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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 6, 1998
APPLIED POWER INC.
------------------
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Wisconsin 1-11288 39-0168610
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(State of incorporation) (Commission File No.) (I.R.S. Employer Id. No.)
13000 West Silver Spring Drive
Butler, Wisconsin 53007
Mailing address: P.O. Box 325, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(414) 781-6600
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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Item 5. Other Events.
Merger Agreement With ZERO Corporation
On April 6, 1998, Applied Power Inc. ("API") and ZERO Corporation ("ZERO")
jointly announced the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
April 6, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), which provides for the combination of
the two companies through a merger of a newly created, wholly owned subsidiary
of API into ZERO (the "Merger"). Under the Merger Agreement, which has been
approved by the directors of both companies, each share of ZERO Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share ("ZERO Common Stock"), issued and outstanding at the
time the Merger is consummated will be converted into .85 (the "Exchange Ratio")
of a share of API Class A Common Stock, par value $.20 per share ("API Common
Stock"), in a tax-free reorganization to be accounted for as a pooling of
interests. Then outstanding ZERO employee and director stock options to purchase
ZERO Common Stock will be assumed by API and converted at the Exchange Ratio
into options to acquire API Common Stock.
The consummation of the Merger is subject to various conditions set forth
in the Merger Agreement, including approval by the stockholders of both
companies, all requisite regulatory approvals and the effectiveness of a
registration statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
covering the shares of API Common Stock to be issued as a result of the
transaction. The Merger Agreement provides that if the Merger is not consummated
by reason of the occurrence of certain events, such as the consumation of or
ZERO's pursuit of another business combination transaction involving ZERO, ZERO
will pay API a breakup fee of $15,000,000.
ZERO's primary business is protecting electronics, where it serves the
system packaging, thermal management and engineered case requirements of the
telecommunications, instrumentation and data processing markets. ZERO also
serves the air cargo industry and produces the famous line of ZERO
Halliburton(R) cases for consumers worldwide.
The Merger Agreement and the press release issued in connection therewith
are filed as exhibits to this report. The above description of the Merger
Agreement is qualified by reference to the provisions of the Merger Agreement.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits:
See Exhibit Index following the Signature page of this report, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
APPLIED POWER INC.
Date: April 8, 1998 By: /s/ Robert C. Arzbaecher
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Robert C. Arzbaecher,
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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APPLIED POWER INC.
(Commission File No. 1-11288)
EXHIBIT INDEX
to
FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT
Date of Report: April 6, 1998
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Incorporated Herein Filed
Exhibit Description by Reference to Herewith
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Exhibit 2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, X
dated as of April 6, 1998, by
and among Applied Power Inc.,
ZERO Corporation and STB
Acquisition Corporation
Exhibit 99 Press Release dated X
April 6, 1998
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EXHIBIT 2
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND AMONG
APPLIED POWER INC.
and
ZERO CORPORATION
and
STB ACQUISITION CORPORATION
DATED AS OF APRIL 6, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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RECITALS ...................................................................1
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS.......................................................1
1.1 Acquisition...................................................... 1
1.2 Affiliates....................................................... 2
1.3 Affiliate Letter................................................. 2
1.4 Agreement........................................................ 2
1.5 API.............................................................. 2
1.6 API Common Stock................................................. 2
1.7 API Companies.................................................... 2
1.8 API Material Adverse Effect...................................... 2
1.9 API Special Meeting.............................................. 2
1.10 API Stockholders................................................. 2
1.11 Certificate of Merger............................................ 2
1.12 Closing.......................................................... 2
1.13 Closing Date..................................................... 2
1.14 Code............................................................. 3
1.15 Confidentiality Agreements....................................... 3
1.16 DGCL............................................................. 3
1.17 Disclosure Schedule.............................................. 3
1.18 ERISA............................................................ 3
1.19 Exchange Act..................................................... 3
1.20 HSR Act.......................................................... 3
1.21 Knowledge of API................................................. 3
1.22 Knowledge of ZERO................................................ 3
1.23 Law.............................................................. 3
1.24 Merger........................................................... 3
1.25 Person........................................................... 4
1.26 Proxy Statement.................................................. 4
1.27 Registration Statement........................................... 4
1.28 SEC.............................................................. 4
1.29 Securities Act................................................... 4
1.30 Subsidiary....................................................... 4
1.31 ZERO............................................................. 4
1.32 ZERO Common Stock................................................ 4
1.33 ZERO Companies................................................... 4
1.34 ZERO Material Adverse Effect..................................... 4
1.35 ZERO Special Meeting............................................. 4
1.36 ZERO Stockholders................................................ 5
1.37 Other Terms...................................................... 5
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ARTICLE II THE MERGER...................................................... 6
2.1 The Merger...................................................... 6
2.2 Effective Time of Merger........................................ 6
2.3 Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation........... 6
2.4 Bylaws of Surviving Corporation................................. 6
2.5 Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation................. 6
2.6 Conversion of ZERO Common Stock................................. 6
2.7 Conversion of Acquisition Common Stock.......................... 7
2.8 Exchange of ZERO Certificates................................... 7
2.9 Stock Transfer Books............................................ 9
2.10 Reorganization; Pooling......................................... 10
2.11 No Dissenting Shares............................................ 10
2.12 ZERO Stock Options.............................................. 10
ARTICLE III OTHER AGREEMENTS.............................................. 11
3.1 Joint Proxy Statement and Registration Statement................ 11
3.2 Approval of Stockholders........................................ 11
3.3 HSR Act......................................................... 11
3.4 Access.......................................................... 12
3.5 Disclosure Schedule............................................. 12
3.6 Conditions to Merger............................................ 12
3.7 Deliveries of Information; Consultation......................... 13
3.8 Affiliates; Accounting and Tax Treatment........................ 13
3.9 Other Transactions.............................................. 14
3.10 Letter of ZERO's Accountants.................................... 16
3.11 Letter of API's Accountants..................................... 16
3.12 Stock Exchange Listing.......................................... 16
3.13 Public Announcements............................................ 16
3.14 Indemnification and Insurance................................... 17
3.15 Existing Plans.................................................. 18
3.16 Conduct of Business of API...................................... 18
3.17 Section 280G of the Code........................................ 19
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ZERO......................... 19
4.1 Organization; Business.......................................... 19
4.2 Capitalization.................................................. 19
4.3 Authorization; Enforceability................................... 20
4.4 No Violation or Conflict........................................ 20
4.5 Title to Assets................................................. 20
4.6 Litigation...................................................... 20
4.7 ZERO SEC Reports and Books and Records.......................... 21
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes...................................... 21
4.9 Existing Contracts.............................................. 21
4.10 Performance of Existing Contracts............................... 22
4.11 Insurance Policies.............................................. 22
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4.12 Employee Benefit Plans...........................................23
4.13 No Violation of Law..............................................24
4.14 Brokers..........................................................24
4.15 Taxes............................................................25
4.16 Governmental Approvals...........................................26
4.17 No Pending Other Transactions....................................26
4.18 Labor Matters....................................................26
4.19 Disclosure.......................................................26
4.20 Information Supplied.............................................26
4.21 Vote Required....................................................27
4.22 Accounting Matters...............................................27
4.23 Opinion of Financial Advisor.....................................27
4.24 Environmental Protection.........................................27
4.25 Year 2000 Compliance.............................................29
4.26 Continuing Directors.............................................29
4.27 Undisclosed Liabilities..........................................29
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF API AND ACQUISITION............29
5.1 Organization.....................................................29
5.2 Capitalization...................................................30
5.3 Authorization; Enforceability....................................30
5.4 No Violation or Conflict.........................................30
5.5 Litigation.......................................................31
5.6 API SEC Reports..................................................31
5.7 Brokers..........................................................31
5.8 Governmental Approvals...........................................32
5.9 Disclosure.......................................................32
5.10 Information Supplied.............................................32
5.11 Vote Required....................................................32
5.12 Accounting Matters...............................................32
5.13 Opinion of Financial Advisor.....................................32
5.14 No Related Persons...............................................33
5.15 Absence of Certain Changes.......................................33
5.16 Undisclosed Liabilities..........................................33
ARTICLE VI CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE ZERO COMPANIES PENDING THE
MERGER.................................................................33
6.1 Carry on in Regular Course.......................................33
6.2 Use of Assets....................................................33
6.3 No Default.......................................................33
6.4 Employment Matters...............................................33
6.5 Indebtedness.....................................................33
6.6 Preservation of Relationships....................................34
6.5 Compliance with Laws.............................................34
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6.8 Taxes............................................................34
6.9 Amendments.......................................................34
6.10 Dividends; Redemptions; Issuance of Stock........................34
6.11 No Dispositions or Acquisitions..................................34
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF API AND
ACQUISITION
7.1 Compliance with Agreement........................................35
7.2 No Litigation....................................................35
7.3 Representations and Warranties of ZERO...........................35
7.4 No ZERO Material Adverse Effect..................................35
7.5 Approval of ZERO Stockholders and API Stockholders;
Certificate of Merger............................................35
7.6 Closing Certificate..............................................35
7.7 Governmental Approvals...........................................36
7.8 Listing..........................................................36
7.9 Accountant Letter................................................36
7.10 Pooling Opinion..................................................36
7.11 Affiliate Letters................................................36
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF ZERO...............36
8.1 Compliance with Agreement........................................36
8.2 No Litigation....................................................37
8.3 Representations and Warranties of API and Acquisition............37
8.4 No API Material Adverse Effect...................................37
8.5 Approval of ZERO Stockholders and API Stockholders;
Certificate of Merger............................................37
8.6 Closing Certificate..............................................37
8.7 Governmental Approvals...........................................37
8.8 Listing..........................................................37
8.9 Tax Opinion......................................................38
8.10 Accountant Letter................................................38
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION; MISCELLANEOUS......................................38
9.1 Termination......................................................38
9.2 Rights on Termination; Waiver....................................39
9.3 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants............40
9.4 Entire Agreement; Amendment......................................40
9.5 Expenses.........................................................41
9.6 Governing Law....................................................41
9.7 Assignment.......................................................41
9.8 Notices..........................................................41
9.9 Counterparts; Headings...........................................42
9.10 Interpretation...................................................42
9.11 Severability.....................................................42
9.12 Specific Performance.............................................42
9.13 No Reliance......................................................43
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9.14 Exhibits and Disclosure Schedule..................................43
9.15 Further Assurances................................................43
SIGNATURES...................................................................44
EXHIBITS:
1A. Form of API Affiliate Letter
1B. Form of ZERO Affiliate Letter
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER is made as of this 6th day of April, 1998
by and among APPLIED POWER INC., ZERO CORPORATION and STB ACQUISITION
CORPORATION.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of API, ZERO and Acquisition
have: (a) determined that the merger of Acquisition with and into ZERO pursuant
to, and subject to all of the terms and conditions of, this Agreement is
advisable, fair and in the best interests of API, ZERO and Acquisition and their
respective shareholders; and (b) approved the Merger, this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of ZERO has directed that this Agreement
and the transactions described in this Agreement be submitted for approval at
the ZERO Special Meeting; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of API has directed that the issuance of
API Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions described in
this Agreement be submitted for approval at the API Special Meeting; and
WHEREAS, API, ZERO and Acquisition desire to make certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger; and
WHEREAS, API, ZERO and Acquisition intend, by executing this Agreement, to
adopt a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and
to cause the Merger to qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of
Sections 368(a) of the Code; and
WHEREAS, for financial accounting purposes, API, ZERO and Acquisition
intend that the Merger be accounted for as a pooling of interests.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Recitals and of the mutual
covenants, conditions and agreements set forth herein and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, it is hereby agreed that:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
When used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
specified:
1.1 Acquisition. "Acquisition" shall mean STB Acquisition Corporation, a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of API.
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1.2 Affiliates. "Affiliates" shall mean all Persons who are affiliates of
either ZERO or API for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act or
Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135 of the SEC, or both.
1.3 Affiliate Letter. "Affiliate Letter" shall mean a letter from each
Affiliate in substantially the form of Exhibit 1A attached to this Agreement for
Affiliates of API and Exhibit 1B for Affiliates of ZERO.
1.4 Agreement. "Agreement" shall mean this Agreement and Plan of Merger,
together with the Exhibits attached hereto and together with the Disclosure
Schedule, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the
terms hereof.
1.5 API. "API" shall mean Applied Power Inc., a Wisconsin corporation.
1.6 API Common Stock. "API Common Stock" shall mean shares of Class A
Common Stock, $.20 par value, of API.
1.7 API Companies. "API Companies" shall mean API and all Subsidiaries of
API.
1.8 API Material Adverse Effect. "API Material Adverse Effect" shall mean
any event, condition or fact which is, or reasonably may be expected to be,
materially adverse to the financial condition, properties, business, results of
operations or prospects of the API Companies taken as a whole, other than
events, conditions or facts arising out of general economic conditions unrelated
to the business in which any of the API Companies are engaged.
1.9 API Special Meeting. "API Special Meeting" shall mean a special
meeting of the API Stockholders for the purpose of approving the issuance of API
Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
1.10 API Stockholders. "API Stockholders" shall mean all Persons owning
shares of API Common Stock on the relevant date.
1.11 Certificate of Merger. "Certificate of Merger" shall mean a
Certificate of Merger in a form approved for filing in accordance with the DGCL.
1.12 Closing. "Closing" shall mean the conference to be held at 10:00
A.M., Central Time, on the Closing Date at the offices of Quarles & Brady, 411
East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53202, or such other time and place as the
parties may mutually agree to in writing, at which the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall be consummated.
1.13 Closing Date. "Closing Date" shall mean:
(a) that date which is two (2) business days after satisfaction or
waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article VII and Article VIII of
this Agreement; or
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(b) such other date as the parties may mutually agree to in writing.
1.14 Code. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be in
effect from time to time.
1.15 Confidentiality Agreements. "Confidentiality Agreements" shall mean
the two letter agreements between API and ZERO dated March 23, 1998.
1.16 DGCL. "DGCL" shall mean the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the
same shall be in effect from time to time.
1.17 Disclosure Schedule. "Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the Disclosure
Schedule dated the date of this Agreement delivered by ZERO to API
contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as the
same may be amended from time to time after the date of this Agreement and prior
to the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
1.18 ERISA. "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as the same may be in effect from time to time.
1.19 Exchange Act. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as the same may be in effect from time to time.
1.20 HSR Act. "HSR Act" shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as the same may be in effect from time to time.
1.21 Knowledge of API. "Knowledge of API" shall mean, for purposes of this
Agreement, when any fact or matter is stated to be "to the Knowledge of API" or
words of similar import, the actual knowledge of the existence or nonexistence
of such fact or matter, after reasonable inquiry of the executive officers of
API.
1.22 Knowledge of ZERO. "Knowledge of ZERO" shall mean, for purposes of
this Agreement, when any fact or matter is stated to be " to the Knowledge of
ZERO" or words of similar import, the actual knowledge of the existence or
nonexistence of such fact or matter, after reasonable inquiry, by the executive
officers of ZERO.
1.23 Law. "Law" shall mean any federal, state, local or other law, rule,
regulation or governmental requirement of any kind, and the rules, regulations
and orders promulgated thereunder by any regulatory agencies.
1.24 Merger. "Merger" shall mean the merger of Acquisition with and into
ZERO pursuant to this Agreement.
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1.25 Person. "Person" shall mean a natural person, corporation, trust,
partnership, limited liability company, governmental entity, agency or branch or
department thereof, or any other legal entity.
1.26 Proxy Statement. "Proxy Statement" shall mean the joint proxy
statement of API and ZERO to be filed with the SEC and to be distributed to the
ZERO Stockholders in connection with the ZERO Special Meeting and the approval
of the Merger by the ZERO Stockholders and to be distributed to the API
Stockholders in connection with the API Special Meeting, which shall also
constitute the prospectus of API filed as a part of the Registration Statement.
1.27 Registration Statement. "Registration Statement" shall mean a
registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed under the Securities Act by API
in connection with the Merger for purposes of registering the shares of API
Common Stock to be issued in the Merger pursuant to Article II of this
Agreement.
1.28 SEC. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.29 Securities Act. "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of
1933, as the same may be in effect from time to time.
1.30 Subsidiary. "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation, at least a
majority of the outstanding capital stock of which (of any class or classes,
however designated, having ordinary voting power for the election of at least a
majority of the board of directors of such corporation) shall at the time be
owned by the relevant Person directly or through one or more corporations which
are themselves Subsidiaries.
1.31 ZERO. "ZERO" shall mean ZERO Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
1.32 ZERO Common Stock. "ZERO Common Stock" shall mean all of the issued
and outstanding shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of ZERO.
1.33 ZERO Companies. "ZERO Companies" shall mean ZERO and all Subsidiaries
of ZERO.
1.34 ZERO Material Adverse Effect. "ZERO Material Adverse Effect" shall
mean any event, condition or fact which is, or reasonably may be expected to be,
materially adverse to the financial condition, properties, business, results of
operations or prospects of the ZERO Companies taken as a whole, other than
events, conditions or facts arising out of general economic conditions unrelated
to the business in which any of the ZERO Companies are engaged.
1.35 ZERO Special Meeting. "ZERO Special Meeting" shall mean a special
meeting of the ZERO Stockholders for the purpose of approving the Merger, this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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1.36 ZERO Stockholders. "ZERO Stockholders" shall mean all Persons owning
shares of ZERO Common Stock on the relevant date.
1.37 Other Terms. The following terms shall have the meanings specified in
the following noted Sections of this Agreement:
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TERM SECTION
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API SEC Reports 5.6
CERCLA 4.24
Effective Time of Merger 2.2
Employee Benefit Plans 4.12
Environmental Claim 4.24
Environmental Hazardous Material 4.24
Environmental Laws 4.24
Environmental Permits 4.24
Environmental Release 4.24
Exchange Agent 2.8
Exchange Fund 2.8
Exchange Ratio 2.6
Existing Contracts 4.9
Existing Liens 4.5
Existing Litigation 4.6
Existing Plans 4.12
Indebtedness 4.9
Indemnified Parties 3.14
Lien 4.5
Other Proposal 3.9
Other Transaction 3.9
Special Date 3.9
Special Event 3.9
Special Fee 3.9
Superior Proposal 3.9
Surviving Corporation 2.1
Year 2000 Compliant 4.25
ZERO Certificates 2.8
ZERO Options 2.12
ZERO Option Plans 2.12
ZERO SEC Reports 4.7
</TABLE>
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ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
2.1 The Merger. At the Effective Time of Merger and upon and subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Acquisition will be merged with and
into ZERO, which shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (the
"Surviving Corporation") and shall continue to be governed by the Laws of the
State of Delaware, and the separate existence of Acquisition shall thereupon
cease. The Merger shall be pursuant to the provisions of, and shall be with the
effects provided in, the DGCL.
2.2 Effective Time of Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, on the Closing Date, Acquisition and ZERO will cause the Certificate
of Merger to be executed, delivered and filed as provided in the DGCL. The
Merger shall become effective at the time of the filing of the Certificate of
Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State or at such later time as API and
ZERO may agree and as may be set forth in the Certificate of Merger. The date
and time on which the Merger shall become effective is referred to in this
Agreement as the "Effective Time of Merger".
2.3 Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation. The Certificate
of Incorporation of ZERO as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time of
Merger shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
until amended in accordance with Law.
2.4 Bylaws of Surviving Corporation. The Bylaws of ZERO as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time of Merger shall be the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with Law.
2.5 Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation. The duly qualified
and acting directors and officers of Acquisition immediately prior to the
Effective Time of Merger shall be the directors and officers of the Surviving
Corporation, to hold office as provided in the Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation.
2.6 Conversion of ZERO Common Stock.
(a) Conversion. At the Effective Time of Merger, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of Acquisition, ZERO, API or the
holders of ZERO Common Stock:
(i) Each share of ZERO Common Stock issued and outstanding at
the Effective Time of Merger shall be converted into 0.85 shares of API Common
Stock ("the Exchange Ratio") on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement subject to the provisions of Section 2.8(e) of this Agreement
concerning cash being paid for fractional shares.
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(ii) Any shares of ZERO Common Stock that are owned by any of
the ZERO Companies at the Effective Time of Merger shall be canceled and retired
and cease to exist and no API Common Stock or other consideration shall be
issued or delivered in exchange therefor.
(b) Adjustment. In the event that, prior to the Effective Time of
Merger, there is a reclassification, stock split or stock dividend with respect
to outstanding API Common Stock or outstanding ZERO Common Stock, appropriate
and proportionate adjustment, if any, shall be made to the Exchange Ratio.
2.7 Conversion of Acquisition Common Stock. At the Effective Time of
Merger, and without any action on the part of the holders of common stock of
Acquisition, each share of common stock of Acquisition issued and outstanding at
the Effective Time of Merger shall be converted into one (1) share of ZERO
Common Stock.
2.8 Exchange of ZERO Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. As of the Effective Time of Merger, API shall
deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with Firstar Trust Company, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, or such other bank or trust company designated by API and approved by
ZERO, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld (the "Exchange Agent"),
for the benefit of the holders of shares of ZERO Common Stock, for exchange in
accordance with this Article II of this Agreement through the Exchange Agent,
certificates representing the shares of API Common Stock (such certificates for
shares of API Common Stock, together with any dividends or distributions with
respect thereto and together with any cash for fractional share interests made
pursuant to Section 2.8(e) of this Agreement, being hereinafter referred to as
the "Exchange Fund") issuable pursuant to Section 2.6 of this Agreement in
exchange for outstanding shares of ZERO Common Stock.
(b) Exchange Procedures.
(i) At or promptly after the Effective Time of Merger, API
shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a certificate
or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time of Merger
represented outstanding shares of ZERO Common Stock (the "ZERO Certificates"):
(A) a letter of transmittal which shall be in such form and have such provisions
as API may reasonably specify; and (B) instructions to effect the surrender of
the ZERO Certificates in exchange for certificates representing shares of API
Common Stock.
(ii) Upon surrender of a ZERO Certificate for cancellation to
the Exchange Agent together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and
with such other documents as the Exchange Agent may reasonably require, the
holder of such ZERO Certificate shall be entitled to receive, and API shall
cause the Exchange Agent to promptly deliver in exchange therefor, a certificate
representing that number of whole shares of API Common Stock to which such
holder is entitled in respect of such ZERO Certificate pursuant to the
provisions of this Article II of this Agreement, plus any cash in lieu of any
fractional share interest in
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accordance with Section 2.8(e) of this Agreement, and the ZERO Certificate so
surrendered shall forthwith be canceled; provided, however, that fractional
share interests of any one holder shall be aggregated to maximize the number of
whole shares of API Common Stock to be issued and minimize the fractional
interests to be paid in cash as provided in Section 2.8(e) of this Agreement.
(iii) In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of ZERO
Common Stock which is not registered in the transfer records of ZERO, a
certificate representing the proper number of shares of API Common Stock, and
any cash in lieu of any fractional share interests in accordance with Section
2.8(e) of this Agreement, shall be delivered to the transferee if the ZERO
Certificate which represented such shares of ZERO Common Stock is presented to
the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect
such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been
paid.
(iv) Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.8 of
this Agreement, each ZERO Certificate shall be deemed at all times after the
Effective Time of Merger to represent only the right to receive upon surrender a
certificate representing shares of API Common Stock and cash in lieu of any
fractional share interest as contemplated by Section 2.8(e) of this Agreement.
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or
other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time of Merger with
respect to API Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time of
Merger shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered ZERO Certificate with
respect to the shares of API Common Stock represented thereby, and no cash
payment in lieu of a fractional share shall be paid to any such holder pursuant
to Section 2.8(e) of this Agreement, until the holder of such ZERO Certificate
has surrendered such ZERO Certificate to the Exchange Agent. Subject to the
effect of any applicable Law, following the surrender of any such ZERO
Certificate, there shall be paid to the holder of the certificate representing
whole shares of API Common Stock issued in exchange for the surrendered ZERO
Certificates, without interest: (i) promptly, the amount of any cash payable
with respect to a fractional share interest to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 2.8(e) of this Agreement and the amount of dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time of Merger
theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of API Common Stock; and (ii)
at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions
with a record date after the Effective Time of Merger but prior to surrender and
a payment date occurring after surrender payable with respect to such whole
shares of API Common Stock.
(d) No Further Rights in ZERO Common Stock. All shares of API Common
Stock issued upon conversion of the ZERO Common Stock in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement (and any cash paid pursuant to Section 2.8(e) of this
Agreement) shall be deemed to have been issued (and paid) in full satisfaction
of all rights pertaining to the ZERO Common Stock.
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(e) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of API Common Stock
shall be issued in the Merger. All fractional share interests of a holder of
more than one ZERO Certificate at the Effective Time of Merger shall be
aggregated. If a fractional share interest results after such aggregation, each
holder of a fractional share interest shall be paid an amount in cash equal to
the product obtained by multiplying such fractional share interest by the
average of the closing price per share of API Common Stock as reported on the
New York Stock Exchange - Composite Transactions on each of the ten (10)
consecutive trading days ending on and including the fifth (5th) trading day
immediately preceding the Closing Date. Promptly after the determination of the
amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional share interests, the
Exchange Agent shall notify API and API shall deliver such amounts to such
holders subject to and in accordance with the terms of Section 2.8(c) of this
Agreement.
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund
which remains undistributed to the ZERO Stockholders after twelve (12) months
after the Effective Time of Merger shall be delivered to API, upon demand, and
any ZERO Stockholders who have not theretofore complied with this Article II of
this Agreement shall thereafter look only to API for payment of their claim for
shares of API Common Stock, any cash in lieu of fractional share interests and
any dividends or distributions with respect to API Common Stock.
(g) No Liability. Neither the Exchange Agent nor any party to this
Agreement shall be liable to any ZERO Stockholder for any shares of ZERO Common
Stock or API Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto)
or cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any abandoned property,
escheat or similar Law.
(h) Withholding Rights. API shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any ZERO
Stockholder such amounts as API is required to deduct and withhold with respect
to the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of state, local
or foreign tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by API, such
withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having
been paid to the ZERO Stockholder in respect of which such deduction and
withholding was made by API.
(i) Book Entry. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the letter of transmittal referred to in Section 2.8(b) of this
Agreement may, at the option of API, provide for the ability of a holder of one
or more ZERO Certificates to elect that API Common Stock to be received in
exchange for the ZERO Common Stock formerly represented by such surrendered ZERO
Certificates be issued in uncertificated form.
2.9 Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time of Merger, the stock
transfer books of ZERO shall be closed and there shall be no further
registration of transfers of shares of ZERO Common Stock thereafter on the
records of ZERO. From and after the Effective Time of Merger, the holders of
ZERO Certificates outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of Merger
shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares of ZERO Common Stock
except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by Law.
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2.10 Reorganization; Pooling. The parties intend that this Agreement be a
plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and that
the Merger be a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code and
that the Merger qualify for pooling of interests accounting treatment.
2.11 No Dissenting Shares. The parties acknowledge that under the DGCL, the
ZERO Stockholders are not entitled to dissent from the Merger and are not
entitled to require appraisal of their ZERO Common Stock.
2.12 ZERO Stock Options.
(a) Conversion. At the Effective Time of Merger, each outstanding
option to purchase shares of ZERO Common Stock (a "ZERO Option") under ZERO's
1994 Stock Option Plan or ZERO's 1988 Stock Option Plan, each as amended (the
"ZERO Option Plans"), whether vested or unvested, shall be deemed to constitute
an option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under
such ZERO Option, the same number of shares of API Common Stock as the holder of
such ZERO Option would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger had
such holder exercised such option in full immediately prior to the Effective
Time of Merger (rounded down to the nearest whole number), at a price per share
(rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to: (i) the aggregate exercise
price for the shares of ZERO Common Stock otherwise purchasable pursuant to such
ZERO Option; divided by (ii) the number of full shares of API Common Stock
deemed purchasable pursuant to such ZERO Option in accordance with the
foregoing; provided, however, that in the case of any ZERO Option which is
intended to be an "incentive stock option" (as defined in Section 422 of the
Code), the option price, the number of shares purchasable pursuant to such
option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such option shall be
determined in accordance with the foregoing, subject to such adjustments as are
necessary in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. At
or prior to the Effective Time of Merger, ZERO shall make all necessary
arrangements to permit the assumption of the unexercised ZERO Options by API
pursuant to this Section.
(b) Assumption. Effective at the Effective Time of Merger, API shall
assume each ZERO Option in accordance with the terms of the ZERO Option Plan
under which it was issued and all of the terms and conditions of the stock
option agreement by which it is evidenced. At or prior to the Effective Time of
Merger, API shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a
sufficient number of shares of API Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of
ZERO Options assumed by it in accordance with this Section 2.12 of this
Agreement. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time of Merger, API shall
file a registration statement (or a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement) on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate form) with respect
to the API Common Stock subject to such ZERO Options, and shall use its best
efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement (and
maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses relating thereto)
for so long as such ZERO Options remain outstanding.
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ARTICLE III
OTHER AGREEMENTS
3.1 Joint Proxy Statement and Registration Statement. API and ZERO will
prepare and file with the SEC the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement
as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement. API and ZERO
shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after
such filing. API and ZERO shall also take such action as may be reasonably
required to cause the shares of API Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Merger
to be registered or to obtain an exemption from registration or qualification
under applicable state "blue sky" or securities Laws; provided, however, that
API shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file any
general consent to service of process under the Laws of any jurisdiction or to
comply with any other requirements deemed by API to be unduly burdensome. Each
party to this Agreement will furnish to the other parties all information
concerning itself as each such other party or its counsel may reasonably request
and which is required or customary for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and the
Registration Statement.
3.2 Approval of Stockholders.
(a) ZERO Stockholders. ZERO shall, as soon as reasonably practicable:
(i) take all steps necessary duly to call, give notice of, convene and hold the
ZERO Special Meeting; (ii) distribute the Proxy Statement, which shall also
constitute the prospectus of API included in the Registration Statement, to the
ZERO Stockholders in accordance with applicable Federal and state Law and its
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; (iii) subject to the provisions of
Section 3.9 of this Agreement, recommend to the ZERO Stockholders the approval
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such
other matters as may be submitted to the ZERO Stockholders in connection with
this Agreement; and (iv) cooperate and consult with API with respect to each of
the foregoing matters.
(b) API Stockholders. API shall, as soon as reasonably practicable:
(i) take all steps necessary duly to call, give notice of, convene and hold the
API Special Meeting; (ii) distribute the Proxy Statement to the API Stockholders
in accordance with applicable Federal and state Law and its Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws; (iii) recommend to the API Stockholders the approval
of the issuance of API Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such other matters as may be
submitted to the API Stockholders in connection with this Agreement; and (iv)
cooperate and consult with ZERO with respect to each of the foregoing matters.
(c) Meeting Dates. The ZERO Special Meeting and the API Special
Meeting shall be held on such dates as are mutually determined by ZERO and API.
3.3 HSR Act. Each party shall: (a) file or cause to be filed with the
Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice any notifications
required to be filed under the HSR
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Act; and (b) use reasonable best efforts to make such filings promptly and to
respond promptly to any request for additional information made by either of
such agencies.
3.4 Access.
(a) Access to ZERO Companies. Upon reasonable notice, ZERO shall, and
shall cause the other ZERO Companies to, afford to the officers, employees,
investment bankers, agents, accountants, attorneys and representatives of API
full access to all of its books, records, financial information, facilities, key
personnel and other documents and materials; provided that such access shall be
upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours of the ZERO Companies.
(b) Access to API Companies. Upon reasonable notice, API shall, and
shall cause the other API Companies to, afford to the officers, employees,
investment bankers, agents, accountants, attorneys and representatives of ZERO
full access to all of its books, records, financial information, facilities, key
personnel and other documents and materials; provided that such access shall be
upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours of the API Companies.
(c) Confidentiality Agreements. ZERO and API agree that the
provisions of the Confidentiality Agreements shall remain in full force and
effect; provided that at the Effective Time of Merger, the Confidentiality
Agreements shall be deemed to have terminated without further action by the
parties.
3.5 Disclosure Schedule. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, ZERO is delivering to API the Disclosure Schedule. The
Disclosure Schedule is deemed to constitute an integral part of this Agreement
and to modify the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of ZERO
contained in this Agreement to the extent that such representations warranties,
covenants or agreements expressly refer to the Disclosure Schedule.
3.6 Conditions to Merger. Each party to this Agreement shall use
reasonable best efforts to: (a) to the extent within its control, cause all of
its representations and warranties contained in this Agreement to be true and
correct in all respects on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if
such representations and warranties had been made on the Closing Date; (b) take
all reasonable actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements
which may be imposed on it with respect to the Merger (including making all
filings and requests in connection with approvals of or filings with any
governmental entity as described in Sections 7.7 and 8.7 of this Agreement and
furnishing all information required in connection therewith); (c) promptly
cooperate with and furnish information to the other parties in connection with
any such requirements imposed upon any of them in connection with the Merger;
(d) contest any legal proceedings seeking to restrain, enjoin or frustrate the
Merger, subject, in the case of ZERO, to the provisions of Section 3.9(c) of
this Agreement concerning Superior Proposals; (e) execute any additional
documents or instruments and take any additional actions reasonably necessary or
appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
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Agreement; and (f) take all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and
cooperate with the other parties in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order
or approval of, or any exemption by, any governmental entity or other public or
private Person, required to be obtained or made by the parties to this Agreement
in connection with the Merger or the taking of any action contemplated thereby
or by this Agreement.
3.7 Deliveries of Information; Consultation. From time to time prior to
the Effective Time of Merger:
(a) Deliveries by ZERO. ZERO shall furnish promptly to API: (i) a
copy of each report, schedule and other document filed by ZERO with the SEC
pursuant to the requirements of federal securities Laws promptly after such
documents are available; (ii) the monthly consolidated financial statements of
the ZERO Companies (as prepared by ZERO in accordance with its normal accounting
procedures) promptly after such financial statements are available; (iii) a
summary of any action taken by the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof,
of ZERO; and (iv) all other information concerning the business and properties
of any of the ZERO Companies as API may reasonably request.
(b) Deliveries by API. API shall promptly furnish to ZERO: (i) a copy
of each report, schedule and other document filed by API with the SEC pursuant
to the requirements of federal securities Laws promptly after such documents are
available; (ii) the monthly consolidated financial statements of the API
Companies (as prepared by API in accordance with its normal accounting
procedures) promptly after such financial statements are available; and (iii)
all other information concerning the business and properties of any of the API
Companies as ZERO may reasonably request.
(c) Consultation. ZERO shall, and shall cause the other ZERO
Companies to, confer and consult with representatives of the API Companies on a
regular basis to report on operational matters and the general status of ongoing
business operations of the ZERO Companies.
(d) Litigation. Each party to this Agreement shall provide prompt
notice to the other parties of any known litigation, arbitration, proceeding,
governmental investigation, citation or action of any kind which may be
commenced, threatened or proposed by any Person concerning the legality,
validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If any
such litigation is commenced against any party to this Agreement, the parties
shall cooperate in all respects in connection with such litigation and API shall
have the right to assume the defense thereof at its cost and expense and, if API
does assume such defense, it shall confer regularly with ZERO and shall not
settle any such litigation without the prior consent of ZERO, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
3.8 Affiliates; Accounting and Tax Treatment. Within 30 days after the
date of this Agreement, ZERO shall identify in a letter to API, and API shall
identify in a letter to ZERO, all Persons who are and, to such party's knowledge
who will be at the Closing Date, Affiliates of ZERO and API, respectively. Each
of ZERO and API shall advise their respective Affiliates of
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the resale restrictions imposed by applicable securities Laws and required to
cause the Merger to qualify for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment, and
shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain from each of their respective
Affiliates an executed Affiliate Letter and shall obtain an executed Affiliate
Letter from any Person who becomes an Affiliate of that Person after the date of
this Agreement and on or prior to the Effective Time of Merger. ZERO and API
will each use its respective reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to
qualify for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment and as a reorganization
under Section 368(a) of the Code.
3.9 Other Transactions.
(a) Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the meanings specified:
(i) "Other Transaction" shall mean any of the following on or
prior to the Special Date, other than the Merger as contemplated by this
Agreement: (A) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, exchange of securities,
reorganization, business combination or other similar transaction involving
ZERO; (B) a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or a significant
portion of the total assets of the ZERO Companies, taken as a whole, in a single
transaction or series of related transactions; (C) a sale of, or tender offer or
exchange offer for, or acquisition by any Person or group of beneficial owners
of, 20% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of ZERO in a single
transaction or series of related transactions; or (D) a public announcement of a
proposal, plan, intention or agreement to do any of the foregoing.
(ii) "Other Proposal" shall mean any request for information,
expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer relating in any manner to an
Other Transaction.
(iii) "Special Date" shall mean that date which is one year
after the date of termination of this Agreement, provided that such termination
is pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (v) or (vi) of Section 9.1(c) of this
Agreement or clause (v) of 9.1(d) of this Agreement.
(iv) "Special Event" shall mean any of the following to occur
on or prior to the Special Date: (A) a Person unrelated to API has consummated
an Other Transaction, or has publicly announced or proposed an Other Transaction
and subsequently consummates such Other Transaction after the Special Date (in
which event a Special Event for such Other Transaction shall be deemed to have
occurred at the earlier of the events specified in clauses (B) or (C) of this
Section 3.9(a)(iv) of this Agreement with reference to such Other Transaction);
or (B) ZERO has entered into an agreement with respect to an Other Transaction;
or (C) ZERO shall have terminated this Agreement for the purpose of pursuing an
Other Proposal or Other Transaction.
(v) "Superior Proposal" shall mean a written bona fide
unsolicited Other Proposal by any Person (other than API) which the Board of
Directors of ZERO determines in good faith, and in the exercise of reasonable
judgment (based, among other factors, on the opinion, with only customary
qualifications, of its independent financial advisors) to be
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more favorable to the ZERO Stockholders than the Merger from a financial point
of view, which proposal is capable of being consummated without undue delay.
(b) Termination of Discussions. ZERO shall immediately cease and
cause to be terminated all existing discussions and negotiations, if any, with
any parties conducted prior to the date of this Agreement with respect to any
Other Transaction, except that ZERO may notify such other parties that the
discussions and negotiations are terminated.
(c) Non Solicitation. Except as expressly permitted by this Section
3.9(c) of this Agreement, ZERO shall not, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries
or officers, directors, employees, agents or other representatives of any of the
ZERO Companies (including, without limitation, any investment banker, attorney
or accountant retained or engaged by any of the ZERO Companies) to solicit,
initiate, facilitate, encourage, negotiate with respect to, discuss or agree to,
any Other Proposal or any Other Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i)
the Board of Directors of ZERO may furnish information about the ZERO Companies
to the Person making a Superior Proposal pursuant to a confidentiality agreement
in customary form and may participate in discussions and negotiations regarding
such Superior Proposal if the Board of Directors of ZERO determines to do so in
good faith, upon the advice of outside legal counsel that such action is
required by its fiduciary duties under applicable Law; and (ii) ZERO will be
permitted to take and disclose to ZERO Stockholders a position contemplated by
Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act with respect to an Other
Proposal by means of a tender offer. If ZERO receives an Other Proposal that is
not a Superior Proposal and such Other Proposal becomes public information, ZERO
shall use reasonable best efforts to resist such Other Proposal, including
taking all appropriate steps to have the ZERO Board of Directors approve
defensive measures, including, but not limited to a shareholders rights plan.
ZERO shall notify API orally and in writing within twenty-four (24) hours
following receipt by ZERO of any Other Proposal, including the terms and
conditions of any such Other Proposal and the Person making such Other Proposal
and shall keep API fully informed of the status and developments and information
regarding the Other Proposal.
(d) Termination. ZERO may, by notice to API at any time prior to the
Effective Time of Merger, terminate this Agreement if ZERO enters into, executes
or agrees to an Other Transaction following a good faith determination by the
Board of Directors of ZERO (after compliance by ZERO with the provisions of
Section 3.9(c) of this Agreement) based upon the advice of outside legal
counsel, that such action is required by its fiduciary duties under applicable
Law.
(e) Special Fee. In order to induce API to enter into this Agreement
and to compensate API for the time and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the Merger and the losses suffered by API from foregone
opportunities, ZERO shall pay a "Special Fee" equal to $15,000,000 to API in
immediately available funds within five (5) business days after the occurrence
of a Special Event. If ZERO fails to pay the Special Fee when due: (i) the
unpaid portion of the Special Fee (including accrued interest thereon) shall
accrue interest at the annual rate of 12%, compounding monthly, from the date
the Special Fee was due until the date the Special Fee and all accrued interest
thereon is paid in full; and (ii) ZERO shall pay all costs
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and expense of API (including the fees and expenses of attorneys and other
advisors) in connection with any action (including the filing of any lawsuit or
other legal action) taken by API to collect payment of the Special Fee and
accrued interest thereon. The agreements contained in this Section 3.9 (e) of
this Agreement are an integral part of this Agreement and constitute liquidated
damages and not a penalty.
3.10 Letter of ZERO's Accountants. ZERO shall use reasonable best efforts
to cause to be delivered a letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP, ZERO's independent
auditors, dated within two business days before the effective date of the
Registration Statement and addressed to ZERO and API, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to API and customary in scope and substance for cold
comfort letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with
registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.
3.11 Letter of API's Accountants. API shall use reasonable best efforts to
cause to be delivered a letter of Coopers & Lybrand LLP, API's independent
auditors, dated within two business days before the effective date of the
Registration Statement and addressed to API and ZERO, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to ZERO and customary in scope and substance for cold
comfort letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with
registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.
3.12 Stock Exchange Listing. API shall use reasonable best efforts to
cause the shares of API Common Stock to be issued or reserved for issuance
pursuant to this Agreement to be approved for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
3.13 Public Announcements. Subject to each party's disclosure obligations
imposed by Law, ZERO, Acquisition and API will cooperate with each other in the
development and distribution of all news releases and other public information
disclosures with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby and, except as may be required by Law, shall not issue any
public announcement or statement with respect thereto prior to consultation with
the other parties.
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3.14 Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Indemnification. From and after the Effective Time of Merger, API
shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable Law (and API shall also advance expenses as incurred to the fullest
extent permitted under applicable Law, provided the Person to whom expenses are
advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately
determined that said Person is not entitled to indemnification), each present
and former employee, agent, director or officer of any of the ZERO Companies and
the heirs, successors and assigns of such Persons (the "Indemnified Parties")
against any amounts incurred by such Indemnified Parties, including without
limitation, losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including
reasonable attorneys fees incurred in defense or otherwise), judgments and
amounts paid in settlement, in connection with any claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation arising out of or relating to the transactions
described in this Agreement or which arise out of or relate to an Indemnified
Party having served as a committee member, director, officer, employee or agent
of any of the ZERO Companies, or as a trustee or fiduciary of any Employee
Benefit Plans or otherwise on behalf of any of the ZERO Companies, whether
asserted or commenced prior to or after the Effective Time of Merger.
(b) Insurance. For at least six (6) years from and after the
Effective Time of Merger, API shall maintain, or shall cause to be maintained,
in effect directors and officers insurance covering those Persons covered by
ZERO's directors and officers insurance as of the date of this Agreement. This
directors and officers insurance shall be not less in terms of coverage and
amount as the insurance that ZERO has in effect covering such officers and
directors on the date of this Agreement.
(c) Notice; Procedure. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim
Indemnification under Section 3.14(a) of this Agreement, upon learning of any
such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall promptly notify API
thereof, but the failure to so notify shall not relieve API of any liability it
may have to such Indemnified Party if such failure does not materially prejudice
API. In the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation
(whether arising before or after the Effective Time of Merger): (i) API shall
have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably acceptable
to the Indemnified Party and API shall not be liable to any Indemnified Party
for any legal expenses of other counsel thereafter incurred in connection with
the defense thereof; (ii) the Indemnified Party will cooperate in all respects
as reasonably requested by API in the defense of any such matter, and in
connection therewith shall be entitled to reimbursement by API of expenses
incurred in connection therewith; and (iii) API shall not be liable for any
settlement effected without its prior written consent, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that API shall not have
any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party if a court shall ultimately
determine, and such determination shall have become final and nonappealable,
that the indemnification of such Indemnified Party in the matter contemplated
hereby is prohibited by Law. If such indemnity is not available with respect to
any Indemnified Party, API and the Indemnified Party shall contribute to the
amount payable in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect relative faults
and benefits.
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(d) Indemnified Parties. The provisions of this Section 3.14 are
intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the
Indemnified Parties and their respective heirs and estates. Nothing in this
Section 3.14 shall limit in any way any other rights to indemnification that any
current or former director or officer of any of the ZERO Companies may have by
contract or otherwise.
(e) Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws. From and after the
Effective Time, ZERO shall fulfill, assume and honor in all respects the
obligations of ZERO pursuant to ZERO's Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws, and
any indemnification agreement between ZERO and any of ZERO's directors and
officers existing and in force as of the date of this Agreement. ZERO agrees
that the indemnification obligations set forth in ZERO's Certificate of
Incorporation and bylaws, in each case as of the date of this Agreement, shall
survive the Merger with respect to any matter which is based in whole or in part
on or arises in whole or in part out of the fact that an individual is or was a
director or officer of any of the ZERO Companies prior to the Effective Time of
Merger.
(f) Successors. If ZERO or any of its successors or assigns: (i)
shall consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall
not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation
or merger; or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its properties and
assets to any individual, corporation or other entity, then, and in each such
case, proper provisions shall be made so that the respective successors and
assigns of ZERO shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section
3.14.
3.15 Existing Plans. API understands and agrees that: (a) except as
described in Sections 3.15(b) and 3.15(c) of this Agreement, all Existing Plans
or plans substantially comparable in the aggregate shall be maintained for
individuals who are employees and former employees of ZERO as of the Closing
Date for a period of at least one year from the Closing Date on terms at least
as favorable (in the aggregate) as those in effect on the Closing Date; (b)
ZERO's Deferred Compensation Plan of 1994 including any related funding
arrangements (including without limitation any rabbi trusts and any amounts
credited to such plan pursuant to ZERO's pension and stock restoration plans)
shall actually be maintained and administered in accordance with their terms
from and after the Closing Date and the affected participants and beneficiaries
shall be considered third party beneficiaries of this Section 3.15(b); and (c)
ZERO's Joint Life Insurance Plan of 1989 and Joint Life Insurance Plan of 1994
and any and all related funding arrangements including but not limited to rabbi
trusts shall remain in effect upon and after the Closing Date and shall be
administered in accordance with their respective terms and shall not be
terminated or modified in any way without the consent of affected participants
or beneficiaries and such participants and beneficiaries shall be considered
third party beneficiaries of this Section 3.15(c).
3.16 Conduct of Business of API. From and after the date of this Agreement
and until the Effective Time of Merger, API shall, and shall cause the other API
Companies to, diligently carry on its business only in the regular course and in
substantially the same manner as heretofore, provided that acquisitions by any
of the API Companies of business enterprises
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engaged in businesses consistent with the businesses of API Companies shall be
permitted under this Section 3.16 of this Agreement.
3.17 Section 280G of the Code. From and after the Effective Time of Merger,
API will cooperate in taking any actions with respect to those employees of the
ZERO Companies with written employment agreements so as to avoid any payments
due pursuant to such agreements becoming "excess parachute payments" within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code provided that such cooperation shall not
include any increase in the obligations of any of the API Companies or any of
the ZERO Companies pursuant to such employment agreements or otherwise.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ZERO
ZERO hereby represents and warrants to API and Acquisition that, except as
set forth in the relevant section of the Disclosure Schedule:
4.1 Organization; Business.
(a) Organization. Each of the ZERO Companies is a corporation duly and
validly organized and existing and in good standing under the Laws of its
respective jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of the ZERO Companies is
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in all
other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
its business requires qualification as a foreign corporation by it, except where
the failure to so qualify would not have a ZERO Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Corporate Power and Authority. Each of the ZERO Companies has: (a)
full corporate power and authority necessary to carry on its business as it is
now conducted and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties; and (b)
all material franchises, permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations and
registrations necessary to carry on its business as it is now conducted and to
own, lease and operate its assets and properties, except where the absence of
any such franchises, permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations or
registrations would not have a ZERO Material Adverse Effect.
4.2 Capitalization.
(a) Capitalization of ZERO. The entire authorized capital stock of
ZERO consists of: (i) 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of
which 12,417,292.2641 shares were issued and outstanding on April 3, 1998, and
4,194,921.7359 shares are held in treasury by ZERO, including 141,902 shares
which are held by one of the Subsidiaries of ZERO; and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, none of which are issued and outstanding.
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(b) Outstanding Capital Stock. All of the outstanding capital stock of
each of the ZERO Companies is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, there are no
options, warrants, conversion rights or other rights to subscribe for or
purchase, or other contracts with respect to, any capital stock of any of the
ZERO Companies.
4.3 Authorization; Enforceability. The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by ZERO and all of the documents and instruments required by
this Agreement to be executed and delivered by ZERO are within the corporate
power of ZERO and: (a) have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of
ZERO; and (b) upon the approval of the ZERO Stockholders, shall be duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action by ZERO. This Agreement is, and the
other documents and instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and
delivered by ZERO will be, when executed and delivered by ZERO, the valid and
binding obligations of ZERO, enforceable against ZERO in accordance with their
respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws generally
affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles.
4.4 No Violation or Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the approvals and
consents described in Section 8.7 of this Agreement or as set forth in the
Disclosure Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by ZERO do not and will not conflict with or violate: (a) any Law or the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of any of the ZERO Companies; or (b) any
Existing Contract, except where such conflict or violation would not have a ZERO
Material Adverse Effect.
4.5 Title to Assets. Each of the ZERO Companies owns good and valid title
to the assets and properties which it owns or purports to own, free and clear of
any and all Liens affecting material assets and properties of the ZERO
Companies, except those Liens identified on the Disclosure Schedule as "Existing
Liens" and Liens for taxes not yet due and payable and such other Liens or minor
imperfections of title, if any, which do not materially detract from the value
or interfere with the present use of the affected asset or which individually or
in the aggregate would not have a ZERO Material Adverse Effect. As used in this
Agreement, the term "Lien" shall mean, with respect to any asset: (a) any
mortgage, pledge, lien, covenant, lease or security interest; and (b) the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, financing
lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.
4.6 Litigation. Except for the litigation identified on the Disclosure
Schedule as "Existing Litigation": (a) there is no litigation, arbitration,
proceeding, governmental investigation, citation or action of any kind pending
or, to the Knowledge of ZERO, proposed or threatened, against or relating to any
of the ZERO Companies involving, in each case, an amount in excess of $200,000;
and (b) there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge
of ZERO, proposed or threatened, against any of the ZERO Companies by any Person
which question the legality, validity or propriety of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
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4.7 ZERO SEC Reports and Books and Records.
(a) Definition. As used in this Agreement, "ZERO SEC Reports" shall
mean all reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements,
prospectuses and amendments thereto filed by ZERO with the SEC since January 1,
1994 or filed by ZERO with the SEC after the date of this Agreement and prior to
the Effective Time of Merger.
(b) ZERO SEC Reports. The ZERO SEC Reports: (i) complied or will
comply, as the case may be, in all material respects with the then applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC issued thereunder; and (ii) did not or will
not, as the case may be, contain as of their respective filing dates any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) Financial Statements. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of ZERO
included in the ZERO SEC Reports have been or will be, as the case may be,
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto
and except with respect to unaudited interim statements as permitted by Form 10-
Q of the SEC) and fairly present the consolidated financial position of the ZERO
Companies as of the dates thereof and the results of their operations and
changes in financial position for the periods then ended, subject, in the case
of the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, to normal year-end
and audit adjustments and any other adjustments described therein.
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in the Disclosure
Schedule or in the ZERO SEC Reports, since March 31, 1997 there has not been
any:
(a) ZERO Material Adverse Effect;
(b) transactions by any of the ZERO Companies outside the ordinary
course of business, except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
or
(c) declaration or payment or setting aside the payment of any
dividend or any distribution in respect of the capital stock of ZERO (except for
regular quarterly cash dividends on outstanding shares of ZERO Common Stock
which have been publicly announced by ZERO) or any direct or indirect
redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any such stock by any of the ZERO
Companies.
4.9 Existing Contracts. The contracts identified on the Disclosure Schedule
as the "Existing Contracts" or which are described in the ZERO SEC Reports are
the only contracts to which any of the ZERO Companies is a party or by which any
of the ZERO Companies is bound and which constitute:
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(a) to the Knowledge of ZERO, a lease of, or agreement to purchase or
sell, any capital assets involving an amount in excess of $1,000,000;
(b) any union labor contracts;
(c) any management or employment contract which: (i) is in writing; or
(ii) creates other than an at-will employment relationship;
(d) any agreements or notes evidencing any Indebtedness; as used in
this Agreement, the term "Indebtedness" shall mean any liability or obligation
of any of the ZERO Companies, whether primary or secondary or absolute or
contingent: (i) for borrowed money; or (ii) evidenced by notes, bonds,
debentures or similar instruments;
(e) an agreement by any of the ZERO Companies which currently
restricts its ability to compete in any business or in any geographical area;
(f) an agreement restricting the right of any of the ZERO Companies to
use or disclose any information in its possession, other than confidentiality
agreements relating to potential acquisitions by any of the ZERO Companies;
(g) any written agreement with any Affiliate of ZERO involving
payments in excess of $100,000; or
(h) to the Knowledge of ZERO, any other agreement which: (i) involves
an amount in excess of $1,000,000; or (ii) is not in the ordinary course of
business.
4.10 Performance of Existing Contracts. Each of the ZERO Companies has
performed in all material respects each material term, covenant and condition of
each Existing Contract which is to be performed by it at or before the date
hereof. Each of the Existing Contracts is in full force and effect and
constitutes the legal and binding obligation of the relevant ZERO Company and,
to the Knowledge of ZERO, constitutes the legal and binding obligation of the
other parties thereto.
4.11 Insurance Policies. The ZERO Companies currently maintain valid
insurance as is reasonably prudent for the ZERO Companies and their businesses.
No property damage, personal injury or liability claims have been made, or are
pending, against any of the ZERO Companies that are not covered by insurance.
Within the past two (2) years, no insurance company has canceled any insurance
(of any type) maintained by any of the ZERO Companies.
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4.12 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Definition. As used in this Agreement, the term "Employee Benefit
Plans" shall mean any pension plan, profit sharing plan, bonus plan, incentive
compensation plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, stock option plan,
stock appreciation plan, employee welfare plan, retirement plan, deferred
compensation plan, fringe benefit program, insurance plan, severance plan,
disability plan, health care plan, sick leave plan, death benefit plan, defined
contribution plan, or any other plan or program to provide retirement income,
fringe benefits or other benefits to former or current employees of any of the
ZERO Companies.
(b) Existing Plans. Except for the Employee Benefit Plans of the ZERO
Companies identified as the "Existing Plans" on the Disclosure Schedule, none of
the ZERO Companies maintain, nor is bound by, any Employee Benefit Plan. All of
the Existing Plans are, to the extent applicable, in compliance in all material
respects with ERISA, the Code and all other applicable Laws. All of the Existing
Plans which are intended to meet the requirements of Section 401(a) or 403(a) of
the Code have been determined to be "qualified" within the meaning of the Code,
and, to the Knowledge of ZERO, there are no facts which would adversely affect
the qualified status of any of such Existing Plans. Each Existing Plan has been
administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and is in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws. Any Employee
Benefit Plan that is not an Existing Plan that has been terminated was done so
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws, and, to the
Knowledge of ZERO, there is no basis for further liability or obligation of any
ZERO Company pursuant to any past Employee Benefit Plan.
(c) Certain Matters. With respect to each Existing Plan which is
subject to either Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, there is no
amount of unfunded benefit liabilities as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of
ERISA, there has occurred no failure to meet the minimum funding standards of
Section 412 of the Code, there is no "accumulated funding deficiency" within the
meaning of Section 412 of the Code, no such Existing Plan has terminated or has
filed a Notice of Intent to terminate, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
has not instituted proceedings to terminate any such Existing Plan and there is
no outstanding liability under Section 4062 of ERISA.
(d) Prohibited Transactions; Reportable Events. To the Knowledge of
ZERO, no prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code
or Section 406 of ERISA or reportable event as described in Section 4043 of
ERISA has occurred with respect to any of the Existing Plans.
(e) Multiemployer Plans. None of the ZERO Companies is contributing
to, nor has any of the ZERO Companies contributed to since September 2, 1974,
any "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
(f) Claims. There are no pending, or to the Knowledge of ZERO,
threatened claims with respect to any of the Existing Plans, other than claims
for benefits arising in the ordinary course of business.
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(g) Welfare Benefits. Except as set forth on the Disclosure Schedule,
neither any ZERO Company nor any Existing Plan provides or has any obligation to
provide (or contribute to the cost of) post-retirement (or post-termination of
service) welfare benefits with respect to current or former employees of any
ZERO Company, including without limitation post-retirement medical, dental, life
insurance, severance or any similar benefit, whether provided on an insured or
self-insured basis.
(h) Welfare Plans. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
each Existing Plan that is an "employee welfare benefit plan" as defined in
ERISA may be amended or terminated at any time after the Effective Time of
Merger without liability to any ZERO Company.
(i) COBRA. With respect to each Existing Plan, each ZERO Company has
complied in all material respects with the applicable health care continuation
and notice provisions of the Consolidation Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985 and the proposed regulations thereunder, and the applicable requirements of
the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the regulations thereunder.
(j) The Merger. The Merger and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not entitle any current or former employee
of any ZERO Company to severance benefits or any other payment, except as set
forth in the Disclosure Schedule, or accelerate the time of paying or vesting,
or increase the amount of compensation due any such employee.
(k) Copies. Correct and complete copies of all Existing Plans,
together with recent summary plan descriptions, have been delivered by ZERO to
API.
4.13 No Violation of Law. To the Knowledge of ZERO, neither any of the ZERO
Companies nor any of the assets of any of the ZERO Companies violate or conflict
in any material respect with any Law.
4.14 Brokers. Except for fees to Salomon Smith Barney, none of the ZERO
Companies has incurred any brokers', finders' or any similar fee in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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4.15 Taxes.
(a) Tax Returns. Each of the ZERO Companies has timely and properly
filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns (including but not
limited to income, business, franchise, sales, payroll, employee withholding and
social security and unemployment) which were required to be filed. Each of the
ZERO Companies has paid or made adequate provision, in reserves reflected in its
financial statements included in the ZERO SEC Reports in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, for the payment of all taxes
(including interest and penalties) and withholding amounts owed by it or
assessable against it. No material tax deficiencies have been proposed or
assessed against any of the ZERO Companies and there is no basis in fact for the
assessment of any tax or penalty tax against any of the ZERO Companies. No issue
has been raised in any prior tax audit (except for allocations of income among
states) which, by application of the same or similar principles, could
reasonably be expected upon a future tax audit to result in a proposed material
deficiency for any period.
(b) Extensions. None of the ZERO Companies has consented to any
extension of the statute of limitation with respect to any open federal tax
returns.
(c) Tax Liens. There are no tax Liens upon any property or assets of
any of the ZERO Companies except for Liens for current taxes not yet due and
payable.
(d) Delivery of Tax Returns. ZERO has made available, and will deliver
upon request, to API correct and complete copies of all tax returns and reports
of each of the ZERO Companies filed for all periods not barred by the applicable
statute of limitations. No examination or audit of any tax return or report for
any period not barred by the applicable statute of limitations has occurred, no
such examination is in progress and, to the Knowledge of ZERO, no such
examination or audit is planned.
(e) Employment Taxes. Each of the ZERO Companies has properly withheld
and timely paid all withholding and employment taxes which it was required to
withhold and pay relating to salaries, compensation and other amounts heretofore
paid to its employees or other Persons. All Forms W-2 and 1099 required to be
filed with respect thereto have been timely and properly filed.
(f) Tax Sharing Agreements. None of the ZERO Companies is a party to
any agreement relating to allocating or sharing any taxes.
(g) Excess Parachute Payments. None of the ZERO Companies is a party
to any contract that could result, on account of the Merger, separately or in
the aggregate, in the payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(h) Liabilities of Other Persons. None of the ZERO Companies has any
liability for taxes of any kind of any Person other than the ZERO Companies
under any contract or under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of Law) as a transferee or successor or otherwise.
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4.16 Governmental Approvals. No permission, approval, determination,
consent or waiver by, or any declaration, filing or registration with, any
governmental or regulatory authority is required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by ZERO and the
consummation of the Merger, except for: (a) the approvals described in Section
8.7 of this Agreement; and (b) the filing of the Certificate of Merger as
described in this Agreement.
4.17 No Pending Other Transactions. Except for this Agreement, none of the
ZERO Companies is a party to or bound by any agreement, undertaking or
commitment with respect to an Other Transaction.
4.18 Labor Matters.
(a) Employee Claims. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule,
there are no pending and unresolved material claims by any Person against any of
the ZERO Companies arising out of any statute, ordinance or regulation relating
to discrimination against employees or employee practices or occupational or
safety and health standards. There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of ZERO,
threatened, labor dispute, strike or work stoppage.
(b) NLRB Matters. There is not now pending or, to the Knowledge of
ZERO, threatened, any material charge or complaint against any of the ZERO
Companies by or before the National Labor Relations Board or any representative
thereof, or any comparable state agency or authority. To the Knowledge of ZERO,
no union organizing activities are in process or contemplated and no petitions
have been filed for union organization or representation of employees of any of
the ZERO Companies not presently organized, and to the Knowledge of ZERO, none
of the ZERO Companies has committed any unfair labor practices which have not
heretofore been corrected and fully remedied.
4.19 Disclosure. No statement of fact by ZERO contained in this Agreement
or in the Disclosure Schedule contains or will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements herein or therein contained, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date to which
it speaks.
4.20 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by ZERO for inclusion or incorporation by reference in: (a) the
Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed
with the SEC and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; and (b) the Proxy Statement will, at the date mailed to the ZERO
Stockholders and at the time of the ZERO Special Meeting, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement
will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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4.21 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of ZERO Common Stock is the only vote of the holders of
any class or series of capital stock or other securities of ZERO entitled to
vote necessary to approve the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
4.22 Accounting Matters. Neither the ZERO Companies nor, to the Knowledge
of ZERO, any of the Affiliates of ZERO, has taken or agreed to take or will take
any action that would prevent the Merger being accounted for as a pooling of
interests for financial accounting purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and the rules, regulations and interpretations of
the SEC.
4.23 Opinion of Financial Advisor. ZERO has received the opinion of Salomon
Smith Barney, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that the Exchange
Ratio is fair to the ZERO Stockholders from a financial point of view, and a
copy of such opinion has been delivered to API.
4.24 Environmental Protection.
(a) Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
(i) "Environmental Claim" shall mean any and all administrative,
regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, directives,
claims, Liens, investigations, proceedings or notices of noncompliance or
violation (written or oral) by any Person alleging potential liability
(including, without limitation, potential liability for enforcement,
investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, removal costs,
remedial costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries,
or penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting from: (A) the presence, or
release into the environment, of any Environmental Hazardous Materials at any
location, whether or not owned by any of the ZERO Companies; or (B)
circumstances forming the basis of any violation or alleged violation, of any
Environmental Law; or (C) any and all claims by any Person seeking damages,
contribution, indemnification, cost, recovery, compensation or injunctive relief
resulting from the presence or Environmental Release of any Environmental
Hazardous Materials.
(ii) "Environmental Hazardous Materials" shall mean: (A) any
petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form
that is or could become friable, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, and
transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid containing levels
of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radon gas; and (B) any chemicals,
materials or substances which are now defined as or included in the definition
of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous materials," "extremely
hazardous wastes," "restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic
pollutants," or words of similar import, under any Environmental Law; and (C)
any other chemical, material, substance or waste, exposure to which is now
prohibited, limited or regulated by any governmental authority.
(iii) "Environmental Laws" shall mean all federal, state, local
or foreign statute, Law, rule, ordinance, code, policy, rule of common law and
regulations relating to
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pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface
strata), including, without limitation, Laws and regulations relating to
Environmental Releases or threatened Environmental Releases of Environmental
Hazardous Materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
Environmental Hazardous Materials.
(iv) "Environmental Release" shall mean any release, spill,
emission, leaking, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching
or migration into the atmosphere, soil, surface water, groundwater or property
which would be likely to result in an Environmental Claim.
(b) Environmental Laws. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule
or in the ZERO SEC Reports, each of the ZERO Companies: (i) is in compliance in
all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws; and (ii) has not
received any written communication from a governmental authority that alleges
that it is not in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws.
(c) Environmental Permits. Except as set forth in the Disclosure
Schedule or in the ZERO SEC Reports, each of the ZERO Companies has obtained all
material environmental, health and safety permits and governmental
authorizations (collectively, the "Environmental Permits") necessary for its
operations, and all such permits are in good standing and it is in material
compliance with all terms and conditions of the Environmental Permits..
(d) Environmental Claims. Except as set forth in the Disclosure
Schedule or in the ZERO SEC Reports, there is no Environmental Claim pending or,
to the Knowledge of ZERO, threatened, against any of the ZERO Companies or
against any Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim any of the ZERO
Companies has or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by
operation of Law, or against any real or personal property or operations which
any of the ZERO Companies owns, leases or manages.
(e) Environmental Hazardous Materials. Except as set forth in the
Disclosure Schedule or in the ZERO SEC Reports, to the Knowledge of ZERO, there
have been no Environmental Releases of any Environmental Hazardous Material by
any of the ZERO Companies or by any Person on real property owned, used, leased
or operated by any of the ZERO Companies.
(f) Owned Properties. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule
or in the ZERO SEC Reports, to the Knowledge of ZERO, no real property at any
time owned, operated, used or controlled by any of the ZERO Companies is
currently listed on the National Priorities List promulgated under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended ("CERCLA"), or on any comparable state list, and none of the ZERO
Companies has received any written notice from any Person of potential or actual
liability or a request for information from any Person under or relating to
CERCLA or any comparable state or local Law.
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(g) Off-Site Properties. To the Knowledge of ZERO, no off-site
location at which any of the ZERO Companies has disposed or arranged for the
disposal of any waste is listed on the National Priorities List or on any
comparable state list and none of the ZERO Companies has received any written
notice from any Person with respect to any off-site location, of potential or
actual liability or a written request for information from any Person under or
relating to CERCLA or any comparable state or local Law.
4.25 Year 2000 Compliance. All of the material computer hardware and
software systems of the ZERO Companies (including, without limitation, those
related to their facilities, equipment manufacturing processes, quality control
activities, accounting and bookkeeping records and record keeping activities)
are presently or will be prior to December 31, 1999 Year 2000 Compliant. As used
in this Agreement, the phrase "Year 2000 Compliant" shall mean with respect to
ZERO's material hardware and software systems, that such hardware and software
is designed to be used prior to, during, and after the calendar Year 2000 A.D.,
and such hardware and software used during each such time period will accurately
receive, provide and process date/time data from, into and between the twentieth
and twenty-first centuries, and will not malfunction, cease to function, or
provide invalid or incorrect results as a result of date/time data, to the
extent that other hardware and software, used in combination with ZERO's
hardware and software, properly exchanges date/time data with ZERO's hardware
and software.
4.26 Continuing Directors. Each of the members of the Board of Directors of
ZERO is a "Continuing Director" as such term is defined in the Certificate of
Incorporation of ZERO.
4.27 Undisclosed Liabilities. To the Knowledge of ZERO, none of the ZERO
Companies has any material liabilities of any nature except as disclosed in the
ZERO SEC Reports or which do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a ZERO
Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
API AND ACQUISITION
API and Acquisition hereby represent and warrant to ZERO that:
5.1 Organization.
(a) Organization. Each of the API Companies and Acquisition is a
corporation duly and validly organized and existing under the Laws of its
respective jurisdiction of incorporation and is qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires
qualification as a foreign corporation, except where the failure to so qualify
would not have a API Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Corporate Power and Authority. Each of the API Companies and
Acquisition has: (a) full corporate power and authority necessary to carry on
its business as it is
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now conducted and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties; and (b)
all material franchises, permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations and
registrations necessary to carry on its business as it is now conducted and to
own, lease and operate its assets and properties, except where the absence of
any such franchises, permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations or
registrations would not have a API Material Adverse Effect.
5.2 Capitalization.
(a) Capitalization of API. The entire authorized capital stock of API
consists of: (i) 80,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $.20 par value, of
which 27,936,356 shares were issued and outstanding on April 3, 1998; and (ii)
7,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, $.20 par value, none of which are
issued and outstanding; and (iii) 800,000 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock,
$1.00 par value, none of which are issued and outstanding.
(b) Authorization. All of the outstanding shares of API Common Stock
are, and the shares of API Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement
will be when issued: (i) duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid; and
(ii) nonassessable, except as provided in Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the
Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, as judicially interpreted.
5.3 Authorization; Enforceability. The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by API and Acquisition and all of the documents and
instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by API and
Acquisition are within the corporate power of API and Acquisition and: (a) have
been duly authorized by the Boards of Directors of API and Acquisition; and (b)
upon the approval of the API Stockholders of the issuance of API Common Stock
pursuant to this Agreement, shall be duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action by API and Acquisition. This Agreement is, and the other documents and
instruments required by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by API and
Acquisition will be, when executed and delivered by API and Acquisition, the
valid and binding obligations of API and Acquisition, enforceable against API
and Acquisition in accordance with their respective terms, except as the
enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws generally affecting the rights of
creditors and subject to general equity principles.
5.4 No Violation or Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the approvals and
consents described in Section 7.7 of this Agreement, the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by API and Acquisition do not and will not
conflict with or violate: (a) any Law or the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
of any of the API Companies or the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of
Acquisition; or (b) any material contract or agreement to which any of the API
Companies or Acquisition is a party or by which any of them is bound, except
where such conflict or violation would not have a API Material Adverse Effect.
5.5 Litigation. (a) Except as disclosed in the API SEC Reports filed prior
to the date of this Agreement, there is no litigation, arbitration, proceeding,
governmental investigation, citation or action of any kind pending or, to the
Knowledge of API, proposed or threatened
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against or relating to any of the API Companies which, if adversely determined
against any of the API Companies, individually or in the aggregate, would or
would be reasonably likely to result in a API Material Adverse Effect; and (b)
there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of API,
proposed or threatened, against any of the API Companies by any Person which
question the legality, validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
5.6 API SEC Reports.
(a) Definition. As used in this Agreement, "API SEC Reports" shall
mean all reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements,
prospectuses and amendments thereto filed by API with the SEC since January 1,
1994 or filed by API with the SEC after the date of this Agreement and prior to
the Effective Time of Merger.
(b) API SEC Reports. The API SEC Reports: (i) complied or will comply,
as the case may be, in all material respects with the then applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC issued thereunder; and (ii) did not or will
not, as the case may be, contain as of their respective filing dates any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) Financial Statements. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of API
included in the API SEC Reports have been or will be, as the case may be,
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto
and except with respect to unaudited statements as permitted by Form 10-Q of the
SEC) and fairly present the consolidated financial position of the API Companies
as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and
changes in financial position for the periods then ended, subject, in the case
of the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, to normal year-end
and audit adjustments and any other adjustments described therein.
5.7 Brokers. Except for fees to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
neither API nor Acquisition has incurred any brokers', finders' or any similar
fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.8 Governmental Approvals. No permission, approval, determination,
consent or waiver by, or any declaration, filing or registration with, any
governmental or regulatory authority is required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by API and Acquisition and
the consummation of the Merger, except for: (a) the approvals described in
Section 7.7 of this Agreement; and (b) the filing of the Certificate of Merger
as described in this Agreement.
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5.9 Disclosure. No statement of fact by API or Acquisition contained in
this Agreement contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements herein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading as of the date to which it speaks.
5.10 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by API for inclusion or incorporation by reference in: (a) the
Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed
with the SEC and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; and (b) the Proxy Statement will, at the date mailed to the API
Stockholders and at the time of the API Special Meeting, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement
will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the Registration
Statement, including the Proxy Statement insofar as it constitutes the
prospectus of API, will comply as to form in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
5.11 Vote Required. The approval of the issuance of shares of API Common
Stock pursuant to this Agreement by a majority of the votes cast by the holders
of the shares of API Common Stock represented at the API Special Meeting and
entitled to vote thereon, provided that the total vote cast represents over 50%
of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, is the only vote of the
holders of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of API
necessary to approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
5.12 Accounting Matters. Neither API nor, to the Knowledge of API, any of
the Affiliates of API, has taken or agreed to take or will take any action that
would prevent the Merger being accounted for as a pooling of interests for
financial accounting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and the rules, regulations and interpretations of the SEC.
5.13 Opinion of Financial Advisor. API has received the opinion of Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect
that the Exchange Ratio is fair to API from a financial point of view, and a
copy of such opinion has been delivered to ZERO.
5.14 No Related Persons. None of the API Companies is a "Related Person"
of ZERO as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation of ZERO.
5.15 Absence of Certain Changes. Since August 31, 1997: (a) there has not
been any API Material Adverse Effect; and (b) the API Companies have diligently
carried on their business only in the regular course and in substantially the
same manner as theretofore, except for the transactions described in this
Agreement, as disclosed in the API SEC Reports or as publicly announced or
acquisitions or dispositions by any of the API Companies.
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5.16 Undisclosed Liabilities. To the Knowledge of API, none of the API
Companies has any material liabilities of any nature except as disclosed in the
API SEC Reports or which do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a API
Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE ZERO
COMPANIES PENDING THE MERGER
Except with the written consent of API (which consent may not be
unreasonably withheld for all matters in this Article VI of this Agreement
except for Sections 6.10 and 6.11), from and after the date of this Agreement
and until the Effective Time of Merger, ZERO shall, and shall cause each of the
other ZERO Companies to:
6.1 Carry on in Regular Course. Diligently carry on its business only in
the regular course and in substantially the same manner as heretofore and shall
not make or institute any unusual or novel methods of purchase, sale, lease,
management, accounting or operation.
6.2 Use of Assets. Use, operate, maintain and repair all of its assets and
properties in a normal business manner.
6.3 No Default. Not do any act or omit to do any act, or permit any act or
omission to act, which will cause a material breach of any of the Existing
Contracts.
6.4 Employment Matters. Not: (a) except as described in the Disclosure
Schedule or as consistent with its normal business practices consistent with
past practice, grant any increase in the rate of pay of any of its employees,
directors or officers; (b) institute or amend any Employee Benefit Plan; or (c)
except as described in the Disclosure Schedule, enter into or modify any written
employment arrangement with any Person.
6.5 Indebtedness. Not create, incur or assume any Indebtedness, except for
Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business by the ZERO Companies
consistent with past practice.
6.6 Preservation of Relationships. Use reasonable best efforts to preserve
its business organization intact, to retain the services of its present officers
and key employees and to preserve the goodwill of suppliers, customers,
creditors and others having business relationships with it.
6.7 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with all
applicable Laws.
6.8 Taxes. Timely and properly file all federal, state, local and foreign
tax returns which are required to be filed, and shall pay or make provision for
the payment of all taxes owed by it.
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6.9 Amendments. Not amend its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws.
6.10 Dividends; Redemptions; Issuance of Stock. Not:
(a) (i) issue any additional shares of stock of any class (including
any shares of preferred stock) except for issuances of shares of ZERO Common
Stock upon the exercise of options outstanding on the date of this Agreement
under the ZERO Option Plans, or (ii) grant any warrants, options or rights to
subscribe for or acquire any additional shares of stock of any class;
(b) declare or pay any dividend or make any capital or surplus
distributions of any nature, except for: (i) cash dividends by Subsidiaries of
ZERO to ZERO; and (ii) regular quarterly cash dividends by ZERO on the
outstanding ZERO Common Stock with usual record and payment dates not exceeding,
during any fiscal quarter of ZERO, 110% of the cash dividends paid by ZERO on
the ZERO Common Stock during the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of ZERO;
or
(c) directly or indirectly redeem purchase or otherwise acquire,
recapitalize or reclassify any of its capital stock or liquidate in whole or in
part, except for the redemption of 141,902 shares of ZERO Common Stock owned by
a Subsidiary of ZERO.
6.11 No Dispositions or Acquisitions. Not: (a) sell, lease, license,
encumber or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, license, encumber or
otherwise dispose of, any of its assets, except in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice; or (b) acquire, or publicly propose to
acquire or agree to acquire, by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase or
otherwise, an equity interest in, or all or any portion of the assets of, any
Person.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS
OF API AND ACQUISITION
Each and every obligation of API and Acquisition to be performed on the
Closing Date shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to or at the Closing of
the following express conditions precedent:
7.1 Compliance with Agreement. ZERO shall have performed and complied:
(a) in all respects with all of its obligations under Sections 6.10 and 6.11
this Agreement which are to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on
the Closing Date; and (b) in all respects with all of its other obligations
under this Agreement which are to be performed or complied with by it prior to
or on the Closing Date, except where the failure to perform or comply,
individually or in the aggregate, would not or would not be reasonably likely to
result in a ZERO Material Adverse Effect.
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7.2 No Litigation. No suit, action or other proceeding shall be pending
before any court in which the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement is restrained or enjoined.
7.3 Representations and Warranties of ZERO. The representations and
warranties made by ZERO in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
respects when made and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as
though said representations and warranties had been made on the Closing Date,
except where the effect of any breaches of the representations and warranties of
ZERO made in this Agreement, individually or in the aggregate, would not or
would not be reasonably likely to result in a ZERO Material Adverse Effect.
7.4 No ZERO Material Adverse Effect. During the period from the date of
this Agreement to the Closing Date there shall not have occurred, and be
continuing on the Closing Date, any ZERO Material Adverse Effect.
7.5 Approval of ZERO Stockholders and API Stockholders; Certificate of
Merger. This Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall have received the requisite approval and authorization of the
ZERO Stockholders and the issuance of shares of API Common Stock pursuant to
this Agreement shall have received the requisite approval and authorization of
the API Stockholders. The Certificate of Merger shall have been executed and
delivered by ZERO.
7.6 Closing Certificate. ZERO shall have delivered to API a certificate
signed on behalf of ZERO by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of ZERO, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that, to the best of such
officers' knowledge, the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.3 of this
Agreement have been satisfied.
7.7 Governmental Approvals.
(a) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been
declared effective under the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any
stop order or proceedings to effect a stop order. The API Common Stock issuable
pursuant to the Merger shall have been registered or shall be exempt from
registration or qualification under applicable state "blue sky" or securities
Laws.
(b) HSR Act. All necessary requirements of the HSR Act shall have been
complied with and any "waiting periods" applicable to the Merger and to the
transactions described in this Agreement which are imposed by the HSR Act shall
have expired prior to the Closing Date or shall have been terminated by the
appropriate agency.
7.8 Listing. API shall have received notice from the New York Stock
Exchange that the shares of API Common Stock to be issued or reserved for
issuance pursuant to this Agreement are approved for listing on the New York
Stock Exchange subject to official notice of issuance.
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7.9 Accountant Letter. API shall have received a copy of a letter from
Deloitte & Touche LLP, which shall be in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to API and shall contain information concerning the financial
condition of ZERO, dated the Closing Date, similar to the letter described in
Section 3.10 of this Agreement.
7.10 Pooling Opinion. API shall have received an opinion from Coopers &
Lybrand LLP to the effect that the Merger qualifies for pooling-of-interests
accounting treatment if consummated in accordance with this Agreement.
7.11 Affiliate Letters. API shall have received an Affiliate Letter from
each Person who is an Affiliate of either API or ZERO.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE
OBLIGATIONS OF ZERO
Each and every obligation of ZERO to be performed on the Closing Date shall
be subject to the satisfaction prior to or at the Closing of the following
express conditions precedent:
8.1 Compliance with Agreement. API and Acquisition shall have performed
and complied in all respects with all of their obligations under this Agreement
which are to be performed or complied with by them prior to or on the Closing
Date, except where the failure to perform or comply, individually or in the
aggregate, would not or would not be reasonably likely to result in a API
Material Adverse Effect.
8.2 No Litigation. No suit, action or other proceeding shall be pending
before any court in which the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement is restrained or enjoined.
8.3 Representations and Warranties of API and Acquisition. The
representations and warranties made by API and Acquisition in this Agreement
shall be true and correct in all respects when made and as of the Closing Date
with the same force and effect as though such representations and warranties had
been made on the Closing Date, except where the effect of any breaches of the
representations and warranties of API and Acquisition made in this Agreement,
individually or in the aggregate, would not or would not be reasonably likely to
result in a API Material Adverse Effect.
8.4 No API Material Adverse Effect. During the period from the date of
this Agreement to the Closing Date there shall not have occurred, and be
continuing on the Closing Date, any API Material Adverse Effect.
8.5 Approval of ZERO Stockholders and API Stockholders; Certificate of
Merger. This Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall have received the requisite approval and authorization of
the ZERO Stockholders and the
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issuance of shares of API Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement shall have
received the requisite approval and authorization of the API Stockholders. The
Certificate of Merger shall have been executed and delivered by Acquisition.
8.6 Closing Certificate. API shall have delivered to ZERO a certificate
signed on behalf of API by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of API, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that, to the best of such
officers' knowledge, the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.3 of this
Agreement have been satisfied.
8.7 Governmental Approvals.
(a) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been
declared effective under the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any
stop order or proceedings to effect a stop order. The API Common Stock issuable
pursuant to the Merger shall have been registered or shall be exempt from
registration or qualification under applicable state "blue sky" or securities
Laws.
(b) HSR Act. All necessary requirements of the HSR Act shall have been
complied with and any "waiting periods" applicable to the Merger and to the
transactions described in this Agreement which are imposed by the HSR Act shall
have expired prior to the Closing Date or shall have been terminated by the
appropriate agency.
8.8 Listing. API shall have received notice from the New York Stock
Exchange that the shares of API Common Stock to be issued or reserved for
issuance pursuant to this Agreement are approved for listing on the New York
Stock Exchange subject to official notice of issuance.
8.9 Tax Opinion. ZERO shall have received an opinion of Gibson Dunn &
Crutcher LLP, counsel to ZERO, to the effect that the Merger will be treated for
federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code, and that API, Acquisition and ZERO will each be a party to
that reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code, dated on
or about the date that is two business days prior to the date the Proxy
Statement is first mailed to ZERO Stockholders, and such opinion shall not have
been withdrawn or modified in any material respect as of the Closing Date and
the Effective Time of Merger. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may
require and rely upon representations contained in certificates of ZERO, API and
Acquisition.
8.10 Accountant Letter. ZERO shall have received a copy of a letter from
Coopers & Lybrand LLP, which shall be in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to ZERO and shall contain information concerning the financial
condition of API, dated the Closing Date, similar to the letter described in
Section 3.11 of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION; MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing
(whether before or after approval of this Agreement by the ZERO Stockholders or
the API Stockholders or both), as follows:
(a) by mutual written agreement of API and ZERO, duly authorized
by the Boards of Directors of API and ZERO;
(b) by either API or ZERO by written notice to the other party if: (i)
any court of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an order, judgment or
decree permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger
and such order, judgment or decree shall have become final and nonappealable; or
(ii) if the Effective Time of Merger has not occurred on or before September 30,
1998, provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this
Section 9.1(b)(ii) of this Agreement 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 the Effective Time of Merger to occur on or before
that date;
(c) by API by written notice to ZERO if: (i) there exists one or more
breaches of the representations and warranties of ZERO made in this Agreement as
of the date of this Agreement which breaches, individually or in the aggregate,
would or would be reasonably likely to result in a ZERO Material Adverse Effect
and such breaches shall not have been remedied within 20 calendar days after
receipt by ZERO of written notice from API specifying the nature of such
breaches and requesting that they be remedied; (ii) ZERO shall have failed to
perform and comply in all respects with its agreements and covenants contained
in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 of this Agreement; (iii) ZERO shall have failed to
perform and comply in all respects with all of its other agreements and
covenants contained in this Agreement and such failures to perform or comply,
individually or in the aggregate, would or would be reasonably likely to result
in a ZERO Material Adverse Effect and such failures to perform or comply shall
not have been remedied within 20 calendar days after receipt by ZERO of written
notice from API specifying the nature of such failures to perform or comply and
requesting that they be remedied; (iv) API shall have convened the API Special
Meeting to vote upon the issuance of shares of API Common Stock pursuant to this
Agreement and such vote does not receive the requisite vote of the API
Stockholders for such proposal; (v) ZERO shall have convened the ZERO Special
Meeting to vote upon the Merger and the transactions described in this Agreement
and such vote does not receive the requisite vote of the ZERO Stockholders for
such proposal; or (vi) the Board of Directors of ZERO or any committee thereof:
(A) shall withdraw or modify in any manner adverse to API its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger, (B) shall fail to reaffirm such
approval or recommendation upon API's request, or (C) shall approve or recommend
any Other Transaction; and
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(d) by ZERO by written notice to API if: (i) there exists one or more
breaches of the representations and warranties of API made in this Agreement as
of the date of this Agreement which breaches, individually or in the aggregate,
would or would be reasonably likely to result in a API Material Adverse Effect
and such breaches shall not have been remedied within 20 calendar days after
receipt by API of written notice from ZERO specifying the nature of such
breaches and requesting that they be remedied; (ii) API shall have failed to
perform and comply in all respects with all of its agreements and covenants
contained in this Agreement and such failures to perform or comply, individually
or in the aggregate, would or would be reasonably likely to result in a API
Material Adverse Effect and such failures to perform or comply shall not have
been remedied within 20 calendar days after receipt by API of written notice
from ZERO specifying the nature of such failures to perform or comply and
requesting that they be remedied; (iii) ZERO shall have convened the ZERO
Special Meeting to vote upon the Merger and the transactions described in this
Agreement and such vote does not receive the requisite vote of the ZERO
Stockholders for such proposal; (iv) API shall have convened the API Special
Meeting to vote upon the issuance of shares of API Common Stock pursuant to this
Agreement and such vote does not receive the requisite vote of the API
Stockholders for such proposal; (v) pursuant to Section 3.9(d) of this
Agreement; or (vi) the Board of Directors of API or any committee thereof: (A)
shall withdraw or modify in any manner adverse to ZERO its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger, or (B) shall fail to reaffirm
such approval or recommendation upon ZERO's request.
9.2 Rights on Termination; Waiver. If this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 9.1 of this Agreement, all further obligations of the
parties under or pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate without further
liability of any party (including its directors, officers, employees, agents,
legal, accounting or financial advisors or other representatives) to the others,
provided that: (a) the obligations of API and Acquisition contained in Sections
3.4(c), 9.2 and 9.5 of this Agreement shall survive any such termination; (b)
the obligations of ZERO contained in Sections 3.4(c), 3.9(e), 9.2 and 9.5 of
this Agreement shall survive any such termination; and (c) each party to this
Agreement shall retain any and all remedies which it may have for breach of
contract provided by Law based on another party's willful failure to comply with
the terms of this Agreement. If any of the conditions set forth in Article VII
of this Agreement have not been satisfied, API may nevertheless elect to proceed
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and if
any of the conditions set forth in Article VIII of this Agreement have not been
satisfied, ZERO may nevertheless elect to proceed with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Any such election to proceed shall
be evidenced by a certificate signed on behalf of the waiving party by an
officer of that party.
9.3 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. All
representations, warranties and covenants of the parties contained in this
Agreement (other than the covenants contained in Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.12, 3.14,
3.15, 3.17, 9.3, 9.13 and 9.15 of this Agreement) or made pursuant to this
Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect at the Effective
Time of Merger and none of the parties shall have any liability or obligation
with respect thereto.
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9.4 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement and the documents referred
to in this Agreement and required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement
constitute the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject
matter of this Agreement, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous
agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions of the parties, whether
oral or written, other than the Confidentiality Agreements, and there are no
warranties, representations or other agreements between the parties in
connection with the subject matter of this Agreement, except as specifically set
forth in this Agreement and in the Confidentiality Agreements. EACH PARTY HERETO
AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS
AGREEMENT OR IN THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS, NO PARTY MAKES ANY OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, AND EACH HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES MADE BY ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,
EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES, WITH
RESPECT TO THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NOTWITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO THE OTHER
PARTIES OR TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OTHER PARTIES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR
OTHER INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING. This
Agreement may be amended by the parties at any time before or after approval of
this Agreement by the ZERO Stockholders, except that after such approval, no
amendment shall be made without the further approval of the ZERO Stockholders if
any such amendment: (a) changes the Exchange Ratio; or (b) materially adversely
affects the rights of the ZERO Stockholders. This Agreement may be amended by
the parties at any time before or after approval of this Agreement by the API
Stockholders, except that after such approval, no amendment shall be made
without the further approval of the API Stockholders if any such amendment: (y)
changes the Exchange Ratio; or (z) materially adversely affects the rights of
the API Stockholders. No amendment, supplement, modification, waiver or
termination of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by
API, ZERO and Acquisition. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this
Agreement, whether or not similar, nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
9.5 Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by
the party incurring such expenses, except that: (a) API shall pay the filing fee
relating to the filing required by the HSR Act; and (b) those expenses incurred
in connection with printing the Proxy Statement and Registration Statement, as
well as the filing fee relating thereto, shall be shared equally by ZERO, on the
one hand, and API, on the other hand.
9.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted
according to the Laws of the State of Delaware.
9.7 Assignment. Prior to the Effective Time of Merger, this Agreement
shall not be assigned by any party to this Agreement except with the prior
written consent of the other parties to this Agreement.
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9.8 Notices. All communications or notices required or permitted by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given at the
earlier of the date when actually delivered to an officer of a party by personal
delivery or telephonic facsimile transmission or when deposited in the United
States mail, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, and addressed as follows, unless and until any of such parties
notifies the others in accordance with this Section of a change of address:
If to API or Acquisition: Applied Power Inc.
Attention: Richard G. Sim
13000 West Silver Spring Drive
Butler WI 53007-6600
Fax No.: 414-781-0629
with a copy to: Quarles & Brady
Attention: Anthony W. Asmuth III
411 E. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202-4497
Fax No: 414-277-3552
If to ZERO: ZERO Corporation
Attention: Wilford D. Godbold, Jr.
444 South Flower Street, Suite 2100
Los Angeles CA 90071-2922
Fax No: 213-629-2366
with a copy to: Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Attention: Peter F. Ziegler
333 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90071-3197
Fax No: 213-229-7520
9.9 Counterparts; Headings. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same Agreement. The Table of Contents
and Article and Section headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience
of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
9.10 Interpretation. Unless the context requires otherwise, all words used
in this Agreement in the singular number shall extend to and include the plural,
all words in the plural
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number shall extend to and include the singular, and all words in any gender
shall extend to and include all genders. The language used in this Agreement
shall be deemed to be language chosen by the parties to this Agreement to
express their mutual intent. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises concerning the language of this Agreement, this Agreement
shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties to this Agreement and no
presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party to
this Agreement by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this
Agreement.
9.11 Severability. If any provision, clause, or part of this Agreement, or
the application thereof under certain circumstances, is held invalid, the
remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision, clause or
part under other circumstances, shall not be affected thereby unless such
invalidity materially impairs the ability of the parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
9.12 Specific Performance. The parties agree that the assets and business
of the ZERO Companies as a going concern and the API Common Stock constitute
unique property. There is no adequate remedy at Law for the damage which any
party might sustain for failure of the other parties to consummate the Merger
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and accordingly, each party
shall be entitled, at its option, to the remedy of specific performance to
enforce the Merger pursuant to this Agreement.
9.13 No Reliance. Except for the parties to this Agreement, any assignees
permitted by Section 9.7 of this Agreement and as described in Sections 3.14 and
3.15 of this Agreement: (a) no Person is entitled to rely on any of the
representations, warranties and agreements of the parties contained in this
Agreement; and (b) the parties assume no liability to any Person because of any
reliance on the representations, warranties and agreements of the parties
contained in this Agreement.
9.14 Exhibits and Disclosure Schedule. If a document or matter is disclosed
in any Exhibit to this Agreement or in the Disclosure Schedule, it shall be
deemed to be disclosed for all purposes of this Agreement without the necessity
of specific repetition or cross-reference. All capitalized terms used in any
Exhibit to this Agreement or in the Disclosure Schedule shall have the
definitions specified in this Agreement.
9.15 Further Assurances. If, at any time after the Effective Time of
Merger, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes
of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title
and possession to all assets, properties, rights, privileges, powers and
franchises of either Acquisition or ZERO, the officers of the Surviving
Corporation are fully authorized to take any such action in the name of
Acquisition or ZERO.
42
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement and Plan of
Merger to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
APPLIED POWER INC.
By /s/ Richard G. Sim
-------------------------------------------
Richard G. Sim,
President and Chief Executive Officer
ZERO CORPORATION
By /s/ Wilford D. Godbold, Jr.
-------------------------------------------
Wilford D. Godbold, Jr.,
President and Chief Executive Officer
STB ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By /s/ Richard G. Sim
-------------------------------------------
Richard G. Sim,
President and Chief Executive Officer
43
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 1A TO MERGER AGREEMENT
FORM OF API AFFILIATE LETTER
Gentlemen:
The undersigned is a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, par value
$.20 per share ("API Common Stock") of Applied Power Inc., a Wisconsin
corporation ("API") and understands that API, ZERO Corporation ("ZERO") and a
subsidiary of API are parties to an Agreement and Plan of Merger providing for
the merger of ZERO with a subsidiary of API (the "Merger").
The undersigned acknowledges that the undersigned may be deemed an
"affiliate" of API as such term is used in and for purposes of Accounting Series
Releases 130 and 135, as amended, of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), although nothing contained herein shall be construed as an
admission of such status.
The undersigned represents to, and covenants with API that the undersigned
will not, during the 30 days prior to the effective time of the Merger sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of, or reduce any risk relative to, any securities
of API or ZERO, and the undersigned will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of, or reduce any risk relative to, shares of API Common Stock or any other
shares of the capital stock of API until after such time as results covering at
least 30 days of operations of API (including the combined operations of ZERO
and API) have been published by API in the form of a quarterly earnings report,
an effective registration statement filed with the Commission, a report to the
Commission on Form 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-K, or any other public filing or
announcement which includes such results of operations.
The undersigned has carefully reviewed this letter and understands the
requirements hereof and the limitations imposed upon the distribution, sale,
transfer or other disposition of securities of API and ZERO.
Very truly yours,
-----------------------------------------
[Name]
Dated:
-----------------------
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 1B TO MERGER AGREEMENT
FORM OF ZERO AFFILIATE LETTER
Gentlemen:
The undersigned is a holder of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share ("ZERO Common Stock") of ZERO Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("ZERO")
and is entitled to receive shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.20 per
share, (the "Shares") of Applied Power Inc., a Wisconsin corporation ("API") in
connection with the merger (the "Merger") of ZERO with a subsidiary of API
pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among ZERO, API and a
subsidiary of API dated as of April 6, 1998.
The undersigned acknowledges that the undersigned may be deemed an
"affiliate" of ZERO within the meaning of Rule 145 ("Rule 145") promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and/or as such term is
used in and for purposes of Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135, as amended,
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), although nothing
contained herein shall be construed as an admission of such status.
If in fact the undersigned were an affiliate of ZERO under the Act, the
undersigned's ability to sell, assign or transfer any Shares received by the
undersigned in exchange for any shares of ZERO Common Stock pursuant to the
Merger may be restricted unless such transaction is registered under the Act or
an exemption from such registration is available. The undersigned understands
that such exemptions are limited and the undersigned has obtained advice of
counsel as to the nature and conditions of such exemptions, including
information with respect to the applicability to the sale of such securities of
Rules 144 and 145(d) promulgated under the Act.
The undersigned hereby represents to and covenants with ZERO that it will
not sell, assign or transfer any Shares received by the undersigned in exchange
for shares of ZERO Common Stock pursuant to the Merger except (i) pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Act, (ii) by a sale made in
conformity with the volume and other limitations of Rule 145 (and otherwise in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Act if the undersigned is an affiliate of API
and if so required at the time) or (iii) in a transaction which, in the opinion
of independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to API or as described in a "no-
action" or interpretive letter from the Staff of the Commission, is not required
to be registered under the Act.
The undersigned understands that API is under no obligation to register the
sale, transfer or other disposition of the Shares by the undersigned or on
behalf of the undersigned under the Act or to take any other action necessary in
order to make compliance with an exemption from such registration available
solely as a result of the Merger.
<PAGE>
In the event of a sale of Shares received by the undersigned in the Merger
pursuant to Rule 145, the undersigned will supply API with evidence of
compliance with such Rule, in the form of customary seller's and broker's Rule
145 representation letters or as API may otherwise reasonably request. The
undersigned understands that API may instruct its transfer agent to withhold the
transfer of any Shares disposed of by the undersigned in a manner inconsistent
with this letter.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that appropriate legends will be
placed on certificates representing Shares received by the undersigned in the
Merger or held by a transferee thereof, which legends will be removed (i) by
delivery of substitute certificates upon receipt of an opinion in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to API to the effect that such legends are no
longer required for the purposes of the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder or (ii) in the event of a sale of the Shares
which has been registered under the Act or made in conformity with the
provisions of Rule 145.
The undersigned further represents to, and covenants with API that the
undersigned will not, during the 30 days prior to the effective time of the
Merger sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or reduce any risk relative to,
any securities of API or ZERO, and the undersigned will not sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of, or reduce any risk relative to, the Shares received by the
undersigned in the Merger or any other shares of the capital stock of API until
after such time as results covering at least 30 days of operations of API
(including the combined operations of ZERO and API) have been published by API
in the form of a quarterly earnings report, an effective registration statement
filed with the Commission, a report to the Commission on Form 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-
K, or any other public filing or announcement which includes such results of
operations.
2
<PAGE>
The undersigned has carefully reviewed this letter and understands the
requirements hereof and the limitations imposed upon the distribution, sale,
transfer or other disposition of securities of API and ZERO.
Very truly yours,
-----------------------------------------
[Name]
Dated:
As an inducement to the above individual to deliver this letter, API agrees
that for so long as and to the extent necessary to permit such individual to
sell the Shares pursuant to Rule 145 and, to the extent applicable, Rule 144
under the Act, API shall use all reasonable efforts to file, on a timely basis,
all reports and data required to be filed by it with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Very truly yours,
APPLIED POWER INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
3
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99
FROM: APPLIED POWER INC. BUTLER WI
ZERO CORPORATION LOS ANGELES, CA
DATE: APRIL 6, 1998
FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
APPLIED POWER ROBERT C. ARZBAECHER
ZERO CORPORATION GEORGE A. DANIELS
APPLIED POWER AND ZERO CORPORATION SIGN DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO MERGE
MILWAUKEE, April 6, 1998 --- Applied Power Inc. (APW - NYSE) and ZERO
Corporation (ZRO - NYSE) jointly announced today that they have entered into a
definitive strategic merger agreement in which a newly created subsidiary of
Applied Power will be merged into ZERO. Under the terms of the merger, ZERO
stockholders will receive .850 shares of APW common stock for each share of
ZERO. The transaction is valued at $32.4594 per share to the ZERO shareholders,
or total equity value of $427.4 million based on APW's April 6, 1998 closing
price of $38.1875. Following the transaction, Applied Power will have annual
revenue of approximately $1.4 billion.
Commenting on the transaction, Richard G. Sim, Chairman and CEO of APW
stated, "We are excited to bring ZERO and its expertise in enclosures, systems
integration and value-added thermal management systems into the APW family. ZERO
provides an increased focus on the high growth telecommunication and networking
markets, and the merger of APW and ZERO creates the premier electronic packaging
company in North America, with combined electronic packaging revenue
approximating $0.5 billion, operating out of 18 locations and with approximately
3,900 employees."
(More)
<PAGE>
Applied Power/ZERO - 2
Sim further commented, "This combined entity will be strategically
positioned to deliver electronic packaging to a wide variety of end users, from
standard to highly customized, from basic to fully integrated with connectors,
cables, printed circuit boards, backplanes and power management systems. In
addition, the combination will become a leader in North America in providing
thermal management systems for electronic enclosures as well as other
industries. The combined business will participate in the dynamic high growth
electronic contract manufacturing industry. This is a large, highly fragmented
market. Our focus is to penetrate the faster growing end user markets of
telecommunication, data processing, semiconductor and instrumentation, and to
support customers with their electronic packaging needs on a global basis."
Wilford D. Godbold, President and CEO of ZERO, added "We believe APW is a
strategic merger partner that will generate superior long-term value for ZERO
stockholders. Our organizations are highly complementary businesses supporting
the electronic packaging industry, and Applied Power shares ZERO's vision of
creating a worldwide company which can support customers with a broad spectrum
of electronic packaging products and services on a global basis. By combining
the enclosure businesses of ZERO and Applied Power, we will become a leader in
supporting customers with electronic packaging solutions wherever they need
them."
The transaction, which was approved by both Boards of Directors, is subject
to stockholder approvals of both companies, and various other regulatory
clearances. The merger will be accounted for as a pooling-of-interests
transaction and the merger is expected to be tax free to the ZERO stockholders.
The transaction is expected to be completed by August 1, 1998. Significant
product, facility and cost synergies are anticipated from the transaction, which
is expected to be accretive to APW's results during the August 1999 fiscal year
prior to transaction related costs.
(More)
<PAGE>
Applied Power/ZERO - 3
Credit Suisse First Boston is acting as financial advisor to APW; Salomon
Smith Barney is acting as financial advisor to ZERO.
The above transaction has no effect on the APW's previously announced
definitive agreements to acquire Premier Industries and Product Technology Inc.
Applied Power Inc., headquartered in Butler, Wisconsin, is a global company
comprised of three business segments. Technical Environments and Enclosures
expertise is in configuring technical equipment for end users and in building
and assembling enclosures for electrical and electronic equipment. Engineered
Solutions supplies components and systems using actuation and vibration control
technologies to a diverse group of OEM customers. Tools and Supplies provide
industrial and electrical tools and accessories though various distributor and
retail channels worldwide.
With headquarters in Los Angeles, ZERO's primary business is protecting
electronics. ZERO's system packaging, thermal management and engineered cases
serve the telecommunications, instrumentation and data-processing markets. ZERO
also produces the famous line of ZERO Halliburton(R) cases for consumers
worldwide and cargo containers and proprietary loading systems to the airline
industry.
For further information contact:
Applied Power Inc. ZERO Corporation
Robert C. Arzbaecher George A. Daniels
Vice President and Chief Financial Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer Officer
414-781-6600 213-629-7000
(End)
