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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 14D-9
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement Pursuant to
Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
(Name of Subject Company)
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Nalco Chemical Company
(Name of Person Filing Statement)
Common Stock, par value $0.1875 per share
Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(Title of Classes of Securities)
Common Stock--629853102
Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock--None
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
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William E. Parry
Vice President and General Counsel
Nalco Chemical Company
One Nalco Center, Naperville, Illinois 60563-1198
(630) 305-2837
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of
the Person Filing Statement)
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With a copy to:
David W. Heleniak, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 848-4000
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Item 1. Security and Subject Company
The name of the subject company is Nalco Chemical Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). The address of the principal executive offices of
the Company is One Nalco Center, Naperville, Illinois 60563-1198. The title of
the classes of equity securities to which this Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement Schedule 14D-9 relates are (i) the shares of common stock, par value
$0.1875 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"), and (ii) the shares of
Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Company (the "ESOP Preferred Stock") (shares of Common Stock and shares of
ESOP Preferred Stock are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Shares").
Item 2. Tender Offer of the Bidder
This Statement relates to a tender offer by H2O Acquisition Co., a Delaware
corporation ("Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Suez Lyonnaise des
Eaux, a societe anonyme organized and existing under the laws of the Republic
of France ("Parent"), disclosed in a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1
(the "Schedule 14D-1") dated July 1, 1999, to purchase all the issued and
outstanding shares of (i) Common Stock, for $53.00 per share of Common Stock
(the "Per Common Share Amount"), and (ii) ESOP Preferred Stock, for $1,060.00
per share of ESOP Preferred Stock (the "Per Preferred Share Amount"), in each
case, net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated July 1, 1999 (the "Offer to
Purchase") and the related Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute
the "Offer").
The Offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of June 27, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement"), among Parent, Purchaser and the
Company. The Merger Agreement provides that, among other things, as promptly
as practicable after the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the
conditions to the Merger (as defined below), Purchaser shall be merged with
and into the Company (the "Merger"), the separate existence of Purchaser shall
cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the
"Surviving Corporation") and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent.
The Merger Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1 to this
Statement, is summarized in Item 3 of this Statement and in Item 11 of the
Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein by reference.
According to the Offer to Purchase, the principal executive offices of
Parent and Purchaser are located at 1, rue d'Astorg, 75008 Paris, France.
Item 3. Identity and Background
The name and address of the Company, which is the person filing this
Statement, are set forth in Item 1 above.
(i) General
Certain contracts, agreements, arrangements or understandings between the
Company or its affiliates and certain of its executive officers, directors or
affiliates are described in the Company's Information Statement set forth on
Annex I hereto, the information in which is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety. Except as described or incorporated by reference herein, to
the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, there exists no material
contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding and no actual or potential
conflict of interest between the Company or its affiliates and (i) the
Company, its executive officers, directors or affiliates, or (ii) Parent or
Purchaser and their respective executive officers, directors or affiliates.
(ii) Certain Executive Compensation and other Employee-Related Matters in
Connection with the Merger
Stock Option Plans. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each option to
purchase shares of Common Stock (an "Option") pursuant to the Company's Non-
Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, Employee Stock Compensation Plan, 1990
Stock Option Plan and 1982 Stock Option Plan or any stock option agreement to
which
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the Company is a party (the "Company Stock Option Plans") that is outstanding
immediately prior to the acceptance of the Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to
the Offer will become fully exercisable and vested, whether or not previously
exercisable or vested, as of the time of such acceptance. With respect to each
Option, the holder thereof will be entitled to receive from the Company, at
the time payment is made for the Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, an
amount in cash equal to (i) the difference between the Per Common Share Amount
(the "Merger Consideration") over the per share exercise price of such Option,
multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock to which such Option
remains unexercised, (ii) less any income or employment tax withholding
required by law. Immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger (the
"Effective Time"), the Company will terminate the Company Stock Option Plans
and any other plans or arrangements that provide for the grant or issuance of
any interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
Key Executive Agreements. The Company has previously entered into a key
executive agreement (each, a "Key Agreement") with its Chief Executive Officer
and each of its other executive officers. According to the terms of the Key
Agreements, the Company has agreed to continue the employment of each
executive for a period of three years (the "Employment Period") following a
change in control of the Company (such employment to be in the same capacity
in which the executive was previously employed immediately prior to such
change in control). The Key Agreements provide that, during the Employment
Period, each executive will (i) receive compensation that is comparable to the
compensation the executive received prior to the change in control of the
Company, and (ii) remain eligible for bonuses, incentive compensation and
other benefits which are at least comparable to what the executive was
receiving prior to the change in control. In the event of any of the following
after a change in control (a) a termination of the executive's employment for
any reason other than "cause" (defined as a willful and material breach of the
Key Agreements), (b) the executive's death or disability, (c) the resignation
by the executive of his employment following a significant change in the
nature or scope of his or her duties, (d) a reduction in his or her
compensation, (e) a breach of the Key Agreements by the Company, or (f) a
resignation of the executive for any reason, within 90 days following the
first anniversary of the change in control (any of (a) through (f), a
"Termination"), the executive will be paid an aggregate lump sum amount equal
to anticipated salary, bonuses and incentives for the remainder of the
Employment Period, and will be entitled to benefits that would have accrued to
the executive during such period (including those under profit sharing, ESOP,
pension, stock option and long term incentive arrangements and welfare and
insurance plans).
The Key Agreements also contain covenants that prohibit the executives from
competing against the Company or from divulging confidential information
during the Employment Period, provided that the non-competition covenant will
not apply in the event of a Termination of the executive. The Key Agreements
provide for a full golden parachute excise tax gross-up by the Company.
The Company will pay any expenses associated with the enforcement by an
executive of his or her rights under a Key Agreement, and the Company has
agreed to secure its obligations under such agreements by an irrevocable
letter of credit for the benefit of the executives. In December 1997, the
Board approved a new form of Key Executive Agreement (each, a "New Key
Agreement") that was offered to officers whose election was effective after
December 31, 1997. The New Key Agreements only become effective if an officer
terminates his or her employment during a specified three month period within
one year following a change of control of the Company. The New Key Agreements
also provide that anticipated salary increases and long-term incentive grants
will not be used in the calculation of any lump sum payment amount that may be
paid to an executive as a result of the termination of the executive's
employment.
Management Incentive Plan. With respect to the payment of bonuses under the
Company's Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP") for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1999 (the "1999 Fiscal Year"), the Company will pay a bonus to
participants in the MIP whose employment is terminated by the Parent, the
Company or any of its subsidiaries without cause on or after the Effective
Time and prior to January 1, 2000. Any such bonus will be equal to the pro
rata portion of the bonus such participant would have earned under the MIP for
the 1999 Fiscal Year had the participant remained employed through the end of
the 1999 Fiscal Year. Any such payment will be made following the end of the
1999 Fiscal Year, at the same time as the payment
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would have been made had such person remained employed by the Company.
However, the Merger Agreement provides that any person covered by a Key
Agreement which remains in effect on the date of such person's termination of
employment (without cause) will receive the payment provided under the Key
Agreement with respect to any bonus under the MIP in lieu of the pro rata
payment described above.
Restricted Stock Unit and Performance Awards. According to the terms of the
Merger Agreement, prior to the acceptance of the Shares by the Purchaser
pursuant to the Offer, each restricted stock unit award under the Company's
1984 Restricted Stock Plan or the Company's Employee Stock Corporate Plan and
each performance award assigned in 1995 under the Company's Performance Share
Plan (collectively, the "Current Stock Awards") will become immediately and
fully payable or distributable. At the Effective Time, each holder of a
Current Stock Award will be paid a cash payment in an amount equal to the
product of (i) the Merger Consideration (as defined below), and (ii) the
number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Current Stock Award, less any
income or employment withholding tax required by law.
Each performance award assigned in the 1997 to 1999 performance cycle or the
1998 to 2000 performance cycle under the Company's Performance Share Plan
(collectively, the "Deferred Performance Awards") will be awarded assuming a
performance level of 100% of the target award and will vest and become payable
on the following date (the "Vesting Date"): (i) on the third anniversary of
the Effective Time, provided the executive to whom such award was made has
been continuously employed by the Company or one of its affiliates from the
Effective Time until such date, or (ii) upon the death or disability or
retirement of the executive, the termination of the executive's employment by
the Company or one of its affiliates without cause or the termination by the
executive of his or her employment with the Company or one of its affiliates
for "good reason," provided such death, disability, retirement or termination
occurs on or after the Effective Time and prior to the third anniversary of
the Effective Time. "Good Reason" means (a) any termination of the employment
of the executive or any resignation of the executive's employment following a
reduction in his or her base salary in effect on the Effective Time or
following the Company's material breach of its duty to provide benefits or (b)
any other termination of employment of an executive that is approved by the
Company. On the Vesting Date, each holder of a Deferred Performance Award will
be paid a cash payment in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Merger
Consideration, and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such
Deferred Performance Award.
At the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit award under the SAP letter
agreements will be converted into a right to receive cash equal to the product
of (i) the Merger Consideration, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to such restricted stock unit award. This cash amount will be paid out
pursuant to the terms of the SAP letter agreement, to the extent that, and at
the same time as, such restricted stock unit would otherwise, in the absence
of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, have been vested and
paid out.
Deferred Compensation Plans. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, prior to the
acceptance of the Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, all stock units,
share units or stock equivalent units held under the Company's deferred
compensation plan for directors (the "Company Deferred Compensation Plans")
(each a "Company Stock Unit") will be converted into an obligation to pay cash
with a value equal to the product of (i) the Merger Consideration, and (ii)
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Unit. With
respect to the obligation to pay cash in respect of the conversion of Company
Stock Units under the Company Deferred Compensation Plans, the obligation will
be payable or distributable in accordance with the terms of the plan or
arrangement relating to the Company Stock Unit.
Continuation of Benefits. For a period of one year following the Effective
Time, Parent, the Company and its subsidiaries will maintain the employee
benefit plans and programs of the Company and its subsidiaries for active and
retired employees and former directors of the Company and its subsidiaries as
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. However, Parent, the
Company and its subsidiaries are not required to continue the Company's
Supplemental Management Incentive Plan, Performance Share Plan, the Company
Stock Option Plans, 1984 Restricted Stock Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan,
Common Stock investment option
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contained in the Profit Sharing, Investment and Pay Deferral Plan, or any
other plan providing for compensation based on the value of stock of Parent,
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or to provide any other incentive plan
in lieu thereof. Parent, the Company and its subsidiaries will, however, give
consideration to providing a reasonable level of based compensation.
Employment Agreements. In connection with the Merger Agreement, Degremont S.
A. ("Degremont"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, Purchaser and each of
Messrs. George M. Brannon, III, William E. Buchholz, John T. Burns, Michael E.
Kahler, James F. Lambe, Edward J. Mooney, Stephen D. Newlin, William J. Roe,
and W. Steven Weeber (each an "Executive") entered into a letter agreement
(each, an "Employment Letter") relating to the terms of their employment
following the consummation of the Merger. The Employment Letters contain
identical terms, except as noted below. The Employment Letters provide for the
Company to offer each Executive employment with the Company, and each
Executive to accept such employment on the terms and conditions described
below. The offer of employment is conditioned upon the completion of the
Merger and shall become effective at the Effective Time. The parties have
agreed to enter into definitive employment agreements, and it is anticipated
that such agreements will be between each Executive and the Company.
Each Employment Letter: (i) provides a three year employment period, with an
automatic one-year evergreen renewal after the initial three year period and a
six-month notice provision for non-renewal; and (ii) includes a retention
payment ("Retention Payment") equal to two times the Executive's salary plus a
regular target bonus (as of June 22, 1999) payable in cash, if the Executive
is employed by the Company for three years from the date of the change of
control.
Each of the Employment Letters provides for various severance payments,
depending on the circumstances under which an Executive's employment is
terminated. Executives will receive higher severance payments if their
employment is terminated "without cause" by the Company or for "good reason"
by the Executive. Each Employment Letter also provides for a full golden
parachute excise tax gross-up (excluding the Retention Payment) for future
changes in control, but only in the event of the Executive's termination
"without cause" by the Company or resignation for "good reason" by the
Executive.
Each Employment Letter also includes a provision for (i) non-competition
with the Company and non-solicitation of customers and employees during
employment and for two years thereafter, and (ii) a perpetual covenant for
non-disclosure, non-disparagement and availability for litigation support.
Each Employment Letter also provides for a settlement of existing Key
Agreements with each Executive through: (i) a payment of three times the sum
of the Executive's current base salary and regular management incentive
program ("MIP") bonus, to be paid at the Effective Time, (ii) three times the
Executive's supplemental MIP bonus and, in addition, the outstanding 1997 and
1998 Performance Share Awards to be paid at the end of three years, with
interest, if the Executive is still employed by the Company or in the event of
the Executive's prior death, disability, or termination by the Company
"without cause" or by the Executive for "good reason" or retirement on or
after age 62, assuming in each case, a performance level of 100% of the target
award; and (iii) payments of outstanding restricted stock awards, including
the outstanding Performance Share Plan awards, stock options, and payment to
be paid at the Effective Time with respect to the change in control payments
(except for the Retention Bonus) made by reason of the Merger Agreement.
(iii) Indemnification under Delaware Law, the Company's Restated Certificate
of Incorporation and By-Laws and the Merger Agreement
The Company is a Delaware Corporation. Reference is made to Section 145 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law ("Delaware Law"), which provides that a
corporation may indemnify any person who was, is, or is threatened to be made,
a party to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact
that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of
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another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding, provided such officer, director, employee or agent
acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the corporation's best interests and, with respect to criminal
proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was
unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an
action by or in the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except
that no indemnification is permitted without approval from the Delaware Court
of Chancery if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the
corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or
otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must
indemnify him or her against the expenses that such officer or director
actually and reasonably incurred. Article Sixth of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company provides for indemnification of the officers and
directors of the Company in certain circumstances similar to those listed
under Section 145 of Delaware Law.
Reference is also made to Section 102(b)(7) of Delaware Law, which enables a
corporation in its certificate of incorporation to eliminate or limit the
personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for
violations of the director's fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of Delaware Law
(providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or
unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from
which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Article Ninth of the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the "Restated
Certificate of Incorporation") provides that, except under certain
circumstances (identical to those listed under Section 102(b)(7) of Delaware
Law described above), directors of the Company shall not be personally liable
to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duties as a director.
The Merger Agreement provides that, prior to the Effective Time, the Company
will, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and regardless of
whether the Merger becomes effective, indemnify and hold harmless, and, after
the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will, to the fullest extent
permitted under applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless, each present and
former director, officer or employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") against all costs and expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and settlement amounts paid in connection with any claim, action,
suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before or after the
Effective Time), arising out of or pertaining to any action or omission in
their capacity as an officer, director or employee whether occurring before or
after the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement), for a period of six years after the
date of the Agreement. In the event of any such claim, (i) the Company or the
Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall pay as incurred, each
Indemnified Party's legal and other expenses (including costs of investigation
and preparation), including the fees and expenses of counsel selected by the
Indemnified Party, promptly after statements therefor are received, and (ii)
the Company and the Surviving Corporation shall cooperate in the defense of
any such matter; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Surviving
Corporation will be liable for any settlement effected without its written
consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld); and provided,
further, that, in the event that any claim for indemnification is asserted or
made within such six-year period, all rights to indemnification in respect to
such claims will continue until the disposition of such claim. The parties
intend, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, that this
indemnification will apply without limitation to negligent acts or omissions
of any Indemnified Party. The Company or the Surviving Corporation also have
agreed to pay all expenses, including counsel fees and expenses, that any
Indemnified Party may incur in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations
provided for above.
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The Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Company, the Surviving
Corporation or Parent or any of their respective successors or assigns (i)
consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger,
or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any
person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that
the successors and assigns of the Company, the Surviving Corporation or
Parent, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations of the
indemnification set forth in the Merger Agreement.
The indemnification in the Merger Agreement is intended to benefit the
Indemnified Parties and their respective heirs, executors and personal
representatives, may be enforced by them and shall be binding on the
successors and assigns of Parent, the Company and the Surviving Corporation.
The Merger Agreement provides that its indemnification provisions will not
limit or otherwise adversely affect any rights an Indemnified Party may have
under any agreement with the Company or any subsidiary, or the Company's or
any subsidiary's incorporating documents or by-laws.
The Merger Agreement further provides that the Certificate of Incorporation
and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation will contain provisions no less
favorable with respect to indemnification than are set forth in the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company, which provisions will
not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from
the Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights
thereunder of individuals who at the Effective Time were directors, officers,
employees, fiduciaries or agents of the Company, unless such modifications are
required by law.
The Merger Agreement also provides that the Surviving Corporation will
maintain in effect for six years from the Effective Time, if available, the
current directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by
the Company (provided that Parent and the Surviving Corporation may substitute
therefor policies of at least the same coverage containing terms and
conditions which are not materially less favorable) with respect to matters
occurring prior to the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no
event will Parent or the Surviving Corporation be required to expend more than
an amount per year equal to 200% of current annual premiums paid by the
Company for such insurance; provided, however, that, in the event of an
expiration, termination or cancellation of such current policies, Parent or
the Surviving Corporation will be required to obtain as much coverage as is
possible under substantially similar policies for such 200% amount.
All information contained in this Statement or incorporated herein by
reference concerning Purchaser or Parent, or actions or events with respect to
any of them, was provided by Purchaser or Parent, respectively, and the
Company takes no responsibility for such information. Information contained in
this Statement with respect to the Company and its advisors has been provided
by the Company.
(iv) The Merger Agreement
The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Merger Agreement.
Such summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger
Agreement, a copy of which is filed hereto as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated
herein by reference. The Merger Agreement is also summarized in Item 11 of the
Offer to Purchase. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in the following
summary of certain provisions of the Merger Agreement have the respective
meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.
The Offer. The Merger Agreement provides that Purchaser will commence the
Offer and that the obligation of Purchaser to consummate the Offer and to
accept for payment and to pay for any Common Stock and any ESOP Preferred
Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be subject to only those conditions
set forth therein. Purchaser expressly reserves the right to waive any such
conditions, to increase the Offer Price and to make any other changes in the
terms and conditions of the Offer; provided, however, that without the prior
written consent of the Company, Parent and Purchaser will not (i) waive the
Minimum Condition, (ii) decrease the Offer Price, (iii) reduce the maximum
number of Shares to be purchased in the Offer, (iv) amend or add to the
conditions to the Offer, (v) extend the Offer, (vi) change the form of
consideration payable in the Offer, or
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(vii) amend, add to or waive any other term of the Offer in any manner which
would be adverse to the Company or the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Purchaser may, without the consent of the Company, extend the Offer: (i) if,
on the scheduled expiration date of the Offer any of the conditions to
Purchaser's obligation to accept for payment and pay for the Shares have not
been satisfied or waived, until the fifth business day after the day Purchaser
reasonably believes to be the earliest date on which such conditions will be
satisfied; (ii) for any period required by any rule, regulation,
interpretation or position of the Commission or its staff applicable to the
Offer; or (iii) from time to time, for an aggregate period of not more than 10
business days (for all such extensions) beyond the latest expiration date that
would be permitted under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii). In addition, if,
on the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, (i) the Regulatory Condition
has not been satisfied or waived or (ii) a temporary restraining order
prohibiting the purchase of the Shares shall have been issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction in any country in which the Company or its Subsidiaries
have operations material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, Purchaser shall extend the Offer from time to time until five business
days after the satisfaction or waiver of the Regulatory Condition or the
lifting of such temporary restraining order, subject to the right of Parent,
Purchaser or the Company to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the
terms thereof. The Offer Price shall be net to the Holder in cash, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. Subject to the conditions of
the Offer, Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause Purchaser to, pay, as
promptly as practicable after expiration of the Offer, for all Shares which
are validly tendered and not withdrawn.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company has approved of
and consented to the Offer and has represented that (a) its Board of
Directors, at a meeting duly called and held on June 27, 1999, has duly
adopted resolutions that (i) determined that the Merger is advisable and that
the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Merger and the Offer, are fair to and in the best interests of the Holders,
(ii) approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby, (iii) recommended the acceptance of the Offer, the
approval of the Merger and the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement
by the stockholders of the Company and (iv) approved the taking of all other
applicable action necessary to render Section 203 of the DGCL and other state
takeover statutes and the Rights Agreement inapplicable to the Offer and the
Merger; and (b) Goldman Sachs has delivered to the Board of Directors of the
Company its opinion as of the date of the Merger Agreement (subsequently
confirmed in writing) that the consideration to be received by the Holders of
shares of Common Stock pursuant to each of the Offer and the Merger is fair to
such Holders of shares of Common Stock from a financial point of view.
The Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the terms and
conditions thereof, and in accordance with the DGCL, Purchaser shall be merged
with and into the Company on the date the Merger Agreement or a certificate of
merger or a certificate of ownership and merger (in either case, the
"Certificate of Merger") is filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware. The
filing of the Certificate of Merger shall be made as promptly as practicable
after the consummation of the Offer and the satisfaction or, if permissible,
waiver of the other conditions to the Merger. Following the Merger, the
separate corporate existence of Purchaser shall thereupon cease and the
Company shall continue as the surviving corporation of the Merger and shall
continue its corporate existence as a Subsidiary of Parent and shall continue
to be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by
Parent, Purchaser, the Company or the holders thereof, (a) each share of
Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than any shares of Common Stock held by any wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company or in the treasury of the Company, or which are held, directly or
indirectly by Parent, Purchaser or any direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent
or the Company, which shares of Common Stock will be canceled without any
conversion thereof and none of which shall receive any payment or distribution
with respect thereto, and other than shares of Common Stock, if any, held by
Holders who perfect their appraisal rights under the DGCL) will be canceled
and converted automatically into the right to receive $53.00 in cash payable
to the Holder thereof, without interest thereon (an amount equal to the price
to be paid for each share of common stock pursuant to the Offer), and (b) each
share of ESOP Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than shares of ESOP Preferred Stock held by any wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company or in the
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treasury of the Company, or which are held, directly or indirectly by Parent,
Purchaser or any direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent or the Company, which
shares of ESOP Preferred Stock will be canceled without any conversion thereof
and none of which shall receive any payment or distribution with respect
thereto and other than shares of ESOP Preferred Stock, if any, held by Holders
who perfect their appraisal rights under the DGCL) shall be canceled and shall
be converted automatically into the right to receive $1,060.00 payable,
without interest, to the holder of such share of ESOP Preferred Stock (an
amount equal to the price to be paid for each share of ESOP Preferred Stock in
the Offer). In addition, at the Effective Time, each share of the capital
stock of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time will be converted into, and exchanged for, one validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
Item 4. The Solicitation or Recommendation
(a) Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") held a special meeting
on June 27, 1999 to consider the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby. At the meeting, the Board unanimously (one director not
being present) (i) determined that the Merger is advisable and that the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and
the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of the holders of Shares,
(ii) approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby, and (iii) recommended that the holders of Shares accept
the Offer, approve the Merger and approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby.
The Board recommends that holders of Shares accept the Offer and tender
their Shares pursuant to the Offer.
Copies of a letter to the holders of Shares and a press release
communicating such approval and recommendation are filed as Exhibits 2 and 3,
respectively, to this Statement and are incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Background of the Merger and the Offer; Reasons for the Recommendation
(i) Background of the Merger and the Offer
The Company undertook an exploration of its strategic alternatives beginning
in the first quarter of 1999. During meetings from March 23 to April 5, 1999,
Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman"), the Company's financial advisor, presented
the Company's management with a description of strategic alternatives and a
list of various entities that it considered to be potentially suitable
strategic partners.
On April 5, 1999, representatives of Goldman and the Company met to consider
further the list of potential strategic partners in greater detail. At this
meeting, Goldman and the Company identified a select group of companies that
they considered suitable candidates for initial contact.
On April 9, 1999, a Goldman representative contacted Mr. Christian Maurin,
the Chairman of Degremont, and advised him that the Company was in the process
of considering various strategic options that could ultimately include a role
for Degremont. As a result, representatives of the Company and Degremont
participated in a meeting the following week. This meeting was held in Paris
and attended by, among others, Mr. W. Steven Weeber, Vice Chairman and
Executive Vice President of the Company, Mr. Maurin, Mr. Pascal Remy,
Executive Vice President of Degremont, Mr. Charles Dupont, Chief Executive
Officer of Degremont, and representatives of Goldman. At the meeting, the
Company advised it was still in the process of considering various strategic
options, including a possible sale of the Company. The parties also discussed
Degremont's potential suitability as a strategic partner with the Company.
Degremont entered into a confidentiality agreement, dated as of April 13,
1999, with the Company and was subsequently provided with background
information relating to the Company and its operations.
9
<PAGE>
Between the dates of April 6 and April 26, 1999, the Company directly, and
through Goldman, contacted six other entities that were considered as
potentially suitable strategic partners. Each of these six entities was
advised of the fact that the Company was considering various strategic
options. As a result of this initial contact, five of the six entities
approached by the Company and Goldman expressed a desire to consider further a
possible transaction with the Company. Two of these five entities entered into
confidentiality agreements with the Company, which agreements included
standstill provisions, and were permitted an opportunity to review background
information relating to the Company and its affiliates. Discussions with these
entities did not produce any firm proposals to acquire the Company.
On April 21, 1999, senior representatives of each of Degremont, Parent and
the Company met in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting was attended by, among
others, Mr. Edward J. Mooney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, and Goldman representatives. The Company and Goldman representatives
answered questions raised by the representatives of Parent, Degremont and J.
P. Morgan ("Morgan"), Parent's and Degremont's financial advisor.
On April 27, 1999, Mr. Maurin sent a letter to Mr. Mooney advising the
Company of Degremont's interest in acquiring the Company in a cash
transaction. At its regularly scheduled meeting of April 28, 1999, the
Company's Board of Directors was advised of (i) Degremont's interest in
acquiring the Company and (ii) developments relating to the various other
entities with whom confidentiality agreements had been signed.
On May 2, 1999, Goldman sent a letter to Degremont requesting that Degremont
indicate an approximate purchase price at which it would be willing to acquire
the Company. On May 10, 1999, Degremont provided the Company with a
preliminary non-binding proposal in which it (i) reiterated its interest in
acquiring the Company and (ii) indicated a potential purchase price in the
range of $43.00-$49.00 per share of Common Stock. The Company was advised that
the preliminary proposal was subject to Degremont's due diligence review of
the Company. During the evening of May 10, a representative of Goldman advised
Mr. Maurin and Mr. Remy that there would be no further discussions if the
proposed purchase price remained in that range ($43.00-$49.00).
On May 12, 1999, Mr. Maurin and Mr. Mooney participated in a telephone
conversation during which they agreed to meet to discuss a possible
transaction between the parties. On May 17 and May 18, 1999, senior
representatives of Degremont, Parent and the Company participated in meetings
in Paris. At these meetings, the participants discussed various issues
relating to a possible transaction among the parties, including potential
synergies between the companies.
On May 25, 1999, Degremont sent a further non-binding proposal relating to a
potential cash acquisition of the Company at a purchase price of $52.00 per
share of Common Stock. This offer represented a premium of 53% over the
Company's then-current market price and a premium of 66% over the Company's
three-month weighted average market price. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Mooney and
Mr. Maurin had a telephone conversation during which Mr. Mooney advised Mr.
Maurin that the Company's Board of Directors would be meeting on June 5, 1999
to consider, among other things, Degremont's non-binding proposal to acquire
the Company and the status of discussions with other entities.
Following the Company's Board meeting, Mr. Mooney had a telephone
conversation with Mr. Maurin on June 7, 1999 during which he advised Mr.
Maurin that, although the Company's Board appreciated Degremont's most recent
offer and considered it to be a serious proposal, the purchase price remained
insufficient.
On June 9, 1999, Mr. Maurin and Mr. Mooney had a further telephone
conversation during which they reached an agreement, subject to the favorable
negotiation of a definitive merger agreement, whereby Degremont indicated it
would acquire the Company for a purchase price of $54.00 per share of Common
Stock, provided it was given certain assurances relating to exclusivity in
negotiations with the Company.
From June 11, 1999, legal, financial and accounting representatives of
Parent continued the due diligence review of the Company until a definitive
merger agreement was reached.
10
<PAGE>
Beginning on June 16, 1999 through June 18, 1999, representatives of Parent,
Degremont and the Company met in New York City to discuss and negotiate the
proposed acquisition of the Company.
On June 17, 1999, the Company's Board met to discuss the status of
discussions. Following the Company's Board meeting, representatives of Parent
and Degremont participated in a meeting with Mr. Mooney, Mr. Weeber, Mr.
Stephen D. Newlin, President of the Company, Mr. William E. Buchholz, Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Mr. James F.
Lambe, Senior Vice President for Human Resources of the Company, during which
the parties considered the potential terms of the continued employment of the
Company's officers with the Company following the proposed acquisition of the
Company by Parent. Subsequently, four additional officers participated in
similar discussions.
On June 24, 1999, following a significant increase in the trading volume and
price of the Company's Common Stock, the Company issued a press release
announcing that it was engaged in discussions regarding a possible business
combination. Later that same day, members of the senior management of Parent,
Degremont and the Company met in New York City to discuss further ongoing
issues raised during the due diligence review. During these discussions,
Parent indicated it wished to renegotiate the purchase price. Later that
afternoon, the Company's Board was advised of this development and about
issues raised by Parent with respect to the proposed merger agreement.
On June 25, 1999, the parties continued to negotiate the proposed purchase
price and other terms of the proposed merger agreement relating to the
conditions to the Offer, termination rights and payment of fees and expenses.
Agreement was reached, subject to final negotiation of the definitive
agreement, that Parent would agree to acquire the Company for a purchase price
of $53.00 per share of Common Stock and $1060.00 per share of ESOP Preferred
Stock.
The legal representatives of Parent and the Company continued to negotiate
the terms of the proposed merger agreement throughout June 26 and June 27,
1999.
At a meeting held on June 27, 1999, the Company's Board of Directors
approved Parent's offer to acquire the Company for a purchase price of $53.00
per share of Common Stock and $1060.00 per share of ESOP Preferred Stock, the
Merger and the Merger Agreement. Later that same evening, the Merger Agreement
was executed by Parent, Purchaser and the Company.
(ii) Reasons for the Board's Recommendation
In approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby,
and recommending that holders of Shares accept the Offer and tender their
shares pursuant to the Offer, the Board considered a number of factors,
including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The financial condition and results of operations of the Company, as
well as the projected financial results, prospects and strategic objectives
of the Company, taking into consideration the risks involved in achieving
those results, prospects and objectives in the Company's industry. The
members of the Board were knowledgeable about the Company's affairs,
including the present and possible future economic and competitive
environment in which the Company operates its business. The Board viewed as
supportive that the transaction offered a substantial premium over current
and historic trading prices for shares of Common Stock, and that the
achievement of comparable values through growth of the Company's business
could not be achieved with certainty in the near term.
(2) Historical market prices and trading information with respect to the
Common Stock, including: the fact that the $53.00 per share of Common Stock
to be received by the Company's stockholders in both the Offer and Merger
represents a substantial premium of 24% over the closing market price of
$42.50 per share of Common Stock on June 25, 1999 (the last trading day
prior to the Board's approval of the transaction referred to in paragraph
(a) of this Item 4) and of 42% over the closing market price of $37.25 per
share of Common Stock on June 23, 1999 (the last trading day prior to the
Company's public announcement that it
11
<PAGE>
was engaged in business combination discussions); and the fact that the
$53.00 per share of Common Stock to be received by the Company's
stockholders in both the Offer and Merger represents a premium of 24% over
the ten-year high market price per share of Common Stock. An analysis of
premiums paid in comparable transactions supported the Board's
recommendations.
(3) Developments within the speciality chemicals industry, including the
trend towards consolidation within the industry which has resulted in
competitors that are significantly larger and have greater financial
resources than the Company, which indicated to the Board the challenges
facing the Company in remaining competitive in a consolidating industry.
(4) The Board's view, after consultation with management and Goldman and
considering the process, regarding the likelihood of the existence of other
buyers on terms as favorable as those in the Offer and the Merger. The
Board determined that, based on the terms contained in the Offer and the
Merger, including the Offer Price, it was unlikely that the stockholders of
the Company would be extended a comparable offer on as favorable terms.
(5) Presentations to the Board by Goldman and the oral opinion of Goldman
(subsequently confirmed in writing) that, as of June 27, 1999, the $53.00
per share of Common Stock in cash to be received by the holders of shares
of Common Stock in the Offer and the Merger is fair from a financial point
of view to such holders. The full text of the written opinion of Goldman,
which sets forth assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered
and limits on the review undertaken, is attached as Exhibit 4 to this
Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. THE HOLDERS OF SHARES
ARE URGED TO READ THIS OPINION IN ITS ENTIRETY.
(6) The availability of appraisal rights under Section 262 of Delaware
Law for dissenting stockholders.
(7) The terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the course of
the negotiations resulting in the execution thereof. The Board viewed
favorably that the Merger Agreement imposed limited conditions to the
acceptance of Shares in the Offer and closing of the Merger and the limited
termination rights under the Merger Agreement, thus making consummation of
the transaction more likely than one in which the agreement imposes more
significant conditions to the consummation or greater termination rights.
(8) That the Board viewed each share of ESOP Preferred Stock as being
financially equivalent to the twenty shares of Common Stock into which it
can be converted. Further, the Board viewed the Offer and the Merger as
according equivalent treatment to both the ESOP Preferred Stock and the
Common Stock given that holders of ESOP Preferred Stock were entitled to
receive $1060.00 per share of such stock pursuant to the Offer and the
Merger, and that such amount reflected the fact that each share of ESOP
Preferred Stock automatically converts into twenty shares of Common Stock
upon a transfer of record ownership (i.e., $53.00 x 20 = $1,060.00).
(9) The likelihood that the proposed acquisition would be consummated,
including the likelihood of obtaining the regulatory approvals required
pursuant to, and satisfying the other conditions to, the Offer and the
Merger contained in the Merger Agreement, the experience, reputation and
financial condition of Parent and the risks to the Company if the
acquisition were not consummated.
(10) That the Merger Agreement permits the Board, in the exercise of its
fiduciary duties, to terminate the Merger Agreement in favor of an
unsolicited superior acquisition proposal and the conditions permitting
such termination.
(11) The recommendation of the Company's management with respect to the
proposed transaction.
The members of the Board evaluated the factors described above in view of
their knowledge of the business and operations of the Company and their
business judgment. In view of the wide variety of factors considered in
connection with its evaluation of the Offer and the Merger, the Board did not
find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise attempt to assign
relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its
determination. On balance, the factors described above supported the Board's
recommendation. The Board recognized that Purchaser, by virtue of the
acquisition of the Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement, will
12
<PAGE>
have sufficient voting power to approve the Merger without the affirmative
vote of any other stockholder of the Company. While consummation of the Offer
would result in the remaining stockholders of the Company receiving a premium
for their shares of Common Stock over the trading prices of such shares prior
to the announcement of the Offer and the Merger, it would eliminate any
opportunity for the stockholders of the Company other than Purchaser to
participate in the potential future growth prospects of the Company. The
Board, however, believed that the value of such potential future growth was
reflected in the Offer price to be paid and also recognized that there can be
no assurance of growth, if any, to be attained by the Company in the future.
Item 5. Persons Retained, Employed or to be Compensated
Except as described below, neither the Company nor any person acting on its
behalf has or currently intends to employ, retain or compensate any person to
make solicitations or recommendations to the stockholders on its behalf
concerning the Offer.
Goldman has been retained by the Company to act as its financial advisor in
connection with the Offer and the Merger. Pursuant to a letter agreement dated
June 4, 1999 between the Company and Goldman, the Company has agreed to pay
Goldman a cash fee of $23,000,000 for its services to the Company, $4 million
of which became payable upon execution of the Merger Agreement and the balance
of which is payable upon consummation of the Offer. The Company also has
agreed to reimburse Goldman for its reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses,
including reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel. The Company has further
agreed to indemnify and hold harmless Goldman and each of its directors,
officers, agents, employees and controlling persons against losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) related
to or arising out of its rendering of services under its engagement as
financial advisor, and will reimburse Goldman and each other person
indemnified for all legal and other expenses as incurred in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or
proceeding.
Goldman has provided certain investment banking services to the Company and
Parent from time to time for which they have received customary compensation
including, with respect to Parent, acting as its financial advisor in
connection with entering into an agreement to acquire Calgon Corporation, a
subsidiary of Imetal S.A., announced on June 15, 1999. In the ordinary course
of its business, Goldman and its affiliates may actively trade or hold
securities of the Company and Parent for their own accounts or for the
accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short
position in such securities.
Item 6. Recent Transactions and Intent with Respect to Securities
(a) Except as set forth in the following sentences, no transactions in the
Shares have been effected during the past 60 days by the Company or, to the
best of the Company's knowledge, by any executive officer, director, affiliate
or subsidiary of the Company. On June 3, 1999, Mr. G.M. Brannon, Group Vice
President and President, Industrial Division of the Company, exercised options
to purchase 3,700 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.15 per
share. On June 14, 1999, Mr. J.T. Burns, Group Vice President and President,
Pulp and Paper Division, exercised options to purchase 4,800 shares of Common
Stock at an excercise price of $20.15 per share.
(b) To the best of the Company's knowledge, all of the Company's executive
officers, directors, affiliates and subsidiaries currently intend to tender
pursuant to the Offer all the Shares held of record or beneficially owned by
such persons, subject to and consistent with applicable securities laws and
any fiduciary obligations of such person.
Item 7. Certain Negotiations and Transactions by the Subject Company
(a) Except as described in Items 3 and 4 above, the Company is not engaged
in any negotiation in response to the Offer which relates to or would result
in (i) an extraordinary transaction, such as a merger or reorganization,
involving the Company; (ii) a purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount
of assets by the Company; (iii) a tender offer for or other acquisition of
securities by or of the Company; or (iv) any material change in the present
capitalization or dividend policy of the Company.
13
<PAGE>
(b) Except as described in Items 3 or 4 above, there are no transactions,
board resolutions, agreements in principle or signed contracts in response to
the Offer that relate to or would result in one or more of the events referred
to in Item 7(a) above.
Item 8. Additional Information to be Furnished
The Information Statement attached hereto as Annex I is being furnished in
connection with the contemplated designation by Purchaser, pursuant to the
Merger Agreement, of certain persons to be appointed to the Board other than
at a meeting of the Company's stockholders, following the purchase by
Purchaser of the number of Shares pursuant to the Offer necessary to satisfy
the Minimum Condition.
Item 9. Material to be Filed as Exhibits
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.
-----------
<C> <S>
Exhibit 1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 27, 1999 among
Parent, Purchaser and the Company.
Exhibit 2 Letter dated July 1, 1999, from the Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer to the stockholders of the Company.*
Exhibit 3 Press release issued by the Company dated June 28, 1999.
Exhibit 4 Opinion of Goldman Sachs & Co dated June 28, 1999 (included as
Annex II to this Statement).*
Exhibit 5 Confidentiality Agreement dated April 13, 1999.
Exhibit 6 Employment Letters and related Term Sheets.
</TABLE>
- --------
* Included with Schedule 14D-9 mailed to stockholders of the Company.
14
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Nalco Chemical Company
/s/ William E. Parry
By: _________________________________
Name: William E. Parry
Title:Vice President and General
Counsel
Dated: July 1, 1999
15
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
No.
----------
<C> <S>
Exhibit 1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 27, 1999 among
Parent, Purchaser and the Company.
Exhibit 2 Letter dated July 1, 1999, from the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer to the stockholders of the Company *
Exhibit 3 Press release issued by the Company dated June 28, 1999.
Exhibit 4 Opinion of Goldman Sachs & Co dated June 28, 1999 (included as
Annex II to this Statement).*
Exhibit 5 Confidentiality Agreement dated April 13, 1999.
Exhibit 6 Employment Letters and related Term Sheets
</TABLE>
- --------
* Included with Schedule 14D-9 mailed to stockholders of the Company.
<PAGE>
ANNEX I
NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
One Nalco Center
Naperville, Illinois 60563-1198
----------------
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 14(f) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND RULE 14f-1 THEREUNDER
----------------
NO VOTE OR OTHER ACTION OF THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS
IS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT.
NO PROXIES ARE BEING SOLICITED AND
YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND THE COMPANY A PROXY.
----------------
This Information Statement, which is being mailed on or about July 1, 1999
to the holders of shares of the common stock, par value $0.1875 per share,
(the "Common Stock") and of the Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock, par
value $1.00 per share (the "ESOP Preferred Stock") (shares of Common Stock and
shares of ESOP Preferred Stock hereinafter collectively referred to as
"Shares"), of Nalco Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
is being furnished in connection with the designation by H2O Acquisition Co.,
a Delaware corporation ("Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Suez
Lyonnaise des Eaux, a societe anonyme organized and existing under the laws of
the Republic of France ("Parent"), of persons ("Purchaser Designees") to the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). Such designation is to be
made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 27, 1999
(the "Merger Agreement") among the Company, Parent and Purchaser.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Purchaser is commencing a cash tender
offer (the "Offer") on July 1, 1999 to purchase all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price of $53.00 per share (such
amount, or any greater amount per share of Common Stock paid pursuant to the
Offer being hereinafter referred as the "Per Common Share Amount") and all the
issued and outstanding shares of the ESOP Preferred Stock at a price of
$1060.00 per share, net to the seller in cash. The Offer is scheduled to
expire at 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, on Friday, July 30, 1999, unless
extended. The Offer is subject to, among other things, the condition that
there shall have been validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the
expiration of the Offer at least such number of Shares which, when added to
any shares of Common Stock already owned by Parent, shall constitute a
majority of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock on a fully diluted
basis (including, without limitation, all shares of Common Stock issuable upon
the conversion of the ESOP Preferred Stock and any convertible securities or
upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights) (the "Minimum
Condition"). The Merger Agreement also provides for the merger (the "Merger")
of Purchaser with and into the Company as promptly as practicable after the
consummation of the Offer and the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of
the other conditions of the Merger. Following the consummation of the Merger
(the "Effective Time"), the Company will be the surviving corporation (the
"Surviving Corporation") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. In the
Merger, each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (other than shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of
the Company or by Parent, Purchaser, or any indirect or direct wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent or the Company, all of which will be canceled, and other
than shares of Common Stock, if any, held by stockholders who have perfected
rights as dissenting stockholders under Delaware law), together with the
associated right to purchase Company Series C Junior Participating Preferred
Stock (the "Junior C Preferred Stock") pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated
as of June 20, 1996, between the Company and First Chicago Trust Company of
New York (the "Rights Agreement"), will be canceled and will be converted into
the right to receive the Per Common Share Amount in cash (the "Merger
Consideration"). Each share of ESOP Preferred Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective
<PAGE>
Time (other than shares of ESOP Preferred Stock held in the treasury of the
Company or by Parent, Purchaser, or any indirect or direct wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent or the Company, all of which will be canceled) will be
canceled and will be converted into the right to receive $1,060.00 in cash
(which amount is equal to the product of the Merger Consideration multiplied
by the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of ESOP
Preferred Stock will be convertible immediately prior to the Effective Time).
Right to Designate Directors; The Purchaser Designees
The Merger Agreement provides that, promptly upon the purchase by Purchaser
of Shares pursuant to the Offer, and from time to time thereafter, Purchaser
will be entitled to designate up to such number of directors, rounded up to
the next whole number, on the Board as will give Purchaser representation on
the Board equal to the product of (i) the total number of directors on the
Board (giving effect to the directors elected pursuant to this sentence)
multiplied by (ii) the percentage that the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by Purchaser or any affiliate of Purchaser
following such purchase bears to the total number of shares of Common Stock
then outstanding. The Company will, at such time, promptly take all actions
necessary to cause Purchaser's designees to be elected as directors of the
Company, including increasing the size of the Board or securing the
resignations of incumbent directors or both. At such times, the Company shall
use all reasonable efforts to cause persons designated by Purchaser to
constitute the same percentage of each committee of the Board as persons
designated by Purchaser to constitute the Board to the extent permitted by
applicable law.
Following the election or appointment of Purchaser Designees and prior to
the Effective Time, any amendment to the Merger Agreement or the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company, any termination of the
Merger Agreement by the Company, any extension by the Company of the time for
the performance of any obligations or other acts of Parent or Purchaser or any
waiver of any of the Company's rights thereunder shall require the concurrence
of a majority of the directors of the Company present at the meeting who are
not designees of Purchaser or employees of the Company.
The terms of the Merger Agreement, a summary of the events leading up to the
Offer and the execution of the Merger Agreement and other information
concerning the Offer and the Merger are contained in the Offer to Purchase and
in the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 of the Company
(the "Schedule 14D-9") with respect to the Offer, copies of which are being
delivered to stockholders of the Company contemporaneously herewith. Certain
other documents (including the Merger Agreement) were filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as exhibits to the Schedule
14D-9 and as exhibits to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 of
Purchaser and Parent (the "Schedule 14D-1"). The exhibits to the Schedule 14D-
9 and the Schedule 14D-1 may be examined at, and copies thereof may be
obtained from, the regional offices of and public and reference facilities
maintained by the SEC (except that the exhibits thereto cannot be obtained
from the regional offices of the SEC) in the manner set forth in Section 7 of
the Offer to Purchase. The Company has been informed that Parent intends to
finance the purchase of Shares in the Offer and the Merger through existing
cash and marketable securities.
No action is required by the stockholders of the Company in connection with
the election or appointment of the Purchaser Designees to the Board. However,
Section 14(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the mailing to the Company's stockholders of the
information set forth in this Information Statement prior to a change in a
majority of the Company's directors otherwise than at a meeting of the
Company's stockholders.
The information contained in this Information Statement concerning Parent,
Purchaser and Purchaser Designees, has been furnished to the Company by such
persons, and the Company assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of such information. The Schedule 14D-1 indicates that the
principal executive offices of Purchaser and Parent are located at 1, rue
d'Astorg, 75008 Paris, France.
A-2
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
General
The shares of Common Stock and ESOP Preferred Stock are the only classes of
voting securities of the Company outstanding. Each share of Common Stock is
entitled to one vote and each share of ESOP Preferred Stock is entitled to 20
votes. As of June 24, 1999, there were 66,263,894 shares of Common Stock
outstanding and 353,908.409 shares of ESOP Preferred Stock outstanding. The
Board currently consists of eleven members. Each director holds office until
his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation
or removal.
Security Ownership of Management
The following table shows the number of shares of Common Stock and ESOP
Preferred Stock owned beneficially (as defined by the SEC) by each director,
director nominee and named executive officer (in each instance, amounting to
less than 1% of the outstanding class) and by all present directors and
executive officers as a group (2.68% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
and less than 1% of the outstanding shares of ESOP Preferred Stock) as of June
30, 1999, with sole voting and investment power unless otherwise indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of
Shares of ESOP
Common Preferred
Name Stock Stock
---- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
J. L. Ballesteros.................................... 20,800 --
G. M. Brannon........................................ 115,163 161
W. E. Buchholz....................................... 129,763 99
H. M. Dean........................................... 38,081 --
J. P. Frazee, Jr..................................... 43,465 --
A. L. Kelly.......................................... 37,747 --
B. S. Kelly.......................................... 8,800 --
F. A. Krehbiel....................................... 44,831 --
E. J. Mooney......................................... 663,309 252
S. D. Newlin......................................... 164,451 179
S. A. Penrose........................................ 10,491 --
J. J. Shea........................................... 29,831 --
W. S. Weeber......................................... 247,135 252
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group...... 1,775,207 1,359
</TABLE>
A-3
<PAGE>
Security Ownership of Certain Owners
Based on Schedule 13G filings received, the following companies are the only
persons known to the Company that own beneficially more than 5% of any class
of its voting securities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address of Amount and Nature of Percent
Title of Class Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership of Class
-------------- ------------------------------ -------------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Shares of Common Stock.. FMR Corp. 8,235,029(1) 12.57%
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA 02109
Shares of Common Stock.. Sanford C. Bernstein Co., Inc. 7,908,922(2) 12.1%
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Shares of Common Stock.. Dodge & Cox 3,479,140(3) 5.3%
One Sansome St., 35th Fl.
San Francisco, CA 94104
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Fidelity Management and Research Company ("Fidelity"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of FMR Corp., beneficially owns 7,235,100 of these shares
(11.046%). Edward C. Johnson 3rd, Chairman, of FMR Corp., through its
control of Fidelity and the Fidelity Funds, each reports sole power to
dispose of 7,235,100 shares. Voting power over these shares resides with
the Funds' Boards of Trustees. Fidelity Management Trust Company, a wholly
owned subsidiary of FMR Corp., beneficially owns 999,929 shares or 1.526%.
Mr. Johnson and FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity Management
Trust Company, each report sole dispositive power over 999,929 shares,
sole power to vote or direct the voting of 914,429 shares and no power to
vote or direct the voting of 85,500 shares. Members of Mr. Johnson's
family and trusts for their benefit may be deemed to form a controlling
group with respect to FMR Corp.
(2) Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc. has sole voting power over 4,595,612 of
these shares, shared voting power over 720,121 shares and sole dispostive
power over 7,908,922 shares.
(3) Dodge & Cox has sole voting power over 3,080,952 of these shares, shared
voting power over 39,900 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,479,140
shares.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Purchaser Designees
Purchaser has informed the Company that each of Purchaser Designees listed
below has consented to act as a director.
None of Purchaser Designees is a director of, or holds any position with,
the Company. To the best knowledge of the Company, none of Purchaser Designees
or their associates beneficially owns any equity securities, or rights to
acquire any equity securities of the Company or has been involved in any
transactions with the Company or any of its directors or executive officers
that are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
SEC.
It is expected that Purchaser Designees may assume office at any time
following the purchase by Purchaser of such number of Shares that satisfies
the Minimum Condition and that, upon assuming office, Purchaser Designees will
thereafter constitute at least a majority of the Board.
Biographical information concerning each of Purchaser Designees, directors
and executive officers is presented on the following pages.
A-4
<PAGE>
Purchaser Designees
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Current Present Principal Occupation or Employment;
Business Address Age Material Positions Held During the Past Five Years
- ---------------- --- --------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Philippe Brongniart..... 60 Member of the Executive Board, Suez Lyonnaise des
Eaux (1997-present); Director, H2O Acquisition Co.
(1999-present); Executive Vice President, Lyonnaise
des Eaux (1993-1997).
Patrick Buffet.......... 45 Executive Vice President, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux
(1998-present); Director, H2O Acquisition Co. (1999-
present); Director of International Holdings,
Societe Generale de Belgique (1994-1998).
Christian Maurin........ 52 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Degremont
(1999-present); Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Banque Indosuez (1996-1998); President, H2O
Acquisition Co. (1999-present); Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Banque Sofinco (1993-1996).
</TABLE>
Current Directors and Executive Officers
The directors and executive officers of the Company are:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position
---- --- --------
<C> <C> <S>
E. J. Mooney.............. 57 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
S. D. Newlin.............. 46 President
W. S. Weeber.............. 56 Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President
J. J. Shea................ 61 Director
B. S. Kelly............... 54 Director
H. M. Dean................ 61 Director
S. A. Penrose............. 53 Director
J. L. Ballesteros......... 57 Director
J. P. Frazee, Jr.......... 54 Director
A. L. Kelly............... 61 Director
F. A. Krehbiel............ 57 Director
G. Pinzon................. 58 Group Vice President and President, Nalco
Latin America
G.M. Brannon.............. 47 Group Vice President and President,
Industrial Division
J. T. Burns............... 51 Group Vice President and President, Pulp
and Paper Division
W. J. Roe................. 45 Group Vice President and President,
Process and Pacific Divisions
W.E. Buchholz............. 56 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
</TABLE>
E. J. Mooney
E. J. Mooney has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman of
the Board since 1994. He was President from 1990 to 1998. Mr. Mooney also
serves on the Board of Directors of Northern Trust Corporation and its
principal banking subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company, Morton International
and FMC Corporation.
A-5
<PAGE>
S. D. Newlin
S. D. Newlin was elected President of the Company in December, 1998. He was
Group Vice President, President, Specialty Division since January 1, 1998 and
Group Vice President, President, Nalco Europe from 1994 through 1997.
W. S. Weeber
W. S. Weeber was elected as Vice Chairman of the Company in December, 1998
and has been Executive Vice President, Operations Staff since 1993.
J. J. Shea
J. J. Shea has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Spiegel,
Inc. (apparel, specialty retail and catalog sales) from 1985 until he retired
in 1998. He was Vice Chairman from 1989 until his retirement. Mr. Shea also
serves on the Board of Directors of Pulte Corp.
B. S. Kelly
B. S. Kelly has been Corporate Vice President, Dow Corning Corporation, and
President, Dow Corning U.S.A., since 1993 and President, Dow Corning America,
since 1996. On May 15, 1995, Dow Corning U.S.A. voluntarily filed a petition
in bankruptcy seeking protection under Chapter 11. The matter is still pending
in the bankruptcy court.
H. M. Dean
H. M. Dean has been Chairman of Dean Foods Company (a diversified food
processor and distributor) since 1989. He became Chief Executive Officer in
1987. Mr. Dean also serves on the Board of Directors of Ball Corporation,
Yellow Corporation and Dean Foods Company.
S. A. Penrose
S. A. Penrose was elected President B Corporate and Institutional Services
of Northern Trust Corporation (banking) effective February, 1998. She was
Executive Vice President from 1993 to 1998 and Head of the Corporate and
Institutional Services Business Unit since 1994. She was Senior Vice President
(subsequently Executive Vice President) responsible for the Wealth Management
Group as well as marketing and product development for the bank's Personal
Financial Services from 1992 to 1994.
J. L. Ballesteros
J. L. Ballesteros has been Chairman of the Executive Board of Grupo Mexicano
de Desarrollo, S.A. de C.V. (a holding company), since 1975. From 1996 through
August, 1997, he was Chairman, and from 1988 through August, 1997 President
and Chief Executive Officer of Synkro, S.A. de C.V. (a holding company). He
was Chairman from 1994 through August, 1997 of both Kayser Roth Corporation
(U.S. based-hosiery) and Revision, S.A. (Argentina based hosiery company) and
Chairman since 1992 through August, 1997 for Arcoplus, S.A. (Argentina based-
hosiery). He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cia. Mexicana de
Aviacion, S.A. from 1994 through 1996. Mr. Ballesteros also serves on the
Board of Directors of Grupo Mexicano de Desarrollo, S.A. de C.V., Desc
Sociedad de Fomento Industrial, S. A. de C.V., Afianzadora Lotonal, S.A. de
C.V., Kativo Chemical Industries, S.A., Ixe Grupo Financiero S.A. and member
of the Board of Trustees of Fondo de Investigacion y Cultura, A.C., Children's
Museum of Mexico City, Casa Alianza, S.A. de C.V. and Casa de la Amistad para
Ninos con Cancer, S.A. de C.V.
J. P. Frazee, Jr.
J. P. Frazee, Jr., has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Paging Network, Inc. (a telecommunications company) since August, 1997. He
was President and Chief Operating Officer of Sprint Corporation (a diversified
telecommunications company) from March 1993 to August, 1993. He was Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Centel Corporation (a telecommunications firm)
from 1987 to 1993. Mr. Frazee also serves on the Board of Directors of Dean
Foods Company, Security Capital Group Incorporated, Paging Network, Inc. and
Homestead Village, Inc.
A-6
<PAGE>
A. L. Kelly
A. L. Kelly has been the Managing Partner of KEL Enterprises L.P. (a holding
and investment partnership) since 1982. Mr. Kelly also serves on the Board of
Directors of Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) A.G., Deere & Company, Northern
Trust Corporation and its principal banking subsidiary, The Northern Trust
Company, Snap-on Incorporated, and Thyssen Industrie AG.
F. A. Krehbiel
F. A. Krehbiel has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Molenx
Incorporated (a manufacturer and distributor of electrical and electronic
devices) since 1993. Mr. Krehbiel also serves on the Board of Directors of
Tellabs, Inc., Northern Trust Corporation and its principal banking
subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company, Molex Incorporated and DeVry Inc.
G. Pinzon
G. Pinzon has been Group Vice President, President, Nalco Latin America
since February 1997. He had been Vice President, President, Nalco Latin
America since 1994.
G. M. Brannon
G. M. Brannon has been Group Vice President, President, Industrial Division
since January 1, 1998. He had been Group Vice President, President, Nalco
Pacific since February 1997. He was Vice President, President, Nalco Pacific
from 1994 to 1997.
J. T. Burns
J. T. Burns has been Group Vice President and President, Pulp and Paper
Division since February 1999. He was Vice President, President, Pulp and Paper
Division from December 1998 through January 1999. He had been Vice President,
President, Pacific Division from January 1998 through December 1998. He was
President of Nalco Canada from 1994 to 1998.
W. J. Roe
W. J. Roe has been Group Vice President and President, Process and Pacific
Divisions since February 1999. He had been Vice President, President, Process
Division since January 1998 and then was also named President, Pacific
Division in December 1998. He was General Manager of the Mining and Mineral
Processing Chemicals Group from 1994 to 1998.
W. E. Buchholz
W. E. Buchholz has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
since February 1997. He had been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
since 1993.
Meetings and Committees of the Board
The Board held six regular and special meetings during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998. Each director attended more than 75% of the meetings of the
Board and Committees on which he/she served.
The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, composed of four
directors, three of whom are non-employee directors, may exercise all of the
authority of the Board except as provided by Delaware Law and the Company's
By-laws and those powers reserved for other Committees of the Board. Present
members are E. J. Mooney (Chairman), H. G. Bernthal, H. M. Dean, and J. P.
Frazee, Jr. The Executive Committee did not meet in 1998.
A-7
<PAGE>
The Audit Committee. The Audit Committee, composed of six non-employee
directors, is responsible for (i) reviewing the Company's accounting and
auditing policies and practices, (ii) reviewing the appointment and discharge
of independent accountants, (iii) reviewing the independence of the
independent accountants, (iv) reviewing the scope and nature of the non-audit
related services performed by the independent accountants and (v) reporting to
and making recommendations to the Board with respect to the foregoing. The
Audit Committee generally meets with management, the internal auditors and the
independent accountants three times each year. The independent accountants and
internal auditors have full and free access to the Audit Committee without
management's presence to discuss internal accounting control, results of
audits and financial reporting matters. Present members are J. P. Frazee, Jr.
(Chairman), J. L. Ballesteros, H. Corless, H. M. Dean, A. L. Kelly and S. A.
Penrose.
The Executive Compensation Committee. The Executive Compensation Committee,
composed of four non-employee directors, is responsible for (i) recommending
to the Board the compensation to be paid to the Chief Executive Officer, (ii)
approving compensation of corporate officers who are scheduled on matters
related to executive compensation and (iii) administering the Company's
Management Incentive Plan, stock option plans, Employee Stock Compensation
Plan, and Performance Share Plan. Present members are H. G. Bernthal
(Chairman), B. S. Kelly, F. A. Krehbiel and J. J. Shea. In 1998, this
Committee met twice.
The Board Affairs and Nominating Committee. The Board Affairs and Nominating
Committee, composed of all the non-employee directors plus the Chairman, is
responsible for reviewing the qualifications of possible directors to fill
Board vacancies. Candidates for election to the Board submitted by
shareholders will be considered by the Committee if sent to the Secretary with
the candidate's qualifications. H. M. Dean is the Chairman of the Committee.
The Board Affairs and Nominating Committee met once in 1998.
Director Compensation
Compensation of non-employee directors of the Company consists of an annual
retainer of $25,000 plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended, 200 shares of
Common Stock under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Compensation Plan, an
additional $6,000 per year for membership on one or more Committees of the
Board, and an additional fee of $6,000 per year to the Chairmen of the Audit
Committee, Executive Compensation Committee and Board Affairs and Nominating
Committee. Directors also receive options to purchase 4,000 shares of Common
Stock under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan. Directors who are
employees of the Company do not receive fees for service on the Board or any
committees.
A deferred compensation plan is available to all non-employee directors
under which they may defer all or a part of their annual retainer and
committee and attendance fees for any year and receive, generally following
retirement or at such earlier time as the Board approves, the amount computed
as set forth below, in five equal annual payments (or such other number of
annual payments, not more than ten, as the Company elects). Deferred
compensation accounts set up for directors who elect deferral are credited
with the deferred amounts. These amounts are converted into share units based
on the average of the month-end closing prices of the Company's Common Stock
during the calendar year and credited with the dividend equivalents of the
dividends a director would have received had the director owned shares of
Common Stock equal to the share units in the director's account, also
converted into share units on the same basis. At the end of the deferral
period, units are converted into cash based on the average of the month-end
closing prices of the Company's common stock during the year prior to or of
payment.
The Board has adopted a policy establishing the retirement date of each
member of the Board to be the date of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders which
next follows the earlier of either the date of retirement from employment by
the Company or the date of the member's 70th birthday. Early retirement can be
taken following the attainment of a non-employee director's 68th birthday.
Such policy also provides that upon retirement from the Board, each non-
employee director with at least five years of service on the Board shall be
paid an annual amount equal to the annual retainer paid to non-employee
directors multiplied by a factor, the numerator of which is the number of
years of service on the Board, but not exceeding ten, and the denominator of
which is ten, such annual payment to continue for the lifetime of the retired
director. In 1993 the Board adopted a new
A-8
<PAGE>
retirement policy effective for all directors elected to the Board for the
first time after October 1993. Directors who were elected to the Board prior
to that date may choose to retire under the old policy or the new one. The new
retirement policy also provides for payment of an amount equal to the annual
retainer, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
years of service on the Board but not exceeding ten, and the denominator of
which is ten, to be paid for a period not greater than ten years. However,
under the new policy, should a director die prior to retirement or after
retirement but before the ten year period has expired, the director's spouse
shall receive 50% of the payment amount for the lesser of life or the
remainder of the ten year period.
Non-employee Directors Stock Compensation Plan
Under the Non-Employee Directors Stock Compensation Plan each director of
the Company, after the Annual Shareholders Meeting, automatically receives 200
shares of Common Stock as part of the retainer paid for his or her services.
Receipt of the stock may be deferred until retirement from the Board. If
deferred, an account will be set up for the director containing one share unit
for each share of Common Stock deferred. Whenever a dividend is declared by
the Company, an amount equal to the amount of the dividend that would have
been received had each share unit actually been a share of Common Stock shall
be converted into share units based on the closing price on the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Price Index for the date approved by the Board for payment
of dividends on the Common Stock. Upon a director leaving the Board, the
director shall receive shares of Common Stock equal to the whole number of
share units in his or her account, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares.
Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan
The Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Directors Plan")
provides for automatic grants of options to purchase 4,000 shares of the
Common Stock to each non-employee director of the Company on the date of each
Annual Meeting to May 1, 2000. The option price is the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date of grant. Payment for the exercise of options may
be made in cash or in the shares of Common Stock that have been held by the
director for at least six months. An optionee may elect to surrender an option
and receive shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal in value
to the excess of the fair market value of the unpurchased shares over the
option price of such shares.
Each option extends for 10 years from the date of grant. Options terminate
upon termination of service as a director, except that an optionee may
exercise the option within five years following retirement under the Company's
retirement policy for directors or termination of service as a director
because of total and permanent disability. If the director dies while a
director or within five years of retirement as a director, the option may be
exercised within the longer of five years from the date of retirement or one
year from the date of death by any person to whom the option passes by will or
the laws of descent and distribution. For options granted before 1992, these
exercise periods are three years. In all instances, however, the option must
be exercised during the term of the grant.
A-9
<PAGE>
Compensation of Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the
compensation earned by, awarded to or paid to the Company's Chief Executive
Officer and each of the other four most highly compensated executive officers
(collectively, the "Named Executive Officers"), for services rendered to the
Company (the "Summary Compensation Table"):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Long-Term
Compensation Compensation Awards Payouts
------------------ --------------------- -------
Restricted Securities
Other Annual Stock Underlying LTIP All Other
Name and Salary Bonus Compensation Award ($) Options Payouts Compensation
Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) (c) (#) ($) (d) ($)
------------------ ---- ------- ------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
E. J. Mooney............ 1998 572,917 128,906 9,291 0 234,100 0 6,422
Chairman of the Board 1997 546,667 307,320 19,102 0 100,000 316,296 38,379
and Chief Executive 1996 510,000 284,580 9,544 0 47,600 0 34,334
Officer
S. D. Newlin............ 1998 286,796(a) 56,286 10,542(b) 62,000 84,100 0 2,968
President 1997 447,518(a) 93,428 89,745(b) 0 0 96,861 17,538
1996 445,703(a) 88,526 3,126 0 15,800 0 15,935
W. S. Weeber............ 1998 334,892 85,196 2,270 62,000 111,800 0 3,754
Vice Chairman and 1997 315,950 150,076 1,667 0 0 157,078 22,181
Executive Vice 1996 302,200 142,427 1,428 0 22,200 0 20,345
President,
Operations Staff
G. M. Brannon........... 1998 430,453(a) 49,279 219,763(b) 62,000 68,500 0 2,612
Group Vice President 1997 447,805(a) 64,226 46,434(b) 0 0 55,199 13,925
and President, 1996 460,700(a) 44,258 4,311 0 7,200 0 12,131
Industrial Division
W. E. Buchholz.......... 1998 260,083 48,375 3,363 0 75,900 0 2,915
Senior Vice President 1997 248,158 82,091 4,357 0 0 71,343 17,422
and Chief Financial 1996 227,900 64,108 3,067 0 9,100 0 15,343
Officer
P. Dabringhausen........ 1998 304,032(a) 54,047 3,350 0 46,200 0 2,834
Group Vice President, 1997 305,529(a) 96,316 6,827 0 0 102,229 18,425
retired as of 12/98 1996 295,381(a) 92,555 3,067 0 16,700 0 16,885
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) A portion of this amount represents costs and allocations associated with
overseas living expenses.
(b) Includes tax payments associated with overseas service.
(c) Based on the closing stock price of $31.00 per share of Common Stock on
December 31, 1998, the restricted stock holdings and their market value at
the end of 1998 for each named executive officer are: E.J. Mooney, 4,540
shares, $140,740; W. S. Weeber, 4,630 shares, $413,530; S.D. Newlin, 2,850
shares, $88,350; G. M. Brannon, 2,510 shares, $77,810. Dividends are paid
on restricted common stock.
(d) Half of the amount is in the form of phantom common stock that vests in
three years contingent on continued employment. Dividends are paid on the
phantom stock.
A-10
<PAGE>
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The following table provides information related to options to purchase
Common Stock of the Company granted to the named executive officers during
1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
Value
at Assumed Annual Rates
of Stock Price
Appreciation
for Option Terms ($)
Individual Grants (1) (2)
--------------------- -----------------------
% of Total
Number of Options
Securities Granted to Exercise
Underlying Employees or Base
Options in Fiscal Price Expiration
Name Granted Year ($/Sh) Date 0% 5% 10%
- ---- ---------- ---------- -------- ---------- --- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
E. J. Mooney............ 134,100 3.86 39.1563 2/19/2008 0 3,302,238 8,368,518
100,000 2.88 30.6563 12/16/2008 0 1,927,958 4,885,825
S. D. Newlin............ 44,400 1.28 39.1563 2/19/2008 0 1,093,358 2,770,785
39,700 1.14 30.6563 12/16/2008 0 765,399 1,939,672
W. S. Weeber............ 61,800 1.78 39.1563 2/19/2008 0 1,521,837 3,856,633
50,000 1.44 30.6563 12/16/2008 0 963,979 2,442,912
G. M. Brannon........... 39,300 1.13 39.1563 2/19/2008 0 967,770 2,452,519
29,200 .84 30.6563 12/16/2008 0 562,964 1,426,661
W. E. Buchholz.......... 43,500 1.25 39.1563 2/19/2008 0 1,071,196 2,714,620
32,400 .93 30.6563 12/16/2008 0 624,658 1,583,007
P. Dabringhausen........ 46,200 1.33 39.1563 2/19/2008 0 1,137,684 2,883,114
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Options are always granted at fair market value on the date of grant. The
options with the expiration date of 2/19/2008 vest one-third on the
anniversaries of the date of grant for the following three years. The
options with the expiration date of 12/16/2008 vested immediately when
granted. Option holders may pay taxes owed upon exercise by having option
shares withheld or by surrendering already owned shares.
(2) The dollar amounts under these columns are the difference between the
option exercise price and market prices at the end of the option term
assuming annual rates of stock price appreciation of 0%, 5% and 10%. At 5%
or 10%, shareholder value would have increased by $1.62 billion or $4.10
billion, respectively, using an option exercise price of $39.1563. Using
an exercise price of $30.6563, shareholder value would have increased by
$1.27 billion or $3.21 billion at 5% or 10% stock price appreciation,
respectively.
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Year-end Option Values
The following table provides information related to options exercised by the
Named Executive Officers during 1998 and the number and value of options held
at year-end.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of
Common Number of Shares of
Stock Common Stock Underlying Value of Unexercised
Acquired Value Unexercised Options at In-The-Money Options
on Exercise Realized Year-end (#) at Year-end ($) (1)
Name (#) ($) Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
- ---- ----------- -------- ------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
E. J. Mooney............ 0 0 445,267/167,433 34,370/0
S. D. Newlin............ 0 0 103,700/44,400 13,645/0
W. S. Weeber............ 0 0 157,800/61,800 17,185/0
G. M. Brannon........... 3,100 48,641 61,300/39,300 10,036/0
W. E. Buchholz.......... 0 0 75,200/43,500 11,136/0
P. Dabringhausen........ 0 0 53,900/0 0/0
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Valued on the difference between $31.00 (the closing price on December 31,
1998) and the exercise price of the option.
A-11
<PAGE>
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards in Last Fiscal Year
The following table covers long-term incentive contingent share units
assigned to the Named Executive Officers during 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Estimated Future Payouts
Under
Non-Stock Price Based
Plans
-------------------------
Number of
Shares of
Common Performance
Stock, or Other
Units or Period Until
Other Maturation or Threshold Target Maximum
Name Rights (#) Payout (#) (#) (#)
- ---- --------- ------------- --------- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
E. J. Mooney............... 11,086 1998/99/2000 6,652 11,086 13,303
S. D. Newlin............... 3,077 1998/99/2000 1,846 3,077 3,692
W. S. Weeber............... 4,758 1998/99/2000 2,855 4,758 5,710
G. M. Brannon.............. 2,730 1998/99/2000 1,638 2,730 3,276
W. E. Buchholz............. 2,684 1998/99/2000 1,610 2,684 3,221
P. Dabringhausen........... 3,204 1998/99/2000 1,922 3,204 3,845
</TABLE>
Under the Performance Share Plan, a 6%, 10% and 12% compounded increase in
diluted net earnings per share of Common Stock is required to earn threshold,
target and maximum payouts, respectively. If earned, half of the awards are to
be paid in cash at the end of the performance period in an amount based on the
average Common Stock price during the last five trading days of the
performance period, and the remaining awards are to be paid in Common Stock
that vests three years after the end of the performance period contingent on
continued employment. In the event of termination of employment due to death,
disability, retirement or change in control, all unvested Common Stock already
awarded shall vest immediately and shall be distributed to a participant or
his or her beneficiary.
Retirement Income Plan and Supplemental Retirement Income Plan
The following table sets forth the annual benefits payable, with respect to
specified final average earnings and years of service categories, under the
Company's Retirement Income Plan and Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (the
"Plan"), before giving effect to any social security offset.
Pension Plan Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years of Service
------------------------------------------------
Final Average
Earnings 15 20 25 30 35
- ------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 200,000..................... 63,600 84,800 106,000 121,900 137,800
300,000..................... 95,400 127,200 159,000 182,850 206,700
400,000..................... 127,200 169,600 212,000 243,800 275,600
500,000..................... 159,000 212,000 265,000 304,750 344,500
600,000..................... 190,800 254,400 318,000 365,750 413,400
700,000..................... 222,600 296,800 371,000 426,650 482,300
800,000..................... 254,400 339,200 424,000 487,600 551,200
900,000..................... 286,200 381,600 477,000 548,550 620,100
1,000,000..................... 318,000 424,000 530,000 609,500 689,000
</TABLE>
The credited years of participation at December 31, 1998 for each individual
named in the cash compensation table are: E.J. Mooney, 30; W.S. Weeber, 32; P.
Dabringhausen, 29; S.D. Newlin, 23; G.M. Brannon, 23; W.E. Buchholz, 6. The
credited earnings are approximately the same as the salary and bonus set forth
in the summary compensation table.
A-12
<PAGE>
The Plan uses a final average earnings formula based on the average
annualized pay for the highest paid 48 months during the last 120 months
before retirement. In general, the annual retirement income in the 10-year
certain form of settlement at normal retirement date will be equal to 2% of
"final average earnings" for each of the first 25 years of Plan participation
plus 1.5% of "final average earnings" for each year over 25 years, less a
prorated offset not to exceed 50% of the primary social security benefit at
age 62, depending on years of Plan participation.
The Company has entered into agreements with its officers, including those
listed in the summary Compensation Table, to restore any benefits under the
Retirement Income Plan, the Profit Sharing, Investment and Pay Deferral Plan
and Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") reduced by the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 and the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993. Any
reductions in benefits will first be made in Retirement Plan accounts and then
if necessary in the Profit Sharing, Investment and Pay Deferral Plan and ESOP
accounts. Under these agreements, the Company also agrees to pay to the
beneficiary of each executive officer an amount equal to one year's salary in
the event of death.
Material Contracts and Agreements
Key Executive Agreements. The Company has previously entered into a key
executive agreement (each, a "Key Agreement") with its Chief Executive Officer
and each of its other executive officers. According to the terms of the Key
Agreements, the Company has agreed to continue the employment of each
executive for a period of three years (the "Employment Period") following a
change in control of the Company (such employment to be in the same capacity
in which the executive was previously employed immediately prior to such
change in control). The Key Agreements provide that, during the Employment
Period, each executive will (i) receive compensation that is comparable to the
compensation the executive received prior to the change in control of the
Company, and (ii) remain eligible for bonuses, incentive compensation and
other benefits which are at least comparable to what the executive was
receiving prior to the change in control. In the event of any of the following
after a change in control (a) a termination of the executive's employment for
any reason other than "cause" (defined as a willful and material breach of the
Key Agreements), (b) the executive's death or disability, (c) the resignation
by the executive of his employment following a significant change in the
nature or scope of his or her duties, (d) a reduction in his or her
compensation, (e) a breach of the Key Agreements by the Company, or (f) a
resignation of the executive for any reason, within 90 days following the
first anniversary of the change in control (any of a-f, a "Termination"), the
executive will be paid an aggregate lump sum amount equal to anticipated
salary, bonuses and incentives for the remainder of the Employment Period, and
will be entitled to benefits that would have accrued to the executive during
such period (including those under profit sharing, ESOP, pension, stock option
and long term incentive arrangements and welfare and insurance plans).
The Key Agreements also contain covenants that prohibit the executives from
competing against the Company or from divulging confidential information
during the Employment Period, provided that the non-competition covenant will
not apply in the event of a Termination of the executive. The Key Agreements
provide for a full golden parachute excise tax gross-up by the Company.
The Company will pay any expenses associated with the enforcement by an
executive of his or her rights under a Key Agreement, and the Company has
agreed to secure its obligations under such agreements by an irrevocable
letter of credit for the benefit of the executives. In December 1997, the
Board approved a new form of Key Executive Agreement (each, a "New Key
Agreement") that was offered to officers whose election was effective after
December 31, 1997. The New Key Agreements only become effective if an officer
terminates his or her employment during a specified three month period within
one year following a change of control of the Company. The New Key Agreements
also provide that anticipated salary increases and long-term incentive grants
will not be used in the calculation of any lump sum payment amount that may be
paid to an executive as a result of the termination of the executive's
employment.
Death Benefit Agreements. The Company has also entered into Death Benefit
Agreements ("Benefit Agreements") with those individuals listed in the summary
compensation table, as an inducement to continue in
A-13
<PAGE>
the Company's employ and to provide the benefit of his or her advice after his
or her retirement. Each Benefit Agreement provides for payment by the Company
to the executive's beneficiaries of an amount equal to the executive's base
annual salary as of his or her last day of work, if the executive dies (a)
while employed by the Company and covered by a Benefit Agreement, or (b) any
time after retirement and before reaching age 62 if a Benefit Agreement was in
effect at retirement.
The Company will pay a benefit equal to twice the executive's base annual
salary as of his or her last day of work to the executive's beneficiaries if
the executive dies after retirement and after reaching age 62 if a Benefit
Agreement was in effect at the time of retirement. Payments under these
Benefit Agreements will be made by the Company from its general funds. It is
not necessary for a named executive officer to provide consulting services to
the Company after retirement to be awarded benefits under the Benefit
Agreement.
Benefit Protection Trusts. Four trust funds (the "Trusts") have been
established to assist in accumulating the amounts necessary to satisfy the
Company's contractual liabilities under the non-qualified benefit plans
described herein, including the deferred compensation plan for directors.
However, the Company shall remain primarily liable under the plans to pay
benefits, and the Trusts' assets shall remain subject to the claims of the
Company's general creditors.
The Company may fund the Trusts at any time, but shall, no later than three
business days after a change in control of the Company, fund the Trusts in an
amount which at least equals the present value of all of the unpaid benefits
under the Trusts. To determine this value, the actuarial assumptions stated in
the Retirement Income Plan in effect on the first day of the Plan year in
which a change in control occurs will be used. A Trust beneficiary's benefit
under a plan shall be based on his or her service and compensation at the time
of the change in control.
Change in Control. "Change in control" as used in the plans and agreements
discussed herein generally means: (a) a merger, consolidation, reorganization
or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's business or assets if
less than 80% of the outstanding voting securities or other capital interests
in the surviving or acquiring company is owned in the aggregate by the
shareholders of the Company immediately prior thereto; (b) the reported
acquisition by any person or group or beneficial ownership of 20% or more of
the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or (c) a change during any
two-year period in a majority of the Board not approved by at least two-thirds
of the prior directors.
Report of the Executive Compensation Committee
The Executive Compensation Committee ("Committee") of the Company is
comprised entirely of non-employee directors. The Committee is responsible for
establishing and administering the Company's compensation policies. The
following report relates to compensation currently payable to the Company's
executive officers, including the Named Executive Officers:
Components of Compensation
There are five components to compensation payable to the Company's executive
officers: (1) base salary; (2) the Management Incentive Plan; (3) the
Performance Share Plan; (4) options to purchase Common Stock; and (5)
restricted stock grants.
Compensation Policies
The Committee tries to focus the executive compensation program to
strengthen the overall performance of the Company by integrating short-term
and long-term performance goals. PSP (as defined below) long-term objective
goals are based 100% on earnings performance. Once awards are made under an
annual or long-term incentive plan, the Committee has no discretion to adjust
them.
A-14
<PAGE>
The Committee believes that compensating executives by means of stock and
stock options leads to maximization of shareholder value over the long term.
The Company's ongoing stock option program is intended to align the interests
of executives and managers with those of the Company's shareholders and
encourage efforts that enhance the Company's earnings per share and stock
price. The Committee does not consider outstanding stock options when awarding
current stock options.
Compensation Payable to Executive Officers
Base Salaries. A base salary is kept competitive by utilizing various
surveys provided or published by independent consultants from time to time. In
addition, during the past year and a half a comprehensive executive
compensation survey was conducted with an outside consultant comparing the
Company to a peer group of companies. Approximately half of these companies in
the consultant's database match the peer group companies in the performance
graph. Various size and performance measures, including return on equity,
assets, sales and capital, are used to compare survey companies to the Company
and to judge the appropriateness of compensation comparisons. However, in
setting salaries, the primary emphasis is on the Company's sales, earnings and
earnings per share, as well as the individual executive's yearly performance
and contribution to the Company's overall performance. Base salaries for 1998
were set in February, 1998, after 1997 earnings were available and achievement
of plans and personal goals, as well as adherence to expense budgets, could be
calculated. In 1997, earnings from continuing operations increased by 12%,
while corresponding earnings per share increased by 13%. Salary increases for
executive officers for 1998 averaged 6.6% including promotions, 5.1% excluding
promotions.
Management Incentive Plan. The Management Incentive Plan ("MIP") is an
annual incentive plan that provides cash compensation based on the achievement
of goals set by the Committee for the Company and the individuals that are
approved by the Board for participation. For 1998, there were corporate
performance goals for increases in sales and earnings and for strategic
management performance, including adherence to expense budgets. The individual
management performance goals are subjective and were set for each executive,
depending on his or her particular responsibilities and strategic objectives
for the year. For the MIP, sales, earnings and individual goals are weighted
at 37.5%, 37.5% and 25%, respectively. The earnings threshold was not met in
1998, so no payout was made on the earnings goals. About 60% of the portion of
the target award related to sales was earned in 1998.
Performance Share Plan. The Performance Share Plan ("PSP") provides for
awards based on long-term, per-share earnings goals of the Company that are
approved by the Board. Awards, if earned, will be paid out in the Company's
Common Stock and/or cash based upon the Company's achievement of at least a
threshold compounded increase in diluted net earnings per share during a
three-year performance period. This plan provides for a threshold and maximum
amount below and above the respective target amounts. For the three-year
performance period ended in December, 1998, earnings goals were not met, and
no contingent performance shares were earned for this period. The Committee
granted awards for the 1998/1999/2000 PSP cycle. A 6%, 10% and 12% compounded
annual increase in diluted earnings per share is required to earn threshold,
target and maximum payouts, respectively, for this cycle. The size of initial
awards to executive officers and the CEO is determined by the Committee after
careful consideration of past performance and future performance goals.
Options to Purchase Common Stock. Options to purchase Common Stock are
awarded from time to time. The Committee utilizes an outside consulting firm
to provide comparative data upon which the Committee bases the grant amounts,
taking into consideration individual positions and performance. Grants are
intended to be competitive and provide long-term incentive motivation. Option
prices are based on fair market value as of the grant date and the value of
any particular option depends on the Common Stock price at the time of option
exercise. Two separate grants were made to all executive officers in 1998. The
first grant in February, at an option price of $39.1563 per share, vests over
a three-year period. The second grant in December at $30.6563 per share vested
on that date.
Restricted Stock Grants. Restricted stock grants are sometimes used as an
extra incentive to keep highly valued executives with the Company and to
increase the amount of their compensation tied to stock price performance.
Three executive officers were given restricted stock grants in December, 1998
to vest in three years.
A-15
<PAGE>
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
The pay-for-performance philosophy of the Company's total compensation
program outlined above also applies to Mr. E. J. Mooney, Nalco's Chief
Executive Officer.
In 1997, Nalco sales were up to 10% over 1996 and earnings per share from
continuing operations were up 13%. There was a 12% return to shareholders in
1997, including a 10% increase in share price, plus dividends. Because of this
and the effectiveness of Mr. Mooney's performance during the year, the
Committee approved a 4.5% increase in his base salary effective February,
1998.
The 1998 MIP award was based on achievement of corporate performance goals
for sales and earnings. The target award related to earnings was not met
resulting in zero payout for that portion of the target award. Approximately
94% of the sales goal was met, resulting in a 60% payout for that portion of
the target award. The combination of sales and earnings achievement resulted
in Mr. Mooney earning 30% of his overall target award. The MIP award paid to
Mr. Mooney was significantly below the target amount and below last year's
award. The total MIP payment Mr. Mooney received for 1998 was $128,906 vs.
$307,320 in 1997.
The PSP earnings goals were not met for the 1996/97/98 cycle. As a result,
Mr. Mooney earned no performance shares for this period.
Potentially, 60% to 70% of Mr. Mooney's annual compensation can come from
performance related compensation plans such as the MIP and PSP. Because the
1998 MIP payout was significantly below the target level, and no performance
shares were earned under the 1996/97/98 PSP award, 18% of Mr. Mooney's 1998
cash compensation was based on performance related plans.
Mr. Mooney received a stock option grant for 134,100 shares in February,
1998 with an exercise price of $39.1563 per share. These options vest over a
three-year period. Mr. Mooney also received a stock option grant for 100,000
shares in December 1998. This grant has an exercise price of $30.6563 and
vested at that time. The exercise price of both grants was set at the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The Committee believes
that Mr. Mooney's performance was deserving of the grants, and at the same
time wants to tie more of his compensation to stock performance and
shareholder value.
A-16
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCK AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
There were no compensation committee interlocks or insiders participation
during 1998.
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The graph below compares cumulative total return of the Company, the S&P 500
Index and the Specialty Chemicals Value Line Index (dividends reinvested). The
graph assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 1993 in Nalco common stock, the
S&P 500 index and the Specialty Chemical Value Line Index.
[GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Specialty Chemicals
Nalco S&P 500 Value Line Index
------ ------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1993................................... 100 100 100
1994................................... 91.86 101.32 98.77
1995................................... 85.02 139.4 121.89
1996................................... 105.06 171.4 137.92
1997................................... 118.1 228.59 156.07
1998................................... 95.25 293.91 136.26
</TABLE>
A-17
<PAGE>
SECTION 16(a) REPORTING
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
Directors and Executive Officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of
a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of
changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the
Company. Executive Officers, Directors and greater than ten percent
stockholders are required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to
furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company, Executive Officers, Directors and greater
than ten percent beneficial owners timely filed all required reports under
Section 16(a).
A-18
<PAGE>
ANNEX 2
[LETTERHEAD OF GOLDMAN SACHS]
June 28, 1999
Board of Directors
Nalco Chemical Company, Inc.
One Nalco Center
Naperville, Illinois 60563-1198
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness from a financial point of
view to the holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value
$0.1875 per share (the "Shares"), of Nalco Chemical Company, Inc. (the
"Company") of the $53.00 per Share in cash proposed to be paid by Suez
Lyonnaise de Eaux ("Suez") in the Tender Offer and the Merger (as defined
below) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 27, 1999,
among Suez, H2O Acquisition Co. ("H2O"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suez, and
the Company (the "Agreement"). The Agreement provides for a tender offer for
all of the Shares (the "Tender Offer") pursuant to which H2O will pay $53.00 in
cash per Share for each Share accepted. The Agreement further provides that
following completion of the Tender Offer, H2O will be merged with and into the
Company (the "Merger") and each outstanding Share (other than Excluded Shares,
as defined in the Agreement) will be converted into the right to receive $53.00
in cash.
Goldman, Sachs & Co., as part of its investment banking business, is
continually engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in
connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive
biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private
placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. We are
familiar with the Company having provided certain investment banking services
to the Company from time to time, including having acted as its financial
advisor in connection with, and having participated in certain of the
negotiations leading to, the Agreement. We also have provided certain
investment banking services to Suez from time to time, including acting as its
financial advisor in connection with entering into an agreement to acquire
Calgon Corporation, a subsidiary of Imetal SA, announced on June 15, 1999.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. provides a full range of financial advisory and securities
services and, in the course of its normal trading activities, may from time to
time effect transactions and hold securities, including derivative securities,
of the Company or Suez for its own account and for the accounts of customers.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. may provide investment banking services to Suez and its
subsidiaries in the future.
In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, among other things, the
Agreement; Annual Reports to Stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K of
the Company for the five years ended December 31, 1998; certain interim reports
to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company; certain
other communications from the Company to its stockholders; and certain internal
financial analyses and forecasts for the Company prepared by its management. We
have also held discussions with members of the senior management of the Company
regarding its past and current business operations, financial condition and
future
<PAGE>
prospects. In addition, we have reviewed the reported price and trading
activity for the Shares, compared certain financial and stock market
information for the Company with similar information for certain other
companies the securities of which are publicly traded, reviewed the financial
terms of certain recent business combinations in the specialty and hybrid
chemicals industries specifically and in other industries generally and
performed such other studies and analyses as we considered appropriate.
We have relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and
other information reviewed by us and have assumed such accuracy and
completeness for purposes of rendering this opinion. In addition, we have not
made an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries and we have not been furnished with any
such evaluation or appraisal. Our advisory services and
the opinion expressed herein are provided for the information and assistance
of the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with its consideration
of the transaction contemplated by the Agreement and such opinion does not
constitute a recommendation as to whether or not any holder of Shares should
tender such Shares in connection with, or how any holder of Shares should vote
with respect to, such transaction.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and based upon such other matters as
we consider relevant, it is our opinion that as of the date hereof the $53.00
per Share in cash to be received by the holders of Shares in the Tender Offer
and the Merger is fair from a financial point of view to such holders.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
- -------------------------------------
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 1
================================================================================
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Among
SUEZ LYONNAISE DES EAUX
H2O ACQUISITION CO.
and
NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
Dated as of June 27, 1999
================================================================================
<PAGE>
Glossary of Defined Terms
(Not Part of this Agreement)
----------------------------
Defined Term Location of Definition
- ------------ ----------------------
Affiliate..................................... (S) 9.03(a)
Agreement..................................... Preamble
Acquisition Proposal.......................... (S) 6.05(a)
Beneficial Owner.............................. (S) 9.03(b)
Blue Sky Laws................................. (S) 3.05(b)
Board......................................... Recitals
Business Day.................................. (S) 9.03(c)
Certificate of Merger......................... (S) 2.02
Certificates.................................. (S) 2.09(b)
Code.......................................... (S) 3.10(a)
Common Stock.................................. Recitals
Company....................................... Preamble
Company Benefit Plans......................... (S) 3.10(a)
Company Change of Control Agreement........... (S) 3.10(d)
Company Preferred Stock....................... (S) 3.03
Company Stock Option Plans.................... (S) 2.07
Confidentiality Agreement..................... (S) 6.04(c)
Control....................................... (S) 9.03(d)
Delaware Law.................................. Recitals
Disclosure Schedule........................... Introduction to Article III
Dissenting Shares............................. (S) 2.08
Effective Time................................ (S) 2.02
Environmental Laws............................ (S) 9.03(e)
ERISA......................................... (S) 3.10(a)
ESOP Preferred Stock.......................... Recitals
Exchange Act.................................. (S) 1.02(b)
Goldman....................................... (S) 1.02(a)
Governmental Antitrust Authority.............. (S) 6.08(b)
Governmental Order............................ (S) 7.01(c)
Hazardous Substances.......................... (S) 9.03(f)
HSR Act....................................... (S) 3.05(b)
Holders....................................... Recitals
Indemnified Parties........................... (S) 6.07(c)
Indemnification Provisions.................... (S) 6.07(a)
IRS........................................... (S) 3.10(a)
Junior A Preferred Stock...................... (S) 3.03(a)
Junior C Preferred Stock...................... (S) 2.06(a)
knowledge..................................... (S) 9.03(g)
<PAGE>
2
known......................................... (S) 9.03(g)
Material Adverse Effect....................... (S) 9.03(h)
Material Subsidiary........................... (S) 9.03(i)
Merger........................................ Recitals
Merger Consideration.......................... (S) 2.06(b)
Minimum Condition............................. (S) 1.01(a)
Offer......................................... Recitals
Offer Documents............................... (S) 1.01(b)
Offer to Purchase............................. (S) 1.01(b)
Option........................................ (S) 2.07
Parent........................................ Preamble
Paying Agent.................................. (S) 2.09(a)
Payment Fund.................................. (S) 2.09(a)
Permitted Liens............................... (S) 3.14(b)
Per Common Share Amount....................... Recitals
Per Preferred Share Amount.................... Recitals
Person........................................ (S) 9.03(j)
Proxy Statement............................... (S) 3.12
Purchaser..................................... Preamble
Rights Agreement.............................. (S) 3.14
Schedule 14D-9................................ (S) 1.02(b)
Schedule 14D-1................................ (S) 1.01(b)
SEC........................................... (S) 9.03(k)
SEC Rules..................................... (S) 9.03(l)
SEC Reports................................... (S) 3.07(a)
Securities Act................................ (S) 3.07(a)
Shares........................................ Recitals
Stockholders' Meeting......................... (S) 6.01(a)
Subsidiary.................................... (S) 9.03(m)
Superior Proposal............................. (S) 6.05(b)
Surviving Corporation......................... (S) 2.01
Transactions.................................. (S) 3.04
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.01. The Offer............................................... 2
SECTION 1.02. Company Action.......................................... 3
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.01. The Merger.............................................. 5
SECTION 2.02. Effective Time; Closing................................. 5
SECTION 2.03. Effect of the Merger.................................... 5
SECTION 2.04. Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws................... 5
SECTION 2.05. Directors and Officers.................................. 5
SECTION 2.06. Conversion of Securities................................ 6
SECTION 2.07. Employee and Director Stock Options..................... 6
SECTION 2.08. Dissenting Shares....................................... 7
SECTION 2.09. Surrender of Shares; Stock Transfer Books............... 8
SECTION 2.10. Merger Without Meeting of Stockholders.................. 9
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.01. Organization and Qualification; Material Subsidiaries... 10
SECTION 3.02. Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws................ 10
SECTION 3.03. Capitalization.......................................... 10
SECTION 3.04. Authority Relative to this Agreement.................... 11
SECTION 3.05. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.............. 11
SECTION 3.06. Compliance.............................................. 12
SECTION 3.07. SEC Filings; Financial Statements....................... 12
SECTION 3.08. Absence of Certain Changes or Events.................... 13
SECTION 3.09. Absence of Litigation; Joint Ventures................... 14
SECTION 3.10. Employee Benefit Plans.................................. 14
SECTION 3.11. Labor Matters........................................... 15
SECTION 3.12. Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9; Proxy Statement........ 16
SECTION 3.13. Taxes................................................... 16
SECTION 3.14. Rights Agreement........................................ 19
<PAGE>
ii
SECTION 3.15. Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights...................... 19
SECTION 3.16. Environmental Matters................................... 19
SECTION 3.17. Brokers................................................. 20
SECTION 3.18. Year 2000............................................... 20
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Organization.................................. 20
SECTION 4.02. Authority Relative to this Agreement.................... 20
SECTION 4.03. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.............. 21
SECTION 4.04. Financing............................................... 21
SECTION 4.05. Offer Documents; Proxy Statement........................ 21
SECTION 4.06. Brokers................................................. 22
SECTION 4.07. Absence of Litigation................................... 22
SECTION 4.08. No Prior Activities..................................... 22
SECTION 4.09. Parent Not an Affiliated Shareholder.................... 22
ARTICLE V
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
SECTION 5.01. Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger... 23
SECTION 5.02. Third Party Standstill Agreements and Confidentiality
Agreements.............................................. 25
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.01. Stockholders' Meeting................................... 26
SECTION 6.02. Proxy Statement......................................... 26
SECTION 6.03. Company Board Representation; Section 14(f)............. 26
SECTION 6.04. Access to Information; Confidentiality.................. 27
SECTION 6.05. No Solicitation......................................... 28
SECTION 6.06. Employee Benefits Matters............................... 30
SECTION 6.07. Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance.. 30
SECTION 6.08. Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts................. 32
SECTION 6.09. Public Announcements.................................... 32
SECTION 6.10. Confidentiality Agreement............................... 32
<PAGE>
iii
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 7.01. Conditions to the Merger................................ 33
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 8.01. Termination............................................. 33
SECTION 8.02. Effect of Termination................................... 35
SECTION 8.03. Fee..................................................... 35
SECTION 8.04. Amendment............................................... 36
SECTION 8.05. Waiver.................................................. 37
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 9.01. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties
and Agreements.......................................... 37
SECTION 9.02. Notices................................................. 37
SECTION 9.03. Certain Definitions..................................... 38
SECTION 9.04. Severability............................................ 40
SECTION 9.05. Entire Agreement; Assignment............................ 40
SECTION 9.06. Parties in Interest..................................... 40
SECTION 9.07. Governing Law........................................... 41
SECTION 9.08. Headings................................................ 41
SECTION 9.09. Counterparts............................................ 41
SECTION 9.10. Waiver of Jury Trial.................................... 41
ANNEX A
Conditions to the Offer
ANNEX B
Employee Benefit Matters
<PAGE>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of June 27, 1999 (this
"Agreement") among SUEZ LYONNAISE DES EAUX, a societe anonyme organized under
- ----------
the laws of the Republic of France ("Parent"), H2O ACQUISITION CO., a Delaware
------
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Purchaser"), and NALCO
---------
CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
-------
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company
have each determined that it is in the best interests of their respective
stockholders for Parent to acquire the Company upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of such acquisition, it is proposed that
Purchaser shall make a cash tender offer (the "Offer") to acquire all the issued
-----
and outstanding shares of (i) the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.1875 per
share (the "Common Stock"), for $53 per share of Common Stock (such amount, or
------------
any greater amount per share of Common Stock paid pursuant to the Offer, being
hereinafter referred to as the "Per Common Share Amount") and (ii) the Company's
-----------------------
Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "ESOP
----
Preferred Stock"), for $1060 per share of ESOP Preferred Stock (such amount, or
- ---------------
any greater amount per share of ESOP Preferred Stock paid pursuant to the Offer,
being hereinafter referred to as the "Per Preferred Share Amount"), in each case
--------------------------
net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement and the Offer (shares of Common Stock and shares of ESOP Preferred
Stock are hereinafter collectively referred to as "Shares"); and
------
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
-----
adopted resolutions determining that the Offer and the Merger are fair to and in
the best interests of the holders of the Shares (the "Holders") and recommending
-------
that the Holders approve the Merger, this Agreement and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and adopt this Agreement and tender their Shares pursuant to
the Offer; and
WHEREAS, also in furtherance of such acquisition, the Boards of
Directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company have each approved the merger
(the "Merger") of Purchaser with and into the Company in accordance with the
------
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("Delaware Law") following the
------------
consummation of the Offer and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, Parent, Purchaser and the Company hereby agree as follows:
<PAGE>
2
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
---------
SECTION 1.01. The Offer. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the
---------
conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser shall commence the Offer as promptly as
reasonably practicable after the date hereof, but in no event later than five
Business Days after the initial public announcement of Purchaser's intention to
commence the Offer. The initial scheduled expiration date for the Offer shall
be 20 Business Days following the commencement of the Offer. The obligation of
Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer shall be subject to the condition (the "Minimum Condition") that there
-----------------
shall have been validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of
the Offer at least such number of Shares which, when added to any shares of
Common Stock already owned by Parent, shall constitute a majority of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock on a fully diluted basis (including, without
limitation, all shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the ESOP
Preferred Stock and any convertible securities or upon the exercise of any
options, warrants or rights) and also shall be subject to the satisfaction of
the other conditions set forth in Annex A hereto. The conditions to the Offer
set forth in Annex A hereto are for the benefit of Parent and Purchaser
regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such conditions or, except as
expressly set forth herein, may be waived by Parent and Purchaser in whole or in
part. Purchaser expressly reserves the right to waive any such condition, to
increase the price per Share payable in the Offer, and to make any other changes
in the terms and conditions of the Offer; provided, however, that without the
-------- -------
prior written consent of the Company, Parent and Purchaser shall not (i) waive
the Minimum Condition, (ii) decrease the price per Share payable in the Offer,
(iii) reduce the maximum number of Shares to be purchased in the Offer, (iv)
amend or add to the conditions to the Offer set forth in Annex A hereto, (v)
extend the Offer, (vi) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer, or
(vii) amend, add to or waive any other term of the Offer in any manner which
would be adverse to the Company or the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Purchaser may, without the consent of the Company, extend the Offer: (i) if, on
the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, any of the conditions to Purchaser's
obligation to accept for payment and pay for the Shares shall not have been
satisfied or waived, until the fifth Business Day after the date Purchaser
reasonably believes to be the earliest date on which such conditions will be
satisfied; (ii) for any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation
or position of the SEC or its staff applicable to the Offer; or (iii) from time
to time, for an aggregate period of not more than 10 Business Days (for all such
extensions) beyond the latest expiration date that would be permitted under
clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence. In addition, if, on the scheduled
expiration date of the Offer, (i) the waiting period under the HSR Act shall not
have expired or been terminated, (ii) the Commission of the European Union shall
not have approved the Transactions under Regulation (EC) No. 4064/89, as
amended, of the Council of the European Union or (iii) a temporary restraining
order prohibiting the purchase of the Shares shall have been issued by a court
of competent jurisdiction in any country in which the Company or its
Subsidiaries have operations material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, the
<PAGE>
3
Purchaser shall extend the Offer from time to time until five Business Days
after the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act,
such approval of the Commission of the European Union or the lifting of such
temporary restraining order, subject to the right of Parent, Purchaser or the
Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof. The Per Common
Share Amount and the Per Preferred Share Amount shall be net to the seller in
cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. Subject to the
terms and conditions of the Offer, Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause
Purchaser to, pay, as promptly as practicable after expiration of the Offer, for
all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn.
(b) As promptly as reasonably practicable on the date of commencement
of the Offer, Purchaser shall file with the SEC (i) a Tender Offer Statement on
Schedule 14D-1 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the
"Schedule 14D-1") with respect to the Offer. The Schedule 14D-1 shall contain
- ---------------
or shall incorporate by reference an offer to purchase (the "Offer to Purchase")
-----------------
and forms of the related letter of transmittal and any related summary
advertisement (the Schedule 14D-1, the Offer to Purchase and such other
documents, together with all supplements and amendments thereto, being referred
to herein collectively as the "Offer Documents"). The Company and its counsel
---------------
shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Offer
Documents prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. Parent, Purchaser and the
Company agree to correct promptly any information provided by any of them for
use in the Offer Documents which shall have become false or misleading, and
Parent and Purchaser further agree to take all steps necessary to cause the
Schedule 14D-1 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and the other Offer
Documents as so corrected to be disseminated to Holders, in each case as and to
the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. Parent and Purchaser
agree to provide the Company and its counsel with copies of any written comments
Parent, Purchaser or their counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Offer Documents promptly after receipt of such comments.
SECTION 1.02. Company Action. (a) The Company hereby approves of
--------------
and consents to the Offer and represents that (i) the Board, at a meeting duly
called and held on June 27, 1999, has duly adopted resolutions that (A)
determined that the Merger is advisable and that this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair
to and in the best interests of the Holders, (B) approved and adopted this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (such approval and adoption
having been made in accordance with the provisions of (S) 203 of Delaware Law),
(C) recommended that the stockholders of the Company accept the Offer, approve
the Merger and approve and adopt this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and (D) took all other applicable action necessary to render
(x) Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and
other state takeover statutes and (y) the Rights Agreement, inapplicable to the
Offer and the Merger, and (ii) Goldman Sachs & Co. ("Goldman") has delivered to
-------
the Board its opinion (which will be confirmed in writing), as of the date
hereof, that the consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Common
Stock pursuant to each of the Offer and the Merger is fair to the holders of
shares of Common Stock from a financial point of view. Subject to the fiduciary
<PAGE>
4
duties of the Board under applicable law as determined by the Board in good
faith after receiving advice from independent counsel, the Company hereby
consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents of the recommendation of the
Board described in the immediately preceding sentence. The Company has advised
Parent that each of its directors and executive officers intends to tender
pursuant to the Offer all Shares owned of record and beneficially by him or her
except to the extent such tender would violate applicable securities laws.
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable on the date of commencement of
the Offer, the Company shall file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with all amendments and supplements
thereto, the "Schedule 14D-9") containing, subject to the fiduciary duties of
--------------
the Board under applicable law as determined by the Board in good faith after
receiving advice from experienced, independent counsel, the recommendation of
the Board described in Section 1.02(a) and shall disseminate the Schedule 14D-9
to the extent required by Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and any other applicable federal
------------
securities laws. Parent and its counsel shall be given an opportunity to review
and comment upon the Schedule 14D-9 prior to the filing thereof with the SEC.
The Company, Parent and Purchaser agree to correct promptly any information
provided by any of them for use in the Schedule 14D-9 which shall have become
false or misleading, and the Company further agrees to take all steps necessary
to cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the SEC and
disseminated to Holders, in each case as and to the extent required by
applicable federal securities laws. To the extent practicable, the Company
shall cooperate with Parent and Purchaser in mailing or otherwise disseminating
the Schedule 14D-9 with the Offer Documents to the Company's stockholders. The
Company agrees to provide Parent and Purchaser and their counsel with any
comments the Company or its counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after receipt of such comments.
(c) The Company shall promptly furnish to Purchaser mailing labels
containing the names and addresses of all record Holders and with security
position listings of Shares held in stock depositories, each as of a recent
date, together with all stockholder lists, other available listings and computer
files containing names, addresses and security position listings of record
holders and beneficial owners of Shares. The Company shall furnish to Purchaser
such additional information, including, without limitation, updated listings and
computer files of stockholders, mailing labels and security position listings,
and such other assistance as Parent, Purchaser or their agents may reasonably
request. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such
steps as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other
documents necessary to consummate the Offer or the Merger, Parent and Purchaser
shall hold in confidence the information contained in such labels, listings and
files, shall use such information only in connection with the Offer and the
Merger, and, if this Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Section
8.01, shall deliver to the Company all copies of such information then in their
possession.
<PAGE>
5
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
----------
SECTION 2.01. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the
----------
conditions set forth in Article VII, and in accordance with Delaware Law, at the
Effective Time (as hereinafter defined) Purchaser shall be merged with and into
the Company. As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of
Purchaser shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving
corporation of the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation").
---------------------
SECTION 2.02. Effective Time; Closing. As promptly as practicable
-----------------------
after the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article VII, the parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by
filing this Agreement or a certificate of merger or certificate of ownership and
merger (in either case, the "Certificate of Merger") with the Secretary of State
---------------------
of the State of Delaware, in such form as is required by, and executed in
accordance with, the relevant provisions of Delaware Law (the date and time of
such filing being the "Effective Time").
--------------
SECTION 2.03. Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the
--------------------
effect of the Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of
Delaware Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject
thereto, at the Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and
franchises of the Company and Purchaser shall vest in the Surviving Corporation,
and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties
of the Company and Purchaser shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations,
restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.04. Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. (a) At the
-------------------------------------
Effective Time, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company shall
be restated in a form acceptable to Purchaser and shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided
by law and such Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, that such
-------- -------
restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be in accordance with the provisions
of Section 6.07 hereof.
(b) The By-laws of Purchaser, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter amended as provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation and such By-laws.
SECTION 2.05. Directors and Officers. The directors of Purchaser
----------------------
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the
Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
<PAGE>
6
the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until their
respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.
SECTION 2.06. Conversion of Securities. At the Effective Time, by
------------------------
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Purchaser,
the Company or the holders of any of the following securities:
(a) Each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than any shares of Common Stock to be
canceled pursuant to Section 2.06(c) and any Dissenting Shares (as
hereinafter defined)), together with the associated right to purchase
Company Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Junior C
--------
Preferred Stock") pursuant to the Rights Agreement, shall be canceled and
---------------
shall be converted automatically into the right to receive an amount equal
to the Per Common Share Amount in cash (the "Merger Consideration")
--------------------
payable, without interest, to the holder of such share of Common Stock,
upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section 2.09, of the certificate
that formerly evidenced such share of Common Stock;
(b) Each share of ESOP Preferred Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of ESOP
Preferred Stock to be canceled pursuant to Section 2.06(c)) shall be
canceled and shall be converted automatically into the right to receive an
amount in cash equal to the product of the Merger Consideration multiplied
by the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of ESOP
Preferred Stock shall be convertible immediately prior to the Effective
Time, payable, without interest, to the holder of such share of ESOP
Preferred Stock, upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section 2.09, of
the certificate that formerly evidenced such share of ESOP Preferred Stock;
(c) Each Share held in the treasury of the Company and each Share
owned by Purchaser, Parent or any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent or of the Company immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be canceled without any conversion thereof and no payment or
distribution shall be made with respect thereto; and
(d) Each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Purchaser
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into, and exchanged for, one validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.07. Employee and Director Stock Options. (a) The Company
-----------------------------------
shall, immediately prior to the Effective Time, (i) terminate the Company Stock
Option Plans (as defined in Section 2.07(b) below) and any other plan, program
or arrangement providing for the issuance, grant or purchase of any other
interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries without prejudice to the holders of Options (as defined in Section
2.07(b)
<PAGE>
7
below), and (ii) amend the provisions of any other Company Benefit Plan, or
related trust or funding vehicle, providing for the issuance, holding, transfer
or grant of any Shares, or any interest in respect of any Shares (collectively
the "Company Stock Plans"), to provide no continuing rights to acquire, hold,
transfer, or grant any Shares or any interest in any Shares. Prior to the
Effective Time, the Company shall cause all amounts currently held as cash in
participant accounts under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Program to be
returned to the applicable participants and all previously purchased shares of
Common Stock held in such accounts to be distributed to the applicable
participants.
(b) Parent and the Company shall take all action necessary to (i)
provide that each option to purchase shares of Common Stock (an "Option")
------
pursuant to the Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan, the Company's
Employee Stock Compensation Plan, the 1990 Stock Option Plan and the 1982 Stock
Option Plan or any stock option agreement to which the Company is a party (the
"Company Stock Option Plans"), which is outstanding immediately prior to the
- ---------------------------
acceptance of the Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, shall become
fully exercisable and vested, whether or not previously exercisable or vested,
as of the time of such acceptance and (ii) provide that, with respect to each
such Option, the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company,
at the time payment is made for the Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, an
amount in cash in cancellation of such Option equal to the difference between
the Merger Consideration and the per share exercise price of such Option,
multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock to which such Option remains
unexercised, less any income or employment tax withholding required under the
Code or any provision of state or local law. Prior to the acceptance of the
Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, the Company shall make all
amendments to the Company Stock Plans necessary, and take all actions necessary,
to effect the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.07 and Annex B. The
Company and the Parent shall cooperate, and take all reasonable steps to share
in advance information, to effect the transactions contemplated by this Section
2.07.
SECTION 2.08. Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of
-----------------
this Agreement to the contrary, Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time and which are held by stockholders who shall have not voted
in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who shall have
demanded properly in writing an appraisal for such Shares in accordance with
Section 262 of Delaware Law (collectively, the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be
-----------------
converted into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration. Such
stockholders shall be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of such
Shares held by them in accordance with the provisions of such Section 262,
except that all Dissenting Shares held by stockholders who shall have failed to
perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or lost their rights to
appraisal of such Shares under such Section 262 shall thereupon be deemed to
have been converted into and to have become exchangeable for, as of the
Effective Time, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without any
interest thereon, upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section 2.09 of the
certificate or certificates that formerly evidenced such Shares. The Company
will give Parent and Purchaser (i) prompt notice of any written demands for
<PAGE>
8
appraisal, withdrawals of demands for appraisal and any other related
instruments received by the Company, and (ii), after the acceptance of the
Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, the opportunity to direct all
negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal. The Company
will not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily make any
payment with respect to any demands for appraisal or settle or offer to settle
any such demand.
SECTION 2.09. Surrender of Shares; Stock Transfer Books. (a) As of
-----------------------------------------
the Effective Time, Purchaser shall deposit (and Parent shall provide all
necessary funds and otherwise cause Purchaser to deposit), or shall cause to be
deposited, with a bank or trust company designated by Parent or Purchaser (and
reasonably satisfactory to the Company) to act as its paying agent (the "Paying
------
Agent"), for the benefit of the Holders, for payment in accordance with this
- -----
Article II, through the Paying Agent, cash in an amount equal to the sum of (i)
the Per Common Share Amount multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time plus (ii) the Per Preferred
----
Share Amount multiplied by the number of shares of ESOP Preferred Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (such cash being hereinafter
referred to as the "Payment Fund"). The Paying Agent shall, pursuant to
------------
irrevocable instructions, deliver the cash contemplated to be paid pursuant to
this Article II out of the Payment Fund. The Payment Fund shall not be used for
any other purpose. The Payment Fund shall be invested by the Paying Agent as
directed by the Surviving Corporation, provided that such investments shall be
in obligations of or guaranteed by the United States of America or of any agency
thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America,
in commercial paper obligations rated A-1 or P-1 or better by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Rating Services, respectively, or in deposit
accounts, certificates of deposit or banker's acceptances of, repurchase or
reverse repurchase agreements with, or Eurodollar time deposits purchased from,
commercial banks with capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in
excess of $1 billion (based on the most recent financial statements of such bank
which are then publicly available at the SEC or otherwise).
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
cause to be mailed to each person who was, at the Effective Time, a holder of
record of Shares entitled to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to
Sections 2.06(a) and 2.06(b) a form of letter of transmittal (which shall
specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
certificates evidencing such Shares (the "Certificates") shall pass, only upon
------------
proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent) and instructions for
use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates pursuant to such letter of
transmittal. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a Certificate, together with
such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance
with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required
pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled
to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration for each Share formerly
evidenced by such Certificate, and such Certificate shall then be canceled. No
interest shall accrue or be paid on the Merger Consideration payable upon the
surrender of any Certificate for the benefit of the holder of such Certificate.
If payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a person other than the
<PAGE>
9
person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered on the stock
transfer books of the Company, it shall be a condition of payment that the
Certificate so surrendered shall be endorsed properly or otherwise be in proper
form for transfer and that the person requesting such payment shall have paid
all transfer and other taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger
Consideration to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Surviving
Corporation that such taxes either have been paid or are not applicable.
(c) At any time following the first anniversary of the Effective Time,
the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to require the Paying Agent to
deliver to it any funds which had been made available to the Paying Agent and
not disbursed to Holders (including, without limitation, all interest and other
income received by the Paying Agent in respect of all funds made available to
it), and thereafter such Holders shall be entitled to look to the Surviving
Corporation (subject to abandoned property, escheat and other similar laws) only
as general creditors thereof with respect to any Merger Consideration that may
be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Surviving Corporation
nor the Paying Agent shall be liable to any holder of a Share for any Merger
Consideration delivered in respect of such Share to a public official pursuant
to any abandoned property, escheat or other similar law.
(d) At the close of business on the day of the Effective Time, the
stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and thereafter there shall
be no further registration of transfers of Shares on the records of the Company.
From and after the Effective Time, the Holders outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares
except as otherwise provided herein or by applicable law.
SECTION 2.10. Merger Without Meeting of Stockholders.
--------------------------------------
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Purchaser, or any other direct
or indirect subsidiary of Parent, shall acquire at least 90 percent of the
outstanding Shares, the parties hereto agree to take all necessary and
appropriate action to cause the Merger to become effective as soon as
practicable after the expiration of the Offer without a meeting of stockholders
of the Company, in accordance with Section 253 of Delaware Law.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
---------------------------------------------
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule (the "Disclosure
----------
Schedule") delivered by the Company to Parent and Purchaser on or prior to the
- --------
date of this Agreement or as disclosed in any of the SEC Reports, the Company
hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Purchaser that:
<PAGE>
10
SECTION 3.01. Organization and Qualification; Material Subsidiaries.
-----------------------------------------------------
Each of the Company and each Material Subsidiary is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization
and has the requisite power and authority and all necessary governmental
approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to be so organized,
existing or in good standing or to have such power, authority and governmental
approvals does not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each of the Company and each Material Subsidiary is duly qualified or
licensed as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in
each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or
operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or
licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified or licensed and
in good standing that do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. Exhibit 21 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1998, as filed with the SEC, is a true, accurate and
correct list of all of the Subsidiaries of the Company. All of the outstanding
capital stock of, or ownership interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company is
owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all liens. All
of the shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
SECTION 3.02. Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. The Company
----------------------------------------
has heretofore made available to Parent a complete and correct copy of the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws, each as amended to date,
of the Company. Such Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws are in
full force and effect, and the Company is not in material violation of any
provision thereof.
SECTION 3.03. Capitalization. The shares of issued and outstanding
--------------
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and nonassessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar
rights of any security holder of the Company. The authorized capital stock of
the Company consists of 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares
of preferred stock of the Company ("Company Preferred Stock"), par value $1.00
-----------------------
per share (of which 450,000 shares have been designated Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock ("Junior A Preferred Stock"), 415,800 have been
------------------------
designated as ESOP Preferred Stock and 200,000 have been designated Junior C
Preferred Stock). As of June 24, 1999, (i) 66,263,894 shares of Common Stock
and 353,908.409 shares of ESOP Preferred are issued and outstanding, all of
which are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and no shares of Junior
A Preferred Stock or of Junior C Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding,
(ii) 14,023,674 shares of Common Stock and no shares of Company Preferred Stock
are held in the treasury of the Company, (iii) no shares of Common Stock and no
shares of Company Preferred Stock are held by the Subsidiaries, (iv) no shares
of Common Stock and no shares of Company Preferred Stock are reserved for
issuance pursuant to currently outstanding stock options granted pursuant to the
Company's Stock Option Plans, (v) no shares of Common Stock and no shares of
Company Preferred Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to stock options to
be granted
<PAGE>
11
pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plans and (vi) 200,000 shares of Junior C
Preferred Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Rights Agreement. All
of the outstanding shares of ESOP Preferred Stock are held by the Company's
employee stock ownership plan. Except as set forth in this Section 3.03, in the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company or for the rights to
purchase Junior C Preferred Stock pursuant to the Rights Agreement, neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary has granted any options, warrants or other rights, or
entered into any agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary or obligating the Company or any Subsidiary to issue or sell any
shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or any
Subsidiary. All Shares subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the
terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are
issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The total number of Options outstanding is no greater than 10,888,271 and the
weighted average exercise price is no less than $34.27. There are no outstanding
contractual obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to provide funds to, or
make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise)
in, any Subsidiary or any other person other than to Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
SECTION 3.04. Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Company has
------------------------------------
all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby (the "Transactions"). The execution and
------------
delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of
the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company
are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions
(other than, with respect to the Merger, the approval and adoption of this
Agreement by the holders of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the
then outstanding shares of Common Stock and shares of ESOP Preferred Stock,
voting together as a single class, if and to the extent required by applicable
law, and the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required
by Delaware Law). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery by Parent and Purchaser, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms.
SECTION 3.05. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. (a) The
------------------------------------------
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and the
performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, (i) conflict with or
violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or equivalent organizational
documents of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with or
violate any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the
Company or any Material Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the
Company or any Material Subsidiary is bound or affected other than conflicts or
violations that do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect or prevent the consummation of any of the
<PAGE>
12
Transactions, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an
event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under,
or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien or other encumbrance on any
property or asset of the Company or any Material Subsidiary pursuant to, any
note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit,
franchise or other instrument or obligation, other than breaches or defaults
that do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or
prevent the consummation of any of the Transactions or prohibit or materially
limit the operation by Parent or Purchaser of all or any material portion of the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do
not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, require any
consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing or registration with or
notification to, any governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign,
with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except (i) for
applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, state securities or "blue
sky" laws ("Blue Sky Laws") and state takeover laws, the pre-merger notification
-------------
requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "HSR Act"), the filing of
-------
a notification with the European Commission under Council Regulation (EC) No.
4064/89, as amended, or similar antitrust filings or notifications in other
jurisdictions and filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as
required by Delaware Law and (ii) where failure to obtain such consents,
approvals, orders, registrations, authorizations or permits, or to make such
filings or notifications, would not prevent or delay consummation of the Offer
or the Merger, or otherwise prevent the Company from performing its obligations
under this Agreement, and do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06. Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Material
----------
Subsidiary is in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any law,
rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or any
Material Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any
Material Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (ii) any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other
instrument or obligation to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a
party or by which the Company or any Material Subsidiary or any property or
asset of the Company or any Material Subsidiary is bound or affected, except for
any such conflicts, defaults or violations that do not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.07. SEC Filings; Financial Statements. (a) The Company
---------------------------------
has filed all forms, reports and documents required to be filed by it with the
SEC since January 1, 1998 and has heretofore made available to Parent, in the
form filed with the SEC, (i) the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, (ii) the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1999, (iii) all proxy
statements relating to the Company's meetings of stockholders (whether annual or
special)
<PAGE>
13
held since January 1, 1998, and (iv) all other forms, reports and other
registration statements filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 1998
(the forms, reports and other documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii)
and (iv) above, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, being
referred to herein, collectively, as the "SEC Reports"). The SEC Reports (i)
-----------
were prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and
--------------
the rules and regulations thereunder and (ii) did not at the time they were
filed contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. No Subsidiary is required to file any form, report or
other document with the SEC.
(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each
case, any notes thereto) contained in the SEC Reports was prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods indicated and each fairly presented, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash
flow of the Company and the Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and
for the respective periods indicated therein (except as otherwise noted therein
and subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year-
end adjustments).
(c) Except as and to the extent set forth on the consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and the Subsidiaries as at March 31, 1999, including the
notes thereto, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any liability or
obligation of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise)
which would be required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, except for liabilities
and obligations that do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.08. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. From March 31,
------------------------------------
1999 through the date of this Agreement, there has not been (i) any event,
occurrence or condition which, individually or in the aggregate, would be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any amendments or
changes in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (iii) any
revaluation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any of their respective
assets, including, without limitation, write-offs of accounts receivable, other
than in the ordinary course of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' businesses
consistent with historical practices, (iv) any material change by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries in its accounting methods, principles or practices, (v)
any entry by the Company or any Subsidiary into any contract material to the
Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (vi) any declaration, setting
aside or payment of any dividend or distribution in respect of any capital stock
of the Company or any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any of its
securities (other than regular quarterly dividends on the shares of Common Stock
and regular dividends on the shares of ESOP Preferred Stock), (vii) any event
pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (A) incurred any
liabilities (direct, contingent or otherwise) which are material to the Company
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) engaged in any transaction or
entered into
<PAGE>
14
any agreement material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in
each of clause (A) and (B) outside of the ordinary course of business, or (viii)
other than pursuant to the contractual arrangements referred to in Section 3.10
and Annex B, any increase in or establishment of any bonus, insurance,
severance, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock
option (including, without limitation, the granting of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, performance awards, or restricted stock awards), stock
purchase or other employee benefit plan, or any other increase in the
compensation payable or to become payable to any officers or key employees of
the Company or any Subsidiary, except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice.
SECTION 3.09. Absence of Litigation; Joint Ventures. (a) As of the
-------------------------------------
date of this Agreement, there is no claim, action, proceeding or investigation
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or
any Subsidiary or against Treated Water Outsourcing, a Nalco/U.S. Filter Joint
Venture ("TWO"), or any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary or
TWO, before any court, arbitrator or administrative, governmental or regulatory
authority or body, domestic or foreign, that, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date
of this Agreement, none of the Company, any Subsidiary or TWO nor any property
or asset of the Company, any Subsidiary or TWO is subject to any order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award that would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, the aggregate amount of
indebtedness, net of cash and cash equivalents (i) of TWO is not materially
greater than $24,700,000 and (ii) of Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemicals, L.P. is not
materially greater than $6,700,000.
SECTION 3.10. Employee Benefit Plans. (a) With respect to each
----------------------
employee benefit plan, program, arrangement and contract (including, without
limitation, any "employee benefit plan", as defined in Section 3(3) of the
---------------------
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")),
-----
maintained or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary, or any
organization which, together with the Company or any Subsidiary, would be
treated as a "single employer" within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or
Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA (collectively, the "Company Benefit Plans"), the
---------------------
Company has made available to Parent a true and correct copy of (i) the most
recent annual report (Form 5500) filed with the Internal Revenue Service (the
"IRS"), (ii) such Company Benefit Plan, (iii) each trust agreement relating to
- ----
each Company Benefit Plan, (iv) the most recent summary plan description for
each Company Benefit Plan for which a summary plan description is required, (v)
the most recent actuarial report or valuation, if any, relating to a Company
Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA and (vi) the most recent determination
letter, if any, issued by the IRS with respect to any Company Benefit Plan
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code").
----
<PAGE>
15
(b) With respect to the Company Benefit Plans, to the knowledge of the
Company, no event has occurred and there exists no condition or set of
circumstances in connection with which the Company or any Subsidiary could be
subject to any liability under the terms of such Company Benefit Plans, ERISA,
the Code or any other applicable law which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Except as required by law or as would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, no Company Benefit Plan provides retiree medical or retiree life
insurance benefits to any person.
(d) The Company has made available to Parent (i) copies of all
material employment agreements with officers of the Company and the Subsidiaries
(or copies of forms of agreements setting forth representative employment terms
and conditions) and (ii) copies of all plans, programs, agreements and other
arrangements of the Company with or relating to its employees which contain
change of control provisions (the "Company Change of Control Agreements").
------------------------------------
(e) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each
Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of
Section 401(a) of the Code, has received a favorable determination letter from
the Internal Revenue Service and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has
occurred and no condition exists which could reasonably be expected to result in
the revocation of any such determination; (ii) during the six year period
preceding the Effective Time, no Company Benefit Plan covered by Title IV of
ERISA has been terminated and no proceedings have been instituted to terminate
or appoint a trustee to administer any such plan; (iii) during the six year
period preceding the Effective Time, no Company Benefit Plan subject to Section
412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has incurred any accumulated funding
deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
ERISA, or obtained a waiver of any minimum funding standard or an extension of
any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 or 304 of
ERISA; and (iv) no liability, claim, action or litigation has been made,
commenced or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened with respect to any Company
Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits payable in the ordinary
course, and appeals of such denied claims).
SECTION 3.11. Labor Matters. Neither the Company nor any Material
-------------
Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining or other labor union contract
applicable to persons employed by the Company or a Material Subsidiary in the
United States and no collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated by the
Company or any Material Subsidiary with respect to such United States employees.
As of the date of this Agreement, there is no effort by or on behalf of any
labor union to organize any persons employed by the Company or any Material
Subsidiary in the United States, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such
effort has been threatened, and no labor dispute, strike or work stoppage
against the Company or any Material Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened in writing which may interfere with the respective
business activities of the Company or the Material Subsidiaries,
<PAGE>
16
except where such dispute, strike or work stoppage would not have a Material
Adverse Effect. As of the date of this Agreement, to the knowledge of the
Company, none of the Company or any of the Material Subsidiaries, or their
respective representatives or employees, has committed any unfair labor
practices in connection with the operation of the respective businesses of the
Company or the Material Subsidiaries, and there is no charge or complaint
against the Company or the Material Subsidiaries by the National Labor Relations
Board or any comparable state agency pending or threatened in writing, except
where such unfair labor practice, charge or complaint would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.12. Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9; Proxy Statement.
------------------------------------------------
Neither the Schedule 14D-9 nor any information supplied by the Company for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Offer Documents shall, at the
respective times set out in the Schedule 14D-9, the Offer Documents or any
amendments or supplements thereto that are filed with the SEC or are first
published, sent or given to stockholders of the Company, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Neither
the proxy statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company in connection
with the Stockholders' Meeting (as hereinafter defined) nor the information
statement to be sent to such stockholders, as appropriate (such proxy statement
or information statement, as amended or supplemented, being referred to herein
as the "Proxy Statement"), shall, at the date the Proxy Statement (or any
---------------
amendment or supplement thereto) is first mailed to stockholders of the Company,
at the time of the Stockholders' Meeting and at the Effective Time, be false or
misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading or necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication
with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders' Meeting which
shall have become false or misleading. If, at any time prior to the Effective
Time, any event with respect to the Company, its officers and directors or any
of its Subsidiaries should occur which is required to be described in an
amendment of, or a supplement to, the Schedule 14D-9, the Offer Documents or the
Proxy Statement, such event shall be so described, and such amendment or
supplement shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, as required by law,
disseminated to Holders. Prior to the filing of such amendment or supplement
with the SEC, a copy thereof will be delivered to Parent and its counsel, who
shall, to the extent practicable under the circumstances and applicable law,
have the opportunity to comment on such amendment or supplement. The Schedule
14D-9 and the Proxy Statement shall comply in all material respects as to form
with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
SECTION 3.13. Taxes. (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have
-----
timely filed, or will timely file, all material Tax Returns required to be filed
by, or with respect to, the Company and its Subsidiaries on or before the
Effective Time (taking into account proper extensions of time to file), which
Tax Returns are true and complete in all material respects. All material Taxes
which are due and payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the
<PAGE>
17
date of this Agreement have been timely paid or have been adequately disclosed
and fully provided for as a liability on the financial statements of the Company
and its Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied. All material Taxes which are not yet due and
payable, but become due and payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on
or before the Effective Time, will be timely paid or will be adequately
disclosed and fully provided for, on or before the Effective Time, as a
liability on the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
The Company and each Subsidiary have withheld and collected all material Taxes
that are required to be withheld and collected by them as of the date of this
Agreement and have timely paid to the proper authorities such Taxes withheld and
collected to the extent due and payable. The Company and each Subsidiary will
withhold and collect on or before the Effective Time all material Taxes that
will be required to be withheld and collected by them on or before the Effective
Time and will timely pay to the proper authorities such Taxes withheld and
collected to the extent due and payable on or before the Effective Time.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived or been
requested to waive any statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Internal Revenue Service
nor any other taxing authority (domestic or foreign) is now asserting or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatening to assert against the Company or any
Subsidiary any deficiency or claim for material additional Taxes. No liens or
security interests arising in connection with a failure (or alleged failure) to
pay any material Taxes have attached to any of the assets of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, except for Taxes that are being contested in good faith
through proper proceedings.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability
for material Taxes of any person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries),
including liability arising from the application of Treasury regulation section
1.1502-6 or any analogous provision of state, local or foreign law, or as a
transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise, other than a liability for
which any person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) is required, by
contract or otherwise, to indemnify the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and
other than a liability which is adequately disclosed and fully provided for on
the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. To the
knowledge of the Company, no person or taxing authority has asserted liability
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for material Taxes of any person
(other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), including liability arising from
the application of Treasury regulation section 1.1502-6 or any analogous
provision of state, local or foreign law, or as a transferee or successor, by
contract or otherwise.
(d) There are no tax sharing, allocation, indemnification or similar
agreements in effect as between the Company or its Subsidiaries or any
predecessor or affiliate thereof and any other party under which Parent or
Purchaser, the Company or its Subsidiaries could be liable for material Taxes or
other material claims of any party (other than the Company or its
<PAGE>
18
Subsidiaries), other than Taxes or other claims which are adequately disclosed
and fully provided for on the financial statements of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied.
(e) No election under Section 341(f) of the Code has been made or
shall be made prior to the Effective Time to treat the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as a consenting corporation, as defined in Section 341 of the Code.
(f) The Company is not a "United States real property holding
corporation" within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has applied for,
been granted, been required to make, or agreed to any accounting method change
for which it will be required to take into account any material adjustment under
Section 481 of the Code or any similar provision of the Code or the
corresponding tax laws of any nation, state or locality, and the Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority has not initiated or proposed any
such adjustment or change in accounting period.
(h) No material amount of indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries consists of "corporate acquisition indebtedness" within the meaning
of Section 279 of the Code.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement (i) "Tax" (and, with correlative
---
meaning, "Taxes") means any United States federal, state, local, foreign or
-----
other income, gross receipts, profits, windfall profits, property, sales, use,
license, excise, franchise, occupation, employment, payroll, premium,
withholding, alternative or added minimum, ad valorem, transfer, stamp,
severance, capital gains, capital stock or excise tax, or any other tax, levy,
custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind
whatsoever (whether payable directly or by withholding and whether or not
requiring the filing of a Tax Return), all estimated taxes, deficiency
assessments, additions to tax, penalties and interest imposed by any
governmental authority with respect to the foregoing, and shall include any
liability for such amounts as a result either of being a member of a combined,
consolidated, unitary or affiliated group or of a contractual obligation to
indemnify any person or other entity with respect to Taxes, and (ii) "Tax
---
Return" means any return, form, report or similar statement with respect to any
Tax (including any schedules, related or supporting information), including
without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return or
declaration of estimated Tax.
SECTION 3.14. Rights Agreement. The copy of the Rights Agreement,
----------------
dated as of June 20, 1996, between the Company and First Chicago Trust Company,
as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), including all amendments and exhibits
----------------
thereto, that is set forth as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1998 is a complete and correct copy thereof. The Board has
taken all necessary action to amend the Rights Agreement
<PAGE>
19
so that none of the execution of this Agreement, the making of the Offer or the
consummation of the Merger will (a) cause the Rights issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement to become exercisable, (b) cause Parent or Purchaser to become
an Acquiring Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) or (c)
give rise to a Distribution Date or a Triggering Event (as each term is defined
in the Rights Agreement).
SECTION 3.15. Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights. The Company and
----------------------------------
the Subsidiaries own, or possess licenses or other valid rights to use, all
patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name
rights, copyrights, servicemarks, trade secrets, applications for trademarks and
for servicemarks, know-how and other proprietary rights and information that are
material to the business of the Company and the Material Subsidiaries as
currently conducted, and the Company is unaware of any assertion or claim
challenging the validity of any of the foregoing, other than any assertion or
claim which, individually or in the aggregate, does not have a Material Adverse
Effect. The conduct of the business of the Company and the Material
Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not conflict with any patent, patent
right, license, trademark, trademark right, trade name, trade name right,
service mark or copyright of any third party, other than conflicts that,
individually or in the aggregate, do not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of the Company, there are no infringements by any third party of any
proprietary rights owned or licensed by or to the Company or any Material
Subsidiary which, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 3.16. Environmental Matters. Except as would not,
---------------------
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) the
Company is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and has obtained
and is in compliance with all governmental permits, licenses and other
authorizations required under any Environmental Law, (b) there are no written
claims pursuant to any Environmental Law pending or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened, against the Company, (c) the Company has made available to Purchaser
copies of any and all environmental assessment or audit reports or other similar
studies or analyses generated within the last three years and in the Company's
possession, that relate to the Company, and (d) there are no facts,
circumstances or conditions relating to the business or operations of the
Company or any Material Subsidiary, or to any real property currently owned or
operated by the Company or any Material Subsidiary (or, to the knowledge of the
Company, any real property previously owned or operated by the Company or any
Material Subsidiary as a result of the actions or operations of the Company or
any Material Subsidiary), that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any
claim, proceeding or action, or to any liability, under any Environment Law.
SECTION 3.17. Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other
-------
than Goldman) is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission
in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf
of the Company. The Company has heretofore furnished to Parent a complete and
correct copy of all agreements between the
<PAGE>
20
Company and Goldman pursuant to which such firm would be entitled to any payment
relating to the Transactions.
SECTION 3.18. Year 2000. Except as would not, individually or in the
---------
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, to the knowledge of the Company all
internal computer systems, computer software, equipment or technology that are
material to the business, finances or operations of the Company and its Material
Subsidiaries or were sold or licensed to customers of the Company and its
Material Subsidiaries are (i) able to receive, record, store, process,
calculate, manipulate and output dates from and after January 1, 2000, time
periods that include January 1, 2000 and information that is dependent on or
relates to such dates or time periods, in the same manner and with the same
accuracy, functionality, data integrity and performance as when dates or time
periods prior to January 1, 2000 are involved, (ii) able to store and output
date information in a manner that is unambiguous as to century and (iii) to
recognize Year 2000 as a leap year.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER
------------------------------------------------------
Parent and Purchaser hereby, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company that:
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Organization. Each of Parent and Purchaser
----------------------
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the requisite power and
authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except
where the failure to be so organized, existing or in good standing or to have
such power, authority and governmental approvals would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent or
Purchaser to perform their obligations hereunder, or prevent or materially delay
the consummation of the Transactions.
SECTION 4.02. Authority Relative to this Agreement. Each of Parent
------------------------------------
and Purchaser has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate
the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and
Purchaser and the consummation by Parent and Purchaser of the Transactions have
been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Purchaser are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions (other than, with
respect to the Merger, the filing and recordation of appropriate merger
documents as required by Delaware Law). This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by Parent and Purchaser and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Company,
<PAGE>
21
constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of each of Parent and Purchaser
enforceable against each of Parent and Purchaser in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 4.03. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. (a) The
------------------------------------------
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser do not, and the
performance of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser will not, (i) conflict
with or violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or equivalent
organizational documents of either Parent or Purchaser, (ii) conflict with or
violate any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to
Parent or Purchaser or by which any property or asset of either of them is bound
or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an
event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under,
or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien or other encumbrance on any
property or asset of Parent or Purchaser pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other
instrument or obligation to which Parent or Purchaser is a party or by which
Parent or Purchaser or any property or asset of either of them is bound or
affected, except for any such violations, breaches, defaults or other
occurrences which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
adverse effect on the ability of Parent or Purchaser to perform their
obligations hereunder, or prevent or materially delay the consummation of the
Transactions.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and
Purchaser do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser
will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing
with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or
foreign, except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act,
Blue Sky Laws and state takeover laws, the HSR Act, the filing of a notification
with the European Commission under Council Regulation (EC) No. 4064/89, as
amended, or similar antitrust filings or notifications in other jurisdictions
and filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by
Delaware Law and (ii) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals,
authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the ability
of Parent or Purchaser to perform their obligations hereunder, or prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the Transactions.
SECTION 4.04. Financing. Parent has sufficient funds to permit
---------
Purchaser to acquire all the outstanding Shares in the Offer and the Merger.
SECTION 4.05. Offer Documents; Proxy Statement. The Offer Documents
--------------------------------
will not, at the time the Offer Documents are filed with the SEC or are first
published, sent or given to stockholders of the Company, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The
information supplied by Parent for inclusion in the Proxy Statement will not, on
the date the
<PAGE>
22
Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first mailed to
stockholders of the Company, at the time of the Stockholders' Meeting and at the
Effective Time, contain any statement which, at such time and in light of the
circumstances under which it is made, is false or misleading with respect to any
material fact, or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading or
necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders' Meeting which shall have
become false or misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Purchaser
make no representation or warranty with respect to any information supplied by
the Company or any of its representatives which is contained in any of the
foregoing documents or the Offer Documents. The Offer Documents shall comply in
all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder.
SECTION 4.06. Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other
-------
than J.P. Morgan & Co.) is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or
commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of Parent or Purchaser.
SECTION 4.07. Absence of Litigation. As of the date of this
---------------------
Agreement, there is no litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, threatened
against, Parent or Purchaser or any of their respective properties or assets
before any court, arbitrator or administrator, governmental or regulatory
authority or body, domestic or foreign, which seeks to delay or prevent or would
result in the material delay of or would prevent the consummation of any
Transaction. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Parent nor Purchaser or
any property or asset of Parent or Purchaser is subject to any continuing order
of, consent decree, settlement agreement or similar written agreement with, or,
to the knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, continuing investigation by, any
governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, or any order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any governmental or
regulatory authority or any arbitrator which would prevent Parent or Purchaser
from performing their respective material obligations under this Agreement or
prevent or materially delay the consummation of any Transaction.
SECTION 4.08. No Prior Activities. Since the date of its
-------------------
incorporation, Purchaser has not engaged and will not engage prior to the
Effective Time or termination of this Agreement in any activities other than in
connection with or as contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.09. Parent Not an Affiliated Shareholder. As of the date
------------------------------------
hereof, (i) neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates is, with respect to the
Company, an "interested stockholder" as such term is defined in Section 203 of
Delaware Law and (ii) except to the extent that Parent or its Affiliates may be
deemed to beneficially own Shares as a result of this Agreement, Parent and its
Affiliates collectively do not hold directly or indirectly five percent or more
of the outstanding voting securities of the Company.
<PAGE>
23
ARTICLE V
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
--------------------------------------
SECTION 5.01. Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger.
-----------------------------------------------------
Except as set forth in Section 5.01 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the
Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, conduct its businesses only
in the ordinary course and shall use all reasonable efforts to preserve
substantially intact the business organization of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, to keep available the services of their current officers and
employees and to preserve the current relationships of the Company and the
Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers and other persons with which the Company
or any Subsidiary has significant business relations. As amplification of the
foregoing, except as contemplated by this Agreement or in Section 5.01 of the
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall, between the
date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, directly or indirectly do, or
propose to do, any of the following without the prior written consent of Parent:
(a) amend or otherwise change its Certificate of Incorporation or By-
laws or equivalent organizational documents;
(b) issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, encumber, or
authorize the issuance, delivery, sale, pledge, disposition, grant or
encumbrance of (i) any shares of capital stock of any class of the Company
or any Subsidiary, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or
other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of such capital stock, or
any other ownership interest (including, without limitation, any phantom
interest), of the Company or any Subsidiary (except for the issuance of
Shares issuable pursuant to stock options outstanding on the date hereof)
or (ii) any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary for consideration in
excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate;
(c) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other
distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect
to any of its capital stock, except for regular quarterly dividends on the
Shares declared and paid at times consistent with past practices;
(d) reclassify, combine, split, subdivide, or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for shares of its capital stock, or redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of the capital stock
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other securities thereof
or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or other
securities;
(e) (i) acquire (including, without limitation, by merger,
consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets) any corporation,
partnership, other business organization or
<PAGE>
24
any division thereof for consideration in excess of $10,000,000 in the
aggregate; (ii) except for borrowings under existing credit facilities not
to exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate and excepting transactions between
the Company and any Subsidiary, incur any indebtedness for borrowed money
or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise
as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any person;
(iii) except for transactions between the Company and any Subsidiary, make
any loans, advances, or capital contributions to, or investments in, any
person, for an amount in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate; (iv)
authorize capital expenditures which are, in the aggregate, in excess of
$25,000,000 for the Company and the Subsidiaries; (v) acquire any assets
for consideration in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate; or (vi) enter
into or amend any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement with
respect to any matter set forth in this Section 5.01(e);
(f) except as provided in Section 5.01 of the Disclosure Schedule, as
contemplated by this Agreement or in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices (i) increase the compensation payable or to
become payable to its officers or employees, (ii) other than in accordance
with existing policies and arrangements, grant any severance pay to or
(iii) establish, adopt, enter into or amend any collective bargaining,
bonus, profit sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option, restricted
stock, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment, termination,
severance or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for
the benefit of any director, officer or employee, except as contemplated by
the Agreement or to the extent required by applicable law or the terms or a
collective bargaining agreement or a contractual obligation existing on the
date hereof;
(g) other than as required by generally accepted accounting
principles, make any change to its accounting policies or procedures;
(h) agree to the settlement of any claim or litigation which would
have a Material Adverse Effect;
(i) make, change or rescind any material Tax election (other than (i)
recurring elections that customarily are made in connection with the filing
of any Tax Return; provided that any such elections are consistent with the
past practices of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be; (ii)
gain recognition agreements under Section 367 of the Code and Treasury
regulations thereunder with respect to transactions occurring in the 1998
fiscal year of the Company; and (iii) elections with respect to
Subsidiaries purchased by the Company under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code
or, solely in the case of non-U.S. Subsidiaries purchased by the Company,
Section 338(g) of the Code) or settle or compromise any material Tax
liability that is the subject of an audit, claim for delinquent Taxes,
examination, action, suit, proceeding or investigation by any taxing
authority;
<PAGE>
25
(j) except to the extent required under existing employee and director
benefit plans, agreements or arrangements as in effect on the date of this
Agreement or as contemplated by this Agreement, accelerate the payment,
right to payment or vesting of any bonus, severance, profit sharing,
retirement, deferred compensation, stock option, insurance or other
compensation or benefits;
(k) pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims, material
liabilities or material obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or
unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge or
satisfaction (A) of any such material claims, material liabilities or
material obligations in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice or (B) of material claims, material liabilities or material
obligations reflected or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the
consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) contained in the
Company SEC Reports;
(l) enter into any agreement, understanding or commitment that
restrains, limits or impedes the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
ability to compete with or conduct any business or line of business,
including, but not limited to, geographic limitations on the Company's or
any of its Subsidiaries' activities;
(m) materially modify, amend or terminate any material contract to
which it is a party or waive any of its material rights or claims except in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or
(n) agree or enter into, in writing or otherwise, or amend any
contract, agreement commitment or arrangement with respect to any of the
actions set forth in this Section 5.01.
SECTION 5.02. Third Party Standstill Agreements and Confidentiality
-----------------------------------------------------
Agreements. During the period from the date of this Agreement through the
- ----------
Effective Time, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board under applicable
law as determined by the Board in good faith after receiving the advice of
experienced, independent counsel (which counsel may be Shearman & Sterling) (i)
the Company shall not terminate, amend, modify or waive any provision of any
confidentiality or standstill agreement to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party (other than any involving Parent), and (ii) the Company
shall enforce, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the
provisions of any such agreements, including, but not limited to, obtaining
injunctions to prevent any breaches of such agreements and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions thereof in any court of the United States
or any state thereof having jurisdiction. In the event of any Acquisition
Proposal or unsolicited bid for any Shares from any third party which is a party
to any such standstill agreement, the Company shall advise Parent that such
third party is subject to such a standstill agreement and that the Company will
enforce such standstill agreement as contemplated by this Section 5.02.
<PAGE>
26
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
---------------------
SECTION 6.01. Stockholders' Meeting. The Company, acting through the
---------------------
Board, shall, in accordance with applicable law and the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, (i) duly call, give notice of, convene
and hold an annual or special meeting of its stockholders as soon as practicable
following consummation of the Offer for the purpose of considering and taking
action on this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (the
"Stockholders' Meeting") and (ii) subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board
- ----------------------
under applicable law as determined by the Board in good faith after receiving
the advice of experienced, independent counsel, (A) include in the Proxy
Statement the recommendation of the Board that the stockholders of the Company
approve and adopt this Agreement and the Transactions and (B) use all reasonable
efforts to obtain such approval and adoption. At the Stockholders' Meeting,
Parent and Purchaser shall cause all Shares then owned by them and their
Subsidiaries to be voted in favor of the approval and adoption of this Agreement
and the Transactions. The record date for the Stockholders' Meeting shall be a
date subsequent to the date Parent or Purchaser becomes a record holder of
Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer.
SECTION 6.02. Proxy Statement. If stockholder approval of the Merger
---------------
is required by applicable law, as soon as practicable following consummation of
the Offer, the Company shall file the Proxy Statement with the SEC under the
Exchange Act, and shall use all reasonable efforts to have the Proxy Statement
cleared by the SEC. Parent, Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate with each
other in the preparation of the Proxy Statement, and the Company shall notify
Parent of the receipt of any comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy
Statement and of any requests by the SEC for any amendment or supplement thereto
or for additional information and shall provide to Parent promptly copies of all
correspondence between the Company, or any representative of the Company, and
the SEC or its staff. The Company shall give Parent and its counsel the
opportunity to review the Proxy Statement prior to its being filed with the SEC
and shall give Parent and its counsel the opportunity to review all amendments
and supplements to the Proxy Statement and all responses to requests for
additional information and replies to comments prior to their being filed with,
or sent to, the SEC. Each of the Company, Parent and Purchaser agrees to use
all reasonable efforts, after consultation with the other parties hereto, to
respond promptly to all such comments of and requests by the SEC and to cause
the Proxy Statement and all required amendments and supplements thereto to be
mailed to the Holders entitled to vote at the Stockholders' Meeting at the
earliest practicable time.
SECTION 6.03. Company Board Representation; Section 14(f). (a)
-------------------------------------------
Promptly upon the purchase by Purchaser of Shares pursuant to the Offer, and
from time to time thereafter, Purchaser shall be entitled to designate up to
such number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the Board as
shall give Purchaser representation on the Board equal to the product of the
total number of directors on the Board (giving effect to the directors elected
<PAGE>
27
pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by the percentage that the aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Purchaser or any
Affiliate of Purchaser following such purchase bears to the total number of
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, and the Company shall, at such time,
promptly take all actions necessary to cause Purchaser's designees to be elected
as directors of the Company, including increasing the size of the Board or
securing the resignations of incumbent directors or both. At such times, the
Company shall use all reasonable efforts to cause persons designated by
Purchaser to constitute the same percentage of each committee of the Board as
persons designated by Purchaser to constitute the Board to the extent permitted
by applicable law.
(b) The Company shall promptly take all actions required pursuant to
Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder in order
to fulfill its obligations under this Section 6.03 and shall include in the
Schedule 14D-9 such information with respect to the Company and its officers and
directors as is required under Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1 to fulfill such
obligations. Parent or Purchaser shall supply to the Company and be solely
responsible for any information with respect to either of them and their
nominees, officers, directors and affiliates required by such Section 14(f) and
Rule 14f-1.
(c) Following the election of designees of Purchaser pursuant to this
Section 6.03, prior to the Effective Time, any amendment of this Agreement or
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company, any
termination of this Agreement by the Company, any extension by the Company of
the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of Parent
or Purchaser or waiver of any of the Company's rights hereunder shall require
the concurrence of a majority of the directors of the Company then in office who
neither were designated by Purchaser nor are employees of the Company.
SECTION 6.04. Access to Information; Confidentiality. (a) From the
--------------------------------------
date hereof to the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause the
Subsidiaries and the officers, directors, employees, auditors and agents of the
Company and the Subsidiaries to, afford the officers, employees and agents
(including accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives)
of Parent and Purchaser reasonable access at all reasonable times to the
officers, employees, agents, properties, offices and other facilities, books and
records of the Company and each Subsidiary, and shall furnish Parent and
Purchaser with (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and
other documents filed by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of
federal or state laws and (ii) all financial, operating and other data and
information as Parent or Purchaser, through its officers, employees or agents,
may reasonably request.
(b) All information obtained by Parent or Purchaser pursuant to this
Section 6.04 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the confidentiality
agreement, dated April 13, 1999 (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), between
-------------------------
Degremont S.A. and Goldman on behalf of the Company.
<PAGE>
28
SECTION 6.05. No Solicitation. (a) The Company shall, and shall
---------------
direct and use all reasonable efforts to cause its officers, directors,
employees and agents (including accountants, counsel, financial advisors and
other representatives) to, immediately cease any discussions or negotiations
with any parties that may be ongoing with respect to any Acquisition Proposal
(as defined below in this Section 6.05(a)). The Company shall not, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any officer,
director or employee of, or any agent (including accountants, counsel, financial
advisors and other representatives) of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, facilitate or initiate, or knowingly
encourage the submission of, any Acquisition Proposal (including, without
limitation, the taking of any action which would make Section 203 of the
Delaware Law inapplicable to the Acquisition Proposal) or (ii) participate in
any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish or disclose to any person
or legal entity (other than Parent or Purchaser) any information with respect
to, or take any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any
proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, an
Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that if, prior to the acceptance for
-------- -------
payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Board determines in good faith that
it is necessary to do so in accordance with its fiduciary duties to the
Company's stockholders under applicable law as advised by experienced,
independent counsel (which counsel may be Shearman & Sterling), the Company may,
in response to an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal, and subject to compliance
with Section 6.05(c), (x) furnish or disclose information with respect to the
Company and its Subsidiaries to any third party pursuant to a customary
confidentiality agreement on terms no less favorable to the Company nor more
favorable to such third party than those contained in the Confidentiality
Agreement and (y) participate in negotiations regarding such Acquisition
Proposal. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition Proposal" means any bona
--------------------
fide inquiry, proposal or offer from any third party relating to any direct or
indirect acquisition or purchase of all or a substantial part of the assets of
the Company or of over 20% of the voting securities of the Company, any tender
offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person
beneficially owning 20% or more of the voting securities of the Company, any
merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of substantially all the
assets, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving the Company, other than the Transactions, or any other transaction the
consummation of which could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with,
prevent or materially delay the Offer or the Merger or which could reasonably be
expected to dilute materially the benefits to Parent of the Transactions.
(b) Except as set forth in this Section 6.05, neither the Board nor
any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify, or propose to withdraw or
modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser, the approval or
recommendation by the Board or any such committee of the Offer, this Agreement
or the Merger, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend,
any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) cause the Company to enter into any agreement
with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or any letter of intent, agreement in
principle, or other similar understanding or arrangement with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal or any understanding, arrangement or agreement requiring or
incentivizing the Company to abandon,
<PAGE>
29
terminate or fail to consummate the Merger or any of the Transactions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event prior to the time of acceptance for
payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer the Board determines in good faith that
it is necessary to do so in accordance with its fiduciary duties to the
Company's stockholders under applicable law as advised by experienced,
independent counsel (which counsel may be Shearman & Sterling), the Board may
recommend to its stockholders an Acquisition Proposal and in connection
therewith withdraw or adversely modify its approval or recommendation of the
Offer or the Merger if (i) a third party makes a Superior Proposal and (ii) (A)
five Business Days have elapsed following delivery to Parent of a written notice
of the determination by the Board to take such action and during such five
Business Day period the Company has fully cooperated with Parent, with the
intent of enabling Parent and Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company, on
the other hand, to agree to a modification of this Agreement and (B) at the end
of such five Business Day period, the Acquisition Proposal continues to
constitute a Superior Proposal, and concurrently therewith or afterwards the
Board may terminate this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.01(e)
in order to permit the Company to enter into any agreement with respect to any
such Superior Proposal; provided that any agreement with a third party with
--------
respect to a Superior Proposal shall provide an opportunity for Parent (and any
other person) to make an additional final bid for the Company and, if such bid
would constitute a Superior Proposal, for the Company to accept such bid. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Superior Proposal" means any bona fide proposal
-----------------
made by a third party to acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration
consisting of cash and/or securities, all outstanding Shares pursuant to a
tender offer or a merger or purchase of all of the assets of the Company (i) on
terms which the Board determines in good faith (based on the written advice of a
financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to
the Company and its stockholders than the Transactions, as proposed to be
modified by Parent in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, (ii) for
which financing, to the extent required, is then available (it being understood
that financing evidenced by highly confident letters and similar letters shall
not be considered "available" for purposes of this Section 6.05), and (iii)
which is not subject to any financing or due diligence condition.
(c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.05, immediately after receipt thereof,
the Company shall advise Parent in writing of any request for information
regarding an Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry or proposal with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall keep Parent informed of the status of
any such request or Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall promptly provide to
Parent any non-public information concerning the Company provided to any other
person in connection with any Acquisition Proposal which was not previously
provided to Parent.
(d) Nothing contained in this Section 6.05 shall prohibit the Company
from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule
14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the
Company's stockholders if the Board determines in good faith that it is
necessary to do so in accordance with its fiduciary duties
<PAGE>
30
to the Company's stockholders under applicable law as advised by experienced,
independent counsel (which counsel may be Shearman & Sterling).
(e) The Company agrees not to release any third party from, or waive
any provision of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which the
Company is a party. Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the
Company shall request each person or entity which has heretofore executed a
confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of acquiring the
Company or any portion thereof to return all confidential information heretofore
furnished to such person or entity by or on behalf of the Company.
SECTION 6.06. Employee Benefits Matters. Annex B hereto sets forth
-------------------------
certain agreements among the parties hereto with respect to the Plans and other
employee benefits matters.
SECTION 6.07. Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance.
------------------------------------------------------
(a) The Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation
shall contain provisions (collectively, "Indemnification Provisions") no less
--------------------------
favorable with respect to indemnification than are set forth in the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company, which provisions shall
not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from
the Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights
thereunder of individuals who at the Effective Time were directors, officers,
employees, fiduciaries or agents of the Company, unless such modification shall
be required by law.
(b) The Surviving Corporation shall maintain in effect for six years
from the Effective Time, if available, the current directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies maintained by the Company (provided that Parent and
the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies of at least the same
coverage containing terms and conditions which are not materially less
favorable) with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Parent or the Surviving
Corporation be required to expend pursuant to this Section 6.07(b) more than an
amount per year equal to 200% of current annual premiums paid by the Company for
such insurance (which the Company represents to be $476,525 for the 12 month
period ended October 1, 1999); provided further that, in the event of an
-------- -------
expiration, termination or cancellation of such current policies, Parent or the
Surviving Corporation shall be required to obtain as much coverage as is
possible under substantially similar policies for such 200% amount.
(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall, to the fullest
extent permitted under applicable law and regardless of whether the Merger
becomes effective, indemnify and hold harmless, and, after the Effective Time,
the Surviving Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless, each present and former director,
officer or employee of the Company and each Subsidiary (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties") against all costs and expenses (including attorneys'
- --------------------
fees), judgments,
<PAGE>
31
fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and settlement amounts paid in
connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether
arising before or after the Effective Time), whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to any action or
omission in their capacity as an officer, director or employee whether occurring
before or after the Effective Time (including, without limitation, the
Transactions), for a period of six years after the date hereof. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, in the event of any such claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation, (i) the Company or the Surviving Corporation, as
the case may be, shall pay as incurred, each Indemnified Party's legal and other
expenses (including costs of investigation and preparation), including the fees
and expenses of counsel selected by the Indemnified Party, promptly after
statements therefor are received and (ii) the Company and the Surviving
Corporation shall cooperate in the defense of any such matter; provided,
--------
however, that none of the Company or the Surviving Corporation
- -------
shall be liable for any settlement effected without its written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and provided further that, in the
-------- -------
event that any claim for indemnification is asserted or made within such six-
year period, all rights to indemnification in respect of such claim shall
continue until the disposition of such claim. The parties intend, to the extent
not prohibited by applicable law, that the indemnification provided for in this
Section 6.07 shall apply without limitation to negligent acts or omissions of
any Indemnified Party. Any determination to be made as to whether any
Indemnified Party has met any standard of conduct imposed by law shall be made
by legal counsel reasonably acceptable to such Indemnified Party and the
Surviving Corporation, retained at the Surviving Corporation's expense. The
Company or the Surviving Corporation shall pay all expenses, including counsel
fees and expenses, that any Indemnified Party may incur in enforcing the
indemnity and other obligations provided for in this Section 6.07.
(d) In the event the Company, the Surviving Corporation or Parent or
any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges
into any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation
or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially
all of its properties and assets to any person, then and in each such case,
proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the
Company, the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, shall assume
the obligations set forth in this Section 6.07.
(e) This Section 6.07 is intended to benefit the Indemnified Parties
and their respective heirs, executors and personal representatives, may be
enforced by them and shall be binding on the successors and assigns of Parent,
the Company and the Surviving Corporation. This Section 6.07 shall not limit or
otherwise adversely affect any rights any Indemnified Party may have under any
agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary or the Company's or any
Subsidiary's Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws.
SECTION 6.08. Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts. (a) Upon the
---------------------------------------
terms and subject to the conditions hereof, each of the parties hereto shall,
and shall use their
<PAGE>
32
reasonable best efforts to cause their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable,
to (i) make promptly all respective filings, and thereafter make any other
required submissions, under the HSR Act and under Council Regulation (EC) No.
4064/89, as amended, with respect to the Merger and the Transactions, (ii) use
its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate
action, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective
the Transactions, including, without limitation, using all reasonable efforts to
obtain all licenses, permits, consents, waivers, approvals, authorizations,
qualifications and orders of governmental authorities and parties to contracts
with the Company and the Subsidiaries as are necessary for the consummation of
the Transactions and to fulfill the conditions to the Offer and the Merger and
(iii) not take action (including effecting or agreeing to effect or announcing
an intention or proposal to effect any acquisition, business combination or
other transaction) which could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with,
prevent, impair or delay the ability of the parties to consummate the Merger.
The parties shall consult and cooperate with each other in connection with the
making of all such filings or submissions, including providing copies of all
such documents to the non-filing or non-submitting party and its advisors prior
to filing or submitting. In case at any time after the Effective Time any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement, the proper officers and directors of each party to this Agreement
shall use their reasonable best efforts to take all such action.
(b) Each of Parent and Purchaser shall use its best efforts to defend
through litigation on the merits any claim asserted in court by any party in
order to avoid the entry of, or to have vacated or terminated, any decree,
order, or judgment that would restrain or prevent the consummation of the Offer
by December 31, 1999.
SECTION 6.09. Public Announcements. Parent and the Company shall
--------------------
consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any
public statements with respect to this Agreement or any Transaction and shall
not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the
prior consent of the other parties, except as may be required by applicable law
or regulation or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with a
national securities exchange to which Parent or the Company is a party.
SECTION 6.10. Confidentiality Agreement. The Company hereby waives
-------------------------
the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement as and to the extent necessary
to permit the consummation of each Transaction. Upon the acceptance for payment
of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Confidentiality Agreement shall be deemed
to have terminated without further action by the parties thereto.
<PAGE>
33
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
------------------------
SECTION 7.01. Conditions to the Merger. The respective obligations
------------------------
of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the Transactions shall
--------------------
have been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the stockholders
of the Company to the extent required by Delaware Law and the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company;
(b) HSR Act; EC. Any waiting period (and any extension thereof)
-----------
applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have
expired or been terminated and the Commission of the European Union shall
have approved the Transactions under Regulation (EC) No. 4064/89, as
amended, of the Council of the European Union;
(c) Other Reviews/Approvals. Any review or approval required by
-----------------------
governmental authorities in countries in which the Company or its
Subsidiaries have operations material to the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, shall have been completed or obtained;
(d) No Order. No United States federal or state or Republic of France
--------
governmental authority or other agency or commission or court of competent
jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered
any law, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, injunction or other
order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) (a "Governmental
------------
Order") which is then in effect and has the effect of prohibiting
consummation of the Merger; and
(e) Offer. Purchaser or its permitted assignee shall have purchased
-----
all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
---------------------------------
SECTION 8.01. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
-----------
Merger and the other Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the
Effective Time, notwithstanding any requisite approval and adoption of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by the stockholders of the
Company:
<PAGE>
34
(a) By mutual written consent duly authorized by the Boards of
Directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company; or
(b) By either Parent, Purchaser or the Company if (i) the Offer is not
completed on or before December 31, 1999; provided, however, that the right
-------- -------
to terminate this Agreement under this clause (i) 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 to complete the Offer on or
before such date; or (ii) any United States federal or state court of
competent jurisdiction or court of the Republic of France of competent
jurisdiction or other United States federal or state governmental authority
or other governmental authority of the Republic of France shall have issued
an order, decree, ruling or taken any other action restraining, enjoining
or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other
action shall have become final and non-appealable; or
(c) By Parent, prior to the acceptance of Shares pursuant to the
Offer, if (i) due to an occurrence or circumstance that would result in a
failure to satisfy any condition set forth in Annex A hereto, Purchaser
shall have (A) terminated the Offer without having accepted any Shares for
payment thereunder or (B) failed to pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer by
December 31, 1999, unless such failure to accept Shares for payment or to
pay for Shares shall have been caused by or resulted from the failure of
Parent or Purchaser to perform any covenant or agreement of either of them
contained in this Agreement or the breach by Parent or Purchaser of any
representation or warranty of either of them contained in this Agreement;
or (ii) prior to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Board or
any committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse
to Purchaser or Parent its approval or recommendation of the Offer, this
Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction in order to approve or
recommend any other Acquisition Proposal; or
(d) By the Company, upon approval of the Board, if Purchaser shall
have (A) failed to commence the Offer within five Business Days following
the date of this Agreement, (B) terminated the Offer without having
accepted any Shares for payment thereunder or (C) failed to pay for Shares
pursuant to the Offer by December 31, 1999, unless such failure to accept
Shares for payment or to pay for Shares shall have been caused by or
resulted from the failure of the conditions specified in paragraphs (c) or
(d) of Annex A to be satisfied; or
(e) By the Company, upon approval of the Board, if, prior to the
acceptance of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, the Board shall
determine that it is necessary to do so in accordance with its fiduciary
duties to the Company's stockholders under applicable law as advised by
experienced, independent counsel (which counsel may be Shearman & Sterling)
in order to accept a Superior Proposal; provided that the Company
--------
<PAGE>
35
may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(e) unless
and until (i) five Business Days have elapsed following delivery to Parent
of written notice of such determination of the Company, and during such
five Business Day period the Company has fully cooperated with Parent, with
the intent of enabling both parties to agree to a modification of the terms
and conditions of this Agreement so that the transactions contemplated
hereby may be effected, (ii) at the end of such five Business Day period
the Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal and
the Board shall determine that it is necessary to terminate this Agreement
and accept such Superior Proposal in order to comply with its fiduciary
duties to the Company's stockholders under applicable law as advised by
experienced, independent counsel (which counsel may be Shearman &
Sterling), and (iii) (x) prior to such termination, Parent has received the
amount required by Section 8.03(d) and (y) concurrently with such
termination the Company enters into a definitive acquisition, merger or
similar agreement to effect the Superior Proposal which agreement with
respect to a Superior Proposal shall provide an opportunity for Parent (and
any other person) to make an additional final bid for the Company and, if
such bid would constitute a Superior Proposal, for the Company to accept
such bid.
SECTION 8.02. Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination
---------------------
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, this Agreement shall have no further
effect, and there shall be no further liability on the part of any party hereto,
except (i) as set forth in Sections 6.04, 8.03 and 9.01 and (ii) nothing herein
shall relieve any party from liability for any wilful breach hereof.
SECTION 8.03. Fee. (a) In the event that (i) Parent terminates this
---
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(c)(ii), (ii) at the time of such termination
a third party shall have publicly made an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not
such Acquisition Proposal shall have been subsequently withdrawn), and (iii)
such Acquisition Proposal is consummated within 12 months after the date of such
termination, then the Company shall pay Parent promptly (but in no event later
than two Business Days after the consummation of the Acquisition Proposal
referred to in clause (ii) above) a fee of $125,000,000 (the "Fee"), which
---
amount shall be payable in immediately available funds.
(b) In the event that (i) Parent terminates this agreement pursuant to
Section 8.01(c)(i) because of a failure to satisfy the condition specified in
paragraph (c) or (d) of Annex A, (ii) at the time of such termination a third
party shall have publicly made an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not such
Acquisition Proposal shall have been subsequently withdrawn), and (iii) such
Acquisition Proposal is consummated within 12 months after the date of such
termination, then the Company shall pay Parent promptly (but in no event later
than two Business Days after the consummation of the Acquisition Proposal
referred to in clause (ii) above) the Fee, which shall be paid in immediately
available funds.
<PAGE>
36
(c) Subject to the application of the provisions of paragraph (b)
above (in which case the provisions of this paragraph (c) shall not apply), in
the event that Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(c)(i)
because of a failure to satisfy the conditions specified in paragraphs (c) or
(d) of Annex A, then the Company shall pay to Parent promptly after being
invoiced by Parent therefor (but in no event later than two Business Days after
receiving such invoice) an amount equal to Parent's Expenses, which shall be
paid in immediately available funds.
(d) In the event the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.01(e), then, simultaneously with such termination by the Company, the
Company shall pay to Parent the Fee, which shall be paid in immediately
available funds.
(e) In the event that the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant
to Section 8.01(d) and Parent or Purchaser shall have failed to perform or
comply with, in any material respect, any material agreement or covenant of
Parent or Purchaser under this Agreement, then Parent shall pay to the Company
promptly after being invoiced by the Company therefor (but in no event later
than two Business Days after receiving such invoice) an amount equal to the
Company's Expenses, which shall be paid in immediately available funds.
(f) In the event that any party shall fail to pay the Fee or Expenses
when due, such party, without being relieved of any obligation to pay the Fee or
Expenses as the case may be in full, shall reimburse the other party for the
Expenses actually incurred or accrued by such other party in connection with the
collection under and enforcement of this Section 8.03, together with interest on
such unpaid Fee or Expenses, commencing on the date that the Fee or Expenses
became due, at a rate equal to the rate of interest publicly announced by
Citibank, N.A., from time to time, in the City of New York, as such bank's Base
Rate.
(g) "Expenses" shall mean documented and reasonable out-of-pocket fees
and expenses incurred or paid by or on behalf of the party incurring such fees
and expenses in connection with the Offer, Merger or the consummation of the
Transactions, including, but not limited to, all filing fees, printing fees and
reasonable fees and expenses of law firms, commercial banks, investment banking
firms, accountants, experts and consultants to such party.
SECTION 8.04. Amendment. Subject to Section 6.03, this Agreement may
---------
be amended by the parties hereto by action taken by or on behalf of their
respective Boards of Directors at any time prior to the Effective Time;
provided, however, that, after the approval and adoption of this Agreement and
- -------- -------
the transactions contemplated hereby by the stockholders of the Company, no
amendment may be made which would reduce the amount or change the type of
consideration into which each Share shall be converted upon consummation of the
Merger. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing
signed by the parties hereto.
<PAGE>
37
SECTION 8.05. Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, any
------
party hereto may (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or
other act of any other party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any agreement or condition
contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in
an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
------------------
SECTION 9.01. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and
-----------------------------------------------
Agreements. The representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement
- ----------
shall terminate at the Effective Time or upon the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.01, as the case may be, except that the agreements set
forth in Article II and Section 6.07 shall survive the Effective Time
indefinitely; the agreement set forth in Section 6.06 shall survive the
Effective Time until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations;
and those set forth in Sections 6.04(b) and 8.03 shall survive termination
indefinitely.
SECTION 9.02. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and
-------
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall
be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by cable,
telecopy, telegram or telex or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in
accordance with this Section 9.02):
if to Parent or Purchaser:
Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux
1, rue d'Astorg
75008 Paris, France
Attention: Patrice Herbet
Telephone: 33-1-40-06-65-58
Fax: 33-1-40-06-66-22
with a copy to:
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Kevin Keogh
Telephone: (212) 819-8227
Fax: (212) 354-8113
<PAGE>
38
if to the Company:
Nalco Chemical Company
One Nalco Center
Naperville, Illinois 60563
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (630) 305-2837
Fax: (630) 305 -1890
with a copy to:
Shearman & Sterling
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: David W. Heleniak
Telephone: (212) 848-7049
Fax: (212) 848-7179
SECTION 9.03. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement,
-------------------
the term
(a) "Affiliate" of a specified person means a person who directly or
---------
indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by,
or is under common control with, such specified person;
(b) "Beneficial Owner" with respect to any Shares means a person who
----------------
shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such Shares (i) which such
person or any of its Affiliates or associates (as such term is defined in
Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act) beneficially owns, directly
or indirectly, (ii) which such person or any of its Affiliates or
associates has, directly or indirectly, (A) the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or subject only to the passage of
time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the
exercise of consideration rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise, or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding or (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other persons with whom such person or any of its
Affiliates or associates or person with whom such person or any of its
Affiliates or associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding
for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any Shares;
(c) "Business Day" means any day on which the principal offices of the
------------
SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings, or, in the case of
determining a date when any payment is due, any day on which banks are not
required or authorized to close in the City of New York;
<PAGE>
39
(d) "control" (including the terms "controlled by" and "under common
------- ------------- ------------
control with") means the possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee
------------
or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or credit
arrangement or otherwise;
(e) "Environmental Laws" means any foreign or U.S. federal, state or
------------------
local statute, regulation, rule, law or common law applicable to the
Company or its operations relating to (A) releases or threatened releases
of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances or materials containing Hazardous
Substances; (B) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, generation,
treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances or materials
containing Hazardous Substances; or (C) otherwise relating to pollution or
protection of the environment or the protection of human health;
(f) "Hazardous Substances" means (i) petroleum or any fraction
--------------------
thereof, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated
biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, radon gas, or (ii) any
pollutant, contaminant, constituent, chemical, mixture, raw material,
intermediate, product or by-product, industrial, solid, toxic, radioactive,
infectious, disease-causing or hazardous substance, material, waste or
agent as defined, prohibited, limited or regulated under any Environmental
Laws;
(g) "knowledge" or "known" means, as for the Company with respect to
--------- -----
any matter in question, if Edward J. Mooney, Steven Newlin, W.S. Weeber,
William Buchholz, William Parry, James Lambe, Suzzanne Gioimo, Anthony J.
Sadowski, Steven Landsman and Sarah Garvey, after due inquiry, has actual
knowledge of such matter;
(h) "Material Adverse Effect" means any change, effect, condition,
-----------------------
event or circumstance that is materially adverse to the properties, assets,
liabilities, operations, results of operations or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided,
--------
however, that "Material Adverse Effect" shall not include any change,
-------
effect, condition, event or circumstance arising out of or attributable to
(i) any decrease in the market price of the shares of Common Stock (but not
any change, effect, condition, event or circumstance underlying such
decrease to the extent that it would otherwise constitute a Material
Adverse Effect), (ii) changes, effects, conditions, events or circumstances
that generally affect the industries in which the Company or the
Subsidiaries operate (including legal and regulatory changes), (iii)
general economic conditions or change, effects, conditions or circumstances
affecting the securities markets generally or (iv) changes arising from the
consummation of the Transactions or the announcement of the execution of
this Agreement;
(i) "Material Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Company that is
-------------------
material to the financial condition or results of operation of the Company;
<PAGE>
40
(j) "person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited
------
partnership, syndicate, person (including, without limitation, a "person"
as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or
entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a
government;
(k) "SEC" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;
---
(l) "SEC Rules" means any rule, regulation or interpretation of the
---------
SEC or the staff thereof; and
(m) "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" means an Affiliate of the Company
---------- ------------
controlled by the Company, directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries.
SECTION 9.04. Severability. If any term or other provision of this
------------
Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all
other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in
full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the
Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon
such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or
incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to
modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as
closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the
Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent
possible.
SECTION 9.05. Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement
----------------------------
constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes, except as set forth in Sections 6.04(b) and 6.10,
all prior statements, agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among
the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, except that
Parent and Purchaser may assign all or any of their rights and obligations
hereunder to any wholly owned subsidiary of Parent provided that no such
assignment shall relieve the assigning party of its obligations hereunder if
such assignee does not perform such obligations.
SECTION 9.06. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding
-------------------
upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other
person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason
of this Agreement, other than Article II and Sections 6.06 and 6.07 (which are
intended to be for the benefit of each of the persons covered thereby and may be
enforced by such persons).
SECTION 9.07. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by,
-------------
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable
to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State. All actions and
proceedings arising out of or relating to this
<PAGE>
41
Agreement shall be heard and determined in any federal or state court sitting in
the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York.
SECTION 9.08. Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this
--------
Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in
any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.09. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
------------
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 9.10. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
--------------------
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR
COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY IN THE NEGOTIATION,
ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.
<PAGE>
42
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Purchaser and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.
SUEZ LYONNAISE DES EAUX
By /s/ Philippe Brongniart
------------------------------------
Name: Philippe Brongniart
Title: Member of the Executive Board
H2O ACQUISITION CO.
By /s/ Christian Maurin
------------------------------------
Name: Christian Maurin
Title: President
NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
By /s/ E.J. Mooney
------------------------------------
Name: E.J. Mooney
Title: Chairman and CEO
<PAGE>
ANNEX A
-------
Conditions to the Offer
-----------------------
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Purchaser shall not
be required to accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer, and, on or after the initial scheduled expiration date of the Offer (as
contemplated by Section 1.01(a)), may amend the Offer and may postpone the
acceptance for payment of and payment for Shares tendered, if (i) the Minimum
Condition shall not have been satisfied, (ii) any applicable waiting period
under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been terminated prior to the
expiration of the Offer, or (iii) the Commission of the European Union shall not
have approved the Transactions under Regulation (EC) No. 4064/89, as amended, of
the Council of the European Union. In addition, notwithstanding any other term
of the Offer, Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or pay for
any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, and, at any time on or after the date
of this Agreement and prior to the acceptance of Shares for payment, may
terminate or amend the Offer and may postpone the acceptance for payment of and
payment for Shares tendered if any of the following conditions shall exist:
(a) there shall be instituted or pending any action or proceeding by
any United States federal or state court or Republic of France court or
United States or Republic of France governmental, administrative or
regulatory authority or agency, in each case of competent jurisdiction over
the Company or a Material Subsidiary (i) challenging or seeking to make
illegal or otherwise directly or indirectly restrain, prohibit or make
materially more costly the Offer or the Merger, (ii) seeking to prohibit or
materially limit the ownership or operation by Parent of all or any
material portion of the business or assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or to compel Parent to dispose of or hold
separately all or any material portion of the business or assets of Parent
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or seeking to impose any material limitations on the
ability of Parent or the Company to conduct or own any material portion of
the business or assets of Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case as a result
of the Transactions, (iii) seeking to impose limitations on the ability of
Parent or Purchaser to exercise effectively full rights of ownership of any
Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote any Shares
acquired or owned by Parent or Purchaser on all matters properly presented
to the Company's stockholders, including, without limitation, the approval
and adoption of this Agreement and the Transactions, or (iv) seeking to
require divestiture by Parent or Purchaser of any Shares;
(b) there shall be any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation,
legislation, judgment, order or injunction, enacted, enforced, promulgated,
amended or issued and applicable to (i) Parent, Purchaser, the Company or
any Subsidiary of any of them or (ii) the Offer or the Merger, by any
United States federal or state or Republic of France legislative body,
court, government or governmental, administrative or regulatory
<PAGE>
A-2
authority or agency, other than the routine application of the waiting
period provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer or to the Merger, which would
reasonably be expected to directly or indirectly, result in any of the
consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (a)
above;
(c) any representation or warranty of the Company in this Agreement
shall not be true and correct so as to have a Material Adverse Effect, in
each case as if such representation or warranty was made as of such time on
or after the date of this Agreement (except for representations and
warranties made as of a specific date which shall be true and correct as of
such date so as not to have a Material Adverse Effect); provided, however,
-----------------
that for purposes of this paragraph (c), if any representation or warranty
of the Company in this Agreement is qualified in any respect by materiality
or the words "Material Adverse Effect", such materiality or Material
Adverse Effect qualification shall be ignored for purposes of this
paragraph (c);
(d) the Company shall have failed to perform, or comply with, any
agreement or covenant of the Company to be performed or complied with by it
under this Agreement, which failure has a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of trading
in, or limitation on prices for, securities on the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc. and such suspension shall continue for six consecutive Business Days
(excluding any coordinated trading halt triggered solely as a result of a
specified decrease in a market index), (ii) a declaration of a banking
moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United
States or France, and such moratorium or suspension shall continue for six
consecutive Business Days, (iii) any material limitation (whether or not
mandatory) by any United States Federal or French governmental authority or
agency on the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions
and such limitation shall continue for six consecutive Business Days;
(f) this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its
terms; or
(g) Purchaser and the Company shall have agreed that Purchaser shall
terminate the Offer or postpone the acceptance for payment of or payment
for Shares thereunder;
provided that, with respect to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) above,
-------- ----
Purchaser shall give the Company advance written notice of any intention by
Purchaser to assert the nonsatisfaction of any of the conditions set forth
in such paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d), which notice shall describe in
reasonable detail the basis for the belief that any such condition has not
been satisfied; and, provided further that (i) in the event of any action,
-------- -------
proceeding, judgment, order or injunction contemplated by such paragraphs
(a) or (b), the Purchaser shall not terminate the Offer under such
paragraphs (a) or (b), nor exercise any
<PAGE>
A-3
related rights to terminate this Agreement, unless and until such action,
proceeding, judgment, order or injunction shall have become final and
nonappealable and (ii) if any breach or failure to perform contemplated by
any of such paragraphs (c) and (d) is capable of being cured through the
exercise by the Company of its reasonable best efforts and for so long as
the Company continues to use such reasonable best efforts to cure such
breach or failure to perform, the Purchaser shall not terminate the Offer
under such paragraphs (c) or (d) or exercise any related right to terminate
this Agreement, in either case for a period not to exceed 10 Business Days.
The foregoing conditions are for the benefit of Purchaser and Parent
and may be asserted by Purchaser or Parent regardless of the circumstances
giving rise to any such condition or, subject to the terms of this Agreement,
may be waived by Purchaser or Parent, in whole or in part, at any time and from
time to time in their discretion. The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any
time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any
such right; the waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and
other circumstances shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts
and circumstances; and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may
be asserted at any time and from time to time.
<PAGE>
ANNEX B
-------
Employee Benefits Matters
-------------------------
Parent and the Company agree to the following with respect to the
compensation and benefits programs of Parent, the Company and the Subsidiaries:
1. Continuation of Benefits. For a period of one year following the
------------------------
Effective Time, Parent, the Company and the Subsidiaries shall continue and
maintain the employee benefit plans and programs of the Company and the
Subsidiaries for active and retired employees and former directors of the
Company and the Subsidiaries as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time; provided that Parent, the Company and the Subsidiaries shall not be
obligated to continue the Supplemental Management Incentive Plan, the
Performance Share Plan, the Company Stock Option Plans, the 1984 Restricted
Stock Plan, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the Company Common Stock
investment option contained in the Profit Sharing, Investment and Pay Deferral
Plan, or any other plan or program providing for compensation, in the form of,
or based on the value of the stock of Parent, the Company or the Subsidiaries,
or to provide any other incentive plan or benefits in lieu thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the aforesaid period of one year following
the Effective Time, the Parent, the Company and the Subsidiaries shall give due
consideration to providing a reasonable level of equity based compensation.
From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall honor, and shall cause the
Company and the Subsidiaries to honor, in accordance with their terms, all
contracts, arrangements, policies, plans and commitments of the Company and the
Subsidiaries in accordance with such terms that are applicable to any current or
former employees or directors of the Company or the Subsidiaries and that have
been disclosed or made available to Parent pursuant to the provisions of Section
3.10 of this Agreement. Parent and the Company acknowledge and agree that the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall constitute, as of the
Effective Time, a "Change of Control" as such term is defined in the Company
Change of Control Arrangements.
2. Service Recognition. To the extent that service is relevant for
-------------------
purposes of eligibility, participation or vesting under any employee benefit
plan, program or arrangement established or maintained by Parent, the Company or
any of their respective subsidiaries, employees of the Company and the
Subsidiaries shall be credited with service accrued prior to the Effective Time
with the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Employees of
the Company and the Subsidiaries shall be credited with service accrued prior to
the Effective Time to the extent service is relevant for purposes of benefit
accrual (a) with respect to plans, programs or arrangements established or
maintained by Parent, the Company or the Subsidiaries covering predominantly
employees employed in the United States, and, (b) with respect to plans,
programs, or arrangements maintained by the Company or the Subsidiaries (and not
by the Parent or its Affiliates other than the Company and the Subsidiaries)
covering predominantly persons
<PAGE>
B-2
employed outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the crediting
of any service described in this Section 2 of Annex B shall not operate to
duplicate any benefit.
3. Management Incentive Plan. With respect to the payment of
-------------------------
bonuses under the Company's Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP") for the fiscal
---
year ending December 31, 1999 (the "1999 Fiscal Year"), the Company shall pay
----------------
participants in the MIP whose employment is terminated by Parent, the Company or
any of the Subsidiaries without Cause (as defined in Section 4 of this Annex B)
on or after the Effective Time and prior to January 1, 2000 a bonus under the
MIP equal to the pro rata portion of the bonus such participant would have
earned under the MIP for the 1999 Fiscal Year had such participant remained
employed through the end of the 1999 Fiscal Year. Any payment described in the
immediately preceding sentence shall be made following the end of the 1999
Fiscal Year, at the same time as such payment would have been made had such
person remained employed by the Company. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 3 of Annex B, any person covered by a Key Executive Agreement which
remains in effect on the date of such person's termination of employment
(without Cause) shall receive the payment provided under the Key Executive
Agreement with respect to any bonus under the MIP in lieu of the pro rata
payment provided for in this Section 3. The MIP shall be administered by the
Company with respect to the 1999 Fiscal Year in accordance with past practice.
4. Restricted Stock Unit and Performance Awards. (a) Prior to the
--------------------------------------------
acceptance of the Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, each restricted
stock unit award under the Company's 1984 Restricted Stock Plan or the Employee
Stock Compensation Plan and each performance award assigned in 1995 under the
Company's Performance Share Plan (including restricted stock awarded in the 1995
to 1998 performance cycle) (collectively the "Current Stock Awards") shall
become fully and immediately payable or distributable and the restrictions
thereon shall lapse. At the Effective Time, each holder of a Current Stock
Award shall be paid in full satisfaction of such Current Stock Award a cash
payment in an amount in respect thereof equal to the product of (i) the Merger
Consideration and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such
Current Stock Award, less any income or employment tax withholding required
under the Code or any provision of state or local law.
(b) Each performance award assigned in the 1997 to 1999 performance
cycle or the 1998 to 2000 performance cycle under the Company's Performance
Share Plan (collectively the "Deferred Performance Awards") shall be awarded
assuming a performance level of 100% of the target award and shall vest and
become payable on the following date (referred to herein as the "Vesting Date"):
(i) on the third anniversary of the Effective Time, provided the executive to
whom such award was made has been continuously employed, including any leaves of
absence authorized by the Company, by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company
from the Effective Time until such date or (ii) upon the death or Disability or
Retirement of the executive, the termination of the executive's employment by
the Company and its Affiliates without Cause or the termination by the executive
of his or her employment with the
<PAGE>
B-3
Company and its Affiliates for Good Reason, provided such death, Disability,
Retirement or termination occurs on or after the Effective Time and prior to the
third anniversary of the Effective Time. On the Vesting Date, each holder of a
Deferred Performance Award shall be paid in full satisfaction of such Deferred
Performance Award a cash payment in an amount in respect thereof equal to the
product of (x) the Merger Consideration and (y) the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to such Deferred Performance Award. For purposes of Sections 3 and
4(b) of Annex B, "Disability", "Cause" and "Good Reason" shall have the
following meanings:
(i) "Disability" shall mean the executive's physical or mental
incapacity which (A) would entitle the executive to disability benefits
under the Company's or Affiliate's long-term disability plan by which
the executive is covered or (B) as a result of which, in the judgment of
a physician appointed by the Company, the executive is unable to perform
the duties of his or her position with the Company and its Affiliates
for 180 days during any continuous period of 365 days.
(ii) "Cause" shall mean (A) the executive's conviction of, plea of
nolo contendere to, or written admission of his commission of, a felony,
(B) any act by the Executive involving moral turpitude, fraud or
misrepresentation with respect to his duties for the Company or its
Affiliates; or (C) gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of
the executive in the performance of his or her duties to the Company or
its Affiliates.
(iii) "Good Reason" means (A) any termination of employment of the
executive with the Company and its Affiliates or any resignation from
employment with the Company and its Affiliates by the executive
following a reduction in his or her base salary in effect on the
Effective Time or following the Company's material breach of any of its
agreements set forth in this Annex B or (B) any other termination of
employment of the executive with the Company and its Affiliates which is
approved in writing by the Company.
(iv) "Retirement" means an executive's termination of employment
on or after the date he or she attains age 62.
(c) At the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit award under the SAP
letter agreements shall be converted to a right to receive cash equal to the
product of (i) the Merger Consideration and (ii) the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to such restricted stock unit award. The foregoing amount of cash
shall be paid out pursuant to the terms of the SAP letter agreement, to the
extent that, and at the same time as, such restricted stock unit would
otherwise, in the absence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
have been vested and paid out.
<PAGE>
B-4
(d) The provisions of this Section 4 shall not operate to duplicate any
amounts payable to the executive under his or her Key Executive Agreement.
5. Deferred Compensation Plans. Prior to the acceptance of the
---------------------------
Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, all stock units, share units or
stock equivalent units held under the Company's deferred compensation plan for
directors or held under the Agreement to Restore Benefits Reduced by ERISA-
Related Limits (the "Company Deferred Compensation Plans") (each a "Company
----------------------------------- -------
Stock Unit") shall be converted into an obligation to pay cash with a value
- ----------
equal to the product of (i) the Merger Consideration and (ii) the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Unit. With respect to the
obligation to pay cash in respect of the conversion of Company Stock Units under
the Company Deferred Compensation Plans, the obligation shall be payable or
distributable in accordance with the terms of the plan or arrangement relating
to the Company Stock Unit.
6. Directors' Retirement Policy. For purposes of calculating the
----------------------------
pension benefits payable under the Company's 1993 retirement policy for non-
employee directors (the "Directors' Retirement Policy"), each non-employee
----------------------------
director who is serving as a member of the Board as of the Effective Date and
who has less than five years of service as a member of the Board, shall be
credited with five years of service; provided, however, that each non-employee
-------- -------
director as of the Effective Date who has at least five years of service as a
member of the Board, but has less than ten years of service, shall be credited
with ten years of service. In addition, the Parent, the Company and the
Subsidiaries shall either (i) continue and maintain the Directors' Retirement
Policy as in effect on the Effective Date until each non-employee director
entitled to receive a pension benefit calculated thereunder (whether active or
retired) has received his or her pension benefit, or (ii) purchase or cause to
be purchased an annuity contract for each such non-employee director that
provides for the payment of such pension benefit.
7. Amendments to Tax-Qualified Plans. (a) Prior to the acceptance
---------------------------------
of the Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer:
(i) The Company shall amend or cause to be amended its Employee
Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP") and the trust agreement establishing
the trust under the ESOP to provide that the net proceeds in the
Suspense Account (as defined in the ESOP) resulting from the disposition
of the Shares held in such trust and repayment of the ESOP Loans (as
defined in the ESOP) will be immediately allocated to Participants'
Accounts (as defined in the ESOP) using the ratio of the balance of each
such Participant's Account to the Accounts of all Participants.
(ii) The Company shall amend or cause to be amended its Profit
Sharing, Investment and Pay Deferral Plan and the trust agreement
establishing the trust under such plan to substantially provide that,
subject to applicable law, (1) the trustee of such trust shall vote
shares of Common Stock allocated to a participant's account under such
<PAGE>
B-5
plan in accordance with written instructions given by such participant;
(2) any such shares held in such trust for which the trustee receives no
such voting instructions shall be voted by the trustee in the same ratio
as the shares held in the trust for which the trustee receives voting
instructions; (3) in the event of a tender offer or exchange offer for
the shares of Common Stock held in such trust, the trustee shall tender
or exchange the shares of Common Stock held in such trust which are
allocated to a plan participant's account in accordance with written
instructions given by such participant; and (4) any such shares held in
such trust for which the trustee receives no such tender or exchange
instructions shall be tendered or exchanged by the trustee in the same
ratio as the shares held in the trust for which the trustee receives
such tender or exchange instructions.
(iii) The Company shall amend its Retirement Income Plan for
Eligible Employees to delete Article 20 thereof in its entirety.
(iv) The Company shall adopt such other amendments to the plans
referenced in this Section 7, and any related agreements or instruments,
or obtain any consents, as are necessary or appropriate to effectuate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The Company and the Parent shall cooperate and take all reasonable
steps to share in advance information to effect the transactions
contemplated by this Annex B.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 2
[NALCO LETTERHEAD]
July 1, 1999
Dear Stockholder:
I am pleased to report that, on June 27, 1999, Nalco Chemical Company (the
"Company") entered into a merger agreement with Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux and
H2O Acquisition Co., one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, that provides for
the acquisition of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock") and Series
B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock (the "ESOP Preferred Stock"). Under the
terms of the proposed transaction, H2O Acquisition Company is today commencing
a cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of (i) Common Stock for $53.00
per share, and (ii) ESOP Preferred Stock for $1060.00 per share, in each case,
net to the seller in cash. Following the successful completion of the Suez
tender offer, the Suez subsidiary will be merged into the Company and all
shares not purchased in the Suez tender offer will be converted into the right
to receive $53.00 per share of Common Stock and $1060.00 per share of ESOP
Preferred Stock, in cash in the merger.
Your Board of Directors has approved the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux tender
offer and determined that the terms of each of the tender offer and the merger
are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company's stockholders.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors recommends that all Nalco Chemical Company
stockholders accept the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux tender offer and tender their
shares to H2O Acquisition Co.
In arriving at its recommendations, the Board of Directors gave careful
consideration to a number of factors described in the attached Schedule 14D-9
that is being filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These
factors included the opinion, dated June 28, 1999, of Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
financial advisors to the Company, to the effect that as of such date, and
based upon and subject to the matters set forth therein, the cash
consideration of $53.00 per share of Common Stock to be received by the
Company's common stockholders pursuant to the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux tender
offer and the merger is fair from a financial point of view to such
stockholders.
Enclosed with this letter is the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Offer to Purchase
and related materials, including a Letter of Transmittal for use in tendering
shares. I urge you to read carefully the enclosed materials, including
Goldman, Sachs & Co.'s fairness opinion which is attached to the Schedule 14D-
9.
The management and directors of the Company thank you for the support you
have given the Company.
Sincerely,
/s/ E.J. MOONEY
E. J. Mooney
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3
SUEZ LYONNAISE DES EAUX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Media Inquiries: Denis Boulet Media Inquiries: Paul Cholette
Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Nalco Chemical Company
Tel: +33 1 40 06 65 30 Tel: 630 305 1147
Analysts' Inquiries: Patrick Ayoub
Tel: +33 6 8281 9882
Web site: www.suez-lyonnaise-eaux.fr or
www.suez-lyonnaise-eaux.com
US Contacts: Investors: Betsy Brod Ticker: Bloomberg: LY FP
Media: Brian Maddox Reuters: LYOE.PA
Morgen-Walke Associates, Inc. Dow Jones: S.SLX
212/850-5600
</TABLE>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------
SUEZ LYONNAISE DES EAUX TO ACQUIRE NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
FOR $4.1 BILLION IN CASH TO BECOME WORLD'S LARGEST WATER TREATMENT
COMPANY
. Increases Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux' Water-Related Revenues
to Over $7.4 Billion
. Accretive and Value Created
PARIS, FRANCE AND NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS -- June 28, 1999 -- Suez Lyonnaise
des Eaux (LY: Paris Bourse), a world leader in private infrastructure services
and Nalco Chemical Company (NYSE: NLC), the world's largest provider of water
treatment services and products, announced a definitive agreement for Nalco to
be acquired by Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux in an all-cash transaction of
approximately $4.1 billion, or $53 per share.
Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by
the Boards of Directors of both companies, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux will seek to
acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Nalco Chemical Company through a
tender offer that will commence within five business days.
This acquisition follows Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux' June 15, 1999
announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Calgon, a Pittsburgh-based
water treatment company with annual revenues of close to $300 million.
Nalco Chemical Company, the world's largest water treatment company,
provides on-site services to over 50,000 industrial and commercial customers in
more than 120 countries. For 1999, Nalco Chemical Company expects its revenues,
including affiliates, to be approximately $1.94 billion.
Commencing on this transaction, Gerard Mestrallet, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux'
Chief Executive Officer and President of the Executive Board, said, "The
acquisition of Nalco Chemical Company fits perfectly into our strategic plan,
which emphasizes the international expansion and the integration of our core
businesses. As a result
<PAGE>
2
of this transaction, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux' total water-related revenues will
exceed $7.4 billion and, the combined company will be in a strong position to
serve industrial, middle-market, institutional and process customers that are
increasingly requiring comprehensive solutions."
Mr. Mestrallet continued, "Globally, the acquisition of Nalco Chemical
Company is another step in our strategy of providing our customers around the
world with integrated services in the water, energy and waste sectors. As a
global multi-service group we partner with our customers, enabling them to focus
on their core operations. After carefully reviewing the market landscape, we
are confident that the people of Nalco Chemical Company share this vision and
that our business model will result in an accelerated growth rate for Suez
Lyonnaise des Eaux' water treatment business.
Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux expects this transaction to be value creating and
immediately accretive to cash flow in the first year and to be accretive to
earnings beginning in the second year. The Company expects to realize more than
$100 million in cost savings as a result of economies of scale, revenue
enhancement and development synergies, and to take full advantage of important
cross-selling opportunities.
Edward J. Mooney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nalco Chemical
Company, noted, "We are very pleased with this agreement, which provides
substantial value for our shareholders as well as key growth opportunities and
benefits for our company and its customers. Our goal at Nalco Chemical Company
has been to use our on-site expertise, technical innovation and global presence
to improve the profitability of our customers' dynamic and changing operations.
As part of the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group, we dramatically increase our
ability to provide an expanded array of value-added products and services to our
customers.
"We expect the combination of our worldwide market positions, R&D and
technical-knowhow to give us a meaningful competitive advantage in the
marketplace," Mr. Mooney added.
Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux will base its worldwide water treatment operating
center in Naperville, under the direction of Mr. Mooney.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals in the United
States and Europe and is expected to be completed during the third quarter of
1999.
Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux stated that it expects to fund 50% of the all-cash
transaction internally, with the remaining 50% financed by a bridge loan that is
already in place.
With annual revenues of $32.5 billion, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux is a world
leader in private infrastructure services, with operations in more than 120
countries. The Company is a market leader in the water sector supplying
drinking water to 77 million people and providing wastewater services to 52
million people. The Group's three international core business sectors are:
energy, water, and waste services.
Headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, outside of Chicago, Nalco Chemical
Company employs 7000 people of which about 3600 are engineers and technicians
with direct customer contract and 300 are researchers located in 5 R&D centers.
###
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5
This is the form sent to all bidders
April 12, 1999
Attention:
Gentlemen:
In connection with your consideration of a possible transaction with Nalco
Chemical Company (the "Company"), you have requested information concerning the
Company. As a condition to your being furnished such information, you agree to
treat any information concerning the Company (whether prepared by the Company,
its advisors or otherwise) which is furnished to you by or on behalf of the
Company (herein collectively referred to as the "Evaluation Material") in
accordance with the provisions of this letter and to take or abstain from taking
certain other actions herein set forth. The term "Evaluation Material" does not
include information which (i) is already in your possession, provided that such
information is not known by you to be subject to another confidentiality
agreement with or other obligation of secrecy to the Company or another party,
or (ii) becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a
disclosure by you or your directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors, or
(iii) becomes available to you on a non-confidential basis from a source other
than the Company or its advisors, provided that such source is not known by you
to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy
to the Company or another party.
You hereby agree that the Evaluation Material will be used solely for the
purpose of evaluating a possible transaction between the Company and you, and
that such information will be kept confidential by you and your advisors;
provided, however, that (i) any of such information may be disclosed to your
directors, officers and employees and representatives of your advisors who need
to know such information for the purpose of evaluating any such possible
transaction between the Company and you (it being understood that such
directors, officers, employees and representatives shall be informed by you of
the confidential nature of such information and shall be directed by you to
treat such information confidentially), and (ii) any disclosure of such
information may be made to which the Company consents in writing.
<PAGE>
April 12, 1999
Page 2
You hereby acknowledge that you are aware, and that you will advise such
directors, officers, employees and representatives who are informed as to the
matters which are the subject of this letter, that the United States securities
laws prohibit any person who has received from an issuer material, non-public
information concerning the matters which are the subject of this letter from
purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or from communicating such
information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably
foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.
In addition, without the prior written consent of the Company, you will not, and
will direct such directors, officers, employees and representatives not to,
disclose to any person either the fact that discussions or negotiations are
taking place concerning a possible transaction between the Company and you or
any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to any such possible
transaction, including the status thereof.
You hereby acknowledge that the Evaluation Material is being furnished to you in
consideration of your agreement that you will not propose to the Company or any
other person any transaction between you and the Company and/or its security
holders or involving any of its securities or security holders unless the
Company shall have requested in writing that you make such a proposal, and that
you will not acquire, or assist, advise or encourage any other persons in
acquiring or attempting to acquire, directly or indirectly, control of the
Company (including by way of election of any directors of the Company) or any of
the Company's securities, businesses or assets for a period of three years from
the date of this letter unless the Company shall have consented in advance in
writing to such acquisition or attempted acquisition. You also agree that the
Company shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunction, in the
event of any breach of the provisions of this paragraph and that you shall not
oppose the granting of such relief.
Although the Company has endeavored to include in the Evaluation Material
information known to it which it believes to be relevant for the purpose of your
investigation, you understand that neither the Company nor any of its
representatives or advisors have made or make any representation or warranty as
to the accuracy or completeness of the Evaluation Material. You agree that
neither the Company nor its representatives or advisors shall have any liability
to you or any of your representatives or advisors resulting from the use of the
Evaluation Material.
In the event that you do not proceed with the transaction which is the subject
of this letter within a reasonable time, you shall promptly redeliver to the
Company all written Evaluation Material and any other written material
containing or reflecting any information in the Evaluation Material (whether
prepared by the Company, its advisors or otherwise) and will not retain any
copies, extracts or other reproductions in whole or in part of such written
material. All documents, memoranda, notes and other writings whatsoever
prepared by you or your advisors based on the information in the Evaluation
Material shall be destroyed, and such destruction shall be certified in writing
to the Company by an authorized
<PAGE>
April 12, 1999
Page 3
officer supervising such destruction.
You agree that unless and until a definitive agreement between the Company and
you with respect to any transaction referred to in the first paragraph of this
letter has been executed and delivered, neither the Company nor you will be
under any legal obligation of any kind whatsoever with respect to such a
transaction by virtue of this or any written or oral expression with respect to
such a transaction by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or any
other representatives or its advisors or representatives thereof except, in the
case of this letter, for the matters specifically agreed to herein. The
agreement set forth in this paragraph may be modified or waived only by a
separate writing by the Company and you expressly so modifying or waiving such
agreement.
This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of New York.
Very truly yours,
Nalco Chemical Company
By: ___________________________________
Confirmed and Agreed to:
By: __________________________________
Date: _________________________________
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 6
[FORM OF EMPLOYMENT LETTER]/1/
NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
One Nalco Center
Naperville, Illinois 60563-1198
(630) 305-1000
[DATE]
[NAME OF EXECUTIVE]
[ADDRESS]
Dear [NAME]:
Upon completion of the proposed merger (the "Merger") between H20
Acquisition Co. (the "Purchaser"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Degremont S.A.
(the "Parent") and Nalco Chemical Company (the "Company"), the Parent shall
cause the Company to offer you employment with the Company on the terms and
conditions described in the attached "Terms of Employment Contract between Nalco
Chemical Company and [NAME]," which are incorporated into this letter agreement
(the "Agreement") by reference. By signing this Agreement you hereby accept
employment with the Company on such terms and conditions. This offer of
employment is conditioned upon the completion of the Merger and shall become
effective at the Effective Time (as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger
by and among the Parent, Purchaser and the Company (the "Merger Agreement")) of
the Merger.
You as well as the Parent and the Purchaser, agree to enter into a more
definitive employment agreement that reflects these terms and conditions
promptly after the date of this Agreement.
/1/ Entered into with each of the executive officers of the Company listed in
on the last page of this Exhibit 6.
<PAGE>
2
In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement
and the terms of the Merger Agreement, the terms of this Agreement will control.
Very truly yours,
Date: DEGREMONT S.A.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Date: H20 ACQUISITION CO.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
- ----------------------
[Name]
Date:
<PAGE>
Term Sheet for Employment Contracts between Nalco Chemical Company and [NAME OF
EXECUTIVE]
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1. Settlement of Key Executive
---------------------------
Agreements/1/
-------------
. 3 times the Executive's base salary at )
the time of the change of control )
. 3 times Management Incentive Plan ) Payout in cash at time of in change of control
("MIP") )
. 3 times Supplemental MIP ) Deferred for three years in cash with interest.
. 97/98 Outstanding Performance Share ) The aggregate amount will vest and be paid at
Award ) end of three years if the Executive remains
) employed or in event of his death, disability,
) retirement on or after age 62, or termination
) by the Company without "cause" or by the
) Executive for "good reason"/2/. All payments
) assume the achievement of 100% of the target
award
. Outstanding Restricted Stock )
including 1995 Performance Share )
Award ) Lump sum cash payment at time of change of
. Stock Options ) control
. 280G Tax Gross-up Payment )
2. Provisions
----------
Duration . Three-year term
. Automatic one-year evergreen renewal after three years
. Six months' notice of non-renewal
Position . Chief Executive Officer for Mr. Mooney; Employment as a senior
executive for other Executives
. Responsibilities and duties as assigned by Board for Mr. Mooney
and by the Board and the Chief Executive Officer for other
Executives
</TABLE>
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1 In settlement of the Key Executive Agreements entered into between the
Executives and the Company, the Executives will receive the payments
described above. Such payments are to be excluded from pension and
benefit calculations.
2 "Good Reason" and "Cause" definitions similar to the definitions in the
Merger Agreement, dated as of June 27, 1999.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Compensation . Current salary with opportunity for increase
. Compensation opportunities comparable to those provided to
similar senior executives
. Participation in all incentive and benefit plans provided to similar
senior executives
Retention Payment . two times sum of base salary plus regular target MIP bonus (as of
June 22, 1999) payable in cash if the Executive is employed by
the Company three years from the date of change of control;
payment to be excluded from pension and benefit calculations and
from the golden parachute excise tax gross-up obligation.
Termination
Provisions/3/
. Death, Disability . Accrued amounts/4/
And Retirement . Long-term incentives in accordance with plan provisions
. By Company . Accrued amounts
without . Long-term incentives in accordance with applicable plan
"Cause"Or provisions
Resignation by . Two times [for Messrs. Buchholz, Lambe, Mooney, Newlin and
Executive for Weeber] and 1.5 times [for Messrs. Brannon, Burns, Kahler and
"Good Reason" Roe] base salary plus regular target MIP bonus;
. Termination payment to be offset by Retention Payment if
such termination occurs within two years of Executive's
receipt of Retention Payment
. Additional pension credit equal to three years less number of
years worked from date of change of control
. Welfare benefits continuation for same period
. By Company for . Accrued salary
"Cause" or . Unpaid earned amounts
Resignation
without "Good
Reason"/4/
</TABLE>
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3 Applicable both prior and subsequent to any future change of control.
Payments to be excluded for pension and benefit calculation purposes.
4 Salary and pro rata bonus at target for year of termination plus unpaid
earned amounts.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Restrictive Covenants . Non-competition and non-solicitation of customers and
employees during employment and for two years thereafter
. Perpetual non-disclosure, non-disparagement and availability for
litigation support
Taxes . Full golden parachute excise tax gross-up for payments made in
connection with Merger (excluding Retention Payment); for
future change of control, full golden parachute excise tax gross-up
(excluding Retention Payment), but only in the event of a
termination without "Cause" or resignation for "Good Reason"
following a future change of control
Elective Deferral . Flexible elective deferral plan with tax-sheltered investment
alternatives
Legal Fees and Expenses . Reimbursement of reasonable legal costs and expenses unless the
Executive's initiation of the action is found to be in bad faith or
frivolous
Settlement of Disputes . Arbitration; injunctive relief
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Ongoing Compensation Arrangements for First Year following the Merger
Each Executive will be provided the following compensation package for the first
year following the Effective Time:
(1) An annual base salary and regular MIP bonus opportunity based on Company
performance.
(2) A three-year long-term performance award in the form of a cash payment
based on Company performance.
(3) A long-term incentive in the form of phantom stock options linked to
Company performance.
The relevant amounts for each Executive are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Incentive
Compensation Opportunity
Assuming all Performance
Name Salary Targets are Satisfied
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
George M. Brannon, III $255,000 $382,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William E. Buchholz $269,000 $363,150
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John T. Burns $240,000 $360,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael E. Kahler $220,000 $330,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James F. Lambe $297,200 $401,220
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward J. Mooney $592,000 $1,776,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen D. Newlin $431,250 $970,314
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William J. Roe $240,000 $360,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
W. Steven Weeber $367,000 $715,650
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
