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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 14D-1
(Amendment No. 8)
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(d)(1)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
----------------
VARLEN CORPORATION
(Name of Subject Company)
AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
TRACK ACQUISITION INCORPORATED
(Bidders)
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE
(AND ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS)
(Title of Class of Securities)
92224810
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Thomas C. Berg, Esq.
Track Acquisition Incorporated
c/o Amsted Industries Incorporated
44th Floor--Boulevard Towers South
205 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 819-8470
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive
Notices and Communications on Behalf of Bidder)
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Copies to:
Gary A. Goodman, Esq. Robert J. Minkus, Esq.
Terrence R. Brady, Esq. Schiff Hardin & Waite
Winston & Strawn 6600 Sears Tower
35 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606
Chicago, Illinois 60601 Telephone: (312) 258-5500
Telephone: (312) 558-5600
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This Amendment No. 8 (this "Amendment") amends and supplements the Tender
Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1, as amended, originally filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 1999 (the "Schedule 14D-1") by
Amsted Industries Incorporated, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and Track
Acquisition Incorporated, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary
of Parent (the "Purchaser"). The Schedule 14D-1 and this Amendment relate to a
tender offer by the Purchaser to purchase all outstanding shares of common
stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Varlen Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), including the associated preferred share
purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated
as of June 17, 1996, as amended, between the Company and Harris Trust and
Savings Bank, as Rights Agent (the Common Stock and the Rights together are
referred to herein as the "Shares"), at $35.00 per Share, net to the seller in
cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to
Purchase dated May 24, 1999 and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which,
together with any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute
the "Offer"), copies of which are filed with the Schedule 14D-1 as Exhibits
(a)(1) and (a)(2), respectively.
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Item 10. Additional Information.
Item 10 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
On August 1, 1999, Parent, the Purchaser and the Company entered into a
definitive merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement"), in the form attached to
this Schedule 14D-1 as Exhibit (a)(19), which is incorporated by reference
herein. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Purchaser has agreed to amend
and hereby amends the Offer to increase the per Share purchase price from
$35.00 per Share to $42.00 per Share and to amend the conditions to the Offer
to be as set forth in Annex I to the Merger Agreement. An amended and
supplemented Offer to Purchase and a revised Letter of Transmittal will be
filed with the SEC and mailed to the stockholders of the Company promptly.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Expiration Date of the Offer which
was scheduled for 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Wednesday, August 4,
1999 has been extended to 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Friday,
August 13, 1999, unless the Offer is further extended.
On August 1, 1999, Parent and the Company issued a joint press release
announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement and the extension of the
Expiration Date, in the form attached to this Schedule 14D-1 as Exhibit
(a)(20).
On August 2, 1999, Parent issued the press release included herein as
Exhibit (a)(21) and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
<TABLE>
<C> <S>
(a)(1) Offer to Purchase, dated May 24, 1999.*
(a)(2) Form of Letter of Transmittal.*
(a)(3) Form of letter, dated May 24, 1999, to brokers, dealers,
commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees.*
(a)(4) Form of letter to clients to be used by brokers, dealers,
commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees.*
(a)(5) Press Release, dated May 18, 1999.*
(a)(6) Press Release, dated May 24, 1999.*
(a)(7) Form of summary advertisement, dated May 24, 1999.*
(a)(8) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*
(a)(9) IRS Guidelines to Substitute Form W-9.*
(a)(10) Press Release, dated June 7, 1999.*
(a)(11) Form of letter dated June 11, 1999 from Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated to Parent.*
(a)(12) Form of letter dated June 17, 1999 from Arthur W. Goetschel,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parent,
to Raymond A. Jean, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company*
(a)(13) Press Release, dated June 18, 1999.*
(a)(14) Press Release, dated June 21, 1999.*
(a)(15) Press Release, dated June 22, 1999.*
(a)(16) Press Release, dated July 6, 1999.*
(a)(17) Confidentiality/Standstill Agreement, dated July 9, 1999,
between Parent and the Company.*
(a)(18) Press Release, dated July 20, 1999.*
(a)(19) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 1, 1999,
among Parent, the Purchaser and the Company.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<C> <S>
(a)(20) Joint press release issued by Parent and the Company, dated
August 1, 1999, announcing the execution of the Merger
Agreement and the extension of the Expiration Date.
(a)(21) Press Release, dated August 2, 1999.
(b) Commitment Letter, dated April 29, 1999.*
(c) None.
(d) None.
(e) Not Applicable.
(f) None.
</TABLE>
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*Previously filed.
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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: August 2, 1999
Amsted Industries Incorporated
/s/ Thomas C. Berg
By: _________________________________
Name: Thomas C. Berg
Title: Vice President, General
Counseland Secretary
Track Acquisition Incorporated
/s/ Thomas C. Berg
By: _________________________________
Name: Thomas C. Berg
Title: Vice President and
Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description
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<C> <S>
(a)(1) Offer to Purchase, dated May 24, 1999.*
(a)(2) Form of Letter of Transmittal.*
(a)(3) Form of letter, dated May 24, 1999, to brokers, dealers, commercial
banks, trust companies and other nominees.*
(a)(4) Form of letter to clients to be used by brokers, dealers, commercial
banks, trust companies and other nominees.*
(a)(5) Press Release, dated May 18, 1999.*
(a)(6) Press Release, dated May 24, 1999.*
(a)(7) Form of summary advertisement, dated May 24, 1999.*
(a)(8) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*
(a)(9) IRS Guidelines to Substitute Form W-9.*
(a)(10) Press Release, dated June 7, 1999.*
(a)(11) Form of letter dated June 11, 1999 from Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated to Parent*
(a)(12) Form of letter dated June 17, 1999 from Arthur W. Goetschel,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parent, to
Raymond A. Jean, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company*
(a)(13) Press Release, dated June 18, 1999.*
(a)(14) Press Release, dated June 21, 1999.*
(a)(15) Press Release, dated June 22, 1999.*
(a)(16) Press Release, dated July 6, 1999.*
(a)(17) Confidentiality/Standstill Agreement, dated July 9, 1999, between
Parent and the Company.*
(a)(18) Press Release, dated July 20, 1999.*
(a)(19) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 1, 1999, among
Parent, the Purchaser and the Company.
(a)(20) Joint press release issued by Parent and the Company, dated August
1, 1999, announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement and the
extension of the Expiration Date.
(a)(21) Press Release, dated August 2, 1999.
(b) Commitment Letter, dated April 29, 1999.*
(c) None.
(d) None.
(e) Not Applicable.
(f) None.
</TABLE>
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*Previously filed.
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Exhibit (a)(19)
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
dated as of
August 1, 1999
among
VARLEN CORPORATION,
TRACK ACQUISITION INCORPORATED
and
AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
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ARTICLE I THE OFFER
<C> <S> <C>
1.01 The Offer............................................................. 1
1.02 Company Action........................................................ 3
1.03 Directors............................................................. 4
ARTICLE II THE MERGER
2.01 The Merger............................................................ 5
2.02 Conversion of Shares.................................................. 6
2.03 Exchange of Shares.................................................... 6
2.04 Dissenting Shares..................................................... 7
2.05 Stock Options and SARs; Warrants; Exchangeable Notes; Preferred Stock. 8
ARTICLE III THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
3.01 Certificate of Incorporation.......................................... 8
3.02 Bylaws................................................................ 8
3.03 Directors and Officers................................................ 8
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
4.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.......................... 9
4.02 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws............................... 9
4.03 Capitalization........................................................ 9
4.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement..................................10
4.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents............................10
4.06 Compliance............................................................11
4.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.....................................11
4.08 Disclosure Documents..................................................12
4.09 Brokers...............................................................13
4.10 Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Quarter End...................13
4.11 Tax Matters...........................................................13
4.12 Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................14
4.13 Litigation............................................................14
4.14 Vote Required.........................................................14
4.15 Environmental Matters.................................................14
</TABLE>
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<C> <S> <C>
5.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries...........................15
5.02 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws................................16
5.03 Authority Relative to this Agreement...................................16
5.04 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.............................17
5.05 Compliance.............................................................17
5.06 Company Proxy Statement................................................17
5.07 Financing..............................................................18
5.08 Brokers................................................................18
5.09 Vote Required..........................................................18
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
6.01 Conduct of the Company.................................................18
6.02 Stockholders' Meeting; Proxy Material..................................20
6.03 Access to Information..................................................20
6.04 No Solicitation........................................................20
6.05 Notices of Certain Events..............................................21
6.06 Debt Instruments.......................................................22
6.07 Rights Agreement.......................................................22
ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF BUYER
7.01 Confidentiality........................................................22
7.02 Obligations of Merger Subsidiary and the Surviving Corporation.........22
7.03 Voting of Shares.......................................................22
7.04 Director and Officer Liability.........................................22
7.05 Employee Benefits......................................................24
ARTICLE VIII COVENANTS OF BUYER AND THE COMPANY
8.01 Commercially Reasonable Efforts........................................25
8.02 Certain Filings........................................................25
8.03 Public Announcements...................................................26
8.04 Proxy Statement........................................................26
ARTICLE IX CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
9.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party.............................26
</TABLE>
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ARTICLE X TERMINATION; EXPENSES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<C> <S> <C>
10.01 Termination...........................................................27
10.02 Effect of Termination.................................................28
10.03 Fees, Expenses and Other Payments.....................................29
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS
11.01 Notices...............................................................29
11.02 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.................31
11.03 Amendments; No Waivers................................................31
11.04 Successors and Assigns................................................31
11.05 Governing Law.........................................................32
11.06 Counterparts; Effectiveness...........................................32
11.07 Headings..............................................................33
11.08 No Third Party Beneficiaries..........................................33
11.09 Entire Agreement......................................................33
11.10 Severability..........................................................33
11.11 Specific Enforcement..................................................33
</TABLE>
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GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Location of
Defined Term Definition
<S> <C>
Acquisition Proposal.........................................................20
Agreement.................................................................... 1
Blue Sky Laws................................................................11
Board........................................................................ 3
Buyer........................................................................ 1
Buyer Material Adverse Effect................................................16
Certificate of Merger........................................................ 5
Claim........................................................................23
Cleanup......................................................................14
Closing...................................................................... 5
Closing Date................................................................. 5
Code.........................................................................13
Company...................................................................... 1
Company Disclosure Documents.................................................12
Company Disclosure Schedule.................................................. 8
Company Material Adverse Effect.............................................. 9
Company Proxy Statement......................................................12
Company SEC Reports..........................................................12
Company Stockholders Meeting.................................................20
Company Stock Options/SARs................................................... 8
Company Subsidiary........................................................... 9
Confidentiality Agreement....................................................20
Delaware Law................................................................. 4
Effective Time............................................................... 5
Environmental Claim..........................................................15
Environmental Laws...........................................................15
Exchange Act................................................................. 4
Exchange Agent............................................................... 6
Expenses.....................................................................29
14D-9........................................................................ 3
Governmental Entity..........................................................11
Hazardous Material...........................................................15
Indemnified Parties..........................................................23
Independent Directors........................................................ 4
Material Subsidiary.......................................................... 9
Maximum Premium..............................................................23
Merger....................................................................... 5
Merger Agreement........................................................Annex I
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Merger Consideration......................................................... 6
Merger Fees..................................................................13
Merger Subsidiary............................................................ 1
Minimum Condition............................................................ 1
Morgan Stanley...............................................................13
Offer........................................................................ 1
Offer Documents.............................................................. 2
Offer to Purchase............................................................ 1
Release......................................................................15
Rights Agreement............................................................. 4
Schedule 14D-1............................................................... 2
SEC.......................................................................... 2
Securities Act...............................................................11
Series A Preferred Shares.................................................... 9
Shares....................................................................... 1
Superior Proposal............................................................21
Surviving Corporation........................................................ 5
Tax..........................................................................13
Tax Returns..................................................................14
Transaction.................................................................. 5
</TABLE>
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of August 1, 1999 (this
"Agreement"), is made by and among Varlen Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), Amsted Industries Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
("Buyer"), and Track Acquisition Incorporated, a Delaware corporation and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer ("Merger Subsidiary").
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of Buyer, the Merger
Subsidiary and the Company has approved, and deems it advisable and in the best
interests of its respective stockholders to consummate, the acquisition of the
Company by Buyer upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.01 The Offer.
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(a) Provided that none of the conditions set forth in Annex I hereto
shall have occurred and be continuing, then (i) not later than the first
business day after execution of this Agreement, Buyer and the Company shall
issue a public announcement of the execution of this Agreement and (ii) Merger
Subsidiary shall, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three
business days after the date of such announcement, amend its tender offer
commenced on May 24, 1999 (as amended prior to the date hereof and as it may be
amended from time to time as permitted under this Agreement, (the "Offer") to
purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, $.10 par value, of the
Company (the "Shares") at a price of $42.00 per Share, net to the seller in
cash. The Offer shall be made pursuant to a supplemental offer to purchase
("Offer to Purchase") in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and
containing terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The obligation of
Merger Subsidiary to accept for payment and to pay for any Shares tendered in
the Offer shall be subject only to (i) the condition that there shall be validly
tendered prior to the expiration date of the Offer and not withdrawn a number of
Shares which, together with the Shares then owned by Buyer or Merger Subsidiary,
represents at least a majority of the outstanding Shares (the "Minimum
Condition") and (ii) the other conditions set forth in Annex I hereto.
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(b) Without the prior written consent of the Company, neither Buyer
nor Merger Subsidiary shall (i) decrease the price per Share or change the form
of consideration payable in the Offer, (ii) decrease the number of Shares sought
in the Offer, (iii) amend or waive satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, (iv)
change or impose additional conditions to the Offer or amend any other term of
the Offer in any manner adverse to the holders of Shares, or (v) extend the
expiration date of the Offer (except as required by applicable law and except
that Merger Subsidiary may extend the expiration date of the Offer (x) for up to
ten business days after the initial expiration date in the event any condition
to the Offer is not satisfied and (y) on up to two occasions, on a scheduled
expiration date for up to ten business days on each such occasion if (1) the
conditions to the Offer shall have been satisfied or waived and (2) the number
of Shares that have been validly tendered and not withdrawn represent more than
50% but less than 90% of the issued and outstanding Shares). Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer, the Merger Subsidiary will accept for
payment and 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.
(c) As soon as practicable following the date the Offer is commenced,
Buyer and the Merger Subsidiary shall file with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") an amendment to the Tender Offer Statement on
Schedule 14D-1 with respect to the Offer (as so amended, and as amended prior to
the date hereof and together with all amendments and supplements thereto and
including the exhibits thereto, the "Schedule 14D-1"). The Schedule 14D-1 will
include, as exhibits, the Offer to Purchase and a form of letter of transmittal
and summary advertisement (collectively, together with any amendments and
supplements thereto, the "Offer Documents"). Buyer represents and warrants to
the Company 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 therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, except that no representation is made by Buyer or the
Merger Subsidiary with respect to information furnished by the Company to Buyer
or the Merger Subsidiary, in writing, expressly for inclusion in the Offer
Documents. The Company represents and warrants to Buyer and the Merger
Subsidiary that the information supplied by the Company to Buyer or the Merger
Subsidiary, in writing, expressly for inclusion in the Offer Documents and Buyer
represents and warrants to the Company that the information supplied by Buyer or
the Merger Subsidiary to the Company, in writing, expressly for inclusion in the
Schedule 14D-9 will 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 therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) Each of Buyer and the Merger Subsidiary will take all steps
necessary to cause the Offer Documents to be filed with the SEC and to be
disseminated to holders of the Shares, in each case as and to the extent
required by applicable federal securities laws. Each of Buyer and the Merger
Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, will promptly
correct any information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to
the extent that it shall have
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become false or misleading in any material respect and Buyer will take all steps
necessary to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with the SEC
and to be disseminated to holders of the Shares, in each case as and to the
extent required by applicable federal securities laws. The Company and its
counsel shall be given the opportunity to review the Schedule 14D-1 before it is
filed with the SEC. In addition, Buyer and the Merger Subsidiary will provide
the Company and its counsel, in writing, with any comments, whether written or
oral, Buyer, the Merger Subsidiary or their counsel may receive from time to
time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents promptly
after the receipt of such comments.
SECTION 1.02 Company Action.
--------------
(a) The Company hereby consents to the Offer and represents that the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") has unanimously approved this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the
Merger (as defined in Section 2.01), and resolved to recommend acceptance of the
Offer and adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Merger by the
Company's stockholders.
(b) The Company will promptly furnish Buyer with a list of its
stockholders, mailing labels containing the names and addresses of all record
holders of Shares and lists of securities positions of Shares held in stock
depositories, as of the most recent practicable date, and will provide to Buyer
such additional information (including, without limitation, updated lists of
stockholders, mailing labels and lists of securities positions) and such other
assistance as Buyer may reasonably request in connection with the Offer. Subject
to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such steps as are
necessary to disseminate any documents necessary to consummate the Merger or the
Offer, Buyer shall hold in confidence the information contained in such labels,
listings and files, shall use such information only in connection with the
Merger and the Offer, and if this Agreement is terminated in accordance with
Section 10.01, shall deliver to the Company all copies of such information then
in its possession.
(c) Contemporaneously with the commencement of the Offer as provided
for in Section 1.01, the Company will file with the SEC a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, or an amendment to a
previously filed Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, if
applicable, (as it may be amended from time to time as permitted under this
Agreement, the "14D-9") which shall reflect the recommendations and actions of
the Board referred to above, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board under
applicable law as advised by independent legal counsel (who may be the Company's
regularly engaged legal counsel). Buyer and its counsel shall be given the
opportunity to review the 14D-9 before it is filed with the SEC. In addition,
the Company will provide Buyer and its counsel, in writing, with any comments,
written or oral, the Company or its counsel may receive from time to time from
the SEC or its staff with respect to the 14D-9 promptly after the receipt of
such comments.
(d) The Company and the Board have taken all necessary action to cause
(i) the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as amended
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("Delaware Law") to be inapplicable to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and (ii) the dilution provisions of the Shareholder Rights Agreement,
dated as of June 17, 1996, as amended, between the Company and Harris Trust and
Savings Bank (the "Rights Agreement"), to be inapplicable to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, without any payment to holders of rights issued
pursuant to the Rights Agreement.
Section 1.03 Directors.
---------
(a) Promptly upon the purchase of and payment for Shares by the Merger
Subsidiary which represent at least a majority of the outstanding Shares, Buyer
shall be entitled to designate such number of directors, rounded up to the next
whole number, on the Board as is equal to the product of the total number of
directors on the Board (giving effect to the directors designated by Buyer
pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by the percentage that the number of
Shares so accepted for payment bears to the total number of Shares then
outstanding. In furtherance thereof, the Company shall, upon the request of
Buyer, use its best reasonable efforts promptly either to increase the size of
the Board, including amending the Bylaws of the Company if necessary to so
increase the size of the Board, or secure the resignations of such number of its
incumbent directors, or both, as is necessary to enable Buyer's designees to be
so elected to the Company's Board, and shall take all actions available to the
Company to cause Buyer's designees to be so elected. At such time, the Company
shall, if requested by Buyer, also cause persons designated by Buyer to
constitute at least the same percentage (rounded up to the next whole number) as
is on the Board of (i) each committee of the Board, (ii) each board of directors
(or similar body) of each subsidiary of the Company and (iii) each committee (or
similar body) of each such board.
(b) The Company shall promptly take all actions required pursuant to
Section 14(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), and Rule 14f-l promulgated thereunder in order to fulfill its obligations
under this Section 1.03 hereof, including mailing to stockholders the
information required by such Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1 as is necessary to
enable Buyer's designees to be elected to the Company's Board of Directors.
Buyer or Merger Subsidiary shall supply the Company and be solely responsible
for any information with respect to either of them and their nominees, officers,
directors and affiliates required by such Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1. The
provisions of this Section 1.03 are in addition to and shall not limit any
rights which Merger Subsidiary, Buyer or any of their affiliates may have as a
holder or beneficial owner of Shares as a matter of law with respect to the
election of directors or otherwise.
(c) In the event that Buyer's designees are elected to the Company's
Board of Directors, until the Effective Time, the Company's Board of Directors
shall have at least three directors who are directors on the date hereof (the
"Independent Directors"), provided that, in such event, if the number of
Independent Directors shall be reduced below three for any reason whatsoever,
any remaining Independent Directors (or Independent Director, if there is only
one remaining) shall be entitled to designate persons to fill such vacancies who
shall be deemed to be Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement or,
if no Independent Director then remains, the other directors shall designate
three persons to fill such vacancies who shall not be stockholders,
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affiliates or associates of Buyer or the Merger Subsidiary and such persons
shall be deemed to be Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that
Buyer's designees are elected to the Company's Board of Directors, after the
acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer and prior to the
Effective Time, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Independent Directors
shall be required to (a) amend or terminate this Agreement by the Company, (b)
exercise or waive any of the Company's rights, benefits or remedies hereunder,
(c) amend the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, or (d) take
any other action of the Board under or in connection with this Agreement (other
than calling the Company Stockholders Meeting).
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.01 The Merger.
(a) At the Effective Time, Merger Subsidiary shall be merged (the
"Merger") with and into the Company in accordance with Delaware Law, whereupon
the separate existence of Merger Subsidiary shall cease, and the Company shall
be the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"). The Offer and the
Merger are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Transaction."
(b) Unless another date is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto,
as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business days, after
satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to
the Merger, the Company and Merger Subsidiary will file (i) a certificate of
merger, or (ii) in the event the Merger Subsidiary shall have acquired 90% or
more of the outstanding shares, a certificate of ownership and merger (in either
such case, the "Certificate of Merger") with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware and make all other filings or recordings required by the Delaware
Law in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at such
time as such Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware or at such later time as is specified in such Certificate
of Merger (the "Effective Time").
(c) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
succeed to all the assets, rights, privileges, powers and franchises and be
subject to all of the liabilities, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the
Company and Merger Subsidiary, all as provided under the Delaware Law.
(d) The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place on the
date on which the Effective Time occurs (the "Closing Date"), at the offices of
Kirkland & Ellis, 200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601, unless another
place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.
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SECTION 2.02 Conversion of Shares. At the Effective Time and by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of holders of Shares or
shares of the capital stock of Merger Subsidiary:
(a) Each share of capital stock of the Company held by the Company as
treasury stock or owned by Buyer, Merger Subsidiary or any subsidiary of either
of them immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled, and no
payment shall be made with respect thereto;
(b) Each share of capital stock of Merger Subsidiary outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one
share of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation with the same rights and
privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation; and
(c) Each Share outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall, except as otherwise provided in clause (a) above or as provided in
Section 2.04 with respect to Shares as to which appraisal rights have been
exercised, be converted into the right to receive $42.00, or any higher price
per Share paid in the Offer, in cash without interest (the "Merger
Consideration"). As of the Effective Time, all such Shares shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such Shares shall cease
to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive upon the
surrender of such certificates, the Merger Consideration.
SECTION 2.03 Exchange of Shares.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, Buyer shall appoint an agent (the
"Exchange Agent") reasonably acceptable to the Company for the purpose of
exchanging certificates representing Shares for the Merger Consideration. Buyer
will deposit with the Exchange Agent, as and when necessary, the full amount of
the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the Shares. For purposes of
determining the Merger Consideration to be so deposited, Buyer shall assume that
no stockholder of the Company will perfect his right to appraisal of his, her or
its Shares. Promptly after the Effective Time, Buyer will send, or will cause
the Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of Shares at the Effective Time a
letter of transmittal and related instructions for use in such exchange.
(b) Each holder of Shares that have been converted into a right to
receive the Merger Consideration, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a
certificate or certificates representing such Shares, together with a properly
completed letter of transmittal covering such Shares, will be entitled to
receive the Merger Consideration payable in respect of such Shares. Until so
surrendered, each such certificate shall, after the Effective Time, represent
for all purposes only the right to receive such Merger Consideration.
(c) If any portion of the Merger Consideration payable in respect of
any Share is to be paid to a person other than the registered holder of the
Shares represented by the certificate
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or certificates surrendered, it shall be a
condition to such payment that the certificate or certificates so surrendered
shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that
the person requesting such payment shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer
or other taxes required as a result of such payment to a person other than the
registered holder of such shares or establish to the satisfaction of the
Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
(d) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration
of transfers of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(e) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the
Exchange Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 2.03 that remains
unclaimed by the holders of Shares entitled thereto six months after the
Effective Time shall be returned to Buyer, upon demand, and any stockholder of
the Company who has not exchanged his Shares for the Merger Consideration in
accordance with this Section 2.03 prior to that time shall thereafter look only
to Buyer for payment of the Merger Consideration in respect of his Shares.
Neither Buyer, Merger Subsidiary nor the Company shall be liable to any holder
of the Shares for any Merger Consideration delivered to a public official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the
Exchange Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 2.03 to pay for Shares
for which appraisal rights shall have been perfected shall be returned to Buyer,
upon demand.
(g) Lost Certificates. In the event that any certificate representing
Shares shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such certificate to be lost,
stolen or destroyed and, if required by Buyer, the posting by such person of a
bond in such reasonable amount as Buyer may direct as indemnity against any
claim that may be made against it with respect to such certificate, the Exchange
Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate the
Merger Consideration with respect to such certificate, to which such person is
entitled pursuant hereto.
SECTION 2.04 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding Section 2.02,
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 Shares in accordance with Delaware Law shall not
be converted into a right to receive the Merger Considera tion, 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 Shares shall be treated as if they had been
converted as of the Effective Time into a right to receive the Merger
Consideration payable in respect of such Shares pursuant to Section 2.02. The
Company shall give Buyer prompt notice of any demands received by the Company
for appraisal of Shares, and Buyer shall have the right to participate in all
negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands.
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SECTION 2.05 Stock Options and SARs; Warrants; Exchangeable Notes;
Preferred Stock. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of each employee option or right to
acquire Shares and each stock appreciation right (the "Company Stock
Options/SARs") that are then outstanding (regardless of whether then vested or
exercisable) to be exercised. To the extent any holder of Company Stock
Options/SARs does not exercise such options or rights prior to the Effective
Time, the Company shall take all necessary action to cause such Company Stock
Options/SARs to be canceled immediately prior to the Effective Time in
consideration of the payment to such holder of an amount in cash equal to the
product of (A) the number of Shares subject to such Company Stock Options/SARs
and (B) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price
per such Share, less any required withholding taxes.
ARTICLE III
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
SECTION 3.01 Certificate of Incorporation. The Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended to read in its
entirety as the Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Subsidiary in effect at
the Effective Time until amended in accordance with applicable law, except that
the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be "Varlen Corporation."
SECTION 3.02 Bylaws. The Bylaws of Merger Subsidiary in effect at
the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until
amended in accordance with applicable law.
SECTION 3.03 Directors and Officers. From and after the Effective
Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with
applicable law, (i) the directors of Merger Subsidiary at the Effective Time
shall constitute the directors of the Surviving Corporation, until the earlier
of their resignation or removal, and (ii the officers of the Company at the
Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until the
earlier of their resignation or removal.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the applicable section of the Company
Disclosure Schedule delivered by the Company to Buyer at or prior to the
execution of this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Schedule") or the Company
SEC Reports, the Company represents and warrants to Buyer and the Merger
Subsidiary that:
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SECTION 4.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.
(a) Each of the Company and each Material Subsidiary (as defined
below) is a corporation, partnership or other legal entity duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization and has the requisite power and authority and all
necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to
be so organized, existing or in good standing or to have such power, authority
and governmental approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Material Subsidiary are
duly qualified or licensed as foreign corporations to do business, and are in
good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned,
leased or operated by them or the nature of their business makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so
qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The term "Company
Material Adverse Effect" means any change or effect that is or would be
materially adverse to the assets, business, results of operations or financial
condition of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other
than changes or effects that are the result of economic factors affecting the
economy or financial markets as a whole or generally affecting the vehicular or
rail markets or that arise out of or result from actions contemplated by the
parties in connection with this Agreement or the announcement or performance of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
(b) Each subsidiary of the Company (a "Company Subsidiary") that
constitutes a "significant subsidiary" of the Company within the meaning of Rule
1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC is referred to herein as a "Material
Subsidiary."
SECTION 4.02 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The Company
has heretofore made available to Buyer a complete and correct copy of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws or equivalent organizational
documents, each as amended to date, of the Company and each Material Subsidiary.
Such Certificates of Incorporation, Bylaws and equivalent organiza tional
documents are in full force and effect.
SECTION 4.03 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 40,000,000 Shares and 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
50,000 of which have been designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Series A Preferred Shares"). As of July
30, 1999, (a) there were 17,035,728 Shares outstanding and (b) there were no
Series A Preferred Shares outstanding. All outstanding shares of capital stock
of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid
and nonassessable. As of July 22, 1999, there were 845,319 Shares reserved for
issuance upon exercise of the outstanding Company Stock Options/SARs (of which
812,507 were with respect to stock options and 32,812 were with respect to stock
purchase rights). Except for (i) Company Stock Options/SARs representing in the
aggregate the right to purchase 845,319 Shares and (ii) the Rights Agreement, as
of July 30, 1999 there were no options, warrants or other rights, agreements,
arrangements or
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commitments of any character obligating the Company or any
Material Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or other
equity interests in, the Company or any Material Subsidiary. All Shares subject
to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in
the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. There are no material outstanding
contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of the Company Common Stock or any
capital stock of any Material Subsidiary, or make any material investment (in
the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Company
Subsidiary. Each outstanding share of capital stock of each Material Subsidiary
is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and each such
share owned by the Company or another Company Subsidiary is free and clear of
all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, options, rights of first
refusal, agreements, limitations on the Company's or such other Company
Subsidiary's voting rights, charges and other encumbrances of any nature
whatsoever.
SECTION 4.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Company has
all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to
perform its obligations hereunder and 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 by all necessary corporate action,
and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein
(other than, with respect to the Merger, the approval and adoption of this
Agreement by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Shares and the
filing of appropriate merger documents as required by Delaware Law). This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Buyer, constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of any applicable
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and to the effect of general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
SECTION 4.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do
not, and the performance of the transactions contemplated herein by the Company
will not, (i) conflict with or violate the Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of the Company or any Material
Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with or violate any law, rule, regulation, order,
judgment or decree applicable to any Company or any Material Subsidiary or by
which any property or asset of the Company or any Material Subsidiary is bound
or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an
event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under,
result in the loss of a material benefit under, or give to others any right of
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the
creation of a lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the Company
or Material Subsidiary pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
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obligation to which the Company or such Material Subsidiary is a party or by
which the Company or such Material Subsidiary or any property or asset of the
Company or such Material Subsidiary is bound or affected, except, in the case of
clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches,
defaults or other occurrences which would not prevent or delay consummation of
the Merger in any material respect, or otherwise prevent the Company from
performing its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect, or
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do
not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, require any
consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification
to, any governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign (each a
"Governmental Entity"), except (i) for (A) applicable requirements, if any, of
the Exchange Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
state securities or "blue sky" laws ("Blue Sky Laws") and state takeover laws,
(B) filing of appropriate merger documents as required by Delaware Law and (C)
applicable requirements, if any, of any non-United States competition, antitrust
and investment laws and (ii) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals,
authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not
prevent or delay consummation of the Merger in any material respect, or
otherwise prevent the Company from performing its obligations under this
Agreement in any material respect, and would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.06 Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Material
Subsidiary is in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (a) any law,
rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including, without limitation,
laws, rules and regulations relating to franchises) applicable to the Company or
any Material Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any
Material Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (b) any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other
instrument or obligation to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a
party or by which the Company or any Material Company Subsidiary or any property
or asset of the Company or any Material Subsidiary is bound or affected, except
for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has filed all forms, reports and documents required to
be filed by it with the SEC since February 1, 1999 and has heretofore made
available to Buyer, in the form filed with the SEC (excluding any exhibits
thereto), (i) its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended January
31, 1999, January 31, 1998 and January 31, 1997, (ii) its Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the period ended May 1, 1999, (iii) all proxy statements relating
to the Company's meetings of stockholders (whether annual or special) held since
February 1, 1997 and (iv) all other forms, reports and other registration
statements (other than Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q not referred to in clause
(ii) above and preliminary materials) filed by the Company with the SEC since
February 1, 1997 (the forms, reports and other documents referred to in clauses
(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
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above being referred to herein, collectively, as the "Company SEC Reports"). The
Company SEC Reports and any forms, reports and other documents filed by the
Company with the SEC after the date of this Agreement (x) were prepared in all
material respects in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder
and (y) did not at the time they were filed contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No Material Subsidiary
is required to file any form, report or other document with the SEC.
(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each
case, any notes thereto) contained in the Company SEC Reports was prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes
thereto) and each fairly presented the financial position, results of operations
and cash flows of the Company and the consolidated Company Subsidiaries, as the
case may be, at the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods
indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and
recurring year-end adjustments which were not and are not expected, individually
or in the aggregate, to be material in amount and the absence of certain
footnote disclosures).
SECTION 4.08 Disclosure Documents.
(a) Each document required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in
connection with the Transaction (the "Company Disclosure Documents"), including,
without limitation, the 14D-9, the proxy or information statement of the Company
(the "Company Proxy Statement"), if any, to be filed with the SEC in connection
with the Merger, and any amendments or supplements thereto, will comply as to
form in all material respects with the applicable require ments of the Exchange
Act.
(b) At the time the Company Proxy Statement, if any, including any
amendment or supplement thereto, is first mailed to stockholders of the Company
and at the time of the Company Stockholders' Meeting, the Company Proxy
Statement as supplemented or amended, if applicable, will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. At the time of the filing of any
Company Disclosure Document (other than the Company Proxy Statement) filed after
the date hereof, such Company Disclosure Document will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties
contained in Section 4.08(a) and this Section 4.08 (b) will not apply to
statements or omissions in the Company Disclosure Documents based upon
information furnished to the Company in writing by Buyer or Merger Subsidiary
specifically for use therein.
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SECTION 4.09 Brokers. Except for Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
("Morgan Stanley") whose fees will be paid by the Company, there is no
investment banker, broker or finder which has been retained by or is authorized
to act on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary who might be entitled
to any fee or commission from the Company, any Company Subsidiary, the Merger
Subsidiary or Buyer or any of their affiliates upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Section 4.09 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth the estimated Merger Fees (as defined herein)
owed or which will be owing by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in
connection with the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (it being understood that such estimate in no way limits the
amount of such Merger Fees that will be paid at or prior to the Effective Time).
The term "Merger Fees" means all fees and expenses paid since May 1, 1999 or
payable by or on behalf of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to all
attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, financial advisers and other experts
and advisers incident to the possible sale of the Company, including the
negotiation, preparation, execution and consummation of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.10 Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Quarter End.
Since May 1, 1999, there has not been any adverse change in the financial
condition of the Company and the Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole which
would constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect. Since May 1, 1999, neither
the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has taken any action of the
type described in clauses (a) through (h) of Section 6.01.
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SECTION 4.11 Tax Matters. (i) The Company and its Material
Subsidiaries have duly and timely filed (taking into account any extension of
time within which to file) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by any
of them and all such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material
respects; (ii) the Company and its Material Subsidiaries have paid all Taxes
that are shown as due on such filed Tax Returns or that the Company or any
Material Subsidiary is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to any employee,
creditor or third party, except with respect to matters contested in good faith
or for such amounts that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (iii) as of the date of
this Agreement, there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened audits, examinations, investigations or other proceedings in respect
of Taxes or Tax matters relating to the Company or any Material Subsidiary
which, if determined adversely to the Company or such Material Subsidiary, could
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (iv) there are
no deficiencies or claims for any Taxes that have been proposed, asserted or
assessed against the Company or any Material Subsidiary which, if such
deficiencies or claims were finally resolved against the Company or such
Material Subsidiary, could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect; (v) there are no material liens or claims for Taxes upon the
assets of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, other than liens or claims for
current Taxes not yet due and payable and liens or claims for Taxes that are
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and (vi) neither of
the Company nor any Material Subsidiary has made an election under Section
341(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). "Tax"
means all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, franchise, gross
receipts, environmental, customs duty, capital stock, severance, stamp, payroll,
sales, employment, unemployment disability, use, property, withholding, excise,
production, value added, occupancy and other taxes, duties or assessments of any
nature whatsoever, together with all interest, penalties, fines and additions to
tax imposed with respect to such amounts and any interest in respect of such
penalties and additions to tax. "Tax Return" means all returns and reports
(including elections, claims, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates,
computations and information returns) required to be supplied to a Tax authority
in any jurisdiction relating to Taxes.
SECTION 4.12 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received
the opinion of Morgan Stanley dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect
that, as of such date, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point
of view, to the holders of Shares, a true and correct copy of which has been
provided to Buyer.
SECTION 4.13 Litigation. There is no litigation, arbitration,
claim, suit, action, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any Material
Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, nor is there any judgment, award, decree, injunction, rule or order of
any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Company or any
Material Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.14 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the outstanding Shares (the "Required Company Votes") is the only
vote of the holders
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of any class or series of the Company capital stock necessary to approve this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and is only necessary in the
event that the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer represents less
than 90% of the issued and outstanding Shares.
SECTION 4.15 Environmental Matters.
(a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with
all applicable Environmental Laws, except where failures to be in compliance
would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) There are no Environmental Claims pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries
that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) As used herein, the term "Cleanup" means all actions required by
law to (i) clean up, remove, treat, manage or remediate Hazardous Materials in
the indoor or outdoor environment; (ii) prevent the Release of Hazardous
Materials so that they do not migrate, endanger or threaten to endanger public
health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; (iii) perform pre-
remedial studies and investigations and post-remedial monitoring and care; or
(iv) respond to any government requests for information or documents in any way
relating to cleanup, removal, treatment or remediation or potential cleanup,
removal, treatment or remediation of Hazardous Materials in the indoor or
outdoor environment.
(d) As used herein, the term "Environmental Claim" means any claim,
action, cause of action, investigation or written notice by any person or entity
alleging potential liability or responsibility (including, without limitation,
potential liability for investigatory costs, Cleanup costs, governmental
response costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries,
fines or penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting from (i) the presence
or Release of any Hazardous Materials at any location, whether or not owned or
operated by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or (ii) circumstances
forming the basis of any violation of any Environmental Law.
(e) As used herein, the term "Environmental Laws" means all federal,
state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the pollution or
protection of the environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to
Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous Materials or otherwise relating to
the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Hazardous Materials.
(f) As used herein, the term "Hazardous Material" means all substances
defined as Hazardous Substances, Hazardous Waste, Oils, Pollutants or
Contaminants in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency
Plan, 40 C.F.R. (S) 300.5, or defined as such by, or regulated as such under,
any Environmental Law, including all matters adversely affecting air, ground,
ground water and/or environmental quality or safety, including, without
limitation, petroleum, petroleum-derived products, underground storage tanks and
asbestos.
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(g) As used herein, the term "Release" means any release, spill,
emission, discharge, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal,
leaching or migration into the environment (including, without limitation,
ambient air, surface water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata) or
into or out of any property (including the abatement or discarding of barrels or
other containers containing Hazardous Materials), including the movement of
Hazardous Materials through, on or in the air, soil, surface water, ground water
or property.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer and the Merger Subsidiary, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company as follows:
SECTION 5.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries. Each of
Buyer and Merger Subsidiary is a corporation, partnership or other legal entity
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the requisite power
and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate
its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except
where the failure to be so organized, existing or in good standing or to have
such power, authority and governmental approvals would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). Each of
Buyer and Merger Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign
corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where
the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of
its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such
failures to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect. The
term "Buyer Material Adverse Effect" means any change or effect that is or would
be materially adverse to the assets, business, results of operations or
financial condition of Buyer, the Merger Subsidiary and each of the Buyer's
other subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than changes or effects that are the
result of economic factors affecting the economy or financial markets as a whole
or generally affecting the vehicular or rail markets or that arise out of or
result from actions contemplated by the parties in connection with this
Agreement or the announcement or performance of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
SECTION 5.02 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Buyer has
heretofore made available to the Company a complete and correct copy of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws or equivalent organizational
documents, each as amended to date, of Buyer and Merger Subsidiary. Such
Certificates of Incorporation, Bylaws and equivalent organizational documents
are in full force and effect.
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SECTION 5.03 Authority Relative to this Agreement. Each of Buyer
and Merger Subsidiary has all necessary power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate
the transactions contemplated herein. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Buyer and Merger Subsidiary and the consummation by Buyer and
Merger Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated herein have been duly and
validly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of Buyer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the transactions contemplated herein (other than, with respect to the
Merger, the filing of the appropriate merger documents as required by Delaware
Law). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Buyer
and Merger Subsidiary and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
Buyer and Merger Subsidiary, enforceable against Buyer and Merger Subsidiary in
accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally and to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless
of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
SECTION 5.04 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer and Merger
Subsidiary do not, and the performance of the transactions contemplated herein
by Buyer and Merger Subsidiary will not, (i) conflict with or violate the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of
Buyer or Merger Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with or violate any law, rule,
regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to Buyer or any Merger
Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of Buyer or any Merger Subsidiary
is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default
(or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default)
under, result in the loss of a material benefit under or give to others any
right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in
the creation of a lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of Buyer or
any Merger Subsidiary pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
obligation to which Buyer or such Merger Subsidiary is a party or by which Buyer
or such Merger Subsidiary or any property or asset of Buyer or such Merger
Subsidiary is bound or affected, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other
occurrences which would not prevent or delay consummation of the Merger in any
material respect, or otherwise prevent Buyer from performing its obligations
under this Agreement in any material respect, or would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer and Merger
Subsidiary do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Buyer and Merger
Subsidiary will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of,
or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except (i) for (A)
applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, Securities Act, state
securities or Blue Sky Laws and state takeover laws, (B) filing of appropriate
merger documents as required by Delaware Law and (C) applicable requirements, if
any, of any non-
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United States competition, antitrust and investment laws and (ii) where failure
to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such
filings or either notifications, would not prevent or delay consummation of the
Merger in any material respect, or otherwise prevent Buyer or Merger Subsidiary
from performing its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect,
and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 5.05 Compliance. Neither Buyer nor Merger Subsidiary is in
conflict with, or in default or violation of, (a) any law, rule, regulation,
order, judgment or decree applicable to Buyer or Merger Subsidiary or by which
any property or asset of Buyer or Merger Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (b)
any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license,
permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which Buyer or Merger
Subsidiary is a party or by which Buyer or Merger Subsidiary or any property or
asset of Buyer or Merger Subsidiary is bound or affected, except for any such
conflicts, defaults or violations that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.06 Company Proxy Statement. None of the information that
may be supplied in writing by Buyer or its affiliates specifically for use in
the Company Proxy Statement or any other document filed or to be filed with the
SEC, and none of the Offer Documents, will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
SECTION 5.07 Financing. Merger Subsidiary has, and Buyer will cause
Merger Subsidiary to continue to have, sufficient funds available to purchase
all Shares outstanding for the Merger Consideration and otherwise comply with
the terms set forth herein.
SECTION 5.08 Brokers. Except for Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and
Citibank, N.A., whose fees will be paid by Buyer, there is no investment banker,
broker or finder who might be entitled to any fee or commission upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 5.09 Vote Required. No vote of the holders of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of Buyer is necessary to approve this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 5.10 Ownership of Shares. As of the date of this Agreement,
neither Buyer nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of its knowledge, any
of its affiliates or associates (as such terms are defined under the Exchange
Act) (i) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly or (ii) is party to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting or disposing of, in case of either clause (i) or (ii), more than 100
Shares in the aggregate.
ARTICLE VI
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COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 6.01 Conduct of the Company. The Company covenants and
agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, unless
the Buyer shall have consented in writing or this Agreement expressly
contemplates or permits, the businesses of the Company and its Material
Subsidiaries shall, in all material respects, be conducted in, and the Company
and its Material Subsidiaries shall not take any material action except in, the
ordinary course of business, and the Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to preserve substantially intact its business organization, to keep
available the services of its and its Material Subsidiaries' current officers,
employees and consultants and to preserve its and its Material Subsidiaries'
relationships with customers, suppliers and other persons with which it or any
of its subsidiaries has significant business relations. By way of amplification
and not limitation, except (i) as contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) as set
forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of the
Material Subsidiaries shall, between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, directly or indirectly do, or propose or agree to do, any of the
following without the prior written consent of the Buyer:
(a) except to the extent required to comply with its obligations
hereunder or required by law, amend or otherwise change the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company;
(b) issue or sell, or authorize the issuance or sale of, (i) any
shares of capital stock of any class of the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries, or any options (other than the grant of options in the ordinary
course of business to employees or the grant of options previously disclosed by
the Company to Buyer in writing prior to the date of this Agreement including,
without limitation, the Company Stock Options/SARs), warrants or other
convertible securities of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries (other
than the issuance of shares of capital stock (A) in connection with the exercise
of options or other rights to purchase Shares outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Company Stock Options/SARs) and in
accordance with the terms of such options or rights in effect on the date of
this Agreement or (B) otherwise permitted to be granted pursuant to this
Agreement) or (ii) any assets of it or any of the Material Subsidiaries, except
for sales in the ordinary course of business or which, individually or in the
aggregate, do not exceed $10.0 million;
(c) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution,
payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its
capital stock (other than (i) regular quarterly dividends not to exceed $0.05
per Share and (ii) a dividend or distribution payable solely to the Company or a
Company Subsidiary);
(d) reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its capital stock other than
permitted under certain option agreements to effect cashless option exercises.
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(e) (i) acquire (for cash or shares of stock) (including, without
limitation, by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets) any
corporation, partnership, other business organization or any division thereof or
any assets, except for such acquisitions which, individually or in the
aggregate, do not exceed $10.0 million; (ii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed
money or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise
as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any person, or
make any loans or advances, except (A) in connec tion with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, (B) borrowings under existing bank lines
of credit in the ordinary course of business, (C) the refinancing of existing
indebtedness, or (D) indebtedness which, in the aggregate, does not exceed $10.0
million; or (iii) enter into or amend any contract, agreement, commitment or
arrangement to effectuate any prohibited matter set forth in this Section
6.01(e);
(f) increase the compensation payable or to become payable to its
executive officers or employees, except for increases in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(g) unless and to the extent the Board exercises its rights under
Section 6.04(b) of this Agreement, terminate, amend, modify or waive any
provision of any confidentiality or standstill or similar agreement to which the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party (other than the
Confidentiality Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the standstill provisions of
which are hereby waived as to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement);
or
(h) take any action, other than reasonable and usual actions in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, with respect to
accounting policies or procedures.
SECTION 6.02 Stockholders' Meeting; Proxy Material. Unless Buyer or
Merger Subsidiary acquires at least 90% of the outstanding Shares, in which case
Buyer shall cause the Merger to take place without a vote as permitted under
Delaware Law, if required by applicable law, the Company shall cause a special
meeting of its stockholders (the "Company Stockholders Meeting") to be duly
called and held as soon as reasonably practicable after the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer for the purpose of acting upon proposals to approve and
adopt this Agreement and all actions contemplated hereby that require the
approval of the Company's stockholders. The Board shall recommend approval and
adoption of this Agreement by the Company's stockholders; provided, however,
that the Board may withdraw, modify or change such recommendation to the extent
that the Board determines to do so in the exercise of its fiduciary duties as
permitted by Section 6.04.
SECTION 6.03 Access to Information. The Company will give Buyer,
its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives
reasonable access to the offices, properties, books and records of the Company
and the Company Subsidiaries, will furnish to Buyer, its counsel, financial
advisors, auditors and authorized representatives such financial and operating
data and other information as such persons may reasonably request and will
instruct the Company's employees, counsel and financial advisors to cooperate
with Buyer in its reasonable
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investigation of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, in
each case subject to any restrictions on such access imposed by law and subject
to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, dated July 9, 1999, between the
Company and Buyer (the "Confidentiality Agreement").
SECTION 6.04 No Solicitation.
---------------
(a) Unless and until this Agreement shall have been terminated by
either party pursuant to Article X hereof, the Company shall not take or cause,
directly or indirectly, any of the following actions with any party other than
Buyer, Merger Subsidiary or their respective designees: (i) solicit, knowingly
encourage, initiate or participate in any negotiations, inquiries or discussions
with respect to or which may reasonably be expected to lead to any offer,
indication or proposal to acquire all or substantially all of its business,
assets or capital shares whether by merger, consolidation, other business
combination, purchase of assets or shares, tender or exchange offer or otherwise
(each of the foregoing, an "Acquisition Proposal"), (ii) disclose, in connection
with an Acquisition Proposal, any information or provide access to its
properties, books or records, except as required by law or pursuant to a
governmental request for information or (iii) agree to, or enter into any
agreement with respect to, any Acquisition Proposal.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section
6.04(a) or elsewhere in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, the Company
may, to the extent the Board determines, based on the advice of the Company's
independent legal advisers, that the failure to do so would breach its fiduciary
duties under applicable law, participate in discussion or negotiations with, and
furnish non-public information, and afford access to the properties, books,
records, officers, employees and representatives of the Company (other than such
access or information which the Company has not provided to Buyer) to any
person, entity or group after such person, entity or group has delivered to the
Company, in writing, an Acquisition Proposal which the Board in its good faith
reasonable judgment determines if consummated would be more favorable to the
Company and its stockholders from a financial point of view than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (a "Superior Proposal"). In the
event the Company receives a Superior Proposal, nothing contained in this
Agreement (but subject to the terms of this paragraph (b)) will prevent the
Board from executing or entering into an agreement relating to such Superior
Proposal and recommending such Superior Proposal to its stockholders, if the
Board determines in good faith that its fiduciary duties require it to do so; in
such case, the Board may withdraw, modify or refrain from making its
recommendation of the Merger, and, to the extent it does so, the Company may
refrain from calling, providing notice of and holding the Company Stockholders
Meeting to adopt this Agreement and from soliciting proxies or consents to
secure the vote or written consent of its stockholders to adopt this Agreement
and may terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall (i)
promptly, and in any event within 24 hours, notify Buyer if any such Acquisition
Proposal is received by, any such information is requested from, or any such
negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated or continued with, the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, indicating, in connection with such
notice, the name of such person and the material terms of any such Acquisition
Proposal, (ii) provide Buyer at least 24 hours prior written
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notice of the Company's intention to execute or enter into an agreement relating
to such Superior Proposal and (iii) terminate this Agreement by written notice
to Buyer provided no sooner than 48 hours after Buyer's receipt of a copy of
such Superior Proposal (or a description of the significant terms and conditions
thereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.04 or
elsewhere in this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, the Company may, in
connection with a possible Acquisition Proposal, refer any third party to this
Section 6.04 and Section 10.03(b) and make a copy of this Section 6.04 and
Section 10.03(b) available to a third party.
SECTION 6.05 Notices of Certain Events. The Company shall promptly
notify Buyer of:
(a) any notice or other communication from any person alleging that
the consent of such person is or may be required in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(b) any notice or other communication from any governmental or
regulatory agency or authority in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; and
(c) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings
commenced or, to the best of its knowledge threatened, against the Company or
any Company Subsidiary which would reasonably be expected to interfere with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 6.06 Debt Instruments. Prior to or at the Effective Time,
the Company and each Company Subsidiary shall use its reasonable efforts to seek
waivers from the parties thereto with respect to the occurrence, as a result of
the Merger, the Offer and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
of a change in control or any other event which constitutes a default (or an
event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under
any debt instrument of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.07 Rights Agreement. Unless this Agreement shall have been
terminated, the Company shall not redeem the rights issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement or waive the application of the dilution provisions thereof as
to any person or entity other than Buyer or Merger Subsidiary without the prior
written consent of Buyer.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF BUYER
SECTION 7.01 Confidentiality. All information obtained by Buyer in
connection with the Transaction shall be kept confidential in accordance with
the Confidentiality Agreement.
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SECTION 7.02 Obligations of Merger Subsidiary and the Surviving
Corporation. Buyer will take all action necessary to cause Merger Subsidiary to
perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Buyer will take all action
necessary to cause the Surviving Corporation to perform its obligations under
this Agreement as of and after the Effective Time.
SECTION 7.03 Voting of Shares. Buyer agrees to vote all Shares
owned by Buyer, Merger Subsidiary or any of their affiliates in favor of
approval and adoption of this Agreement at the Company Stockholders Meeting.
SECTION 7.04 Director and Officer Liability.
------------------------------
(a) The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation shall contain the provisions with respect to indemnification set
forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company on the date
of this Agreement, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise
modified for a period of six years after the Effective Time in any manner that
would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who at any time
prior to the Effective Time were directors or officers of the Company in respect
of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including,
without limitation, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), unless
such modification is required by law.
(b) From and after the Effective Time, Buyer and the Surviving
Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the present and former
officers and directors of the Company (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties")
against all losses, expenses, claims, damages, liabilities or amounts that are
paid in settlement of, with the approval of the Surviving Corporation (which
approval shall not unreasonably be withheld), or otherwise incurred in
connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (a
"Claim"), based in whole or in part by reason of the fact that such person is
or was a director or officer of the Company and arising out of actions, events
or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including, without
limitation, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), in each case to
the full extent permitted under Delaware Law (and shall pay expenses in advance
of the final disposition of any such action or proceeding to each Indemnified
Party to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware Law, upon receipt from the
Indemnified Party to whom expenses are advanced of the undertaking to repay such
advances contemplated by Section 145(e) of Delaware Law).
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any Claim is brought
against any Indemnified Party (whether arising before or after the Effective
Time) after the Effective Time (i) the Indemnified Parties may retain the
Company's regularly engaged independent legal counsel or other independent legal
counsel satisfactory to them, provided that such other counsel shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Surviving Corporation, (ii) the Surviving
Corporation shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the
Indemnified Parties promptly as statements therefor are received and (iii) the
Surviving Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts to assist in the
vigorous defense of any such matter, provided that the Surviving Corporation
shall not be liable for
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any settlement of any Claim effected without its written consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim
indemnification under this Section 7.04 upon learning of any such Claim shall
notify the Surviving Corporation (although the failure so to notify the
Surviving Corporation shall not relieve the Surviving Corporation from any
liability which the Surviving Corporation may have under this Section 7.04,
except to the extent such failure materially prejudices the Surviving
Corporation's position with respect to such claim), and shall deliver to the
Surviving Corporation the undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e) of Delaware
Law. The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain no more than one law firm (in
addition to local counsel) to represent them with respect to each such matter
unless there is, under applicable standards of professional conduct (as
determined by counsel to the Indemnified Parties), an actual conflict between
the interests of any two or more Indemnified Parties, in which event such
additional counsel as may be required may be retained by the Indemnified
Parties.
(d) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall cause to be maintained in effect the liability insurance
policies (or substantially equivalent replacements therefor) for directors and
officers which are currently maintained by the Company with respect to claims
arising from facts or events which occurred before the Effective Time. Neither
Buyer nor the Surviving Corporation shall be obligated to pay annual premiums
for such policies to the extent such premiums exceed 150% of the annual premiums
paid as of the date hereof by the Company for such insurance (such 150% amount,
the "Maximum Premium"). If such insurance coverage cannot be obtained at all,
or can only be obtained at an annual premium in excess of the Maximum Premium,
Buyer and the Surviving Corporation shall maintain the most advantageous
policies of directors' and officers' insurance obtainable for an annual premium
equal to the Maximum Premium.
(e) Each Indemnified Party shall have rights as a third party
beneficiary under this Section 7.04 as separate contractual rights for his or
her benefit and such right shall be enforceable by such Indemnified Party, its
heirs and personal representatives and shall be binding on Buyer and the
Surviving Corporation and their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 7.05 Employee Benefits.
-----------------
(a) Except as otherwise may be provided pursuant to a collective
bargaining agreement, during the twelve month period following the Effective
Time, Buyer shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain or provide the
employees of the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries with employee
benefits comparable in the aggregate (including giving effect to the last
sentence of this Section 7.05(a)) to the benefits provided by the Company and
the Company Subsidiaries on the date hereof and Buyer shall cause the Surviving
Corporation to maintain in full force and effect and to honor the severance
policies and commitments of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as listed
in Section 7.05 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company SEC
Reports. Buyer shall cause the Surviving Corporation to honor the terms of all
employment and change in control agreements as listed in Section 7.05 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company SEC Reports, including any letter
agreements or commitments pursuant
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thereto or in connection therewith, of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries
and agrees that (i) no retirement related benefits will be offset against
payments due under such change in control agreements and (ii) all excise taxes
that may become payable by a party to any such change in control agreement will
be timely paid or reimbursed to such party by the Surviving Corporation. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, Buyer shall, or shall cause the
Surviving Corporation to (i) provide full vesting of all participants in the
Company's Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan as of the Effective Time
and contribute a profit sharing amount to such plan for 1999 at the same level
as was contributed for 1998, (ii) honor all obligations to participants in the
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and all letter agreements or commitments
pursuant thereto or in connection therewith (including, without limitation,
regarding reimbursement of all excise taxes that may become due), which are
described, to the knowledge of the Company, in all material respects in Section
7.05 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) in recognition of the Company's
financial performance year-to-date for the current fiscal year, pay, subject to
the approval of a special committee comprised of Arthur W. Goetschel and one
other person designated by him and Raymond A. Jean and one other person
designated by him and in accordance with existing performance criteria,
performance bonuses for the current fiscal year to all employees of the Company,
and to each president of each Company Subsidiary except Beechhead Associates,
Inc., on the scheduled annual payment date in April 2000 in amounts no less than
90% of the maximum bonus potential for each such employee and president (it
being understood (i) that any such employee or president who is employed on the
date hereof and is terminated by the Surviving Corporation or the relevant
Company Subsidiary not for cause prior to such scheduled annual payment date
shall, upon such termination, be paid a pro rated performance bonus based on the
portion of the year for which such employee or president was employed by the
Company or a Company Subsidiary or the Surviving Corporation and (ii) that all
such bonuses shall not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate) and (iv) cause all
current deductibles under the Company's health plan to be recognized by the
Surviving Corporation's health plan provider. Buyer shall cause the Sur viving
Corporation to honor all collective bargaining agreements by which the Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries is bound. All U.S.-based employees of the
Surviving Corporation or the Company Subsidiaries not covered by a collective
bargaining agreement shall be participants in Buyer's employee stock ownership
plan with service commencing at the Effective Time.
(b) For purposes of determining eligibility to participate, vesting
and accrual or entitlement to benefits where length of service is relevant under
any employee benefit plan or arrangement of Buyer, the Surviving Corporation or
any of their respective subsidiaries (in each case other than Buyer's employee
stock ownership plan and other than retiree medical and life benefits),
employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time
shall receive service credit for service with the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries to the same extent such service credit was granted under the
Company's benefit plans, subject, in the case of defined benefit arrangements,
to offsets for previously accrued benefits and no duplication of benefits.
(c) Except as may be required by law, neither Buyer nor the Surviving
Corporation shall, directly or indirectly, cause or permit the Surviving
Corporation, or any other person or entity to, use any assets of any defined
benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(35)
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of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) maintained
by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries for any purpose other than to
provide benefits pursuant to such plan and will not merge any such plan with or
into any other plan if such merger could adversely affect the funded status of
the Company's or any Company Subsidiary's plans.
(d) No provision of this Agreement shall create any third-party
beneficiary rights in any employee or former employee (including any beneficiary
or dependent thereof) of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries in
respect of continued employment or resumed employment.
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS OF BUYER AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 8.01 Commercially Reasonable Efforts. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party will use its commercially
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause
to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 8.02 Certain Filings. The Company and Buyer shall
cooperate with one another (a) in connection with the preparation of the Company
Disclosure Documents and the Offer Documents, and (b) in determining whether any
other action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency
or official, or authority or any actions, consents, approvals or waivers are
required to be obtained from parties to any material contracts in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (c)
in seeking any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers or making any such
filings, furnishing information required in connection therewith or with the
Company Disclosure Documents or the Offer Documents and seeking timely to obtain
any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers.
SECTION 8.03 Public Announcements. Buyer and the Company will
consult with each other before issuing any press release or making any public
statement with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and will not issue any such press release or make any such public
statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by applicable
law or any listing agreement with any national securities exchange.
SECTION 8.04 Proxy Statement. If required by applicable law, as
soon as practicable following Buyer's request, the Company and Buyer shall
prepare and file with the SEC the Company Proxy Statement with respect to the
Company Stockholders Meeting. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations of the SEC thereunder. Each of the Company and Buyer shall use
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commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the
Company's stockholders as promptly as practicable.
ARTICLE IX
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 9.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The
obligations of the Company, Buyer and Merger Subsidiary to consummate the Merger
are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
(a) this Agreement shall have been approved and adopted by the
stockholders of the Company in accordance with Delaware Law (except that this
condition shall be deemed satisfied if Buyer and/or Merger Subsidiary shall have
acquired 90% or more of the outstanding Shares);
(b) no Governmental Entity or federal or state court of competent
jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued or enforced any statute, regulation,
decree, injunction or other order which prohibits the consummation of the
Merger;
(c) with respect to the obligations of Buyer and Merger Subsidiary,
each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time as though made on
and as of the Effective Time, except (A) for changes specifically permitted by
this Agreement and (B) that those representations and warranties which address
matters only as of a particular date need be true and correct only as of such
date, except to the extent that the failures in the aggregate of such
representations and warranties (disregarding any qualifications as to
materiality contained therein) to be true and correct would not reasonably be
expected to have, and have not had, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(d) with respect to the obligations of the Company, each of the
representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be
true and correct as of the Effective Time, as though made on and as of the
Effective Time, except (A) for changes specifically permitted by this Agreement
and (B) that those representations and warranties which address matters only as
of a particular date need be true and correct as of such date, except to the
extent that the failures in the aggregate of such representations and warranties
(disregarding any qualifications as to materiality contained therein) to be true
and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, and have not had, a Buyer
Material Adverse Effect, and; and
(e) Merger Subsidiary shall have (i) amended the Offer pursuant to
Article I hereof and (ii) purchased, pursuant to the terms and conditions of
such Offer, all Shares duly tendered and not withdrawn; provided, however, that
neither Buyer nor Merger Subsidiary shall be entitled to rely on the condition
in clause (ii) above if either of them shall have failed to purchase Shares
pursuant to the Offer in breach of their obligations under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE X
TERMINATION; EXPENSES
SECTION 10.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Transaction may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time
(notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the
Company):
(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Buyer;
(b) by either Buyer or the Company, if any permanent injunction or
action by any Governmental Entity preventing the consummation of the Merger
shall have become final and nonappealable;
(c) by either Buyer or the Company, if the Merger shall not have been
consummated before November 30, 1999; provided, however, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.01(c) shall not be available to
any party whose failure to fulfill an obligation or condition under this
Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to
occur on or before such date and shall not be available to Buyer if it has
purchased Shares pursuant to the Offer;
(d) by the Company, if Merger Subsidiary shall have failed to amend
the Offer within the three business day period specified in Section 1.01(a) or
if Buyer or Merger Subsidiary terminates or withdraws the Offer without
purchasing Shares thereunder or the Offer shall have expired without the
purchase of the Shares thereunder;
(e) by either Buyer or the Company, if the Merger shall fail to
receive the requisite vote for approval and adoption by the stockholders of the
Company at the Company Stockholders Meeting;
(f) by the Company, if the Board determines to accept a Superior
Proposal;
(g) by Buyer, prior to the purchase by Merger Subsidiary of Shares
pursuant to the Offer, if (i) the Board shall have withdrawn or adversely
modified its recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or this Agreement (it being
understood, however, that for all purposes of this Agreement, the fact that the
Company has supplied any person with information regarding the Company or has
entered into discussions or negotiations with such person as permitted by this
Agreement, or the disclosure of such facts, shall not be deemed a withdrawal or
modification of the Board's recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or this
Agreement); (ii) the Board shall have recommended to the stockholders of the
Company that they approve an Acquisition Proposal other than transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer that,
if successful, would result in any person or "group" becoming a "beneficial
owner" (such terms having
28
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the meaning in this Agreement as is ascribed under Regulation 13D under the
Exchange Act) of 15% or more of the outstanding Shares is commenced (other than
by Buyer or an affiliate of Buyer) and the Board recommends that the
stockholders of the Company tender their Shares in such tender or exchange
offer; or
(h) by Buyer or the Company, if the Offer terminates or expires on
account of the failure of any condition specified in Annex I without Merger
Subsidiary having purchased any Shares thereunder (provided that the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph shall not be available to
any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been
the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of any such condition).
The right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 10.01 shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any party hereto, any
person controlling or controlled by any such party or any of their respective
officers or directors, whether prior to or after the execution of this
Agreement.
SECTION 10.02 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 10.01, this Agreement shall become void and of no effect
with no liability on the part of any party hereto, except that the agreements
contained in Sections 7.01 and 10.03 shall survive the termination hereof, and
except that no such termination shall relieve any party from liability for
willful breach of this Agreement or willful failure by such party to perform its
obligations hereunder.
SECTION 10.03 Fees, Expenses and Other Payments.
---------------------------------
(a) All out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and
accountants, incurred directly or indirectly by the parties hereto in respect of
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by the party which has
incurred such costs and expenses (with respect to such party, its "Expenses");
provided, however, that if the Merger is consummated all Expenses of the Company
shall be paid by the Surviving Corporation.
(b) The Company agrees that if this Agreement shall be terminated
pursuant to (i) Section 10.01(f) or Section 10.01(g), then the Company shall pay
to Buyer an amount equal to $25,000,000. In the event that (i) the Offer shall
have remained open for a minimum of at least 10 business days from the date that
it is amended pursuant to Section 1.01(a), (ii) after the date hereof any
corporation, partnership, person, other entity or group (as defined in Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than Buyer or any of its affiliates shall
have become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Shares or
made any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) the Minimum Condition shall not have been
satisfied and the Offer is terminated pursuant to Section 10.01(c) and Merger
Subsidiary shall not have accepted for payment any Shares pursuant to the Offer
and (iv) within twelve months of such termination the Company enters into an
agreement providing for the consummation of an Acquisition Proposal (as such
term is defined in Section 6.04(a)) or any other person or other entity (other
than Buyer or any of its affiliates) becomes the beneficial owner of 40% or more
of the outstanding Shares, then the Company shall pay the Buyer in cash
$25,000,000.
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<PAGE>
(c) Any payment required to be made pursuant to Section 10.03(b) shall
be made as promptly as practicable by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an account designated by Buyer.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01 Notices. All notices, requests and other
communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing including facsimile,
telex or similar writing) and shall be given,
If to Buyer or Merger Subsidiary, to:
Amsted Industries Incorporated
205 North Michigan Avenue
44th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: General Counsel
with copies to:
Schiff Hardin & Waite
6600 Sears Tower
233 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attention: Robert J. Minkus
and:
Winston & Strawn
35 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: Gary A. Goodman
if to the Company, to:
Varlen Corporation
55 Shuman Boulevard
P.O. Box 3089
Naperville, Illinois 60566-7089
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Attention: Vice President and General Counsel
with copies to:
Kirkland & Ellis
200 East Randolph Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: R. Scott Falk , Esq.
and
Richards, Layton & Finger
One Rodney Square
Wilmington, Delaware 19899
Attention: Kevin G. Abrams, Esq.
or such other address, as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by
notice to the other parties hereto. Each such notice, request or other
communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile, upon confirmation of
receipt, or (ii) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address
specified in this Section 11.01.
SECTION 11.02 Survival of Representations, Warranties and
Covenants. The representations and warranties contained herein shall not survive
the Effective Time. The covenants and agreements contained herein shall not
survive the Effective Time, except for the covenants and agreements set forth in
Sections 7.02, 7.04, 7.05 and 10.03.
SECTION 11.03 Amendments; No Waivers.
----------------------
(a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived prior to
the Effective Time if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and
signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company, Buyer and Merger Subsidiary
or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be
effective; provided that after the adoption of this Agreement by the
stockholders of the Company, no such amendment or waiver shall, without the
further approval of such stockholders, alter or change (i) the amount or kind of
consideration to be received in exchange for any shares of capital stock of the
Company, (ii) any term of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation or (iii) any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement if such
alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any shares of capital
stock of the Company.
(b) No failure or delay by any 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 other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein
provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided by law.
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SECTION 11.04 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that no party
may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto.
SECTION 11.05 Governing Law.
-------------
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed
in all respects, including validity, interpretation and effect, by the law of
the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.
(b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware State court, or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting
in Delaware, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the agreements
delivered in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees not to
commence any such action or proceeding except in such courts, (ii) agrees that
any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in
such Federal court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in any such Delaware State or
Federal court, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such Delaware State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 11.02. Nothing
in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.
(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY
ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE
AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (ii) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (iii) IT MAKES SUCH
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<PAGE>
WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (iv) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT
BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION
11.05(C).
SECTION 11.06 Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be
signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with
the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall
have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.
This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature.
SECTION 11.07 Headings. Section headings used in this Agreement are
for convenience only and shall be ignored in the construction and interpretation
hereof.
SECTION 11.08 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except for Section 7.04
(which is intended to and shall confer upon the Indemnified Parties all rights
and remedies by reason of this Agreement as if such person were a party hereto),
no provision of this Agreement is intended to, or shall, confer any third party
beneficiary or other rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties
hereto.
SECTION 11.09 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Buyer Disclosure Schedule and the other
documents delivered pursuant hereto) and the Confidentiality Agreement
constitute the entire agreements of the parties and supersede all prior
agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
SECTION 11.10 Severability. If any term or other provisions of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law in an acceptable manner to the end that the
transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.
SECTION 11.11 Specific Enforcement. The parties agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of
the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are
entitled at law or in equity.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
VARLEN CORPORATION
By: /s/ Raymond A. Jean
--------------------------
Name: Raymond A. Jean
Its: Chief Executive Officer and President
AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Arthur W. Goetschel
--------------------------
Name: Arthur W. Goetschel
Its: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
TRACK ACQUISITION INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Arthur W. Goetschel
--------------------------
Name: Arthur W. Goetschel
Its: Chairman and President
34
<PAGE>
ANNEX I
The capitalized terms used in this Annex I have the meanings set forth
in the attached Agreement, except that the term "Merger Agreement" shall be
deemed to refer to the attached Agreement.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Merger Subsidiary
shall not be required to accept for payment or pay for any Shares if (i) prior
to the expiration date of the Offer, the Minimum Condition shall not have been
satisfied or (ii) prior to the acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares
and at any time on or after the date of the Merger Agreement, any of the
following conditions shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) Any Governmental Entity or federal or state court of competent
jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued or enforced any statute,
regulation, decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) which is in effect and which prohibits
consummation of the Offer, the Merger or any transaction contemplated by
the Agreement; provided that Buyer shall have used its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause any such decree, judgment, injunction or other
order to be vacated or lifted; or
(b) The Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
its terms; or
(c) There shall have occurred an event or condition which has a
Company Material Adverse Effect; or
(d) There shall have occurred, and continued to exist, (1) any general
suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on the
NASDAQ National Market or the New York Stock Exchange or (2) a declaration
of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks
in 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.
1
<PAGE>
Exhibit (a)(20)
AMSTED Industries and Varlen Corporation Announce Merger Agreement; AMSTED to
Acquire Varlen at $42.00 per Share
CHICAGO and NAPERVILLE, Ill., Aug. 1 -- AMSTED Industries Incorporated, a
leading manufacturer of products for the rail, truck and auto components
industries, and Varlen Corporation (Nasdaq: VRLN), a manufacturer of
engineered products and components for transportation markets, today announced
that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger
agreement under which AMSTED will acquire Varlen in a cash transaction valued at
approximately $790 million, including the assumption of approximately $50
million of net debt.
The Varlen board is unanimously recommending that all Varlen stockholders tender
all of their shares to AMSTED. The $42.00 per share all-cash price represents a
61.9% premium over the closing price of Varlen stock on May 17, 1999, the day
before AMSTED announced its intention to commence its tender offer, a 20%
premium over AMSTED's original offer of $35.00 per Varlen share, and an 11%
premium over the closing price of Varlen stock on July 30, 1999. Following the
completion of the tender offer, AMSTED will acquire the remaining Varlen shares
in a second step merger in which all remaining Varlen stockholders will also
receive the same cash price paid in the tender offer. Varlen has approximately
17.88 million shares outstanding, assuming exercise of all options.
AMSTED will tomorrow amend its existing tender offer to purchase all of the
outstanding shares of Varlen common stock to increase the purchase price to
$42.00 per Varlen share and to extend the expiration date of the offer to
midnight, New York City time, on Friday, August 13, 1999, unless further
extended. The AMSTED tender offer was previously scheduled to expire on August
4, 1999. AMSTED and Varlen expect to mail amended tender offer materials to the
Varlen stockholders in the next several days.
The transaction will create a worldwide transportation equipment leader with
annual sales of approximately $2 billion.
"The combination of these two companies will have significant advantages for
customers and employees," said Arthur W. Goetschel, AMSTED's Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer.
<PAGE>
"This is an excellent strategic fit because the two companies do not compete
directly but serve the same markets. Together, we will be a leading supplier in
rail, truck and auto components and provide customer solutions unmatched in
these industries. We look forward to welcoming Varlen to the AMSTED family and
anticipate a smooth transition."
Raymond A. Jean, President and Chief Executive Officer of Varlen, said, "AMSTED
has always had a reputation for excellence and strong service to its customers.
Nearly all of Varlen's businesses complement AMSTED's businesses covering the
diversity of the markets served by both companies. For Varlen's stockholders, we
believe this transaction provides an attractive price for their shares. For our
employees, this offers opportunities in an organization which will have greater
scale and resources."
AMSTED has secured a financing commitment from Citibank, N.A. as agent and
Salomon Smith Barney as arranger to complete the transaction. Salomon Smith
Barney also acted as financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion to
AMSTED. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter acted as financial advisor and provided a
fairness opinion to Varlen. Winston & Strawn and Schiff Hardin & Waite are legal
counsel to AMSTED and Kirkland & Ellis and Richards, Layton & Finger are legal
counsel to Varlen.
Varlen is a leading manufacturer of precision-engineered transportation products
for the heavy-duty truck/trailer, automotive and railroad industries. The
company, headquartered in a Chicago suburb, manufactures products in 20
facilities in the United States and 5 facilities in Europe and sells them to
customers around the world. Varlen's common stock is traded on Nasdaq's National
Market under the symbol VRLN.
AMSTED Industries, which is based in Chicago, is a diversified manufacturer of
products for the rail, construction and building and general industrial markets
and, like Varlen, a leading manufacturer of products for the rail, truck and
auto component industries. AMSTED, which has annual revenues of approximately
$1.3 billion, manufactures its products in 30 plants worldwide and is one of the
largest 100% employee-owned companies in the country.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on
assumptions about a number of important factors and involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what
appears here. These risk factors include the effect of the announcement of the
definitive merger agreement, reversal of market trends, decreased demand for
products, loss of key customers, limited customer production due to capacity
constraints, and additional factors that may be detailed from time to time in
AMSTED's and Varlen's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The two
companies assume no obligation to update their forward-looking statements.
<PAGE>
Exhibit (a)(21)
AMSTED Extends $42Per-Share
Cash Tender Offer for Varlen
CHICAGO, August 2 -- In accordance with the merger agreement announced yesterday
between AMSTED Industries Incorporated, a leading manufacturer of products for
the rail, truck and auto components industries, and Varlen Corporation, a
manufacturer of engineered products and components for transportation markets,
AMSTED today announced that it has amended its existing tender offer to purchase
all of the outstanding shares of Varlen common stock to increase the purchase
price to $42.00 per Varlen share and to extend the expiration date of the offer
to 12:00 midnight New York City time, on Friday, August 13, 1999. The offer had
been previously scheduled to expire on Wednesday, August 4, 1999, at 12:00
midnight New York City time.
In connection with the merger agreement, AMSTED has eliminated certain
conditions to the tender offer. The amended and restated conditions are set
forth in Annex I to the merger agreement which is included as an exhibit to an
amendment to AMSTED's tender offer statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission today.
As of the close of business on Friday, July 30, 1999, 155,857 shares of Varlen's
common stock had been validly tendered and not withdrawn.
Varlen Corporation, which is based in Naperville, Illinois, is a manufacturer of
engineered transportation products for the rail, truck and auto component
industries. It posted annual revenues last year of approximately $650 million.
AMSTED Industries, which is based in Chicago, is a diversified manufacturer of
products for the rail, construction and building and general industrial markets
and, like Varlen, a leading manufacturer of products for the rail, truck and
auto component industries. The Company, which has annual revenues of
approximately $1.3 billion, manufactures its products in 30 plants worldwide and
is one of the largest 100% employee-owned companies in the country.
