
property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest
of any person previously entitled thereto.
(h) Withholding Rights. Parent shall be entitled to deduct and
withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from the consideration otherwise
payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Shares, Preferred Shares,
Options or Certificates such amounts as are required to be deducted and withheld
with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of
applicable state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to such holders in respect of which such deduction
and withholding was made.
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.1 Representations and Warranties of Company. Company represents
and warrants to Parent and Purchaser as follows:
(a) Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Each of Company and
each Subsidiary of Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated
and has the requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as
now being conducted. Each of Company and each Subsidiary of Company is duly
qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership or leasing of
its properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary, other than in
such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter
defined in Section 9.3) on Company. Company has delivered to Parent complete and
correct copies of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws or comparable
governing documents of Company and each of its Subsidiaries, in each case as
amended to the date of this Agreement.
(b) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of Company
consists of (i) 25,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), (ii) 15,000,000 shares of class B common stock, $1.00 par
value per share, and (iii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value
per share. At the close of business on September 5, 1997: (i) 9,224,258 shares
of Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 435,300 shares of Common Stock
were reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding Options under the Stock
Option Plans, (iii) 2,564,100 shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance
pursuant to conversion of Preferred Shares, (iv) 2,632,248 shares of Common
Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to conversion of Company's 6%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2012 (the "Convertible Debentures"), (v)
1,500,000 Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding and (vi) 500,000 shares
of Company's Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock were authorized for
issuance solely pursuant to the exercise of the preferred stock purchase rights
(the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights
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Agreement, dated as of November 24, 1993, between Company and The First National
Bank of Boston, as rights agent (the "Company Rights Agreement"). Except as set
forth in the immediately preceding sentence, at the close of business on
September 5, 1997, no shares of capital stock (including, without limitation,
class B common stock or preferred stock) or other equity securities of Company
were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All outstanding shares of
capital stock of Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. Except as referred to above,
no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Company or any Subsidiary
of Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for,
securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which the stockholders of
Company or any Subsidiary of Company may vote are issued or outstanding. No
adjustment to the conversion price at which Preferred Shares are convertible
into Shares or the conversion price at which Convertible Debentures are
convertible into Shares has been made since the respective date of the first
issuance of such securities, and there are no accrued and unpaid dividends,
whether or not declared, on the Preferred Shares. Except as disclosed in Section
4.1(b) of the disclosure schedule delivered by each party to the other
simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement (the "Disclosure Schedule"),
all the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary of Company have
been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by
Company, by one or more Subsidiaries of Company or by Company and one or more
such Subsidiaries, free and clear of Liens (as hereinafter defined in Section
9.3). Except as set forth above or in Section 4.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule,
neither Company nor any Subsidiary of Company has or, at or after the Effective
Time will have, any outstanding option, warrant, call, subscription or other
right, agreement or commitment which (i) obligates Company or any Subsidiary of
Company to issue, sell or transfer, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
shares, of the capital stock of Company or any Subsidiary of Company, (ii)
restricts the transfer of any shares of capital stock of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or (iii) relates to the voting of any shares of Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.
(c) Authority; Noncontravention. Company has the requisite corporate
power and authority to enter into this Agreement. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Company and the consummation by Company of the transactions
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contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of Company, subject, in the case of the Merger, to the approval of
this Agreement by its stockholders as set forth in Section 6.2(a). This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Company and, assuming this
Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Parent and Purchaser,
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Company, enforceable against
Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and to general principles of
equity. Except as disclosed in Section 4.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, the
execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the provisions
hereof will not, (i) conflict with any of the provisions of the restated
certificate of incorporation (including the provisions of any certificate of
designations which constitute a part of such restated certificate of
incorporation) or by-laws of Company or the comparable documents of any
Subsidiary of Company, (ii) subject to the governmental filings and other
matters referred to in the following sentence, conflict with, result in a breach
of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give
rise to a material obligation, a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or a loss of a material benefit under, or require
the consent of any person under, any indenture or other agreement, permit,
concession, franchise, license or similar instrument or undertaking to which
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their assets is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to
the governmental filings and other matters referred to in the following
sentence, contravene any domestic or foreign law, rule or regulation or any
order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award currently in
effect, which, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, singly or in the
aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Company. No consent, approval
or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notice to, any domestic
or foreign governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Governmental Entity")
which has not been received or made is required by or with respect to Company or
any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Company or the consummation by Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby, except for (i) the
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filing of premerger notification and report forms under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), with respect to
the Merger, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (A) a joint proxy statement relating
to the approval and adoption by the stockholders of Company of this Agreement
and approval by the stockholders of Parent of the Share Issuance (as hereinafter
defined in Section 4.2(c)) (such joint proxy statement, as amended or
supplemented from time to time, the "Proxy Statement") and (B) such reports
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as
may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) the filing of the certificate of merger
with the Delaware Secretary of State and appropriate documents with the relevant
authorities of other states in which Company is qualified to do business, (iv)
such other consents, approvals, authorizations, filings or notices as are set
forth in Section 4.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule and (v) any other filings,
authorizations, consents or approvals the failure to make or obtain which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
Company.
(d) SEC Documents. (i) Company has filed all required reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") since January 1, 1994 (such reports, schedules,
forms, statements and other documents are hereinafter referred to as the "SEC
Documents"); (ii) as of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in
all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such SEC
Documents, and none of the SEC Documents as of such dates contained any untrue
statements of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) the
consolidated financial statements of Company included in the SEC Documents
comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (except, in the case of unaudited consolidated quarterly statements,
as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the
periods involved (except as
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may otherwise be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present the
consolidated financial position of Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as
of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash
flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
(e) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by Company specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
(i) the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent in
connection with the issuance by Parent of shares of Parent Common Stock in the
Merger (the "Form S- 4") will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC,
at any time that it is amended or supplemented and at the time it becomes
effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Proxy
Statement will, at the time it is filed with the SEC, at any time that it is
amended or supplemented, at the time it is mailed to the stockholders of Company
and Parent and at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting referred to in
Section 6.2(a) and the Parent Stockholders Meeting referred to in Section
6.2(b), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, except that no representation or warranty is made by Company with
respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on
information supplied by Parent or Purchaser specifically for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in such documents.
(f) Absence of Certain Changes or Events; No Undisclosed Material
Liabilities.
(i) Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents filed and
publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (the "Filed SEC
Documents") or in Section 4.1(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, since the date of
the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed SEC
Documents, Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their business only in
the ordinary course, and there has
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not been (A) any change, event or occurrence particular to Company and its
Subsidiaries (excluding industry, economic, financial and other matters
generally affecting businesses other than and in addition to Company and its
Subsidiaries) which has had or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Company; (B) any declaration, setting aside or
payment of any dividend or other distribution in respect of shares of Company's
capital stock, other than dividends on the Preferred Shares in accordance with
their terms, or any redemption or other acquisition by Company of any shares of
its capital stock; (C) any increase in the rate or terms of compensation payable
or to become payable by Company or its Subsidiaries to their directors, officers
or key employees, except increases occurring in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices; (D) any entry into, or increase in the rate or
terms of, any bonus, insurance, severance, pension or other employee or retiree
benefit plan, payment or arrangement made to, for or with any such directors,
officers or employees, except increases occurring in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices or as required by applicable law; (E)
any entry into any agreement, commitment or transaction by Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which is material to Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
except for agreements, commitments or transactions entered into in the ordinary
course of business; (F) any change by Company in accounting methods, principles
or practices except as required or permitted by generally accepted accounting
principles; (G) any write-off or write-down of, or any determination to
write-off or write-down, any asset of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
portion thereof which write-off, write-down, or determination exceeds $5 million
individually or $15 million in the aggregate; or (H) any agreements by Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the things described in the preceding
clauses (A) through (G) other than as expressly contemplated or provided for
herein.
(ii) Except as set forth in or disclosed in the Filed SEC
Documents or Section 4.1(f) of the Disclosure Schedule and liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent financial
statements included in the Filed SEC Documents, as of the date hereof, there are
no liabilities of Company or any Subsidiary of any kind whatsoever, whether
accrued, contingent, absolute, due, to become due, determined, determinable or
otherwise, having or which would have,
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individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Company.
(g) Absence of Changes in Benefit Plans. Except as disclosed in the
Filed SEC Documents or in Section 4.1(g) of the Disclosure Schedule, since the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed SEC
Documents, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has adopted or amended or
agreed to adopt or amend in any material respect any collective bargaining
agreement or any Benefit Plan (as defined in Section 4.1(h)).
(h) Benefit Plans. With respect to all the employee benefit plans
(as that phrase is defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) maintained for the benefit of any
current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries ("Company ERISA Plans") and any other benefit or compensation plan,
program or arrangement maintained for the benefit of any current or former
employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the
Company ERISA Plans and such plans being referred to as the "Company Plans"),
except as set forth in Section 4.1(h) of the Disclosure Schedule:
(i) none of the Company ERISA Plans is a "multiemployer plan"
within the meaning of ERISA;
(ii) none of the Company Plans promises or provides retiree
life insurance benefits to any person;
(iii) none of the Company Plans provides for payment of a
benefit, the increase of a benefit amount, the payment of a contingent benefit,
or the acceleration of the payment or vesting of a benefit by reason of the
execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement;
(iv) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has an
obligation to adopt, or is considering the adoption of, any new Company Plan or,
except as required by law, the amendment of an existing Company Plan;
(v) each Company ERISA Plan intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from
the IRS that it is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing
has occurred since the date of such letter that could reasonably
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<PAGE>
be expected to affect the qualified status of such Company ERISA Plan;
(vi) each Company Plan has been operated in accordance with
its terms and the requirements of all applicable law;
(vii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or
members of their "controlled group" has incurred any direct or indirect
liability under, arising out of or by operation of Title IV of ERISA in
connection with the termination of, or withdrawal from, any Company ERISA Plan
or other retirement plan or arrangement, and, to the knowledge of the Company,
no fact or event exists that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any
such liability;
(viii) the aggregate accumulated benefit obligations of each
Company ERISA Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (as of the date of the most
recent actuarial valuation prepared for such Company ERISA Plan and based on a
discount rate of 7.75%, the rate used in such valuation) do not exceed the fair
market value of the assets of such Company ERISA Plan (as of the date of such
valuation); and
(ix) the Company is not aware of any claims relating to the
Company Plans;
provided, however, that the failure of the representations set forth in clauses
(v), (vi), (vii) and (ix) to be true and correct shall not be deemed to be a
breach of any such representation unless such failures, individually or in the
aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.
(i) Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 4.1(i) of the
Disclosure Schedule:
(A) Except where the failure to do so would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on Company, each of Company and each Subsidiary of
Company (and any affiliated or unitary group of which any such person was a
member) has (1) timely filed all federal, state, local and foreign returns,
declarations, reports, estimates, information returns and statements ("Returns")
required to be filed by or for it in respect of any Taxes (as defined below) and
has caused such Returns as so filed to be true, complete and correct, (2)
established reserves that are reflected in Company's most recent financial
statements included in the Filed SEC Documents and that as so reflected are
adequate
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for the payment of all Taxes not yet due and payable with respect to the results
of operations of Company and its Subsidiaries through the date hereof, and (3)
timely withheld and paid over to the proper governmental authorities all Taxes
and other amounts required to be so withheld and paid over. Each of Company and
each Subsidiary of Company (and any affiliated or unitary group of which any
such person was a member) has timely paid all Taxes that are shown as being due
on the Returns referred to in the immediately preceding sentence.
(B) (1) There has been no taxable period since 1991 for which
a Return of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been examined by the Internal
Revenue Service ("IRS"), (2) all examinations described in clause (1) have been
completed without the assertion of material deficiencies, and (3) except for
alleged deficiencies which have been finally and irrevocably resolved, Company
has not received formal or informal notification that any deficiency for any
Taxes, the amount of which, individually or in the aggregate, could have a
Material Adverse Effect on Company, has been or will be proposed, asserted or
assessed against Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any federal, state, local
or foreign taxing authority or court with respect to any period.
(C) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has executed
or entered into with the IRS or any other taxing authority (1) any agreement or
other document that continues in force and effect beyond the Effective Time and
that extends or has the effect of extending the period for assessments or
collection of any federal, state, local or foreign Taxes, (2) any closing
agreement or other similar agreement (nor has Company or any of its Subsidiaries
received any ruling, technical advice memorandum or similar determination)
affecting the determination of Taxes required to be shown on any Return not yet
filed, or (3) requested any extension of time to be granted to file after the
Effective Date any return required by applicable law to be filed by it.
(D) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made an
election under Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of
the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as such term is
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. None of the assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
required to be treated
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as being owned by any other person pursuant to the "safe harbor" leasing
provisions of section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as formerly
in effect.
(E) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to,
is bound by or has any obligation under any tax sharing agreement or similar
agreement or arrangement.
(F) Company has not agreed to make, nor is it required to
make, any material adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a
change in accounting method or otherwise.
(G) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has
been, a United States Real Property Holding Corporation within the meaning of
Code Section 897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in Code Section
897(c)(1)(A)(ii).
For purposes of this Agreement, "Taxes" shall mean all Federal,
state, local, foreign income, property, sales, excise, employment, payroll,
franchise, withholding and other taxes, tariffs, charges, fees, levies, imposts,
duties, licenses or other assessments of every kind and description, together
with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts
imposed by any taxing authority.
(j) Voting Requirements. Assuming Parent is not an "interested
stockholder" for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL, the affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of Shares entitled to
vote thereon at the Company Stockholders Meeting described in Section 6.2(a)
with respect to the approval and adoption of this Agreement is the only vote of
the holders of any class or series of Company's capital stock or other
securities required in connection with the consummation by Company of the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated by Company.
(k) Compliance with Applicable Laws. All federal, state, local and
foreign governmental approvals, authorizations, certificates, filings,
franchises, licenses, notices, permits and rights ("Permits," including, without
limitation, Permits required under Environmental Laws) necessary for each of
Company and its Subsidiaries to own, lease or operate its properties and assets
and to carry on
21
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its business as now conducted have been obtained or made, and there has occurred
no default under any such Permit, except for the lack of Permits and for
defaults under Permits which lack or default individually or in the aggregate
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Company. Except as disclosed in the
Filed SEC Documents or in Section 4.1(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, Company and
its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable statutes, laws,
ordinances, rules, orders and regulations of any Governmental Entity, except for
non-compliance which individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on Company.
(l) Written Opinion of Financial Advisor. Company has received the
written opinion of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFB"), dated
September 10, 1997 (a true and complete copy of which has been delivered to
Parent by Company), to the effect that, based upon and subject to the matters
set forth therein and as of the date hereof, the consideration to be received by
the holders of Shares in the Merger was fair to such stockholders from a
financial point of view, and such opinion has not been withdrawn or modified.
(m) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other person, other than CSFB, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by
Company, is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other
similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Company.
(n) Litigation, etc. As of the date hereof, except as disclosed in
Section 4.1(n) of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) there is no suit, claim, action
or proceeding (at law or in equity) or investigation pending or, to the
knowledge of Company, threatened against Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(including, without limitation, any product liability claims) before any court
or governmental or regulatory authority or body, and (ii) neither Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding order, writ, judgement,
injunction, decree or arbitration order or award that, in any such case
described in clauses (i) and (ii), has had or would have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Company. As of the date hereof, there
are no suits, actions, claims, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the
knowledge of Company, threatened, seeking to prevent, hinder, modify
22
<PAGE>
or challenge the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(o) Environmental Laws. (i) For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings: (A) "Hazardous Substances"
means (1) those substances defined in or regulated under the following federal
statutes and their state counterparts, as each may be amended from time to time,
and all regulations thereunder: the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking
Water Act, the Atomic Energy Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act and the Clean Air Act; (2) petroleum and petroleum products
including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (3) natural gas, synthetic gas,
and any mixtures thereof; (4) radon; (5) any other contaminant; and (6) any
substance with respect to which a federal, state or local agency requires
environmental investigation, monitoring, reporting or remediation; and (B)
"Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or local law relating to (1)
releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances or materials containing
Hazardous Substances; (2) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, treatment,
storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances or materials containing Hazardous
Substances; or (3) otherwise relating to pollution of the environment or the
protection of human health.
(ii) To the knowledge of Company, except as disclosed in
Section 4.1(o) of the Disclosure Schedule and except as would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Company: (A) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has violated or is in violation of any
Environmental Law; (B) none of the properties owned or leased by Company or any
of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, soils and surface and ground
waters) are contaminated with any Hazardous Substance in quantities which
require investigation or remediation under Environmental Laws; (C) neither
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is liable for any off-site contamination;
(D) neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability or remediation
obligation under any Environmental Law; (E) no assets of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries are subject to pending or threatened Liens under any Environmental
Law; (F) Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits, licenses and other
authorizations required under any Environmental Law ("Environmental Permits");
and (G)
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Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with their respective
Environmental Permits.
(p) Material Contracts. There have been made available to Parent,
its affiliates and their representatives true and complete copies of all of the
following contracts to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of them is bound (collectively, the "Material Contracts"): (i)
contracts with any current officer or director of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (ii) contracts for the sale of any of the assets of Company or any
of its Subsidiaries other than contracts relating to non-operating property or
entered into in the ordinary course of business or for the grant to any person
of any preferential rights to purchase any of its assets other than inventory in
the ordinary course of business; (iii) contracts containing covenants of Company
or any of its Subsidiaries not to compete in any line of business or with any
person in any geographical area or covenants of any other person not to compete
with Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any line of business or in any
geographical area; (iv) material indentures, credit agreements, mortgages,
promissory notes, and all contracts relating to the borrowing of money; and (v)
all other agreements, contracts or instruments entered into outside of the
ordinary course of business and which, in the reasonable opinion of Company, are
material to Company. The Company has discussed with Parent the Company's
purchase orders for raw materials (including cotton and polyester), supplies,
expense items, and equipment, and the purchase orders from the Company's
customers as well as the Company's acknowledgments of those orders, but the
Company has not provided copies of all of these documents to Parent. Except as
set forth on Schedule 4.1(p), all of the Material Contracts are in full force
and effect and are the legal, valid and binding obligation of Company and/or its
Subsidiaries, enforceable against them in accordance with their respective
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and subject,
as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). Except as set forth
on Section 4.1(p) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither Company nor any Subsidiary
is in default in any material respect under any Material Contract nor, to the
knowledge of Company, is any other party to any Material Contract in default
thereunder in any material respect.
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<PAGE>
(q) Labor Matters. (i) Except as set forth on Section 4.1(q)(i) of
the Disclosure Schedule, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
to any employment, labor or collective bargaining agreement (excluding
consulting agreements with independent contractors entered into in the ordinary
course of business), and there are no employment, labor or collective bargaining
agreements which pertain to employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Company has heretofore made available to Parent true, complete and correct
copies of the (A) employment agreements listed on Section 4.1(q)(i) of the
Disclosure Schedule and (B) labor or collective bargaining agreements listed on
such Schedule, together with all amendments, modifications, supplements or side
letters affecting the duties, rights and obligations of any party thereunder.
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 4.1(q)(ii) of the
Disclosure Schedule, no employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries are
represented by any labor organization; to the knowledge of Company, no labor
organization or group of employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
made a pending demand for recognition or certification, and there are no
representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a
representation proceeding presently pending or threatened in writing to be
brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or any other labor
relations tribunal or authority and to the knowledge of Company, there are no
organizing activities involving Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending with
any labor organization or group of employees of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(iii) Except as set forth on Section 4.1(q)(iii) of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no (A) unfair labor practice charges, grievances
or complaints pending or threatened in writing by or on behalf of any employee
or group of employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries which, if resolved
against Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, would,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Company, or
(B) complaints, charges or claims against Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pending, or threatened in writing to be brought or filed, with any Governmental
Entity or arbitrator based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise
relating to the employment or termination of employment of any individual by
Company or any of its Subsidiaries which, if resolved against Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, as
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<PAGE>
the case may be, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on Company.
(r) Rights Plan Matters. The Company's Board of Directors has
approved and Company will enter into an amendment to the Company Rights
Agreement so that (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the public
announcement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the
other matters provided for herein will not result in (A) Parent or Purchaser or
any of their respective Affiliates or Associates being an Acquiring Person, (B)
the occurrence of a Distribution Date, a Stock Acquisition Date or a Triggering
Event or (C) the Rights becoming exercisable (the terms "Acquiring Person,"
"Affiliate," "Associate," "Distribution Date," "Stock Acquisition Date," and
"Triggering Event" having the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the
Company Rights Agreement) and (ii) the common stock, $0.01 par value per share,
of the Surviving Corporation will not constitute "Common Stock" within the
meaning of Section 1(g) of the Company Rights Agreement. A true, correct and
complete copy of the Company Rights Agreement (including all amendments thereto)
is included in the Filed SEC Documents.
(s) Real Property; Other Assets. (i) Section 4.1(s)(i) of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth all of the real property owned in fee by Company
and its Subsidiaries (the "Owned Real Property"). Each of Company and its
Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to each parcel of Owned Real Property
free and clear of all Liens except (A) those reflected or reserved against in
the latest balance sheet of Company included in the Filed SEC Documents, (B)
taxes and general and special assessments not in default and payable without
penalty and interest, and (C) Liens of record and other Liens which individually
or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Company
(collectively "Permitted Liens").
(ii) Company has heretofore made available to Parent true,
correct and complete lists of all leases, subleases and other agreements (the
"Real Property Leases") under which Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses or
occupies or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, any real
property or facility (the "Leased Real Property") (including all modifications,
amendments and supplements thereto). Except in each case where the failure
individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
Company (A) each Real Property Lease is
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valid and binding on Company and in full force and effect, (B) all rent and
other sums and charges payable by Company and its Subsidiaries as tenants
thereunder are current in all material respects, and (C) no termination event or
condition or uncured default of a material nature on the part of Company or any
such Subsidiary or, to Company's knowledge, the landlord, exists under any Real
Property Lease. Except as would not individually or in the aggregate have a
Material Adverse Effect on Company, each of Company and its Subsidiaries has a
good and valid leasehold interest in each parcel of Leased Real Property free
and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens.
SECTION 4.2 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Purchaser. Parent
and Purchaser represent and warrant to Company as follows:
(a) Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Each of Parent and
Purchaser and each other Subsidiary of Parent is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is incorporated and has the requisite corporate power and authority to
carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of Parent and Purchaser and
each other Subsidiary of Parent is duly qualified or licensed to do business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or
the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification or licensing
necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified
or licensed would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent. Parent has delivered to Company true and complete copies of
the restated articles of incorporation and by-laws of Parent and certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of Purchaser, as amended to the date of this
Agreement.
(b) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of Parent
consists of (i) 30,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, and (ii) 20,000,000
shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share. At the close of business on
September 5, 1997, (i) 10,751,497 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and
outstanding and (ii) 613,390 shares of Parent Common Stock were reserved for
issuance pursuant to outstanding options to purchase shares of Parent Common
Stock granted under Parent's stock option plans. Except as set forth in the
immediately preceding sentence, at the close of business on September 5, 1997,
no shares of capital stock or other equity securities of Parent were issued,
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reserved for issuance or outstanding. All outstanding shares of capital stock of
Parent are, and all shares of Parent Common Stock which may be issued pursuant
to this Agreement will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. The authorized
capital stock of Purchaser consists of 100 shares of common stock, $0.01 par
value per share, 100 of which have been validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned by Parent. No bonds, debentures, notes or other
indebtedness of Parent having the right to vote (or convertible into, or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
the stockholders of Parent may vote are issued or outstanding. Except as set
forth above, Parent does not have any outstanding option, warrant, subscription
or other right, agreement or commitment which (i) obligates Parent to issue,
sell or transfer, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of the
capital stock of Parent, (ii) restricts the transfer of Parent Common Stock or
(iii) relates to the voting of Parent Common Stock.
(c) Authority; Noncontravention. Parent and Purchaser have the
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser and the
consummation by Parent and Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly authorized by the boards of directors of Parent and Purchaser and
have been duly approved by Parent as sole stockholder of Purchaser, and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Purchaser are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby,
other than, with respect to the issuance of Parent Common Stock as required by
the terms of this Agreement or upon conversion of the Company's 6% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures after the Effective Time and the issuances of equity
securities of Parent contemplated by Section 4.2(g) (collectively, the "Share
Issuance"), the approval and adoption of the Share Issuance by the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Parent Common Stock entitled
to vote on the matter, present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting
of Parent's stockholders called for such purpose. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by each of Parent and Purchaser and, assuming this
Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Company, constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and Purchaser, enforceable
against each such party in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy,
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insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and to general principals of
equity. Except as disclosed in Section 4.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, the
execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the provisions
of this Agreement will not (i) conflict with any of the provisions of the
restated articles of incorporation or by-laws of Parent or certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of Purchaser, (ii) subject to the governmental filings
and other matters referred to in the following sentence, conflict with, result
in a breach of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, or give rise to a material obligation, a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of a material benefit
under, or require the consent of any person under, any indenture, or other
agreement, permit, concession, franchise, license or similar instrument or
undertaking to which Parent or Purchaser is a party or by which Parent or
Purchaser or any of their assets is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the
governmental filings and other matters referred to in the following sentence,
contravene any law, rule or regulation, or any order, writ, judgment,
injunction, decree, determination or award currently in effect, which, in the
case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, singly or in the aggregate, would have a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent. No consent, approval or authorization of, or
declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity which has not
been received or made is required by or with respect to Parent or Purchaser in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or
Purchaser or the consummation by Parent or Purchaser, as the case may be, of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the filing of
premerger notification and report forms under the HSR Act with respect to the
Merger, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Form S-4 and (B) such other
reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) the filing
of the certificate of merger with the Delaware Secretary of State, and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which
Company is qualified to do business, (iv) state "blue- sky" filings, (v) NYSE
approvals, (vi) such other consents, approvals, authorizations, filings or
notices as are set forth in Section 4.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule and (vii)
any other applicable filings, authorizations, consents or
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approvals the failure to make or obtain which, in the aggregate, would not have
a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(d) SEC Documents. Parent has filed all required reports, schedules,
forms, statements and other documents with the SEC since January 1, 1994 (the
"Parent SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the Parent SEC Documents
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder applicable to such Parent SEC Documents, and none of the
Parent SEC Documents as of such dates contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial
statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents comply as to form in
all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except, in the case of
unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a
consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the
notes thereto) and fairly present the consolidated financial position of Parent
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject,
in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
(e) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by Parent or Purchaser specifically for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in (i) the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the
SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented or at the time it becomes
effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Proxy
Statement will, at the time it is filed with the SEC, at any time that it is
amended or supplemented, mailed to the stockholders of Company and Parent and at
the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting referred to in Section 6.2(a) and
the Parent Stockholders Meeting referred to in Section 6.2(b), contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to
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be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Form S-4 and
the Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, except that no representation or warranty is
made by Parent or Purchaser with respect to statements made or incorporated by
reference in such documents based on information supplied by or on behalf of
Company specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.
(f) Absence of Certain Changes of Events; No Undisclosed Material
Liabilities. (i) Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents filed and
publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (the "Filed Parent SEC
Documents") or in Section 4.2(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, since the date of
the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed Parent SEC
Documents, Parent and its Subsidiaries have conducted their business only in the
ordinary course, and there has not been (A) any change, event or occurrence
particular to Parent and its Subsidiaries (excluding industry, economic,
financial and other matters generally affecting businesses other than and in
addition to Parent and its Subsidiaries) which has had or would have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, (B) any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or distribution in respect
of any of Parent's outstanding capital stock (other than regular quarterly cash
dividends of $.05 per share on Parent Common Stock in accordance with usual
record and payment dates and in accordance with the Parent's present dividend
policy) or any redemption or other acquisition by Parent of any shares of its
capital stock, (C) any entry into any agreement, commitment or transaction by
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries which is material to Parent and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except for agreements, commitments or
transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business, (D) any change by
Parent in accounting methods, principles or practices except as required or
permitted by generally accepted accounting principles or (E) any agreements by
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the things described in the
preceding clauses (A) through (D) other than as expressly contemplated or
provided for herein.
(ii) Except as set forth in or disclosed in the Filed Parent
SEC Documents or Section 4.2(f) of the
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Disclosure Schedule and liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business
since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Filed
Parent SEC Documents, as of the date hereof, there are no liabilities of Parent
or any Subsidiary of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute,
due, to become due, determined, determinable or otherwise, having or which
would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent.
(g) Purchaser; Financing. (i) Parent owns all of the outstanding
capital stock of Purchaser. At all times prior to the Effective Time, no person
other than Parent has owned, or will own, any of the outstanding capital stock
of Purchaser. Purchaser was formed by Parent solely for the purpose of engaging
in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as contemplated by
this Agreement, Purchaser has not incurred, and will not incur, directly or
through any Subsidiary, any liabilities or obligations for borrowed money or
otherwise, except incidental liabilities or obligations not for borrowed money
incurred in connection with its organization and except in connection with
obtaining financing in connection with the Merger. Except as contemplated by
this Agreement, Purchaser has not engaged, directly or through any Subsidiary,
in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever.
(ii) Parent has received written commitments (collectively,
the "Financing Commitments") (copies of which are attached as Section 4.2(g) of
the Disclosure Schedule) from financial institutions and investors to provide,
subject to the terms and conditions of such commitments, debt and equity
financing sufficient, together with other funds available to Parent, to effect
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and to pay all related
fees and expenses.
(h) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other person, other than those identified in Section 4.2(h) of the Disclosure
Schedule, the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Parent, is entitled to
any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.
(i) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Each of Parent and its
Subsidiaries has in effect all Permits
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including, without limitation, Permits required under Environmental Laws
necessary for it to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and to carry
on its business as now conducted, and there has occurred no default under any
such Permit, except for the lack of Permits and for defaults under Permits which
lack or default individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent. Except as disclosed in the Filed Parent SEC Documents
or in Section 4.2(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, Parent and its Subsidiaries are
in compliance with all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, orders and
regulations of any Governmental Entity, except for non-compliance which
individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent.
(j) Environmental Laws. To the knowledge of Parent, except as
disclosed in Section 4.2(j) of the Disclosure Schedule and except as would not
have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent: (i) neither Parent nor its
Subsidiaries has violated or is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) none
of the properties owned or leased by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
(including, without limitation, soils and surface and ground waters) are
contaminated with any Hazardous Substance in quantities which require
investigation or remediation under Environmental Laws; (iii) neither Parent nor
its Subsidiaries is liable for any off-site contamination; (iv) neither Parent
nor its Subsidiaries has any liability or remedial obligation under any
Environmental Law; (v) no assets of Parent or its Subsidiaries are subject to
pending or threatened Liens; (vi) Parent and its Subsidiaries have all
Environmental Permits; and (vii) Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance
with their respective Environmental Permits.
(k) Litigation, etc. As of the date hereof, except as disclosed in
Section 4.2(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) there is no suit, claim, action,
proceeding (at law or in equity) or investigation pending or, to the knowledge
of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (including,
without limitation, any product liability claims) before any court or
governmental or regulatory authority or body, and (ii) neither Parent nor any of
its Subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding order, writ, judgement,
injunction, order, decree or arbitration award or order that, in any such case
described in clauses (i) and (ii), has had or would have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. As of the
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date hereof, there are no suits, actions, claims, proceedings or investigations
pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, seeking to prevent, hinder,
modify or challenge the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.1 Conduct of Business of Company and Parent. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement (or, in the case of Parent and its Subsidiaries,
as contemplated by the Financing Commitments), during the period from the date
of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Company and Parent shall, and shall
cause their respective Subsidiaries to, act and carry on their respective
businesses only in the ordinary course of business and, to the extent consistent
therewith, use reasonable efforts to preserve intact their current business
organizations, keep available the services of their current key officers and
employees and preserve the goodwill of those engaged in material business
relationships with them, and to that end, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Parent and Company shall not, and shall not permit their respective
Subsidiaries to, without the prior consent of the other:
(i) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make
any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any
of its outstanding capital stock (other than as provided in Section 4.1(f)(i)(B)
and 4.2(f)(i)(B) above and, with respect to a Subsidiary, to its corporate
parent), (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its outstanding capital stock
or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in
lieu of or in substitution for shares of its outstanding capital stock, or (C)
with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any shares of outstanding capital stock or any rights, warrants or
options to acquire any such shares except, in the case of clause (C), for the
acquisition of shares from holders of options in full or partial payment of the
exercise price payable by such holder upon exercise of options;
(ii) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, issue,
sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of its capital stock, any
other voting
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securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any
rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting securities or
convertible or exchangeable securities other than upon the exercise of options
issued pursuant to employee benefit plans or pursuant to Company's "matching
obligations" under and in accordance with its 401(k) savings plan or, in respect
of Company, conversion of Preferred Shares and Convertible Debentures;
(iii) amend its articles or restated certificate of
incorporation, by-laws or other comparable charter or organizational documents;
(iv) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only,
directly or indirectly acquire, make any investment in, or make any capital
contributions to, any person (other than any direct or indirect wholly-owned
Subsidiary) other than in the ordinary course of business;
(v) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries only,
directly or indirectly sell or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or
assets that are material to its business, except for sales or dispositions in
the ordinary course of business;
(vi) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, (A)
incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of
another person, other than indebtedness owing to or guarantees of indebtedness
owing to Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Company or
(B) make any loans or advances to any other person, other than to Company or to
any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Company and other than routine
advances to employees, except, in the case of clause (A) for borrowings under
existing credit facilities described in the Filed SEC Documents in the ordinary
course of business;
(vii) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, grant
or agree to grant to any employee any increase in wages or bonus, severance,
profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation, insurance or other
compensation or benefits, or establish any new compensation or benefit plans or
arrangements, or amend or agree to amend any existing Employee Benefit Plans,
except as may be required under existing agreements (including collective
bargaining agreements) or normal, regularly scheduled
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increases in nonofficer employees consistent with past practices or as required
by law;
(viii) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, enter
into or amend any employment, consulting, severance or similar agreement with
any individual except with respect to new hires in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(ix) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other
material reorganization or any agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal
(other than as expressly permitted pursuant to this Agreement);
(x) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, make
any tax election or settle or compromise any income tax liability of Company or
of any of its Subsidiaries involving on an individual basis more than $1
million;
(xi) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, make
any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice or policy except
as required by any changes in generally accepted accounting principles;
(xii) with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries only, enter
into any agreement, understanding or commitment that restrains, limits or
impedes Company's ability to compete with or conduct any business or line of
business, except for any such agreement, understanding or commitment entered
into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or
(xiii) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the
foregoing actions in respect of which it is restricted by the provisions of this
Section 5.1.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.1 Preparation of the Proxy Statement and the Form S-4;
Accountant's Letters. (a) As soon as practicable following the date hereof:
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(i) Company and Parent shall jointly prepare for inclusion in
the Form S-4, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, a proxy statement
(the "Proxy Statement") relating to the Merger and the Share Issuance in
accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations under the
Exchange Act, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Company, Parent and Purchaser shall cooperate with each other in the preparation
of the Proxy Statement. Company and Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to
respond promptly to any comments made by the SEC with respect to the Proxy
Statement, and to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the stockholders of
Company and Parent at the earliest practicable date after the Form S-4 is
declared effective by the SEC.
(ii) Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC, as soon as
practicable after the date hereof, the Form S-4. Each of Company and Parent
shall use all reasonable efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective under
the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing. Parent also
shall take any action (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction
in which it is not now so qualified) required to be taken under any applicable
state securities laws in connection with the issuance of Parent Common Stock in
the Merger, and Company shall furnish all information concerning Company and the
holders of the Shares as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such
action.
(b) Company shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to
Parent a letter of Ernst & Young LLP, Company's independent public accountants,
dated a date within two business days before the date on which the Form S-4
shall become effective, and a letter of Ernst & Young LLP, dated a date within
two business days before the Closing Date, each addressed to Parent, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and customary in scope and substance
for letters delivered by independent accountants in connection with registration
statements similar to the Form S-4.
(c) Parent shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to
Company a letter of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Parent's independent public
accountants, dated a date within two business days before the date on which the
Form S-4 shall become effective and a letter of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, dated a
date within two business days before the Closing Date, each addressed to
Company, in form and
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substance reasonably satisfactory to Company and customary in scope and
substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection
with registration statements similar to the Form S-4.
SECTION 6.2 Stockholders Meetings. (a) Subject to Company's right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(v), Company shall take all
action necessary, in accordance with the DGCL, the Exchange Act and other
applicable law, the rules of the NYSE, and its certificate of incorporation and
by-laws, to convene a special meeting of the stockholders of Company (the
"Company Stockholders Meeting") as promptly as practicable after the
effectiveness of the Form S-4 for the purpose of considering and voting upon
this Agreement. Subject to Company's right to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to Section 8.1(a)(v), the Board of Directors of Company shall recommend that the
holders of the Shares vote in favor of the approval and adoption of this
Agreement at the Company Stockholders Meeting and such recommendation shall be
included in the Proxy Statement. At the Company Stockholders Meeting, Parent and
Purchaser shall vote all Shares beneficially owned by them in favor of the
adoption and approval of this Agreement.
(b) Parent shall take all action necessary in accordance with
Exchange Act and other applicable law, the rules of the NYSE, and its restated
articles of incorporation and by-laws, to convene a special meeting of the
stockholders of Parent (the "Parent Stockholders Meeting") as promptly as
practicable after the effectiveness of the Form S-4 for the purpose of
considering and voting upon the Share Issuance. The Board of Directors of Parent
shall recommend that the holders of the Parent Common Stock vote in favor of and
approve the Share Issuance at the Parent Stockholders Meeting.
SECTION 6.3 Access to Information; Confidentiality. Company shall, and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and to Parent's
officers, employees, counsel, financial advisors, financing providers (including
counsel of such financing providers) and other representatives reasonable access
during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to
all its owned and leased properties, books, contracts, commitments, tax returns,
personnel and records and, during such period, Company shall, and shall cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish as promptly as practicable to
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Parent such information concerning its business, properties, financial
condition, operations and personnel as Parent may from time to time reasonably
request. Parent shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to
Company and to Company's officers, employees, counsel, financial advisors and
other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours during the
period prior to the Effective Time to all its books, contracts, commitments, tax
returns, personnel and records and during such period, parent shall, and shall
cause each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish as promptly as practicable to Company
such information concerning its business, properties, financial condition,
operations and personnel as Company may from time to time reasonably request.
Any such investigation by Parent or Company shall not affect the representations
or warranties contained in this Agreement. Except as required by law, Parent and
Company will hold, and will cause their respective directors, officers,
partners, employees, accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other
representatives and affiliates to hold, any non-public information obtained from
the other party in confidence to the extent required by, and in accordance with
the provisions of the letter agreements between Parent and Company with respect
to confidentiality and other matters.
SECTION 6.4 Reasonable Best Efforts. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions and other agreements set forth in this Agreement, each of the parties
agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the
other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate
and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the
satisfaction of the respective conditions set forth in Article VII.
SECTION 6.5 Indemnification; Directors' and Officers Insurance. (a) The
certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation shall
contain the provisions with respect to indemnification set forth in the restated
certificate of incorporation and by-laws of Company on the date of this
Agreement, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified
for a period of six years after the Effective Time in any manner that would
adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who at any time prior to
the Effective Time were directors or officers of Company in respect of actions
or omissions
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occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement), unless such modification is
required by law.
(b) Company shall, and from and after the Effective Time, Parent
shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date
hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, an officer or director of
Company (the "Indemnified Parties") against all losses, claims, damages, costs,
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), liabilities or
judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of the
indemnifying party (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of or in
connection with any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out of
the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of Company whether
pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time
and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or after, the Effective Time
("Indemnified Liabilities"), including all Indemnified Liabilities based in
whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case, to the
full extent a corporation is permitted under the DGCL to indemnify its own
directors or officers, as the case may be, and Parent or the Surviving
Corporation, as the case may be, will pay expenses in advance of the final
disposition of any such action or proceeding to each Indemnified Party to the
full extent permitted by law).
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation is brought against any Indemnified
Parties (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) the
Indemnified Parties may retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to Company (or to
Parent and the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time) and Company (or
after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation) shall pay all
fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties promptly as
statements therefor are received; and (ii) Company (or after the Effective Time,
Parent and the Surviving Corporation) shall use all reasonable efforts to assist
in the vigorous defense of any such matter, provided that neither Company,
Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for any settlement effected
without its
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prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any Indemnified
Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 6.5, upon learning of
any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify Company
(or after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation) (but the
failure so to notify shall not relieve a party from any liability which it may
have under this Section 6.5 except to the extent such failure prejudices such
party), and shall deliver to Company (or after the Effective Time, Parent and
the Surviving Corporation) the undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e) of the
DGCL. The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law firm to
represent them with respect to each such matter unless there is, under
applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any significant
issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified Parties. Company,
Parent and Purchaser agree that all rights to indemnification, including
provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in defense of any action or
suit, existing in favor of the Indemnified Parties with respect to matters
occurring through the Effective Time, shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than six years from
the Effective Time; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in
respect of any Indemnified Liabilities asserted or made within such period shall
continue until the disposition of such Indemnified Liabilities.
(d) For a period of four years after the Effective Time, Parent
shall cause to be maintained in effect the current policies of directors' and
officers' liability insurance maintained by Company (provided that Parent may
substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts
containing terms and conditions that are no less advantageous in any material
respect to the Indemnified Parties) with respect to matters arising before the
Effective Time, provided that Parent shall not be required to pay an annual
premium for such insurance in excess of 200% of the last annual premium paid by
Company prior to the date hereof, but in such case shall purchase as much
coverage as possible for such amount.
(e) The provisions of this Section 6.5 are intended to be for the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her
heirs and his or her personal representatives and shall be binding on all
successors and assigns of Parent, Purchaser, Company and the Surviving
Corporation.
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SECTION 6.6 Public Announcements. Parent and Purchaser, on the one hand,
and Company, on the other hand, will consult with each other before issuing, and
provide each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press
release, SEC filing or other public statements with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, and shall not issue any
such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation,
except as may be required by applicable law, court process or by obligations
pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange.
SECTION 6.7 No Solicitation; Acquisition Proposals. (a) Until the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1, Company shall not,
and shall not authorize or permit any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or
their affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives
(including, without limitation, any investment banker, financial advisor,
attorney or accountant retained by Company or any of its Subsidiaries), to,
directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit or encourage (including by way of
furnishing information or assistance), or take any other action to facilitate,
any inquiries, any expression of interest, or the making of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal
(as defined below), or enter into or maintain or continue discussions or
negotiate with any person in furtherance of such inquiries or to obtain an
Acquisition Proposal or agree to or endorse any Acquisition Proposal; provided,
however, that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Board of Directors of
Company from furnishing information to, or entering into, maintaining or
continuing discussions or negotiations with, any person that makes an
unsolicited Acquisition Proposal after the date hereof, if, and to the extent
that, the Board of Directors of Company, after consultation with and based upon
the advice of independent legal counsel, determines in good faith that (a) such
Acquisition Proposal would be more favorable to Company's stockholders than the
Merger and (b) the failure to take such action would result in a breach by the
Board of Directors of Company of its fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders
under applicable law, and, prior to furnishing any non-public information to
such person, Company receives from such person an executed confidentiality
agreement with provisions no less favorable to Company than the letter agreement
relating to the furnishing of confidential information of Company to Parent
referred to in the last sentence of Section 6.3. Company
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shall promptly notify Parent if it is prepared to provide access to the
properties, books or records of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any person
who has made an Acquisition Proposal, and Company shall at such time inform
Parent of the material terms of any such Acquisition Proposal.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition Proposal" means an
inquiry, offer or proposal regarding any of the following (other than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement with Parent or Purchaser) involving
Company: (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, recapitalization,
business combination or other similar transaction; (ii) any sale, lease,
exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all the assets of Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
in a single transaction or series of related transactions; (iii) any tender
offer or exchange offer for 33-1/3 percent or more of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of Company or the filing of a registration statement under the
Securities Act in connection therewith; or (iv) any public announcement of a
proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any agreement to
engage in any of the foregoing.
(c) Nothing contained in this Section 6.7 shall prohibit Company
from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule
14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to
Company's stockholders which, in the good faith judgment of the Board of
Directors of Company based on the advice of outside counsel, is required under
applicable law.
SECTION 6.8 Consents, Approvals and Filings.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, each of the
parties hereto shall (i) make promptly its respective filings, and thereafter
make any other required submissions, under the HSR Act, the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act, with respect to the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated herein (together, the "Transactions") and (b) use its reasonable
best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do,
or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable
laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the Transactions,
including, without limitation, using its reasonable best efforts to
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obtain all licenses, permits (including, without limitation, Environmental
Permits), consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of
governmental authorities and parties to contracts with Company and its
Subsidiaries as are necessary for the consummation of the Transactions and to
fulfill the conditions to the Merger. In case at any time after the Effective
Time any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of
this Agreement, the proper officers and directors of each party to this
Agreement shall use their reasonable best efforts to take all such action.
(b) Parent hereby agrees to use its best efforts to obtain any
government clearances required for completion of the Merger (including through
compliance with the HSR Act), to respond to any government requests for
information, and to contest and resist any action, including any legislative,
administrative or judicial action, and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or
overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) (an "Order") that restricts, prevents or prohibits the
consummation of the Merger, including, without limitation, by vigorously
pursuing all available avenues of administrative and judicial appeal and all
available legislative action. Parent also hereby agrees to take any and all of
the following actions to the extent necessary to obtain the approval of any
governmental entity with jurisdiction over the enforcement of any applicable
laws regarding the Merger: entering into negotiations; providing information;
substantially complying with any second request for information pursuant to the
HSR Act; entering into and performing agreements or submitting to judicial or
administrative orders and selling or otherwise disposing of, or holding separate
(through the establishment of a trust or otherwise) particular assets or
categories of assets, or businesses of Parent, Company or any of their
affiliates; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent would
not be required hereby to take any such action that would have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving
Corporation) taken as a whole following the Effective Time. The parties hereto
will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the
views of one another, in connection with any analyses, appearances,
presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or
submitted by or in behalf of any party hereto in connection with proceedings
under or relating to
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the HSR Act or any other federal, state or foreign antitrust or fair trade law.
SECTION 6.9 Board Action Relating to Stock Option Plans. As soon as
practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of
Company (or, if appropriate, any committee administering a Stock Option Plan)
shall adopt such resolutions or take such actions as may be required to adjust
the terms of all outstanding Options in accordance with Section 2.2 and shall
make such other changes to Stock Option Plans as it deems appropriate to give
effect to the Merger (subject to the approval of Parent, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld).
SECTION 6.10 Employment and Employee Benefit Matters.
(a) Parent shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries following the
Effective Time (including the Surviving Corporation) to:
(i) honor and provide for payment of all obligations and
benefits under all Company Plans in accordance with their terms;
(ii) provide employee benefits which are substantially
comparable in the aggregate to the level of employee benefits provided by the
Company and its Subsidiaries under the Company ERISA Plans in effect as of the
Closing Date for the benefit of employees or former employees who are or had
been employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on or before the
Closing Date ("Covered Employees"), until the earlier of December 31, 1999 or
the second anniversary of the Closing Date (the "Benefits Maintenance Period");
(iii) honor and provide for the payment of all obligations and
benefits under all employment or severance agreements between the Company and
any Covered Employee in accordance with their terms; and
(iv) provide until the first anniversary of the Closing Date
for the benefit of Covered Employees who remain in the employ of the Surviving
Corporation or Parent or any of its affiliates employee compensation that is in
the aggregate at a level substantially comparable to the compensation (including
base pay and incentive-type compensation) provided by the Company and its
Subsidiaries
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under the compensation arrangements in effect as of the Closing Date.
(b) Parent hereby agrees that the Surviving Corporation shall
maintain the Company's Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan without adverse
change until the
end of the 1997 calendar year.
(c) Parent hereby agrees that the Surviving Corporation shall
continue without adverse change the severance plan maintained by the Company and
its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof until the first anniversary of the
Closing Date.
(d) If Covered Employees are included in any benefit plan (including
without limitation, provision for vacation) of Parent or its Subsidiaries,
Parent agrees that the Covered Employees shall receive credit as employees of
the Company and its Subsidiaries for service prior to the Closing Date with the
Company and its Subsidiaries to the same extent such service was counted under
similar Company Plans for purposes of eligibility, vesting, eligibility for
retirement and, with respect to vacation, disability and severance, benefit
accrual. If Covered Employees are included in any medical, dental or health plan
other than the plan or plans they participated in on the Closing Date, Parent
agrees that any such plans shall not include pre-existing condition exclusions,
except to the extent such exclusions were applicable under the similar Company
Plan on the Closing Date, and shall provide credit for any deductibles and
co-payments applied or made with respect to each Covered Employee in the
calendar year of the change.
(e) The parties acknowledge that nothing herein shall be deemed to
be a commitment on the part of Parent or the Surviving Corporation to provide
employment to any person for any period of time and, except as otherwise
provided in this Section 6.10, nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent Parent
or the Surviving Corporation from amending or terminating any Company Plan in
accordance with its terms.
SECTION 6.11 Affiliates and Certain Stockholders. Prior to the Closing
Date, Company shall deliver to Parent a letter identifying all persons who are,
at the time the Merger is submitted for approval to the stockholders of Company,
"affiliates" of Company for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act.
Company shall use its best efforts
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to cause each such person to deliver to Parent on or prior to the Closing Date a
written agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto. Parent
shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Form S-4 or any other
registration statement under the Securities Act for the purposes of resale of
Parent Common Stock by such affiliates, and the certificates representing Parent
Common Stock received by such affiliates in the Merger shall bear a customary
legend regarding applicable Securities Act restrictions.
SECTION 6.12 NYSE Listing. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be
approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior
to the Closing Date.
SECTION 6.13 Certain Company Indebtedness. At the Closing, (i) Company
shall execute and deliver to the trustee under the Indenture pursuant to which
the Convertible Debentures were issued a supplemental indenture, to become
effective at the Effective Time, providing that the holder of each Convertible
Debenture outstanding immediately following the Effective Time shall have the
right thereafter, during the period such Convertible Debenture shall be
convertible as specified in such Indenture, to convert such Convertible
Debenture only into the amount of cash and Parent Common Stock receivable by
reason of the Merger by a holder of the number of Shares into which such
Convertible Debenture might have been converted immediately prior to the
Effective Time (subject to subsequent adjustment as provided in such Indenture)
and (ii) Parent shall execute and deliver to such trustee, as part of such
supplemental indenture, an undertaking (A) to reserve and keep available out of
its authorized but unissued capital stock, a number of shares of Parent Common
Stock sufficient to permit the conversion of all outstanding Convertible
Debentures and (B) to cause to be issued and delivered to Company for subsequent
delivery by Company in accordance with such supplemental indenture and Indenture
shares of Parent Common Stock upon the conversion of any Convertible Debenture.
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ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
SECTION 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction or written waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approvals. (i) This Agreement shall have been
approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the requisite number of
stockholders of Company in the manner required pursuant to Company's restated
certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the DGCL and other applicable law, and
the rules of the NYSE.
(ii) The Share Issuance shall have been approved by the
affirmative vote of the requisite number of stockholders of Parent in the manner
required pursuant to Parent's restated articles of incorporation and by-laws,
the Texas Business Corporation Act and other applicable law and the rules of the
NYSE.
(b) No Injunctions or Restraints. No temporary restraining order,
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided, however, that the party
invoking this condition shall have complied with its obligations under Section
6.8.
(c) NYSE Listing. The shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to
Company's stockholders pursuant to the Merger shall have been approved for
listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
(d) Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective under
the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order or proceedings
seeking a stop order.
(e) HSR Act. All necessary waiting periods under the HSR Act
applicable to the Merger shall have expired or been terminated.
SECTION 7.2. Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Purchaser.
The obligation of Parent and Purchaser to
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effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or written waiver on or
prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Company contained in this Agreement, which representations and
warranties shall be deemed for purposes of this Section 7.2 not to include any
qualification or limitation with respect to materiality (whether by reference to
"Material Adverse Effect" or otherwise), shall be true and correct as of the
Closing Date, except where the matters in respect of which such representations
and warranties are not true and correct, in the aggregate, has not had or would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on Company, with the same effect as though
such representations and warranties were made as of the Closing Date, and Parent
and Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Company by
an authorized officer of Company to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Company. Company shall have
performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by
it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and Parent and
Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Company by an
authorized officer of Company to such effect.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this Agreement,
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall not have experienced any
change, event or occurrence particular to them (excluding industry, economic,
financial and other matters generally affecting businesses other than and in
addition to Company and its Subsidiaries) that has had or would have a Material
Adverse Effect on Company, other than resulting from any matter disclosed in any
Filed SEC Document or in Section 7.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 7.3. Conditions to Obligation of Company. The obligation of
the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or waiver of
the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of each of Parent and Purchaser contained in this Agreement, which
representations and warranties shall be deemed for purposes of this
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Section 7.3 not to include any qualification or limitation with respect to
materiality (whether by reference to "Material Adverse Effect" or otherwise),
shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date (except where the matters in
respect of which such representations and warranties are not true and correct,
in the aggregate, has not had a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser), with the
same effect as though such representations and warranties were made as of the
Closing Date, and Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of
Parent and Purchaser by an authorized officer of Parent to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Purchaser. Each of
Parent and Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to
the Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on
behalf of Parent by an authorized officer of Parent to such effect.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this Agreement,
Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall not have experienced any
change or occurrence particular to them (excluding industry, economic, financial
and other matters generally affecting businesses other than and in addition to
Parent and its Subsidiaries), that has had or would have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent, other than resulting from any matter disclosed in any Parent
SEC Document or in Section 7.3(c) of the Disclosure Schedule.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 8.1 Termination. (a) This Agreement may be terminated and the
transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the
Effective Time, notwithstanding approval and adoption thereof by the
stockholders of Company, in any one of the following circumstances:
(i) By mutual written consent duly authorized by the Boards
of Directors of Parent and Company.
(ii) By Parent or Company, if, without any material breach by
such terminating party of its obligations
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under this Agreement, the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before
December 31, 1997.
(iii) By Parent or Company, if any federal or state court of
competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity shall have issued an order,
decree or ruling, or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining
or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other
action shall have become final and non-appealable, provided that neither party
may terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause (iii) if it has not
complied with its obligations under Section 6.8.
(iv) By Parent or Company, if the Company Stockholders Meeting
shall have been held and this Agreement shall not have been approved and adopted
by the affirmative vote of the requisite number of stockholders of Company.
(v) By Company, if it shall have received an Acquisition
Proposal and shall have advised Parent in writing that Company's Board of
Directors, after consultation with and based upon the advice of independent
legal counsel, determined in good faith that failure to accept such Acquisition
Proposal would result in a breach by the Board of Directors of Company of its
fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under applicable law; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall not be terminated pursuant to this Section
8.1(a)(v) unless simultaneously with the termination Company shall have made the
payment to Parent of the Fee required to be paid pursuant to Section 8.1(b).
(vi) By Parent, if the Board of Directors of Company shall
have (1) withdrawn, modified or amended in any adverse respect its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated hereby, (2) approved, endorsed or recommended to its stockholders
an Acquisition Proposal or (3) resolved to do any of the foregoing.
(vii) By Parent or Company, if (A) the other party shall have
failed to comply in any material respect with any of the material covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement to be complied with or performed by such
party at or prior to such date of termination, and such failure continues for 20
business days after the actual receipt by such party of a written notice from
the other party setting forth in detail the nature of such failure, or
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(B) a representation or warranty of the other party contained in this Agreement
shall have been untrue in any respect on the date when made (or in the case of
any representations and warranties that are made as of a different date, as of
such different date) and the matters in respect of which such representation or
warranty shall have been untrue has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect
on such other party.
(viii) By Company pursuant to Section 2.1(e) hereof.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to:
(i) Section 8.1(a)(v), or
(ii) Section 8.1(a)(vi);
then, in such event, Company shall pay to Parent prior to such termination, if
such termination is pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(v), or promptly (but in no event
later than three business days after the first of such events shall have
occurred), if such termination is pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(vi), a fee of
Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) (the "Fee"), which amount shall be payable
in immediately available funds and upon payment of such Fee Company shall be
fully released and discharged from any liability or obligation resulting from or
under this Agreement.
SECTION 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination and
abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(a) hereof, this Agreement
(except for the provisions of the last sentence of Section 6.3, and Sections
4.1(m), 4.2(h), 6.6, this Section 8.2, Article IX and paragraph (b) of Section
8.1) shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on
the part of any party hereto or its directors, officers or stockholders;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8.2 shall relieve any party to
this Agreement of liability for any willful or intentional breach of this
Agreement.
SECTION 8.3 Amendment. Subject to the applicable provisions of the DGCL,
at any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto may modify or amend
this Agreement, by written agreement executed and delivered by duly authorized
officers of the respective parties; provided, however, that after approval and
adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Company, no amendment shall be
made
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which would reduce the amount or change the type of consideration into which
each Share or Preferred Share shall be converted upon consummation of the
Merger. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of the parties.
SECTION 8.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
the parties may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in
the representations and warranties of the other parties contained in this
Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) subject
to Section 8.3, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the
other parties contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party
to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party
to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise
shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
SECTION 8.5 Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver. A
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, an amendment of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.3 or an extension or waiver pursuant to Section
8.4 shall, in order to be effective, require in the case of Parent, Purchaser or
Company, action by its Board of Directors or the duly authorized designee of its
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the
representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered
pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This Section 9.1
shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms
contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
SECTION 9.2 Fees and Expenses. Except as provided otherwise in Section
8.1(b), whether or not the Merger shall be consummated, each party hereto shall
pay its own expenses incident to preparing for, entering into and carrying out
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
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contemplated hereby, other than the expenses incurred in connection with
printing and mailing proxy materials to stockholders, which shall be shared
equally by Parent and Company. The Surviving Corporation shall pay any and all
property or transfer taxes imposed on the Surviving Corporation or the
stockholders of the Company by reason of the Merger.
SECTION 9.3 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement: (a) an
"affiliate" of any person means another person that directly or indirectly,
through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such first person;
(b) "business day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any
other day on which banks in the City of New York are required or permitted to
close;
(c) "knowledge" means the actual knowledge of any executive officer
of Company or Parent, as the case may be;
(d) "Liens" means, collectively, all pledges, claims, liens,
charges, mortgages, conditional sale or title retention agreements,
hypothecations, collateral assignments, security interests, easements and other
encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever;
(e) a "Material Adverse Effect" with respect to any person means a
material adverse effect on (i) the ability of such person to perform its
obligations hereunder or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii)
the condition (financial or otherwise), assets, business, liabilities (actual or
contingent) or operations of such person and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(f) the "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange;
(g) a "person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity; and
(h) a "Subsidiary" of any person means any other person of which (i)
the first mentioned person or any Subsidiary thereof is a general partner, (ii)
voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing
similar functions with respect to such other person is held by the first
mentioned person and/or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) at
least 50% of
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the equity interests of such other person is, directly or indirectly, owned or
controlled by such first mentioned person and/or by any one or more of its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION 9.4 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of
delivery) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address
for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(i) if to Parent, to
Pillowtex Corporation
4111 Mint Way
Dallas, Texas 75237
Attention: John H. Karnes, Jr., Esq.
Telecopy: (214) 467-0823
with a copy (which shall not constitute
notice) to:
Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
2300 Trammell Crow Center
2001 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Mark E. Betzen, Esq.
Telecopy: (214) 969-5100
(ii) if to Company, to
Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc.
One Lake Circle Drive
Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081
Attention: Mark R. Townsend, Esq.
Telecopy: (704) 939-4623
with a copy (which shall not constitute
notice) to:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Attention: Dennis J. Block, Esq.
Telecopy: (212) 310-8007
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SECTION 9.5 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
a Section or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section of, or a Schedule
to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever
the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation".
SECTION 9.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties.
SECTION 9.7 Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter of this Agreement (except for the letter agreements referenced in
the last sentence of Section 6.3). This Agreement is not intended to confer upon
any person (including, without limitation, any employees of Company), other than
the parties hereto and the third party beneficiaries referred to in the
following sentence, any rights or remedies. The parties hereto expressly intend
the provisions of Sections 6.5 and 6.10 to confer a benefit upon and be
enforceable by, as third party beneficiaries of this Agreement, the third
persons referred to in, or intended to be benefitted by, such provisions.
SECTION 9.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.
SECTION 9.9 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in
part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties without the prior
written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment that is not
consented to shall be null and void, except that Parent and/or Purchaser may
assign this Agreement to any direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent without
the prior consent of Company; provided that Parent
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shall remain liable for all of its obligations and all obligations of any of its
Subsidiaries or any of its assignees under this Agreement. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit
of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.
SECTION 9.10 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States
located in the State of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to
which they are entitled at law or in equity.
SECTION 9.11 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of
any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.
[signature page follows]
57
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Purchaser and Company have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first written above.
PILLOWTEX CORPORATION
By: /s/Charles M. Hansen, Jr.
-----------------------------------
Name: Charles M. Hansen, Jr.
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
PEGASUS MERGER SUB, INC.
By: /s/Charles M. Hansen, Jr.
-----------------------------------
Name: Charles M. Hansen, Jr.
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
FIELDCREST CANNON, INC.
By: /s/James M. Fitzgibbons
-----------------------------------
Name: James M. Fitzgibbons
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
58
EXHIBIT 99.1
------------
CONTACTS:
FOR PILLOWTEX CORPORATION FOR FIELDCREST CANNON, INC.
Investor Contact: T. R. Staab
Mark Kirkpatrick Vice President and
Treasurer Chief Financial Officer
(214) 333-3225 Ext. 618 (704) 939-4600
Media Contact: R. E. Reece
Joele Frank / Dan Katcher Vice President Human Resources
Abernathy/MacGregor Group (704) 939-2290
(212) 371-5999
PILLOWTEX TO ACQUIRE FIELDCREST CANNON IN
TRANSACTION
VALUED IN EXCESS OF $700 MILLION
COMBINATION CREATES ONE OF INDUSTRY'S LARGEST HOME TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS
Dallas, Texas, and Kannapolis, North Carolina, September 11, 1997 -- Pillowtex
Corporation (NYSE: PTX) and Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. (NYSE: FLD) announced today
that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Pillowtex will
acquire Fieldcrest Cannon for a combination of cash and Pillowtex stock. The
total transaction value is in excess of $700 million, including the refinancing
of approximately $200 million of Fieldcrest Cannon debt. This combination
creates one of the industry's largest home textile manufacturers with annual
sales in excess of $1.5 billion and a portfolio of many of the best recognized
brands in the industry.
Under the agreement, each common share of Fieldcrest Cannon would be exchanged
for $27.00 in cash and $7.00 in Pillowtex common stock and each preferred share
of Fieldcrest Cannon would be exchanged for $46.15 in cash and $11.97 in
Pillowtex common stock, for a total equity value of about $400 million. This
represents a premium of 55% over the $21.89 average closing price of Fieldcrest
Cannon common stock for the 90-trading days through September 9, 1997. The
acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase and is anticipated to be
accretive to Pillowtex's earnings per share in 1998.
Charles M. Hansen, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pillowtex, said,
"The combination of Pillowtex and Fieldcrest Cannon creates a true one-stop shop
for
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home textiles that will bring together Fieldcrest Cannon's pre-eminent bed and
bath product lines with Pillowtex's premiere 'top-of-the-bed' products. United,
we will be able to use our extensive distribution networks to offer retailers a
broad array of products available at all price points. By combining Fieldcrest
Cannon's industry- leading brands such as Royal Velvet(R), Cannon(R), Touch of
Class(R), and Charisma(R) with Pillowtex's Ralph Lauren, Disney and Martha
Stewart products, we will strengthen our ability to cross merchandise all bed
and bath product offerings. We believe the market opportunities of this
combination are significant, as are the benefits to shareholders of both
companies."
Jeffrey D. Cordes, President and Chief Operating Officer of Pillowtex, said,
"Pillowtex has consistently delivered results to its shareholders. The
combination with Fieldcrest Cannon produces the opportunity for significant
market, operating and financial synergies which should result in enhanced cash
flows and net income. This will allow us to service our debt while continuing to
make capital investments designed to improve our operating efficiencies and add
to our profitability. Moreover, the additional shares issued in connection with
the transaction will increase our market capitalization and improve liquidity
for our shareholders. The combination is expected to result in substantial
annual cost savings which would be realized from the elimination of duplicate
corporate and administrative programs, greater efficiencies in operations and
business processes, and lower material costs through combined purchasing
programs.
"Pillowtex and Fieldcrest Cannon have established practices of reinvestment in
plant and equipment to modernize their operations," Mr. Cordes commented.
"Fieldcrest Cannon has several outstanding facilities including a brand-new,
state-of-the-art towel production facility which will complement Pillowtex's
modern pillow operations and newly upgraded blanket weaving facilities. We plan
on continuing Fieldcrest Cannon's capital investment plan which we believe
should significantly increase profitability in our industry-leading position."
"Pillowtex is no stranger to the Carolinas where we operate seven facilities and
have almost 2,000 employees. Pillowtex has historically had among the highest
rates of sales per employee in the industry. Fieldcrest Cannon employees have a
solid reputation in our industry and we welcome them to the Pillowtex family,"
said Mr. Hansen. "This combination will allow us to review both companies'
operations and institute the best practices of each company across the combined
entity. All union contracts will be honored. Fieldcrest Cannon will become a
subsidiary of Pillowtex. Pillowtex's headquarters will remain in Dallas with a
significant operating presence in Kannapolis."
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James M. Fitzgibbons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fieldcrest Cannon,
said, "The efforts of our management and employees to enhance the performance of
Fieldcrest Cannon has created exceptional value for our shareholders. By joining
with Pillowtex, our shareholders will receive a premium price for their shares
and will also be able to participate in the upside potential of a newly created
industry leader. The breadth and quality of our combined product lines, backed
by the expertise of both companies' talented managers will serve our customers,
employees and shareholders well."
Pillowtex intends to finance the acquisition, in part, with borrowings under a
new senior bank facility to be provided by NationsBank of Texas N.A., the
incurrence of additional debt, as well as a $65 million convertible preferred
stock investment provided by certain affiliates of Apollo Management L.P.
Leon D. Black, founding partner of Apollo Management L.P., stated, "The
Pillowtex/Fieldcrest Cannon transaction creates a unique franchise in home
textiles. The merger combines the best management teams in the industry with the
best brand names in the home fashion textile market. We are very pleased with
our investment in Pillowtex."
Under the agreement, for each Fieldcrest Cannon common share, the number of
Pillowtex common shares will not be more than 0.333 or less than 0.269 and, for
each Fieldcrest Cannon preferred share, the number of Pillowtex common shares
will not be more than 0.569 or less than 0.460, unless the average closing price
of Pillowtex common stock is less than $21.00, in which case Pillowtex may elect
to increase the amount of cash and/or Pillowtex common shares, such that the
value of the consideration to be paid for each Fieldcrest Cannon common share is
$34.00 and the value of the consideration to be paid for each Fieldcrest Cannon
preferred share is $58.12. If an election is not made, Fieldcrest Cannon may
terminate the agreement. The actual number of Pillowtex common shares to be paid
as merger consideration will be determined by the average closing price of
Pillowtex common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding
the 5th day prior to the close of the merger.
The merger is conditioned upon, among other things, the approval of each
company's shareholders and customary regulatory clearances, and is expected to
be completed by the end of 1997.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. acted as financial advisor and provided a fairness
opinion to Pillowtex. Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation acted as financial
advisor and provided a fairness opinion to Fieldcrest Cannon.
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Pillowtex Corporation, with annual sales in excess of $500 million, markets and
manufactures top-of-the-bed home textile furnishings. The Company operates a
network of manufacturing, purchasing and distribution facilities in the U.S. and
Canada, with approximately 4,000 employees.
Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc., with annual sales in excess of $1 billion, is
headquartered in Kannapolis, North Carolina, markets and manufacturers bath and
bedding home textile products. Fieldcrest Cannon operates a network of
manufacturing, purchasing and distribution facilities, with approximately 11,000
employees.
Apollo is a private investment partnership which has invested in excess of $7
billion since 1990 in a variety of real estate and corporate transactions.
# # #
Information contained in this release with respect to the expected financial
impact of the proposed merger is forward-looking. These statements represent the
companies' reasonable judgment with respect to future events and are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
Such factors include, but are not limited to, material adverse changes in
economic and competitive conditions in the markets served by the companies,
material adverse changes in the business and financial condition of either or
both companies and their respective customers, uncertainties concerning
technological changes and future product performance, and substantial delay in
the expected closing of the merger.
4
