<PAGE>
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Schedule TO
Tender Offer Statement under Section
14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
American Precision Industries Inc.
(Name of Subject Company)
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
Danaher Corporation
(Name of Filing Person--Offeror)
Common Stock, Par Value $0.66 2/3 Per Share
Preferred Share Purchase Rights
(Title of Class of Securities)
029069 10 1
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Patrick W. Allender
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Danaher Corporation
1250 24th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
Telephone: (202) 828-0850
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)
Copy to:
Trevor S. Norwitz, Esq.
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Telephone: (212) 403-1000
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE
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Transaction Valuation* Amount of Filing Fee
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$204,505,301 $40,902
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* Based on the offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock
of API at a purchase price of $19.25 cash per share and 7,300,000 shares
issued and outstanding, outstanding options with respect to 1,725,818
shares, outstanding warrants with respect to 59,231 shares and Series B
preferred shares convertible into 1,538,603 shares, in each case as of
February 18, 2000.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid.
Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form
or Schedule and the date of its filing.
Amount Previously Paid: None.
Form or Registration No.: Not applicable.
Filing Party: Not applicable.
Date Filed: Not applicable.
[_] Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications
made before the commencement of a tender offer.
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the
statement relates:
[X]third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.
[_]issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.
[_]going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.
[_]amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the
results of the tender offer: [_]
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Page 1 of 4 Pages
Exhibit Index begins on Page 4
<PAGE>
This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO is filed by Danaher Corporation,
a Delaware corporation ("Danaher"), and Alpha Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher (the "Purchaser"). This
Schedule TO relates to the offer by the Purchaser to purchase all outstanding
shares of common stock, par value $0.66 2/3 per share, including associated
preferred share purchase rights (the "Shares"), of American Precision
Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation ("API") at $19.25 per Share, net to the
seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Offer to Purchase, dated February 24, 2000 (the "Offer to Purchase") and in the
related Letter of Transmittal, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits
(a)(1) and (a)(2), respectively (which, together with any amendments or
supplements thereto, collectively constitute the "Offer"). The information set
forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter of Transmittal is
incorporated herein by reference with respect to Items 1 through 9 and 11 of
this Schedule TO. The Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 15,
2000, among API, Danaher and the Purchaser, a copy of which is attached hereto
as Exhibit (d)(1) hereto, the Confidentiality Agreement, dated September 20,
1999, between Danaher and API, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (d)(2)
hereto, the Support Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, among Mr. Holger
Hjelm, Danaher and API, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (d)(3) hereto,
the Support Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, between Mr. Kurt
Wiedenhaupt and Danaher, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (d)(4) hereto,
and the Consulting Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, between Mr.
Wiedenhaupt and Danaher, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (d)(5) hereto,
are incorporated herein by reference with respect to Items 5 and 11 of Schedule
TO.
Item 3. Identity and Background of Filing Person.
None of Danaher, the Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of such
corporations, any of the persons listed on Schedule I to the Offer of Purchase,
has during the last five years (i) been convicted in a criminal proceeding
(excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) been a party to
any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters that were
dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree
or final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting
activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any
violation of such laws.
Item 10. Financial Statements of Certain Bidders.
Not applicable.
Item 12. Exhibits.
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(a)(1) Offer to Purchase, dated February 24, 2000.
(a)(2) Form of Letter of Transmittal.
(a)(3) Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
(a)(4) Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies
and Other Nominees.
(a)(5) Form of Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial
Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(6) Text of joint press release issued by Danaher and API dated February
15, 2000.
(a)(7) Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
Substitute Form W-9.
(a)(8) Form of summary advertisement dated February 24, 2000.
(d)(1) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 15, 2000, between
Danaher, the Purchaser and API.
(d)(2) Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of September 20, 1999, between
Danaher and API.
(d)(3) Support Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, among Holger Hjelm,
Danaher and API.
(d)(4) Support Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, between Kurt
Wiedenhaupt and Danaher.
(d)(5) Consulting Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, between Kurt
Wiedenhaupt and Danaher.
(g) None.
(h) Not applicable.
</TABLE>
Item 13. Information Required by Schedule 13E-3.
Not applicable.
2
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SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that
the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: February 24, 2000
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
/s/ Patrick W. Allender
By __________________________________
Name: Patrick W. Allender
Title: Vice President
Danaher Corporation
/s/ Patrick W. Allender
By __________________________________
Name: Patrick W. Allender
Title: Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
3
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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(a)(1) Offer to Purchase, dated February 24, 2000.
(a)(2) Form of Letter of Transmittal.
(a)(3) Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
(a)(4) Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies
and Other Nominees.
(a)(5) Form of Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial
Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(6) Text of joint press release issued by Danaher and API dated February
15, 2000.
(a)(7) Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
Substitute Form W-9.
(a)(8) Form of summary advertisement dated February 24, 2000.
(d)(1) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 15, 2000, between
Danaher, the Purchaser and API.
(d)(2) Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of September 20, 1999, between
Danaher and API.
(d)(3) Support Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, among Holger Hjelm,
Danaher and API.
(d)(4) Support Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, between Kurt
Wiedenhaupt and Danaher.
(d)(5) Consulting Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, between Kurt
Wiedenhaupt and Danaher.
(g) None.
(h) Not applicable.
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4
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EXHIBIT (a)(1)
Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
of
American Precision Industries Inc.
by
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
a wholly-owned subsidiary
of
Danaher Corporation
at
$19.25 Net Per Share
The offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 12:00 midnight,
New York City time, on Wednesday, March 22, 2000, unless the offer is extended.
A summary of the principal terms of the offer appears on pages (ii) through
(iii). You should read this entire document carefully before deciding whether
to tender your shares.
The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
ING Barings LLC
February 24, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Summary of the Offer...................................................... ii
Introduction.............................................................. 1
1. Terms of the Offer................................................... 2
2. Acceptance for Payment and Payment................................... 4
3. Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares.............. 5
4. Withdrawal Rights.................................................... 7
5. Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences........................ 8
6. Price Range of the Shares; Dividends................................. 8
7. Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; NYSE
Listing; Securities Exchange Act Registration; Margin Regulations... 9
8. Information Concerning API........................................... 10
9. Information Concerning Danaher and the Purchaser..................... 11
10. Background of the Offer; Contacts with API........................... 12
11. Purpose of the Offer; the Merger Agreement; the Support Agreements;
the Consulting Agreement; Statutory Requirements; Appraisal Rights;
Plans for API; "Going Private" Transactions......................... 13
12. Source and Amount of Funds........................................... 22
13. Dividends and Distributions.......................................... 22
14. Conditions of the Offer.............................................. 22
15. Legal Matters; Required Regulatory Approvals......................... 24
16. Fees and Expenses.................................................... 26
17. Miscellaneous........................................................ 27
</TABLE>
Schedule I--Directors and Executive Officers of Danaher and the Purchaser
i
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SUMMARY OF THE OFFER
Principal terms
. Danaher Corporation, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, is offering to
buy all outstanding shares of American Precision Industries Inc. common
stock. The tender price is $19.25 per share in cash. Tendering
stockholders will not have to pay brokerage fees or commissions. Danaher
has agreed with the owner of all of API's Series B Seven Percent (7%)
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock that such shares shall be
tendered into the offer for conversion into API common stock and
purchased in the offer, provided, however, that such owner may give an
instruction to the Purchaser not to convert such Series B Preferred
Shares until Danaher makes payment for the Series B Preferred Shares.
. The offer is the first step in our plan to acquire all of the
outstanding API shares, as provided in our merger agreement with API. If
the offer is successful, we will acquire any remaining API shares in a
later merger for $19.25 per share in cash. The stockholders of API will
have appraisal rights in the merger.
. The initial offering period of the offer will expire at 12:00 midnight,
New York City time, on March 22, 2000, unless we extend the offer.
. If we decide to extend the offer, we will issue a press release giving
the new expiration date no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on
the first business day after the previously scheduled expiration of the
offer.
API board recommendation
. The board of directors of API has approved the offer and the merger, has
determined that the offer and the merger are in the best interests of
API and its stockholders, and recommends that stockholders of API accept
the offer and tender their API shares.
Conditions
We are not required to complete the offer unless:
. we receive U.S. federal antitrust clearance and approval from certain
European governments for the offer,
. at least a majority of the outstanding API common shares and all the API
Series B Preferred Shares are validly tendered and not withdrawn prior
to the expiration of the offer.
Other conditions to the offer are described at pages 22 through 24. The
offer is not conditioned on Danaher obtaining financing.
Procedures for tendering
If you wish to accept the offer, this is what you must do:
. If you are a record holder (i.e., a stock certificate has been issued to
you), you must complete and sign the enclosed letter of transmittal and
send it with your stock certificate to the depositary for the offer or
follow the procedures described in the offer for book-entry transfer.
These materials must reach the depositary before the offer expires.
Detailed instructions are contained in the letter of transmittal and on
pages 5 through 7 of this document.
. If you are a record holder but your stock certificate is not available
or you cannot deliver it to the depositary before the offer expires, you
may be able to tender your shares using the enclosed notice of
guaranteed delivery. Please call our information agent, D.F. King & Co.,
Inc., at 800-994-3227 for assistance. See pages 6 through 7 for further
details.
. If you hold your API shares through a broker or bank, you should contact
your broker or bank and give instructions that your API shares be
tendered.
ii
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Withdrawal rights
. If, after tendering your API shares in the offer, you decide that you do
not want to accept the offer, you can withdraw your API shares by
instructing the depositary before the offer expires. If you tendered by
giving instructions to a broker or bank, you must instruct the broker or
bank to arrange for the withdrawal of your API shares. See pages 7
through 8 for further details.
Subsequent offering period
. We may give stockholders who do not tender in the offer another
opportunity to tender at the same price in a subsequent offering period.
. Any subsequent offering period will begin on the day we announce that we
have purchased API shares in the offer and last for at least three
business days. We may extend the subsequent offering period, but it will
not last more than 20 business days in total.
. There would be no withdrawal rights in any subsequent offering period.
Recent API trading prices; subsequent trading
. The closing price for API common shares was:
$11.44 per share on February 15, 2000, the last trading day before we
announced the merger agreement with API, and
$18.94 per share on February 23, 2000, the last trading day before the
printing of these materials.
Before deciding whether to tender, you should obtain a current market
quotation for the shares.
. If the offer is successful, we expect the API shares to continue to be
traded on the New York Stock Exchange until the time of the merger,
although we expect trading volume to be below its pre-offer level.
Further information
. If you have questions about the offer, you can call:
Our Information Agent:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
Banks and Brokers Call Collect: (212) 269-5550
All others call Toll Free: (800) 994-3227
Our Dealer Manager:
ING Barings LLC
Call Collect: (212) 409-6763
iii
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To: All Holders of Shares of
Common Stock of API
INTRODUCTION
Alpha Acquisition I Corp. (the "Purchaser"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Danaher Corporation ("Danaher") is offering to purchase all outstanding shares
of common stock of American Precision Industries Inc. ("API"), together with
the associated preferred share purchase rights issued pursuant to the Amended
and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1999, between API and
American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc., as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agreement"), at a purchase price of $19.25 per share, net to the seller in
cash, without interest, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which together
constitute the "Offer"). "Share" means a share of API common stock, together
with the associated preferred share purchase rights. The "Offer" includes any
subsequent offering period, as described in Section 1. By agreement with the
shareholder owning all outstanding shares of API Series B Seven Percent (7%)
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series B Preferred Shares"), Danaher
and such shareholder have agreed that all Series B Preferred Shares shall be
tendered into the Offer by such shareholder for conversion into Shares and
purchased in the Offer, provided, however, that such shareholder may give
instructions to the Purchaser not to convert such Series B Preferred Shares
until Danaher makes payment for the Series B Preferred Shares pursuant to the
Offer.
You will not be required to pay brokerage fees or commissions or, except as
described in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes
on the purchase of Shares in the Offer. However, if you do not complete and
sign the Substitute Form W-9 that is included in the Letter of Transmittal, you
may be subject to a required backup U.S. federal income tax withholding of 31%
of the gross proceeds payable to you. See Section 3. We will pay all charges
and expenses of ING Barings LLC, as Dealer Manager (the "Dealer Manager"),
SunTrust Bank, as Depositary (the "Depositary"), and D.F. King & Co., Inc., as
Information Agent (the "Information Agent"), incurred in connection with the
Offer. See Section 16.
The Board of Directors of API (the "API Board") has determined by the
unanimous vote of all directors present and voting on the Offer and the Merger
that the price to be paid for each Share in the Offer and the Merger (as
defined herein) is fair to the stockholders of API and that the Offer and the
Merger are otherwise in the best interests of API and API stockholders, and
recommends that API stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Shares.
We are not required to purchase any Shares unless at least a majority of the
outstanding Shares (assuming exercise of all outstanding stock options and
warrants) and all of the Series B Preferred Shares are validly tendered and not
withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer (the "Minimum Condition"). We
reserve the right (subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and to the prior written consent
of API), which we presently have no intention of exercising, to waive or reduce
the Minimum Condition and to elect to purchase a smaller number of Shares. The
Offer is also subject to certain other terms and conditions. See Sections 1, 14
and 15.
We are making the Offer under the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
February 15, 2000, among API, Danaher and the Purchaser (the "Merger
Agreement"). Following the consummation of the Offer and the satisfaction or
waiver of certain conditions, API will merge with the Purchaser (the "Merger"),
with API continuing as the surviving corporation. In the Merger, each
outstanding Share that is not owned by us (other than Shares held by API
stockholders who perfect their appraisal rights under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL")) will be converted into the right to
receive $19.25 net in cash, or any higher price paid per Share in the Offer
(the "Merger Consideration"). Section 11 contains a more detailed description
of the Merger Agreement. Section 5 describes the principal U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the sale of Shares in the Offer and the Merger.
<PAGE>
McDonald Investments Inc. ("McDonald"), API's financial advisor, has
delivered to the API Board a written opinion that, as of the date of the Merger
Agreement, the per Share consideration to be received by API stockholders in
the Offer is fair to API stockholders from a financial point of view. A copy of
the opinion of McDonald is included with API's Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-9"), which is being mailed with
this document, and API stockholders are urged to read the opinion in its
entirety for a description of the assumptions made, matters considered and
limitations of the review undertaken by McDonald.
Approval of the Merger requires the affirmative vote of holders of a
majority of the outstanding Shares. As a result, if the Minimum Condition and
the other conditions to the Offer are satisfied and the Offer is completed, we
will own a sufficient number of Shares to ensure that the Merger will be
approved by API stockholders. See Section 11.
API has advised us that, to its knowledge, all of its executive officers and
directors intend to tender all Shares that they own of record or beneficially
in the Offer (other than Shares that they have the right to purchase by
exercising stock options and Shares, if any, that, if tendered, would cause
them to incur liability under the short-swing profits provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Danaher also has entered into
support agreements with Mr. Kurt Wiedenhaupt, President and Chief Executive
Officer of API (the "Wiedenhaupt Support Agreement") who, as of February 14,
2000, owned 22,072 Shares and Mr. Holger Hjelm, a director of API (the "Hjelm
Support Agreement") who, as of February 14, 2000, controls 1,236,337 Series B
Preferred Shares, convertible as of that date into 1,538,603 Shares, whereby
those individuals have agreed to tender their Shares or, in the case of Mr.
Hjelm, Series B Preferred Shares, pursuant to the Offer, and vote in favor of
the Merger at any meeting of API stockholders.
API has informed us that, as of February 18, 2000, there were 6,889,322
Shares issued and outstanding and 1,785,048 Shares reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants.
The Offer is conditioned upon the fulfillment of the conditions described in
Section 14. The initial offering period of the Offer will expire at 12:00
midnight, New York City time, on Wednesday, March 22, 2000, unless we extend
it.
This Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal contain
important information which you should read carefully before you make any
decision with respect to the Offer.
1. Terms of the Offer.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the
Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any extension or
amendment), we will purchase all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3 on or prior to the
Expiration Date. "Expiration Date" means 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on
Wednesday, March 22, 2000, unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the period
of time for which the initial offering period of the Offer is open, in which
case Expiration Date will mean the time and date at which the initial offering
period of the Offer, as so extended, will expire.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, we will purchase,
as soon as permitted under the terms of the Offer, all Shares validly tendered
and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer. If, at the Expiration
Date, the conditions to the Offer described in Section 14 have not been
satisfied or earlier waived, then, subject to the provisions of the Merger
Agreement, we may extend the Expiration Date for an additional period or
periods of time by giving oral or written notice of the extension to the
Depositary. During any such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not
withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer and subject to your right to
withdraw Shares. See Section 4.
Subject to the applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and the terms of the Merger Agreement, we also reserve
the right, in our sole discretion, at any time or from time to time, to (a)
delay purchase of, or, regardless of whether we previously purchased any
Shares, payment for, any Shares, pending receipt of any regulatory or
governmental approvals specified in Section 15; (b) terminate the Offer
(whether or not any Shares have previously been purchased) if any condition
referred to in Section 14 has
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not been satisfied or upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 14;
and (c) except as set forth in the Merger Agreement, waive any condition or
otherwise amend the Offer in any respect, in each case, by giving oral or
written notice of the delay, termination, waiver or amendment to the Depositary
and, other than in the case of any waiver, by making a public announcement of
that waiver. We acknowledge (a) that Rule 14e-1(c) under the Securities
Exchange Act requires us to pay the consideration offered or return the Shares
tendered promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer and (b) that
we may not delay purchase of, or payment for (except as provided in clause (a)
of the preceding sentence), any Shares upon the occurrence of any Event
specified (and defined) in Section 14 without extending the period of time
during which the Offer is open.
The rights we reserve in the preceding paragraph are in addition to our
rights pursuant to Section 14. Any extension, delay, termination or amendment
of the Offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public
announcement. An announcement, in the case of an extension, will be made no
later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the
previously scheduled Expiration Date. Without limiting the manner in which we
may choose to make any public announcement, subject to applicable law
(including Rules 14d-4(d) and 14d-6(c) promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act, which require that material changes be promptly disseminated to
holders of Shares), we will have no obligation to publish, advertise or
otherwise communicate any such public announcement other than by issuing a
release to the Dow Jones News Service.
As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, the associated preferred share
purchase rights do not trade separately. Accordingly, by tendering Shares, you
are automatically tendering a similar number of preferred share purchase
rights. If, however, the preferred share purchase rights detach and separate
right certificates are issued, tendering stockholders will be required to
deliver rights certificates with the shares.
If we make a material change in the terms of the Offer, or if we waive a
material condition to the Offer, we will extend the Offer and disseminate
additional tender offer materials to the extent required by Rules 14d-4(d),
14d-6(c) and 14e-1 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act. The minimum
period during which a tender offer must remain open following material changes
in the terms of the offer, other than a change in price or a change in
percentage of securities sought, depends upon the facts and circumstances,
including the materiality of the changes. In the SEC's view, an offer should
remain open for a minimum of five business days from the date the material
change is first published, sent or given to stockholders, and, if material
changes are made with respect to information that approaches the significance
of price and the percentage of securities sought, a minimum of ten business
days may be required to allow for adequate dissemination and investor response.
With respect to a change in price, a minimum ten business day period from the
date of the change is generally required to allow for adequate dissemination to
stockholders. Accordingly, if, prior to the Expiration Date, we decrease the
number of Shares being sought, or increase or decrease the consideration
offered pursuant to the Offer, and if the Offer is scheduled to expire at any
time earlier than the period ending on the tenth business day from the date
that notice of the increase or decrease is first published, sent or given to
holders of Shares, we will extend the Offer at least until the expiration of
that period of ten business days. For purposes of the Offer, a "business day"
means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a U.S. federal holiday and
consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight, New York
City time.
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the satisfaction of the
Minimum Condition.
Consummation of the Offer is also conditioned upon expiration or termination
of all waiting periods imposed by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the "HSR Act"), and
the other conditions set forth in Section 14. We reserve the right (but are not
obligated), in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
with the Merger Agreement, to waive any or all of those conditions. If, by the
Expiration Date, any or all of those conditions have not been satisfied, we
may, in the exercise of our good faith judgment, elect to (a) extend the Offer
and, subject to applicable withdrawal rights, retain all tendered Shares until
the expiration of the Offer, as extended, subject to the terms of the Offer and
the Merger Agreement; (b) waive all of the unsatisfied conditions (other than
the Minimum Condition) and, subject to complying with applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, accept for
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payment all Shares so tendered; or (c) terminate the Offer and not accept for
payment any Shares and return all tendered Shares to tendering API
stockholders. In the event that we waive any condition set forth in Section 14,
the SEC may, if the waiver is deemed to constitute a material change to the
information previously provided to API stockholders, require that the Offer
remain open for an additional period of time and/or that we disseminate
information concerning such waiver.
In the Merger Agreement, we have agreed that, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions to the Offer, we will accept for payment and pay for, all Shares
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer as
promptly as practicable after expiration of the Offer.
API has provided us with its stockholder lists and security position
listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to holders of Shares. We
will mail this Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other
relevant materials to record holders of Shares, and we will furnish the
materials to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar
persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the security
holder lists or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing
agency's security position listing, for forwarding to beneficial owners of
Shares.
Subsequent Offering Period. We reserve the right (but are not obligated), in
accordance with the Merger Agreement and applicable rules and regulations of
the SEC, to provide a subsequent offering period of three business days to 20
business days after the expiration of the initial offering period of the Offer
and our purchase of Shares tendered in the Offer. A subsequent offering period
would give API stockholders who do not tender in the initial offering period of
the Offer another opportunity to tender their Shares and receive the same offer
price. If we elect to provide a subsequent offering period, we will disseminate
additional tender offer materials.
Series B Preferred Shares. By agreement between Danaher and Mr. Hjelm, a
director of API who controls the shareholder owning all outstanding shares of
Series B Preferred Shares, Mr. Hjelm has agreed to cause all such shares of
Series B Preferred Shares to be tendered into the Offer for conversion into
Shares and purchase in the Offer. It is a condition to the Offer that all of
such shares of Series B Preferred Shares be tendered into the Offer and not
withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date.
2. Acceptance for Payment and Payment.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if we
extend or amend the Offer, the terms and conditions of the Offer as so extended
or amended), we will purchase, by accepting for payment, and will pay for, all
Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn (as permitted by Section 4) prior to
the Expiration Date promptly after the later of (a) the Expiration Date and (b)
the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Offer set forth in Section
14. In addition, subject to applicable rules of the SEC, we reserve the right
to delay acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Shares pending receipt of
any regulatory or governmental approvals specified in Section 15.
For information with respect to approvals that we are required to obtain
prior to the completion of the Offer, including under the HSR Act and other
laws and regulations, see Section 15.
In all cases, we will pay for Shares purchased in the Offer only after
timely receipt by the Depositary of (a) certificates representing the Shares
("Share Certificates") or timely confirmation (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") of
the book-entry transfer of the Shares into the Depositary's account at The
Depository Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") pursuant to the
procedures set forth in Section 3; (b) the appropriate Letter of Transmittal
(or a facsimile), properly completed and duly executed, with any required
signature guarantees or an Agent's Message (as defined below) in connection
with a book-entry transfer; and (c) any other documents that the Letter of
Transmittal requires.
"Agent's Message" means a message transmitted by a Book-Entry Transfer
Facility to, and received by, the Depositary and forming a part of a Book-Entry
Confirmation, which message states that the Book-Entry
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Transfer Facility has received an express acknowledgment from the participant
in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility tendering the Shares which are the subject
of the Book-Entry Confirmation that the participant has received and agrees to
be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and that we may enforce that
agreement against the participant.
For purposes of the Offer, we will be deemed to have accepted for payment,
and purchased, Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn as, if and when we
give oral or written notice to the Depositary of our acceptance of the Shares
for payment pursuant to the Offer. In all cases, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of the Offer, payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer
will be made by deposit of the purchase price for the Shares with the
Depositary, which will act as agent for tendering API stockholders for the
purpose of receiving payment from us and transmitting payment to validly
tendering API stockholders.
Under no circumstances will we pay interest on the purchase price for
Shares.
If we do not purchase any tendered Shares pursuant to the Offer for any
reason, or if you submit Share Certificates representing more Shares than you
wish to tender, we will return Share Certificates representing unpurchased or
untendered Shares, without expense to you (or, in the case of Shares delivered
by book-entry transfer into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer
Facility pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3, the Shares will be
credited to an account maintained within the Book-Entry Transfer Facility), as
promptly as practicable following the expiration, termination or withdrawal of
the Offer.
If, prior to the Expiration Date, we increase the price offered to holders
of Shares in the Offer, we will pay the increased price to all holders of
Shares that we purchase in the Offer, whether or not the Shares were tendered
before the increase in price.
We reserve the right, subject to the provisions of the Merger Agreement, to
transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of
our subsidiaries or affiliates, the right to purchase all or any portion of the
Shares tendered in the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment will not
relieve us of our obligations under the Offer or prejudice your rights to
receive payment for Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment in the
Offer.
3. Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares.
Valid Tender of Shares. Except as set forth below, in order for you to
tender Shares in the Offer, the Depositary must receive the Letter of
Transmittal (or a facsimile), properly completed and signed, together with any
required signature guarantees or an Agent's Message in connection with a book-
entry delivery of Shares and any other documents that the Letter of Transmittal
requires at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to
Purchase on or prior to the Expiration Date or the expiration of the subsequent
offering period, as the case may be, and either (a) you must deliver Share
Certificates representing tendered Shares to the Depositary or you must cause
your Shares to be tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer
set forth below and the Depositary must receive Book-Entry Confirmation, in
each case on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the expiration of the
subsequent offering period, as the case may be, or (b) you must comply with the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.
The method of delivery of Share Certificates, the Letter of Transmittal and
all other required documents is at your option and sole risk, and delivery will
be considered made only when the Depositary actually receives the certificates.
If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly
insured, is recommended. In all cases, you should allow sufficient time to
ensure timely delivery.
Book-Entry Transfer. The Depositary will make a request to establish
accounts with respect to the Shares at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility for
purposes of the Offer within two business days after the date of this Offer to
Purchase. Any financial institution that is a participant in the system of the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility may make book-entry delivery of Shares by causing
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer the
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Shares into the Depositary's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility in
accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures. However,
although Shares may be delivered through book-entry transfer into the
Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility, the Depositary must
receive the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile), properly completed and
signed, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message in
connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other required documents, at one
of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase on or
before the Expiration Date or the expiration of the subsequent offering period,
as the case may be, or you must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedure
set forth below.
Delivery of documents to a Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures does not constitute delivery to the
Depositary.
Signature Guarantees. A bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings
association or other entity which is a member in good standing of the
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (an "Eligible Institution") must
guarantee signatures on all Letters of Transmittal, unless the Shares tendered
are tendered (a) by a registered holder of Shares who has not completed either
the box labeled "Special Payment Instructions" or the box labeled "Special
Delivery Instructions" on the Letter of Transmittal or (b) for the account of
an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1 of the Letter of Transmittal.
If the Share Certificates are registered in the name of a person other than
the signer of the Letter of Transmittal, or if payment is to be made to, or
Share Certificates for unpurchased Shares are to be issued or returned to, a
person other than the registered holder, then the tendered Share Certificates
must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, signed exactly as
the name or names of the registered holder or holders appear on the Share
Certificates, with the signatures on the Share Certificates or stock powers
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution as provided in the Letter of Transmittal.
See Instructions 1 and 5 of the Letter of Transmittal.
If the Share Certificates are forwarded separately to the Depositary, a
properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile) must
accompany each delivery of Share Certificates.
Guaranteed Delivery. If you want to tender Shares in the Offer and your
Share Certificates are not immediately available or time will not permit all
required documents to reach the Depositary on or before the Expiration Date or
the procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on time, your Shares
may nevertheless be tendered if you comply with all of the following guaranteed
delivery procedures:
(a) your tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;
(b) the Depositary receives, as described below, a properly completed
and signed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form made
available by us, on or before the Expiration Date; and
(c) the Depositary receives the Share Certificates (or a Book-Entry
Confirmation) representing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer
together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal
(or facsimile), with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of
a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message) and any other documents required
by the Letter of Transmittal within three trading days after the date of
execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
You may deliver the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery by hand or mail or
transmitted by facsimile transmission to the Depositary. The Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the
form set forth in the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Guaranteed delivery
procedures are not available in the subsequent offering period.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, we will pay for Shares
only after timely receipt by the Depositary of Share Certificates for, or, of
Book-Entry Confirmation with respect to, the Shares, a properly completed and
duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with any
required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an
Agent's Message) and any other documents required by
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the appropriate Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, payment might not be made
to all tendering API stockholders at the same time, and will depend upon when
the Depositary receives Share Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmation that the
Shares have been transferred into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry
Transfer Facility.
Backup U.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding. Under the backup U.S. federal
income tax withholding laws applicable to certain API stockholders (other than
certain exempt API stockholders, including, among others, all corporations and
certain foreign individuals), the Depositary may be required to withhold 31% of
the amount of any payments made to those API stockholders pursuant to the Offer
or the Merger. To prevent backup U.S. federal income tax withholding, you must
provide the Depositary with your correct taxpayer identification number and
certify that you are not subject to backup U.S. federal income tax withholding
by completing the Substitute Form W-9 included in the Letter of Transmittal.
See Instruction 9 of the Letter of Transmittal.
Appointment as Proxy. By executing the Letter of Transmittal, you
irrevocably appoint our designees, and each of them, as your agents, attorneys-
in-fact and proxies, with full power of substitution, in the manner set forth
in the Letter of Transmittal, to the full extent of your rights with respect to
the Shares that you tender and that we accept for payment and with respect to
any and all other Shares and other securities or rights issued or issuable in
respect of those Shares on or after the date of this Offer to Purchase. All
such powers of attorney and proxies will be considered irrevocable and coupled
with an interest in the tendered Shares. This appointment will be effective
when we accept your Shares for payment in accordance with the terms of the
Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all other powers of attorney and
proxies given by you with respect to your Shares and such other securities or
rights prior to such payment will be revoked, without further action, and no
subsequent powers of attorney and proxies may be given by you (and, if given,
will not be deemed effective). Our designees will, with respect to the Shares
and such other securities and rights for which the appointment is effective, be
empowered to exercise all your voting and other rights as they, in their sole
discretion, may deem proper at any annual or special meeting of API
stockholders, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, or by consent in lieu
of any such meeting or otherwise. In order for Shares to be deemed validly
tendered, immediately upon the acceptance for payment of such Shares, we or our
designee must be able to exercise full voting rights with respect to such
Shares and other securities, including voting at any meeting of API's
stockholders.
Determination of Validity. All questions as to the form of documents and the
validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of
any tender of Shares will be determined by us, in our sole discretion, which
determination will be final and binding on all parties. We reserve the absolute
right to reject any or all tenders determined by us not to be in proper form or
the acceptance of or payment for which may, in the opinion of our counsel, be
unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any of the conditions of
the Offer or any defect or irregularity in any tender of Shares of any
particular API stockholder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities
are waived in the case of other API stockholders.
Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer will be final
and binding. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until
all defects and irregularities with respect to the tender have been cured or
waived by us. None of Danaher, the Purchaser or any of their respective
affiliates or assigns, the Dealer Manager, the Depositary, the Information
Agent or any other person or entity will be under any duty to give any
notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability
for failure to give any such notification.
Our acceptance for payment of Shares tendered pursuant to any of the
procedures described above will constitute a binding agreement between us and
you upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
4. Withdrawal Rights.
Except as described in this Section 4, tenders of Shares made in the Offer
are irrevocable. You may withdraw Shares that you have previously tendered in
the Offer at any time on or before the Expiration Date and, unless theretofore
accepted for payment as provided herein, may also be withdrawn at any time
after April 23, 2000. You may not withdraw Shares during any subsequent
offering period. See Section 1.
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If, for any reason, acceptance for payment of any Shares tendered in the
Offer is delayed, or we are unable to accept for payment or pay for Shares
tendered in the Offer, then, without prejudice to our rights set forth in this
Offer to Purchase, the Depositary may, nevertheless, on our behalf, retain
Shares that you have tendered, and you may not withdraw your Shares, except to
the extent that you are entitled to and duly exercise withdrawal rights as
described in this Section 4. Any such delay will be by an extension of the
Offer to the extent required by law.
In order for your withdrawal to be effective, you must deliver a written or
facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal to the Depositary at one of its
addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Any such
notice of withdrawal must specify your name, the number of Shares that you want
to withdraw, and (if Share Certificates have been tendered) the name of the
registered holder of the Shares as shown on the Share Certificate, if different
from your name. If Share Certificates have been delivered or otherwise
identified to the Depositary, then, prior to the physical release of such Share
Certificates, you must submit the serial numbers shown on the particular Share
Certificates evidencing the Shares to be withdrawn and an Eligible Institution
must guarantee the signature on the notice of withdrawal, except in the case of
Shares tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been
tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in
Section 3, the notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the
account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn
Shares, in which case a notice of withdrawal will be effective if delivered to
the Depositary by any method of delivery described in the first sentence of
this paragraph. You may not rescind a withdrawal of Shares. Any Shares that you
withdraw will be considered not validly tendered for purposes of the Offer, but
you may tender your Shares again at any time before the Expiration Date by
following any of the procedures described in Section 3.
All questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of
notices of withdrawal will be determined by us, in our sole discretion, which
determination will be final and binding. None of Danaher, the Purchaser or any
of their respective affiliates or assigns, the Dealer Manager, the Depositary,
the Information Agent or any other person or entity will be under any duty to
give any notification of any defects or irregularities in any notice of
withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
5. Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.
Your receipt of cash for Shares in the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable
transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and may also be a taxable
transaction under applicable state, local, foreign and other tax laws. For
federal income tax purposes, if you sell or exchange your Shares in the Offer
or the Merger, you would generally recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount of cash received and your tax basis for the
Shares that you sold or exchanged. That gain or loss will be capital gain or
loss (assuming you hold your Shares as a capital asset), and any such capital
gain or loss will be long term if, as of the date of sale or exchange, you have
held such Shares for more than one year or will be short term if, as of such
date, you have held such Shares for one year or less.
The discussion above may not be applicable to certain types of API
stockholders, including API stockholders who acquired Shares through the
exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, individuals
who are not citizens or residents of the United States, foreign corporations,
or entities that are otherwise subject to special tax treatment under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (such as insurance companies, tax-
exempt entities and regulated investment companies).
The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is included for
general information only. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with
respect to the specific tax consequences to you of the Offer and Merger,
including U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences.
6. Price Range of the Shares; Dividends.
The Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE")
under the symbol "APR." The following table sets forth, for the periods
indicated, the reported high and low sale prices for the Shares on the NYSE and
cash dividends declared on the Shares during each quarter presented.
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AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
High Low
------ ------
<S> <C> <C>
Fiscal 1997
First Quarter.............................................. $20.38 $16.75
Second Quarter............................................. 20.19 16.25
Third Quarter.............................................. 23.81 19.00
Fourth Quarter............................................. 26.00 20.50
Fiscal 1998
First Quarter.............................................. $21.00 $17.00
Second Quarter............................................. 19.50 14.38
Third Quarter.............................................. 16.56 11.00
Fourth Quarter............................................. 14.50 9.50
Fiscal 1999
First Quarter.............................................. $11.00 $ 8.75
Second Quarter............................................. 12.63 9.25
Third Quarter.............................................. 11.00 9.06
Fourth Quarter............................................. 11.13 8.25
Fiscal 2000
First Quarter (through February 23)........................ $19.00 $ 8.50
</TABLE>
Effective in the first quarter of 1997, API decided to eliminate its
quarterly cash dividends. In addition, under the terms of the Merger Agreement,
API is not permitted to declare or pay dividends with respect to the Shares.
On February 15, 2000, the last full day of trading prior to the announcement
of the execution of the Merger Agreement, the reported closing price on the
NYSE for the Shares was $11.44 per Share. On February 23, 2000, the last full
day of trading prior to the commencement of the Offer, the reported closing
price on the NYSE for the Shares was $18.94 per Share.
Stockholders are urged to obtain current market quotations for the Shares.
7. Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; NYSE Listing;
Securities Exchange Act Registration; Margin Regulations.
Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares. The purchase of
Shares pursuant to the Offer will reduce the number of Shares that might
otherwise trade publicly and could adversely affect the liquidity and market
value of the remaining Shares held by the public. The purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer can also be expected to reduce the number of holders of
Shares. We cannot predict whether the reduction in the number of Shares that
might otherwise trade publicly would have an adverse or beneficial effect on
the market price for or marketability of the Shares or whether it would cause
future market prices to be greater or less than the Offer price.
Stock Listing. Depending upon the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the
Offer, the Shares may no longer meet the requirements of the NYSE for continued
listing on the NYSE. According to the NYSE's published guidelines, the NYSE
would consider delisting the Shares if, among other things, (a) the number of
record holders of 100 or more Shares should fall below 1,200; (b) the number of
publicly held Shares (exclusive of holdings of Danaher and the Purchaser and
any other subsidiaries or affiliates of Danaher and of officers or directors of
API or their immediate families or other concentrated holdings of 10% or more
("Excluded Holdings")) should fall below 600,000; or (c) the aggregate market
value of such publicly held Shares (exclusive of Excluded Holdings) should fall
below $5,000,000. If, as a result of the purchase of Shares pursuant to the
Offer or otherwise, the Shares no longer meet the requirements of the NYSE for
continued listing and the listing of the Shares is discontinued, the market for
the Shares could be adversely affected.
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If the NYSE were to delist the Shares, it is possible that the Shares would
continue to trade on another securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
market, and that price or other quotations would be reported by such exchange
or through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System or other sources. The extent of the public market for the Shares and the
availability of such quotations would depend upon such factors as the number of
stockholders and/or the aggregate market value of the publicly traded Shares
remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in the Shares on
the part of securities firms, the possible termination of registration under
the Securities Exchange Act, as described below, and other factors. We cannot
predict whether the reduction in the number of Shares that might otherwise
trade publicly would have an adverse or beneficial effect on the market price
for or marketability of the Shares or whether it would cause future market
prices to be greater or less than the Offer price.
Securities Exchange Act Registration. The Shares are currently registered
under the Securities Exchange Act. The purchase of the Shares pursuant to the
Offer may result in the Shares becoming eligible for deregistration under the
Securities Exchange Act. Registration of the Shares may be terminated upon
application by API to the SEC if the Shares are not listed on a "national
securities exchange" and there are fewer than 300 record holders of Shares.
Termination of registration of the Shares under the Securities Exchange Act
would substantially reduce the information that API is required to furnish to
API stockholders and the SEC and would make certain provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act, such as the short-swing profit recovery provisions of
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and the requirements of furnishing
a proxy statement in connection with stockholders' meetings pursuant to Section
14(a) or 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act and the related requirement of an
annual report, no longer applicable to API. If the Shares are no longer
registered under the Securities Exchange Act, the requirements of Rule 13e-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act with respect to "going private"
transactions would no longer be applicable to API. In addition, the ability of
"affiliates" of API and persons holding "restricted securities" of API to
dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be impaired or, with respect to certain
persons, eliminated. If registration of the Shares under the Securities
Exchange Act were terminated, the Shares would no longer be "margin securities"
or eligible for stock exchange listing or NASDAQ reporting. We believe that the
purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer may result in the Shares becoming
eligible for deregistration under the Securities Exchange Act, and it would be
our intention to cause API to make an application for termination of
registration of the Shares as soon as possible after successful completion of
the Offer if the Shares are then eligible for such termination.
If registration of the Shares is not terminated prior to the Merger, then
the registration of the Shares under the Securities Exchange Act and the
listing of the Shares on the NYSE will be terminated following the completion
of the Merger.
Margin Regulations. The Shares are currently "margin securities" under the
regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which
regulations have the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend
credit on the collateral of the Shares for the purpose of buying, carrying or
trading in securities ("Purpose Loans"). Depending upon factors such as the
number of record holders of the Shares and the number and market value of
publicly held Shares, following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer,
the Shares might no longer constitute "margin securities" for purposes of the
Federal Reserve Board's margin regulations and, therefore, could no longer be
used as collateral for Purpose Loans made by brokers. In addition, if
registration of the Shares under the Securities Exchange Act were terminated,
the Shares would no longer constitute "margin securities."
8. Information Concerning API.
API is a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices located
at 2777 Walden Avenue, Buffalo, New York, 14225. API's telephone number is
(716) 684-7900.
The following description of API and its business has been taken from API's
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to API's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998:
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API and its subsidiaries conduct operations in two major business segments,
namely, motion technologies and heat transfer. API's objective is to
consolidate a major share of target market segments in electromechanical and
electronic motion control and industrial heat transfer. API has further sought
to diversify into select market segments and geographic markets through
internal growth and strategic acquisitions focused on enhancing and
complementing its existing technology base.
API files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or
other information filed at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, or at the SEC's public reference rooms in New
York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference rooms. API's SEC filings are also
available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the
Internet world wide web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
Although we have no knowledge that any such information is untrue, we take
no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained in
this Offer to Purchase with respect to API or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates or for any failure by API to disclose events which may have occurred
or may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information.
9. Information Concerning Danaher and the Purchaser.
Danaher is a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices located
at 1250 24th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20037. Danaher's
telephone number is (202) 828-0850. Danaher designs, manufactures and markets
industrial and consumer products with strong brand names, proprietary
technology and major market positions in two principal businesses:
process/environmental controls and tools and components.
The Purchaser's principal executive offices are located c/o Danaher at 1250
24th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20037. The Purchaser is a newly
formed Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher. The
Purchaser has not conducted any business other than in connection with the
Offer and the Merger.
The name, business address, citizenship, present principal occupation and
employment history for the past five years of each of the directors and
executive officers of Danaher and the Purchaser are set forth in Schedule I
hereto.
Danaher is subject to the information and reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act and is required to file periodic reports, proxy
statements and other information with the SEC relating to its business,
financial condition and other matters. Certain information, as of particular
dates, concerning Danaher's business, principal physical properties, capital
structure, material pending legal proceedings, operating results, financial
condition, directors and officers (including their remuneration and stock
options granted to them), principal holders of Danaher's securities, any
material interests of such persons in transactions with Danaher, and certain
other matters is required to be disclosed in proxy statements and annual
reports distributed to Danaher stockholders and filed with the SEC. You may
inspect or copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the
SEC's public reference facilities and they should also be available for
inspection in the same manner as set forth with respect to API in Section 8.
Except as set forth elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase or in Schedule I
hereto: (a) neither we nor, to our knowledge, any of the persons listed in
Schedule I hereto or any associate or majority owned subsidiary of ours or of
any of the persons so listed, beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any
Shares or any other equity securities of API; (b) neither we nor, to our
knowledge, any of the persons or entities referred to in clause (a) above or
any of their executive officers, directors or subsidiaries has effected any
transaction in the Shares or any other equity securities of API during the past
60 days; (c) neither we nor, to our knowledge, any of the persons listed in
Schedule I hereto, has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship
with any other
11
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person with respect to any securities of API (including, but not limited to,
any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the
transfer or the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loan or option
arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss, or
the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations); (d) since
February 24, 1998, there have been no transactions which would require
reporting under the rules and regulations of the SEC between us or any of our
subsidiaries or, to our knowledge, any of the persons listed in Schedule I
hereto, on the one hand, and API or any of its executive officers, directors or
affiliates, on the other hand; and (e) since February 24, 1998, there have been
no contacts, negotiations or transactions between us or any of our subsidiaries
or, to our knowledge, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto, on the
one hand, and API or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, on the other hand,
concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, a tender offer or other
acquisition of securities, an election of directors or a sale or other transfer
of a material amount of assets.
10. Background of the Offer; Contacts with API.
In June 1999, ING Barings held a conference for companies in the motion
control industry at which Mr. Kurt Wiedenhaupt, the President of API, made a
presentation. A representative of Danaher attended the conference and heard Mr.
Wiedenhaupt's presentation. Following that conference, a representative of ING
Barings, as financial adviser to Danaher, contacted Mr. Wiedenhaupt and
indicated that Mr. George M. Sherman, the President and Chief Executive Officer
of Danaher, would be interested in meeting with Mr. Wiedenhaupt. Mr.
Wiedenhaupt agreed to the meeting.
Mr. Wiedenhaupt and Mr. Sherman met on September 10, 1999. At that meeting,
Mr. Sherman indicated that Danaher would be interested in considering a
possible acquisition of API, subject to the satisfactory completion of due
diligence investigations and the negotiation of a definitive Merger Agreement.
Danaher subsequently signed a confidentiality and standstill agreement with API
on September 20, 1999.
Representatives of Danaher and API met again on October 8, 1999. The October
8, 1999, was attended by Mr. Wiedenhaupt, two other officers and two management
personnel from API and a representative of McDonald, and Mr. Sherman, six other
representatives from Danaher and a representative from ING Barings. Both
companies made presentations concerning their businesses at the October 8, 1999
meeting.
Over the weeks that followed the October 8, 1999 meeting, ING Barings and
McDonald spoke periodically by telephone, on behalf of their respective
clients, on the subject of a possible business combination of the two
companies. In one of those telephone conversations in late October 1999, the
ING Barings representative indicated that, subject to the satisfactory
completion of due diligence, Danaher would be willing to consider making an
offer for all of the Shares in the range of $15.00 to $18.00 per Share.
The parties and their respective advisers maintained periodic contact over
the next several weeks and, on December 9, 1999, a representative of ING
Barings indicated to a representative of McDonald that Danaher might be willing
to increase its preliminary offer for all of the Shares. On January 20, 2000,
Mr. Sherman and Mr. Wiedenhaupt met again and, with the approval of the Danaher
Board, Mr. Sherman indicated that Danaher would consider purchasing all of the
Shares for $19.00 per Share, subject to the satisfactory completion of due
diligence and the negotiation of a definitive Merger Agreement. Mr. Wiedenhaupt
indicated that he would need a higher offer for the API Board to approve the
proposed transaction and, after further discussions with members of the Danaher
Board, Mr. Sherman raised the preliminary offer to $19.25 per Share.
On January 27, 2000, Danaher and API entered into an agreement that granted
Danaher the exclusive right to negotiate a transaction with API through
February 21, 2000. From January 27, 2000 to February 14, 2000, Danaher
continued its due diligence review of API, and Danaher and its advisers
negotiated the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Hjelm Support Agreement, the
Wiedenhaupt Support Agreement and the Consulting Agreement, subject, in each
case, to approval by the Danaher Board.
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At a meeting of the Danaher Board on February 14, 2000, Mr. Sherman, along
with other members of Danaher's management, discussed the results of due
diligence and the conditions of the contemplated transaction including, without
limitation, the Merger Consideration. At that meeting a form of each of the
Merger Agreement, the Hjelm Support Agreement, the Wiedenhaupt Support
Agreement and the Consulting Agreement was presented to, and unanimously
approved by, the Danaher Board, subject to satisfactory resolution of certain
issues relating to due diligence and negotiation of the final terms of the
Merger Agreement.
The details of the Offer and the Merger, and the related Merger Agreement,
Hjelm Support Agreement, Wiedenhaupt Support Agreement and Consulting Agreement
were agreed by the parties on February 15, 2000. The parties issued a press
release announcing the transaction on the morning of February 16, 2000.
11. Purpose of the Offer; the Merger Agreement; the Support Agreements; the
Consulting Agreement; Statutory Requirements; Appraisal Rights; Plans for
API; "Going Private" Transactions.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of the Offer and the Merger is to acquire control
of, and the entire equity interest in, API. The Offer, as the first step in the
acquisition of API, is intended to facilitate the acquisition of all of the
Shares. The purpose of the Merger is to acquire all capital stock of API not
purchased pursuant to the Offer or otherwise.
(b) The Merger Agreement. The following summary description of the Merger
Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement
itself, which we have filed as an exhibit to the Tender Offer Statement on
Schedule TO that we have filed with the SEC, which you may examine and copy as
set forth in Section 8 above (except that it will not be available at the
regional offices of the SEC).
The Offer. The Merger Agreement provides that the Purchaser will commence
the Offer and that, upon the terms and subject to prior satisfaction or waiver
of the conditions of the Offer, as set forth in Section 14, the Purchaser will
purchase all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.
The Merger Agreement provides that, without the prior written consent of API,
the Purchaser will not (a) decrease the Offer price or change the form of
consideration payable in the Offer, (b) decrease the number of Shares sought to
be purchased in the Offer, (c) impose additional conditions to the Offer, (d)
waive the Minimum Condition or (e) amend any other term of the Offer in a
manner adverse to the holders of Shares. The Purchaser may extend the Offer,
from time to time, if, at the then-scheduled Expiration Date of the Offer, any
of the conditions to the Purchaser's obligation to accept for payment and pay
for all Shares shall not have been satisfied or waived. In addition, if all
conditions to the Offer are satisfied and the number of Shares tendered and not
withdrawn is more than 70%, but less than 90%, of the outstanding number of
Shares on a fully diluted basis, the Purchaser shall have the right, in its
sole discretion, to extend the Offer from time to time for up to a maximum of
ten additional business days in the aggregate for all such extensions beyond
the latest Expiration Date.
Recommendation. API has represented to Danaher in the Merger Agreement that
the API Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has (a) determined by
unanimous vote of the directors present that the Offer and the Merger are fair
to and in the best interest of API stockholders, (b) approved the Offer and the
Merger Agreement in accordance with the GCL, (c) recommended acceptance of the
Offer and adoption of the Merger Agreement by API stockholders (if such
adoption is required by applicable law) and (d) taken all other action
necessary to render Section 203 of the GCL and the rights under the Rights
Agreement inapplicable to the Offer and the Merger; provided, however, that
such recommendation and approval may be withdrawn, modified or amended to the
extent that the API Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its
outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would reasonably be
expected to constitute a breach of the API Board's fiduciary obligations under
applicable law. API further represented that, prior to the execution of the
Merger Agreement, McDonald delivered to the API Board its written opinion to
the effect that, as of February 15, 2000, the cash consideration to be received
by the holders of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Merger is fair to
those holders from a financial point of view.
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Directors. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to compliance with
applicable law, Danaher, promptly upon the payment by the Purchaser for Shares
pursuant to the Offer, and from time to time thereafter, is entitled to
designate that number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the
API Board as is equal to the product of the total number of directors on the
API Board (determined after giving effect to the directors so elected pursuant
to such provisions) multiplied by the percentage that the aggregate number of
Shares beneficially owned by Danaher or its affiliates bears to the total
number of Shares then outstanding. API shall, upon request of Danaher, promptly
take all actions necessary to cause designees to be so elected, including, if
necessary, seeking the resignations of one or more existing directors;
provided, however, that, prior to the time the Merger becomes effective (the
"Effective Time"), the API Board shall always have at least two members who are
neither officers, directors, affiliates or designees of the Purchaser or any of
its affiliates ("Purchaser Insiders"). If the number of directors who are not
Purchaser Insiders is reduced below two prior to the Effective Time, the
remaining director who is not a Purchaser Insider will be entitled to designate
a person who is not a Purchaser Insider to fill such vacancy. Following the
election or appointment of Danaher's designees and prior to the Effective Time,
any amendment or termination of the Merger Agreement by API, any extension by
API of the time for performance of any of the obligations or other acts of
Danaher or the Purchaser, any waiver of any of API's rights under the Merger
Agreement or any other actions taken by API will require the concurrence of a
majority of the directors of API then in office who are not Purchaser Insiders
(or, in the case where there are two or fewer directors who are not Purchaser
Insiders, the concurrence of one director who is not a Purchaser Insider) if
that amendment, termination, extension, or waiver would be reasonably likely to
have an adverse effect on the minority API stockholders.
The Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that, at the Effective Time, the
Purchaser will be merged with and into API. Following the Merger, the separate
corporate existence of the Purchaser will cease and API will continue as the
surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Danaher.
API has agreed pursuant to the Merger Agreement that, if required by
applicable law in order to consummate the Merger, it will (a) duly call, give
notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of API stockholders as soon as
practicable following the acceptance for payment of and payment for Shares by
the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer for the purpose of adopting the Merger
Agreement; (b) prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement
relating to the Merger Agreement, and use its reasonable best efforts (1) to
obtain and furnish the information required to be included by the SEC in the
Proxy Statement (as defined herein) and, after consultation with Danaher, to
respond promptly to any comments made by the SEC with respect to the
preliminary proxy statement and to cause a definitive proxy statement (the
"Proxy Statement") to be mailed to its stockholders and (2) to obtain the
necessary approvals of the Merger and adoption of the Merger Agreement by API
stockholders; and (c) subject to the fiduciary obligations of the API Board
under applicable law, as described under "Recommendation," include in the Proxy
Statement the recommendation of the API Board that API stockholders vote in
favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement. Danaher has agreed in the Merger
Agreement that it will vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Shares then owned
by it, the Purchaser or any of Danaher's other subsidiaries in favor of the
approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement.
The Merger Agreement further provides that, notwithstanding the foregoing,
if Danaher, the Purchaser or any other of Danaher's subsidiaries acquires at
least 90% of the outstanding Shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, the
parties to the Merger Agreement will take all necessary and appropriate action
to cause the Merger to become effective as soon as practicable after the
acceptance for payment of and payment for the Shares by the Purchaser pursuant
to the Offer without a meeting of the API stockholders in accordance with
Section 253 of the GCL.
Charter, By-Laws, Directors and Officers. The Certificate of Incorporation
of the Purchaser, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, will be
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until amended
afterward in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation and applicable law. The By-Laws of the Purchaser
in effect at the Effective Time
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will be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation, until amended afterward in
accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation and
applicable law. Subject to applicable law, the directors of the Purchaser
immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the initial directors of the
Surviving Corporation and will hold office until their respective successors
are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal,
and the officers of the Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time will
be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation.
Conversion of Securities. By virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of the holders of the Shares, at the Effective Time, each Share issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (a) any
Shares held by Danaher, the Purchaser, any wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher
or the Purchaser, in the treasury of API or by any wholly-owned subsidiary of
API, which Shares, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of the holder of those shares, will be canceled and retired and will cease to
exist with no payment being made with respect thereto and (b) shares held by a
holder who has not voted in favor of the Merger and who has demanded appraisal
for those shares in accordance with the GCL ("Dissenting Shares")) will be
canceled and retired and will be converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration, upon surrender of the Share Certificate formerly representing
that Share. At the Effective Time, each share of common stock of the Purchaser,
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be
converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
The Merger Agreement provides that, prior to the Effective Time, the API
Board (or, if appropriate, any committee of the API Board) will adopt
appropriate resolutions and use its reasonable best efforts to provide for the
cancellation, effective at the Effective Time, of all the outstanding options
granted under any stock option or similar plan of API (the "Stock Plans"), or
under any agreement, without any payment therefor except as otherwise discussed
in this Section 11. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, all options
(whether vested or unvested) will be canceled (and to the extent exercisable
shall no longer be exercisable) and will entitle each holder of an option, in
cancellation and settlement therefor, to a payment, if any, in cash by API
(less any applicable withholding taxes), at the Effective Time, equal to the
product of (a) the total number of Shares subject to that option and (b) the
excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per Share
subject to that option.
Representations and Warranties. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, API has
made customary representations and warranties to Danaher and the Purchaser with
respect to, among other matters, its organization and qualification,
capitalization, authority, required filings, consents and approvals, financial
statements, public filings, litigation, compliance with law, employee benefit
plans, environmental matters, material contracts, opinion of financial advisor,
information to be included in the Schedule 14D-9, the Proxy Statement or the
other documents required to be filed with the SEC or any other governmental
authority relating to the Offer and the Merger, tax status, condition of
assets, relationships with customers and employees and the absence of any
material adverse effects on API. Danaher and the Purchaser have made customary
representations and warranties to API with respect to, among other matters, its
organization, qualifications, authority, required filings, consents and
approvals, information to be included in the Schedule 14D-9, the Proxy
Statement or the other documents required to be filed with the SEC or any other
governmental authority relating to the Offer and the Merger and availability of
funds.
Covenants. The Merger Agreement obligates API and its subsidiaries, from the
date of the Merger Agreement until the Effective Time, to conduct their
operations only in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with
past practice, and obligates API and its subsidiaries to use their reasonable
best efforts to preserve intact their business organizations, to keep available
the services of their present officers and key employees and to preserve the
good will of those having business relationships with them. The Merger
Agreement also contains specific restrictive covenants as to certain
impermissible activities of API prior to the Effective Time, which provide that
API will not (and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to) take certain
actions without the prior written consent of Danaher, including, among other
things, actions related to
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amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws of API, issuances
or sales of its securities, changes in capital structure, dividends and other
distributions, repurchases or redemptions of securities, material acquisitions
or dispositions, increases in compensation or adoption of new benefit plans and
certain other material events or transactions.
Access to Information. The Merger Agreement provides that, until the
Effective Time, API will give Danaher and the Purchaser and their
representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours, to the offices
and other facilities and to the books and records of API and its subsidiaries,
and will provide Danaher and the Purchaser copies of documents filed pursuant
to U.S. federal or state securities laws during this period, and, upon
reasonable request, other information with respect to the business and
operations of API and its subsidiaries.
Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Merger
Agreement, each of API, Danaher and the Purchaser will cooperate and use their
respective reasonable efforts to make or cause to be made all filings necessary
or proper under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Each of the parties to the Merger Agreement also has agreed to use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain, as promptly as practicable, all Consents (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) of any governmental authorities or any other
person required in connection with, and waivers of any Violations (as defined
in the Merger Agreement) that may be caused by, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Public Announcements. The Merger Agreement provides that API, on the one
hand, and Danaher and the Purchaser, on the other hand, agree to consult
promptly with each other prior to issuing any press release or otherwise making
any public statement with respect to the Offer, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, agree to provide to the
other party for review a copy of any such press release or statement, and shall
not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to
such consultation and review, unless required by applicable law or any listing
agreement with a securities exchange.
Employee Benefit Arrangements. With respect to employee benefit matters, the
Merger Agreement provides that, from and after the Effective Time, Danaher will
honor, or Danaher will cause to have honored, obligations under certain
specified employee benefit plans of API. The Merger Agreement also provides
that for the period ending December 31, 2000, the Surviving Corporation will
continue the employee benefit plans of API (other than those providing equity-
based compensation) and thereafter the Surviving Corporation will provide its
employees (and those of its subsidiaries) with compensation programs and
welfare plans, programs, contracts, agreements and policies, fringe benefits
and vacation policies which are substantially the same as or not materially
less favorable in the aggregate than those in effect with respect to similarly
situated employees of Danaher.
Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, Danaher has agreed that from and after the Effective Time all rights
to indemnification, defense and advancement of funds existing at the date of
the Merger Agreement in favor of individuals who were directors, officers,
employees or agents of API or any of its subsidiaries at or prior to the
Effective Time as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of
API shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect, and
will not be amended by the Surviving Corporation for a period of six years from
the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights of
those individuals, unless such modification is required by law. Danaher also
has agreed that it will not cancel API's directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy. In the event that Danaher or the Surviving Corporation
consolidates or merges with another person or transfers its assets to another
person, it shall make proper provisions to assure that these obligations are
assumed.
Notification of Certain Matters. Danaher and API have agreed to promptly
notify each other of (a) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any fact or event
which would be reasonably likely (1) to cause any
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representation or warranty contained in the Merger Agreement to be untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect at any time prior to the Effective Time or
(2) to cause any covenant, condition or agreement under the Merger Agreement
not to be complied with or satisfied and (b) any failure of API, Danaher or the
Purchaser, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant,
condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under the Merger
Agreement. Each of API, Danaher and the Purchaser is also required to give
prompt notice to the other parties of any notice or communication from any
third party alleging that the consent of that third party is or may be required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Rights Agreement; Waiver of Right of First Refusal. API has agreed in the
Merger Agreement that it will not (a) redeem the preferred share purchase
rights, (b) amend the Rights Agreement or (c) take any action which would allow
any Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) other than Danaher or the
Purchaser to acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Shares without
causing a Distribution Date or a Triggering Event (as each such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement) to occur. API also has agreed in the Merger Agreement
that it will waive its exclusive, irrevocable right of first refusal to
purchase the Series B Preferred Shares owned by InterScan Holding Ltd., a Swiss
corporation ("InterScan"), for the purpose of allowing InterScan to convert its
Series B Preferred Shares to Shares and validly tender those Shares pursuant to
the Offer. API agrees further that it will redeem the Series B Preferred
Shares, pursuant to its terms, if requested by Danaher.
State Takeover Laws. The Merger Agreement provides that each party will,
upon the request of the other party, take all reasonable steps to assist in any
challenge by that other party to the validity or applicability to the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the
Merger, of any state takeover law.
No Solicitation. The Merger Agreement requires API, its affiliates and their
respective officers, directors (in their capacity as such), employees,
representatives and agents to immediately cease any existing discussions or
negotiations with any parties with respect to any acquisition or exchange of
all or any material portion of the assets of, or any material equity interest
in, API or any of its subsidiaries or any business combination with API or any
of its subsidiaries. The Merger Agreement further provides that, prior to the
Effective Time, API will not authorize or permit any of its subsidiaries or any
of its or its subsidiaries' directors (in their capacity as such), officers,
employees, agents or representatives, directly or indirectly, to solicit,
initiate, encourage or facilitate, or furnish or disclose non-public
information in furtherance of, any inquiries or the making of any proposal with
respect to any merger, liquidation, recapitalization, consolidation or other
business combination involving API or its subsidiaries or acquisition of any
material amount of capital stock or any material portion of the assets of API
or of its subsidiaries (except for acquisitions of assets in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice), or any combination of the
foregoing (an "Acquisition Transaction"), or negotiate or engage in substantive
discussions with any person with respect to any Acquisition Transaction, or
enter into or resolve to enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding
with respect to any Acquisition Transaction or requiring it to abandon,
terminate or fail to consummate the Merger or any other transaction
contemplated by the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that API may furnish
information to, and negotiate or otherwise engage in substantive discussions
with, any person who has delivered a bona fide written proposal for an
Acquisition Transaction if the API Board determines in good faith following
consultation with outside counsel that failing to take such action would
reasonably be expected to constitute a breach of the fiduciary obligations of
the API Board under applicable law, provided that prior to furnishing non-
public information to any such party, API shall have entered into a
confidentiality agreement containing terms at least as favorable to API as
those of the letter agreement dated September 20, 1999 between Danaher and API.
The Merger Agreement further provides that, from and after the execution of
the Merger Agreement, API will promptly advise Danaher of any discussions,
negotiations or proposals relating to an Acquisition Transaction, identify the
offeror and furnish to Danaher a copy of any such proposal if it is in writing
or a written summary of any such proposal relating to an Acquisition
Transaction if it is not in writing, and that API
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will promptly advise Danaher of any development relating to any such proposal,
including results of any discussions or negotiations with respect to that
proposal.
Conditions to Consummation of the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement,
the respective obligations of Danaher, the Purchaser and API to consummate the
Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver, at or before the Effective
Time, of each of the following conditions: (a) API stockholders will have duly
adopted the Merger Agreement if required by applicable law; (b) the Purchaser
will have accepted for payment and paid for Shares pursuant to the Offer in
accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; (c) consummation of the
Merger will not have been restrained, enjoined or prohibited by any order,
judgment, decree, injunction or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction or
any governmental authority and there will not be any statute, rule or
regulation enacted, promulgated or deemed applicable to the Merger by any
governmental authority which prevents the consummation of the Merger or has the
effect of making the purchase of Shares illegal; and (d) any applicable waiting
period will have expired under the HSR Act.
Termination. The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be
abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding approval
thereof by the API stockholders (with any termination by Danaher also being an
effective termination by the Purchaser):
(a) by the mutual written consent of Danaher and API, by action of their
respective Boards of Directors;
(b) by API if (1) Danaher or the Purchaser fails to commence the Offer
as provided in Section 1.1 of the Merger Agreement by March 10, 2000, or
(2) Danaher or the Purchaser will not have accepted for payment and paid
for the Shares pursuant to the Offer in accordance with the terms of the
Offer on or before May 30, 2000, provided, however, that API may not
terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph if API will have
materially breached the Merger Agreement;
(c) by Danaher or API if (1) the Offer expires pursuant to its terms
without any Shares being purchased under the Offer or (2) if the Merger
will not have been completed on or before August 31, 2000, provided,
however that neither party may terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to
this provision if that party will have materially breached the Merger
Agreement;
(d) by Danaher or API if any court of competent jurisdiction or other
governmental authority will have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken
any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise
prohibiting the Merger or the acceptance for payment of, or payment for,
Shares pursuant to the Offer and that order, decree or ruling or other
action will have become final and nonappealable, provided that the party
seeking to terminate the Merger Agreement will have used its reasonable
efforts to remove or lift such order, decree or ruling;
(e) by API if, prior to the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to
the Offer, the API Board approves an Acquisition Transaction, on terms
which a majority of the members of the API Board have determined in good
faith (a) after consultation with McDonald or another nationally recognized
investment banking firm, to be more favorable from a financial point of
view to API and the API stockholders than the transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement, and (b) after receipt of advice from outside legal
counsel, that failure to approve such proposal and terminate the Merger
Agreement would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of the
fiduciary duties of the API Board under applicable law; provided that the
termination described in this paragraph shall not be permissible unless and
until API shall have provided the Purchaser and Danaher prior written
notice at least two business days prior to such termination that the API
Board has authorized and intends to effect the termination of the Merger
Agreement pursuant to this paragraph, including copies of all proposed
written agreements, arrangements, or understandings, including the forms of
any agreements supplied by third parties, with respect to such Acquisition
Transaction (and a description of all material oral agreements with respect
thereto), API shall otherwise be in compliance with its obligations under
the Merger Agreement and on or prior to such termination shall have paid to
Parent the Termination Fee (as defined below) and the Expense Fee
(as defined below);
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(f) by Danaher, prior to the purchase of the Shares, if the API Board
(1) will have withdrawn or modified (including by amendment of the Schedule
14D-9) in a manner adverse to the Purchaser its approval or recommendation
of the Offer, the Merger Agreement or the Merger, (2) will have approved or
recommended any Acquisition Transaction, or (3) will have resolved to
effect any of the foregoing, or if API will have breached Section 6.8(a) of
the Merger Agreement; and
(g) by Danaher, prior to the purchase of the Shares, if the Minimum
Condition will not have been satisfied by the Expiration Date and, on or
prior to that date, an Acquisition Transaction will have been publicly
announced or disclosed.
In the event of the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with
its terms, the Merger Agreement will become void and have no effect, without
any liability on the part of any party or its directors, officers or
stockholders, other than certain specified provisions, which shall survive any
such termination; provided, that no party would be relieved from liability for
any breach of the Merger Agreement.
Fees and Expenses. Except as provided below, whether or not the Merger is
consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Offer, the
Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will
be paid by the party incurring those expenses. In the event that the Merger
Agreement is terminated pursuant to paragraph (e) or (f) under "Termination"
(or is terminated pursuant to paragraph (c) (1) under "Termination" as a result
of the failure to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in paragraph (d) or
(g) of Section 14 (as that paragraph (g) of Section 14 relates to API's
obligations under Section 6.8(a) or Section 6.10 of the Merger Agreement)),
then API will, within one business day after that termination, pay Danaher a
termination fee of $7,000,000 (the "Termination Fee") plus Danaher's aggregate
expenses not to exceed $1,000,000 (the "Expense Fee"). In the event that the
Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to paragraph (g) under "Termination"
and within 12 months of the date of that termination of the Merger Agreement an
Acquisition Transaction is consummated, then API will, prior to or
simultaneously with the consummation of that transaction, pay Danaher the
Termination Fee and the Expense Fee.
Amendment. The Merger Agreement may be amended by API, Danaher and the
Purchaser at any time before or after any approval of the Merger Agreement by
API stockholders but, after any such approval, no amendment will be made which
decreases the price to be paid in the Merger or which adversely affects the
rights of API stockholders thereunder without the approval of API stockholders.
Extension; Waiver. Subject to the Merger Agreement, at any time prior to the
Effective Time, the parties to the Merger Agreement may (a) extend the time for
the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other, (b) waive
any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained therein of any
other party thereto or in any document, certificate or writing delivered
pursuant to the Merger Agreement by any other party to the Merger Agreement, or
(c) waive compliance by any other party with any of the agreements or
conditions therein.
Effects of Inability to Consummate the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, following the consummation of the Offer and subject to certain other
conditions, the Purchaser will be merged with API. If, following the Offer,
approval of API stockholders is required by applicable law in order to
consummate the Merger of the Purchaser with API, API will submit the Merger to
API stockholders for approval. If the Merger is submitted to API stockholders
for approval, the Merger will require the approval of the holders of not less
than a majority of the outstanding Shares, including the Shares owned by the
Purchaser. Provided that the Minimum Condition is satisfied without being
reduced or waived, Danaher will own sufficient Shares to ensure that the
required vote of API stockholders will be obtained and that the Merger will be
consummated.
If the Merger is consummated, API stockholders who elected not to tender
their the Shares in the Offer will receive the same amount of consideration in
exchange for each Share as they would have received in the Offer.
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If, following the consummation of the Offer, the Merger is not consummated,
Danaher, which owns 100% of the Purchaser common stock, indirectly will control
the number of Shares acquired by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. Under the
Merger Agreement, promptly following payment by the Purchaser for Shares
purchased pursuant to the Offer, and from time to time thereafter, subject to
applicable law, API has agreed to take all actions necessary to cause a
majority of the directors of API to consist of persons designated by Danaher
(whether, at the election of API, by means of increasing the size of the API
Board or seeking the resignation of directors and causing Danaher designees to
be elected). As a result of its ownership of such Shares and right to designate
nominees for election to the API Board, Danaher, indirectly, will be able to
influence decisions of the API Board and the decisions of the Purchaser as a
stockholder of API. This concentration of influence in one stockholder may
adversely affect the market value of the Shares.
If Danaher controls more than 50% of the outstanding Shares following the
consummation of the Offer but the Merger is not consummated, API stockholders,
other than those affiliated with Danaher, will lack sufficient voting power to
elect directors or to cause other actions to be taken which require majority
approval. If, for any reason following completion of the Offer, the Merger is
not consummated, Danaher and the Purchaser reserve the right to acquire
additional Shares through private purchases, market transactions, tender or
exchange offers or otherwise on terms and at prices that may be more or less
favorable than those of the Offer, or, subject to any applicable legal
restrictions, to dispose of any or all Shares acquired by them.
(c) The Support Agreements. Concurrently with the execution of the Merger
Agreement, Danaher and API entered into the Wiedenhaupt Support Agreement and
the Hjelm Support Agreement.
Pursuant to their respective support agreements, Messrs. Hjelm and
Wiedenhaupt have agreed to tender and not withdraw their Shares pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the terms of the Offer. Consistent with the Hjelm
Support Agreement, Mr. Hjelm will cause the Series B Preferred Shares (all of
which are owned by InterScan) to be tendered into the Offer for conversion and
purchase in the Offer. Messrs. Hjelm and Wiedenhaupt also have agreed to (a)
vote their Shares in favor of the Merger, (b) vote their Shares against any
action that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or
warranty or other obligation under the Merger Agreement and (c) vote their
Shares against any action or agreement that would impede, interfere with,
delay, postpone or attempt to discourage the Offer.
The agreements contained in the Hjelm Support Agreement may be terminated by
either party to that agreement at any time after the earlier of (a) payment for
the Shares pursuant to the Offer, (b) June 1, 2000, or (c) the termination of
the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e) of the Merger Agreement. The
agreements contained in the Wiedenhaupt Support Agreement may be terminated by
either party to that agreement at any time after the earlier of (a) payment for
the Shares pursuant to the Offer, (b) the 90th day after the termination of the
Merger Agreement, or (c) 30 days after the termination of the Merger Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1(e) of the Merger Agreement. The parties agree that if
for any reason Mr. Hjelm does not receive full payment for the Series B
Preferred Shares within one week of acceptance pursuant to the Offer, API will
immediately reissue the Series B Preferred Shares and cancel any Shares into
which such Series B Preferred Shares have been converted. The Hjelm Support
Agreement and the Wiedenhaupt Support Agreement are included as Exhibits (d)(3)
and (d)(4), respectively, to this Offer to Purchase.
(d) Consulting Agreement. At the time we entered into the Merger Agreement,
we also entered into a consulting agreement with Kurt Wiedenhaupt, which
consulting agreement would become effective on the date we consummate the
Merger.
Mr. Wiedenhaupt's consulting agreement provides that he will serve as a
consultant for a period of five years after consummation of the Offer. Mr.
Wiedenhaupt's primary responsibilities are likely to be assisting in the
transition of API to Danaher management and exploring alternatives for the
disposal of API's heat transfer business. Mr. Wiedenhaupt's consulting
agreement is not terminable by the Surviving Corporation for any
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reason other than the death or permanent disability of Mr. Wiedenhaupt, or a
continued material breach by Mr. Wiedenhaupt of the provisions of Mr.
Wiedenhaupt's consulting agreement, which breach is (if curable) not cured by
Mr. Wiedenhaupt within 30 days after delivery to him by the Surviving
Corporation of a written notice setting forth the nature of that breach in
reasonable detail. Mr. Wiedenhaupt will be paid a consulting fee of $400,000
per year for each year of the consulting period. Under certain circumstances,
Mr. Wiedenhaupt may be entitled to certain additional payments, and an
acceleration of certain of his consulting fees, upon a sale of the heat
transfer business of the Surviving Corporation during the consulting period.
(e) Statutory Requirements. In general, under the GCL a merger of two
Delaware corporations requires the adoption of a resolution by the board of
directors of each of the corporations desiring to merge approving an agreement
of merger containing provisions with respect to certain statutorily specified
matters and the approval of such agreement of merger by the stockholders of
each corporation by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all
the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote on such merger. The Shares
entitle the holders thereof to voting rights. In addition, the Certificate of
Incorporation of API states that the holders of Series B Preferred Shares are
entitled to voting rights with respect to a merger equal to that number of
Shares into which any such holder's Series B Preferred Shares would be
convertible as of the record date for a meeting of API stockholders at which a
merger would be voted.
The GCL also provides that, if a parent company owns at least 90% of each
class of stock of a subsidiary, the parent company can effect a short-form
merger with that subsidiary without the action of the other stockholders of the
subsidiary. Accordingly, if, as a result of the Offer or otherwise, the
Purchaser acquires or controls the voting power of at least 90% of the Shares,
the Purchaser could, and intends to, effect the Merger without prior notice to,
or any action by, any other API stockholder.
(f) Appraisal Rights. No appraisal rights are available in connection with
the Offer. However, if the Merger is consummated, API stockholders will have
certain rights under Section 262 of the GCL to dissent and demand appraisal of,
and payment in cash of the fair value of, Dissenting Shares. Such rights, if
the statutory procedures were complied with, could lead to a judicial
determination of the fair value (excluding any element of value arising from
the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger) required to be paid in cash to
such dissenting holders for their Dissenting Shares. Any such judicial
determination of the fair value of Dissenting Shares could be based upon
considerations other than, or in addition to, the price paid in the Offer and
the market value of the Dissenting Shares, including asset values and the
investment value of the Dissenting Shares. The value so determined could be
more or less than the purchase price per Share pursuant to the Offer or the
consideration per Share to be paid in the Merger.
In addition, several decisions by Delaware courts have held that, in certain
instances, a controlling stockholder of a corporation involved in a merger has
a fiduciary duty to the other stockholders that requires the merger to be fair
to such other stockholders. In determining whether a merger is fair to minority
stockholders, the Delaware courts have considered, among other things, the type
and amount of consideration to be received by the stockholders and whether
there were fair dealings among the parties. Although the remedies of rescission
or other damages are possible in an action challenging a merger as a breach of
fiduciary duty, decisions of the Delaware courts have indicated that in most
cases the remedy available in a merger that is found not to be "fair" to
minority stockholders is a damages remedy based on essentially the same
principles as an appraisal.
The foregoing summary of the rights of objecting stockholders does not
purport to be a complete statement of the procedures to be followed by API
stockholders desiring to exercise any available dissenters' rights.
The preservation and exercise of dissenters' rights require strict adherence
to the applicable provisions of the GCL.
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(g) Plans for API. In connection with the Offer, Danaher and the Purchaser
have reviewed and will continue to review various possible business strategies
that they might consider in the event that the Purchaser acquires control of
API, whether pursuant to this Offer, the Merger or otherwise. Such changes
could include, among other things, changes in API's business corporate
structure, capitalization and management. Danaher has publicly announced that,
while a final decision has not been made, Danaher would more likely than not
seek to find a buyer for the heat transfer business of the Surviving
Corporation.
(h) "Going Private" Transactions. The SEC has adopted Rule 13e-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act which is applicable to certain "going private"
transactions and which may, under certain circumstances, be applicable to the
Merger. However, Rule 13e-3 would be inapplicable if (a) the Shares are
deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act prior to the Merger or other
business combination or (b) the Merger or other business combination is
consummated within one year after the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the
Offer and the amount paid per Share in the Merger or other business combination
is at least equal to the amount paid per Share in the Offer. If applicable,
Rule 13e-3 requires, among other things, that certain financial information
concerning the fairness of the proposed transaction and the consideration
offered to minority stockholders in such transaction be filed with the SEC and
disclosed to stockholders prior to the consummation of the transaction.
12. Source and Amount of Funds.
The Purchaser estimates that the total amount of funds required to purchase
all outstanding Shares, other securities and rights pursuant to the Offer and
to pay related fees and expenses will be approximately $210 million. Danaher
will ensure that the Purchaser has sufficient funds to acquire all of the
outstanding Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Merger.
Danaher has possession of, or has available to it under existing lines of
credit, sufficient funds to close the Offer and the Merger, and will cause the
Purchaser to have sufficient funds available to close the Offer and the Merger.
13. Dividends and Distributions.
The Merger Agreement provides that, without the prior written consent of
Danaher, API will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, prior to
the Effective Time, (a) issue, reissue or sell, or authorize the issuance,
reissuance or sale of (1) additional shares of capital stock of any class, or
securities convertible into capital stock of any class, or any rights, warrants
or options to acquire any convertible securities or capital stock, other than
the issuance of Shares (and the related preferred share purchase rights), in
accordance with the terms of the instruments governing such issuance on
February 15, 2000, pursuant to the exercise of options outstanding on that date
or (2) any other securities in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution for,
Shares outstanding as of February 15, 2000, or (b) make any other changes in
its capital structure, or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other
distribution (whether in cash, securities or property or any combination
thereof) in respect of any class or series of its capital stock other than
between API and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries.
14. Conditions of the Offer.
Conditions to the Offer. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Offer,
the Purchaser will not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c)
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act, pay for any tendered Shares, and
may terminate or, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, amend the
Offer, if (A) there will not be validly tendered and not properly withdrawn
prior to the Expiration Date for the Offer that number of Shares which
represents at least a majority of the total number of outstanding Shares on a
fully diluted basis on the date of purchase (not taking into account the
related preferred share purchase rights) and all of the Series B Preferred
Shares (the Minimum Condition), (B) any applicable waiting period under the HSR
Act or under any applicable foreign
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statutes or regulations will not have expired or been terminated prior to the
Expiration Date, or (C) at any time on or after February 15, 2000 and prior to
the time of acceptance for payment or payment for any Shares, any of the
following events (each, an "Event") will occur:
(a) there will be any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation,
legislation, interpretation, judgment, order or injunction enacted,
enforced, promulgated, amended, issued or deemed applicable to the Offer,
by any legislative body, court, government or governmental, administrative
or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, other than the
application of the waiting period provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer or
to the Merger, that, in the reasonable judgment of Danaher, would be
expected to, directly or indirectly: (1) make illegal or otherwise prohibit
or materially delay consummation of the Offer or the Merger or seek to
obtain material damages or make materially more costly the making of the
Offer, (2) prohibit or materially limit the ownership or operation by
Danaher or the Purchaser of all or any material portion of the business or
assets of API or any of its subsidiaries taken as a whole or compel Danaher
or the Purchaser to dispose of or hold separately all or any material
portion of the business or assets of Danaher or the Purchaser or API or any
of its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or seek to impose any material
limitation on the ability of Danaher or the Purchaser to conduct its
business or own such assets, (3) impose material limitations on the ability
of Danaher or the Purchaser effectively to acquire, hold or exercise full
rights of ownership of the Shares, including, without limitation, the right
to vote any Shares acquired or owned by the Purchaser or Danaher on all
matters properly presented to the API stockholders, (4) require divestiture
by Danaher or the Purchaser of any Shares, or (5) result in a material
adverse effect on API; or
(b) there will be instituted or pending any action or proceeding by any
governmental entity seeking, or that would reasonably be expected to result
in, any of the consequences referred to in clauses (1) through (5) of
paragraph (a) above or by any third party for which there is a substantial
likelihood of resulting in any of the consequences referred to in clauses
(1) through (5) of paragraph (a) above; or
(c) any change will have occurred (or any development will have occurred
involving prospective changes) in the business, assets, liabilities,
condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or results of operations of
API or any of its subsidiaries that has, or could reasonably be expected to
have, a material adverse effect on API; or
(d) (1) the API Board or any committee of the API Board will have
withdrawn, or will have modified or amended in a manner adverse to Danaher
or the Purchaser, the approval, adoption or recommendation, as the case may
be, of the Offer or the Merger Agreement, or shall have approved or
recommended any Acquisition Transaction, (2) a person shall have entered
into a definitive agreement or an agreement in principle with API with
respect to an Acquisition Transaction, or (3) the API Board or any
committee of the API Board will have resolved to do or enter into any of
the foregoing; or
(e) API, the Purchaser and Danaher will have reached an agreement that
the Offer or the Merger Agreement be terminated, or the Merger Agreement
will have been terminated in accordance with its terms; or
(f) any of the representations and warranties of API set forth in the
Merger Agreement, when read without any exception or qualification as to
materiality or material adverse effect on API, will not be true and
correct, as if those representations and warranties were made at the time
of such determination (except as to any such representation or warranty
which speaks as of a specific date, which must be untrue or incorrect as of
that specific date), except where the failure to be so true and correct
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (1)
have a material adverse effect on API, (2) prevent or materially delay the
consummation of the Offer, (3) materially increase the cost of the Offer to
the Purchaser or (4) have a material adverse effect on the benefits to
Danaher of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; or
(g) API will have failed to perform in any material respect or to comply
in any material respect with any of its material obligations, covenants or
agreements under the Merger Agreement; or
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(h) there will have occurred, and continued to exist, (1) any general
suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on the
NYSE or on the over-the-counter stock market, as reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System, (2)
any decline of at least 25% in either the Dow Jones Average of Industrial
Stocks or the Standard & Poor's 500 Index from the close of business on the
last trading day immediately preceding the date of the Merger Agreement
through the applicable Expiration Date, (3) a declaration of a banking
moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United
States, or (4) a commencement of a war, armed hostilities or other national
or international crisis involving the United States or a material
limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any governmental entity on the
extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions; or
(i) those consents required upon a change in control, or otherwise as a
result of the closing of the Offer or the Merger, under any credit
agreement, letter of credit or reimbursement agreement with outstanding
indebtedness in excess of $5,000,000 will not have been obtained.
The foregoing conditions (including those set forth in clauses (A) and (B)
of the initial paragraph) are for the benefit of Danaher and the Purchaser and
may be asserted by Danaher or the Purchaser regardless of the circumstances
giving rise to any such conditions, and may be waived by Danaher or the
Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, in each case,
in the exercise of the reasonable discretion of Danaher and the Purchaser and
subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement. The failure by Danaher or the
Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be
deemed a waiver of any such right and each such right shall be deemed an
ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
A public announcement may be made of a material change in, or waiver of,
such conditions and the Offer may, in certain circumstances, be extended in
connection with any such change or waiver.
15. Legal Matters; Required Regulatory Approvals.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, based on our review of
publicly available filings by API with the SEC and other information regarding
API, we are not aware of any licenses or regulatory permits that appear to be
material to the business of API and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and
that might be adversely affected by our acquisition of Shares in the Offer. In
addition, we are not aware of any filings, approvals or other actions by or
with any governmental authority or administrative or regulatory agency that
would be required for our acquisition or ownership of the Shares. Should any
such approval or other action be required, we expect to seek such approval or
action, except as described under "State Takeover Laws." Should any such
approval or other action be required, we cannot be certain that we would be
able to obtain any such approval or action without substantial conditions or
that adverse consequences might not result to API's or its subsidiaries'
businesses, or that certain parts of API's, Danaher's, the Purchaser's or any
of their respective subsidiaries' businesses might not have to be disposed of
or held separate in order to obtain such approval or action. In that event, we
may not be required to purchase any Shares in the Offer. See Introduction and
Section 14 for a description of the conditions to the Offer.
State Takeover Laws. A number of states (including Delaware, where API is
incorporated) have adopted takeover laws and regulations that purport to be
applicable to attempts to acquire securities of corporations that are
incorporated in those states or that have substantial assets, stockholders,
principal executive offices or principal places of business in those states. To
the extent that these state takeover statutes purport to apply to the Offer or
the Merger, we believe that those laws conflict with U.S. federal law and are
an unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce. In 1982, the Supreme Court
of the United States, in Edgar v. Mite Corp., invalidated on constitutional
grounds the Illinois Business Takeovers Statute, which, as a matter of state
securities law, made takeovers of corporations meeting certain requirements
more difficult. The reasoning in that decision is likely to apply to certain
other state takeover statutes. In 1987, however, in CTS Corp. v. Dynamics Corp.
of America, the Supreme Court of the United States held that the State of
Indiana could, as a matter of corporate law and, in particular, those aspects
of corporate law concerning corporate governance, constitutionally disqualify a
potential acquiror from voting on the affairs of a target corporation without
the
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prior approval of the remaining stockholders, as long as those laws were
applicable only under certain conditions. Subsequently, in TLX Acquisition
Corp. v. Telex Corp., a federal district court in Oklahoma ruled that the
Oklahoma statutes were unconstitutional insofar as they apply to corporations
incorporated outside Oklahoma because they would subject those corporations to
inconsistent regulations. Similarly, in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. McReynolds, a
federal district court in Tennessee ruled that four Tennessee takeover statutes
were unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside
Tennessee. This decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for
the Sixth Circuit. In December 1988, a federal district court in Florida held,
in Grand Metropolitan PLC v. Butterworth, that the provisions of the Florida
Affiliated Transactions Act and the Florida Control Share Acquisition Act were
unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside of Florida.
We have not attempted to comply with any state takeover statutes in
connection with the Offer or the Merger. We reserve the right to challenge the
validity or applicability of any state law allegedly applicable to the Offer or
the Merger, and nothing in this Offer to Purchase nor any action that we take
in connection with the Offer is intended as a waiver of that right. In the
event that it is asserted that one or more takeover statutes apply to the Offer
or the Merger, and it is not determined by an appropriate court that the
statutes in question do not apply or are invalid as applied to the Offer or the
Merger, as applicable, we may be required to file certain documents with, or
receive approvals from, the relevant state authorities, and we might be unable
to accept for payment or purchase Shares tendered in the Offer or be delayed in
continuing or consummating the Offer. In that case, we may not be obligated to
accept for purchase, or pay for, any Shares tendered. See Section 14.
Antitrust. Under the HSR Act, and the related rules and regulations that
have been issued by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC"), certain
acquisition transactions may not be consummated until certain information and
documentary material has been furnished for review by the FTC and the Antitrust
Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the "Antitrust Division") and
certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied. These requirements
apply to our acquisition of Shares in the Offer and the Merger.
Under the HSR Act, the purchase of Shares in the Offer may not be completed
until the expiration of a 15-calendar-day waiting period following the filing
of certain required information and documentary material concerning the Offer
with the FTC and the Antitrust Division, unless the waiting period is earlier
terminated by the FTC and the Antitrust Division. We filed a Premerger
Notification and Report Form under the HSR Act with the FTC and the Antitrust
Division in connection with the purchase of Shares in the Offer and the Merger
on February 18, 2000, and the required waiting period with respect to the Offer
and the Merger will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on March 4, 2000,
unless earlier terminated by the FTC or the Antitrust Division or we receive a
request for additional information or documentary material prior to that time.
If, within the 15-calendar-day waiting period, either the FTC or the Antitrust
Division requests additional information or documentary material from us, the
waiting period with respect to the Offer and the Merger would be extended for
an additional period of 10 calendar days following the date of our substantial
compliance with that request. Only one extension of the waiting period pursuant
to a request for additional information is authorized by the HSR rules. After
that time, the waiting period could be extended only by court order or with our
consent. The FTC or the Antitrust Division may terminate the additional 10-
calendar-day waiting period before its expiration. In practice, complying with
a request for additional information or documentary material can take a
significant period of time. Although API is required to file certain
information and documentary material with the FTC and the Antitrust Division in
connection with the Offer, neither API's failure to make those filings nor a
request made to API from the FTC or the Antitrust Division for additional
information or documentary material will extend the waiting period with respect
to the purchase of Shares in the Offer and the Merger.
The FTC and the Antitrust Division frequently scrutinize the legality under
the antitrust laws of transactions, such as our acquisition of Shares in the
Offer and the Merger. At any time before or after our purchase of Shares, the
FTC or the Antitrust Division could take any action under the antitrust laws
that either considers necessary or desirable in the public interest, including
seeking to enjoin the purchase of Shares in the
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Offer and the Merger, the divestiture of Shares purchased in the Offer or the
divestiture of substantial assets of Danaher, the Purchaser, API or any of
their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Private parties as well as state
attorneys general may also bring legal actions under the antitrust laws under
certain circumstances. See Section 14.
Based upon an examination of publicly available information relating to the
businesses in which API is engaged, we believe that the acquisition of Shares
in the Offer and the Merger should not violate the applicable antitrust laws.
Nevertheless, we cannot be certain that a challenge to the Offer and the Merger
on antitrust grounds will not be made, or, if such challenge is made, what the
result will be. See Section 14.
Foreign Approvals. According to publicly available information, API owns
property and conducts business in a number of other foreign countries and
jurisdictions. In connection with the acquisition of the Shares in the Offer or
the Merger, the laws of certain of those foreign countries and jurisdictions
may require the filing of information with, or the obtaining of the approval or
consent of, governmental authorities in such countries and jurisdictions. The
governments in those countries and jurisdictions might attempt to impose
additional conditions on the Surviving Corporation's operations conducted in
those countries and jurisdictions as a result of the acquisition of the Shares
in the Offer or the Merger. If such approvals or consents are found to be
required the parties intend to make the appropriate filings and applications.
In the event such a filing or application is made for the requisite foreign
approvals or consents, we cannot be certain that such approvals or consents
will be granted, and, if such approvals or consents are received, we cannot be
certain as to the date of those approvals or consents. In addition, we cannot
be certain that we will be able to cause API or its subsidiaries to satisfy or
comply with those laws or that compliance or noncompliance will not have
adverse consequences for API or any subsidiary after purchase of the Shares
pursuant to the Offer or the Merger.
16. Fees and Expenses.
ING Barings LLC is acting as the Dealer Manager in connection with the Offer
and has provided certain financial advisory services to Danaher in connection
with the Offer and the Merger. We will pay the Dealer Manager's reasonable and
customary compensation for such services, plus reimbursement for reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses. We have agreed to indemnify the Dealer Manager against
certain liabilities in connection with its services as financial advisor to
Danaher in connection with the acquisition of API, including its services as
Dealer Manager, and including certain liabilities under the U.S. federal
securities laws. At any time, the Dealer Manager may trade the Shares for its
own account or for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may hold a long
or short position in the Shares.
We have retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. as Information Agent in connection
with the Offer. The Information Agent may contact holders of Shares by mail,
telephone, telex, telegraph and personal interview and may request brokers,
dealers and other nominee stockholders to forward material relating to the
Offer to beneficial owners of Shares. We will pay the Information Agent
reasonable and customary compensation for these services in addition to
reimbursing the Information Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We
have agreed to indemnify the Information Agent against certain liabilities and
expenses in connection with the Offer, including certain liabilities under the
U.S. federal securities laws.
In addition, we have retained SunTrust Bank as the Depositary. We will pay
the Depositary reasonable and customary compensation for its services in
connection with the Offer, will reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses, and will indemnify the Depositary against certain
liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the U.S. federal
securities laws.
Except as set forth above, we will not pay any fees or commissions to any
broker, dealer or other person for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the
Offer. We will reimburse brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies
and other nominees, upon request, for customary clerical and mailing expenses
incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers.
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17. Miscellaneous.
We are not aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Offer is
prohibited by any administrative or judicial action pursuant to any valid state
statute. If we become aware of any valid state statute prohibiting the making
of the Offer or the acceptance of the Shares, we will make a good faith effort
to comply with that state statute. If, after a good faith effort, we cannot
comply with the state statute, we will not make the Offer to, nor will we
accept tenders from or on behalf of, the holders of Shares in that state.
We have filed with the SEC a Schedule TO, together with exhibits, furnishing
certain additional information with respect to the Offer, and may file
amendments to our Schedule TO. Our Schedule TO and any exhibits or amendments
may be examined and copies may be obtained from the SEC in the same manner as
described in Section 8 with respect to information concerning API, except that
copies will not be available at the regional offices of the SEC.
We have not authorized any person to give any information or to make any
representation on our behalf not contained in this Offer to Purchase or in the
Letter of Transmittal, and, if given or made, you should not rely on any such
information or representation as having been authorized.
Neither the delivery of the Offer to Purchase nor any purchase pursuant to
the Offer will under any circumstances create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of Danaher, the Purchaser, API or any of their
respective subsidiaries since the date as of which information is furnished or
the date of this Offer to Purchase.
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
February 24, 2000
27
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF DANAHER AND THE PURCHASER
Directors and executive officers of Danaher. The following table sets forth
the name and present principal occupation or employment, and material
occupations, positions, offices or employments for the past five years of each
director and executive officer of Danaher. Unless otherwise indicated below,
each occupation set forth opposite each person refers to employment with
Danaher. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each such person
is c/o Danaher, at 1250 24th Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20037,
and each such person is a citizen of the United States of America.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Occupation and
Name Five-Year Employment History
------------------------ ----------------------------------------
<C> <C> <S>
1. Directors of Danaher Mortimer M. Caplin Senior Member of Caplin & Drysdale, a
law firm in Washington, D.C., for over
five years; Director of Fairchild
Corporation and Presidential Realty
Corporation. Caplin & Drysdale, One
Thomas Circle NW, Suite 1100,
Washington, DC 20005
Donald J. Ehrlich President, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Wabash National Corp. for
over five years; Director of Indiana
Secondary Market for Educational Loans,
Inc. and INB National Bank, N.W. Wabash
National Corp., 1000 Sagamore Parkway
South, Lafayette, IN 47905
Walter G. Lohr, Jr. Partner of Hogan & Hartson, a law firm
in Baltimore, Maryland, for over five
years. Hogan & Hartson, 111 S. Calvert
Street, Suite 1600, Baltimore, MD 21202-
6191
Mitchell P. Rales Principal in a number of private
business entities with interests in
manufacturing companies, media
operations and publicly traded
securities. Director of Imo Industries
Inc.
Steven M. Rales Chairman of the Board of Danaher for
over five years; principal in a number
of private business entities with
interests in manufacturing companies,
media operations and publicly traded
securities. Director of Imo Industries
Inc.
George M. Sherman President and Chief Executive Officer of
Danaher for over five years; director of
Campbell Soup Company.
Alan G. Spoon President of the Washington Post Company
for over
five years. The Washington Post Company,
1150 15th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.,
20071
A. Emmet Stephenson, Jr. President of Stephenson and Co., a
private investment firm in Denver,
Colorado for more than five years;
Chairman of StarTek, Inc. for more than
five years. Stephenson and Company, 100
Garfield Street, Denver, CO 80206.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date
Became
Executive
Name Present Title Officer
---------------------- ------------------------ ---------
<C> <C> <S> <C>
2. Executive Officers of Patrick W. Allender Executive Vice 1987
Danaher President, Chief
Financial Officer and
Secretary
William J. Butler Vice President and Group 1999
Executive
Dennis D. Claramunt Vice President and Group 1994
Executive
Daniel L. Comas Vice President-- 1996
Corporate Development
H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. Executive Vice President 1995
Mark C. DeLuzio Vice President--Danaher 1996
Business Systems
James H. Ditkoff Vice President--Finance 1991
and Tax
Thomas S. Gross Vice President and Group 1999
Executive
Elmar P. Illek Vice President and Group 1999
Executive
Dennis A. Longo Vice President--Human 1997
Resources
Christopher C. McMahon Vice President and 1999
Controller
Brian M. McNeill Executive Vice President 1999
George M. Sherman President and Chief 1990
Executive Officer
Steven E. Simms Executive Vice President 1996
Uldis K. Sipols Vice President-- 1999
Procurement
</TABLE>
Directors and executive officers of the Purchaser. The following table sets
forth the name and present principal occupation or employment, and material
occupations, positions, offices or employments for the past five years of each
director and executive officer of the Purchaser. Unless otherwise indicated
below, each occupation set forth opposite each person refers to employment with
Danaher. The business address of each such person is c/o Danaher, at 1250 24th
Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20037, and each such person is a
citizen of the United States of America.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Occupation and
Five-
Name Year Employment History
---------------------------- ------------------------
<C> <C> <S>
1. Directors and Executive Patrick W. Allender Executive Vice
Officers of the Purchaser Vice President and Secretary President, Chief
Financial Officer and
Secretary of Danaher
since November 1999;
previously Senior Vice
President, Chief
Financial Officer and
Secretary of Danaher.
Daniel L. Comas Vice President--
Vice President Corporate Development
since 1996; previously
Director--Corporate
Development of Danaher
for over five years.
George M. Sherman President and Chief
President Executive Officer of
Danaher for over five
years.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Facsimile copies of Letters of Transmittal, properly completed and duly
executed, will be accepted. The appropriate Letter of Transmittal, Share
Certificates and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by
each API stockholder or such API stockholder's broker, dealer, commercial bank,
trust company or other nominee to the Depositary at one of its addresses set
forth below:
The Depositary for the Offer is:
SunTrust Bank
Facsimile for Eligible By Mail: By Overnight Courier:
Institutions: SunTrust Bank SunTrust Bank
Post Office Box 4625 Stock Transfer
404-865-5371 Atlanta, Georgia 30302 Department
58 Edgewood Avenue
Confirm by Telephone: Room 225, Annex
Atlanta, Georgia
1-800-568-3476 30303
You may direct questions and requests for assistance to the Information
Agent at its address and telephone number set forth below. You may obtain
additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and
other tender offer materials from the Information Agent as set forth below, and
they will be furnished promptly at our expense. You may also contact your
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance
concerning the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
77 Water Street
New York, New York 10005
Banks and Brokers Call Collect (212) 269-5550
All Others Call Toll Free (800) 994-3227
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (a)(2)
Letter of Transmittal
to Tender Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
of
American Precision Industries Inc.
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase
Dated February 24, 2000
by
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Danaher Corporation
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK
CITY TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2000, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED
The Depositary for the Offer is:
SunTrust Bank
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Facsimile for Eligible By Mail: By Overnight Courier:
<S> <C> <C>
Institutions:
SunTrust BankPost Office SunTrust Bank
404-865-5371 Box 4625 Atlanta, Georgia 30302 Stock Transfer Department
58 Edgewood AvenueRoom 225, Annex
Confirm by Telephone: Atlanta, Georgia 30303
1-800-568-3476
</TABLE>
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH
ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSIONS OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER OTHER THAN AS
SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by stockholders, either if
Share Certificates (as defined below) are to be forwarded herewith or, unless
an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase, as referred to below)
is utilized, if tenders of Shares are to be made by book-entry transfer into
the account of SunTrust Bank, as Depositary (the "Depositary"), at The
Depository Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility" or "DTC") pursuant
to the procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Stockholders
who tender Shares by book-entry transfer are referred to herein as "Book-Entry
Stockholders."
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)
(Please Fill In, if Blank, Exactly as Name(s) Share Certificate(s) and Shares Tendered
Appear(s) on Certificate(s)) (Attach Additional Signed List if Necessary)*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Number of
Shares Shares Number of
Certificate Represented by Shares
Number(s)* Certificate(s) Tendered**
<S> <C> <C> <C>
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
Total Shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Need not be completed by Book-Entry Stockholders.
** Unless otherwise indicated, all Shares represented by Share Certificates
delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered. See
Instruction 4.
<PAGE>
Holders of outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.66 2/3 per
share, including associated preferred share purchase rights ("Shares"), whose
certificates for such Shares (the "Share Certificates") are not immediately
available or who cannot deliver their Share Certificates and all other required
documents to the Depositary on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in
the Offer to Purchase), or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry
transfer on a timely basis, must tender their Shares according to the
guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.
See Instruction 2. Delivery of documents to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.
NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
[_]CHECK HERE IF SHARES ARE BEING TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO AN
ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY
AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (ONLY PARTICIPANTS IN THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
FACILITY MAY DELIVER SHARES BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER):
Name of Tendering Institution: _________________________________________
Account Number: ________________________________________________________
Transaction Code Number: _______________________________________________
[_]CHECK HERE IF SHARES ARE BEING TENDERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED
DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Name(s) of Registered Owner(s): ________________________________________
Window Ticket Number (if any): _________________________________________
Date of execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: ____________________
Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery: __________________________
Account Number: ________________________________________________________
Transaction Code Number: _______________________________________________
<PAGE>
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to Alpha Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Purchaser"), and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Danaher"), the above-described shares of
common stock, par value $0.66 2/3 per share (the "Shares"), of American
Precision Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation ("API"), at a purchase price
of $19.25 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase,
dated February 24, 2000 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in this Letter of
Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the
"Offer"). The undersigned understands that the Purchaser reserves the right to
transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of
its affiliates the right to purchase all or any portion of the Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer.
Subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Shares
tendered herewith in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned
hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Purchaser all
right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares that are being tendered
hereby and any and all dividends, distributions, rights, other Shares or other
securities issued, paid or distributed or issuable, payable or distributable in
respect of such Shares on or after February 24, 2000 and prior to the transfer
to the name of the Purchaser (or a nominee or transferee of the Purchaser) on
API's stock transfer records of the Shares tendered herewith (collectively, a
"Distribution"), and appoints the Depositary the true and lawful agent,
attorney-in-fact and proxy of the undersigned with respect to such Shares (and
any Distribution), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney
being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (a)
deliver such Share Certificates (and any Distribution) or transfer ownership of
such Shares (and any Distribution) on the account books maintained by the Book-
Entry Transfer Facility, together, in either case, with appropriate evidences
of transfer, to the Depositary for the account of the Purchaser, (b) present
such Shares (and any Distribution) for transfer on the books of API and (c)
receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership
of such Shares (and any Distribution), all in accordance with the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer.
The undersigned irrevocably appoints designees of the Purchaser as such
undersigned's agents, attorneys-in-fact and proxies, with full power of
substitution, to the full extent of such stockholder's rights with respect to
the Shares (and any Distribution) tendered by such stockholder and accepted for
payment by the Purchaser. All such powers of attorney and proxies shall be
considered irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Such appointment will be
effective when, and only to the extent that, the Purchaser accepts such Shares
for payment. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior attorneys, proxies and
consents given by such stockholder with respect to such Shares (and any
Distribution) will be revoked without further action, and no subsequent powers
of attorney and proxies may be given nor any subsequent written consents
executed (and, if given or executed, will not be deemed effective). The
designees of the Purchaser will, with respect to the Shares (and Distributions)
for which such appointment is effective, be empowered to exercise all voting
and other rights of such stockholder as they in their sole discretion may deem
proper at any annual or special meeting of API stockholders or any adjournment
or postponement thereof, by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or
otherwise. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for the
Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the Purchaser's payment
for such Shares, the Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting rights with
respect to such Shares and all Distributions, including, without limitation,
voting at any meeting of stockholders.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (a) the undersigned has
full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the undersigned's
Shares (and any Distribution) tendered hereby, and (b) when the Shares are
accepted for payment by the Purchaser, the Purchaser will acquire good,
marketable and unencumbered title to the Shares (and any Distribution), free
and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and the same
will not be subject to any adverse claim and will not have been transferred to
the Purchaser in violation of any contractual or other restriction on the
transfer thereof. The undersigned, upon request, will execute and deliver any
additional documents deemed by the Depositary or the Purchaser to be necessary
or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares
tendered hereby (and any Distribution). In addition, the undersigned shall
promptly remit and transfer to the Depositary for the account of Purchaser any
and all Distributions in respect of the Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by
appropriate documentation of transfer, and, pending such remittance or
appropriate assurance thereof, the Purchaser will be, subject to applicable
law, entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of any such Distribution
and may withhold the entire purchase price or deduct from the purchase price
the amount or value thereof, as determined by the Purchaser, in its sole
discretion.
3
<PAGE>
All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall not be
affected by and shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and
any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs,
personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
Tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable, except that
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the
Expiration Date, and, unless theretofore accepted for payment by the Purchaser
pursuant to the Offer, may also be withdrawn at any time after April 23, 2000.
See Section 4 of the Offer to Purchase.
The undersigned understands that tenders of Shares pursuant to any of the
procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and in the
instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned
and the Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Offer, including the undersigned's representation that the undersigned owns the
Shares being tendered.
Unless otherwise indicated herein under "Special Payment Instructions,"
please issue the check for the purchase price and/or issue or return any
certificate(s) for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment in the
name(s) of the registered holder(s) appearing under "Description of Shares
Tendered." Similarly, unless otherwise indicated herein under "Special Delivery
Instructions," please mail the check for the purchase price and/or any Share
Certificate(s) not tendered or not accepted for payment (and accompanying
documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s)
appearing under "Description of Shares Tendered." In the event that both the
"Special Delivery Instructions" and the "Special Payment Instructions" are
completed, please issue the check for the purchase price and/or any Share
Certificate(s) not tendered or accepted for payment in the name of, and deliver
such check and/or such Share Certificates to, the person or persons so
indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein under "Special Payment
Instructions," please credit any Shares tendered herewith by book-entry
transfer that are not accepted for payment by crediting the account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility designated above. The undersigned recognizes that
the Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions,
to transfer any Shares from the name(s) of the registered holder(s) thereof if
the Purchaser does not accept for payment any of the Shares so tendered.
[_]CHECK HERE IF ANY SHARE CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES THAT YOU OWN HAVE
BEEN LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED AND SEE INSTRUCTION 11
Number of Shares represented by lost, stolen or destroyed Share
Certificates:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4
<PAGE>
SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7)
(See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7)
To be completed ONLY if Share To be completed ONLY if Share
Certificate(s) not tendered or not Certificate(s) not tendered or not
accepted for payment and/or the accepted for payment and/or the
check for the purchase price of check for the purchase price of
Shares accepted for payment are to Shares accepted for payment are to
be issued in the name of someone be sent to someone other than the
other than the undersigned or if undersigned or to the undersigned
Shares tendered by book-entry at an address other than that shown
transfer which are not accepted for above.
payment are to be returned by
credit to an account maintained at Mail: [_] check
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility [_] certificates to:
other than that designated above.
Name _______________________________
(Please Print)
Issue: [_] check Address ____________________________
[_] certificates to: ------------------------------------
(Include Zip Code)
Name _______________________________ ------------------------------------
(Please Print) (Tax ID. or Social Security No.)
(See Substitute Form W-9)
Address ____________________________
------------------------------------
(Include Zip Code)
------------------------------------
(Tax ID. or Social Security No.)
(See Substitute Form W-9)
[_]Credit Shares tendered by book-
entry transfer that are not
accepted for payment to DTC to
the account set forth below
------------------------------------
(DTC Account No.)
------------------------------------
------------------------------------
------------------------------------
5
<PAGE>
SIGN HERE
(and Complete Substitute Form W-9)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Signature(s) of Stockholder(s))
Dated: _________________ , 2000
(Must be signed by the registered holder(s) exactly
as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificate(s) or on
a security position listing or by person(s)
authorized to become registered holder(s) by Share
Certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If
signature is by trustees, executors,
administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a
fiduciary or representative capacity, please
provide the following information and see
Instruction 5.)
Name(s)_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Please Print)
Capacity (full title)_______________________________
Address_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Include Zip Code)
Area Code and Telephone Number _____________________
Tax Identification or
Social Security No. ________________________________
(See Substitute Form W-9)
Guarantee of Signature(s) (See Instructions 1 and 5)
Authorized Signature _______________________________
Name _______________________________________________
(Please Print)
Name of Firm _______________________________________
Address ____________________________________________
(Include Zip Code)
Area Code and Telephone Number _____________________
Dated: ________________ , 2000
6
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
1. Guarantee of Signatures. No signature guarantee is required on this
Letter of Transmittal (a) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the
registered holder(s) of Shares (which term, for purposes of this document,
shall include any participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name
appears on a security position listing as the owner of Shares) tendered
herewith, unless such holder(s) has completed either the box entitled "Special
Payment Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions," or
(b) if such Shares are tendered for the account of a firm which is a bank,
broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity which is a
member in good standing of a recognized Medallion Program approved by the
Securities Transfer Association Inc., including the Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program (STAMP), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) and the
New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP) or any other
"eligible guarantor institution" (as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (each of the foregoing, an
"Eligible Institution"). In all other cases, all signatures on this Letter of
Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5 of
this Letter of Transmittal.
2. Requirements of Tender. This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by
stockholders either if Share Certificates are to be forwarded herewith or,
unless an Agent's Message is utilized, if tenders are to be made pursuant to
the procedure for tender by book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of the
Offer to Purchase. Share Certificates evidencing tendered Shares, or timely
confirmation (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") of a book-entry transfer of Shares
into the Depositary's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, as well as
this Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile hereof), properly completed and duly
executed, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message in
connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other documents required by this
Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at one of its
addresses set forth herein on or prior to the Expiration Date. Stockholders
whose Share Certificates are not immediately available or who cannot deliver
their Share Certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary on
or prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedure for
delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis may tender their Shares by
properly completing and duly executing a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant
to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to
Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure: (a) such tender must be made by or
through an Eligible Institution; (b) a properly completed and duly executed
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form made available by the
Purchaser, must be received by the Depositary on or prior to the Expiration
Date; and (c) the Share Certificates (or a Book-Entry Confirmation)
representing all tendered Shares in proper form for transfer, in each case,
together with this Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly
completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees (or, in the
case of a book-entry delivery, an Agent's Message) and any other documents
required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary
within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution
of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. If Share Certificates are forwarded
separately in multiple deliveries to the Depositary, a properly completed and
duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) must accompany
each such delivery.
The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, Share Certificates and
all other required documents, including delivery through the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility, is at the option and risk of the tendering stockholder, and
the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary
(including, in the case of book-entry transfer, by Book-Entry Confirmation). If
delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly
insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to
ensure timely delivery.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no
fractional Shares will be purchased. All tendering stockholders, by execution
of this Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile hereof), waive any right to
receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.
3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided herein is inadequate, the Share
Certificate numbers and/or the number of Shares and any other required
information should be listed on a separate signed schedule attached hereto.
7
<PAGE>
4. Partial Tenders. (Not Applicable to Book-Entry Stockholders) If fewer
than all the Shares evidenced by any Share Certificate submitted are to be
tendered, fill in the number of Shares which are to be tendered in the box
entitled "Number of Shares Tendered" in the "Description of Shares Tendered."
In such cases, new Share Certificates for the Shares that were evidenced by
your old Share Certificates, but were not tendered by you, will be sent to you,
unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal,
as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date. All Shares represented by
Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been
tendered unless otherwise indicated.
5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal, Stock Powers and Endorsements. If
this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares
tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written
on the face of the Share Certificate(s) without alteration, enlargement or any
change whatsoever.
If any of the Shares tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more
joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If any of
the tendered Shares are registered in different names on several Share
Certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many
separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Share
Certificates.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any Share Certificates or stock powers are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence
satisfactory to the Purchaser of their authority so to act must be submitted.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the
Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsements of Share Certificates or
separate stock powers are required unless payment is to be made to or Share
Certificates for Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in the
name of a person other than the registered holder(s). In such latter case,
signatures on such Share Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an
Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered holder(s) of the Share Certificate(s) listed, the Share
Certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in
either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear on
the Share Certificate(s). Signatures on such certificates or stock powers must
be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
6. Stock Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6,
the Purchaser will pay any stock transfer taxes with respect to the transfer
and sale of Shares to it or its order pursuant to the Offer. If, however,
payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or if Share Certificate(s) for
Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be registered in the name
of, any person other than the registered holder(s), or if tendered Share
Certificate(s) are registered in the name of any person other than the
person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock transfer
taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s) or such person) payable on
account of the transfer to such person will be deducted from the purchase price
unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes or an exemption
therefrom, is submitted.
Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary
for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Share Certificate(s) listed in
this Letter of Transmittal.
7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check is to be issued in
the name of, and/or Share Certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted
for payment are to be issued or returned to, a person other than the signer of
this Letter of Transmittal or if a check and/or such Share Certificates are to
be returned to a person other than the person(s) signing this Letter of
Transmittal or to an address other than that shown in this Letter of
Transmittal, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal must be
completed. A Book-Entry Stockholder may request that Shares not accepted for
payment be credited to such account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility as such Book-Entry Stockholder may designate under "Special Payment
Instructions." If no such instructions are given, such Shares not accepted for
payment will be returned by crediting the account at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility designated above.
8. Waiver of Conditions. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger
Agreement (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), the conditions of the Offer
(other than the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase) may be
waived by the Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time
in its sole discretion.
8
<PAGE>
9. 31% Backup Withholding; Substitute Form W-9. Under U.S. federal income
tax law, a stockholder who tenders Shares pursuant to the Offer is required to
provide the Depositary with such stockholder's correct taxpayer identification
number ("TIN") on Substitute Form W-9 and to certify that the TIN provided on
Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that such stockholder is awaiting a TIN). If
such stockholder is an individual, the TIN is his or her social security
number. If the Depositary is not provided with the correct TIN, such
stockholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue
Service and payments that are made to such stockholder with respect to Shares
pursuant to the Offer may be subject to backup withholding (see below).
A stockholder who does not have a TIN may check the box in Part 3 of the
Substitute Form W-9 if such stockholder has applied for a number or intends to
apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 3 is checked, the
stockholder must also complete the "Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer
Identification Number" below in order to avoid backup withholding. If the box
is checked, payments made will be subject to backup withholding unless the
stockholder has furnished the Depositary with his or her TIN within 60 days. A
stockholder who checks the box in Part 3 in lieu of furnishing such
stockholder's TIN should furnish the Depositary with such stockholder's TIN as
soon as it is received.
Certain stockholders (including, among others, all corporations and certain
foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding requirements.
In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an exempt recipient, that
stockholder must submit a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, attesting
to that individual's exempt status (Form W-8). Forms for such statements can be
obtained from the Depositary. Stockholders are urged to consult their own tax
advisors to determine whether they are exempt from these backup withholding and
reporting requirements.
If backup withholding applies, the Depositary is required to withhold 31% of
any payments to be made to the stockholder. Backup withholding is not an
additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup
withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding
results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained by filing a tax
return with the Internal Revenue Service. The Depositary cannot refund amounts
withheld by reason of backup withholding.
10. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions or requests for
assistance may be directed to the Dealer Manager or the Information Agent at
their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth below. Additional
copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery also may be obtained from the Information Agent or the
Dealer Manager or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies.
11. Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates. If any Share Certificate has
been lost, destroyed or stolen, the stockholder should promptly notify the
Depositary. The stockholder then will be instructed as to the steps that must
be taken in order to replace the Share Certificate. This Letter of Transmittal
and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing
lost or destroyed Share Certificates have been followed.
Important: This Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile hereof), together with
Share Certificates or confirmation of book-entry transfer or the notice of
guaranteed delivery, and all other required documents, must be received by the
Depositary on or prior to the Expiration Date.
9
<PAGE>
PAYER'S NAME: SunTrust Bank, as Depositary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 1--Please provide your Social Security Number
TIN in the box at the right OR
and certify by signing and
dating below.
SUBSTITUTE Employer Identification
Form W-9 Number
Part 2--Certification--Under penalties of perjury, I
certify that:
Department of (1) The number shown on this form is
the Treasury my correct Taxpayer Identification
Internal Number (or I am waiting for a number
Revenue to be issued to me) and
Service -----------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
Awaiting
TIN [_]
Payer's Request for Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") ----------------
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding because
(a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I
have not been notified by the Internal Revenue
Service (the "IRS") that I am subject to backup
withholding as a result of a failure to report all
interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me
that I am no longer subject to backup withholding.
--------------------------------------------------------
Certification instructions--You must cross out item
(2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that
you are subject to backup withholding because of
under-reporting interest or dividends on your tax
return. However, if after being notified by the IRS
that you were subject to backup withholding you
received another notification from the IRS stating
that you are no longer subject to backup withholding,
do not cross out such item (2).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature _______________________________________ Date ____________________
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING
OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW
THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED THE BOX IN
PART 3 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.
CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number
has not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an
application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate
Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office, or
(b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I
understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the
time of payment, 31% of all reportable payments made to me will be withheld.
Signature _______________________________________ ___________________________
Date _______________
10
<PAGE>
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
77 Water Street
New York, New York 10005
Bankers and Brokers Call Collect (212) 269-5550
All Others Call Toll Free (800) 994-3227
The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
ING Barings LLC
55 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10055
Call Collect (212) 409-6763
February 24, 2000
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (a)(3)
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
to
Tender Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
of
AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES INC.
to
ALPHA ACQUISITION I CORP.
a wholly-owned subsidiary of
DANAHER CORPORATION
(Not to be Used for Signature Guarantees)
This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or one substantially equivalent hereto
must be used to accept the Offer (as defined below) if certificates for Shares
(as defined below) are not immediately available or the certificates for Shares
and all other required documents cannot be delivered to SunTrust Bank (the
"Depositary") on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to
Purchase) or if the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer cannot be
completed on a timely basis. This instrument may be delivered by hand or
transmitted by facsimile transmission or mailed to the Depositary. See Section
3 of the Offer to Purchase.
The Depositary for the Offer is:
SUNTRUST BANK
Facsimile for Eligible
Institutions: By Mail: By Overnight Courier:
404-865-5371 SunTrust Bank SunTrust Bank
Post Office Box 4625 Stock Transfer Department
Confirm by Telephone: Atlanta, Georgia 30302 58 Edgewood Avenue
1-800-568-3476 Room 225, Annex
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Delivery of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to an address other than as
set forth above or transmission of instructions via facsimile transmission
other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery to the
Depositary.
This form is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a
Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution
under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the
applicable space provided in the signature box in the Letter of Transmittal.
The guarantee on the reverse side must be completed.
<PAGE>
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tender(s) to Alpha Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Offer to Purchase, dated February 24, 2000 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in
the related Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time,
together constitute the "Offer"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
number of shares of common stock, par value $0.66 2/3 per share (the "Shares"),
of American Precision Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation, indicated below
pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the
Offer to Purchase.
Number of Tendered Shares: Name(s) of Record Holder(s):
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Certificate No.(s) (if available): (Please Print)
-----------------------------------
----------------------------------- Address(es): ______________________
---------------------------
Check box if Shares will be (Zip Code)
tendered by book-entry
transfer: [_]
Area Code and Telephone No.(s): ___
Name of Tendering Institution: SIGN HERE
-----------------------------------
Signature(s): _____________________
Dated: ______________________, 2000
---------------------------
GUARANTEE
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
The undersigned, a firm which is a bank, broker, dealer, credit union,
savings association or other entity which is a member in good standing of a
recognized Medallion Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association
Inc., including the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), the
Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) and the New York Stock Exchange
Medallion Signature Program (MSP) or any other "eligible guarantor institution"
(as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended), guarantees to deliver to the Depositary either the
certificates evidencing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer, or a
Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) with respect to
such Shares, in either case, together with the Letter of Transmittal (or a
facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required
signature guarantees or an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to
Purchase) in the case of a book-entry delivery, and any other required
documents, all within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date
hereof.
The eligible guarantor institution that completes this form must communicate
the guarantee to the Depositary and must deliver the Letter of Transmittal and
Share Certificates to the Depositary within the time period indicated herein.
Failure to do so may result in financial loss to such eligible guarantor
institution.
Name of Firm: ______________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Zip Code)
Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________________________________________
(Please Print or Type)
Area Code and Telephone No.: _______________________________________________
Dated: _________________, 2000
NOTE: DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES WITH THIS NOTICE. SHARE CERTIFICATES
SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (a)(4)
Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
of
American Precision Industries Inc.
by
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
a wholly-owned subsidiary
of
Danaher Corporation
at $19.25 Net Per Share in Cash
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK
CITY TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2000, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
February 24, 2000
To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
Trust Companies and Other Nominees:
We have been appointed by Alpha Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware corporation
(the "Purchaser") and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Danaher"), to act as Dealer Manager in connection with
the Purchaser's offer to purchase for cash all the outstanding shares of common
stock, par value $0.66 2/3 per share (the "Shares"), of American Precision
Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation ("API"), at a purchase price of $19.25
per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated
February 24, 2000 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in the related Letter of
Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the
"Offer") enclosed herewith. Holders of Shares whose certificates for such
Shares (the "Share Certificates") are not immediately available or who cannot
deliver their Share Certificates and all other required documents to the
Depositary (as defined below) on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in
the Offer to Purchase), or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry
transfer on a timely basis, must tender their Shares according to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.
Please furnish copies of the enclosed materials to those of your clients for
whose accounts you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your
nominee.
Enclosed herewith for your information and forwarding to your clients are
copies of the following documents:
1. The Offer to Purchase, dated February 24, 2000.
2. The Letter of Transmittal to tender Shares for your use and for the
information of your clients. Facsimile copies of the Letter of Transmittal
may be used to tender Shares.
3. The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery for Shares to be used to accept the
Offer if Share Certificates are not immediately available or if such
certificates and all other required documents cannot be delivered to
SunTrust Bank (the "Depositary") on or prior to the Expiration Date or if
the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed by the Expiration
Date.
<PAGE>
4. The letter to stockholders of API from Kurt Wiedenhaupt, President
and Chief Executive Officer of API, accompanied by API's
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9.
5. A printed form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whose
accounts you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your
nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients' instructions with
regard to the Offer.
6. Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
Substitute Form W-9.
7. A return envelope addressed to SunTrust Bank, as Depositary.
Your prompt action is requested. We urge you to contact your clients as
promptly as possible. Please note that the Offer and withdrawal rights expire
at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Wednesday, March 22, 2000, unless the
Offer is extended.
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (1) there being validly
tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer a number of
Shares which represents at least a majority of the outstanding Shares on a
fully-diluted basis on the date of purchase and all of the Series B Seven
Percent (7%) Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(the "Series B Preferred Shares") and (2) all applicable waiting periods under
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, or under
any applicable foreign statutes or regulations having expired or been
terminated.
The Board of Directors of API, by the unanimous approval of all directors
present at a special meeting, has approved the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, and
determined that the terms of the Offer and the Merger are advisable and fair
to, and in the best interests of, the holders of the Shares and recommends that
the holders of the Shares tender their Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to the
Offer.
The Offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of February 15, 2000, among Danaher, the Purchaser and API (as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Merger Agreement"). The Merger
Agreement provides, among other things, for the making of the Offer by
Purchaser, and further provides that, following the completion of the Offer,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, and in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "GCL"), the Purchaser
will be merged with and into API (the "Merger"). Following the effective time
of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), API will continue as the surviving
corporation and become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher and the separate
corporate existence of the Purchaser will cease.
At the Effective Time, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time (other than (1) Shares held by Danaher, the Purchaser or
any other wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher or the Purchaser, in the treasury
of API, or by any wholly-owned subsidiary of API, which will be canceled, and
(2) Shares, if any, held by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal
rights under Section 262 of the GCL) will, by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of the holders of the Shares, be converted into the
right to receive in cash the per Share price paid in the Offer, payable to the
holder thereof, without interest, upon surrender of the Share Certificate
formerly representing such Share, less any required withholding taxes.
In order to take advantage of the Offer, (1) a duly executed and properly
completed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) and any required
signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to
Purchase) in connection with a book-entry delivery of Shares, and other
required documents should be sent to the Depositary, and (2) either Share
Certificates representing the tendered Shares should be delivered to the
Depositary or such Shares should be tendered by book-entry transfer and a Book-
Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) with respect to such
Shares should be delivered to the Depositary, all in accordance with the
instructions set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and the Offer to Purchase.
Holders of Shares whose Share Certificates are not immediately available or
who cannot deliver their Share Certificates and all other required documents to
the Depositary on or prior the expiration date of the Offer, or who cannot
complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis,
must tender their Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.
2
<PAGE>
The Purchaser will not pay any commissions or fees to any broker, dealer or
other person (other than the Dealer Manager, the Depositary and D.F. King &
Co., Inc. (the "Information Agent") (as described in the Offer to Purchase))
for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Purchaser will,
however, upon request, reimburse you for customary clerical and mailing
expenses incurred by you in forwarding any of the enclosed materials to your
clients. The Purchaser will pay or cause to be paid any stock transfer taxes
payable on the transfer of Shares to it, except as otherwise provided in
Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal.
Inquiries you may have with respect to the Offer should be addressed to the
Information Agent or the undersigned, at the respective addresses and telephone
numbers set forth on the back cover of the Offer to Purchase. Additional copies
of the enclosed materials may be obtained from the Information Agent.
Very truly yours,
ING Barings LLC
Nothing contained herein or in the enclosed documents shall constitute you
or any other person, the agent of the Purchaser, Danaher, the Dealer Manager,
the Depositary or the Information Agent, or any affiliate of any of them, or
authorize you or any other person to make any statement or use any document on
behalf of any of them in connection with the Offer other than the enclosed
documents and the statements contained therein.
3
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (a)(5)
Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
of
American Precision Industries Inc.
by
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
a wholly-owned subsidiary
of
Danaher Corporation
at
$19.25 Net Per Share in Cash
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY
TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2000, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
February 24, 2000
To Our Clients:
Enclosed for your consideration is an Offer to Purchase dated February 24,
2000 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and the related Letter of Transmittal, relating
to an offer by Alpha Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Purchaser")
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Danaher"), to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par
value $0.66 2/3 per share (the "Shares"), of American Precision Industries
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("API"), at a purchase price of $19.25 per Share,
net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter
of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the
"Offer") enclosed herewith. Holders of Shares whose certificates for such
Shares (the "Share Certificates") are not immediately available or who cannot
deliver their Share Certificates and all other required documents to SunTrust
Bank, the Depositary, on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the
Offer to Purchase), or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-
entry transfer on a timely basis, must tender their Shares according to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.
We are the holder of record of Shares held by us for your account. A tender
of such Shares can be made only by us as the holder of record and pursuant to
your instructions. The Letter of Transmittal is furnished to you for your
information only and cannot be used by you to tender Shares held by us for your
account.
We request instructions as to whether you wish to have us tender on your
behalf any or all of such Shares held by us for your account, pursuant to the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase.
Your attention is directed to the following:
1. The Offer price is $19.25 per Share, net to the seller in cash,
without interest thereon.
2. The Offer is made for all of the outstanding Shares.
<PAGE>
3. The Board of Directors of API, by the unanimous approval of all
directors present at a special meeting, has approved the Merger Agreement
(as defined below) and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Offer and the Merger (as defined below), and determined that the terms of
the Offer and the Merger are advisable and fair to, and in the best
interests of, the holders of the Shares, and recommends that the holders of
the Shares tender their Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer.
4. The Offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of February 15, 2000, among Danaher, the Purchaser, and API (as it
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Merger Agreement").
The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, for the making of the
Offer by the Purchaser, and further provides that, following the completion
of the Offer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger
Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"GCL"), the Purchaser will be merged with and into API (the "Merger").
Following the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), API will
continue as the surviving corporation and become a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Danaher and the separate corporate existence of the Purchaser will
cease. At the Effective Time, each Share issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than (1) Shares held by Danaher,
Purchaser or any other wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher or the Purchaser,
in the treasury of API, or by any wholly-owned subsidiary of API, which
will be canceled, and (2) Shares, if any, held by stockholders who have
properly exercised appraisal rights under Section 262 of the GCL) will, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders of
the Shares, be converted into the right to receive in cash the per Share
price paid in the Offer, payable to the holder thereof, without interest,
upon surrender of the Share Certificate, less any required withholding
taxes.
5. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 12:00 midnight, New
York City time, on March 22, 2000, unless the Offer is extended.
6. Tendering stockholders will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or
commissions or, except as set forth in Instruction 6 of the Letter of
Transmittal, stock transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares pursuant to the
Offer.
7. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (1) there being
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date a number of
Shares which represents at least a majority of the total number of
outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis on the date of purchase and all
of the Series B Seven Percent (7%) Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
par value $1.00 per Share and (2) any applicable waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, or under
any applicable foreign statutes or regulations having expired or been
terminated.
The Offer is being made solely by the Offer to Purchase and the related
Letter of Transmittal, and is being made to all holders of Shares. The
Purchaser is not aware of any state where the making of the Offer is prohibited
by administrative or judicial action pursuant to any valid state statute. If
the Purchaser becomes aware of any valid state statute prohibiting the making
of the Offer or the acceptance of Shares pursuant thereto, the Purchaser will
make a good faith effort to comply with any such state statute. If, after such
good faith effort, the Purchaser cannot comply with such state statute, the
Offer will not be made to nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of the
holders of Shares in such state. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue
sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer,
the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of the Purchaser by ING Barings
LLC or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the
laws of such jurisdiction.
If you wish to have us tender any or all of the Shares held by us for your
account, please instruct us by completing, executing and returning to us the
instruction form contained in this letter. If you authorize a tender of your
Shares, all such Shares will be tendered unless otherwise specified in such
instruction form. Your instructions should be forwarded to us in ample time to
permit us to submit a tender on your behalf on or prior to the expiration of
the Offer.
<PAGE>
Instructions with Respect to the Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
of
American Precision Industries Inc.
by
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Danaher Corporation
The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter enclosing the Offer to
Purchase dated February 24, 2000 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and the related
Letter of Transmittal, pursuant to an offer by Alpha Acquisition I Corp., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, a
Delaware corporation, to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par
value $0.66 2/3 per share (the "Shares"), of American Precision Industries
Inc., a Delaware corporation, at a purchase price of $19.25 per Share, net to
the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of
Transmittal.
This will instruct you to tender the number of Shares indicated below (or,
if no number is indicated below, all Shares) which are held by you for the
account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter of Transmittal
furnished to the undersigned.
Number of Shares to be Tendered* SIGN HERE
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Dated: , 2000 -----------------------------------------
Signature(s)
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Please Print
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Address
-----------------------------------------
Area Code And Tel
-----------------------------------------
Tax Identification, or Social Security
Number(s)
-------
* Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all of your Shares held
by us for your account are to be tendered.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (a)(6)
DANAHER CORPORATION
1250 24TH STREET, N.W.
SUITE 800 TELEPHONE (202) 828-0850
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20037 TELECOPIER (202) 828-0860
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: PATRICK W. ALLENDER DEBORAH K. PAWLOWSKI
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DIRECTOR, INVESTOR RELATIONS
DANAHER CORPORATION AND CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
(202) 828-0850 AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES
(716) 684-9700
DANAHER CORPORATION ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE
AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES AT $19.25 PER SHARE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington, D.C., February 16, 2000 -- Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR)
announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with
American Precision Industries Inc. ("API") (NYSE:APR) to acquire all of the
outstanding shares of API at a cash price of $19.25 per share. The transaction
has a total value of approximately $250 million, including assumption of debt.
The directors of both companies have approved the merger agreement.
API, headquartered in Buffalo, New York, is a $235 million revenue
manufacturer of motion products and heat transfer equipment. Motion products
include brushless DC servo motors, miniature motors, drives, feedback devices
and power transmission components. Heat transfer, which represents approximately
40% of revenues, manufactures heat exchangers and related equipment. Danaher
indicated that, while a final decision has not been made, it would more likely
than not seek to find a buyer for the heat transfer business.
George M. Sherman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Danaher
Corporation, stated, "API's technology and products are highly complementary to
our existing motion business and greatly enhance our ability to provide motion
control solutions to a wider customer base. We look forward to working with the
API management team and associates."
Kurt Wiedenhaupt, Chairman, President and CEO of API, "I am very excited
for all stakeholders in API. The similarity in strategy and values of both
companies makes this an ideal combination for the creation of value for all. The
considerable financial strength of Danaher will allow API to continue its
success in the ongoing consolidation in its industries."
Under the merger agreement, Danaher will commence a tender offer for
API's outstanding shares, which will be subject to certain conditions, including
at least a majority of API's outstanding shares, on a fully diluted basis, being
tendered without withdrawal prior to the expiration of the offer, and clearance
of the transaction under applicable antitrust laws being obtained. Shareholders
who own more than 20 percent of API's outstanding shares on a fully diluted
basis have executed agreements with Danaher to tender their shares.
<PAGE>
American Precision Industries Inc. is a multi-domestic producer of
products for the motion control and heat transfer industries.
(www.apicorporate.com)
Danaher Corporation is a leading manufacturer of Process/Environmental
Controls and Tools and Components. (www.danaher.com)
All stockholders should read the tender offer statement concerning the
tender offer that will be filed by Danaher, and the solicitation/recommendation
statement that will be filed by API, with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) and mailed to stockholders. These statements will contain important
information that stockholders should consider before making any decision
regarding tendering their shares. Stockholders will be able to obtain these
statements, as well as other filings containing information about Danaher and
API, without charge, at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). Copies of the
tender offer and the solicitation/recommendation statements and other SEC
filings can also be obtained, without charge, from Danaher's Corporate
Secretary.
# # #
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (a)(7)
GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number for the Payee
(You) to Give the Payer.-- Social Security numbers have nine digits separated
by two hyphens: i.e. 000-00-0000. Employer identification numbers have nine
digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e. 00-0000000. The table below will help
determine the number to give the payer. All "Section" references are to the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "IRS" is the Internal Revenue
Service.
- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Give the
SOCIAL SECURITY
For this type of account: number of--
- --------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1. Individual The individual
2. Two or more individuals The actual owner
(joint account) of the account
or, if combined
funds, the first
individual on
the account(1)
3. Custodian account of a The minor(2)
minor (Uniform Gift to
Minors Act)
4.a. The usual revocable The grantor-
savings trust account trustee(1)
(grantor is also
trustee)
b. So called trust account The actual
that is not a legal or owner(1)
valid trust under state
law
5. Sole proprietorship The owner(3)
- --------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Give the EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION
For this type of account: number of--
---
<S> <C>
6. A valid trust, estate, The legal
or pension trust entity(4)
7. Corporate The corporation
8. Association, club, The organization
religious, charitable,
educational, or other
tax-exempt organization
account
9. Partnership The partnership
10. A broker or registered The broker or
nominee nominee
11. Account with the The public
Department of entity
Agriculture in the name
of a public entity
(such as a state or
local government,
school district, or
prison) that receives
agricultural program
payments
---
</TABLE>
(1) List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If
only one person on a joint account has a social security number, that
person's number must be furnished.
(2) Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's social security number.
(3) You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or
"doing business as" name. You may use either your social security number or
your employer identification number (if you have one).
(4) List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension
trust. (Do not furnish the taxpayer identification number of the personal
representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated
in the account title.)
NOTE:If no name is circled when there is more than one name, the number will be
considered to be that of the first name listed.
<PAGE>
GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
Obtaining a Number
If you do not have a taxpayer identification number or you don't know your
number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, at the local
Social Security Administration office, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer
Identification Number, by calling 1 (800) TAX-FORM, and apply for a number.
Payees Exempt from Backup Withholding
Payees specifically exempted from withholding include:
. An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), an individual
retirement account (IRA), or a custodial account under Section 403(b)(7),
if the account satisfies the requirements of Section 401(f)(7).
. The United States or a state thereof, the District of Columbia, a
possession of the United States, or a political subdivision or wholly-
owned agency or instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing.
. An international organization or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
. A foreign government and any political subdivision, agency or
instrumentality thereof.
Payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:
. A corporation.
. A financial institution.
. A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United
States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States.
. A real estate investment trust.
. A common trust fund operated by a bank under Section 584(a).
. An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
. A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or who is
listed in the most recent publication of the American Society of Corporate
Secretaries, Inc., Nominee List.
. A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission.
. A foreign central bank of issue.
Payments of dividends and patronage dividends generally exempt from backup
withholding include:
. Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under Section 1441.
. Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the United
States and that have at least one nonresident alien partner.
. Payments of patronage dividends not paid in money.
. Payments made by certain foreign organizations.
. Section 404(k) payments made by an ESOP.
Payments of interest generally exempt from backup withholding include:
. Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note: You may
be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and you
have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the
payer.
. Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends under
Section 852).
. Payments described in Section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens.
. Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under section 1451.
. Payments made by certain foreign organizations.
. Mortgage interest paid to you.
Certain payments, other than payments of interest, dividends, and patronage
dividends, that are exempt from information reporting are also exempt from
backup withholding. For details, see sections 6041, 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6045,
6049, 6050A and 6050N.
EXEMPT PAYEES DESCRIBED ABOVE MUST FILE FORM W-9 OR A SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 TO
AVOID POSSIBLE ERRONEOUS BACKUP WITHHOLDING. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE PAYER.
FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE "EXEMPT" IN PART II OF THE
FORM, AND RETURN TO THE PAYER IF THE PAYMENTS ARE OF INTEREST, DIVIDENDS, OR
PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS. ALSO SIGN AND DATE THE FORM.
Privacy Act Notice--Section 6109 requires you to provide your correct taxpayer
identification number to payers, who must report the payments to the IRS. The
IRS uses the number for identification purposes and may also provide this
information to various government agencies for tax enforcement or litigation
purposes. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are
required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold 31% of taxable
interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish
a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.
Penalties
(1) Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number--If you fail to furnish
your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject to a penalty
of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause
and not to willful neglect.
(2) Civil Penalty for False Information with Respect to Withholding--If you
make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup
withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.
(3) Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information--Willfully falsifying
certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including
fines and/or imprisonment.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE.
<PAGE>
Exhibit (a)(8)
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an
offer to sell Shares (as defined below). The Offer (as defined below) is made
solely by the Offer to Purchase dated February 24, 2000, and the related Letter
of Transmittal, and any amendments thereto, and is being made to all holders of
Shares. The Purchaser (as defined below) is not aware of any state where the
making of the Offer is prohibited by administrative or judicial action pursuant
to any valid state statute. If the Purchaser becomes aware of any valid state
statute prohibiting the making of the Offer, the Purchaser will make a good
faith effort to comply with such statute. If, after such good faith effort, the
Purchaser cannot comply with such state statute, the Offer will not be made to
nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of the holders of Shares in such
state. In any jurisdiction where the securities, "blue sky" or other laws
require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be
deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser by ING Barings LLC, the Dealer
Manager, or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws
of such jurisdiction.
Notice of Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights)
of
American Precision Industries Inc.
at
$19.25 Net per Share in Cash
by
Alpha Acquisition I Corp.
a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Danaher Corporation
Alpha Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Danaher"), hereby offers to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common
stock, par value $0.66 2/3 per share (the "Shares"), of American Precision
Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation ("API"), at a purchase price of $19.25
per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated February
24, 2000 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in the related Letter of Transmittal
(which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer").
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK
CITY TIME, ON MARCH 22, 2000, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, (1) THERE BEING VALIDLY
TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE OFFER A NUMBER
OF SHARES WHICH REPRESENTS AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
OUTSTANDING SHARES ON A FULLY-DILUTED BASIS ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE AND ALL OF
THE SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK (AS DEFINED BELOW) AND (2) ANY APPLICABLE WAITING
PERIOD UNDER THE HART-SCOTT-RODINO ANTITRUST IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1976, AS
AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE FOREIGN STATUTES OR REGULATIONS SHALL HAVE
EXPIRED OR BEEN TERMINATED.
The purpose of the Offer is to acquire control of, and the entire equity
interest in, API. As promptly as practicable following consummation of the
Offer and after satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the Merger (as
defined below) set forth in the Merger Agreement (as defined below), the
Purchaser intends to acquire the remaining equity interest in API not acquired
in the Offer by consummating the Merger.
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of February 15, 2000, among Danaher, the Purchaser and API (the "Merger
Agreement"). The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, for the making
of the Offer by the Purchaser, and further provides that, following the
completion of the Offer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Merger Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law
("GCL"), the Purchaser will be merged with and into API (the "Merger").
Following the effective time of the Merger (the
<PAGE>
"Effective Time"), API will continue as the surviving corporation (the
"Surviving Corporation") and become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher, and
the separate corporate existence of the Purchaser will cease. At the Effective
Time, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than (1) Shares held by Danaher, the Purchaser or any other wholly-owned
subsidiary of Danaher or the Purchaser, in the treasury of API or by any
wholly-owned subsidiary of API, and (2) Shares, if any, held by stockholders
who have properly exercised appraisal rights under Section 262 of the GCL)
will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders
of the Shares be converted into the rights to receive in cash the per Share
price paid in the Offer, payable to the holder thereof, without interest, upon
surrender of the certificate formerly representing such Shares, less any
required withholding taxes. The Merger Agreement is more fully described in
Section 11 of the Offer to Purchase. The holder of all of the outstanding
shares of API's Series B Seven Percent (7%) Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Series B Preferred Stock") has agreed with
Danaher to cause all such shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be tendered
into the Offer for conversion into Shares and purchase upon payment for Shares
in the Offer.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF API HAS APPROVED, BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ALL
DIRECTORS PRESENT, THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
THEREBY, INCLUDING THE OFFER AND THE MERGER, AND DETERMINED THAT THE TERMS OF
THE OFFER AND THE MERGER ARE ADVISABLE AND FAIR TO, AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF, THE HOLDERS OF THE SHARES, AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE HOLDERS OF THE SHARES
TENDER THEIR SHARES TO THE PURCHASER PURSUANT TO THE OFFER.
For purposes of the Offer, the Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for
payment (and thereby purchased) Shares validly tendered and not properly
withdrawn as, if and when the Purchaser gives oral or written notice to
SunTrust Bank (the "Depositary") of Purchaser's acceptance for payment of such
Shares pursuant to the Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
the Offer, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will
be made by deposit of the purchase price therefor with the Depositary, which
will act as agent for tendering stockholders for the purpose of receiving
payments from the Purchaser and transmitting such payments to stockholders
whose Shares have been accepted for payment. Under no circumstances will
interest on the purchase price for Shares be paid by the Purchaser, regardless
of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making such payment. In all
cases, payment for Shares tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the
Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of (1)
certificates representing such Shares, or timely confirmation of a book-entry
transfer of such Shares into the Depositary's account at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) pursuant to the
procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, (2) the Letter of
Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed,
with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined in
the Offer to Purchase) in connection with a book-entry transfer, and (3) any
other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal.
Subject to the provisions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the
Purchaser reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any or all
conditions to the Offer (other than the Minimum Condition (as defined in the
Offer to Purchase)) and to make any other changes in the terms and conditions
of the Offer. Subject to the provisions of the Merger Agreement and the
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, if, by the Expiration Date, any or
all of the conditions to the Offer have not been satisfied, the Purchaser
reserves the right (but will not be obligated) to (1) terminate the Offer and
return all tendered Shares to tendering stockholders, (2) waive such
unsatisfied conditions (other than the Minimum Condition) and purchase all
Shares validly tendered or (3) extend the Offer, and, subject to the terms of
the Offer (including the rights of stockholders to withdraw their Shares),
retain the Shares which have been tendered, until the termination of the Offer,
as extended.
Subject to the provisions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules
and regulations of the SEC, the Purchaser expressly reserves the right, in its
sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, and regardless of whether
or not any of the events set forth in Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase have
occurred or have been determined by the Purchaser to have occurred, to (1)
extend the period of time during which the Offer is open and thereby delay
acceptance for payment of, and payment for, any Shares, by giving oral or
written notice of such extension to the Depositary, and (2) amend the Offer in
any respect permitted by the Merger Agreement by giving oral or written notice
of such amendment to the Depositary.
Any extension, delay, termination, waiver or amendment will be followed as
promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof to be made no later than
9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously
scheduled Expiration Date. During any such extension, all Shares previously
tendered and not properly
2
<PAGE>
withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the rights of a
tendering stockholder to withdraw such stockholder's Shares. Following the
purchase of shares in the Offer, there may be a subsequent offering period,
lasting for at least three and not more than 20 business days; stockholders who
tender Shares during a subsequent offering period will not have the right to
withdraw their Shares during such subsequent offering period. "Expiration Date"
means 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, on March 22, 2000, unless and until
the Purchaser, in its sole discretion (but subject to the terms and conditions
of the Merger Agreement), has extended the period during which the Offer is
open, in which event the term "Expiration Date" means the latest time and date
at which the Offer, as so extended by the Purchaser, will expire.
Tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable, except that
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer (except during any subsequent offering
period) may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date, and,
unless theretofore accepted for payment by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer,
may also be withdrawn at any time after April 23, 2000. For a withdrawal to be
effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile transmission notice of
withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at one of its addresses
set forth on the back cover of the Offer to Purchase. Any notice of withdrawal
must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn,
the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder, if
different from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If certificates for
the Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified to the
Depositary, then, prior to the physical release of the certificates, the serial
numbers shown on such certificates must be submitted to the Depositary and the
signatures on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) unless such Shares have been
tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been
tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer as set forth in
Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, any notice of withdrawal must specify the
name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be
credited with the withdrawn Shares, in which case a notice of withdrawal will
be effective if delivered to the Depositary by any method of delivery described
in the second sentence of this paragraph. All questions as to the form and
validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal will be
determined by the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, whose determination will
be final and binding. None of the Purchaser, Danaher, any of their affiliates
or assigns, the Dealer Manager, the Depositary, the Information Agent or any
other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or
irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure
to give such notification. Withdrawals of Shares may not be rescinded. Any
Shares properly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not to have been validly
tendered for purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn Shares may be re-
tendered at any time prior to the Expiration Date by following one of the
procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.
The information required to be disclosed by Rule 14d-6(d)(1) of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is
contained in the Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein by reference.
API has provided the Purchaser with API's stockholder list and security
position listing for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to holders of
Shares. The Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal and, if
required, other relevant materials will be mailed by the Purchaser to record
holders of Shares and furnished to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust
companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees,
appear on the stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as
participants in a clearing agency's security position listing, for subsequent
transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares.
THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS
MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Dealer Manager
or the Information Agent as set forth below. Requests for copies of the Offer
to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal and all other tender offer
materials may be directed to the Information Agent, and copies will be
furnished promptly at the Purchaser's expense. The Purchaser will not pay any
fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person (other than the
Dealer Manager and the Information Agent) for soliciting tenders of Shares
pursuant to the Offer.
3
<PAGE>
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
77 Water Street
New York, New York 10005
Banks and Brokers, please call: (212)
269-5550
All others call toll-free: (800) 994-
3227
The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
ING Barings LLC
55 East 52nd Street
New York, New York 10055
Call Collect: (212) 409-6763
February 24, 2000
4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (d)(1)
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of February 15,
2000, by and among Danaher Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Alpha
Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware corporation and a subsidiary of Parent (the
"Purchaser"), and American Precision Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company").
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, the Purchaser and
the Company have approved the acquisition of the Company by Parent on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement the Purchaser has agreed to commence a
tender offer (the "Offer") to purchase all of the Company's common stock, par
value $.66-2/3 per share (the "Common Shares") including the associated
preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Amended
and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1999, between the Company
and American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc., as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agreement") (which Rights together with the Common Shares are hereinafter
referred to as the "Shares"), at a price per Share of $19.25 net to the seller
in cash (the "Offer Price");
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company Board") has,
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (i) approved the
Offer and (ii) adopted this Agreement and is recommending that the Company's
stockholders accept the Offer, tender their Shares to the Purchaser and approve
this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Purchaser and the
Company have approved the merger of the Purchaser with and into the Company with
the Company as the survivor, as set forth below (the "Merger"), in accordance
with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL") and upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby
each of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (including Common Shares issued
upon the conversion of the Series B Seven Percent (7%) Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Series B Preferred Stock")) not
owned directly or indirectly by Parent, the Purchaser or the Company will be
converted into the right to receive the Offer Price in cash;
WHEREAS, as a condition to and inducement to Parent's and the Purchaser's
willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution of
this Agreement, certain shareholders of the Company are entering into support
agreements with Parent and the Purchaser (the "Support Agreements"); and
WHEREAS, Parent, the Purchaser and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Offer and the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Offer and
the Merger;
<PAGE>
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, Parent,
the Purchaser and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.1 The Offer.
---------
(a) Provided that this Agreement shall not have been terminated in
accordance with Article Eight hereof and none of the events set forth in Annex I
hereto (the "Tender Offer Conditions") shall have occurred, as promptly as
practicable, Parent shall cause the Purchaser to commence (within the meaning of
Rule 14d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Exchange Act")) an offer to
purchase all outstanding Shares at the Offer Price, shall, after affording the
Company a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon, file Schedule TO
and all other necessary documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") and make all deliveries, mailings and telephonic notices required by
Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange Act, in each case in connection with the Offer
(the "Offer Documents") and shall use reasonable efforts to consummate the
Offer, subject to the terms and conditions thereof. The obligation of the
Purchaser to accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer will be subject only to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Annex I hereto.
(b) Without the prior written consent of the Company, the Purchaser shall
not decrease the Offer Price or change the form of consideration payable in the
Offer, decrease the number of Shares sought to be purchased in the Offer, impose
additional conditions to the Offer or amend any other term of the Offer in any
manner adverse to the holders of Common Shares. The Offer shall remain open
until the date that is 20 business days (as such term is defined in Rule
14d-1(c)(6) under the Exchange Act) after the commencement of the Offer (the
"Expiration Date"), unless the Purchaser shall have extended the period of time
for which the Offer is open pursuant to, and in accordance with, the two
succeeding sentences or as may be required by applicable law, in which event the
term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest time and date as the Offer, as so
extended, may expire; provided, however, that the Purchaser may provide a
-------- -------
subsequent offering period after the Expiration Date, in accordance with Rule
14d-11 under the Exchange Act. If at any Expiration Date, any of the Tender
Offer Conditions are not satisfied or waived by the Purchaser, the Purchaser may
extend the Offer from time to time. Subject to the terms of the Offer and this
Agreement and the satisfaction of all the Tender Offer Conditions as of any
Expiration Date, the Purchaser will accept for payment and pay for all Shares
validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer as soon as
practicable after such expiration date of the Offer; provided that, if all of
the Tender Offer Conditions are satisfied and more than 70% but less than 90% of
the outstanding Common Shares on a fully diluted basis (excluding Options (as
defined herein) which are not exercisable for 30 days) have been validly
tendered and not withdrawn in the Offer, the Purchaser shall have the right, in
its sole discretion, to extend
-2-
<PAGE>
the Offer from time to time for up to a maximum of ten additional business days
in the aggregate for all such extensions. Without the prior written consent of
the Company, the Purchaser shall not accept for payment or pay for any Shares in
the Offer if, as a result, Purchaser would acquire less than the number of
Shares necessary to satisfy the Minimum Condition (as defined in Annex I
hereto).
(c) Parent and the Purchaser represent that the Offer Documents will comply
in all material respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities
laws and, on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first published, sent
or given to the Company's stockholders, shall not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that no
representation is made by Parent or the Purchaser with respect to information
supplied by the Company in writing for inclusion in the Offer Documents. Each of
Parent and the Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand,
agrees promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the Offer
Documents if and to the extent that it shall have become false or misleading in
any material respect and the Purchaser further agrees to take all steps
necessary to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with the SEC
and to be disseminated to stockholders of the Company, in each case, as and to
the extent required by applicable federal securities laws.
(d) The Company acknowledges that the Offer may also include an offer for
the Series B Preferred Stock; in such event, the terms "Shares" and "Offer" will
also include, as the context requires, the Series B Preferred Stock.
SECTION 1.2 Company Actions.
---------------
(a) The Company shall, after affording Parent a reasonable opportunity to
review and comment thereon, file with the SEC and mail to the holders of Common
Shares, as promptly as practicable on the date of the filing by Parent and the
Purchaser of the Offer Documents, a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the
"Schedule 14D-9") reflecting the recommendation of the Company Board that
holders of Shares tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer and shall
disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 as required by Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the
Exchange Act. The Schedule 14D-9 will set forth, and the Company hereby
represents, that the Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held at which a
quorum was present throughout, has (i) determined by unanimous vote of all of
its directors in attendance that each of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including each of the Offer and the Merger, is fair to and in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved the Offer and adopted this
Agreement in accordance with the GCL, (iii) recommended acceptance of the Offer
and approval of this Agreement by the Company's stockholders (if such approval
is required by applicable law), and (iv) taken all other action necessary to
render Section 203 of the GCL and the Rights inapplicable to the Offer and the
Merger; provided, however, that such recommendation and approval may be
withdrawn, modified or amended to the extent that the Company Board determines
in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure
to take such action would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of the
Company Board's fiduciary obligations under applicable law. The
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<PAGE>
Company further represents that, prior to the execution hereof, McDonald
Investments Inc. Company ("McDonald"), has delivered to the Company Board its
written opinion that, as of February 15, 2000, the consideration to be received
by the holders of Common Shares (other than Parent or any of its affiliates)
pursuant to the Offer and the Merger is fair to the Company's stockholders from
a financial point of view. The Company hereby consents to the inclusion in the
Offer Documents of the recommendations of the Company Board described in this
Section 1.2(a).
(b) The Company represents that the Schedule 14D-9 will comply in all
material respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws and,
on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first published, sent or given to
the Company's stockholders, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that no
representation is made by the Company with respect to information supplied by
Parent or the Purchaser in writing for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9. Each of
the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and the Purchaser, on the other hand,
agree promptly to correct any information provided by either of them for use in
the Schedule 14D-9 if and to the extent that it shall have become false or
misleading, and the Company further agrees to take all steps necessary to cause
the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and to be
disseminated to the holders of Shares, in each case, as and to the extent
required by applicable federal securities law.
(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company will promptly furnish the
Purchaser with mailing labels, security position listings, any available
non-objecting beneficial owner lists and any available listing or computer list
containing the names and addresses of the record holders of the Common Shares as
of the most recent practicable date and shall furnish the Purchaser with such
additional available information (including, but not limited to, updated lists
of holders of Common Shares and their addresses, mailing labels and lists of
security positions and non-objecting beneficial owner lists) and such other
assistance as the Purchaser or its agents may reasonably request in
communicating the Offer to the Company's record and beneficial stockholders.
Subject to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such steps as are
necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents necessary
to consummate the Merger, Parent, the Purchaser and their affiliates,
associates, agents and advisors, shall keep such information confidential and
use the information contained in any such labels, listings and files only in
connection with the Offer and the Merger and, should the Offer terminate or if
this Agreement shall be terminated, will deliver to the Company all copies of
such information then in their possession.
SECTION 1.3 Directors.
---------
(a) Subject to compliance with applicable law, promptly upon the payment by
the Purchaser for Shares pursuant to the Offer representing at least such number
of Shares as shall satisfy the Minimum Condition, and from time to time
thereafter, Parent shall be entitled to designate such number of directors,
rounded up to the next whole number, on the Company Board as is equal to the
product of the total number of directors on the Company Board (determined after
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giving effect to the directors elected pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by
the percentage that the aggregate number of Common Shares beneficially owned by
Parent or its affiliates bears to the total number of Common Shares then
outstanding, and the Company shall, upon request of Parent, promptly take all
actions necessary to cause Parent's designees to be so elected, including, if
necessary, seeking the resignations of one or more existing directors; provided,
however, that prior to the Effective Time (as defined in Section 2.2), the
Company Board shall always have at least two members who are neither officers,
directors or designees of the Purchaser or any of its affiliates ("Purchaser
Insiders"). If the number of directors who are not Purchaser Insiders is reduced
below two prior to the Effective Time, the remaining director who is not a
Purchaser Insider shall be entitled to designate a person to fill such vacancy
who is not a Purchaser Insider and who shall be a director not deemed to be a
Purchaser Insider for all purposes of this Agreement.
(b) The Company's obligations to appoint Parent's designees to the Board
shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 thereunder.
The Company shall promptly take all actions required pursuant to such Section
and Rule in order to fulfill its obligations under this Section 1.3 and shall
include in the Schedule 14D-9 such information with respect to the Company and
its officers and directors as is required under such Section and Rule in order
to fulfill its obligations under this Section 1.3. Parent will supply to the
Company any information with respect to itself and its officers, directors and
affiliates required by such Section and Rule.
(c) Following the election or appointment of Parent's designees pursuant to
this Section 1.3 and prior to the Effective Time, any amendment or termination
of this Agreement by the Company, any extension by the Company of the time for
the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of Parent or the
Purchaser or waiver of any of the Company's rights hereunder, will require the
concurrence of a majority of the directors of the Company then in office who are
not Purchaser Insiders (or in the case where there are two or fewer directors
who are not Purchaser Insiders, the concurrence of one director who is not a
Purchaser Insider) if such amendment, termination, extension or waiver would be
reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the minority stockholders of the
Company.
ARTICLE TWO
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or
----------
waiver of the conditions hereof, and in accordance with the applicable
provisions of this Agreement and the GCL, at the Effective Time the Purchaser
shall be merged with and into the Company. Following the Merger, the separate
corporate existence of the Purchaser shall cease and the Company shall continue
as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation").
SECTION 2.2 Effective Time. As soon as practicable after the satisfaction
--------------
or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b), but subject
to Sections 7.1(c) and 7.1(d), the Company shall execute, in the manner required
by the GCL, and deliver to the Secre-
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<PAGE>
tary of State of the State of Delaware a duly executed and verified certificate
of merger, and the parties shall take such other and further actions as may be
required by law to make the Merger effective. The time the Merger becomes
effective in accordance with applicable law is referred to herein as the
"Effective Time."
SECTION 2.3 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set
---------------------
forth in the GCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject
thereto, at the Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises of the Company and the Purchaser shall vest in the Surviving
Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and the
Purchaser shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving
Corporation.
SECTION 2.4 Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving
---------------------------------------------------------
Corporation.
- -----------
(a) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Purchaser, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in
accordance with the provisions thereof and hereof and applicable law.
(b) The By-Laws of the Purchaser in effect at the Effective Time shall be
the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation until amended, subject to the
provisions of Section 6.6 of this Agreement, in accordance with the provisions
thereof and applicable law.
SECTION 2.5 Directors. Subject to applicable law, the directors of the
---------
Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors
of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office until their respective
successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation
or removal.
SECTION 2.6 Officers. The individuals specified by Parent prior to the
--------
Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation and
shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and
qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal.
SECTION 2.7 Conversion of Common Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue
---------------------------
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders thereof, each
Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than (i) any Common Shares held by Parent, the Purchaser, any wholly
owned subsidiary of Parent or the Purchaser, in the treasury of the Company or
by any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which Common Shares, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, shall be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist with no payment being made with
respect thereto and (ii) Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section 3.1)), shall
be cancelled and retired and shall be converted into the right to receive $19.25
in cash (the "Merger Price"), payable to the holder thereof, without interest
thereon, upon surrender of the certificate formerly representing such Common
Share.
SECTION 2.8 Conversion of Purchaser Common Stock. The Purchaser has
------------------------------------
outstanding 10 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, all of which
are entitled to vote
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<PAGE>
with respect to approval of this Agreement. At the Effective Time, each share of
common stock of the Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of the holder thereof, be converted into and become one validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.9 Options; Stock Plans. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company
--------------------
Board (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof) shall adopt appropriate
resolutions and take all other actions necessary to provide for the
cancellation, effective at the Effective Time, of all the outstanding stock
options or similar rights (the "Options") heretofore granted under any stock
option or similar plan of the Company (the "Stock Plans") and the Warrants (as
defined below), without any payment therefor except as otherwise provided in
this Section 2.9. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall
accelerate the vesting of all Options which are listed on Section 4.2 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule and each then vested Option and each Warrant shall
no longer be exercisable but shall entitle each holder thereof, in cancellation
and settlement therefor, to a payment in cash by the Company (subject to any
applicable withholding taxes), at the Effective Time, equal to the product of
(i) the total number of Common Shares subject to such vested Option or Warrant
and (ii) the excess, if any, of the Merger Price over the exercise price per
Common Share subject to such vested Option or Warrant (such amounts payable
hereunder being referred to as the "Cash Payment"). All other Stock Plans and
any other plan, program or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of
any other interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any
subsidiary shall terminate as of the Effective Time. The Company will use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary consents to ensure that after
the Effective Time, holders of Options and Warrants will have no rights other
than the rights of the holders of vested Options and Warrants to receive the
Cash Payment in cancellation and settlement thereof.
SECTION 2.10 Stockholders' Meeting.
---------------------
(a) If required by applicable law in order to consummate the Merger, the
Company, acting through the Company Board, shall, in accordance with applicable
law:
(i) duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of
its stockholders (the "Special Meeting") as soon as practicable following
the acceptance for payment of and payment for Common Shares by the
Purchaser pursuant to the Offer for the purpose of considering and taking
action upon this Agreement;
(ii) prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement
relating to this Agreement, and use its reasonable efforts (x) to obtain
and furnish the information required to be included by the SEC in the Proxy
Statement (as hereinafter defined) and, after consultation with Parent, to
respond promptly to any comments made by the SEC with respect to the
preliminary proxy statement and cause a definitive proxy statement (the
"Proxy Statement") to be mailed to its stockholders and (y) to obtain the
necessary approvals of the Merger and this Agreement by its stockholders;
and
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<PAGE>
(iii) subject to the fiduciary obligations of the Company Board under
applicable law as provided in Section 1.2(a), include in the Proxy
Statement the recommendation of the Company Board that stockholders of the
Company vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement.
(b) Parent agrees that it will vote, or cause to be voted, all of the
Common Shares then owned by it, the Purchaser or any of its other subsidiaries
in favor of the approval of the Plan of Merger and of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.11 Merger Without Meeting of Stockholders. Notwithstanding
--------------------------------------
Section 2.10, in the event that Parent, the Purchaser or any other subsidiary of
Parent shall acquire at least 90% of the outstanding Common Shares pursuant to
the Offer or otherwise, the parties hereto agree to take all necessary and
appropriate action to cause the Merger to become effective as soon as
practicable after the acceptance for payment of and payment for Common Shares by
the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer without a meeting of stockholders of the
Company, in accordance with Section 253 of the GCL.
ARTICLE THREE
DISSENTING SHARES; PAYMENT FOR SHARES
SECTION 3.1 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding Section 2.7, Common Shares
-----------------
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has
not voted in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who has
demanded appraisal for such Common Shares in accordance with the GCL
("Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into a right to receive the Merger
Price, unless such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his
right to appraisal. If after the Effective Time such holder fails to perfect or
withdraws or loses his right to appraisal, such Common Shares shall be treated
as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into a right to receive
the Merger Price. The Company shall give Parent prompt notice of any demands
received by the Company for appraisal of Common Shares, and Parent shall have
the right to participate in and to control all negotiations and proceedings with
respect to such demands. The 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 3.2 Payment for Common Shares.
-------------------------
(a) From and after the Effective Time, such bank or trust company as shall
be designated by Parent and reasonably acceptable to the Company shall act as
paying agent (the "Paying Agent") in effecting the payment of the Merger Price
in respect of certificates (the "Certificates") that, prior to the Effective
Time, represented Common Shares entitled to payment of the Merger Price pursuant
to Section 2.7. Promptly following the Effective Time, Parent or the Purchaser
shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Paying Agent the aggregate
Merger Price to which holders of Common Shares shall be entitled at the
Effective Time pursuant to Section 2.7.
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<PAGE>
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Paying Agent
to mail to each record holder of Certificates that immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented Common Shares 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 instructions for use in surrendering such Certificates and
receiving the Merger Price in respect thereof. Upon the surrender of each such
Certificate, the Paying Agent shall pay the holder of such Certificate the
Merger Price multiplied by the number of Common Shares formerly represented by
such Certificate, in consideration therefor, and such Certificate shall
forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, each such Certificate (other than
Certificates representing Common Shares held by Parent or the Purchaser, any
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or the Purchaser, in the treasury of the
Company or by any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company or Dissenting Shares)
shall represent solely the right to receive the aggregate Merger Price relating
thereto. No interest or dividends shall be paid or accrued on the Merger Price.
If the Merger Price (or any portion thereof) is to be delivered to any person
other than the person in whose name the Certificate formerly representing Common
Shares surrendered therefor is registered, it shall be a condition to such right
to receive such Merger Price that the Certificate so surrendered shall be
properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the
person surrendering such Common Shares shall pay to the Paying Agent any
transfer or other similar taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger
Price to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered, or shall establish to the satisfaction of the Paying Agent that
such tax has been paid or is not applicable.
(c) Promptly following the date which is 180 days after the Effective Time,
the Paying Agent shall deliver to the Surviving Corporation all cash,
Certificates and other documents in its possession relating to the transactions
described in this Agreement, and the Paying Agent's duties shall terminate.
Thereafter, each holder of a Certificate formerly representing a Common Share
may surrender such Certificate to the Surviving Corporation and (subject to
applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) receive in
consideration therefor the aggregate Merger Price relating thereto, without any
interest thereon.
(d) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock
transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of any Common Shares which were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective
Time, Certificates formerly representing Common Shares are presented to the
Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, they shall be surrendered and
cancelled in return for the payment of the aggregate Merger Price relating
thereto, as provided in this Article Three.
ARTICLE FOUR
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and the Purchaser as follows:
SECTION 4.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries. The Company is a
--------------------------------------------
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of
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<PAGE>
Delaware. Each of the Company's subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has the requisite
corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease its properties and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and 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 properties owned, operated or leased by it
makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except where the
failure to have such power or authority, or the failure to be so qualified,
licensed or in good standing, would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The
term "Material Adverse Effect on the Company," as used in this Agreement, means
any change in or effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to be materially
adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company has
heretofore provided or made available to Parent and the Purchaser a complete and
correct copy of the certificate of incorporation and the by-laws or comparable
organizational documents, each as amended to the date hereof, of the Company and
each of its subsidiaries and has provided a complete and correct copy of the
Rights Agreement as amended to the date hereof.
SECTION 4.2 Capitalization; Subsidiaries. The authorized capital stock of
----------------------------
the Company consists of 30,000,000 Common Shares and 1,270,000 shares of
preferred stock. The Company's preferred stock consists of (i) 20,000 preferred
shares having a par value of $50.00 per share (the "$50.00 par value Preferred
Stock") and (ii) 1,250,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (with the $50.00
par value Preferred Stock, the "Preferred Stock"). As of the close of business
on February 14, 2000, 6,889,322 Common Shares were issued and outstanding, all
of which are entitled to vote on this Agreement, and 1,001,562 Common Shares
were held in treasury. The Company has (i) no shares of $50.00 par value
Preferred Stock and (ii) 1,236,337 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding. As of February 14, 2000, there were 1,725,817.9375 Common Shares
reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding Options and rights granted under
the Stock Plans, 50,000 Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to a
warrant held by Patricof & Co. and 9,231 Common Shares reserved for issuance
under warrants held by Decision Processes International Inc. (collectively, the
"Warrants.") Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedule delivered to Parent by the
Company prior to the date hereof (the "Company Disclosure Schedule") sets forth
the holders of all outstanding Options and the Warrants and the number, exercise
prices and expiration dates of each grant to such holders. Since January 1,
1999, the Company has not issued any shares of capital stock except pursuant to
the exercise of Options outstanding as of such date. All the outstanding Common
Shares are, and all Common Shares which may be issued pursuant to the exercise
of outstanding Options and Warrants will be, when issued in accordance with the
respective terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and are not subject to, nor were they issued in violation of, any
preemptive rights. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness
having general voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights)
("Voting Debt") of the Company or any of its subsidiaries issued and
outstanding. Except as set forth in this Section 4.2, and except for the Rights
and the Series B Preferred Stock, there are no existing options, warrants,
calls, subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of
any character to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of them is bound, obli-
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<PAGE>
gating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell or
cause to be issued, transferred or sold any shares of capital stock or Voting
Debt of, or other equity interest in, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests
or obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter
into any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement,
arrangement or commitment. Except as contemplated by this Agreement or the
Rights Agreement and except for the Company's obligations in respect of the
Options under the Stock Plans and the Warrants, there are no outstanding
contractual obligations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any Common Shares or the capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. Each of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of each of the Company's subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth in Section 4.2 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, such shares of the Company's subsidiaries are owned
by the Company or by another subsidiary of the Company or by a Director as
qualifying shares (all of which are owned beneficially by the Company) in each
case free and clear of any lien, claim, option, charge, security interest,
limitation, encumbrance and restriction of any kind (any of the foregoing being
a "Lien"). Set forth in Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule is a
complete and correct list of each subsidiary (direct or indirect) of the Company
and each entity in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, less than a
50% equity interest.
SECTION 4.3 Authority Relative to this Agreement and Related Matters. The
--------------------------------------------------------
Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and, except for any required approval by the Company's
stockholders in connection with consummation of the Merger, to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the
Company Board and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are
necessary to authorize or approve this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby (other than, with respect to the Merger, the
approval of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the then outstanding Common Shares entitled to vote thereon, to the extent
required by applicable law). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due and valid authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and the Purchaser,
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 4.4 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
------------------------------------------
(a) Assuming (i) the filings required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act") and any foreign or
supranational antitrust laws are made and the waiting periods thereunder have
been terminated or have expired, (ii) the requirements of the Exchange Act and
any applicable state securities, "blue sky" or takeover law are met, (iii) the
filing of the certificate of merger and other appropriate merger documents, if
any, as required by the GCL, is made and (iv) approval of this agreement by the
holders of a majority of the Common Shares, if required by the GCL, is received,
none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, the
consummation by the Company of the transac-
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<PAGE>
tions contemplated hereby or compliance by the Company with any of the
provisions hereof will (i) conflict with or violate the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or the comparable organizational
documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) except as disclosed on Section 4.4(a)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, result in a breach or violation of, a
default under or the triggering of any payment or other material obligations
pursuant to, any of the Company's existing Employee Benefit Arrangements (as
hereinafter defined) or any grant or award made under any of the foregoing,
(iii) except as disclosed on Section 4.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
conflict with or violate in any material respect any statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, order, judgment, decree, permit or license applicable to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, or by which any of them or any of their respective
properties or assets may be bound or affected, or (iv) except as disclosed on
Section 4.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, result in a violation or
breach of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of
time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in any loss
of any benefit, or the creation of any Lien on any of the properties or assets
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (any of the foregoing referred to in
clause (ii), (iii) or this clause (iv) being a "Violation") pursuant to, any
note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit,
franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, other than, in the
case of clause (iii) or (iv) above, any such Violations that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not (A) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or (C) prevent or materially delay consummation
of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company,
the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or
compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof will require any
consent, waiver, approval, authorization or permit of, or registration or filing
with or notification to (any of the foregoing being a "Consent"), any government
or subdivision thereof, domestic, foreign or supranational or any
administrative, governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission,
tribunal or body, domestic, foreign or supranational (a "Governmental Entity"),
except for (i) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act,
(ii) the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to the GCL, (iii)
compliance with the HSR Act and any requirements of any foreign or supranational
antitrust laws, and (iv) such filings, authorizations, orders and approvals as
to which failure to obtain or make would not (x) reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or (y) prevent or materially delay the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.5 SEC Reports and Financial Statements.
------------------------------------
(a) The Company has filed with the SEC all forms, reports, schedules,
registration statements and definitive proxy statements required to be filed by
the Company with the SEC since January 1, 1997 (as they have been amended since
the time of their filing, and including any documents filed as exhibits thereto,
collectively, the "SEC Reports") and has hereto-
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fore made available to Parent complete and correct copies of all such forms,
reports, schedules, registration statements, and proxy statements. As of their
respective dates, the SEC Reports (including but not limited to any financial
statements or schedules included or incorporated by reference therein) complied
in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable, as the case may be, to
such SEC Reports, and none of the SEC Reports contained any untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) The consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and
the consolidated statements of income, common stockholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 31, 1998
(including the related notes and schedules thereto) of the Company contained in
the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (the "1998
Financial Statements") present fairly the consolidated financial position and
the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates or for the periods presented therein
and were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") consistently applied during the periods involved except as
otherwise noted therein, including the related notes.
(c) The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1999 and the
consolidated statement of income, common stockholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended (including the related notes and schedules thereto) of the
Company (the "1999 Financial Statements"), will present fairly the consolidated
financial position and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999 and for
the year then ended, and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied with the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC
Reports. The 1999 Financial Statements will be consistent with the earnings
release of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1999, a copy of which has
been provided to Parent.
(d) Except as reflected, reserved against or otherwise disclosed in the
1998 Financial Statements or as set forth in Section 4.5(d) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have any
liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, fixed, contingent or otherwise)
other than liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice since December 31, 1998 which would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
(e) The Company has heretofore furnished to Parent a complete and correct
copy of any amendments or modifications which have not yet been filed with the
SEC to agreements, documents or other instruments which previously had been
filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder or the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
SECTION 4.6 Environmental Matters.
---------------------
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Except as may be set forth in Section 4.6 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) The business and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries comply
in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws. The Company and
its subsidiaries have obtained all material Governmental Permits relating to
Environmental Laws necessary for the operation of their businesses; all such
material Governmental Permits are in full force and effect and the Company and
its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with such permits.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of, or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, is subject to, any ongoing or currently
applicable investigation by, order from or claim by any person (including
without limitation any Governmental Entity or prior owner or operator of any of
the Company Property) respecting (i) any Environmental Law, (ii) any Remedial
Action or (iii) any claim arising from the Release or threatened Release of a
Contaminant into the environment. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is subject to any pending judicial or administrative proceeding,
order, judgment, decree or settlement alleging or addressing a violation of or
liability under any Environmental Law.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) reported a
Release of a hazardous substance pursuant to Section 103(a) of CERCLA, or any
state equivalent; (ii) filed a notice pursuant to Section 103(c) of CERCLA; or
(iii) filed any notice under any applicable Environmental Law reporting a
violation of any applicable Environmental Law. There is not now with respect to
the operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the best
knowledge of the Company has there ever been, on or in any Company Property: (A)
any Release, (B) any treatment, recycling, disposal or storage, other than short
term storage prior to removal by a licensed transporter for off-site disposal,
of any hazardous waste, as that term is defined under RCRA or any state
equivalent, or (C) any underground storage tank or surface impoundment or
landfill or waste pile, except for such events which would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(c) To the best knowledge of the Company, there is not now on or in any
Company Property any polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) used in the Company's
operations in pigments, hydraulic oils, electrical transformers or other
equipment.
(d) To the best knowledge of the Company, any asbestos-containing material
or presumed asbestos-containing material which is on or part of any Company
Property presently owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, as currently configured and operated, is in good repair according
to the current standards and practices governing such material, and its presence
or condition does not violate any currently applicable Environmental Law. None
of the products manufactured, distributed or sold by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries contained asbestos or asbestos-containing material.
(e) For purposes of this Section:
(i) "Company Property" means any real or personal property, plant,
building, facility, structure, underground storage tank, equipment or unit,
or other asset now or, to the Company's knowledge, previously owned, leased
or operated primarily by the Company or any of its present or, to the
Company's knowledge, past subsidiaries.
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<PAGE>
(ii) "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, and any regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(iii) "Contaminant" means any waste, pollutant, hazardous or toxic
substance or waste, petroleum, petroleum-based substance or waste, special
waste, hazardous material or any constituent of any such substance, waste
or material.
(iv) "Environmental Law" means all foreign, federal, state and local
laws or regulations relating to or addressing the environment, health or
safety, including but not limited to CERCLA, OSHA and RCRA and any foreign
or state equivalent thereof.
(v) "Governmental Permits" means any permits, licenses, certificates,
orders, consents, authorizations, franchises and other approvals from, or
required by, any Governmental Entity that are used by, or are necessary to
own and to operate, the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as
currently configured and operated, together with any applications for the
issuance, renewal, modification or extension thereof and all supporting
information and analyses.
(vi) "OSHA" means the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended,
and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(vii) "RCRA" means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as
amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(viii) "Release" means release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping,
injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration
of a Contaminant into the environment or into or out of any Company
Property, including the movement of Contaminants through or in the air,
soil, surface water, groundwater or Company Property.
SECTION 4.7 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Except with respect to
-------------------------------
Environmental Laws which are covered in Section 4.6, the Company and its
subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and
approvals of all Governmental Entities (the "Company Permits") material to the
Company and required for them to own their assets and conduct their business.
The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with
the terms of the Company Permits. Except with respect to Environmental Laws
which are covered in Section 4.6, the business operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries have been conducted in compliance in all respects material to the
Company with all laws, ordinances and regulations of any Governmental Entity.
SECTION 4.8 Change of Control. Except as set forth on Section 4.4(a) or
-----------------
Section 4.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement will not constitute a "change of control" under, require the
consent from or the giving of notice to a third party pursuant to, permit a
third party to terminate or accelerate vesting or repurchase rights or create
any other detriment under the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, license, lease, contract, agreement or other instrument or
obligation to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of them or any of their
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<PAGE>
properties or assets may be bound. Section 4.8 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth the Company's best estimates of the amounts payable to the
executives listed therein, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and/or any subsequent employment termination (including any cash-out
or acceleration of options and restricted stock and any "gross-up" payments with
respect to any of the foregoing), based on compensation data applicable as of
the date of such Schedule and the assumptions stated on that Schedule.
SECTION 4.9 Litigation. Except as set forth on Section 4.9 of the Company
----------
Disclosure Schedule, there is no suit, claim, action, proceeding or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, which
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
and its subsidiaries or could prevent or materially delay the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding order, writ, injunction or
decree which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or could prevent or materially
delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.10 Information. None of the information supplied by the Company
-----------
specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Offer
Documents, (ii) the Proxy Statement or (iii) any other document to be filed with
the SEC or any other Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Other Filings") will, at the respective
times filed with the SEC or other Governmental Entity and, in addition, in the
case of the Proxy Statement, at the date it or any amendment or supplement is
mailed to stockholders, at the time of the Special Meeting and at the Effective
Time, 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 made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material
respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, except that no representation is made by the Company with respect to
statements made therein based on information supplied by Parent or the Purchaser
in writing specifically for inclusion in the Proxy Statement.
SECTION 4.11 Certain Approvals. The Company Board has taken any and all
-----------------
necessary and appropriate action to render inapplicable to the Offer, the Merger
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement the provisions of Section
203 of the GCL and such action is effective at the date of this Agreement. No
other state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation applies or
purports to apply to the Offer, the Merger or the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
SECTION 4.12 Employee Benefit Plans.
----------------------
(a) Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule includes a complete
list of all employee benefit plans, programs, and other arrangements providing
incentive compensation or benefits to any employee or former employee or
beneficiary or dependent thereof, whether or not written, and whether covering
one person or more than one person, sponsored or
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<PAGE>
maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries contributes or is obligated to contribute ("Plans").
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "Plans" includes all
employee welfare benefit plans within the meaning of Section 3(1) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations
thereunder ("ERISA") and all employee pension benefit plans within the meaning
of Section 3(2) of ERISA.
(b) With respect to each Plan, the Company has, except as set forth on
Section 4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, delivered or made available
to Parent a true, correct and complete copy of: (i) each writing constituting a
part of such Plan, including without limitation all plan documents, benefit
schedules, trust agreements, and insurance contracts and other funding vehicles;
(ii) the most recent Annual Report (Form 5500 Series) and accompanying schedule,
if any; (iii) the current summary plan description, if any; (iv) the most recent
annual financial report, if any; (v) the most recent actuarial report, if any;
and (vi) the most recent determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service
(the "IRS"), if any. Except as set forth on Section 4.12(b) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there are no amendments to any Plan that have been adopted
or approved nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries undertaken to make
any such amendments.
(c) Section 4.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each Plan
that is intended to be a "qualified plan" within the meaning of Section 401(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations
thereunder (the "Code") ("Qualified Plans"). Except as set forth on Section
4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the IRS has issued a favorable
determination letter with respect to each Qualified Plan that has not been
revoked, and there are no existing circumstances nor any events that have
occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified
status of any Qualified Plan or the related trust. Schedule 4.12(c) identifies
each Plan which is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 501(c)(9),
and each such plan meets such requirements and provides no disqualified benefits
(as such term is defined in Code Section 4976(b)).
(d) All contributions required to be made to any Plan by applicable law or
regulation or by any plan document or other contractual undertaking, and all
premiums due or payable with respect to insurance policies funding any Plan, for
any period through the date hereof have been timely made or paid in full or, to
the extent not required to be made or paid on or before the date hereof, have
been fully reflected in the financial statements of the Company included in the
SEC Reports to the extent required under generally accepted accounting
principles.
(e) The Company and each of its subsidiaries has complied, and is now in
compliance, in all material respects with all provisions of ERISA, the Code and
all laws and regulations applicable to the Plans. There is not now, nor do any
circumstances exist that could give rise to, any requirement for the posting of
security with respect to a Plan or the imposition of any lien on the assets of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries under ERISA or the Code. No prohibited
transaction has occurred with respect to any Plan.
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(f) With respect to each Plan that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of
ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code: (i) there does not exist any
accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or
Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (ii) except as set forth on Section
4.12(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the fair market value of the assets
of such Plan equals or exceeds the actuarial present value of all accrued
benefits under such Plan (whether or not vested), based upon the actuarial
assumptions used in the most recent actuarial report for such Plan; (iii) no
reportable event within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA for which the
30-day notice requirement has not been waived has occurred, and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this agreement will not result in the
occurrence of any such reportable event; (iv) all premiums to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the "PBGC") have been timely paid in full; (v) no
liability (other than for premiums to the PBGC) under Title IV of ERISA has been
or is expected to be incurred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and
(vi) the PBGC has not instituted proceedings to terminate any such Plan and, to
the Company's knowledge, no condition exists that presents a risk that such
proceedings will be instituted or which would constitute grounds under Section
4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any such Plan.
(g) Except as set forth on Section 4.12(g) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, no Plan is a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA (a "Multiemployer Plan") or a plan that has two or more
contributing sponsors at least two of whom are not under common control, within
the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA and which is subject to Title IV of ERISA
(a "Multiple Employer Plan"), nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or
any of their respective ERISA Affiliates (as defined in the next sentence), at
any time since September 2, 1974, contributed to or been obligated to contribute
to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. An "ERISA Affiliate" means
any entity, trade or business that is a member of a group described in Section
414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA that includes
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or that is a member of the same
"controlled group" as the Company or any of its subsidiaries, pursuant to
Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA. With respect to each Plan that is a Multiemployer
Plan: (i) if the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates were to experience a withdrawal or partial withdrawal from such
plan, no withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA would be incurred; and
(ii) none of the Company and its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates, has received any notification, nor has any reason to believe, that
any such Plan is in reorganization, has been terminated, is insolvent, or may
reasonably be expected to be in reorganization, to be insolvent, or to be
terminated.
(h) There does not now exist, nor do any circumstances exist that could
result in, any material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA, (ii) Section 302
of ERISA, (iii) Sections 412 and 4971 of the Code, (iv) the continuation
coverage requirements of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the
Code, or (v) corresponding or similar provisions of foreign laws or regulations
known to the Company, other than a liability that arises solely out of, or
relate solely to, the Plans, that would be a liability of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries following the Closing. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, none of the Company, its subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any transaction described in
Section 4069 or Section 4204 or 4212 of ERISA.
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<PAGE>
(i) Except as set forth on Section 4.12(i) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability for
life, health, medical or other welfare benefits to former employees or
beneficiaries or dependents thereof, except for health continuation coverage as
required by Section 4980B of the Code or Part 6 of Title I of ERISA and at no
expense to the Company and its subsidiaries.
(j) There are no pending or threatened claims (other than claims for
benefits in the ordinary course), lawsuits or arbitrations which have been
asserted or instituted against the Plans, any fiduciaries thereof with respect
to their duties to the Plans or the assets of any of the trusts under any of the
Plans which could reasonably be expected to result in any material liability of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries to the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation, the Department of Treasury, the Department of Labor or any
Multiemployer Plan.
(k) Except as set forth on Section 4.12(k) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or in
conjunction with any other event) result in, cause the accelerated vesting,
funding or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or
benefit to any employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no amount paid
or payable (whether in cash, in property, or in the form of benefits) by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby (either solely as a result thereof or as a result of such
transactions in conjunction with any other event) will be an "excess parachute
payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, except as set forth on
Section 4.12(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(l) With respect to employee benefit plans, programs, and other
arrangements providing incentive compensation or other benefits to any employee
or former employee or dependent thereof, which plan, program or arrangement is
subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States ("Foreign
Plans"): (i) the Foreign Plans have been maintained in all material respects in
accordance with all applicable requirements, (ii) if they are intended to
qualify for special tax treatment meet all requirements for such treatment, and
(iii) if they are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are fully funded
and/or book reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial
assumptions.
SECTION 4.13 Intellectual Property.
---------------------
(a) Set forth on Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is a
list of all material patents, patent applications, patent disclosures, trademark
registrations and trademark applications, service mark registrations and service
mark applications, certification mark registrations and certification mark
applications, copyright registrations and copyright registration applications,
mask works registrations and mask works registration applications, both domestic
and foreign, which are owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The
assets described on Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and all
other material computer software, trade secrets, trademarks, trade names,
service marks, certification marks, copyrights, know-how, methods, processes,
procedures, apparatus, equipment, industrial property, discoveries, inven-
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tions, designs, drawings, plans, specifications, engineering data, manuals,
development projects, research and development work in progress, technology or
other proprietary rights or confidential information which are owned by or
material to the Company or any of its subsidiaries are referred to as the
"Intellectual Property." The Company and its subsidiaries own all right, title
and interest in and to the Intellectual Property validly and beneficially, free
and clear of all material Liens, with the sole and exclusive right to use the
same, subject to those licenses listed on Section 4.13(b) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule.
(b) Set forth on Section 4.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is a
list of (i) all material licenses, assignments and other transfers of
Intellectual Property granted to others by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, and (ii) all material licenses, assignments and other transfers of
patents, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works
registrations, software, trade secrets, know-how, technology or other
proprietary rights or information granted to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries by others. Except as set forth on Section 4.13(b) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, none of the material licenses, assignments or other
transfers described above is subject to termination or cancellation or change in
its terms or provisions as a result of this Agreement or the transactions
provided for in this Agreement.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 4.13(c) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule to the best knowledge of the Company, there is no material unauthorized
use, infringement or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property.
(d) Except as set forth on Section 4.13(d) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, no material claim with respect to the Intellectual Property has been
asserted or, to the best knowledge of the Company, is threatened by any person
nor does the Company know of any valid ground for any bona fide claims (i) to
the effect that the manufacture, sale or use of any product or process as used
(currently or in the past) or offered or proposed for use or sale by the Company
infringes on any copyright, trade secret, patent, tradename or other
intellectual property right of any person, (ii) against the Company relating to
the use of any Intellectual Property, or (iii) challenging the ownership,
validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property. All granted and issued
patents and all registered trademarks and service marks listed in Section
4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and all copyrights held by the
Company are valid, enforceable and subsisting.
(e) No Intellectual Property is subject to any outstanding order, judgment,
decree, stipulation or agreement restricting in any manner the licensing,
assignment or other transfer, use or enforceability thereof by the Company. The
Company has not entered into any agreement to indemnify any other person against
any charge of infringement of any Intellectual Property, except indemnities
agreed to in the ordinary course of business in connection with the sale,
delivery or transfer of Company products and services or included as part of the
Company's license agreements. The Company or its subsidiaries have the exclusive
right to file, prosecute and maintain all applications and registrations with
respect to Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its subsidiaries.
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SECTION 4.14 Taxes.
-----
(a) The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all federal, state,
local and foreign income Tax Returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be
filed by it, and all other Tax Returns required to be filed by it. All such Tax
Returns were correct in all material respects. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes (as hereinafter defined)
shown as due and payable on such Tax Returns in respect of the periods covered
by such returns and has made adequate provision in the Company's financial
statements for payment of all Taxes anticipated to be payable in respect of all
taxable periods or portions thereof ending on or before the date hereof. Except
as set forth on Section 4.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of any
extension of time within which to file any Tax Return. There are no security
interests on any of the assets of Company or any of its subsidiaries that arose
in connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax. There is no
claim or dispute concerning any material Tax liability of the Company or its
subsidiaries either (i) claimed or raised by any authority in writing or (ii) as
to which any of the directors and officers (and employees responsible for Tax
matters) of the Company and its subsidiaries has knowledge based on personal
contact with any agent of such authority. No issue has been raised in any
examination by any authority with respect to the Company or any subsidiary
which, by application of similar principles, reasonably could be expected to
result in a proposed material deficiency or increase in Tax for any other period
not so examined. Section 4.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists the
periods through which the Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries have been examined by the IRS or other appropriate taxing
authority, or the period during which any assessments may be made by the IRS or
other appropriate taxing authority has expired. All material deficiencies and
assessments asserted as a result of such examinations or other audits by
federal, state, local or foreign taxing authorities have been paid, fully
settled or adequately provided for in the Company's financial statements, and no
issue or claim has been asserted in writing for Taxes by any taxing authority
for any prior period, other than those heretofore paid or provided for in the
Company's financial statements. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers
extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any Tax Return of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has filed a consent pursuant to 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 the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries (i) has been a member of a group filing consolidated returns
for federal income Tax purposes (except for the group of which the Company is
the common parent), (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any person (other
than the Company and its subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section
1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a
transferor or successor, by contract or otherwise, or (iii) except as set forth
on Section 4.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, is a party to a Tax
sharing or Tax indemnity agreement or any other agreement of a similar nature
that remains in effect.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Tax" or "Taxes" means all
taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments, including, without
limitation, income, gross receipts, excise, property, sales, transfer, license,
payroll, withholding, capital stock and franchise taxes,
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imposed by the United States or any state, local or foreign government or
subdivision or agency thereof, including any interest, penalties or additions
thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Tax Return" means any report,
return or other information or document required to be supplied to a taxing
authority in connection with Taxes.
SECTION 4.15 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in the SEC
--------------------------
Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement and except as set forth on
Section 4.15 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 1999 (i)
there has not been any Material Adverse Effect on the Company; (ii) the
businesses of the Company and each of its subsidiaries have been conducted only
in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice; (iii)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material
liabilities (direct, contingent or otherwise) or engaged in any material
transaction or entered into any material agreement or commitments outside the
ordinary course of business; or (iv) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has taken any action referred to in Section 6.1 hereof except as
permitted thereby.
SECTION 4.16 Labor Matters. Except as set forth on Section 4.16 of the
-------------
Company Disclosure Schedule, no employees of the Company or of any of its
subsidiaries are represented by any labor union or any collective bargaining
organization. No labor organization or group of employees of the 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 to be
brought or filed, with the National Labor Relations Board or any other labor
relations tribunal or authority.
SECTION 4.17 Relationships with Customers, Suppliers, Distributors and
---------------------------------------------------------
Sales Representatives. The Company has not received written notice that any
- ---------------------
customer, supplier, distributor or sales representative intends to cancel,
terminate or otherwise modify its relationship with the Company or any
subsidiary which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.
SECTION 4.18 Contracts. Section 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
---------
lists all written or oral contracts, agreements, guarantees, leases (each a
"Contract") to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party and which
fall within any of the following categories: (i) material Contracts not entered
into in the ordinary course of business, (ii) joint venture, partnership and
like agreements, (iii) Contracts containing covenants purporting to limit the
freedom of the Company or any of its affiliates to compete in any line of
business in any geographic area or to hire or solicit any individual or group of
individuals which are set forth in Section 4.18(iii) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, (iv) Contracts which after the Effective Time would have the effect of
limiting the freedom of Parent or its subsidiaries (other than the Company and
its subsidiaries) to compete in any line of business in any geographic area or
to hire any individual or group of individuals which are set forth in Section
4.18 (iv) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (v) Contracts which contain
minimum purchase conditions or requirements or other terms that restrict or
limit the purchasing relationships of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
(vi) Contracts relating to any outstanding commitment for capital expenditures
in excess of $250,000, (vii) indentures, mortgages, promissory notes, loan
agreements, guarantees of
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amounts in excess of $250,000, letters of credit or other agreements or
instruments of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or commitments for the
borrowing or the lending of amounts in excess of $250,000 by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or providing for the creation of any charge, security
interest, encumbrance or lien upon any of the assets of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries and (viii) Contracts with or for the benefit of any affiliate
of the Company (other than subsidiaries of the Company). All of the Contracts
required to be disclosed by this Section 4.18 are valid and binding obligations
of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company and the valid and binding
obligation of each other party thereto. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto is in
violation of or in default in respect of, nor has there occurred an event or
condition which with the passage of time or giving of notice (or both) could
constitute a default under, any such Contract which, in any such case, would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
SECTION 4.19 Rights Agreement. The Company and the Company Board have
----------------
authorized all necessary action to amend the Rights Agreement (without redeeming
the Rights) so that none of the execution or delivery of this Agreement, the
making of the Offer, the acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer or
the consummation of the Merger will (i) cause any Rights issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement to become exercisable or to separate from the stock
certificates to which they are attached, (ii) cause Parent, the Purchaser or any
of their Affiliates or Associates to be an Acquiring Person (as each such term
is defined in the Rights Agreement) or (iii) trigger other provisions of the
Rights Agreement, including giving rise to a Distribution Date or a Triggering
Event (as each such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), and such amendment
shall be in full force and effect from and after the date hereof.
SECTION 4.20 Product Recalls. The Company is not aware of any pattern or
---------------
series of claims against the Company or any of its subsidiaries which reasonably
could be expected to result in a generalized product recall relating to products
sold by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, regardless of whether such
product recall is formal, informal, voluntary or involuntary.
SECTION 4.21 Brokers. Except for the engagement of McDonald, none of the
-------
Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors
or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any
brokerage fees, commissions or finder's fees in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has previously delivered to Parent a
copy of the Company's engagement letters with McDonald.
SECTION 4.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received the
----------------------------
written opinion of McDonald to the effect that, as of February 15, 2000, the
consideration to be received by the holders of Common Shares (other than Parent
or any of its affiliates) pursuant to the Offer and the Merger, is fair to the
Company's stockholders from a financial point of view. The Company has
previously delivered to Parent a draft copy of such opinion.
SECTION 4.23. Year 2000 Compliance. Except as could not reasonably be
--------------------
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, to the knowledge of
the Company none of the assets or properties owned or utilized by the Company
has failed or will fail to per-
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form because of the Year 2000 Problem. The term "Year 2000 Problem" means the
material inability of any hardware, software or process to recognize and
correctly calculate dates on and after January 1, 2000, or the failure of
computer systems, products or services to perform any of their intended
functions in a proper manner in connection with data containing any date on or
after January 1, 2000.
ARTICLE FIVE
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND THE PURCHASER
Parent and the Purchaser represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
SECTION 5.1 Organization and Qualification. Parent is a corporation duly
------------------------------
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and
each material subsidiary of Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization. The Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Parent and each of
its material subsidiaries (including the Purchaser) has the requisite corporate
power and authority to own, operate or lease its properties and to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted, and 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 properties owned, operated or leased by it makes such
qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except where the failure to
have such power or authority, or the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in
good standing, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. The term
"Material Adverse Effect on Parent", as used in this Agreement, means any change
in or effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or results of operations of Parent or any of its
subsidiaries that would be materially adverse to Parent and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole.
SECTION 5.2 Authority Relative to this Agreement. Each of Parent and the
------------------------------------
Purchaser has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and the Purchaser and the
consummation by Parent and the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the respective Boards of
Directors of Parent and the Purchaser and by Parent as sole stockholder of the
Purchaser and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or the
Purchaser are necessary to authorize or approve this Agreement or to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each of Parent and the Purchaser and, assuming the due and valid
authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a valid and
binding obligation of each of Parent and the Purchaser enforceable against each
of them in accordance with its terms.
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<PAGE>
SECTION 5.3 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
------------------------------------------
(a) Assuming (i) the filings required under the HSR Act are made and the
waiting periods thereunder have terminated or have expired, (ii) the
requirements of the Exchange Act and any applicable state securities, "blue sky"
or takeover law are met and (iii) the filing of the certificate of merger and
other appropriate merger documents, if any, as required by the GCL, is made,
none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or the Purchaser,
the consummation by Parent or the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated
hereby or compliance by Parent or the Purchaser with any of the provisions
hereof will (i) conflict with or violate the organizational documents of Parent
or the Purchaser, (ii) conflict with or violate in any material respect any
statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, permit or license
applicable to Parent or the Purchaser or any of their subsidiaries, or by which
any of them or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or
affected, or (iii) result in a Violation pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other
instrument or obligation to which Parent or the Purchaser or any of their
subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent or the Purchaser or any of their
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or
affected, which would impair the ability of Parent or the Purchaser to perform
its obligations under this Agreement, or prevent or materially delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and the
Purchaser, the consummation by Parent and the Purchaser of the transactions
contemplated hereby or compliance by Parent and the Purchaser with any of the
provisions hereof will require any Consent of any Governmental Entity, except
for (i) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and any
state securities "blue sky" or takeover law, (ii) the filing of a certificate of
merger pursuant to the GCL, and (iii) compliance with the HSR Act and any
requirements of any foreign or supranational antitrust laws.
SECTION 5.4 Information. None of the information supplied or to be supplied
-----------
by Parent and the Purchaser in writing specifically for inclusion in (i) the
Schedule 14D-9, (ii) the Proxy Statement or (iii) the Other Filings will, at the
respective times filed with the SEC or such other Governmental Entity and, in
addition, in the case of the Proxy Statement, at the date it or any amendment or
supplement is mailed to stockholders, at the time of the Special Meeting and at
the Effective Time, 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 made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
SECTION 5.5 Financing. Parent has possession of, or has available to it
---------
under existing lines of credit, sufficient funds to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and will cause the Purchaser to have sufficient
funds available to consummate the Offer and the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION 5.6 Delaware Law. Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries was,
------------
immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, an "interested
stockholder" within the meaning of Section 203 of the GCL.
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<PAGE>
ARTICLE SIX
COVENANTS
SECTION 6.1 Conduct of Business of the Company. Except as required by this
----------------------------------
Agreement or otherwise with the prior written consent of Parent, during the
period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company will,
and will cause each of its subsidiaries to, conduct its operations only in the
ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past practice and will use
its reasonable best efforts, and will cause each of its subsidiaries to use its
reasonable best efforts, to preserve intact the business organization of the
Company and each of its subsidiaries, to keep available the services of its and
their present officers and key employees, and to preserve the good will of those
having business relationships with it, including, without limitation,
maintaining satisfactory relationships with suppliers, distributors, customers,
licensors and others having business relationships with the Company. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise required by
this Agreement, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its
subsidiaries to, prior to the Effective Time, without the prior written consent
of Parent which will not be unreasonably withheld:
(a) adopt any amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or
comparable organizational documents or the Rights Agreement (other than the
amendment contemplated by Section 4.19);
(b) sell, pledge or encumber any stock owned by it in any of its
subsidiaries;
(c) (i) issue, reissue or sell, or authorize the issuance, reissuance or
sale of (A) additional shares of capital stock of any class, or securities
convertible into capital stock of any class, or any rights, warrants or options
to acquire any convertible securities or capital stock, other than the issuance
of Common Shares (and the related Rights), in accordance with the terms of the
instruments governing such issuance on the date hereof, pursuant to the exercise
of Options outstanding on the date hereof, Warrants outstanding on the date
hereof or the Series B Preferred Stock outstanding on the date hereof pursuant
to the terms of the governing instrument related to such Warrant or such Series
B Preferred Stock (or, if a Triggering Event (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) by a party other than Parent or the Purchaser shall occur, Rights) or
(B) any other securities in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution for,
Common Shares outstanding on the date hereof, or (ii) make any other changes in
its capital structure;
(d) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether
in cash, securities or property or any combination thereof) in respect of any
class or series of its capital stock other than between any of the Company and
any of its wholly owned subsidiaries; provided, however, the Company may declare
and pay the regular quarterly cash dividend on shares of Series B Preferred
Stock outstanding from time to time;
(e) split, combine, subdivide, reclassify or redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire, or propose to redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of
its capital stock, or any of its other securities;
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<PAGE>
(f) increase the compensation or fringe benefits payable or to become
payable to its directors, officers or employees (whether from the Company or any
of its subsidiaries), or pay or award any benefit not required by any existing
plan or arrangement to any officer, director or employee (including, without
limitation, the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, shares of
restricted stock or performance units pursuant to the Stock Plans or otherwise),
or grant any severance or termination pay to any officer, director or other
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than as required by
existing agreements or policies described in the Company Disclosure Schedule),
or enter into any employment or severance agreement with, any director, officer
or other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or establish, adopt,
enter into, amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or accelerate
vesting, exercisability or funding under any bonus, profit sharing, thrift,
compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement, savings,
welfare, deferred compensation, employment, termination, severance or other
employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the
benefit or welfare of any directors, officers or current or former employees of
the Company or its subsidiaries (any of the foregoing being an "Employee Benefit
Arrangement"), except, in each case, to the extent required by applicable law or
regulation or existing term of any such Employee Benefit Arrangement described
in the Company Disclosure Schedule;
(g) acquire, mortgage, encumber, sell, lease, license or dispose of any
significant assets (including Intellectual Property) or securities, except
pursuant to existing contracts or commitments or the sale or purchase of goods
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or enter into
any commitment or transaction outside the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice other than transactions between a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company and the Company or another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
(h) (i) incur, assume or pre-pay any long-term debt or incur or assume any
short-term debt, except that the Company and its subsidiaries may incur, assume
or pre-pay debt in the ordinary course of business in an amount not to exceed
$300,000 in the aggregate (provided, however, the Company may reborrow amounts
repaid under the existing facilities with HSBC Bank and Fleet National Bank in
an amount up to $1,000,000) and for purposes consistent with past practice under
existing lines of credit, (ii) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become
liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the
obligations of any other person, (iii) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims,
liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), except
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and in
accordance with their terms, (iv) make any loans, advances or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other person, except for loans,
advances, capital contributions or investments between any wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company and the Company or another wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company, (v) authorize or make capital expenditures which are in excess of
$100,000 or $500,000 in the aggregate, (vi) accelerate or delay collection of
notes or accounts receivable in advance of or beyond their regular due dates or
the dates when the same would have been collected in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (vii) delay or accelerate payment of any
account payable beyond or in advance of its due date or the date such liability
would have been paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or (viii) vary the Company's inventory practices in any material
respect from the Company's past practices;
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<PAGE>
(i) settle or compromise any suit or claim or threatened suit or claim
where the amount involved is greater than $100,000;
(j) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (i) modify, amend or terminate any contract (and, in any case, only if
the amount involved is less than $100,000, (ii) waive, release, relinquish or
assign any contract (or any of the Company's rights thereunder), right or claim,
or (iii) cancel or forgive any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company may not under any circumstance
waive or release any of its rights under any confidentiality agreement to which
it is a party;
(k) make any tax election not required by law or settle or compromise any
tax liability;
(l) permit any insurance policy naming it as a beneficiary or a loss
payable payee to be canceled or terminated without notice to the Purchaser,
except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(m) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets)
any corporation, partnership or other business organization or division thereof
or, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, any
assets;
(n) enter into any contract or agreement other than in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice (and, in any case, only if the amount
involved is less than $250,000);
(o) except as may be required as a result of a change in law or in
generally accepted accounting principles, make any change in its methods of
accounting, including tax accounting policies and procedures; or
(p) agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions
prohibited under this Section 6.1 or any action which would cause any
representation or warranty in this Agreement to be or become untrue or
incorrect.
SECTION 6.2 Access to Information. From the date of this Agreement until
---------------------
the Effective Time, the Company will, and will cause its subsidiaries, and each
of their respective officers, directors, employees, counsel, advisors and
representatives (collectively, the "Company Representatives") to, give Parent
and the Purchaser and their respective officers, employees, counsel, advisors
and representatives (collectively, the "Parent Representatives") full access,
during normal business hours, to the offices and other facilities and to the
books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries and will cause the Company
Representatives and the Company's subsidiaries to furnish Parent, the Purchaser
and the Parent Representatives with such financial and operating data and such
other information with respect to the business and operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries as Parent and the Purchaser may from time to time reasonably
request. The Company shall furnish promptly to Parent and the Purchaser a copy
of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed by it
or its subsidiaries during
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<PAGE>
such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws.
Parent and the Purchaser agree that any information furnished pursuant to this
Section 6.2 will be subject to the provisions of the letter agreement dated
September 20, 1999 between the Parent and the Company (the "Confidentiality
Agreement").
SECTION 6.3 Efforts.
-------
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions provided herein, each of the
Company, Parent and the Purchaser shall, and the Company shall cause each of its
subsidiaries to, cooperate and use reasonable efforts to make, or cause to be
made, all filings necessary or proper under applicable laws and regulations, and
to take all other actions necessary or advisable to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including but not
limited to cooperation in the preparation and filing of the Offer Documents, the
Schedule 14D-9 and any actions or filings related thereto, the Proxy Statement,
any required filings under the HSR Act, or other foreign filings and any
amendments to any thereof.
In addition, if at any time prior to the Effective Time any event or
circumstance relating to either the Company or Parent or the Purchaser or any of
their respective subsidiaries should be discovered by the Company or Parent, as
the case may be, which should be set forth in an amendment to the Offer
Documents or Schedule 14D-9, the discovering party will promptly inform the
other party of such event or circumstance. If at any time after the Effective
Time any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of
this Agreement, including the execution of additional instruments, the proper
officers and directors of each party to this Agreement shall take all such
necessary action.
(b) Each of the parties will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as
promptly as practicable all Consents of any Governmental Entity or any other
person required in connection with, and waivers of any Violations that may be
caused by, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Offer and
this Agreement.
SECTION 6.4 Public Announcements. The Company, on the one hand, and Parent
--------------------
and the Purchaser, on the other hand, agree to consult promptly with each other
prior to issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statement with
respect to the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby,
agree to provide to the other party for review a copy of any such press release
or statement, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public
statement prior to such consultation and review, unless required by applicable
law or any listing agreement with a securities exchange.
SECTION 6.5 Employee Benefit Arrangements.
-----------------------------
(a) Parent agrees that the Company will honor, and, from and after the
Effective Time, Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to honor, in
accordance with their respective terms as in effect on the date hereof, the
employment, severance, bonus, supplemental retirement, and split dollar life
insurance agreements and arrangements to which the Company is a party which are
set forth on Section 6.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
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<PAGE>
(b) Parent agrees that (i) for the period ending December 31, 2000, the
Surviving Corporation shall continue the compensation and employee benefit and
welfare plans and programs of the Company other than those providing
equity-based compensation to the extent practicable as in effect on the date
hereof, and (ii) thereafter the Surviving Corporation shall provide employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole (A) compensation (including bonus
and incentive awards) programs and plans and (B) employee benefit and welfare
plans, programs, contracts, agreements and policies (including insurance and
pension plans), fringe benefits and vacation policies which are substantially
the same as or not materially less favorable in the aggregate to such employees
than those generally in effect with respect to similarly situated employees of
Parent.
SECTION 6.6 Indemnification.
---------------
(a) The certificate of incorporation and the by-laws of the Surviving
Corporation shall contain the provisions with respect to indemnification and
exculpation from liability set forth in the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws on the date of this Agreement, which provisions shall
not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from
the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights
thereunder of individuals who on or prior to the Effective Time were directors,
officers, employees or agents of the Company, unless such modification is
required by law. Parent shall guarantee the obligations of the Surviving
Corporation with respect to the indemnification provisions contained in the
Surviving Corporation's certificate of incorporation and by-laws.
(b) Parent shall not cancel the Company's existing directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy, a copy of which has been heretofore delivered to
Parent.
(c) In the event Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its
properties and assets to any person, then and in each such case, proper
provisions shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the
Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set
forth in this Section 6.6.
(d) This Section 6.6 shall survive the consummation of the Merger at the
Effective Time, is intended to benefit the Company, Parent and the Surviving
Corporation, and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of Parent and
the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 6.7 Notification of Certain Matters. Parent and the Company shall
-------------------------------
promptly notify each other of (a) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any fact
or event which would be reasonably likely (i) to cause any representation or
warranty contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material
respect at any time from the date hereof to the Effective Time or (ii) to cause
any covenant, condition or agreement under this Agreement not to be complied
with or satisfied and (b) any failure of the Company, Parent or Purchaser, as
the case may be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement
to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided, however, that no
such notification shall affect the representations or warranties of any party or
the conditions to the obligations of any party hereunder. Each
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<PAGE>
of the Company, Parent and the Purchaser shall give prompt notice to the other
parties hereof of any notice or other communication from any third party
alleging that the consent of such third party is or may be required in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 6.8 Rights Agreement; Waiver of Right of First Refusal; Redemption
--------------------------------------------------------------
Notice.
- ------
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will not (i) redeem the
Rights, (ii) amend the Rights Agreement or (iii) take any action which would
allow any Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) other than Parent or the
Purchaser to acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Common Shares
without causing a Distribution Date or a Triggering Event (as each such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) to occur. The Board of Directors of the Company
shall not make a determination that Parent, the Purchaser or any of their
respective Affiliates or Associates is an "Adverse Person" for purposes of the
Rights Agreement.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees that it will waive its exclusive,
irrevocable right of first refusal to purchase the Series B Preferred Stock
owned by Inter Scan Holding Ltd., a Swiss corporation (which, with all of its
affiliates (which include all of its officers, directors, shareholders and Mr.
Holger Hjelm) is referred to herein as "Inter Scan"), granted pursuant to the
Shareholder Agreement, dated July 8, 1997, by and between the Company and Inter
Scan, solely for the purpose of allowing Inter Scan to (i) validly tender its
shares of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to the Offer, or (ii) convert its
Series B Preferred Stock to Common Shares and, immediately thereafter, validly
tender all such Common Shares pursuant to the Offer.
(c) The Company shall exercise its voting rights with respect to the Series
B Preferred Stock under the Shareholder Agreement, dated as of July 8, 1997,
between the Company and Inter Scan, in favor of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and against any Acquisition Transaction (as
defined below).
(d) At the request of Parent, the Company (i) shall promptly, but in no
event later than 3 business days following the date of such request, give notice
of redemption after 45 calendar days (the "Redemption Date") of all of the then
outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock to the holders thereof, and (ii)
shall immediately prior to the Redemption Date irrevocably deposit in trust, for
the account of such holders, funds sufficient to pay in full the redemption
price in respect of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, in each case, in
the manner contemplated by and pursuant to the terms and procedures set forth in
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, as in effect on the
date hereof.
SECTION 6.9 State Takeover Laws. The Company shall, upon the request of the
-------------------
Purchaser, take all reasonable steps to assist in any challenge by the Purchaser
to the validity or applicability to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, of any state takeover law.
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SECTION 6.10 No Solicitation.
---------------
(a) The Company, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors,
employees, representatives and agents shall immediately cease any existing
discussions or negotiations, if any, with any parties conducted heretofore with
respect to any acquisition or exchange of all or any material portion of the
assets of, or any equity interest in, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any business combination with the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The
Company agrees that, prior to the Effective Time, it shall not, and shall not
authorize or permit any of its subsidiaries or any of its or its subsidiaries'
directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives, directly or
indirectly, to solicit, initiate or encourage, or furnish or disclose non-public
information in furtherance of, any inquiries or the making of any proposal with
respect to any merger, liquidation, recapitalization, consolidation or other
business combination involving the Company or its subsidiaries or acquisition of
any capital stock or any material portion of the assets (except for acquisition
of assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) of
the Company or its subsidiaries, or any combination of the foregoing (other than
the Offer and the Merger) (an "Acquisition Transaction"), or negotiate, explore
or otherwise engage in substantive discussions with any person (other than the
Purchaser, Parent or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and
representatives) with respect to any Acquisition Transaction or enter into any
agreement, arrangement or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate or
fail to consummate the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; provided that the Company may furnish information to, and negotiate
or otherwise engage in substantive discussions with, any person who delivers a
written proposal for an Acquisition Transaction if the Company Board determines
in good faith by a majority vote, after consultation with its outside legal
counsel, that failing to take such action would reasonably be expected to result
in a breach of the fiduciary duties of the Company Board, and prior to
furnishing non-public information to any such party, the Company shall have
entered into a confidentiality agreement containing terms at least as favorable
to the Company as those of the Confidentiality Agreement.
(b) From and after the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall
immediately advise the Purchaser in writing of the receipt, directly or
indirectly, of any proposal for an Acquisition Transaction, and of any
discussions, negotiations or proposals relating to an Acquisition Transaction,
identify the offeror and furnish to the Purchaser a copy of any such proposal,
if it is in writing, or a written summary of any such proposal relating to an
Acquisition Transaction if it is not in writing. The Company shall promptly
advise Parent of any development relating to such proposal, including the
results of any discussions or negotiations with respect thereto.
SECTION 6.11 Parent Agreement Concerning Purchaser. Parent agrees to cause
-------------------------------------
the Purchaser to comply with its obligations under this Agreement.
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<PAGE>
ARTICLE SEVEN
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
SECTION 7.1 Conditions. The respective obligations of Parent, the Purchaser
----------
and the Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction, at or
before the Effective Time, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. The stockholders of the Company shall have duly
approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, if required by
applicable law.
(b) Purchase of Common Shares. The Purchaser shall have accepted for
payment and paid for Common Shares in an amount sufficient to meet the Minimum
Condition and otherwise pursuant to the Offer in accordance with the terms
hereof.
(c) Injunctions; Illegality. The consummation of the Merger shall not be
restrained, enjoined or prohibited by any order, judgment, decree, injunction or
ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction or any Governmental Entity and there
shall not have been any statute, rule or regulation enacted, promulgated or
deemed applicable to the Merger by any Governmental Entity which prevents the
consummation of the Merger or has the effect of making the purchase of Common
Shares illegal.
(d) HSR Act. Any waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR
Act applicable to the Merger shall have expired or terminated.
ARTICLE EIGHT
TERMINATION; AMENDMENTS; WAIVER
SECTION 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger
-----------
contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time,
notwithstanding approval thereof by the stockholders of the Company (with any
termination by Parent also being an effective termination by the Purchaser):
(a) by the mutual written consent of Parent and the Company, by action of
their respective Boards of Directors;
(b) by the Company if (i) Parent or the Purchaser fails to commence the
Offer as provided in Section 1.1 hereof by March 10, 2000, or (ii) Parent or the
Purchaser shall not have accepted for payment and paid for Common Shares
pursuant to the Offer in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof on or
before May 30, 2000; provided, however, that the Company may not terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b) if the Company shall have materially
breached this Agreement;
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<PAGE>
(c) by Parent or the Company if (i) the Offer is terminated or withdrawn
pursuant to its terms without any Common Shares being purchased thereunder or
(ii) the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before August 31, 2000;
provided, however, that neither Parent nor the Company may terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) if such party shall have materially
breached this Agreement;
(d) by Parent or the Company if any court of competent jurisdiction or
other Governmental Entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken
any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the
acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Common Shares pursuant to the Offer
or the Merger and such order, decree or ruling or other action shall have become
final and nonappealable, provided that the party seeking to terminate this
Agreement shall have used its reasonable efforts to remove or lift such order,
decree or ruling;
(e) by the Company if, prior to the acceptance for payment of Common Shares
pursuant to the Offer, the Company Board approves an Acquisition Transaction, on
terms which a majority of the members of the Company Board have determined in
good faith (i) after consultation with McDonald or another nationally recognized
investment banking firm, to be more favorable from a financial point of view to
the Company and its stockholders than the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and (ii) after receipt of advice from outside legal counsel, that
failure to approve such proposal and terminate this Agreement would reasonably
be expected to result in a breach of the fiduciary duties of the Company Board
under applicable law; provided that the termination described in this Section
8.1(e) shall not be permissible unless and until the Company shall have provided
the Purchaser and Parent prior written notice at least two business days prior
to such termination that the Company Board has authorized and intends to effect
the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(e), including
copies of all proposed written agreements, arrangements, or understandings,
including the forms of any agreements supplied by third parties, with respect to
such Acquisition Transaction (and a description of all material oral agreements
with respect thereto), the Company shall otherwise be in compliance with its
obligations under this Agreement and on or prior to such termination shall have
paid to Parent the Termination Fee and the Expense Fee described in Section
8.3(b).
(f) by Parent prior to the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer,
if the Company Board (i) shall have withdrawn or modified (including by
amendment of the Schedule 14D-9) in any manner adverse to the Purchaser or
Parent its approval or recommendation of the Offer, this Agreement or the
Merger, (ii) shall have approved or recommended an Acquisition Transaction, or
(iii) shall have resolved to effect any of the foregoing, or if the Company
shall have breached Section 6.8(a); or
(g) by Parent prior to the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer
if the Minimum Condition (as defined in Annex I) shall not have been satisfied
by the Expiration Date of the Offer and on or prior to such Expiration Date an
Acquisition Transaction shall have been publicly announced or disclosed.
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<PAGE>
SECTION 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
---------------------
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void
and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party or its
directors, officers or stockholders, other than the provisions of the last
sentence of Section 6.2 and the provisions of this Section 8.2 and Section 8.3,
which shall survive any such termination. Nothing contained in this Section 8.2
shall relieve any party from liability for any breach of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.3 Fees and Expenses.
-----------------
(a) Whether or not the Merger is consummated, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the Offer, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.
(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
8.1(e) or (f) hereof, or is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(i) hereof as a
result of the failure to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in paragraph
(d) or (g) (as such subsection (g) relates to the Company's obligations under
Section 6.8(a) or Section 6.10) of Annex I, then the Company shall promptly (and
in any event within one business day after such termination or, in the case of
any such termination by the Company, prior to such termination) pay Parent on
amount equal to (i) a termination fee of $7,000,000 (the "Termination Fee"),
provided that in no event shall more than one Termination Fee be payable by the
Company plus (ii) Parent's aggregate Expenses not exceeding $1,000,000 (the
"Expense Fee"). Parent's "Expenses" shall mean all documented out-of-pocket fees
and expenses incurred or paid by or on behalf of Parent in connection with or in
contemplation of the Merger or the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including all fees and expenses of counsel,
investment banking firms, accountants, experts and consultants to Parent.
(c) In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
8.1(g) hereof and within 12 months of the date of termination of this Agreement
a transaction constituting an Acquisition Transaction is consummated, the
Company shall, prior to or simultaneously with the consummation of such
transaction, pay Parent the Termination Fee and the Expense Fee; provided,
however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to pay more than one
such Termination Fee with respect to all such occurrences.
(d) The prevailing party in any legal action undertaken to enforce this
Agreement or any provision hereof shall be entitled to recover from the other
party the costs and expenses (including attorneys' and expert witness fees)
incurred in connection with such action.
SECTION 8.4 Amendment. Subject to Section 1.3(c), this Agreement may be
---------
amended by the Company, Parent and the Purchaser at any time before or after any
approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company but, after any
such approval, no amendment shall be made which decreases the Merger Price or
which adversely affects the rights of the Company's stockholders hereunder
without the approval of such stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of all the parties.
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<PAGE>
SECTION 8.5 Extension; Waiver. Subject to Section 1.3(c), at any time
-----------------
prior to the Effective Time, Parent and the Purchaser, on the one hand, and the
Company, on the other hand, may (i) extend the time for the performance of any
of the obligations or other acts of the other, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in
the representations and warranties contained herein of the other or in any
document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto by the other or (iii)
waive compliance by the other with any of the agreements or conditions. Any
agreement on the part of any party to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.
ARTICLE NINE
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. The
----------------------------------------------
representations and warranties made in this Agreement shall not survive beyond
the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the agreements set forth in
Section 3.2 and Section 6.6 shall survive the Effective Time indefinitely
(except to the extent a shorter period of time is explicitly specified therein).
SECTION 9.2 Entire Agreement; Assignment.
----------------------------
(a) This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to
herein) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations
hereunder will be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of
law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party (except
that Parent may assign its rights and the Purchaser may assign its rights,
interest and obligations to any direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent without
the consent of the Company, provided that no such assignment shall relieve
Parent of any liability for any breach by such assignee). 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 9.3 Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
--------
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, each of which shall remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 9.4 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
-------
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered in person, by overnight courier or facsimile to the
respective parties as follows:
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<PAGE>
If to Parent or the Purchaser:
Danaher Corporation
1250 24th Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20037
Attention: Patrick W. Allender
Facsimile: (202) 828-0860
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Trevor S. Norwitz, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 403-2000
If to the Company:
American Precision Industries Inc.
2777 Walden Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14225
Attention: Kurt Wiedenhaupt, President
Facsimile: (716) 684-2155
with a copy to:
Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP
800 Fleet Bank Building
12 Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, New York 14202
Attention: James J. Tanous, Esq.
Facsimile: (716) 856-0432
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the other in writing in the manner set forth above;
provided that notice of any change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt thereof.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. 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. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a)
consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any Federal court
located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court in the event any
dispute arises
-37-
<PAGE>
out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction
by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and (c) agrees that it
will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than a Federal or state court
sitting in the State of Delaware.
SECTION 9.6 Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings herein are
--------------------
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
------------
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 9.8 Parties in Interest. Except with respect to Section 6.6 (which
-------------------
is intended to be for the benefit of the persons identified therein, and may be
enforced by such persons), this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely
to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies of
any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.9 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
-------------------
(a) the term "affiliate", as applied to any person, shall mean any other
person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with, that person. For the purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as applied to any person, means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of that person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
(b) the term "Person" or "person" shall include individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, other entities and groups (which term shall include a
"group" as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); and
(c) the term "Subsidiary" or "subsidiaries" means, with respect to Parent,
the Company or any other person, any corporation, partnership, joint venture or
other legal entity of which Parent, the Company or such other person, as the
case may be (either alone or through or together with any other subsidiary),
owns, directly or indirectly, stock or other equity interests the holders of
which are generally entitled to more than 50% of the vote for the election of
the board of directors or other governing body of such corporation or other
legal entity.
SECTION 9.10 Specific Performance. The parties hereto 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 hereof in any court of the United
-38-
<PAGE>
States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
-39-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed on its behalf by its respective officer thereunto duly authorized, all
as of the day and year first above written.
DANAHER CORPORATION
By: /s/ Daniel L. Comas
-----------------------------
Name: Daniel L. Comas
Title: Vice President-Corporate
Development
ALPHA ACQUISITION I CORP.
By: /s/ Daniel L. Comas
------------------------------
Name: Daniel L. Comas
Title: Vice President
AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES INC.
By: /s/ Kurt Wiedenhaupt
-------------------------------
Name: Kurt Wiedenhaupt
Title: President
-40-
<PAGE>
ANNEX I
Conditions to the Offer. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the
Offer, the Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to
any applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c)
promulgated under the Exchange Act, pay for any tendered Common Shares and may
terminate or, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, amend the Offer, if
(i) there shall not be validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the
Expiration Date for the Offer that number of Common Shares which represents at
least a majority of the total number of outstanding Common Shares on a fully
diluted basis on the date of purchase (not taking into account the Rights) and
all of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock (the "Minimum Condition"), (ii)
any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act or under any applicable foreign
statutes or regulations shall not have expired or been terminated prior to the
Expiration Date, or (iii) at any time on or after February 15, 2000 and prior to
the time of acceptance for payment or payment for any Common Shares, any of the
following events (each, an "Event") shall occur:
(a) there shall be any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation,
legislation, interpretation, judgment, order or injunction enacted,
enforced, promulgated, amended, issued or deemed applicable to the Offer,
by any legislative body, court, government or governmental, administrative
or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, other than the
application of the waiting period provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer or
to the Merger, that, in the reasonable judgment of Parent, would be
expected to, directly or indirectly: (i) make illegal or otherwise prohibit
or materially delay consummation of the Offer or the Merger or seek to
obtain material damages or make materially more costly the making of the
Offer, (ii) prohibit or materially limit the ownership or operation by
Parent or the Purchaser of all or any material portion of the business or
assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries taken as a whole or compel
Parent or the Purchaser to dispose of or hold separately all or any
material portion of the business or assets of Parent or the Purchaser or
the Company or any of its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or seek to impose
any material limitation on the ability of Parent or the Purchaser to
conduct its business or own such assets, (iii) impose material limitations
on the ability of Parent or the Purchaser effectively to acquire, hold or
exercise full rights of ownership of the Common Shares, including, without
limitation, the right to vote any Common Shares acquired or owned by the
Purchaser or Parent on all matters properly presented to the Company's
stockholders, (iv) require divestiture by Parent or the Purchaser of any
Common Shares, or (v) result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
or
(b) there shall be instituted or pending any action or proceeding by any
Governmental Entity seeking, or that would reasonably be expected to result
in, any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of
paragraph (a) above or by any third party for which there is a substantial
likelihood of resulting in any of the consequences referred to in clauses
(i) through (v) of paragraph (a) above; or
(c) any change shall have occurred (or any development shall have
occurred involving prospective changes) in the business, assets,
liabilities, condition (finan-
<PAGE>
cial or otherwise), prospects or results of operations of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries that has, or could reasonably be expected to have,
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; or
(d) (i) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have
withdrawn, or shall have modified or amended in a manner adverse to Parent
or the Purchaser, the approval, adoption or recommendation, as the case may
be, of the Offer or the Merger Agreement, or shall have approved or
recommended any Acquisition Transaction, (ii) a Person shall have entered
into a definitive agreement or an agreement in principle with the Company
with respect to an Acquisition Transaction, or (iii) the Company Board or
any committee thereof shall have resolved to do or enter into any of the
foregoing; or
(e) the Company and the Purchaser and Parent shall have reached an
agreement that the Offer or the Merger Agreement be terminated, or the
Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms;
or
(f) any of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth
in the Merger Agreement, when read without any exception or qualification
as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect on the Company, shall not be
true and correct, as if such representations and warranties were made at
the time of such determination (except as to any such representation or
warranty which speaks as of a specific date, which must be untrue or
incorrect as of such specific date) except where the failure to be so true
and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) prevent
or materially delay the consummation of the Offer, (iii) materially
increase the cost of the Offer to the Purchaser or (iv) have a material
adverse effect on the benefits to Parent of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; or
(g) the Co mpany shall have failed to perform in any material respect or
to comply in any material respect with any of its material obligations,
covenants or agreements under the Merger Agreement; or
(h) there shall have occurred, and continued to exist, (i) any general
suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on the
New York Stock Exchange or on the over-the-counter stock market, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotations System ("NASDAQ"), (ii) any decline of at least 25% in either
the Dow Jones Average of Industrial Stocks or the Standard & Poor's 500
Index from the close of business on the last trading day immediately
preceding the date of the Merger Agreement through the applicable
Expiration Date, (iii) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any
suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States, or (iv) a
commencement of a war, armed hostilities or other national or international
crisis involving the United States or a material limitation (whether or not
mandatory) by any Governmental Entity on the extension of credit by banks
or other lending institutions; or
-2-
<PAGE>
(i) those consents required upon a change-in-control, or otherwise as a
result of the closing of the Offer or the Merger, under any credit
agreement, letter of credit or reimbursement agreement with outstanding
indebtedness in excess of $5,000,000 shall not have been obtained.
The foregoing conditions (including those set forth in clauses (i) and (ii)
of the initial paragraph) are for the benefit of Parent and the Purchaser and
may be asserted by Parent or the Purchaser regardless of the circumstances
giving rise to any such conditions and may be waived by Parent or the Purchaser
in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in their reasonable
discretion, in each case, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement. The
failure by Parent or the Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing
rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such right shall
be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to
time.
The capitalized terms used in this Annex I shall have the meanings set
forth in the Agreement to which it is annexed, except that the term "Merger
Agreement" shall be deemed to refer to the Agreement to which this Annex I is
appended.
-3-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (d)(2)
API LETTERHEAD
September 20, 1999
Mr. Daniel L. Comas
Vice President, Corporate Development
Danaher Corporation
1250 24/th/ Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
Dear Mr. Comas:
It has been brought to both of our attention that it may be in the
best interests of our respective companies, Danaher Corporation ("DHR") and
American Precision Industries Inc. ("API"), to explore the possibility of
engaging in a business transaction with each other. To assist DHR and API in
reaching a mutual decision concerning such a possible transaction, each of DHR
and API agrees that it may deliver to the other certain information which is
nonpublic, confidential or proprietary in nature (the "Evaluation Material").
API and DHR both agree that their respective delivery and the other
party's use of the Evaluation Material is subject to the terms of this letter
agreement as follows:
1. Each of API and DHR, directly or through its representatives, may
disclose such Evaluation Material to the other party as it deems advisable in
connection with the other party's evaluation of a possible business transaction.
Each of API and DHR shall accept and hold such Evaluation Material in strict
confidence in accordance with the provisions of this letter agreement.
2. Each party agrees that the other party reserves the right, in its
sole and absolute discretion, to reject any or all proposals, to decline to
furnish further Evaluation Material and to terminate discussions and
negotiations with the other party at any time. The exercise by either party of
these rights shall not affect the enforceability of any provision of this letter
agreement. Each party further understands and agrees that unless and until a
definitive Transaction Agreement has been executed and delivered, no contract or
agreement providing for a transaction between the parties shall be deemed to
exist between the parties, and neither party will be under any legal obligation
of any kind whatsoever with respect to such transaction by virtue of this or any
written or oral expression thereof, except in the case of this letter agreement,
for the matters specifically agreed to herein. For purposes of this letter
agreement, the term "definitive Transaction Agreement" shall mean a binding,
fully negotiated final agreement with respect to a business transaction, but
does not include an
<PAGE>
Mr. Daniel L. Comas
Vice President, Corporate Development
Danaher Corporation
September 20, 1999
Page 2.
executed letter of intent or any other preliminary written agreement, nor does
it include any verbal acceptance of any offer made by either party.
3. The Evaluation Material shall be deemed to include, without
limitation: (a) information provided prior to, on or following the date hereof;
(b) all analyses, compilations, forecasts, studies or other documents prepared
by either API or DHR, their respective agents, representatives (including
attorneys, accountants and financial advisers) or employees which contain or
otherwise reflect such information; and (c) all nonpublic information furnished
to either API or DHR, whether disclosed in writing or orally or obtained by
either API or DHR through their observation of the other party's facilities.
4. The Evaluation Material will be kept strictly confidential and,
without the prior written consent of either API or DHR, as the case may be, the
party to whom such Evaluation Material was disclosed (and its directors,
officers, employees, agents and representatives) shall not: (a) distribute or
disclose the Evaluation Material to any third party; or (b) use the Evaluation
Material for any purpose other than in connection with evaluating a possible
business transaction with the other party. Each of API and DHR also agrees to
transmit the Evaluation Material only to those individuals who are actively and
directly participating in the evaluation of a business transaction and who are
informed of and who have agreed to comply with the terms of this letter
agreement and who are instructed not to make use of the Evaluation Material in a
manner inconsistent herewith. The party to whom such Evaluation Material was
disclosed shall be responsible for any breach of the terms of this letter
agreement by such individuals.
5. The Evaluation Material shall not include information which the
party to whom such Evaluation Material was disclosed can demonstrate: (a) is or
becomes generally available to the public other than by breach by such party of
its agreements herein contained; (b) was prior to disclosure hereunder, or
thereafter becomes, known to such party on a nonconfidential basis; (c) is known
to the recipient prior to the date of disclosure; or (d) is independently
developed by recipient as shown by its written records and without breach of any
obligation under this letter agreement.
6. Each of API and DHR when requested in writing by the other party
shall immediately return or destroy (and confirm in writing to the other party
such fact) the Evaluation Material, including all notes, copies, reproductions,
summaries, analyses or extracts thereof, then in the possession or under the
control of the party to whom such Evaluation Material was disclosed either
furnished by the other party hereunder or prepared by or on behalf of the party
to whom such Evaluation Material was disclosed. Such return or destruction
shall not abrogate the continuing obligations of the party to whom such
Evaluation Material was disclosed under this letter agreement.
<PAGE>
Mr. Daniel L. Comas
Vice President, Corporate Development
Danaher Corporation
September 20, 1999
Page 3.
7. Neither API nor DHR will disclose to any person or entity the
fact that discussions, investigations or negotiations are taking place
concerning a possible business transaction between API and DHR; provided,
however, that nothing in this letter agreement shall preclude or prohibit either
party from making public disclosures that in the opinion of its independent
legal counsel are required by the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or the rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, or by
rules or regulations of any exchange or market self-regulatory organization that
provides a trading market for such party's securities. Prior to such disclosure
the party making such disclosure will use its best efforts to communicate fully
with the other party concerning the need for and content of any public
disclosure.
8. In the event that either party is requested or required (by
interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil
investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Evaluation
Material, including the fact that discussions, investigations or negotiations
are taking place concerning a possible business transaction, such party shall
provide the other party with prompt written notice so that it may seek a
protective order or other appropriate remedy. In the event such protection or
other remedy is not obtained, either API or DHR, as the case may be, shall
furnish only that portion of Evaluation Material which it is advised by
independent legal counsel is legally required and shall exercise best efforts to
obtain assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such Evaluation
Material.
9. It is understood that this letter agreement does not constitute
an agreement to enter into a business transaction and does not obligate API or
DHR to enter into any further discussions or agreements, or to refrain from
conducting discussions or investigations with any other parties regarding
possible business transactions with those other parties.
10. DHR, on behalf of itself and each of its affiliates (as defined
in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), agrees that until the
expiration of two (2) years from the date of this letter agreement, it and its
affiliates will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written approval
of API (a) in any manner acquire, agree to acquire or make any public or private
proposal or offer to acquire, directly or indirectly, any securities, assets or
property of API or any of its subsidiaries, whether such agreement, proposal or
offer is with or to API or any of its subsidiaries or with or to a third party,
(b) propose to enter into, directly or indirectly, any tender or exchange offer,
recapitalization, merger or other business combination involving API or any of
its subsidiaries, (c) make, or in any way participate, directly or indirectly,
in any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission) to vote, or seek to advise or influence
any person with respect to the voting of, any voting securities of API, (d)
submit any shareholder proposal for consideration or approval at API's
shareholders' meeting, (e) form, join or in any
<PAGE>
Mr. Daniel L. Comas
President and Chief Executive Officer
Danaher Corporation
September 20, 1999
Page 4.
way participate as a "syndicate" or "group" with a "person" (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) with respect to any
voting securities of API, (f) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to
seek to control or influence the management, board of directors or policies of
API, (g) disclose any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the
foregoing, or (h) advise, encourage, provide assistance (including financial
assistance) to or hold discussions with any other persons in connection with any
of the foregoing. If at any time during such period DHR or any of its affiliates
is approached by any third party concerning its or such third party's
participation or intentions with respect to any of the above, DHR shall promptly
inform API of the nature of such contact and the parties thereto.
11. Until the earlier of (a) the execution by the parties of a
definitive Transaction Agreement or (b) two (2) years from the date of this
letter agreement, each party agrees not to solicit or make offers of employment
to any of the executive officers or other management level employees of the
other party or any of its subsidiaries without the prior written consent of the
other party; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not (i) prohibit a
party from hiring any such persons who respond to a national advertisement for
employment placed by such party, or (ii) prohibit such party from hiring any
such person who, without solicitation by such party, contacts such party
regarding employment.
12. Each party hereby acknowledges that it is aware, and that it has
advised or will advise its directors, officers, employees, agents and advisers
who are informed as to the matters which are the subject of this letter
agreement, that the United States securities laws prohibit any person who has
material, nonpublic information concerning the matters which are the subject of
this letter agreement from purchasing or selling securities of a company which
may be a party to a transaction of the type contemplated by this letter
agreement or from communicating such information to any other person under
circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely
to purchase or sell such securities.
13. The terms of this letter agreement shall inure to the benefit of,
and be binding upon, each of API and DHR and their respective successors and
assigns. Without prejudice to the other rights and remedies otherwise available
at law or in equity, each of API and DHR and their respective agents and
representatives shall be entitled to equitable relief by way of injunction if
the other party or any of its agents or representatives breach or threaten to
breach any of the provisions of this letter agreement.
14. It is understood and agreed that no failure or delay by either
party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a
waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power or
privilege hereunder.
<PAGE>
Mr. Daniel L. Comas
President and Chief Executive Officer
Danaher Corporation
September 20, 1999
Page 5.
15. Should any provision of this letter agreement be held to be void,
invalid, unenforceable or illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
validity and enforceability of the other provisions shall not be affected
thereby.
16. This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The parties hereby agree to have any dispute
hereunder tried in the State Courts of New York or in the Federal District Court
of the United States that sit in Erie County, New York, and each party hereby
submits to the jurisdiction of those courts.
17. This letter agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement.
Please indicate DHR's acceptance of and agreement to the terms of this
letter agreement by signing the enclosed copy of the same and returning it to
me, whereupon this will become a binding agreement between DHR and API.
Very truly yours,
AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES INC.
By: /s/ Kurt Wiedenhaupt
Kurt Wiedenhaupt
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
Acknowledged and agreed to
this 20th day of September 1999
DANAHER CORPORATION
By /s/ Daniel L. Comas
---------------------------------
Daniel L. Comas
Vice President, Corporate Development
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (d)(3)
SUPPORT AGREEMENT
SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of February 15, 2000, by
and between Danaher Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Mr. Holger
Hjelm ("Seller"), and (solely for the purposes of Section 1.3 and Section 5.10
hereof) American Precision Industries Inc. a Delaware corporation (the
"Company").
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent, Alpha Acquisition I Corp. (the
"Purchaser"), a Delaware corporation and a subsidiary of Parent, and the Company
are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the
"Merger Agreement", which term shall not include any amendment to such Agreement
which decreases the Offer Price or changes the form of consideration payable in
the Offer, unless Seller consents to the inclusion of such amendment in such
term). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set
forth in the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Purchaser
agrees to make a tender offer (the "Offer") for all outstanding Shares of the
Company, at $19.25 per Share (the "Offer Price") net to the seller in cash, to
be followed by a merger (the "Merger") of the Purchaser with and into the
Company;
WHEREAS, the Offer will provide that Shares may be tendered by tendering
shares of Series B Seven Percent (7%) Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock,
par value $1.00 per share ("Series B Preferred Stock") which are convertible
into Shares along with an instruction to the Purchaser not to convert such
shares of Series B Preferred Stock until payment is made for the Series B
Preferred Stock pursuant to the Offer;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Seller and entities directly or
indirectly controlled by Seller ("Seller Affiliates") beneficially own 1,236,337
shares of Series B Preferred Stock, which are convertible into Shares pursuant
to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock, and a further 260,000 Shares
(together, the "Owned Shares"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger
Agreement and make the Offer, Parent and the Purchaser have required that Seller
agree, and Seller hereby agrees to enter into the agreements set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration given to each party hereto, the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Tender and to Vote.
-------------------------------
1.1 Tender. Seller hereby agrees to validly tender (or cause the record
------
owner of such shares to validly tender), pursuant to and in accordance with the
terms of the Offer, but in no event earlier than March 3, 2000 or later than the
then scheduled expiration date of the Offer, all of the Shares and shares of
Series B Preferred Stock owned by Seller and the Seller Affiliates, including
any Shares acquired before or after the date hereof and prior to the termination
of the Offer, whether upon the conversion of Series B Preferred Stock or
otherwise (collectively, the "Tender Shares" which term, as used herein, shall
include the Owned Shares where the context requires) by physical delivery of the
certificates therefor, and to not withdraw such Tender
<PAGE>
Shares, except following termination of the Offer pursuant to its terms or
expiration of this Agreement pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement. Upon
accepting for payment the Shares in the Offer, Purchaser shall pay in cash an
amount for the Series B Preferred Stock equal to the product of the number of
Shares to be issued, calculated in accordance with Section 6(B) of the terms of
the Series B Preferred Stock, multiplied by the greater of (i) the Offer Price
and (ii) the amount per share of Company common stock paid by Purchaser in the
Offer. Seller hereby permits Parent and the Purchaser to publish and disclose in
the Offer Documents and, if approval of the Company's stockholders is required
under applicable law, the Proxy Statement (including all documents and schedules
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) its identity and ownership of
the Tender Shares and the nature of its commitments, arrangements and
understandings under this Agreement.
1.2 Voting. Seller hereby agrees that, during the time this Agreement
------
is in effect but only to the extent Seller and the Seller Affiliates have the
right to vote with respect to the Tender Shares, at any meeting of the
stockholders of the Company, however called, Seller shall (and shall cause the
Seller Affiliates to) (a) vote the Tender Shares in favor of the Merger; (b)
vote the Tender Shares against any action or agreement that would result in a
breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or
agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement; and (c) vote the Tender
Shares against any action or agreement (other than the Merger Agreement or the
transactions contemplated thereby) that would impede, interfere with, delay,
postpone or attempt to discourage the Merger or the Offer, including, but not
limited to: (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; (ii) a sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or a reorganization, recapitalization or
liquidation of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) any change in the
management or board of directors of the Company, except as otherwise agreed to
in writing by the Purchaser; (iv) any material change in the present
capitalization or dividend policy of the Company; or (v) any other material
change in the Company's corporate structure or business.
1.3 Company Consent and Agreements. The Company hereby consents to this
------------------------------
Agreement, agrees that Seller's compliance with this Agreement will not violate
the Shareholder Agreement between InterScan Holding Ltd. ("InterScan") and the
Company dated July 8, 1997 (the "Shareholder Agreement") in any respect. The
Company further agrees that as long as it has the right to vote with respect to
Tender Shares, it will take all action in its capacity as proxy holder under the
Shareholder Agreement consistent with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including voting the Tender Shares in accordance with
Section 1.2. The Company, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, hereby
consents to any transfer by InterScan to any other Affiliates of InterScan of
Series B Preferred Stock and its rights and obligations under the Amended and
Restated Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 3, 1997, as amended, between the
Company and InterScan, the Registration Agreement dated July 8, 1997 between the
Company and InterScan and the Shareholder Agreement, provided, that any such
transferee agrees to be bound by all the terms to which InterScan is bound under
said agreements.
1.4 No Inconsistent Arrangements. Seller hereby covenants and agrees
----------------------------
that, except as contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, it
shall not (i) except to Parent or the Purchaser, transfer (which term shall
include, without limitation, any sale, gift,
-2-
<PAGE>
pledge or other disposition), or consent to any transfer of, any or all of the
Tender Shares or any interest therein, (ii) except with Parent, enter into any
contract, option or other agreement or understanding with respect to any
transfer of any or all of the Tender Shares or any interest therein, (iii) grant
any proxy, power-of-attorney or other authorization in or with respect to the
Tender Shares, (iv) deposit any Tender Shares into a voting trust or enter into
a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to the Tender Shares or (v) take
any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the
performance of its obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby
or by the Merger Agreement or which would make any representation or warranty of
Seller hereunder untrue or incorrect.
1.5 No Solicitation. Seller hereby agrees that he shall not, and shall
---------------
not permit or authorize any of his affiliates, representatives or agents to,
directly or indirectly, encourage, solicit, explore, participate in or initiate
discussions or negotiations with, or provide or disclose any information to, any
corporation, partnership, person or other entity or group (other than Parent,
the Purchaser or any of their affiliates or representatives) concerning any
Acquisition Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement or
understanding requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate
the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Seller and the Seller Affiliates will immediately cease any existing activities,
discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect
to any Acquisition Transaction. From and after the execution of this Agreement,
Seller shall immediately advise Parent in writing of the receipt, directly or
indirectly, of any inquiries, discussions, negotiations or proposals relating to
an Acquisition Transaction, identify the offeror and furnish to Parent a copy of
any such proposal or inquiry, if it is in writing, or a written summary of any
oral proposal or inquiry relating to an Acquisition Transaction. Seller shall
promptly advise Parent in writing of any development relating to such proposal,
including the results of any discussions or negotiations with respect thereto.
Any action taken by the Company or any member of the Board of Directors of the
Company including Seller acting in such capacity, in accordance with the proviso
to the second sentence of Section 6.10(a) of the Merger Agreement shall be
deemed not to violate this Section 1.5
2. Expiration. This Agreement and the parties' obligations hereunder
----------
shall terminate on the earliest of (i) the payment for the Owned Shares pursuant
to the Offer, (ii) June 1, 2000, or (iii) the termination of the Merger
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e) thereof.
3. Representation and Warranties. Seller hereby represents and warrants
-----------------------------
to Parent as follows:
(a) Title. Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates has good and valid
-----
title to the Owned Shares, free and clear of any lien, pledge, charge,
encumbrance or claim of whatever nature (other than the Shareholder Agreement)
and, upon the purchase of the Tender Shares by Parent or the Purchaser, Seller
or one of the Seller Affiliates will deliver good and valid title to the Tender
Shares, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance or claim of whatever
nature.
(b) Ownership of Shares. On the date hereof, the Owned Shares are
-------------------
owned of record or beneficially by Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates and,
on the date hereof, the Owned Shares constitute all of the Shares (except for
the director shares) owned of record or
-3-
<PAGE>
beneficially by Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates. Except as provided by
the Shareholder Agreement, Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates has sole
voting power and sole power of disposition with respect to all of the Owned
Shares, with no restrictions, subject to applicable federal securities laws, on
Seller's rights of disposition pertaining thereto.
4. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the Parent's request and
------------------
without further consideration, Seller shall execute and deliver such additional
documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or
desirable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by
Section 1 of this Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Seller hereby agrees to use all reasonable best efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions necessary or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, including providing any necessary
information and material with respect to all filings made by Seller with any
Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement and the Merger Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
5. Miscellaneous.
-------------
5.1 Survival. The representations and warranties made herein shall
--------
terminate upon Seller's sale of the Tender Shares to the Purchaser in the Offer
other than Seller's representations and warranties in Section 3 which shall
survive the sale of the Tender Shares and the termination of this Agreement
following such sale.
5.2 Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement (i) constitutes the
----------------------------
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (ii)
shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, provided that either of
the parties may assign their rights and obligations hereunder to any direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of such party, but no such assignment shall
relieve such party of its obligations hereunder if such assignee does not
perform such obligations.
5.3 Amendments. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or
----------
supplemented, except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement
executed by the parties hereto.
5.4 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
-------
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand
delivery, telegram, telex or telecopy or by any courier service, such as Federal
Express, providing proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be
delivered to the respective parties at the following addresses:
If to Seller:
-4-
<PAGE>
Holger Hjelm
STC Interfinance AB
Grev Turegatan 20, Box 55605
S-102, 14 Stockholm
Sweden
Facsimile: (011) 46-8-7830066/6666333
copy to Seller's Counsel:
Stanley Weiss
80 Main Street
West Orange, New Jersey 07052
Facsimile: (973) 325-3115
If to the Company:
American Precision Industries Inc.
2777 Walden Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14225
Attention: Kurt Wiedenhaupt, President
Facsimile: (716) 684-2155
Copy to Company's Counsel
Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP
Fleet Bank Building
Twelve Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, New York 14202-2292
Attention: James J. Tanous
Facsimile: (716) 856-0432
If to Parent:
Danaher Corporation
1250 24th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
Attention: Patrick W. Allender
Facsimile: (202) 828-0860
copy to:
-5-
<PAGE>
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Trevor S. Norwitz, Esq.
Fax: (212) 403-2000
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
5.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. 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.
5.6 Specific Performance. Each of Parent and Seller recognizes and
--------------------
acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement will cause the other to sustain damages for which it would not
have an adequate remedy at law, and therefore each of Parent and Seller agrees
that in the event of any such breach the other shall be entitled to the remedy
of specific performance of such covenants and agreements and injunctive and
other equitable relief in addition to any other remedy to which it may be
entitled, at law or in equity.
5.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
------------
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute
one and the same Agreement.
5.8 Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings used herein are
--------------------
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
5.9 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.
5.10 Possible Restructuring. Seller agrees to cooperate with Parent and
----------------------
the Purchaser in restructuring the transactions contemplated herein if Parent
and the Purchaser reasonably determine that such a restructuring would be
advantageous to provide that either: (i) Seller shall sell, and the Purchaser
shall purchase, all of Seller's shares of Series B Preferred Stock within two
business days after (and conditioned upon) the consummation of the Offer; or
(ii) Seller shall tender its Series B Preferred Stock into the Offer for Shares
immediately upon acceptance for purchase, if Seller obtains confirmation
satisfactory to Seller that such conversion would not require Seller to make a
filing under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976; provided,
however, that in either case Seller shall receive the same aggregate cash
-6-
<PAGE>
amount Seller would have received by tendering its Series B Preferred Stock to
the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer and provided that Seller shall reasonably
determine that he not be in any other way disadvantaged thereby. Parent, the
Purchaser and the Company agree that if for any reason whatsoever Seller does
not receive full payment for the Series B Preferred Stock within one week of
acceptance for purchase pursuant to the Offer, the Company will immediately
reissue the Series B Preferred Stock to Seller and cancel any Shares into which
such Series B Preferred Stock has been converted.
* * *
-7-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent and Seller have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
DANAHER CORPORATION
/s/ Daniel L. Comas
By: __________________________________
Name: Daniel L. Comas
Title: Vice President - Corporate
Development
/s/ Holger Hjelm
By: ___________________________________
Name: HOLGER HJELM
AMERICAN PRECISION INDUSTRIES INC.
/s/ Kurt Wiedenhaupt
By: ___________________________________
Name: Kurt Wiedenhaupt
Title: President
-8-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (d)(4)
SUPPORT AGREEMENT
SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of February 15,
2000, by and between Danaher Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and
Kurt Wiedenhaupt ("Seller").
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent, Alpha Acquisition I
Corp. (the "Purchaser"), a Delaware corporation and a subsidiary of Parent, and
American Precision Industries Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, are
entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger of even date herewith (the "Merger
Agreement", which term shall not include any amendment to such Agreement which
decreases the Offer Price or changes the form of consideration payable in the
Offer, unless Seller consents to the inclusion of such amendment in such term).
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth
in the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Purchaser agrees
to make a tender offer (the "Offer") for all outstanding Shares of the Company,
at $19.25 per Share (the "Offer Price") net to the seller in cash, to be
followed by a merger (the "Merger") of the Purchaser with and into the Company;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Seller beneficially owns
directly 22,072 Shares (the "Owned Shares"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to their willingness to enter into the
Merger Agreement and make the Offer, Parent and the Purchaser have required that
Seller agree, and Seller hereby agrees (i) to tender pursuant to the Offer the
Owned Shares, together with any Shares acquired after the date hereof and prior
to the termination of the Offer, whether upon the exercise of options,
conversion of convertible securities or otherwise (collectively, the "Tender
Shares") on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for in this
Agreement and (ii) to enter into the other agreements set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other
good and valuable consideration given to each party hereto, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Tender and to Vote.
-------------------------------
1.1 Tender. Seller hereby agrees to validly tender (or cause
------
the record owner of such shares to validly tender), pursuant to and in
accordance with the terms of the Offer, as soon as practicable after such
request but in no event later than the then scheduled expiration date of the
Offer, the Tender Shares by physical delivery of the certificates therefor, and
to not withdraw such Tender Shares, except following termination of the Offer
pursuant to its terms. Seller hereby permits Parent and the Purchaser to publish
and disclose in the Offer Documents and, if approval of the Company's
stockholders is required under applicable law, the Proxy Statement (including
all documents and schedules filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission)
his identity and ownership of the Tender Shares and the nature of his
commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement.
<PAGE>
1.2 Voting. Seller hereby agrees that, during the time this
------
Agreement is in effect, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company,
however called, Seller shall (a) vote the Tender Shares in favor of the Merger;
(b) vote the Tender Shares against any action or agreement that would result in
a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or
agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement; and (c) vote the Tender
Shares against any action or agreement (other than the Merger Agreement or the
transactions contemplated thereby) that would impede, interfere with, delay,
postpone or attempt to discourage the Merger or the Offer, including, but not
limited to: (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; (ii) a sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or a reorganization, recapitalization or
liquidation of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) any change in the
management or board of directors of the Company, except as otherwise agreed to
in writing by the Purchaser; (iv) any material change in the present
capitalization or dividend policy of the Company; or (v) any other material
change in the Company's corporate structure or business.
1.3 Grant of Irrevocable Proxy; Appointment of Proxy.
------------------------------------------------
(i) Seller hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, Patrick
W. Allender and Daniel L. Comas, or either of them, in their respective
capacities as officers of Parent, and any individual who shall hereafter succeed
to any such office of Parent, and each of them individually, Seller's proxy and
attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place
and stead of Seller, to vote the Tender Shares in favor of the Merger and other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, against any Acquisition
Transaction and otherwise as contemplated by Section 1.2.
(ii) Seller represents that any proxies heretofore given in
respect of the Tender Shares are not irrevocable, and that any such proxies are
hereby revoked.
(iii) Seller understands and acknowledges that Parent is
entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon Seller's execution and
delivery of this Agreement. Seller hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy set
forth in this Section 1.3 is given in connection with the execution of the
Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the
performance of the duties of Seller under this Agreement. Seller hereby further
affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may under no
circumstances be revoked. Seller hereby ratifies and confirms all that such
irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Such
irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance with
the provisions of Section 212(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
1.4 No Inconsistent Arrangements. Seller hereby covenants and
----------------------------
agrees that, except as contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement,
he shall not (i) except to Parent or the Purchaser, transfer (which term shall
include, without limitation, any sale, gift, pledge or other disposition), or
consent to any transfer of, any or all of the Tender Shares or any interest
therein, (ii) except with Parent, enter into any contract, option or other
agreement or understanding with respect to any transfer of any or all of the
Tender Shares or any interest therein, (iii) grant any proxy, power-of-attorney
or other authorization in or with respect to the Tender Shares, (iv) deposit any
Tender Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement
-2-
<PAGE>
or arrangement with respect to the Tender Shares or (v) take any other action
that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of his
obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Merger
Agreement or which would make any representation or warranty of Seller hereunder
untrue or incorrect.
1.5 No Solicitation. Seller hereby agrees that he shall not,
---------------
and shall not permit or authorize any of his affiliates, representatives or
agents to, directly or indirectly, encourage, solicit, explore, participate in
or initiate discussions or negotiations with, or provide or disclose any
information to, any corporation, partnership, person or other entity or group
(other than Parent, the Purchaser or any of their affiliates or representatives)
concerning any Acquisition Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement
or understanding requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to
consummate the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement. Seller will immediately cease any existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any
Acquisition Transaction. From and after the execution of this Agreement, Seller
shall immediately advise Parent in writing of the receipt, directly or
indirectly, of any inquiries, discussions, negotiations or proposals relating to
an Acquisition Transaction, identify the offeror and furnish to Parent a copy of
any such proposal or inquiry, if it is in writing, or a written summary of any
oral proposal or inquiry relating to an Acquisition Transaction. Seller shall
promptly advise Parent in writing of any development relating to such proposal,
including the results of any discussions or negotiations with respect thereto.
Any action taken by the Company or any member of the Board of Directors of the
Company including, if applicable, any representative of Seller acting in such
capacity, in accordance with the proviso to the second sentence of Section
6.10(a) of the Merger Agreement shall be deemed not to violate this Section 1.5
1.6 Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and
-----------------------
conditions of this Agreement, Seller hereby agrees to use all reasonable best
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, 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 contemplated by
this Agreement and the Merger Agreement. Seller shall promptly consult with
Parent and provide any necessary information and material with respect to all
filings made by Seller with any Governmental Entity in connection with this
Agreement and the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby.
1.7 Waiver of Appraisal Rights. Seller hereby waives any
--------------------------
rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger that he may have.
2. Expiration. This Agreement and the parties' obligations
----------
hereunder shall terminate on the earliest of (i) the payment for the Owned
Shares pursuant to the Offer or (ii) the 90th day after the termination of the
Merger Agreement or (iii) 30 days after termination of the Merger Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1(e) of the Merger Agreement.
3. Representation and Warranties. Seller hereby represents
-----------------------------
and warrants to Parent as follows:
(a) Title. Seller has good and valid title to the Owned
-----
Shares, free and clear of any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance or
claim of whatever nature and,
-3-
<PAGE>
upon the purchase of the Tender Shares by Parent or the Purchaser,
Seller will deliver good and valid title to the Tender Shares, free
and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance or claim of whatever
nature.
(b) Ownership of Shares. On the date hereof, the Owned
-------------------
Shares are owned of record or beneficially by Seller and, on the date
hereof, the Owned Shares constitute all of the Shares owned of record
or beneficially by Seller. Seller has sole voting power and sole power
of disposition with respect to all of the Owned Shares, with no
restrictions, subject to applicable federal securities laws, on
Seller's rights of disposition pertaining thereto.
(c) Power; Binding Agreement. Seller has the legal capacity,
------------------------
power and authority to enter into and perform all of his obligations
under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Seller will not violate any other agreement to which
Seller is a party including, without limitation, any voting agreement,
stockholders agreement or voting trust. This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by Seller and constitutes a valid
and binding agreement of Seller, enforceable against Seller in
accordance with its terms.
(d) No Conflicts. Other than in connection with or in
------------
compliance with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the HSR Act, no
authorization, consent or approval of, or filing with, any court or
any public body or authority is necessary for the consummation by
Seller of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not
constitute a breach, violation or default (or any event which, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or
result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance required
by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or
result in the creation of any lien, encumbrance, pledge, charge or
claim upon any of the properties or assets of Seller under, any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or
other instrument to which Seller is a party or by which his properties
or assets are bound.
(e) No Finder's Fees. No broker, investment banker,
----------------
financial advisor or other person is entitled to any broker's,
finder's, financial adviser's or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Seller.
(f) Information. Seller understands and acknowledges that
-----------
Parent and the Purchaser have been conducting a due diligence
investigation of the Company and may have information which is
material regarding the Company and its financial performance and
prospects and which is not publicly disclosed. Seller agrees that he
shall not take any action against Parent or the Purchaser in respect
of such information .
-4-
<PAGE>
4. Additional Shares. Seller hereby agrees, while this
-----------------
Agreement is in effect, to promptly notify Parent of the number of any new
Shares acquired by Seller, after the date hereof.
5. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the Parent's
------------------
request and without further consideration, Seller shall execute and deliver such
additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably
necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated by Section 1 of this Agreement.
6. Miscellaneous.
-------------
6.1 Survival. The representations and warranties made herein
--------
shall terminate upon Seller's sale of the Tender Shares to the Purchaser in the
Offer, other than Seller's representations and warranties in Section 3 which
shall survive the sale of the Tender Shares and the termination of this
Agreement following such sale.
6.2 Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement (i)
----------------------------
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and (ii) shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, provided that
Parent may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent
of its obligations hereunder if such assignee does not perform such obligations.
6.3 Amendments. This Agreement may not be modified, amended,
----------
altered or supplemented, except upon the execution and delivery of a written
agreement executed by the parties hereto.
6.4 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
-------
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand
delivery, telegram, telex or telecopy or by any courier service, such as Federal
Express, providing proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be
delivered to the respective parties at the following addresses:
If to Seller:
Kurt Wiedenhaupt
280 Carnoustie Road
East Aurora, New York 14052
Facsimile: (716) 655-5230
If to Parent:
Danaher Corporation
1250 24th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
Attention: Patrick W. Allender
Facsimile: (202) 828-0860
-5-
<PAGE>
copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Trevor S. Norwitz, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 403-2000
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
6.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. 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. Each of Seller, Parent and the Purchaser
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any Delaware state or
federal court sitting in the State of Delaware in any action arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect
of such action may be heard and determined in such Delaware state or federal
court, and hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively
do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding.
6.6 Specific Performance. Each of Parent and Seller recognizes
--------------------
and acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement will cause the other to sustain damages for which it would not
have an adequate remedy at law, and therefore each of Parent and Seller agrees
that in the event of any such breach the other shall be entitled to the remedy
of specific performance of such covenants and agreements and injunctive and
other equitable relief in addition to any other remedy to which it may be
entitled, at law or in equity.
6.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
------------
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
6.8 Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings used herein
--------------------
are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part
of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
6.9 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.
-6-
<PAGE>
* * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent and Seller have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
DANAHER CORPORATION
By: /s/ Daniel L. Comas
----------------------
Name: Daniel L. Comas
Title: Vice President - Corporate Development
By: /s/ Kurt Wiedenhaupt
----------------------
Name: KURT WIEDENHAUPT
-7-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT (d)(5)
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
--------------------
AGREEMENT by and between Danaher Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") and Kurt Wiedenhaupt (the "Consultant"), dated as of the 15th
day of February, 2000.
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement") dated of even date herewith by and among the Company, Alpha
Acquisition I Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company, and American Precision Industries Inc., a Delaware corporation ("API"),
the operations of API and the Company will be combined (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, prior to consummation of the Merger, the Consultant will
continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of API; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that the Consultant will be removed as Chief Executive Officer of API
immediately upon a consummation of the Merger and it is in the best interests of
the Company to retain the services of the Consultant on the terms and conditions
set forth below, and the Consultant is willing to render such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Consulting Period. The Consultant shall make himself available
-----------------
to render consulting services, on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, for the period
<PAGE>
beginning on the date of termination of his employment with API
(the "Effective Date"), and ending on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary
thereof and (ii) the date this Agreement is terminated by the Company or the
Consultant upon 30 days' advance written notice (the "Consulting Period");
provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be terminable by the Company
- -------- -------
for any reason other than the death or permanent disability of the Consultant or
a continued material breach by the Consultant of the provisions hereof, which
breach is (if curable) not cured by the Consultant within thirty days after
delivery to him by the Company of a written notice setting forth the nature of
such breach in reasonable detail.
2. Consulting Services. During the Consulting Period, the Consultant
-------------------
shall render such services as may be reasonably requested from time to time by
the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, including, but not
limited to, assisting with the integration of API into the Company and
facilitating a "Sale" (as such term is defined in the Side Letter being entered
into between the Company and the Consultant in connection with this Agreement).
The Consultant's services shall be performed at such times and locations as
shall be mutually convenient to the Consultant and the Company.
3. Consulting Fee. In consideration of the foregoing, the Company
--------------
shall pay the Consultant a consulting fee of $400,000 per year for each year of
the Consulting Period, payable monthly in arrears.
4. Restrictive Covenants. (a) During the Consulting Period and at
---------------------
all times thereafter, the Consultant shall not disclose to anyone who is not
employed by the Company or an affiliate thereof (which will include, after the
Effective Date, API), or to any employee of the Company or an affiliate who, to
the knowledge of the Consultant, is not authorized to receive
<PAGE>
such information, any confidential information of the Company or any of its
affiliates or any confidential information relating to the former or present
customers or potential customers of the Company or any of its affiliates of
which the Consultant became aware during his employment by the Company of any of
its affiliates or of which he becomes aware during the Consulting Period. The
Consultant shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company or
any of its affiliates, as applicable, all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates and their
respective businesses that the Consultant obtained during his employment by the
Company or any of its affiliates or that he obtains during the Consulting Period
and that is not public knowledge (other than as a result of the Consultant's
violation of this Section 4(a)) ("Confidential Information"). The Consultant
shall not communicate, divulge or disseminate Confidential Information at any
time during or after the Consulting Period, except with the prior written
consent of the Company or as otherwise required by law or legal process.
(b) During the Consulting Period and for two years thereafter (the
"Noncompetition Period"), the Consultant shall not, directly or indirectly,
without the prior written consent of the Board, engage in or become associated
with a Competitive Activity anywhere in Europe or North America except as may be
required in the course of the Consultant's performance of services hereunder.
For purposes of this Section 4: (i) a "Competitive Activity" means any business
or other endeavor that engages primarily in the motion control or heat transfer
business or consulting with respect thereto; and (ii) the Consultant shall be
considered to have become "associated with a Competitive Activity" if he becomes
directly or indirectly involved as an owner, principal, employee, officer,
director, independent contractor, agent, partner, advisor, representative,
stockholder, financial backer, lender or in any
<PAGE>
other capacity calling for the rendition of the Consultant's personal services,
with any individual, partnership, corporation or other organization that is
primarily engaged in a Competitive Activity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Consultant may make and retain investments during the Noncompetition Period in
less than one percent of the equity of any entity that is listed on a national
securities exchange or regularly traded in an over-the-counter market.
(c) During the Noncompetition Period, the Consultant will not, directly or
indirectly, on behalf of the Consultant or any other person, solicit for
employment by other than the Company or any of its affiliates any person who is
at that time, or has within 12 months of that time, been employed by the Company
or any of its affiliates.
(d) The Consultant acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purpose of the
foregoing covenants, including without limitation the noncompetition covenant of
Section 4(b), is to protect the goodwill, trade secrets and other confidential
information of the Company; (ii) because of the nature of the business in which
the Company and its affiliates are engaged and because of the nature of the
confidential information to which the Consultant has access, it would be
impractical and excessively difficult to determine the actual damages of the
Company and its affiliates in the event the Consultant breached any of the
covenants of this Section 4; and (iii) remedies at law (such as monetary
damages) for any breach of the Consultant's obligations under this Section 4
would be inadequate. The Consultant therefore agrees and consents that if he
commits any breach of a covenant under this Section 4 or threatens to commit any
such breach, the Company shall have the right (in addition to, and not in lieu
of, any other right to remedy that may be available to it) to temporary and
permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, without
posting any bond or other security and without the necessity of
<PAGE>
proof of actual damage. With respect to any provision of this Section 4 finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, the
Consultant and the Company hereby agree that such court shall have jurisdiction
to reform this Agreement or any provision hereof so that it is enforceable to
the maximum extent permitted by law, and the parties agree to abide by such
court's determination. If any of the covenants of this Section 4 are determined
to be wholly or partially unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such determination
shall not be a bar to or in any way diminish the Company's right to enforce any
such covenant in any other jurisdiction.
(e) Any termination of the Consultant's provision of consulting services
or of this Agreement shall have no effect on the continuing operation and
enforceability of this Section 4.
5. Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Consultant and,
----------
without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by the
Consultant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Consultant's
legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Company and its successors and assigns.
6. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and
-------------
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without
reference to principles of conflict of laws. In addition, each of the parties
hereto (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any Federal
court located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court in the event
any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such
personal jurisdiction by
<PAGE>
motion or other request for leave from any such court, (iii) agrees that it will
not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than a Federal or state court
sitting in the State of Delaware, and (iv) irrevocably waives any and all rights
to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof
and shall have no force or effect.
(c) This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written
agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and
legal representatives.
(d) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement.
(e) The Consultant acknowledges that his services hereunder are to be
rendered as an independent contractor, and that he is solely responsible for the
payment of all Federal, state, local and foreign taxes that are required by
applicable laws or regulations to be paid with respect to the Consulting Fee,
the "Acceleration Amount" (if any) and the "Success Payment" (if any) as such
terms are defined in the Side Letter being entered into between the Consultant
and the Company in connection with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, during the Consulting Period the Company may withhold from amounts
payable under this Agreement all federal, state, local and foreign taxes that
are required to be withheld by applicable laws or regulations.
<PAGE>
(f) The Consultant and the Company acknowledge that this Agreement
supersedes any other agreement between them concerning the subject matter
hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement shall in no way supercede,
-------- -------
replace, or otherwise affect in any manner any rights which the Consultant has
under any agreements between Consultant and API in respect of his employment by
API, termination of such employment or otherwise.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Agreement
shall be null and void and of no effect if the Merger is not consummated.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Consultant has hereunto set his hand and, pursuant to
the authorization of its Board, the Company has caused this Agreement to be
executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above
written.
/s/ Kurt Wiedenhaupt
----------------------------------
KURT WIEDENHAUPT
DANAHER CORPORATION
By: /s/ Daniel L. Comas
-------------------------------
