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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
May 16, 2000
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
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The Pioneer Group, Inc.
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.
(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
------------------------
DELAWARE 0-8841 13-5657669
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
60 STATE STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
617-742-7825
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
NO CHANGES
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changes since last
report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
On May 14, 2000, The Pioneer Group, Inc. (the "Company") entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger between the Company and UniCredito Italiano S.p.A.
The agreement is attached as Exhibit 2.1. hereto. On the same date, the Company
issued a press release regarding such agreement which is attached as Exhibit
99.1 hereto.
Item 7(c). Exhibits.
See Exhibit Index.
2
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: May 16, 2000
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.
/s/ ERIC W. RECKARD
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Eric W. Reckard,
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
3
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EXHIBIT INDEX
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger between the Company and UniCredito Italiano
S.p.A.
99.1 Press release dated May 14, 2000.
99.2 Form of Distribution Agreement
99.3 Form of Tax Separation Agreement
4
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Dated as of May 14, 2000
between
UniCredito Italiano S.p.A.
and
The Pioneer Group, Inc.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER..............................................................................................1
1.1 THE MERGER...............................................................................................1
1.2 EFFECT OF THE MERGER.....................................................................................2
1.3 CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER...............................................................................2
1.4 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; BY-LAWS; DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS............................................2
1.5 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES.................................................................................3
1.6 COMPANY STOCK OPTIONS AND PLANS..........................................................................4
1.7 EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.................................................................................4
ARTICLE 2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT AND THE PURCHASER..........................................6
2.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION...........................................................................6
2.2 AUTHORITY................................................................................................6
2.3 COMPLIANCE...............................................................................................7
2.4 COMMISSION FILINGS.......................................................................................8
2.5 BROKER'S FEES............................................................................................9
2.6 FINANCING................................................................................................9
2.7 LITIGATION...............................................................................................9
2.8 PARENT'S KNOWLEDGE.......................................................................................9
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY...........................................................9
3.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION...........................................................................9
3.2 SUBSIDIARIES............................................................................................10
3.3 CAPITALIZATION..........................................................................................10
3.4 AUTHORITY...............................................................................................11
3.5 COMPLIANCE..............................................................................................12
3.6 COMMISSION FILINGS......................................................................................13
3.7 LITIGATION..............................................................................................14
3.8 CHANGES.................................................................................................14
3.9 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES............................................................................14
3.10 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS................................................................................14
3.11 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND CONTRACTS......................................................................15
3.12 REAL PROPERTY AND LEASES; LIENS ON ASSETS............................................................17
3.13 TAXES................................................................................................17
3.14 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; PERMITS........................................................................18
3.15 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY................................................................................19
3.16 NO UNDISCLOSED MATERIAL LIABILITIES..................................................................19
3.17 FAIRNESS OPINION, BROKERS............................................................................19
3.18 INVESTMENT ADVISORY ACTIVITIES.......................................................................20
3.19 REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES......................................................................21
3.20 NON-REGISTERED FUNDS.................................................................................24
3.21 MATERIAL CONTRACTS...................................................................................25
3.22 INSURANCE............................................................................................26
3.23 STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES..............................................................................26
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3.24 VOTE REQUIRED........................................................................................26
3.25 HARBOR GLOBAL........................................................................................27
3.26 BANK OF ITALY REQUIREMENTS...........................................................................27
3.27 COMPANY'S KNOWLEDGE..................................................................................28
3.28 SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS...............................................................................28
3.29 NO IMPLIED REPRESENTATION............................................................................28
ARTICLE 4 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS....................................................................................28
4.1 CONDUCT PRIOR TO EFFECTIVE TIME.........................................................................28
4.2 COMMISSION FILINGS......................................................................................31
4.3 APPROVAL OF NEW FUND CONTRACTS..........................................................................31
ARTICLE 5 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS..................................................................................31
5.1 PREPARATION OF PROXY STATEMENT..........................................................................31
5.2 DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES...............................................................................32
5.3 FEES AND EXPENSES.......................................................................................32
5.4 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS...................................................................................33
5.5 NO SOLICITATION.........................................................................................33
5.6 NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS.........................................................................35
5.7 ACCESS TO INFORMATION...................................................................................35
5.8 INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE...........................................................................35
5.9 FAIR PRICE STRUCTURE....................................................................................36
5.10 CERTAIN POST-CLOSING FUND MATTERS....................................................................36
5.11 SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS.................................................................................36
5.12 PARENT GUARANTY......................................................................................36
5.13 CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT...........................................................................37
5.14 INCORPORATION OF THE PURCHASER.......................................................................37
ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS.............................................................................................37
6.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF EACH PARTY TO EFFECT THE MERGER.............................................37
6.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE MERGER............................................38
6.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE PARENT AND THE PURCHASER TO EFFECT THE MERGER...........................39
ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER......................................................................40
7.1 TERMINATION.............................................................................................40
7.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION...................................................................................41
7.3 AMENDMENT...............................................................................................41
7.4 WAIVER..................................................................................................41
7.5 EXPENSES; TERMINATION FEE...............................................................................41
ARTICLE 8 HARBOR GLOBAL..........................................................................................42
8.1 FORMATION OF HARBOR GLOBAL..............................................................................42
8.2 CERTAIN AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO HARBOR GLOBAL........................................................42
8.3 DISTRIBUTION OF THE HARBOR GLOBAL INTERESTS.............................................................43
ARTICLE 9 GENERAL PROVISIONS.....................................................................................43
9.1 CLOSING.................................................................................................43
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(ii)
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9.2 PUBLICITY...............................................................................................43
9.3 NOTICES.................................................................................................43
9.4 INTERPRETATION..........................................................................................45
9.5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ETC.....................................................................45
9.6 MISCELLANEOUS...........................................................................................45
9.7 VALIDITY................................................................................................46
</TABLE>
Disclosure Schedule
Exhibit A - Distribution Agreement
Exhibit B - Tax Separation Agreement
(iii)
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TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
Acquisition Proposals........................................................5.5
Administration Agreement....................................................3.19
Agreement................................................................Recital
Applicable Laws...........................................................2.3(b)
Assets......................................................................3.12
Balance Sheet...............................................................3.12
BHCA.........................................................................2.3
Business Employees..........................................................5.13
Cash Consideration...........................................................1.5
CERCLA......................................................................3.10
Certificate of Merger........................................................1.3
Certificates.................................................................1.7
Client Contracts............................................................3.18
Closing......................................................................9.1
Closing Date.................................................................9.1
Code.........................................................................1.7
Commission...................................................................2.4
Commission Filings...........................................................3.6
Company..................................................................Recital
Company Material Adverse Effect .............................................3.1
Company Stockholder Approval.................................................6.1
Company Stockholders' Meeting................................................5.1
Continuing Subsidiaries......................................................3.2
Deferred Compensation Shares.................................................1.5
Delaware Law.................................................................1.1
Designated Assets............................................................1.1
Disclosure Schedule....................................................Article 3
Dissenting Shares............................................................1.5
Distribution.................................................................8.2
Distribution Agreement.......................................................8.1
EC Regulation................................................................2.3
Effective Time...............................................................1.3
Encumbrances................................................................3.12
Environmental Law...........................................................3.10
ERISA.......................................................................3.11
ESPP.........................................................................3.3
Exchange Act.................................................................2.3
Fee..........................................................................7.5
Financial Advisors..........................................................3.17
Funds.......................................................................3.18
Fund Annual Financial Statements............................................3.19
Fund Approvals...............................................................4.3
Fund Financial Statements...................................................3.19
(iii)
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Fund Interim Financial Statements...........................................3.19
Fund Material Adverse Effect................................................3.19
Fund Stockholders...........................................................3.19
Fund Tax Returns............................................................3.19
Funds.......................................................................3.18
Governmental Entity.........................................................3.10
Harbor Global................................................................8.1
Harbor Global Entities......................................................3.25
Harbor Global Interests......................................................8.2
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act........................................................2.3
Indemnified Parties..........................................................5.8
Intellectual Property.......................................................3.15
Investment Advisers Act......................................................2.3
Investment Company Act.......................................................2.3
Leases......................................................................3.12
Management Stockholders..................................................Recital
Material Contracts..........................................................3.21
Materials of Environmental Concern..........................................3.10
Merger...................................................................Recital
NASD.........................................................................2.3
Non-Fund Clients............................................................3.18
Non-Registered Funds........................................................3.18
Non-Registered Funds Annual Financial Statements............................3.20
Non-Registered Funds Financial Statements...................................3.20
Non-Registered Funds Interim Financial Statements...........................3.20
open taxable years..........................................................3.19
Options......................................................................3.3
Parent...................................................................Recital
Payment Agent................................................................1.7
Payment Fund.................................................................1.7
PFD.........................................................................3.19
PIM.........................................................................3.18
Plans........................................................................3.3
Proxy Statement..............................................................2.4
PSC.........................................................................3.19
Purchaser................................................................Recital
Qualified Acquisition Proposal...............................................5.5
Qualified Commercial Bank....................................................1.7
Reports.....................................................................3.19
Securities Act...............................................................2.3
Services Agreement..........................................................3.19
Shares.......................................................................1.5
Stockholders.................................................................1.5
Subsequent Action............................................................5.5
(iv)
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Subsequent Sale..............................................................7.5
Subsidiaries.................................................................3.2
Surviving Corporation........................................................1.1
Tax Returns.................................................................3.14
Tax Separation Agreement.....................................................8.1
Terminating Company Breach...................................................7.1
Terminating Parent Breach....................................................7.1
Third Party..................................................................5.5
Trustee Materials............................................................4.3
Underwriting Agreement......................................................3.19
12b-1 Plan..................................................................3.19
1997 Plan....................................................................3.3
1988 Plan....................................................................3.3
(v)
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of May
14, 2000, is between UniCredito Italiano S.p.A., a corporation organized under
the laws of the Republic of Italy (the "Parent"), and The Pioneer Group, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company").
BACKGROUND
A. The respective Boards of Directors of the Parent and the Company
have each duly approved the merger of a corporation to be organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware and to be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent
(the "Purchaser") with and into the Company on the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement (the "Merger") and the Board of Directors of the
Company has resolved to recommend approval of the Merger by the Stockholders.
B. In addition to receiving the Cash Consideration provided for in this
Agreement, the Stockholders are receiving Harbor Global Interests in connection
with the Merger.
C. The respective Boards of Directors of the Parent and the Company
have each duly approved all of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
D. In order to induce Parent to enter into this Agreement, certain
Stockholders who are executive officers of the Company (the "Management
Stockholders") and the Parent have simultaneously herewith entered into voting
agreements, whereby such Management Stockholders have agreed, among other
things, to vote in favor of this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parent, the Purchaser
and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE MERGER
1.1 THE MERGER. (a) At the Effective Time (as hereinafter
defined), in accordance with this Agreement and the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware ("Delaware Law"), the Purchaser shall be merged with and
into the Company, the separate existence of the Purchaser shall cease and the
Company shall continue as the surviving corporation. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Parent may elect, prior to the Merger, instead of merging
Purchaser with and into the Company, as provided above, to merge the Company
with and into the Purchaser; provided, that the Company shall not be deemed to
have breached any of its representations, warranties or covenants set forth in
this Agreement, and no closing condition contained herein shall be deemed not
satisfied, solely by reason of such election. The Company (or in the case of an
election by the Parent pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the
Purchaser) is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Corporation."
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(b) Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the
contrary, the Parent may identify certain assets owned by the Company (including
stock of the Continuing Subsidiaries) or assets owned by the Continuing
Subsidiaries (the "Designated Assets") that the Parent desires to purchase
directly, or that the Parent desires one of its affiliates to purchase. In such
event, the Company and the Parent (or such affiliate of the Parent) shall
negotiate in good faith a purchase and sale agreement with respect to the
Designated Assets; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall be under no
obligation to enter into any such agreement. Any purchase and sale agreement
with respect to the Designated Assets shall close simultaneously with the
Effective Time, on such terms (including appropriate indemnities provided by the
Parent for liabilities arising from such sale) arrived at between the parties in
good faith. If the Parent so directs, the net proceeds from such sale of assets
shall be used as part of the Cash Consideration and will reduce the other Cash
Consideration provided by the Parent such that the Stockholders shall receive
the same aggregate Cash Consideration provided for herein as if the Parent had
not so directed the use of such net proceeds.
1.2 EFFECT OF THE MERGER. At the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall continue its corporate existence under the laws of the State
of Delaware and the Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 251 of
the Delaware Law.
1.3 CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER. As soon as is practicable after
the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 6 hereof, the
parties hereto will cause the Merger to be consummated by delivering to the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Merger (the
"Certificate of Merger") in such form or forms as may be required by, and
executed and acknowledged in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the
Delaware Law, and shall make all other filings and recordings required by the
Delaware Law in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at
the time that the Certificate of Merger is filed with the Secretary of the State
of the State of Delaware in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
Delaware Law (or at such later time, which shall be as soon as reasonably
practicable, specified as the effective time in the Certificate of Merger). The
term "Effective Time" shall mean the date and time of the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of the State of the State of Delaware
(or such later time, which shall be as soon as reasonably practicable, as may be
specified in the Certificate of Merger).
1.4 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; BY-LAWS; DIRECTORS AND
OFFICERS. The Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Purchaser as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended
as provided under the Delaware Law, except that (1) the name of the corporation
set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Company and (2) the
identity of the incorporator set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation shall
be deleted. The directors of the Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective
Time will be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, and the
officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the
initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until such time as
changed in accordance with the provisions of Delaware Law and the By-laws of the
Surviving Corporation or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
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1.5 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES.
(a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of the Purchaser, the Company, the Surviving
Corporation or the holder of any of the following securities:
(i) subject to Section 1.5(b), (A) each share of the
Company's common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the "Shares"),
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than Shares to be cancelled pursuant to clause (ii) below and
any Dissenting Shares (as defined below)) and (B) the 35,958 Shares
held in the treasury pursuant to a deferred compensation arrangement
(the "Deferred Compensation Shares"), which on or prior to the
Effective Time shall for purposes of this Agreement be deemed to be
held by the beneficiary of said deferred compensation arrangement,
shall in the case of clauses (A) and (B) be cancelled and
extinguished or retired and be converted into and become a right to
receive $43.50 in cash per Share without any interest thereon (the
"Cash Consideration");
(ii) each Share held in the treasury of the Company
(other than as provided in clause (i)(B) above) and each Share that
is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
and owned by the Parent, the Purchaser or the Company or any direct
or indirect subsidiary of the Parent, the Purchaser or the Company,
shall be cancelled and retired, and no payment shall be made with
respect thereto; and
(iii) each share of the Purchaser's capital stock issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 1.5(a), Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who, acting in
accordance with Section 262 of Delaware Law, (A) prior to the meeting at which
the Company's stockholders (the "Stockholders") vote to approve the Merger, has
delivered to the Company written notice of such holder's intention to demand
payment for his Shares if the Merger is effectuated and (B) has not voted in
favor of the Merger ("Dissenting Shares"), shall not be converted into a right
to receive the Cash Consideration, unless such holder withdraws or otherwise
loses his right to demand payment for his Shares. If, after the Effective Time,
such holder withdraws or loses his right to demand payment for his Shares, such
Shares shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time
into the right to receive the Cash Consideration payable in respect of such
Shares pursuant to Section 1.5(a)(i).
(c) The Company shall give the Parent and the Purchaser
prompt notice of any demands for payment, or notices of intent to demand
payment, received by the Company with respect to Shares in accordance with
Section 262 of Delaware Law, and the Parent and the Purchaser shall have the
right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such
demands. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of the
Parent and the Purchaser or as otherwise required by law or pursuant to a final
order of a
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court of competent jurisdiction, make any payment with respect to, or settle, or
offer to settle, any such demands.
1.6 COMPANY STOCK OPTIONS AND PLANS. The Company shall take all
actions necessary to ensure that (a) all Options (as defined in Section 3.3
below) outstanding under the Plans (as defined in Section 3.3 below), to the
extent not exercised prior to the Effective Time, shall, if not currently
vested, be fully vested immediately prior to the Effective Time and shall
terminate and be cancelled as of the Effective Time and in consideration thereof
each holder shall receive from the Purchaser, as soon as practicable following
the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to the excess of the Cash Consideration
(if any) over the per share exercise price of such Option, multiplied by the
number of shares subject to such Option (as the case may be), and thereafter
such Options shall be of no further force or effect, (b) all restricted common
stock granted under any Plan shall, if not currently vested, be fully vested
immediately prior to the Effective Time and (c) all Plans shall terminate as of
the Effective Time. Any such payment shall be subject to all applicable federal,
state and local tax withholding requirements.
1.7 EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, a bank or trust
company to be designated by the Parent or the Purchaser and consented to by the
Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned)
(the "Payment Agent") shall act as payment agent in effecting the exchange, for
the Cash Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares formerly represented
thereby, of certificates (the "Certificates") that, prior to the Effective Time,
represented Shares entitled to payment pursuant to Section 1.5(a)(i). From time
to time, the Parent shall, or shall cause the Purchaser to, deposit with the
Payment Agent in trust for the benefit of the holders of Certificates, such
amount of the Cash Consideration in immediately available funds needed to pay
promptly for surrendered Shares as provided in this Section 1.7 (the "Payment
Fund"). Promptly after the Effective Time (but in any event within two business
days thereof), the Payment Agent shall mail to each record holder of
Certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Shares a
form of letter of transmittal (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Parent) and instructions for use in surrendering such Certificates and
receiving the Cash Consideration therefor. Upon the surrender of each such
Certificate together with a duly completed and executed letter of transmittal,
the Payment Agent shall pay the holder of such Certificate the Cash
Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares formerly represented by such
Certificate, without any interest thereon, in exchange therefor, and such
Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. Delivery shall be effected, and risk
of loss and title to the Certificate shall pass, only upon proper delivery of
the Certificate to the Payment Agent, and the letter of transmittal shall so
reflect. Until so surrendered and exchanged, each such Certificate (other than
Certificates representing Shares held by the Parent, the Purchaser or the
Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Parent, the Purchaser or the
Company or Dissenting Shares) shall represent solely the right to receive the
Cash Consideration multiplied by the number of Shares represented by such
Certificate, without any interest thereon. If any cash is to be paid to a person
other than the holder in whose name the Certificate representing Shares
surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition to such
payment that the person requesting such payment shall pay to the Payment Agent
any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment of such cash to a
person other than the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or such
person shall establish to the satisfaction of the
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Payment Agent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither the Payment Agent nor any party hereto shall be liable to
a holder of Shares for any Cash Consideration delivered to a public official
pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws.
(b) To the extent not immediately required for payment for
surrendered Shares as provided in Section 1.7(a), the Payment Fund shall be
invested by the Payment Agent, as directed by the Parent (so long as such
directions do not impair the rights of holders of Shares), in direct obligations
of the United States of America, obligations for which the full faith and credit
of the United States of America is pledged to provide for the payment of
principal and interest, commercial paper rated of the highest quality by Moody's
Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, or certificates of
deposit issued by a commercial bank having at least $300,000,000 in assets (a
"Qualified Commercial Bank"); and any net earnings with respect thereto shall be
paid to the Parent as and when requested by the Parent.
(c) The Payment Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable
instructions, make the payments referred to in Section 1.5(a)(i) out of the
Payment Fund. Promptly following the date that is nine months after the
Effective Time, the Payment Agent shall deliver to the Parent all cash,
certificates and other documents in its possession relating to the transactions
described in this Agreement, and the Payment Agent's duties shall terminate.
Thereafter, each holder of a Certificate formerly representing a Share may
surrender such Certificate to the Surviving Corporation or the Parent and
(subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) receive in
exchange therefor the Cash Consideration, without any interest thereon but shall
have no greater rights against the Surviving Corporation or the Parent than may
be accorded to general creditors of the Surviving Corporation or the Parent
under applicable law.
(d) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on
the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of any Shares. If, after
the Effective Time, Certificates formerly representing Shares are presented to
the Surviving Corporation or the Payment Agent, they shall be cancelled and
exchanged for the Cash Consideration, as provided in this Article 1, subject to
applicable law in the case of Dissenting Shares.
(e) From and after the Effective Time, holders of
certificates theretofore evidencing Shares shall cease to have any rights as
Stockholders, except as provided herein or by law. After the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to cause the Shares to be delisted from
the Nasdaq Stock Market(R).
(f) Each of the Surviving Corporation and the Parent shall
be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Shares such amounts as it is
required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any provision of
state, local or foreign tax law (other than any such tax that may arise due to
the status of the Parent as a non-U.S. corporation). To the extent that amounts
are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent, as the case may be,
such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as
having been paid to the holder of the Shares in respect of which such deduction
and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent, as
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the case may be, and shall promptly be paid by the Parent or the Purchaser, as
the case may be, to the applicable taxing authority.
(g) If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming
such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the
Surviving Corporation, the posting by such person of a bond, in such
commercially reasonable amount and on such commercially reasonable terms as the
Surviving Corporation may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be
made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Parent shall issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Cash Consideration.
(h) Except for the distribution of shares of Harbor Global
contemplated by Article 8, the Cash Consideration shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, exchange, subdivision, combination of, or other similar change
in the Shares that shall be effective or be authorized after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Effective Time.
ARTICLE 2
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE PARENT AND THE PURCHASER
The Parent represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof
and, as of the Closing Date, the Parent and the Purchaser each represents and
warrants to the Company as follows:
2.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. The Parent is and the
Purchaser on the Closing Date will be an entity duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has
or, with respect to the Purchaser, shall have all requisite power to carry on
its business as now conducted or contemplated to be conducted. The Parent is and
the Purchaser on the Closing Date will be duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where
the character of its properties owned or leased or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except for failures to be so qualified or in
good standing which would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially
impair the ability of the Parent and the Purchaser to perform their obligations
hereunder.
2.2 AUTHORITY. The Parent has the requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement. The Parent has and the Purchaser on the
Closing Date will have the requisite corporate power to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement by the Parent and the consummation by the Parent
and the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby have been, in the case
of the Parent, and will be, in the case of the Purchaser, duly authorized by the
respective Boards of Directors of the Parent (including as sole stockholder of
the Purchaser) and the Purchaser and no other corporate proceedings on the part
of the Parent are or, in the case of the Purchaser will be, necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed
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and delivered by the Parent and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
the Parent, enforceable against the Parent in accordance with its terms.
2.3 COMPLIANCE.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Parent nor the consummation by the Parent and the Purchaser of the
transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by the Parent and the Purchaser
with any of the provisions hereof will (i)(x) violate, conflict with or result
in a breach of any provision of the charter documents or by-laws of the Parent
or the Purchaser or (y) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any
provision of, or constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of
time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination
of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of
termination or acceleration under, or result in the creation of any lien,
security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the material properties or
assets of the Parent or the Purchaser or any other direct or indirect subsidiary
of the Parent under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other
instrument or obligation to which the Parent or the Purchaser is a party, or to
which any of them, or any of their respective properties or assets, may be
subject, or (ii) subject to the exceptions and compliance with the statutes and
regulations referred to in the next paragraph, violate any judgment, ruling,
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
Parent or the Purchaser or any of their respective properties or assets; except,
in the case of each of clauses (i)(y) and (ii) above, for such violations,
conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations or creations of
liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not materially impair the ability of the Parent and the
Purchaser to perform their obligations hereunder.
(b) Other than in connection with or in compliance with the
provisions of Delaware Law, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Investment Advisers Act"), the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Investment Company Act"), the "takeover" or "blue sky" laws of various
states, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and the rules
and regulations thereunder (the "Hart-Scott-Rodino Act"), Regulation (EC) No.
4054189, as amended, of the Council of the European Union or any other national
antitrust regulation applicable in Europe (the "EC Regulation"), the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999
(the "BHCA"), the rules and regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, the rules and regulations of the Bank of Italy, and the rules
and regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD") (each of such laws, rules or regulations being referred to as the
"Applicable Laws"), no notice to, filing with, or authorization, consent or
approval of, any domestic or foreign public body or authority or any
governmental or non-governmental self-regulatory organization or agency is
necessary for the consummation by the Parent or the Purchaser of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, unless the failure to give such
notices, make such filings, or obtain such authorizations, consents or approvals
would, individually or in the aggregate, not materially impair the ability of
the Parent and the Purchaser to perform their obligations hereunder.
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(c) As of the Effective Time, neither the Parent nor the
Purchaser nor any other person "associated" (as defined under the Investment
Advisers Act) with the Parent or the Purchaser is subject to disqualification
pursuant to Section 203(e) of the Investment Advisers Act or to serve as an
investment adviser or as an associated person to a registered investment
adviser, or subject to disqualification pursuant to Rule 206(4)-3 under the
Investment Advisers Act or subject to disqualification to serve as a
broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act or the subject of a
rebuttable presumption pursuant to Rule 206(4)-4(b) under the Investment
Advisers Act unless in each case the Parent has received exemptive relief from
the Commission with respect to such disqualification. As of the Effective Time,
neither the Parent nor the Purchaser nor any "affiliated person" (as defined
under the Investment Company Act) thereof is subject to disqualification as an
investment adviser or any other capacity contemplated by the Investment Company
Act for any investment company under Section 9(a) of the Investment Company Act
unless in each case the Parent has received exemptive relief from the Commission
with respect to such disqualification.
2.4 COMMISSION FILINGS.
(a) The information supplied by the Parent or the Purchaser
for inclusion in the proxy statement of the Company to be mailed to the
Stockholders in connection with their approval of the Merger (the "Proxy
Statement"), on the date the Proxy Statement is filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), on the date the Proxy Statement is first
sent or given to security holders, and on the date of the meeting of the
Stockholders, will comply in all material respects with the provisions of
applicable U.S. federal securities laws and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Parent agrees
to provide in writing all information concerning the Parent and its affiliates
required to be included in the Proxy Statement under the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder. The Parent agrees promptly to correct the
Proxy Statement if and to the extent that it shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect.
(b) The information supplied by the Parent or the Purchaser
for inclusion in each of the proxy solicitation materials to be distributed to
the shareholders of each Fund (as defined in Section 3.18) will include all
disclosures of information regarding the Parent and the Purchaser as is
necessary in order to make the disclosure of information therein satisfy the
requirements of Section 14 of the Exchange Act, Section 20 of the Investment
Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and such information shall
not contain (at the time such information is distributed) any untrue statements
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statement made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The Parent agrees to provide in writing all information
concerning the Parent and its affiliates required to be included in a Fund's
proxy statement under the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act or the rules
and regulations thereunder. The Parent agrees to promptly correct such
information if and to the extent that the information regarding the Parent and
its affiliates in a Fund's proxy statement becomes false or misleading in any
material respect.
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2.5 BROKER'S FEES. Except for Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
no agent, broker, person or firm acting on behalf of the Parent or the Purchaser
is or will be entitled to any advisory, commission or broker's or finder's fee
from any of the parties hereto in connection with any of the transactions
contemplated herein.
2.6 FINANCING. The Parent has, and at the Effective Time the
Parent and the Purchaser will have, funds and financing arrangements available
to them sufficient to provide the funds necessary to consummate the Merger and
to fulfill their obligations hereunder.
2.7 LITIGATION. There is no suit, action or legal,
administrative, arbitration or order, proceeding or governmental investigation
pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened, to which the Parent or
the Purchaser is a party which, considered individually or in the aggregate, is
reasonably likely to materially adversely affect the Parent's or the Purchaser's
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
2.8 PARENT'S KNOWLEDGE. For purposes of this Agreement and all
certificates and other documents delivered in connection herewith, the term
"Parent's knowledge" or "Parent's best knowledge" or similar phrases shall mean
the knowledge of each member of the board of directors of the Parent and Pietro
Modiano (Head of Finance of the Parent), which shall be deemed to include the
knowledge that such person would have had if he or she had made reasonable
inquiry.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to the Parent and the Purchaser,
except as set forth on a disclosure schedule previously delivered to the Parent
(the "Disclosure Schedule") with respect to any representation or warranty set
forth below, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:
3.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. The Company is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry
on its business as it is now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or leased or the nature
of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for failures to be
so qualified or in good standing which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (as
defined below). Copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Company have heretofore been delivered to the Parent and the Purchaser and such
copies are accurate and complete as of the date hereof. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Company Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any change, effect or
circumstance that is materially adverse to the assets, the financial condition,
business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in
Section 3.2) taken as a whole (other than changes that result from economic
factors affecting the economy as a whole or changes that are the result of
factors generally affecting the mutual fund industry); provided, that (i)
Company Material Adverse Effect shall not include any adverse change, effect or
circumstance arising out of or resulting from actions contemplated by the
parties in connection with this Agreement or that is
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attributable to the announcement or performance of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than the Distribution and (ii)
any adverse change in the Company's stock price shall not be taken into account
in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.2 SUBSIDIARIES. The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of
the Company (the "Subsidiaries") are those named in Exhibit 21 to the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 1999 as filed
with the Commission and heretofore delivered to the Parent or as otherwise set
forth in the Disclosure Schedule or the Commission Filings (as defined in
Section 3.6). The term "Continuing Subsidiary" shall mean any Subsidiary of the
Company that is not being transferred to Harbor Global in accordance with
Article 8 of this Agreement and pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.
No securities of any of the Continuing Subsidiaries are or may become
required to be issued by reason of any options, warrants, scrip, rights to
subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or
securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any capital
stock of any Continuing Subsidiary. There are no contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements by which any Continuing Subsidiary is bound to
issue additional shares or purchase shares of its capital stock (or its
equivalent) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or
similar interests and there are no agreements or understandings to which the
Company or any of its Continuous Subsidiaries is a party with respect to voting
the capital stock (or its equivalent) of any Subsidiary. All of such shares or
similar interests so owned by the Company are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and are owned by the Company free and clear of any claim, lien,
encumbrance or agreement of any kind with respect thereto.
Each Continuing Subsidiary is a corporation or other entity duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has the requisite power and
authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each Continuing
Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in
good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned
or leased or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary,
except for failures to be so qualified or in good standing that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. Copies of the charter documents and by-laws of each
Continuing Subsidiary have heretofore been made available to the Parent and are
accurate and complete as of the date hereof.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Schedule or the
Commission Filings filed prior to the date hereof, the Company does not directly
or indirectly own any equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any equity or similar interest in, any
other corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business association or
entity.
3.3 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 60,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.10 par value. As of the date
of this Agreement:
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(i) 26,806,500 Shares were validly issued and
outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable;
(ii) 36,195 Shares were held in the treasury of the
Company, which includes the Deferred Compensation Shares;
(iii) 2,275,000 Shares were reserved for issuance
pursuant to outstanding Options heretofore granted under the
Company's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan") and 1988 Stock
Option Plan (the "1988 Plan); and
(iv) 500,000 Shares were reserved for issuance pursuant
to the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP" and
collectively with the 1997 Plan, the Company's 1995 Restricted Stock
Plan and the 1988 Plan (the "Plans").
Of the shares of restricted common stock issued by the Company under
the 1997 Plan and the 1995 Restricted Stock Plan, 556,982 shares of which remain
subject to restrictions as of the date of this Agreement. The options granted
under the Plans are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Options" and
individually as an "Option." Accurate and complete copies of all of the Plans
have heretofore been made available to the Parent and the Purchaser. Set forth
in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule is a list of all individuals who, as
of the date of this Agreement, had Options or restricted common stock pursuant
to the Plans. Except as set forth above in this Section 3.3, there are no other
shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company outstanding and no
other outstanding options, warrants, rights to subscribe to (including any
preemptive rights), calls or commitments of any character whatsoever to which
the Company is a party or may be bound requiring the issuance, transfer or sale
of any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any
securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any
such shares or securities, and there are no contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of their capital
stock or options, warrants or rights to purchase or acquire any additional
shares of their capital stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any such shares. To the best of the Company's knowledge, none of
the Shares is subject to any voting trust, transfer restrictions or other
similar arrangements, except for vesting arrangements pursuant to agreements
with the Company or restrictions on transfer imposed by the Securities Act and
state securities laws.
3.4 AUTHORITY.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Company's Board of
Directors and, except for the approval of its Stockholders as set forth in
Section 6.1 of this Agreement, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the
Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that the
Parties recognize that the Board of Directors of the Company has not taken on
the date of this Agreement all actions necessary to establish and distribute the
interests in Harbor Global as contemplated by Article 8, all of which
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<PAGE> 19
shall have been taken prior to the Effective Time. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms.
(b) The Company's Board of Directors have duly adopted
resolutions (i) approving the Merger and this Agreement, and the transactions
contemplated hereby, (ii) determining that each of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, including the Merger, are fair to, advisable and in the best
interests of the Stockholders, and (iii) recommending adoption and approval of
the Merger pursuant to the Delaware Law by holders of Shares.
3.5 COMPLIANCE.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Company with any of the provisions
hereof will (i) (x) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any
provision of the charter or by-law of the Company or any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries, or (y) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any
provision of, or constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of
time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination
of, or accelerate the performance or payment required by, or result in a right
of termination or acceleration under, or result in the creation of any lien,
security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of
the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries, under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust,
license, lease, distribution agreement, joint venture agreement or any other
agreement or instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its
Continuing Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of them or any of their
respective properties or assets may be subject or (ii) subject to the exceptions
and compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next
paragraph, violate any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its Continuing
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets; except, in the
case of each of clauses (i)(y) and (ii) above, for such violations, conflicts,
breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations or creations of liens, security
interests, charges or encumbrances that, individually or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and would
not materially adversely affect the Company's ability to perform its obligations
under this Agreement.
(b) Other than in connection with or in compliance with the
provisions of Applicable Laws, authorizations, consents or approvals necessary
in order to effect any deemed assignment of any agreement between the Company or
any of its Continuing Subsidiaries and a Fund or other Client, under the
Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisers Act, or as set forth in
Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedule, no notice to, filing with, or
authorization, consent or approval of, any domestic or foreign public body or
authority or any governmental or non-governmental self-regulatory organization
or agency is necessary for the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, unless the failure to give such notices, make
such filings, or obtain such authorizations, consents or approvals would not,
individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of the
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Company to perform its obligations hereunder and would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.6 COMMISSION FILINGS.
(a) The Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries have filed
with the Commission all required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents required to be filed under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the
Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act from January 1, 1998
through the date hereof. All documents (including exhibits) filed by the Company
and its Continuing Subsidiaries with the Commission pursuant to the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act and/or the Investment Advisers
Act since January 1, 1998 are referred to herein as the "Commission Filings."
The Commission Filings (i) were prepared, in all material respects, in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, the Investment Company Act and/or the Investment Advisers Act, as the case
may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) did not at the time they
were filed contain any untrue statement of material fact, (iii) did not at the
time they were filed omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading, and (iv) in the event of subsequent modifications of the
circumstances or the basis on which they had been made, were, to the extent
required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act or
the Investment Advisers Act, as the case may be, timely amended in order to make
them not misleading in any material respects in the light of such new
circumstances or basis.
(b) Each of the audited consolidated financial statements
and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements (including, in each
case, any related notes or schedules) included in the Commission Filings was
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis, except as may be indicated therein or in the notes or
schedules thereto, and fairly presented in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and Subsidiaries as at the dates
thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the
periods then ended, subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of complete
notes.
(c) The Proxy Statement and any written information provided
by or on behalf of the Company which is included in the Proxy Statement, on the
date the Proxy Statement is filed with the Commission, and on the date the Proxy
Statement is first published, sent or given to security holders and on the date
of the meeting of Stockholders, as the case may be, will comply in all material
respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws and will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, provided that no representation or warranty is made pursuant to this
Section 3.6(c) with respect to any written information provided by or on behalf
of the Parent or the Purchaser for inclusion in the Proxy Statement. The Company
agrees promptly to correct the Proxy Statement if and to the extent that it
shall have become false or misleading in any material respect (provided that,
with respect to any false or misleading information provided by or on behalf of
the Parent or the Purchaser for inclusion in
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the Proxy Statement, the Parent or the Purchaser shall have provided the Company
with correct information) and the Company shall take all steps necessary to
cause the Proxy Statement as so corrected to be filed with the Commission and
mailed to the Stockholders to the extent required by the Exchange Act.
3.7 LITIGATION. There are no actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened
against the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries, nor is the Company or
any of its Continuing Subsidiaries subject to any order, judgment, writ,
injunction or decree, except in either case for matters that, individually or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect and would not materially adversely affect the Company's ability
to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
3.8 CHANGES. Except as specifically set forth in this Agreement,
in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed in the Commission
Filings filed prior to the date hereof, since December 31, 1999 (a) the Company
and its Continuing Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have conducted their
businesses only in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent
with past practice, (b) there has not been any event, change or effect which,
individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in a Company Material Adverse
Effect, and (c) neither the Company nor any of its Continuing Subsidiaries has
taken any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would
constitute a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 4.1(b), Section
8.2 or Section 8.3.
3.9 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Except as disclosed in the
Commission Filings filed prior to the date hereof, since January 1, 1997,
neither the Company nor any of its Continuing Subsidiaries has entered into any
transaction with any current director or officer of the Company or any
Continuing Subsidiary or any transaction which would be subject to proxy
statement disclosure under the Exchange Act pursuant to the requirements of Item
404 of Regulation S-K.
3.10 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) The Company and the Continuing Subsidiaries have
complied in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws (as
defined below). There is no civil or criminal litigation, written notice of
violation, administrative proceeding or investigation, inquiry or information
request by any court, arbitration tribunal, administrative agency or commission
or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency (a "Governmental
Entity") pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened relating to any
Environmental Law involving the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Environmental Law" means any foreign, federal,
state or local law, statute, rule or regulation or the common law relating to
the environment or occupational health and safety, including without limitation,
any statute, regulation or order pertaining to (i) treatment, storage, disposal,
generation or transportation of industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or
solid or hazardous waste; (ii) air, water and noise pollution; (iii) groundwater
and soil contamination; (iv) the release or threatened release into the
environment of industrial, toxic or hazardous substances, or solid or hazardous
waste, including without limitation emissions, discharges, injections, spills,
escapes or dumping of pollutants, contaminants or chemicals; (v) the protection
of wildlife,
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<PAGE> 22
marine sanctuaries and wetlands, including without limitation all endangered and
threatened species; (vi) storage tanks, vessels and containers; (vii)
underground and other storage tanks or vessels, abandoned, disposed or discarded
barrels, containers and other closed receptacles; (viii) health and safety of
employees and other persons; and (ix) manufacture, processing, use,
distribution, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation or handling of
pollutants, contaminants, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances
or oil or petroleum products or solid or hazardous waste. As used above, the
terms "release" and "environment" shall have the meaning set forth in the
federal Comprehensive Environmental Compensation, Liability and Response Act of
1980 ("CERCLA").
(b) There have been no releases of any Materials of
Environmental Concern (as defined below) into the environment by the Company or
any of its Continuing Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, by any
other party at any parcel of real property or any facility formerly or currently
owned, operated or controlled by the Company or any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. With respect to any such
releases of Materials of Environmental Concern, the Company has given all
notices required to be given by the Company or any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries to Governmental Entities (copies of which have been provided to the
Parent). The Company is not aware of any releases of Materials of Environmental
Concern at parcels of real property or facilities other than those owned,
operated or controlled by the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries that
would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material impact on the real
property or facilities owned, operated or controlled by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement, "Materials of Environmental
Concern" means any chemicals, pollutants or contaminants, hazardous substances
(as such term is defined under CERCLA), solid wastes and hazardous wastes (as
such terms are defined under the federal Resources Conservation and Recovery
Act), toxic materials, oil or petroleum and petroleum products, or any other
material subject to regulation under any Environmental Law.
(c) Section 3.10(c) of the Disclosure Schedule describes all
environmental reports, investigations and audits conducted by or on behalf of
the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the
Company, conducted by or on behalf of a third party (whether done at the
initiative of the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries or directed by a
Governmental Entity or other third party) issued or conducted during the past
five years relating to premises currently or previously owned or operated by the
Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries. Complete and accurate copies of
each such report, or the results of each such investigation or audit, have been
provided to the Parent if in the possession or control of the Company.
(d) The Parties agree that the only representations and warranties of the
Company herein as to any environmental matters are those contained in this
Section 3.10.
3.11 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND CONTRACTS.
(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement.
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(b) Section 3.11(b) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all
material employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the U.S. Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) and all bonus,
stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, deferred
compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, supplemental retirement,
severance or other benefit plans, programs or arrangements, and all employment,
termination, severance or other contracts or agreements, whether legally
enforceable or not, to which the Company or any Continuing Subsidiary is a
party, with respect to which the Company or any Continuing Subsidiary has any
obligation or which are maintained, contributed to or sponsored by the Company
or any Continuing Subsidiary for the benefit of any employee, officer or
director or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any
Continuing Subsidiary maintained by the Company or any Continuing Subsidiary.
Each of such employee benefit plans complies in all material respects with all
requirements of applicable law. No "prohibited transaction" (as such term is
defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any such plan which will result
in material liability to the Company.
(c) Neither the Company nor any affiliate thereof has ever
maintained an employee benefit plan subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title
IV of ERISA. Each employee benefit plan of the Company or any affiliate intended
to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service confirming such
qualification and nothing has occurred that would cause such qualified status to
be jeopardized. Neither the Company nor any affiliate has ever had an obligation
to contribute to a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA. There are no unfunded obligations under any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any affiliate providing benefits after termination of employment to
any employee, officer or director or former employee, officer or director,
including but not limited to retiree health coverage and deferred compensation,
but excluding continuation of health coverage required to be continued under
Section 4980(B) of the Code. Each employee benefit plan of the Company or any
affiliate may be amended or terminated by the Company or such affiliate without
the consent or approval of any other person. Except as set forth herein, there
is no employee benefit plan, stock option plan, stock appreciation right plan,
restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan, or severance benefit plan of the
Company or any affiliate, any of the benefits of which will be increased or the
vesting of the benefits under which will be accelerated by the occurrence of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the benefits under which
will be calculated on the basis of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(d) Except for acceleration of vesting of Options and
restricted common stock under the Plans, which the Company represents will not
exceed $60,500,000 and $27,500,000, respectively, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary is obligated to make any parachute payment, as defined in Section
280G(b)(2) of the Code but without regard to Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code, nor
will any parachute payment be deemed to have occurred as a result of or arising
out of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except for
acceleration of vesting of Options and restricted common stock under the Plans,
the Company has no contract, agreement, obligation or arrangement with any
employee or other person, any of the benefits of which will be increased or the
vesting of the benefits under which will be accelerated by any change of control
of the Company or the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the benefits under which will be calculated on the basis of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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3.12 REAL PROPERTY AND LEASES; LIENS ON ASSETS.
(a) The Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries have
sufficient title to all their properties and assets to conduct their respective
businesses as currently conducted, with only such exceptions as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The assets, including any real property in which the
Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries has an interest, reflected in the
balance sheet of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Balance Sheet") or
acquired in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 1999 (the
"Assets") (except those Assets sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of
business for full and fair consideration), (i) are free and clear of all
mortgages, security interests, pledges, liens and encumbrances (collectively,
"Encumbrances") other than (A) as reflected in the Balance Sheet, (B)
Encumbrances on assets which, individually or in the aggregate, are not material
to the Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (C) liens
for state and local property taxes not in arrears and liens arising by operation
of law and (ii) are neither subject to any governmental decree or order to be
sold nor are being condemned, expropriated or otherwise taken by any public
authority with or without payment or compensation therefor, nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, has any such condemnation, expropriation or taking
been proposed, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all
leases of real property leased for the use or benefit of the Company or any
Continuing Subsidiary to which the Company or any Continuing Subsidiary is a
party, and all amendments and modifications thereto (the "Leases"). All Leases
are in full force and effect and have not been modified or amended, and there
exists no default under any such lease by the Company or any Continuing
Subsidiary, nor any event which with notice or lapse of time or both would
constitute a default thereunder by the Company or any Continuing Subsidiary,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.13 TAXES.
(a) The Company and each Subsidiary have timely filed all
material tax returns, statements, reports and forms required to be filed with
any tax authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any Continuing
Subsidiary (collectively, "Tax Returns") and have paid when due all taxes owed
by the Company and any Subsidiary (whether or not shown on any such Tax Returns)
to any such tax authority. There are no liens on any of the assets of the
Company or any Continuing Subsidiary that arose in connection with any failure
(or alleged failure) to pay any tax except for liens that would, individually or
in the aggregate, not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) No dispute or claim concerning any tax liability of the
Company or any Subsidiary has been claimed or raised by any authority in writing
nor to the Company's knowledge, otherwise.
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<PAGE> 25
(c) Neither the Company nor any Continuing Subsidiary has
waived any statute of limitations in respect of taxes or agreed to any extension
of time with respect to a tax assessment or deficiency.
(d) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has filed a
consent under Section 341(f) of the Code concerning collapsible corporations.
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any liability for the taxes of any
person (other than the Company and the Continuing Subsidiaries) under Treas.
Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law),
as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(e) (i) For United States federal income tax purposes,
neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary nor any Fund is expected to have any
income reportable for a period ending after the Effective Time but attributable
to a transaction, such as an installment sale, occurring in, or a change in
method of accounting made for, a period ending on or prior to the Effective Time
that resulted in a deferred reporting of income from such transaction or from
such change in method of accounting (other than a deferred intercompany
transaction); (ii) immediately after the Merger, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary will be a United States real property holding corporation within the
meaning of Section 897(c)(3) of the Code; (iii) the Company has provided or made
available to the Parent a copy of any tax-sharing or allocation agreement or
arrangement involving the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries or
between a Harbor Global Entity and the Parent or any Continuing Subsidiary and a
description of any such unwritten or informal agreement or arrangement; (iv) all
Taxes required to be withheld, collected or deposited by the Company or any
Subsidiary or Fund have been timely withheld, collected or deposited and, to the
extent required, have been paid to the relevant Tax authority; (v) except for
the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has engaged in any "deferred intercompany transactions" within the
meaning of Section 1.1502-13 of the regulations under the Code, and all
"intercompany transactions" within the meaning of the same Section 1.1502-13
have been made on an arm's-length basis; (vi) none of the Continuing
Subsidiaries has an "excess loss account," as defined in Section 1.1502-19 of
the regulations under the Code, in the stock of any other corporation; and (vii)
for all open taxable years, the Company and each Continuing Subsidiary and all
Funds managed thereby are in compliance with respect to all backup withholding
and information reporting requirements in the Code and the regulations
thereunder, including, but not limited to all necessary due diligence mailings
and the proper and timely filing of Forms W-3, and such Funds are similarly in
compliance with all withholding and information reporting requirements of any
state, local or foreign jurisdiction to which any of them may be subject, except
in the case of clauses (iv) and (vii) for such instances of non-compliance
which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.13 to the
contrary, the Company shall not be deemed to have made any representation or
warranty under this Section 3.13 with respect to any liability, obligation,
action or failure to act for which the Company or a Continuing Subsidiary is
indemnifiable under the Distribution Agreement or the Tax Separation Agreement.
3.14 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; PERMITS. Neither the Company nor any
Continuing Subsidiary (a) is in violation of, or has violated, any applicable
provisions of any
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<PAGE> 26
laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations (including any rules or regulations of
any non-governmental self-regulatory organization or agency) or (b) since
January 1, 1998, has received any notice from any non-governmental
self-regulatory organization or agency, governmental body, agency, official or
authority or any other person that either the Company or any Continuing
Subsidiary is in violation of, or has violated, any applicable provisions of any
material laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations, except in the case of
clauses (a) and (b) for violations or alleged violations which, individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Continuing Subsidiaries have all
permits, licenses and franchises from Governmental Entities required to conduct
their businesses as now being conducted, except for such permits, licenses and
franchises the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.15 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. The Company, or a Continuing
Subsidiary, owns or has all necessary rights to use each patent, patent
application, trademark (whether or not registered), trademark application, trade
name, service mark, copyright and other trade secret or proprietary intellectual
property (collectively, "Intellectual Property") used in and material to their
respective businesses, and none of the previous or current development,
manufacture, marketing or distribution of products or services of or by the
Company or any Continuing Subsidiary infringes the right of any other person,
except for any such infringements that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Except as disclosed in the Commission Filings filed prior to the date hereof, no
other person is infringing the rights of the Company or any Continuing
Subsidiary in any such Intellectual Property, except for any such infringements
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.16 NO UNDISCLOSED MATERIAL LIABILITIES. Except as disclosed in
the Commission Filings filed prior to the date hereof and except for liabilities
not required by generally accepted accounting principles to be recorded on a
balance sheet or liabilities arising since December 31, 1999 in the ordinary
course of business as of the date hereof, there are no liabilities of the
Company or any Continuing Subsidiary of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued,
contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, that would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
3.17 FAIRNESS OPINION, BROKERS.
(a) The Company has received the oral opinion of Merrill
Lynch & Co., Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney, Inc. (the "Financial Advisors")
that, as of the date that such opinion was given, the Cash Consideration is fair
to the Stockholders from a financial point of view.
(b) Except for the Financial Advisors, no agent, broker,
person or firm acting on behalf of the Company is or will be entitled to any
advisory commission or broker's or finder's fee from any of the parties hereto
in connection with any of the transactions contemplated herein. Accurate and
complete copies of all agreements between or among the Company and the Financial
Advisors relating to such transactions have been provided to the Parent.
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<PAGE> 27
3.18 INVESTMENT ADVISORY ACTIVITIES.
(a) Section 3.18(a) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a
list, as of April 30, 2000, of (1) all of the investment companies registered
under the Investment Company Act (the "Funds") for which Pioneer Investment
Management, Inc. ("PIM") or any other Continuing Subsidiary acts as investment
adviser, (2) each pooled investment fund for which PIM or any other Continuing
Subsidiary acts as investment adviser and which is not required to register
under the Investment Company Act ("Non-Registered Funds") and (3) any other
investment advisory clients ("Non-Fund Clients") of PIM or any other Continuing
Subsidiary of the Company, showing the aggregate amount of assets under
management with the Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries as of such date.
(b) The Company has previously made available to the Parent
copies of each investment advisory agreement with any of the Funds,
Non-Registered Funds or Non-Fund Clients listed in Section 3.18(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule (the "Client Contracts").
(c) Each Client Contract and any subsequent renewal has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the applicable Continuing Subsidiary
or the Company and is a valid and legally binding agreement, enforceable against
such Continuing Subsidiary or the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company,
each other party thereto, except (with respect to each such other party) as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
rights of creditors generally and by equitable principles, including those
limiting the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief and other
equitable remedies and those providing for equitable defenses.
(d) None of the Continuing Subsidiaries is currently in
default under any of the terms of any Client Contract other than defaults which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) None of the Company, any of its Continuing Subsidiaries
that are registered under the Investment Advisers Act or any other person
"associated" (as defined under the Investment Advisers Act) with the Company or
any of such Continuing Subsidiaries is subject to disqualification pursuant to
Section 203(e) of the Investment Advisers Act or to serve as an investment
adviser or as an associated person to a registered investment adviser, or
subject to disqualification pursuant to Rule 206(4)-3 under the Investment
Advisers Act or subject to disqualification to serve as a broker-dealer under
Section 15 of the Exchange Act or the subject of a rebuttable presumption
pursuant to Rule 206(4)-4(b) under the Investment Advisers Act. None of the
Company, any of its Continuing Subsidiaries or any "affiliated person" (as
defined under the Investment Company Act) thereof is subject to disqualification
as an investment adviser or any other capacity contemplated by the Investment
Company Act for any investment company under Section 9(a) of the Investment
Company Act.
(f) PIM is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act. Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. ("PFD") is registered
as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act and is a member in good standing of
the NASD. Pioneering Services Corporation
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<PAGE> 28
("PSC") is registered as a transfer agent under the Exchange Act. Pioneer
Management (Ireland) Limited is registered as a transfer agent under the
Exchange Act.
(g) PIM and each Fund have adopted a written code of ethics
and a written policy regarding personal trading. Such code and policy currently
comply, and have complied, in all material respects with Section 17(j) of the
Investment Company Act, Rule 17j-1 thereunder, and Section 204A of the
Investment Advisers Act, as the case may be. To the knowledge of the Company,
there has been no violation of PIM's code of ethics and personal trading policy
that has not been reported to the Board of Trustees of the Funds and would
constitute a fraud upon any of the Funds.
3.19 REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
(a) Each Fund is, and at all times required under the
Investment Company Act has been, duly registered with the Commission as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act and has been duly organized,
and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its organization and has the requisite power and authority to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted.
(b) The Company has made available to the Parent and the
Purchaser copies of the (i) audited financial statements for each of the Funds
for each of their respective fiscal years ended in 1999 (the "Fund Annual
Financial Statements") and (ii) any audited or unaudited semi-annual financial
statements for a Fund for its semi-annual period, if any, ended after the date
of the Annual Financial Statements and on or prior to February 29, 2000 (the
"Fund Interim Financial Statements" and, together with the Fund Annual Financial
Statements, the "Fund Financial Statements"). Each Fund Financial Statement has
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied by the Fund on a consistent basis, except as may be
indicated therein or in the notes thereto, and fairly presents in all material
respects the financial position and statement of net assets as of the date
thereof and the results of operations for the period then ended, subject, in the
case of the Fund Interim Financial Statements, to normal year-end adjustments
and to the absence of complete notes. None of the Funds has incurred any
obligation or liability (contingent or other) that, individually or in the
aggregate, is or when accrued, would be, material to the financial condition or
results of operations of such Fund, except as reflected in its Fund Financial
Statements or as may be incurred in the ordinary course of its investment
operations since the date of the Fund Interim Financial Statements and which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Fund Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, "Fund Material
Adverse Effect" shall mean any change, effect or circumstance that is, or is
reasonably likely to result in, liability to the Company or any of its
Continuing Subsidiaries that would have a Company Material Adverse Effect or
which would be materially adverse to the business or operations of the Funds and
Non-Registered Funds, taken as a whole, other than changes that result from
economic factors affecting the economy as a whole or the industry or
geographical region in which the Fund or Non-Registered Fund invests, changes in
the net assets of such Funds or Non-Registered Funds due to redemptions, changes
in the market value of portfolio securities or changes that are the result of
factors generally affecting the mutual fund industry.
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<PAGE> 29
(c) Each Client Contract with a Fund, the Administration
Agreement among the Funds and PIM (the "Administration Agreement"), each
Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") between PFD and a Fund,
and each agreement (the "Services Agreement") between PSC and a Fund, and any
subsequent renewal of any such agreement, has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by PIM, PFD or PSC, as the case may be, and the Fund and is a valid
and legally binding agreement, enforceable against PIM, PFD, PSC, as the case
may be, and the Fund and, if applicable, has been adopted in compliance with
Section 12(b) or Section 15 of the Investment Company Act.
(d) Each current prospectus (which term, as used in this
Agreement, shall include any related statement of additional information), as
amended or supplemented, relating to each Fund has been supplied or made
available to the Parent and the Purchaser. Each such prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, is in substantial compliance with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, and, where applicable, the rules
of the NASD, except for such non-compliance which would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
Each of the Funds has filed all prospectuses, financial statements, other forms,
reports, sales literature, and advertising, and any other documents required to
be filed with applicable Governmental Entities, and any amendments thereto (the
"Reports"), the failure to file which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect. The Reports have been prepared
in accordance with the requirements of applicable law, except for such
non-compliance which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Except as set forth in the Fund Financial Statements or
current prospectuses, none of the Client Contracts with a Fund, the
Administration Agreement, the Underwriting Agreements or the Services Agreements
contains any undertaking by PIM, PFD or PSC, as the case may be, to cap fees or
to reimburse any or all fees thereunder.
(f) A copy of each distribution plan adopted by the Board of
any Fund under Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act ("12b-1 Plan") (or
form of 12b-1 Plan adopted by similar series or classes of shares offered by a
Fund) has been made available to Parent; and all payments due since December 31,
1998 and prior to the most recently ended payment period under each distribution
plan or principal underwriting agreement to which any Fund is a party have been
made in compliance with the related 12b-1 Plan.
(g) Each of the proxy solicitation materials to be
distributed to the shareholders of each Fund in connection with the approvals
described in Section 4.3 will contain all information necessary in order to make
the disclosure of information therein satisfy the requirements of Section 14 of
the Exchange Act, Section 20 of the Investment Company Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder and such materials (except to the extent supplied by or
related to Parent or its affiliates) will be complete in all material respects
and will not contain (at the time such materials are distributed, filed or
provided at the time of the relevant vote of the shareholders of each Fund in
connection with the approvals described in Section 4.3) any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading or necessary to correct any statement or any earlier
communication with respect to
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<PAGE> 30
the solicitation of a proxy for the same meeting or subject matter which has
become false or misleading.
(h) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Company with any of the provisions
hereof will (i) (x) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any
provision of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents of any of
the Funds, or (y) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision
of, or constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or
both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or
accelerate the performance or payment required by, or result in a right of
termination or acceleration under, or result in the creation of any lien,
security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of
any of the Funds, under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, distribution
agreement, or joint venture agreement to which any of the Funds is a party or to
which any of them or any of their respective properties or assets may be subject
or (ii) violate any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction, decree, statute,
rule or regulation applicable to any of the Funds or any of their respective
properties or assets; except, in the case of each of clauses (i)(y) and (ii)
above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations,
accelerations or creations of liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances
that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have
a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Each of the Funds is governed by a board of trustees
consisting of at least 50% of trustees who are not "interested persons" (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) of such Fund.
(j) None of the Funds (a) is in violation of, or since
January 1, 1998 has violated, any applicable provisions of any laws, statutes,
ordinances or regulations (including any rules or regulations of any
non-governmental self-regulatory organization or agency) or (b) has received any
notice from any non-governmental self-regulatory organization or agency,
governmental body, agency, official or authority or any other person that any
Fund is in violation of, or has violated, any applicable provisions of any laws,
statutes, ordinances or regulations, except in the case of clauses (a) and (b)
for violations or alleged violations which, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Fund Material Adverse Effect. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, none of the Funds has been enjoined,
indicted, convicted or made the subject of disciplinary proceedings, consent
decrees or administrative orders on account of any violation of the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act or any similar law of a
non-U.S. jurisdiction. The Funds have all permits, licenses and franchises from
Governmental Entities required to conduct their businesses as now being
conducted, except for such permits, licenses and franchises the absence of which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Fund Material Adverse Effect.
(k) Each Fund has elected to qualify and, for all taxable
years that a Continuing Subsidiary served as investment adviser and with respect
to which the applicable statute of limitations (including any extensions) has
not expired ("open taxable years"), has continuously qualified to be treated as
a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code and has
continuously been eligible to compute, and has for each such taxable year
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<PAGE> 31
computed, its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code and has no
earnings and profits accumulated in any taxable year that is not an open taxable
year. At the Effective Time, all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns
with respect to taxes for any taxable period for which the applicable statute of
limitations (including any extensions) has not expired and during which a
Continuing Subsidiary has served as investment adviser that were or are required
to be filed on or before such date by or on behalf of a Fund ("Fund Tax
Returns') were or shall have been timely filed and were or shall be complete and
correct in all material respects and all federal and other taxes, including
interest, penalties, and additions to tax, shown or required to be shown as due
on such returns, shall have been paid or provided for. No such Fund Tax Return
or other filing is currently under audit, no assessment has been asserted with
respect to such Fund Tax Returns or other filings, and no requests for waivers
of the time to make any such assessment are pending. None of the Funds is
delinquent in the payment of any material tax, assessment, or governmental
charge.
(l) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations pending or to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened
against any of the Funds, nor is any Fund subject to any order, judgment, writ,
injunction or decree naming such Fund, except in either case for matters that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Fund Material Adverse Effect.
(m) The books and records of each Fund reflecting, among
other things, the investment transactions undertaken on behalf of each Fund, the
purchase and sale of shares of that Fund by its holders of shares of beneficial
interests (collectively, "Fund Stockholders"), the number of issued and
outstanding Fund shares owned by each Fund Stockholder, and the state or other
jurisdiction in which those Fund shares were offered and sold, are, to the
knowledge of the Company, complete and accurate in all respects, except for such
omissions or errors which, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Each Fund has in full force and effect such insurance as
is required by the Investment Company Act and has directors' and officers' and
errors and omissions insurance policies. Copies of all insurance policies of the
Funds have been made available to Parent. All premiums that are due and payable
under such policies have been paid.
(o) Since December 31, 1999, there has not been any event,
change or effect which, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in a Fund
Material Adverse Effect.
3.20 NON-REGISTERED FUNDS.
(a) Each Non-Registered Fund has been duly organized, and is
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization and has the requisite power and authority to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted.
(b) The Company has made available to Parent copies of the
audited financial statements for each of the Non-Registered Funds for each of
their respective fiscal years ending in 1999 (the "Non-Registered Fund Annual
Financial Statements") and, to the extent that the Company or any Continuing
Subsidiary is contractually obligated to produce such
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<PAGE> 32
financial statements, the unaudited financial statements for each of the
Non-Registered Funds for each of their respective fiscal periods ended after the
date of the Non-Registered Funds Annual Financial Statements and on or before
February 29, 2000 (the "Non-Registered Fund Interim Financial Statements" and,
together with the Non-Registered Fund Annual Financial Statements, the
"Non-Registered Fund Financial Statements"). Each Non-Registered Fund Financial
Statement has been prepared in accordance with such accounting principles as the
Non-Registered Fund purports to comply in any report provided to the holders of
the shares or other equity interests in the Non-Registered Funds. None of the
Non-Registered Funds has incurred any obligation or liability (contingent or
other) that, individually or in the aggregate, is or when accrued, would be,
material to the financial condition or results of operations of such
Non-Registered Fund, except (i) as reflected in its Non-Registered Fund
Financial Statements, (ii) as may be incurred in the ordinary course of its
investment operations since the date of the Non-Registered Fund Financial
Statements, or (iii) which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
(c) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened
against any of the Non-Registered Funds, nor is any Non-Registered Fund subject
to any order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree naming such Non-Registered
Fund, except in either case for matters that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
(d) None of the Non-Registered Funds (a) is in violation of,
or has since January 1, 1998 violated, any applicable provisions of any laws,
statutes, ordinances or regulations (including any rules or regulations of any
non-governmental self-regulatory organization or agency) or (b) has received any
notice from any non-governmental self-regulatory organization or agency,
governmental body, agency, official or authority or any other person that any
Non-Registered Fund is in violation of, or has violated, any applicable
provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations, except in the case
of clauses (a) and (b) for violations or alleged violations which, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Fund Material
Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, none of the
Non-Registered Funds has been enjoined, indicted, convicted or made the subject
of disciplinary proceedings, consent decrees or administrative orders on account
of any violation of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company
Act or any similar law of a non-U.S. jurisdiction. The Non-Registered Funds have
all permits, licenses and franchises from Governmental Entities required to
conduct their businesses as now being conducted, except for such permits,
licenses and franchises the absence of which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
3.21 MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Except as disclosed in the Commission
Filings filed prior to the date hereof, as of the date hereof, neither the
Company nor any of its Continuing Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any
written or oral contract:
(a) with respect to the employment of any directors or
officers, other than noncompetition and confidentiality agreements with such
persons and other than contracts terminable by the Company upon no more than 60
days' notice without penalty;
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(b) that is a "material contract" of the Company (as is
defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the Commission) to be performed
after the date of this Agreement;
(c) that, after the Effective Time, will materially restrict
the conduct of any line of business by the Company or its Continuing
Subsidiaries or upon consummation of the Merger will materially restrict the
ability of the Surviving Corporation to engage in any line of business in which
it may lawfully engage;
(d) with a labor union (including any collective bargaining
agreement); or
(e) any of the benefits of which will be increased, or the
vesting of the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any
Stockholder approval or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, or the value of any of the benefits of which will be
calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
All of the foregoing, together with the Client Contracts,
Administration Agreement, Underwriting Agreements and Service Agreements, are
collectively called "Material Contracts." To the extent Material Contracts are
evidenced by documents, copies thereof have been delivered or made available to
Parent. Section 3.23 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a description of the
material terms of each Material Contract that has not been reduced to writing.
Each Material Contract is in full force and effect and is enforceable against
the Company or the applicable Continuing Subsidiary, as the case may be, in
accordance with its terms, except where the failure to be in full force and
effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There does not exist under any Material
Contract any material default or condition or event that, after notice or lapse
of time or both, would constitute a default on the part of the Company or its
Continuing Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, on the part of any
other parties to such Material Contracts except for such defaults which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
3.22 INSURANCE. The Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries
maintain policies of insurance on terms, and in amounts, that have previously
been disclosed to the Parent.
3.23 STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES. The Board of Directors of the
Company has taken all action necessary to ensure that the restrictions on
business combinations contained in Section 203 of Delaware Law will not apply to
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To the
knowledge of the Company, no other state takeover statute is applicable to the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.24 VOTE REQUIRED. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Shares is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of
capital stock of the Company necessary to approve this Agreement and the Merger.
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3.25 HARBOR GLOBAL.
(a) As of the Effective Time, shares of equity, intercompany
obligations or similar equity or debt interests in the entities to be
transferred to Harbor Global pursuant to the Distribution Agreement (the "Harbor
Global Entities") and cash in an amount not to exceed $25 million (or such
lesser number that is equal to $25 million minus the aggregate amount of the
Company's obligations (but not obligations in connection with Options or
restricted stock) to employees of Harbor Global under severance or termination
agreements between such employees and the Company to the extent such obligations
are not assumed by Harbor Global with the consent of such employees) will be the
only assets that are owned, leased or licensed by Harbor Global which were
previously owned, leased or licensed by the Company or any Continuing
Subsidiary.
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 3.25(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule or as set forth in Schedule 4.2(a) of the Distribution Agreement and
except for such other liabilities as shall not exceed $35 million, Harbor Global
has no liabilities of any kind whether accrued, contingent, absolute,
determined, determinable or otherwise.
(c) Except as disclosed in Section 3.25(c) of the Disclosure
Schedule and except for liabilities (but not in an amount in excess of $7.5
million) with respect to which the Company is indemnifiable by Harbor Global
pursuant to the Distribution Agreement or has obtained a release therefrom, none
of the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries is liable (whether on a
contingent, determinable or other basis) for any liabilities of any kind
(whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise)
of the Harbor Global Entities, including, without limitation, pursuant to any
indemnification arrangement, capital commitment or guarantee.
(d) Section 3.25(d) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
list of all agreements or arrangements between or among the Company or any of
its Continuing Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Harbor Global Entity, on
the other hand, or to which the Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries,
on the one hand, and any Harbor Global Entity, on the other hand, are parties.
The Parent agrees that the Company shall be entitled, from time to time, to
supplement Section 3.25(d) of the Disclosure Schedule to provide for
intercompany services and subleases. If the Parent shall reasonably object to
any such addition to Section 3.25(d) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement alternatives not
involving the Company or any Continuing Subsidiary as promptly as reasonably
practicable and if such alternative cannot be implemented, the Company shall not
implement the proposed arrangement with Harbor Global without the Parent's
consent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, conditioned or
delayed.
3.26 BANK OF ITALY REQUIREMENTS. As of the Effective Time, the
Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries have or will implement prior to the
Effective Time the systems necessary to comply with the requirements of the Bank
of Italy regarding the activities of the Italian banking groups, a summary of
which has previously been provided by the Parent to the Company.
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3.27 COMPANY'S KNOWLEDGE. For purposes of this Agreement and all
certificates and other documents delivered in connection herewith, the term
"Company's knowledge" or "Company's best knowledge" or similar phrases shall
mean the knowledge of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial
Officer and General Counsel of the Company, PIM, PFD or PSC, which shall be
deemed to include the knowledge that such person would have had if he or she had
made reasonable inquiry.
3.28 SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS. Disclosure of any fact or item in
the Disclosure Schedule (or any update thereto) shall be deemed to modify (a)
only the corresponding section of this Agreement and (b) other sections of this
Agreement to the extent it is reasonably clear (notwithstanding the absence of a
specific cross reference) from a reading of the disclosure that the disclosure
is applicable to such other sections.
3.29 NO IMPLIED REPRESENTATION. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Article 3 or any other provision of this Agreement, it is the
explicit intent of the Parent and the Purchaser that the Company is making no
representation or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those
expressly given in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any implied
warranty or representation as to condition, merchantability, suitability or
fitness for a particular purpose as to any of the properties or assets of the
business conducted by the Company and the Subsidiaries and, except as expressly
represented in this Agreement, it is understood that the Parent and the
Purchaser take such business, properties and assets on an "as is" and "where is"
basis. It is understood that any cost estimates, projections, or other
predictions contained or referred to in the Confidential Descriptive Memorandum,
dated March 2000, distributed by the Financial Advisors, or, unless expressly
provided otherwise in this Agreement, otherwise provided by the Company or the
Financial Advisors, are not and shall not be deemed to be representations or
warranties of the Company.
ARTICLE 4
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
4.1 CONDUCT PRIOR TO EFFECTIVE TIME. Except as otherwise
specifically set forth herein or as disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule, the
Company covenants and agrees that, unless the Parent shall otherwise consent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), prior to the
Effective Time:
(a) The business of the Company and its Continuing
Subsidiaries shall in all material respects be conducted only in, and the
Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries shall not take any matter or action
except in, the ordinary course of business, and the Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts, to maintain and preserve its and each
Continuing Subsidiary's business organization, assets, employees and
advantageous business relationships;
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly do any of the following (except as
contemplated by this Agreement or the Distribution Agreement):
(i) other than upon exercise of Options outstanding on
the date hereof pursuant to the Plans, the sale of Shares pursuant
to the ESPP or the issuance of
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Shares pursuant to any deferred compensation arrangement, issue,
sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize, propose or agree
to the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any
shares of, or any options, warrants or rights of any kind to acquire
any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any shares of, capital stock of any class of the
Company or any of its Continuing Subsidiaries or any other
securities in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution for Shares
outstanding as of the date hereof;
(ii) sell, lease pledge or encumber any assets material
to the Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
except in the ordinary course of business;
(iii) amend its charter or by-laws or similar
organizational documents;
(iv) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its
capital stock or declare, set aside for payment or pay any dividend
or distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with
respect to any of its capital stock other than, with respect to
dividends or distributions, cash dividends and distributions by a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a
Subsidiary all of the capital stock of which (other than directors'
qualifying shares) is owned directly or indirectly by the Company;
(v) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock or
rights to acquire capital stock, except the repurchase by the
Company of restricted common stock in accordance with the terms of
the Plans;
(vi) except pursuant to Section 5.5, enter into an
agreement with respect to any merger, consolidation, liquidation or
business combination, or any acquisition or disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets or securities of the Company;
(vii) except pursuant to Section 5.5, enter into an
agreement with respect to the disposition of a material amount of
assets or securities, or any release or relinquishment of any
material contract rights, or any comparable event (including, but
not limited to, the sale or other disposition of any treasury stock
(other than in connection with the issuance of Shares pursuant to
any deferred compensation arrangement));
(viii) transfer the stock of any Continuing Subsidiary
to any other Subsidiary or any assets or liabilities to any new or
existing Subsidiary;
(ix) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of
stock or assets) any corporation, partnership or other business
organization or division thereof or make any investment either by
purchase of stock or securities, contributions to capital (other
than to wholly-owned Subsidiaries), property transfer or purchase of
any property or assets of any other individual or entity (other than
providing the initial capital of any investment company sponsored by
a Continuing Subsidiary);
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(x) other than in the ordinary course of business, incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any debt securities or
assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become
responsible for, the obligations of any other individual or entity,
or make any loans or advances;
(xi) authorize, recommend or propose any material change
in its capitalization;
(xii) change any assumption underlying, or method of
calculating, any bad debt, contingency or other reserve;
(xiii) (A) revalue any assets of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, other than reevaluations that are required in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or for
purposes of Section 244 of Delaware Law or (B) change or modify in
any material respect any existing accounting principle, method or
practice other than as required by generally accepted accounting
principles;
(xiv) make any capital expenditure or commitment for
which it is not contractually bound at the date hereof, except for
capital expenditures or commitments not to exceed $2.5 million per
year in the aggregate;
(xv) enter into any new Material Contract (other than in
the ordinary course of business), or modify in any respect
materially adverse to the Company or any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries any existing Material Contract;
(xvi) settle any material actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations other than any settlement which involves only the
payment of damages in an amount less than $1 million and does not
involve injunctive or other equitable relief; or
(xvii) authorize or propose any of the foregoing, or
enter into or modify any contract, agreement, commitment or
arrangement to do any of the foregoing.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be
permitted to, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, enter into an
agreement to sell or otherwise dispose of, and sell or otherwise dispose of, the
Company's interest in Pioneer Universal Pension Fund Company prior to the
Effective Time. The Company shall consult with the Parent in structuring and
carrying out the disposition of Pioneer Universal Pension Fund Company. In
addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Parent shall
cooperate in good faith regarding the status of Beijing Pioneer Zhong Investment
Consulting Co., Ltd. as a Continuing Subsidiary and the Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to effect any mutually acceptable arrangement
regarding Beijing Pioneer Zhong Investment Consulting Co., Ltd.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries shall adopt or amend (except as may be required by law or under
this Agreement) any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, stock option, stock
purchase, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment or other
employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, fund or other arrangement for the
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benefit or welfare of any director, officer or employee or former director,
officer or employee or, except in the ordinary course of business, increase the
compensation or fringe benefits of any employee or former director, officer or
employee or pay any benefit not required by any existing plan, arrangement or
agreement;
(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries shall take any action other than in the ordinary course of business
with respect to the grant of any severance or termination pay or with respect to
any increase of benefits payable under its severance or termination pay policies
in effect on the date hereof;
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries shall make any tax election or, except in the ordinary course of
business, settle or compromise any federal, state, local or foreign tax
liability; and
(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Continuing
Subsidiaries shall agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing
actions or any action which would make any representation or warranty in Article
3 hereof untrue or incorrect in any material respect, or would materially impair
or prevent the occurrence of any condition in Article 6 hereof.
4.2 COMMISSION FILINGS. The Company shall promptly provide the
Parent (or its counsel) with copies of all filings made by the Company with the
Commission or any other state or federal Governmental Entity in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Parent and the
Purchaser shall promptly provide the Company (or its counsel) with copies of all
filings made by them with the Commission or any other state or federal
Governmental Entity in connection with the Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
4.3 APPROVAL OF NEW FUND CONTRACTS. The Parent, Purchaser and
the Company recognize that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
constitute an assignment and termination of certain of the Client Contracts, the
Underwriting Agreement and the Rule 12b-1 Plans under the terms thereof and the
Investment Company Act. The Parent, Purchaser and the Company agree to use
commercially reasonable efforts and cooperate in obtaining as promptly as
practicable such authorizations and approvals of the Boards of Directors or
Trustees of the applicable Funds (including any separate approvals of
disinterested directors or trustees) and/or the shareholders thereof, as may be
required by the Investment Company Act, of new contracts, on substantially the
same terms and conditions as the Client Contracts, Underwriting Agreement and
the Rule 12b-1 Plans to be terminated (the "Fund Approvals"). The Parent and
Purchaser agrees to provide such information, for provision to the Board of
Directors or Trustees of one or more Funds ("Trustee Materials") or for
inclusion in a proxy statement to the shareholders thereof, as may be required.
ARTICLE 5
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
5.1 PREPARATION OF PROXY STATEMENT.
(a) The Company shall:
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(i) (A) prepare, in cooperation with the Parent, the
Proxy Statement and use its commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain and furnish the information required to be included by it in
the Proxy Statement, and respond promptly to any comments made by
the Commission with respect to the Proxy Statement and any
preliminary version thereof and cause the Proxy Statement to be
mailed to its Stockholders at the earliest practicable time
following the execution of this Agreement and (B) except and to the
extent otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 5.5 below, through
its Board of Directors recommend approval and adoption of this
Agreement and the Merger and use its commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain the necessary approval of the Merger by its Stockholders
at a Stockholders' meeting (the "Company Stockholders' Meeting") as
promptly as practicable following the execution of this Agreement;
and
(ii) if at any time prior to the Effective Time of the
Merger any event shall occur which is required to be set forth in an
amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Company will
promptly prepare and mail such an amendment or supplement.
(b) Notwithstanding any withdrawal, modification or change
in any approval or recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company
pursuant to Section 5.5, the Company agrees to hold the Company Stockholders'
Meeting to submit the approval of and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger
to Stockholders in accordance with the time period specified in Section 5.1.
5.2 DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES. The Parent and the Purchaser
shall not, and they shall cause their direct and indirect subsidiaries not to,
sell, transfer, assign, encumber or otherwise dispose of the Shares beneficially
owned by the Parent or the Purchaser or any director or indirect Subsidiary of
the Parent or the Purchaser, as of the date of this Agreement, or acquired prior
to the meeting of the Stockholders, if any is required, pursuant to which the
Shares are voted with respect to the Merger; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this
Section 5.2 shall not apply to the sale, transfer, assignment, encumbrance or
other disposition of any or all of such Shares in transactions involving solely
the Parent, the Purchaser and/or one or more of their direct or indirect
subsidiaries or in connection with any Qualified Acquisition Proposal (as
defined in Section 5.5).
5.3 FEES AND EXPENSES.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.3,
Section 7.5 or in the Distribution Agreement, each party shall bear all of the
fees and expenses incurred by it in connection with the negotiation and
performance of this Agreement, and neither party may recover any such fees and
expenses from the other party upon any termination of this Agreement. The
Company agrees to bear all of the fees and expenses incurred by the Funds in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.
(b) The provisions contained in this Section 5.3 shall
survive any termination of this Agreement.
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5.4 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use commercially
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and
make effective as promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and to cooperate with each of the other parties hereto in connection
with the foregoing, including using commercially reasonable efforts: (A) to
obtain all necessary waivers, consents and approvals from other parties to loan
agreements, leases and other contracts as set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(B) hereto;
(B) to obtain all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations as are
required to be obtained under any federal, state or foreign laws or regulations
as set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1(B) hereto; (C) to lift or rescind any injunction or
restraining order or other order adversely affecting the ability of the parties
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (D) to effect all necessary
registrations and filings, including, but not limited to, filings under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the EC Regulation and submissions of information
requested by governmental authorities; (E) to obtain the approvals of the Bank
of Italy as contemplated by Section 6.1(e) of this Agreement and the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System as contemplated by Section 6.1(f); and
(F) to fulfill all conditions to this Agreement. The Company will use such
commercially reasonable efforts as the Parent shall request (at the expense of
the Parent) to keep available to the Parent and the Surviving Corporation the
present key officers and employees of the Company and its Continuing
Subsidiaries and to preserve for the Parent and the Surviving Corporation the
present relationships and good will of the Company and its Continuing
Subsidiaries with their respective lenders, suppliers, customers and other third
parties having business relations with them. For purposes of the foregoing, the
obligation of the Company, the Parent and the Purchaser to use "commercially
reasonable efforts" or "reasonable efforts" to obtain waivers, consents and
approvals to loan agreements, leases and other contracts shall not include any
obligation to agree to a modification of the terms of such documents, except as
expressly contemplated hereby or to make any guaranty or monetary payment in
consideration of such waiver, consent or approval.
5.5 NO SOLICITATION.
(a) None of the Company or any of the Continuing
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents (including, without limitation the Financial
Advisors) shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, engage or
participate in discussions or negotiations with, or provide any non-public
information to, any corporation, partnership, person or other entity or group
other than the Parent, the Purchaser or another affiliate of the Parent (a
"Third Party") and other than in connection with this Agreement, concerning (or
concerning the business of the Company or any Continuing Subsidiary in
connection with) any tender offer for more than 20% of the Shares on a
fully-diluted basis (in calculating the number of fully-diluted Shares for this
purpose, only (A) Shares covered by Options, and (B) Shares reserved for
issuance pursuant to the ESPP, being considered dilutive), exchange offer,
merger, consolidation, sale of assets representing more than 20% of the total
book value of all assets outside of the ordinary course of business,
recapitalization, accumulation of Shares or proxy solicitation (other than as
contemplated by this Agreement) or other business combination involving the
Company or any Continuing Subsidiary (any such proposed tender offer, exchange
offer, merger, consolidation, sale of material assets, recapitalization,
accumulation of Shares or proxy solicitation or other business combination being
referred to herein as "Acquisition Proposals"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the
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Company, its Continuing Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors,
employees, representatives and agents (i) may, in the case of a Qualified
Acquisition Proposal (as hereinafter defined), furnish or cause to be furnished
information concerning the Company's and its Continuing Subsidiaries'
businesses, properties or assets to a Third Party (subject to such Third Party
executing a confidentiality agreement on terms no less favorable to the Company
than those in the Confidentiality Agreement between the Parent and the Company
dated March 23, 2000), (ii) may, in the case of a Qualified Acquisition Proposal
only, enter into, participate in, conduct or engage in discussions or
negotiations with such Third Party, (iii) may take any position with respect to
an Acquisition Proposal in accordance with Rules 14a-9 and 14e-2 promulgated
under the Exchange Act, and (iv) may, in the case of a Qualified Acquisition
Proposal and in compliance with the provisions of clause (c) of this Section
5.5, enter into an agreement to consummate a Qualified Acquisition Proposal. As
used herein, "Qualified Acquisition Proposal" means a bona fide, written
Acquisition Proposal at a price per Share that the Company's Board of Directors
(after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally recognized
reputation) believes in good faith to be superior to the Cash Consideration and
in the best interests of the Stockholders.
(b) The Company will promptly notify the Parent of, and will
disclose to the Parent all material details of any Acquisition Proposal it
receives (including, without limitation, the identity of the Third Party making
such Acquisition Proposal). In the event that the Company furnishes any
nonpublic information to any party other than the Parent, it shall
simultaneously provide the Parent with copies of or access to all such
information. Nothing in this paragraph (b) shall be construed as interfering
with the Company's obligations to its Stockholders under Rule 14e-2 promulgated
under the Exchange Act.
(c) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 5.5(c),
neither the Company's Board of Directors nor any committee thereof shall or
shall resolve to (i) not recommend or withdraw its approval or recommendation of
the Merger, this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii)
modify or qualify such approval or recommendation in a manner adverse to the
Parent or the Purchaser, (iii) approve or recommend any proposed Acquisition
Proposal or (iv) cause the Company to enter into any letter of intent, agreement
in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement relating to an
Acquisition Proposal (or publicly propose to do any of the foregoing).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that prior to the Company
Stockholders' Meeting the Company's Board of Directors determines in good faith,
after it has received a Qualified Acquisition Proposal and after consultation
with outside counsel, that it must take such action to comply with its fiduciary
duties to the Stockholders under applicable law, then the Company's Board of
Directors may (subject to this sentence) take any of the actions contemplated by
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the preceding sentence (a "Subsequent
Action"), but only (i) at a time that is after the fifth business day following
delivery by the Company to the Parent of a written notice advising the Parent
that the Company's Board of Directors has received a Qualified Acquisition
Proposal specifying the material terms and conditions of such Qualified
Acquisition Proposal, identifying the person making such Qualified Acquisition
Proposal stating that it intends to make or take a Subsequent Action; (ii) if
the Parent does not, within such five business days following delivery of such
notice, offer to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this
Agreement such that the Company's Board of Directors by majority vote determines
in its good faith judgment (after consultation with a financial advisor of
nationally recognized reputation) to be as favorable to the
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Stockholders as such Qualified Acquisition Proposal; and (iii) if the Company
has complied with this Section 5.5.
(d) The Company shall immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any activities, discussions, or negotiations, existing on the date
hereof, with any person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, and will
promptly request that each such person return or destroy all confidential
information previously produced to that person by the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
5.6 NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. The Company shall give
prompt notice to the Parent, of (i) the obtaining by it of actual knowledge as
to the matters set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of clause (ii) of this sentence,
or (ii) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event which occurrence or
failure to occur causes (x) any representation or warranty made by the Company
and contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material
respect at any time from the date hereof to the Effective Time, or (y) any
material failure of the Company or of any officer, director, employee or agent
thereof, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
no such notification shall be deemed to cure any breach or otherwise affect the
representations or warranties of the Company or the conditions to the
obligations of the parties hereunder. The Parent shall give prompt notice to the
Company of (i) the obtaining by it of actual knowledge as to the matters set
forth in clauses (x) and (y) of clause (ii) of this sentence, or (ii) the
occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event which occurrence or failure to
occur causes (x) any representation or warranty made by the Parent or the
Purchaser contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material
respect at any time from the date hereof to the Effective Time, or (y) any
material failure of the Parent or the Purchaser, or of any officer, director,
employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or
agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that no such notification shall be deemed to cure any breach or
otherwise affect the representations or warranties of the Parent or the
Purchaser or the conditions to the obligations of the parties hereunder.
5.7 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Except as prohibited by
confidentiality agreements to which the Company is a party or as restricted
under applicable law, the Company shall, and shall cause its Continuing
Subsidiaries, and the Company's and such Continuing Subsidiaries' respective
officers, directors, employees and agents to, afford to the Parent and to the
officers, employees and agents of the Parent complete access at all reasonable
times, from the date hereof to the Effective Time, to the Company's and any
Continuing Subsidiary's officers, employees, agents, properties, books, records
and contracts, and shall furnish the Parent all financial, operating and other
data and information as the Parent, through its officers, employees or agents,
may reasonably request.
5.8 INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE. The Parent and the Purchaser
agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses, exculpation,
limitation of liability and any and all similar rights now existing in favor of
the employees, agents, directors or officers of the Company and its Continuing
Subsidiaries (the "Indemnified Parties") as provided in their respective
charters or by-laws in effect on the date hereof (copies of which have been
provided to the Parent), shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full
force and effect for a period of six
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years from the Effective Time; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event any claim or
claims are asserted or made within such six-year period, all rights to
indemnification in respect to any such claim or claims shall continue until the
disposition of any and all such claims. The Parent agrees to provide each
individual who served as a director or officer of the Company or its Continuing
Subsidiaries at any time prior to the Effective Time with liability insurance
for a period of six years after the Effective Time no less favorable in coverage
and amount than any applicable insurance in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Parent may reduce the coverage and
amount of liability insurance to the extent that the cost thereof would exceed
200% of the cost of any such insurance in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time. The Indemnified Parties shall be deemed third party
beneficiaries of this provision and shall be entitled to bring actions to
enforce the obligations of the Parent and the Purchaser under this Section 5.8.
5.9 FAIR PRICE STRUCTURE. If any "fair price" or "control share
acquisition" or "anti-takeover" statute, or other similar statute or regulation
or any state "blue sky" statute shall become applicable to the transactions
contemplated hereby, the Company and the Company's Directors shall grant such
approvals and take such actions as are reasonably necessary so that the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby may be consummated as promptly as
practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and thereby, and otherwise act to
minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
5.10 CERTAIN POST-CLOSING FUND MATTERS. The Parent and Purchaser
acknowledge that the sale of the Shares is intended to qualify for the treatment
described in Section 15(f) of the Investment Company Act. In this regard, the
Parent and Purchaser shall, and from and after the Effective Time shall cause
the Company and each of its Continuing Subsidiaries to, (i) use all reasonable
efforts to assure that, for a period of three years after the Effective Time, at
least 75% of the Board of Directors or Trustees of each Fund or any permitted
successor thereto are not "interested persons" of the Company, the Parent or the
Purchaser, as that term is defined under applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act and interpreted by the Commission; such efforts to include causing
any employee, officer, director or agent of the Company, the Parent or any
affiliate of the Parent who shall be a director or trustee of any fund to resign
when otherwise required to maintain such percentage, (ii) refrain from imposing
or seeking to impose, for a period of two years after the Effective Time, any
"unfair burden" on any Fund, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act,
and (iii) to use all reasonable efforts to ensure that all vacancies in the
Board of Directors or Trustees of any Fund shall be filled by a person who is
not a "interested person" of the Parent or the Company and who has been selected
and proposed for election by a majority of the Directors or Trustees who are not
such interested persons.
5.11 SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS. Simultaneously with the Merger, the
Parent shall assume and agree to perform the Company's obligations under the
severance benefit agreements (complete and accurate copies of which have been
provided to the Parent) listed in the Disclosure Schedule.
5.12 PARENT GUARANTY. The Parent hereby unconditionally
guarantees the Purchaser's obligations under this Agreement and, if the Merger
is consummated, the
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indemnification obligations set forth in Section 5.8, and agrees to be liable
for any breach of this Agreement by the Purchaser (or a breach of Section 5.8).
5.13 CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The Parent shall give (or cause
to be given) credit for past service for all purposes to the employees of the
Company and its Continuing Subsidiaries (the "Business Employees"). Starting at
the Effective Time, the Parent shall, for a period ending on the date twelve
(12) months after the Effective Time, provide (or cause to be provided) to each
Business Employee who continues his or her employment after the Effective Time
with total cash compensation (including base salary and bonus opportunity at
least equal to those in effect on the date hereof) that is no less favorable in
the aggregate to such employee's total cash compensation immediately prior to
the Effective Time. Starting at the Effective Time, the Parent shall also, for a
period ending on the date twelve (12) months after the Effective Time, maintain
(or cause to be maintained) employee benefit plans, agreements, programs,
policies and arrangements for the benefit of each such Business Employee that
are no less favorable in the aggregate than the employee benefit plans in effect
with respect to such Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time, other
than employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies and arrangements
providing for stock options, stock purchase rights, restricted stock or other
employer stock-based compensation and other than any employer stock provisions
of any qualified retirement plan maintained by the Company or any of its
Continuing Subsidiaries. Nothing in this Section 5.13 shall prevent the Parent,
the Surviving Corporation or its Continuing Subsidiaries from terminating the
employment of any of the Business Employees at any time after the Effective
Time. The Business Employees shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of
this provision and shall be entitled to bring action to enforce the obligations
of the Parent and the Purchaser under this Section 5.13.
5.14 INCORPORATION OF THE PURCHASER. The Parent shall
incorporate the Purchaser as a Delaware corporation promptly after the date
hereof and cause the Purchaser to make the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements and to assume the obligations hereunder of the
Purchaser; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Parent is prohibited under Applicable
Laws from incorporating the Purchaser prior to the Effective Time, then either
(i) the Parent may designate in writing to the Company an existing direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent to be the Purchaser and shall
cause such subsidiary to make the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements and to assume the obligations hereunder of the Purchaser or (ii) the
Parent shall be deemed to have agreed to have made the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements and to have assumed the obligations
hereunder of the Purchaser.
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS
6.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF EACH PARTY TO EFFECT THE MERGER.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject
to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions:
(a) this Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved
and adopted by the requisite vote or consent of the Stockholders required by the
Delaware Law and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation;
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(b) any waiting period (and any extension thereof)
applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and
the EC Regulation shall have expired or been terminated and the Company or the
Parent shall have received the consents or approvals, if any, listed on SECTION
6.1(B) of the Disclosure Schedule;
(c) the Distribution (as defined in Section 8.2 below) shall
have been completed and the Company and Harbor Global shall have performed all
obligations and complied with all covenants set forth in Article 8;
(d) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order,
decree or ruling issued by (nor shall any proceeding brought by any governmental
authority seeking any of the foregoing be pending before) a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission nor any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority shall be in effect, which would make the
acquisition or holding by the Parent or its subsidiaries of the Shares or shares
of common stock of the Surviving Corporation illegal or otherwise prevent the
consummation of the Merger; provided, that the party seeking to assert this
condition shall have complied with its obligations under Section 5.4 of this
Agreement;
(e) this Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved
by the Bank of Italy in compliance with applicable provisions of the Italian
Banking Act (Decree of the President of Italy no. 385 of 1993) and the
regulations of the Bank of Italy for the implementation thereof; and
(f) either (i) the Parent shall have qualified as a
"Financial Holding Company" under the BHCA or (ii) the Merger shall have been
approved by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System under the BHCA.
6.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE
MERGER. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to
fulfillment (or waiver by the Company) of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Parent and the
Purchaser contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects (without
giving effect to any references to material adverse effect contained in any
specific representation or warranty) as of the Effective Time with the same
effect as though made as of the Effective Time except (x) for changes
specifically permitted by the terms of this Agreement, (y) that the accuracy of
representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of the date of this
Agreement or some other date will be determined as of such date and (z) where
any such failure of the representations and warranties to be true and correct in
all respects would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have material adverse effect on the Parent or the Purchaser;
(b) The Parent and the Purchaser shall each have performed
in all material respects all obligations and complied in all material respects
with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with
by it prior to the Effective Time; and
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(c) The Parent and the Purchaser shall each have delivered
to the Company a certificate, dated the Effective Time and signed by a duly
authorized officer to the effect that each of the conditions specified in
clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 6.2 is satisfied in all respects.
(d) The Purchaser shall have been incorporated and assumed
its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.14.
6.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE PARENT AND THE PURCHASER TO
EFFECT THE MERGER. The obligation of the Parent and the Purchaser to effect the
Merger is further subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by the Parent and the
Purchaser) of the following conditions:
(a) (i) The representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein (other than in Section 3.25) shall be true and correct in all
respects (without giving effect to any references to Company Material Adverse
Effect contained in any specific representation or warranty) and (ii) the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.25 shall be
true and correct in all material respects, in the cases of the clauses (i) and
(ii), as of the Effective Time with the same effect as though made as of the
Effective Time, except (X) for changes specifically permitted by the terms of
this Agreement, (Y) that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by
their terms speak as of the date of this Agreement or some other date will be
determined as of such date and (Z) only in the case of clause (i), where any
such failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct in
all respects would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this clause
(Z) shall not be applicable if the Parent shall prove, by clear and convincing
evidence, that the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and
correct in all material respects resulted directly from the intentional
fraudulent conduct of the persons to whom the knowledge of the Company is
imputed under this Agreement;
(b) The Company shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations and complied in all material respects with all
covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
prior to the Effective Time;
(c) The Company shall have delivered to the Parent a
certificate, dated the Effective Time and signed by its Chief Executive Officer
to the effect that each of the conditions specified in clauses (a) and (b) of
this Section 6.3 is satisfied in all material respects.
(d) The number of Dissenting Shares shall not equal more
than 15% of the total of the outstanding Shares;
(e) The proposals to be acted upon at the special meetings
of shareholders of the Funds in connection with the approvals described in
Section 4.3 shall have received affirmative votes sufficient for their adoption
by Funds representing at least 92.5% of the assets of all Funds at the Effective
Time; and
(f) The Company shall have obtained in writing all consents,
waivers, or approvals, necessary to provide that the consummation of the Merger
does not constitute a
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default under, or effect of give rise to a right of termination of each of the
Material Contracts identified in SECTION 6.3(F) of the Disclosure Schedule.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
7.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Time, whether prior to or after approval by the
Stockholders, as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent duly authorized by the Boards
of Directors of each of the Purchaser and the Company; or
(b) by either the Parent or the Company if (i) the Effective
Time shall not have occurred on or before February 15, 2001; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b) shall not
be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this
Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Effective
Time to occur on or before such date or (ii) if there shall be any order which
is final and nonappealable preventing the consummation of the Merger;
(c) by the Parent if (i) the Board of Directors of the
Company withdraws, modifies or changes its recommendation of this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby in a manner adverse to the Parent or shall
have resolved to do so, (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
recommended to the Stockholders an Acquisition Proposal or shall have resolved
to do so or (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company is commenced, and the Board
of Directors of the Company fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender
offer or exchange offer by its Stockholders (including by taking no position
with respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its
Stockholders);
(d) by either the Parent or the Company if this Agreement
shall fail to receive the requisite vote for approval at of the Stockholders at
a Company Stockholders' Meeting (or an adjournment thereof);
(e) by the Parent upon a breach of any representation or
warranty or material covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth
in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Company shall
have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Section
6.3(a) and Section 6.3(b) would not be satisfied ("Terminating Company Breach");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the
Company through the exercise of its commercially reasonable efforts and for so
long as the Company continues to exercise such commercially reasonable efforts,
the Parent may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(e); or
(f) by the Company upon a breach of any representation or
warranty or material covenant or agreement on the part of the Parent and the
Purchaser set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of
the Parent and the Purchaser shall have become untrue, in either case such that
the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) and Section 6.2(b) would not be
satisfied ("Terminating Parent Breach"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if such
Terminating Parent Breach is curable by the Parent and the Purchaser through the
exercise of
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their respective commercially reasonable efforts and for so long as the Parent
or the Purchaser continue to exercise such commercially reasonable efforts, the
Company may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(f).
7.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of the termination of
this Agreement as provided in Section 7.1, all obligations and agreements of the
parties set forth in this Agreement (except as otherwise specifically provided)
shall forthwith terminate and be of no further force or effect, and there shall
be no liability on the part of the Parent, the Purchaser or the Company
hereunder; provided that the foregoing shall not relieve any party for liability
for damages actually incurred as a result of any breach of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement
for any reason.
7.3 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended except by
action of each of the parties hereto set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if this
Agreement and the Merger are subject to Stockholder approval then, after
approval of the Merger by the Stockholders, no amendment may be made without the
further approval of the Stockholders which would do any of the following: (i)
reduce the Cash Consideration or change the form thereof; or (ii) change any
other terms and conditions of this Agreement if any of the changes, alone or in
the aggregate, would materially adversely affect the Stockholders (other than
the Parent and its affiliates).
7.4 WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after any special meeting of the Stockholders to vote on the Merger,
any party hereto, by action taken by its Board of Directors, may (i) extend the
time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of any other
party hereto or (ii) subject to the proviso contained in Section 7.3, waive
compliance with any of the agreements of any other party or with any conditions
to its own obligations. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party by a duly authorized officer.
7.5 EXPENSES; TERMINATION FEE.
(a) If this Agreement is terminated by the Parent pursuant
to Section 7.1(e) or by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(f), then the party
terminating this Agreement shall be entitled to reimbursement by the other party
of all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants) incurred by it in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated by (i) the Parent
pursuant to Section 7.1(c) or (ii) either the Company or the Purchaser pursuant
to Section 7.1(d) and the Company enters into, prior to the first anniversary of
such date of termination, a definitive agreement with respect to the sale of the
Company and such sale is consummated prior to the 18-month anniversary of such
date of termination (a "Subsequent Sale"), then, in the case of clause (i) or
(ii), the Company shall pay the Parent promptly (but in no event later than
three business days after the termination of this Agreement in the case of
clause (i) or the closing of
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the Subsequent Sale in the case of clause (ii)) a fee of $37.5 million (the
"Fee"), which amount shall be payable in immediately available funds. In
addition, upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c) or
upon the closing of a Subsequent Sale, the Company shall reimburse the Parent
for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants) incurred by the
Parent in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby in an amount not to exceed $7.5 million.
(c) In the event that the Company shall fail to pay the Fee
when due, the Company shall reimburse the Parent and the Purchaser for the costs
and expenses actually incurred or accrued by each of them (including, without
limitation, fees and reasonable expenses of counsel) in connection with the
collection under and enforcement of this Section 7.5, together with interest on
such unpaid Fee, commencing on the date that the Fee 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.
(d) This Section 7.5 shall survive any termination of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 8
HARBOR GLOBAL
8.1 FORMATION OF HARBOR GLOBAL. As promptly as practicable after
the date of this Agreement, the Company shall form Harbor Global Company Ltd. as
a Bermuda limited duration company ("Harbor Global"). Prior to the Effective
Time, the Company and Harbor Global shall have entered into the Distribution
Agreement substantially in the form of agreement attached hereto as EXHIBIT A
(the "Distribution Agreement") and the Tax Separation Agreement substantially in
the form of agreement attached hereto as EXHIBIT B (the "Tax Separation
Agreement"), or with such other changes thereto as to which the Parent shall
consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
8.2 CERTAIN AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO HARBOR GLOBAL.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all
actions as are reasonably necessary under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
and the laws of the jurisdiction of Harbor Global's organization to permit the
distribution by the Company of the beneficial interests (the "Harbor Global
Interests") in Harbor Global to the Stockholders (the "Distribution").
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall cause
Pioneer Goldfields II Limited to use its commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain the release of the Company from liabilities of any kind (including,
without limitation, contingent liabilities under any indemnification
arrangements) of Pioneer Goldfields II Limited under the Purchase Agreement
dated May 11, 2000 among the Company, Pioneer Goldfields II Limited, Ashanti
Goldfields Company Limited and Ashanti Goldfields Teberebie Limited.
(c) The Company shall consult with the Parent in structuring
and carrying out the Distribution and provide the Parent with reasonable
opportunity to review and comment on any filings made under the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act or any applicable law,
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and the Company and the Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to agree
on such matters. The Company will, at such times as the Parent shall reasonably
request, advise the Parent of the cost incurred or expected to be incurred by
the Company in connection with the formation of Harbor Global and the
Distribution and will consult with the Parent regarding the amount and nature of
such expenses.
8.3 DISTRIBUTION OF THE HARBOR GLOBAL INTERESTS. Prior to the
Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Company shall declare a
distribution to the Stockholders of all of the Company's interest in Harbor
Global, such distribution to be payable to the Stockholders pro rata on the
basis of the number of Shares held by such Stockholder to the total number of
Shares issued and outstanding at the time of such distribution. The record date
for such distribution shall be the time immediately prior to the Effective Time.
The Parent and the Purchaser acknowledge that this distribution (the
"Distribution") will be made to the Stockholders immediately prior to the
Effective Time and shall not reduce or otherwise affect the Cash Consideration.
ARTICLE 9
GENERAL PROVISIONS
9.1 CLOSING. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated
and the transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to
the provisions of Article 7, and subject to the provisions of Article 6 hereof,
the closing of the Merger pursuant to this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take
place at the offices of Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, as soon as practicable following the meeting of the Stockholders
or other Stockholder action referred to in Section 5.1 hereof, or at such other
place, time and date as the parties may mutually agree. The date and time of
such Closing are hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date."
9.2 PUBLICITY. So long as this Agreement is in effect, except as
such party required by applicable law or applicable national stock exchange,
Commission or NASD requirements, neither the Company nor the Parent shall, nor
shall either permit any of its subsidiaries to, issue or cause the publication
of any press release or other public announcement with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the consent of the other
party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
9.3 NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been fully given if (i)
delivered personally, (ii) sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, (iii) sent by overnight courier for delivery on the next business day
or (iv) sent by confirmed telecopy, provided that a hard copy of all such
telecopied materials is thereafter sent within 24 hours in the manner described
in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), to the parties at the following addresses or at
such other addresses as shall be specified by the parties by like notice:
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(a) If to the Parent or the Purchaser:
UniCredito Italianio S.p.A.
Piazza Cordusio
Milan, Italy
Attention: Pietro Modiano, Head of Finance
Telecopy No.: (011) (3902) 876-309
and EuroPlus SGR S.p.A.
Via Turati
Milan, Italy
Attention: Fabio Innocenzi, Chief Executive Officer,
EuroPlus SGR S.p.A.
Telecopy No.: (011) (3902) 623-8309
ith copies to: Shearman & Sterling
801 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
Attention: Barry P. Barbash, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (202) 508-8100
and NCTM-Negri-Clementi, Toffoletto, Montironi &
Soci Studio Legale Associato
Via Monte Napoleone, 12
20121 Milan, Italy
Attention: Avv. Pietro Caliceti
Telecopy No.: (011) (3902) 783-091
(b) If to the Company:
The Pioneer Group, Inc.
60 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attention: Robert P. Nault, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (617) 422-4293
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with a copy to: Hale and Dorr LLP
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Attention: Joseph P. Barri, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (617) 526-5000
Notices provided in accordance with this Section 9.3 shall be deemed
delivered (i) on the date of personal delivery, (ii) four business days after
deposit in the mail, (iii) one business day after delivery to an overnight
courier, or (iv) on the date of confirmation of the telecopy transmission, as
the case may be.
9.4 INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement
to subsidiaries of the Parent, the Purchaser or the Company, the word
"subsidiary" or "subsidiaries" means any corporation more than 50% of whose
outstanding voting securities, or partnership, joint venture or other entity
more than 50% of whose total equity interests are, directly or indirectly, owned
by the Parent or the Company, as the case may be; and the word "affiliates"
shall have the meaning assigned to such term under Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall not be deemed to be an
affiliate or subsidiary of the Purchaser or the Parent. The headings contained
in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any
way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Inclusion of information in
the Disclosure Schedule does not constitute an admission or acknowledgment of
the materiality of such information.
9.5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ETC. The representations and
warranties of the Company contained herein (other than the representations or
warranties contained in Section 3.25 which shall survive the consummation of the
Merger) shall expire with, and be terminated and extinguished upon, consummation
of the Merger. This Section 9.5 shall have no effect upon any other obligation
of the parties hereto, whether to be performed before or after the consummation
of the Merger.
9.6 MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement together with the Confidentiality
Agreement between the Parent and the Company dated March 23, 2000 constitutes
the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements and undertakings,
both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the
subject matter hereof. This Agreement (i) is not intended to confer upon any
other person any rights or remedies hereunder, create any agreement of
employment with any person or otherwise (except for Section 5.8 and 5.13) create
any third-party beneficiary hereto; (ii) shall not be assigned, except that the
Purchaser may assign its rights and obligations to one or more direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Parent which in a written instrument
shall make all the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth
herein and shall agree to assume all of the Purchaser's obligations hereunder
and be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided,
however, that no such assignment shall relieve the Parent or the Purchaser of
its obligations hereunder; and (iii) shall be governed in all respects,
including validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of State of Delaware,
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without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts which together shall
constitute a single agreement.
(b) The Parent and the Purchaser hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally consent to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State
of Delaware and the United States of America located in the State of Delaware
for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and the Parent and the
Purchaser agree not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto
except in such courts), and further agree that service of any process, summons,
notice or document by United States registered mail to the respective addresses
set forth in Section 9.3 shall be effective service of process for any action,
suit or proceeding brought against the Parent or the Purchaser in any such
court. The Parent and the Purchaser hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive
any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising
out of this agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in the courts of
the State of Delaware or the United States of America located in the State of
Delaware, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not
to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
9.7 VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parent, the 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.
UNICREDITO ITALIANO S.P.A.
By: /s/ Pietro Modiano
---------------------------------
Name: Pietro Modiano
---------------------------------
Title: Head of Finance
---------------------------------
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ John F. Cogan, Jr.
---------------------------------
Name: John F. Cogan, Jr.
---------------------------------
Title: Chairman, President and Chief
---------------------------------
Executive Officer
---------------------------------
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EXHIBIT 99.1
[UniCredito Italiano Logo] [Pioneer Logo]
UNICREDITO ITALIANO GROUP ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION
OF THE PIONEER GROUP, INC. FOR $1.2 BILLION
DEAL ENABLES STRATEGIC EXPANSION FOR UNICREDITO ITALIANO GROUP INTO U.S. MARKET
Boston, MA (May 15, 2000) - The Pioneer Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PIOG) and
UniCredito Italiano Group (CRDI.MI), Italy's second largest banking group, today
announced a definitive agreement under which UniCredito Italiano Group
("UniCredito") will purchase all of the outstanding shares of The Pioneer Group,
Inc. ("Pioneer") for $43.50 per share in cash. In the transaction, UniCredito
Italiano Group will acquire all of Pioneer's global investment management
businesses, including operations in the U.S., Germany, Ireland, Eastern Europe
and Asia. Prior to the close of its transaction with UniCredito, Pioneer will
distribute to its shareholders 100% of the company's ownership interest in its
remaining assets, including its Russian financial services operation, its
natural resource businesses, and its interests in venture capital and real
estate.
The transaction has an equity market value of approximately $1.2 billion based
upon the fully diluted Pioneer common shares and options currently outstanding.
Upon completion of the transaction, Pioneer and EuroPlus Research and Management
("EuroPlus"), UniCredito's existing asset management division, with operations
in Dublin and Milan, will combine to form a powerful global investment company
with assets under management of over $100 billion.
The newly created Pioneer Global Asset Management, incorporated in Italy, will
serve as the holding company for all global investment management businesses and
will conduct its business worldwide under the Pioneer name.
Mr. John F. Cogan, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of The Pioneer
Group, Inc. said, "We are very pleased to be joining an organization with the
reputation and breadth of UniCredito. UniCredito's EuroPlus division has
approximately $80 billion of assets under management. This transaction provides
Pioneer shareholders with a premium on their investment and positions the
combined company to play a leadership role in asset management throughout Europe
and within the United States."
"UniCredito and Pioneer have complementary business platforms," Mr. Cogan
continued. "We have similar investment philosophies, employing a bottom up,
research-based approach to investment decisions. UniCredito has a strong
distribution channel in Italy and offers fixed income as well as equity
investment products. Pioneer has strong distribution channels in the U.S. and
Germany with a seventy-two year history of equity investing. Both Pioneer and
UniCredito clients will benefit from an expanded product line. Pioneer's
employees can look forward to expanded career opportunities in a truly global
investment management business. We eagerly anticipate working with UniCredito to
capture the benefits of this combination for our customers and our employees."
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Mr. Pietro Modiano, Head of Treasury, Investment Banking and Asset Management of
UniCredito Italiano Group said, "The combination of Pioneer and EuroPlus will
create one of the few asset management groups with strong bases in both the U.S.
and Europe, and a presence in eight countries. We see significant opportunity to
leverage Pioneer's and EuroPlus's product and distribution capabilities in
Europe and the U.S. Pioneer will benefit from a strong commitment of UniCredito
to realize fully what we perceive to be enormous potential of our combined asset
management businesses both in the U.S. market and globally."
"We believe that, with the inclusion of Pioneer, we will continue the success
that we have had in Europe with EuroPlus. At EuroPlus we have been able to
capture the asset management opportunities of one of Europe's fastest growing
markets while enjoying strong economic returns."
MANAGEMENT
Mr. Pietro Modiano of UniCredito will be the Chairman of the newly created
Pioneer Global Asset Management, based in Italy. Mr. John F. Cogan, Jr. will
become Deputy Chairman of Pioneer Global Asset Management and will also be
non-executive Chairman of Pioneer U.S., whose U.S. headquarters will remain in
Boston. Mr. Fabio Innocenzi, currently Chief Executive Officer of EuroPlus, will
become Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Global Asset Management and Executive
Vice Chairman of Pioneer U.S. Mr. David D. Tripple, currently President of
Pioneer Investment Management, will become Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer
U.S.
TIMING AND APPROVALS
Completion of the acquisition is subject to, among other things, approval by
Pioneer's shareholders, Pioneer's mutual fund board of trustees and fund
shareholders, and various regulatory agencies. The transaction is expected to
close in the third quarter of 2000.
DISTRIBUTION TO SHAREHOLDERS OF PIONEER'S REMAINING OPERATIONS
Immediately prior to the close of the transaction, Pioneer's other assets -
natural resources and other operations outside of the core investment management
business - will be spun-off into a newly organized limited duration company to
be named Harbor Global Company, Ltd. ("Harbor"). Pioneer shareholders will
receive certificates of ownership in the new company. The new company will
operate the businesses, with the purpose of ultimately liquidating the assets
and distributing the proceeds within five years.
Mr. Stephen G. Kasnet, currently President of Pioneer Global Investments will
become president of Harbor. The Board of Directors of Harbor will consist of
three members of Pioneer's current board of directors, Mr. John D. Curtin Jr.,
Mr. W. Reid Sanders and Mr. John H. Valentine.
ADVISORS
Merrill Lynch & Co. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. acted as financial advisors,
and Hale and Dorr LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as
legal counsel to Pioneer. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter acted as financial
advisors, McKinsey acted as strategic advisors, and Shearman & Sterling acted as
legal counsel to UniCredito.
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UniCredito Italiano Group is one of Italy's largest banking groups, with
significant presence in Eastern Europe. Based in Milan, UniCredito has over $150
billion in assets, over 3,500 branches, reported net earnings of $1.2 billion in
1999 and a return on equity of over 20%. UniCredito's asset management
subsidiary, EuroPlus, is one of Europe's largest and fastest-growing asset
managers, with 90 mutual funds and approximately $80 billion in assets under
management. EuroPlus operates out of four locations, with Dublin being the
primary base of research and investment management activities.
The Pioneer Group, Inc. is a global asset manager and currently manages $24
billion of assets on behalf of individual and institutional investors. Based in
Boston, Pioneer has financial services operations in the Czech Republic,
Germany, India, Ireland, Poland and Russia. Its flagship fund, Pioneer Fund, was
founded in 1928 and is the fourth oldest mutual fund in the United States.
-------------------------------------------
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the safe-harbor provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to
factors that are beyond the companies' abilities to control or estimate
precisely, such as future market conditions, the behavior of other market
participants and the actions of governmental regulators. Certain of these and
other risk factors are detailed in Pioneer's SEC reports. The companies do not
undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
this press release.
Contact Information:
UNICREDITO ITALIANO GROUP:
For Media and Investors:
Evan Smith / Hugh Burnham
Shandwick International
212-591-9854 / 212-591-9753
[email protected] / [email protected]
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.:
For Media: For Investors:
Anne Patenaude Greta Gahl
617-422-4727 617-422-4978
# # #
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EXHIBIT 99.2
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.,
HARBOR GLOBAL COMPANY LTD.
AND
HARBOR GLOBAL II LTD.
[ ], 2000
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C>
ARTICLE I Definitions............................................................................1
Section 1.1 "Assumed Liabilities"..................................................................1
Section 1.2 "DGCL".................................................................................2
Section 1.3 "Distribution".........................................................................2
Section 1.4 "Distribution Agreement"...............................................................2
Section 1.5 "Effective Time".......................................................................2
Section 1.6 "Exchange Act".........................................................................2
Section 1.7 "Harbor Far East Exploration"..........................................................2
Section 1.8 "Harbor Far East Ventures".............................................................2
Section 1.9 "Harbor Global"........................................................................2
Section 1.10 "Harbor Global II".....................................................................2
Section 1.11 "Harbor Global Common Stock"...........................................................2
Section 1.12 "Harbor Global Group"..................................................................2
Section 1.13 "Harbor Global Indemnitees"............................................................2
Section 1.14 "Harbor Global Preferred Stock"........................................................2
Section 1.15 "Indemnified Claim"....................................................................3
Section 1.16 "Indemnitee"...........................................................................3
Section 1.17 "Indemnifying Party"...................................................................3
Section 1.18 "Information" of a party...............................................................3
Section 1.19 "Liabilities"..........................................................................3
Section 1.20 "Losses"...............................................................................4
Section 1.21 "Merger"...............................................................................4
Section 1.22 "Merger Agreement".....................................................................4
Section 1.23 "OPIC Loan"............................................................................4
Section 1.24 "Parent"...............................................................................4
Section 1.25 "Parent Common Stock"..................................................................4
Section 1.26 "Parent Group".........................................................................4
Section 1.27 "Parent Indemnitees"...................................................................4
Section 1.28 "PBO Property Fund Capital Contribution"...............................................5
Section 1.29 "Pioneer Forest".......................................................................5
Section 1.30 "PIOGlobal"............................................................................5
Section 1.31 "Pioneer Goldfields II"................................................................5
Section 1.32 "Pioneer International"................................................................5
Section 1.33 "Pioneer Investments Poland"...........................................................5
Section 1.34 "Pioneer Omega"........................................................................5
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 1.35 "Pioneer Poland Fund Holding Company"..................................................5
Section 1.36 "Pioneer Real Estate Advisors".........................................................5
Section 1.37 "Pioneering Management"................................................................5
Section 1.38 "Polish Real Estate Fund Capital Contribution".........................................5
Section 1.39 "Record Date"..........................................................................6
Section 1.40 "Representatives" of a party...........................................................6
Section 1.41 "Restructuring"........................................................................6
Section 1.42 "Retained Liabilities".................................................................6
Section 1.43 "SEC"..................................................................................6
Section 1.44 "Taxes"................................................................................6
Section 1.45 "Tax Separation Agreement".............................................................6
Section 1.46 "Time of Distribution".................................................................6
Section 1.47 "Transfer Agent".......................................................................6
ARTICLE II Capitalization of Harbor Global; Mechanics of the Distribution.........................6
Section 2.1 Capitalization of Harbor Global........................................................6
Section 2.2 Mechanics of the Distribution..........................................................7
Section 2.3 Timing of Distribution.................................................................7
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties of Harbor Global........................................7
Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification.........................................................7
Section 3.2 Authorization..........................................................................8
Section 3.3 Compliance.............................................................................8
ARTICLE IV Tax Matters............................................................................8
Section 4.1 Tax Separation Agreement...............................................................8
Section 4.2 Tax Matters............................................................................8
ARTICLE V Restructuring and Assumed Liabilities..................................................8
Section 5.1 Restructuring..........................................................................8
Section 5.2 Assumed Liabilities...................................................................13
Section 5.3 Further Assurances....................................................................13
Section 5.4 Intercompany Balances.................................................................13
ARTICLE VI Covenants.............................................................................14
Section 6.1 Books and Records.....................................................................14
Section 6.2 Access................................................................................14
Section 6.3 Retention of Records..................................................................14
Section 6.4 Confidentiality.......................................................................15
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 6.5 Cooperation. The parties.............................................................16
Section 6.6 Mutual Release, Etc...................................................................16
Section 6.7 Transaction Expenses..................................................................17
Section 6.8 Ashanti...............................................................................17
ARTICLE VII Indemnification.......................................................................18
Section 7.1 Indemnification by Harbor Global......................................................18
Section 7.2 Indemnification by Parent.............................................................18
Section 7.3 Indemnification Procedures............................................................19
Section 7.4 Certain Limitations...................................................................20
Section 7.5 Exclusivity of Tax Separation Agreement...............................................20
ARTICLE VIII Conditions............................................................................20
Section 8.1 Tax Separation Agreement..............................................................20
Section 8.2 Certain Transactions..................................................................20
Section 8.3 Registration of Harbor Global Common Stock............................................21
Section 8.4 Conditions to Merger Satisfied........................................................21
Section 8.5 No Injunctions or Restraints..........................................................21
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous and General.............................................................21
Section 9.1 Modification or Amendment.............................................................21
Section 9.2 Counterparts..........................................................................21
Section 9.3 Governing Law. This Distribution Agreement...........................................21
Section 9.4 Notices...............................................................................21
Section 9.5 Captions..............................................................................22
Section 9.6 Assignment............................................................................22
Section 9.7 Certain Obligations...................................................................22
Section 9.8 Specific Performance..................................................................23
Section 9.9 Severability..........................................................................23
Section 9.10 Entire Agreement......................................................................23
Section 9.11 Jurisdiction..........................................................................23
</TABLE>
SCHEDULES: Schedule 5.2A
Schedule 5.2B
Schedule 5.2C
EXHIBITS: Exhibit A - Tax Separation Agreement
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DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT dated as of [ ], 2000 (the "Distribution
Agreement") by and among The Pioneer Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), Harbor Global Company Ltd., a Bermuda limited duration company and
direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Harbor Global"), and Harbor Global II
Ltd., a Bermuda limited duration company and indirect majority owned subsidiary
of Harbor Global ("Harbor Global II").
WHEREAS, Parent and UniCredito Italiano S.p.A., an Italian corporation,
have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 14, 2000 (the
"Merger Agreement"), providing for the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of
UniCredito Italiano S.p.A. with and into Parent (the "Merger") as described
therein; and
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in Section
1.3 of the Merger Agreement), subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VIII of this Distribution Agreement, the Board
of Directors of Parent expects to distribute to holders of Parent common stock,
par value $.10 per share ("Parent Common Stock"), all of the outstanding shares
of Harbor Global common stock, par value $.01 (the "Harbor Global Common
Stock"), on a pro rata basis as described in Section 2.2 of this Distribution
Agreement (the "Distribution"); and
WHEREAS, it is intended by the parties to this Distribution Agreement
that the Distribution will be preceded by a transfer by Parent of certain of its
assets to Harbor Global and that such transfers, as described in Section 4.1
hereof shall qualify as tax-free contributions under Section 721 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent has approved this
Distribution Agreement, and the Board of Directors of Parent believes this
Distribution Agreement is in the best interests of the Parent stockholders. This
Distribution Agreement sets forth and provides for certain agreements among
Parent, Harbor Global and Harbor Global II in consideration of the separation of
their ownership.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 "Assumed Liabilities" shall have the meaning set forth
<PAGE> 6
in Section 4.2 hereof.
Section 1.2 "DGCL" shall mean the Delaware General Corporation Law, as
amended.
Section 1.3 "Distribution" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.4 "Distribution Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in
the preamble to this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.5 "Effective Time" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.3 of the Merger Agreement.
Section 1.6 "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3
hereof.
Section 1.7 "Harbor Far East Exploration" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.8 "Harbor Far East Ventures" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.9 "Harbor Global" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.10 "Harbor Global II" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.11 "Harbor Global Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth
in the preamble to this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.12 "Harbor Global Group" shall mean Harbor Global and its direct
and indirect subsidiaries (determined after giving effect to the transfers and
transactions contemplated by Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Distribution
Agreement), including any predecessor or successor entities.
Section 1.13 "Harbor Global Indemnitees" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7.2 hereof.
Section 1.14 "Harbor Global Preferred Stock" shall mean the
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preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, of Harbor Global.
Section 1.15 "Indemnified Claim" shall mean any demand, claim, action or
proceeding subject to indemnification by either Parent or Harbor Global under
Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 of this Distribution Agreement, as applicable.
Section 1.16 "Indemnitee" shall mean either any Parent Indemnitee or any
Harbor Global Indemnitee, as applicable.
Section 1.17 "Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7.3 of this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.18 "Information" of a party shall mean any and all information
that such party or any of its Representatives furnish or have furnished to the
receiving party or any of its Representatives and any information in the
possession of a party or its Representatives which relates to the business or
operations of the other party, whether furnished orally or in writing or by any
other means or gathered by inspection or otherwise in one's possession and
regardless of whether the same is specifically marked or designated as
"confidential" or "proprietary," together with any and all notes, memoranda,
analyses, compilations, studies or other documents (whether in hard copy or
electronic media) prepared by the receiving party or any of its Representatives
which contain or otherwise reflect such Information, together with any and all
copies, extracts or other reproductions of any of the same; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that "Information" does not include information that:
(a) is or becomes generally available to the public through no
wrongful act of the receiving party or its Representatives;
(b) is or becomes available to the receiving party on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the providing party or its
Representatives, PROVIDED, THAT, such source is not known by the receiving party
to be subject to a confidentiality obligation to the providing party; or
(c) has been independently acquired or developed by the receiving
party without violation of any of the obligations of the receiving party or its
Representatives under this Distribution Agreement or otherwise.
Section 1.19 "Liabilities" shall mean any and all debts, liabilities,
commitments and obligations, whether fixed, contingent or absolute, mature or
unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or not accrued, known or unknown,
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<PAGE> 8
whenever or however arising and whether or not the same would be required by
generally accepted accounting principles to be reflected in financial statements
or disclosed in the notes thereto.
Section 1.20 "Losses" shall mean any and all costs or expenses, including
interest, penalties, costs of preparation and investigation and reasonable
attorney's fees and disbursements imposed on or incurred, directly or
indirectly, by any Indemnitee resulting from or arising out of any Indemnified
Claim, net of any tax benefit actually realized by such Indemnitee in connection
with any such Loss.
Section 1.21 "Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.22 "Merger Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.23 "OPIC Loan" shall mean the loan made by Overseas Private
Investment Corporation to Closed Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma" under the
Finance Agreement dated as of December 21, 1995 by and between Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma", a Russian joint stock company and indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation,
and guaranteed by Parent pursuant to the Project Completion Agreement dated as
of December 21, 1995 by and among Overseas Private Investment Corporation,
Parent, Closed Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma" and International Joint-Stock
Company "Starma-Holding."
Section 1.24 "Parent" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.25 "Parent Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Distribution Agreement.
Section 1.26 "Parent Group" shall mean Parent and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries, other than Harbor Global and its direct and indirect subsidiaries
(determined after giving effect to the transfers and transactions contemplated
by Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Distribution Agreement), including any
predecessor or successor entities.
Section 1.27 "Parent Indemnitees" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7.1 hereof.
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Section 1.28 "PBO Property Fund Capital Contribution" shall mean the
approximately $2.3 million that Parent has agreed to contribute to Pioneer Real
Estate Advisors, LLC to fund the remaining capital commitments of Pioneer Real
Estate Advisors, LLC under the Limited Liability Company Agreement of PBO
Property Fund, LLC dated as of May 20, 1998.
Section 1.29 "Pioneer Forest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1 hereof.
Section 1.30 "PIOGlobal" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1
hereof.
Section 1.31 "Pioneer Goldfields II" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.32 "Pioneer International" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.33 "Pioneer Investments Poland" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.34 "Pioneer Omega" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1 hereof.
Section 1.35 "Pioneer Poland Fund Holding Company" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.36 "Pioneer Real Estate Advisors" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.37 "Pioneering Management" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.1 hereof.
Section 1.38 "Polish Real Estate Fund Capital Contribution" shall mean the
approximately $5.4 million that Parent has agreed to contribute to Pioneer Real
Estate Advisors, LLC to fund the remaining capital commitments of Pioneer Real
Estate Advisors, LLC under the Subscription and Shareholders' Agreement dated as
of October 27, 1999 by and among Polish Real Estate Fund, s.a. and several
investors.
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Section 1.39 "Record Date" shall mean the date designated by or pursuant to
the authorization of the Board of Directors of Parent for the purpose of
determining the stockholders of Parent entitled to participate in the
Distribution.
Section 1.40 "Representatives" of a party shall mean such party's
affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or other representatives,
including attorneys, accountants and financial advisors.
Section 1.41 "Restructuring" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1 hereof.
Section 1.42 "Retained Liabilities" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2 hereof.
Section 1.43 "SEC" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3 hereof.
Section 1.44 "Taxes" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.19 of
the Tax Separation Agreement.
Section 1.45 "Tax Separation Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1 hereof.
Section 1.46 "Time of Distribution" shall mean the time as of which the
Distribution is effective pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof.
Section 1.47 "Transfer Agent" shall mean [American Stock Transfer and Trust
Company] as transfer agent for Harbor Global Common Stock.
ARTICLE II
CAPITALIZATION OF HARBOR GLOBAL; MECHANICS OF THE DISTRIBUTION
Section 2.1 Capitalization of Harbor Global. The authorized capital stock
of Harbor Global consists of 12 million shares of Harbor Global Common Stock of
which a number of shares equal to one-fifth of the shares of Parent Common Stock
issued and outstanding at the Time of Distribution are issued and outstanding
and owned beneficially and of record by Parent and one million shares of Harbor
Global Preferred Stock, none of which are issued and outstanding.
Section 2.2 Mechanics of the Distribution. The Distribution will be
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effected by the declaration of the Distribution by the Board of Directors of
Parent and the distribution to each holder of record of shares of Parent Common
Stock as of the Record Date of certificates representing one share of Harbor
Global Common Stock for every five shares of Parent Common Stock held by such
holder on the Record Date multiplied by the number of shares of Parent Common
Stock held by such holder. Fractional shares of Harbor Global Common Stock will
be distributed to holders entitled thereto.
Section 2.3 Timing of Distribution. Immediately prior to the Effective
Time, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article VII of this Distribution Agreement, the Board of Directors of Parent
shall declare the Distribution and shall authorize Parent to effect the
Distribution by delivering certificates representing all of the issued and
outstanding Harbor Global Common Stock to the Transfer Agent for delivery to the
holders entitled thereto as described in Section 2.2 above. The Distribution
will be deemed to be effective upon notification by Parent to the Transfer Agent
that the Distribution has been declared and that the Transfer Agent is
authorized to proceed with the Distribution.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HARBOR GLOBAL
Harbor Global represents and warrants to Parent as follows, each of
which representations and warranties are true and correct as of the date hereof.
The representations and warranties set forth herein constitute the sole
representations and warranties made by or on behalf of Harbor Global in
connection with the transactions contemplated in this Distribution Agreement,
notwithstanding delivery or disclosure of other information prior to the date
hereof.
Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification. Harbor Global is a company
limited by shares, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of Bermuda
and has all requisite corporate power to own properties and to carry on its
business as now conducted and as presently contemplated. Harbor Global is in
good standing or licensed as a foreign corporation and is duly authorized to do
business in each jurisdiction in which its property or business, as presently
conducted or contemplated, makes such qualification necessary, except where a
failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually
or in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of Harbor Global to perform
its obligations hereunder.
Section 3.2 Authorization. Harbor Global has all necessary
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corporate power and has taken all necessary corporate action required for the
due authorization, execution and delivery of this Distribution Agreement and for
the performance by Harbor Global of its obligations under this Distribution
Agreement. This Distribution Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Harbor Global and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Harbor Global,
enforceable against Harbor Global in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or
similar laws of general application relating to or affecting creditors rights
and general principles of equity.
Section 3.3 Compliance. The execution and delivery of this Distribution
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not
result in a violation of Harbor Global's memorandum of association, by-laws or
any of its material agreements, except where such violation, individually or in
the aggregate, would not materially impair the ability of Harbor Global to
perform its obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
TAX MATTERS
Section 4.1 Tax Separation Agreement. Prior to the Time of Distribution,
Harbor Global, Harbor Global II and Parent shall enter into an agreement
relating to past and future tax sharing and certain issues associated therewith
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Tax Separation Agreement").
Section 4.2 Tax Matters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Distribution Agreement, Liabilities of the parties for Taxes are governed by the
terms of the Tax Separation Agreement.
ARTICLE V
RESTRUCTURING AND ASSUMED LIABILITIES
Section 5.1 Restructuring. Prior to the Time of Distribution, Parent,
Harbor Global and Harbor Global II shall cause the following transactions to
occur as set forth below (the "Restructuring"):
(a) Parent shall effect the following transactions:
(i) organize Harbor Global and cause it to make any elections
or take any other actions necessary to cause it to be treated as a
disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes;
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(ii) transfer, assign and convey all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of Closed Joint-Stock Company "Tas-Yurjah
Mining Company" and JSL Co. Dalplaz, each a Russian joint stock
company, to Harbor Far East Exploration, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Harbor Far
East Exploration");
(iii) transfer, assign and convey all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of International Closed Joint-Stock Company
"Starma-Holding," Closed Joint-Stock Company "Starma-Port" and Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Pioneer-Starma-Equipment," each a Russian joint
stock company, to Harbor Far East Ventures, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Harbor Far
East Ventures");
(iv) transfer, assign and convey all of the assets of Pioneer
Forest, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent, to Pioneer Forest, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Pioneer Forest");
(v) transfer, assign and convey all of the issued and
outstanding membership interests of Pioneer Forest to [ForeignCo I], a
Bermuda company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("[ForeignCo
I]");
(vi) cause Pioneer Real Estate Advisors, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, to convert to a
Delaware limited liability company, Pioneer Real Estate Advisors, LLC
("Pioneer Real Estate Advisors"), pursuant to Section 266(b) of the
DGCL;
(vii) transfer, assign and convey all of the issued and
outstanding membership interests of Pioneer Real Estate Advisors to
[ForeignCo II], a Bermuda company and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent ( "[ForeignCo II]")
(viii) cause Pioneer First Polish Investment Fund, s.a., a
Polish joint stock company and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent, to sell, transfer, assign and convey its interest in Polish
Real Estate Fund, s.a., a Polish joint stock company, to Pioneer Real
Estate Advisors;
(ix) transfer, assign and convey its membership interests in
PBO Property Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to
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<PAGE> 14
Pioneer Real Estate Advisors;
(x) cause Pioneer Goldfields II Limited, a corporation dually
incorporated in Delaware and Guernsey, Channel Islands and wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent, to be converted into a Delaware limited liability
company, Pioneer Goldfields II, LLC ("Pioneer Goldfields II"), pursuant
to Section 266(b) of the DGCL;
(xi) cause Pioneer Omega, Inc., a Delaware corporation and
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, to convert into a Delaware limited
liability company, Pioneer Omega, LLC ("Pioneer Omega"), pursuant to
Section 266(b) of the DGCL;
(xii) cause Luscinia, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Pioneer Omega, Theta Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Pioneer Omega, and Pioneer First Russia, Inc., a majority owned
subsidiary of Pioneer Omega, each a Delaware corporation, to be
converted into Delaware limited liability companies pursuant to Section
266(b) of the DGCL;
(xiii) cause Pioneer International Corporation, a Delaware
corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, to convert into a
Delaware limited liability company, Pioneer International, LLC
("Pioneer International"), pursuant to Section 266(b) of the DGCL;
(xiv) cause Pioneer Poland U.S. (Jersey) Limited, a
corporation dually incorporated in Delaware and Jersey, Channel Islands
and direct wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer International ("Pioneer
Poland Fund Holding Company"), to revoke its Delaware charter pursuant
to Section 390 of the DGCL;
(xv) cause Pioneer International to transfer, assign and
convey 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Pioneering
Management Limited, a Jersey, Channel Islands corporation and direct
wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer International ("Pioneering
Management") to Parent;
(xvi) cause Pioneer International to transfer, assign and
convey 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of
Pioneer Investments Poland, Ltd., a Polish joint stock company and
direct wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer International ("Pioneer
Investments
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<PAGE> 15
Poland") to Parent;
(xvii) cause Pioneer International to transfer, assign and
convey 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Pioneer
Poland Fund Holding Company to Parent;
(b) Parent shall contribute, as a capital contribution to Harbor
Global:
(i) $25 million in cash;
(ii) 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests
of Harbor Far East Exploration;
(iii) 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests
of Harbor Far East Ventures;
(iv) 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
[ForeignCo I];
(v) 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
[ForeignCo II];
(vi) 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests
of Pioneer Goldfields II;
(vii) 250 of the issued and outstanding shares of common
stock, par value $.10 per share, of Pioneer Metals and Technology,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, such shares representing 25% of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of Pioneer Metals and Technology,
Inc.;
(viii) 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Pioneer Omega;
(ix) 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests
of PIOGlobal Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent;
(x) 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of
Pioneering Management;
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(xi) 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Pioneer Investments Poland;
(xii) 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of
Pioneer Polish Fund Holding Company;
(xiii) all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of Anabasis Enterprises Ltd., a Cypriot company, held by Parent,
such shares representing 99% of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of Anabasis Enterprises Ltd.; and
(xiv) 100% of Parent's interest in PT Pioneer Ongko, an
Indonesian corporation.
(c) Parent shall pay the outstanding balance of the OPIC Loan,
including any and all interest and other amounts payable in respect thereof;
(d) Parent shall contribute the PBO Property Fund Capital Contribution
to Pioneer Real Estate Advisors;
(e) Parent shall contribute the Polish Real Estate Fund Capital
Contribution to Pioneer Real Estate Advisors;
(f) Harbor Global shall (i) organize Harbor Global Corporation, a
Bermuda limited duration company and wholly owned subsidiary of Harbor Global
("HGC"), (ii) contribute $25 million in cash to HGC as a contribution to capital
and (iii) cause HGC to make any elections or take any other actions necessary to
cause it to be treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes; and
(g) Harbor Global shall (i) organize Harbor Global II, (ii) transfer,
assign and convey all of its assets to Harbor Global II as a contribution to
capital and (iii) cause Harbor Global II to make any elections or take any other
actions necessary to cause it to be treated as a partnership for United States
federal income tax purposes, and HGC shall contribute $25 million in cash to
Harbor Global II as a contribution to capital.
Section 5.2 Assumed Liabilities. Except as otherwise specifically set
forth in the Merger Agreement or the Tax Separation Agreement, at or prior to
the Time of Distribution, Harbor Global shall, or shall cause the appropriate
member
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of the Harbor Global Group to, unconditionally assume and undertake to
pay, satisfy and discharge when due and in accordance with their terms all
Liabilities (whether arising before or after the Time of Distribution) to the
extent arising out of, based upon or resulting from the operation of the
business of, or to the extent relating to, any member of the Harbor Global
Group, other than the Retained Liabilities and the Liabilities listed on
Schedules 5.2A, 5.2B and 5.2C hereof (collectively, the "Assumed Liabilities"),
and Parent shall retain, or shall cause the appropriate member of the Parent
Group to retain, and undertake to pay, satisfy and discharge when due in
accordance with their terms all Liabilities (whether arising before or after the
Time of Distribution) of Parent to the extent arising out of, based upon or
resulting from the operation of the business of, or to the extent relating to
(i) any member of the Parent Group (the "Retained Liabilities") or (ii) the
Liabilities set forth on Schedules 5.2A, 5.2B and 5.2C hereof; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the parties hereto will use their reasonable efforts to cause the
Liabilities described in Items 1 and 2 of Schedule 5.2A to this Distribution
Agreement to be assigned to and assumed by Pioneer Forest with a mutual release
of liability.
Section 5.3 Further Assurances. If after the Time of Distribution, either
party holds assets which by the terms hereof or of the Merger Agreement were
intended to be assigned and transferred to, or retained by, the other party,
such party shall promptly assign and transfer or cause to be assigned or
transferred such assets to the other party, and the parties agree that the
transferring party will hold such assets as trustee of the transferee party and
all income and risk of loss of the transferred assets after the Time of
Distribution shall be for the account of the intended owner. Each of the parties
hereto, at its own cost and expense, shall promptly execute such documents and
other instruments and take such further actions as may be reasonably required or
desirable to carry out the provisions of this Distribution Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 5.4 Intercompany Balances. Any indebtedness, accounts receivable
or other intercompany obligations of another nature accrued prior to the Time of
Distribution between Parent and any member of the Harbor Global Group shall
either be contributed as a capital contribution or otherwise contributed by
Parent to a member of the Harbor Global Group. At the Time of the Distribution,
there shall not be outstanding any indebtedness or accounts payable or
receivable between the Parent Group and the Harbor Global Group.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
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Section 6.1 Books and Records. Prior to or as promptly as practicable
after completion of the Restructuring, Parent shall deliver to Harbor Global all
corporate books and records of the members of the Harbor Global Group in the
possession of the Parent Group and the relevant portions (or copies thereof) of
all corporate books and records of the Parent Group relating directly and
primarily to the members of the Harbor Global Group, the Assumed Liabilities or
the Liabilities listed on Schedule 5.2A and 5.2C hereof, including, in each
case, all active agreements, active litigation files and government filings.
From and after the completion of the Restructuring, all such books, records and
copies shall be the property of Harbor Global. Parent may retain copies of all
such corporate books and records. Prior to or as promptly as practicable after
the completion of the Restructuring, Harbor Global shall deliver to Parent all
corporate books and records of the members of the Parent Group in the possession
of any member of the Harbor Global Group and relevant portions (or copies
thereof) of all corporate books and records of the Harbor Global Group relating
directly and primarily to the members of the Parent Group, the Retained
Liabilities or the Liabilities listed on Schedule 5.2B hereof, including, in
each case, all active agreements, active litigation files and government
filings. From and after the completion of the Restructuring, all such books,
records and copies shall be the property of Parent. Harbor Global may retain
copies of all such corporate books and records.
Section 6.2 Access. From and after the Time of Distribution, each of
Parent and Harbor Global shall afford the other and the other's Representatives
reasonable access and duplicating rights without cost or expense to the
requesting party during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance
notice, to all information within the possession or control of the Parent Group
or the Harbor Global Group, as the case may be, to the extent relating to the
business, assets or Liabilities of the other as they existed prior to the
completion of the Restructuring or to the extent relating to or arising in
connection with the relationship between the Parent Group or the Harbor Global
Group, as the case may be, prior to the Restructuring. Without limiting the
foregoing, information may be requested under this Section 6.2 for audit,
accounting, claims, litigation and tax purposes, as well as for purposes of
fulfilling disclosure and reporting obligations.
Section 6.3 Retention of Records. If any information relating to the
businesses, assets or Liabilities of the Parent Group or the Harbor Global Group
is retained by the Harbor Global Group or the Parent Group, respectively, each
of Parent and Harbor Global shall, and shall cause each member of the Parent
Group and the Harbor Global Group, respectively, to retain all such information
in the Parent
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<PAGE> 19
Group's or the Harbor Global Group's possession or under its control until such
information is at least ten years old except that if prior to the expiration of
such period Parent or Harbor Global wishes to destroy or dispose of any such
information that is at least three years old, prior to destroying or disposing
of any of such information (a) Parent or Harbor Global shall provide no less
than 45 days' prior written notice to the other party, specifying the
information proposed to be destroyed or disposed of, and (b) if prior to the
scheduled date of such destruction or disposal, the other party requests in
writing that any of the information proposed to be destroyed or disposed of be
delivered to such other party, Parent or Harbor Global, as applicable, promptly
shall arrange for the delivery of the requested information to a location
specified by, and at the expense of, the requesting party.
Section 6.4 Confidentiality.
(a) Each party hereto shall keep, and shall cause its Representatives
to keep, the other party's Information strictly confidential and will disclose
such Information only to such of its Representatives who need to know such
Information and who agree to be bound by this Section 6.4 and not to disclose
such Information to any other person or entity. Without the prior written
consent of the other party, each party and its Representatives shall not
disclose the other party's Information to any person or entity except as may be
required by (i) federal securities laws or (ii) a judicial process; PROVIDED,
THAT disclosure required by a judicial process shall be made in accordance with
Section 6.4(b).
(b) In the event that either party or any of its Representatives
receives a request or is required by law or judicial process to disclose to a
court or other tribunal all or any part of the other party's Information, the
receiving party or its Representatives shall promptly notify the other party of
the request in writing, and consult with and assist the other party in seeking a
protective order or request for other appropriate remedy. In the event that such
protective order or other remedy is not obtained or the other party waives
compliance with the terms hereof, such receiving party or its Representatives,
as the case may be, shall disclose only that portion of the Information or facts
which, in the written opinion of the receiving party's outside counsel, is
legally required to be disclosed, and will exercise its respective reasonable
best efforts to assure that confidential treatment will be accorded such
Information or facts by the persons or entities receiving the same. The
providing party will be given an opportunity to review the Information or facts
prior to disclosure.
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Section 6.5 Cooperation. The parties shall cooperate with each other in
all reasonable respects to ensure (a) that the Restructuring and the assumption
of the Retained Liabilities and the Assumed Liabilities are consummated in
accordance with the terms hereof, (b) the retention by Parent of the Parent
Group, including allocating rights and obligations under any contract,
agreement, undertaking or other commitment, if any, of the Parent Group or of
the Harbor Global Group that relate to the business or operations of any member
of the Parent Group and the Liabilities listed on Schedules 5.2A, 5.2B and 5.2C
hereof, and (c) the retention by Harbor Global of the Harbor Global Group,
including allocating rights and obligations under any contract, agreement,
undertaking or other commitment, if any, of the Harbor Global Group or of the
Parent Group that relate to the business or operations of any member of the
Harbor Global Group, other than the Liabilities listed on Schedules 5.2A, 5.2B
and 5.2C hereof. In addition, Harbor Global shall use reasonable efforts to take
all steps necessary to release Parent from its Liabilities relating to Items 12
through 16 listed on Schedule 5.2A hereof.
Section 6.6 Mutual Release, Etc. Effective upon the Time of Distribution
and except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Distribution Agreement,
each member of the Parent Group on one hand and each member of the Harbor Global
Group on the other hand releases and forever discharges each member of the other
of and from all debts, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, accounts,
covenants, contracts, agreements, undertakings, commitments, damages and any and
all claims, demands and liabilities whatsoever of every name and nature, both in
law and in equity, against such other party or any of its assigns, which the
releasing party has or ever had, which arise out of or relate to events,
circumstances or actions taken by such other party prior to the Time of
Distribution; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing general release shall not
apply to any demands, actions, causes of action, suits, accounts, covenants,
agreements, undertakings, commitments, damages and any and all claims, demands
and liabilities arising out of or relating to this Distribution Agreement, the
Merger Agreement or the Tax Separation Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby and shall not affect either party's right to
enforce this Distribution Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby
or thereby in accordance with its terms. Each party understands and agrees that,
except as otherwise specifically provided herein, neither the other party nor
any of its subsidiaries is, in this Distribution Agreement or any other
agreement (other than the Merger Agreement), or document, representing or
warranting to such party in any way as to the assets, business or liabilities
transferred or assumed as contemplated hereby or thereby or as to any consents
or approvals required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Distribution Agreement, it
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being agreed and understood that each party shall take each of the assets
transferred, retained or assumed by it pursuant to this Distribution Agreement
"as is" and that such party shall bear the economic and legal risk that the
title to any such asset shall be other than good and marketable and free from
encumbrances.
Section 6.7 Transaction Expenses. For purposes of this Distribution
Agreement, all reasonable expenses in connection with this Distribution
Agreement and the Tax Separation Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, including all fees and expenses of Parent's investment
bankers and counsel, shall be paid by Parent; it being understood that all
expenses under $5 million shall be considered reasonable and that the
reasonableness of expenses of $5 million and over are to be determined in light
of the facts and circumstances.
Section 6.8 Ashanti. Harbor Global agrees that promptly upon the fifth
anniversary of the closing of the Purchase Agreement dated May 11, 2000 by and
among Pioneer Goldfield II Limited ("Goldfield II"), Goldfields Teberebie
Limited, and Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited (the "Purchase Agreement") or,
if there is any indemnification claim pending under the Purchase Agreement as of
the fifth anniversary, promptly after resolution of all such claims, it will pay
to Parent the lesser of (i) $5 million or (ii) the proceeds received by
Goldfield II under the Purchase Agreement less any indemnification claims paid
under the Purchase Agreement.
Section 6.9 Names. Harbor Global and Harbor Global II agree that from and
after the Effective Time, the name "Pioneer" and all similar related names,
marks and logos (all such names, marks and logos being the "Parent Names") shall
be owned by Parent or a Continuing Subsidiary (as defined in the Merger
Agreement), that no member of the Harbor Global Group shall have any rights in,
and shall not use, any Parent Name, and that no member of the Harbor Global
Group shall contest the ownership or validity of any rights of Parent or any of
its Continuing Subsidiaries in or to the Parent Names; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
Parent, Harbor Global and Harbor Global II shall use good faith efforts to enter
into a mutually agreeable right and license to use the Parent Names effective
for a reasonable period of time after the Effective Time in connection with the
conduct by the members of the Harbor Global Group of their respective businesses
as such businesses were conducted prior to the Effective Time.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
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Section 7.1 Indemnification by Harbor Global. Subject to the provisions of
this Article VII, Harbor Global shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
members of the Parent Group and the respective officers, directors, employees,
agents, successors and assigns of the members of the Parent Group (collectively,
the "Parent Indemnitees") from and against, and pay or reimburse members of the
Parent Group for all Losses, as incurred:
(a) relating to or arising from the business or operations of any
member of the Harbor Global Group, the assets of any member of the Harbor Global
Group, the Assumed Liabilities or, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Liabilities listed on Schedule 5.2A hereof and the
Liabilities, if any, listed on Schedule 5.2C hereto, whether such Losses relate
to or arise from events, occurrences, actions, omissions, facts or circumstances
occurring, existing or asserted before, at or after the Time of Distribution;
(b) relating to or arising from the breach by any member of the Harbor
Global Group of any agreement or covenant contained in this Distribution
Agreement; or
(c) relating to or arising from the breach by Harbor Global of any
representation or warranty contained in Article III herein.
Section 7.2 Indemnification by Parent. Subject to the provisions of this
Article VII, Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the members of the
Harbor Global Group and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents,
successors and assigns of the members of the Harbor Global Group (collectively,
the "Harbor Global Indemnitees") from and against, and pay or reimburse members
of the Harbor Global Group for all Losses, as incurred:
(a) relating to or arising from the business or operations of any
member of the Parent Group, the assets of any member of the Parent Group, the
Retained Liabilities or, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Liabilities listed on Schedule 5.2B hereof, whether such Losses
relate to or arise from events, occurrences, actions, omissions, facts or
circumstances occurring, existing or asserted before, at or after the Time of
Distribution; or
(b) relating to or arising from the breach by any member of the Parent
Group of any agreement or covenant contained in this Distribution Agreement
which by its express terms is to be performed or complied with after the Time of
Distribution.
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Section 7.3 Indemnification Procedures.
(a) Any Indemnitee shall give written notice to the party who may
become obligated to provide indemnification hereunder (the "Indemnifying Party")
in reasonable detail and promptly, and in any event within 30 days after receipt
by such Indemnitee of written notice of the Indemnified Claim; PROVIDED, THAT,
failure to give such notice shall not affect the indemnification provided
hereunder except to the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually
prejudiced as a result of such failure. After any required notification pursuant
to this Section 7.3, the Indemnitee shall promptly deliver to the Indemnifying
Party copies of all notices, court documents or other documents received by the
Indemnitee relating to the Indemnified Claim.
(b) If an Indemnified Claim is made against an Indemnitee, the
Indemnifying Party will be entitled to participate in the defense thereof and,
if it so chooses, to assume the defense thereof with counsel selected by the
Indemnifying Party and reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee. If the
Indemnifying Party elects to assume the defense of an Indemnified Claim, the
Indemnifying Party will not be liable to the Indemnitee for any legal expenses
incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof. The
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ, at its own expense, one separate
counsel in any suit , action or proceeding and to participate in the defense
thereof; PROVIDED, THAT, the Indemnifying Party shall control such defense. The
Indemnifying Party shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel employed by the
Indemnitee during any period which the Indemnifying Party has not assumed the
defense thereof, other than any period in which the Indemnitee shall have failed
to give notice of the Indemnified Claim as provided above. The Indemnifying
Party shall not, without the Indemnitee's prior written consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, settle or compromise
any Indemnified Claim or consent to the entry of any judgement with respect to
any Indemnified Claim if such settlement, compromise or judgment provides for
injunctive or other nonmonetary relief affecting the Indemnitee or does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by each claimant or
plaintiff to such Indemnitee of a release from all liability with respect to
such Indemnified Claim. If the Indemnifying Party shall have assumed the defense
of an Indemnified Claim, the Indemnitee shall not admit any liability with
respect to, or settle, compromise or discharge, such Indemnified Claim without
the Indemnifying Party's prior written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Section 7.4 Certain Limitations.
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(a) The amount of any Loss or other liability for which
indemnification is provided under this Distribution Agreement or any other
amounts payable or reimbursable by one party to another under this Distribution
Agreement shall be net of any amounts actually recovered by the Indemnitee from
third parties, including amounts actually recovered under insurance policies,
with respect to such Losses.
(b) Neither Harbor Global nor Parent shall have any liability for any
Losses, whether pursuant to this Article VII or otherwise pursuant to this
Distribution Agreement, unless the aggregate amount of all Losses for which
Harbor Global or Parent, respectively, would be liable, but for this Section
7.4(b), exceeds on a cumulative basis an amount equal to $250,000. If aggregate
Losses for which Harbor Global or Parent, respectively, would be liable exceeds
$250,000, Harbor Global or Parent, respectively, shall be liable under Section
7.1 or Section 7.2, respectively, only for the aggregate amount of Losses that
exceeds $250,000.
Section 7.5 Exclusivity of Tax Separation Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything in this Distribution Agreement to the contrary, the Tax Separation
Agreement shall be the exclusive agreement among the parties with respect to all
tax matters, including indemnification with respect to tax matters.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS
The obligations of Parent and Harbor Global to consummate the
Distribution shall be subject to the fulfillment of each of the following
conditions:
Section 8.1 Tax Separation Agreement. The Tax Separation Agreement, in the
form attached as Exhibit A hereto, shall have been executed and delivered by
each of Parent, Harbor Global and Harbor Global II.
Section 8.2 Certain Transactions. The Restructuring shall have been
consummated in accordance with Article IV in all material respects.
Section 8.3 Registration of Harbor Global Common Stock. Any registration
statement filed by Harbor Global with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), relating to Harbor Global Common Stock shall be effective under
the Exchange Act.
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Section 8.4 Conditions to Merger Satisfied. The obligation of Parent to
consummate the Distribution shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by
Parent) of the conditions to the obligations of Parent to consummate the Merger
set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Merger Agreement, other than the
condition as to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Distribution Agreement.
Section 8.5 No Injunctions or Restraints. No temporary restraining order,
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation of the Distribution shall be in effect, and if such order or
injunction exists, each party agrees to use reasonable efforts to have any such
order reversed or injunction lifted.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
Section 9.1 Modification or Amendment. The parties hereto may modify or
amend this Distribution Agreement by written agreement executed and delivered by
authorized officers of the respective parties.
Section 9.2 Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties hereto, this
Distribution Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each such
counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and which counterparts
shall together constitute the same agreement.
Section 9.3 Governing Law. This Distribution Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without
reference to its conflicts of law principles.
Section 9.4 Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to
be given hereunder by any party to the other shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given (i) on the date of delivery if delivered by
facsimile (upon confirmation of receipt) or personally or (ii) on the date as of
which delivery to the receiving party is confirmed if delivered by Federal
Express or other next-day courier service or by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be
delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be
designated in writing by the party receiving such notice:
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If to Parent:
The Pioneer Group, Inc.
60 State Street
18th Floor
Boston, MA 02109-1820
Attn: Robert P. Nault, General Counsel
If to Harbor Global or Harbor Global II
Harbor Global Company Ltd.
60 State Street
18th Floor
Boston, MA 02109-1820
Attn: Stephen G. Kasnet, Chief Executive Officer
Section 9.5 Captions. All Article, Section and paragraph captions herein
are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this
Distribution Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any
of the provisions hereof.
Section 9.6 Assignment. No party to this Distribution Agreement shall
convey, assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this
Distribution Agreement without the express written consent of the other party
hereto in its sole and absolute discretion, except that either party hereto may
assign any of its rights hereunder to a successor to all or any part of its
business or to any of its wholly owned subsidiaries. Except as aforesaid, any
such conveyance, assignment or transfer without the express written consent of
the other party shall be void ab initio. No assignment of this Distribution
Agreement or any rights hereunder shall relieve the assigning party of its
obligations hereunder.
Section 9.7 Certain Obligations. Whenever this Distribution Agreement
requires any of the subsidiaries of any party to take any action, this
Distribution Agreement will be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of
such party to cause such subsidiary to take such action.
Section 9.8 Specific Performance. In the event of any actual or threatened
default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this
Distribution Agreement, the party or parties who are or are to be thereby
aggrieved shall have the right of specific performance and injunctive relief
giving effect to its or
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their rights under this Distribution Agreement, in addition to any and all other
rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall
be cumulative. The parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or
threatened breach, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for
any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a
remedy at law would be adequate is waived.
Section 9.9 Severability. If any provision of this Distribution Agreement
or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision
hereof or the application of such provision to any other persons or
circumstances. In the event that the terms and conditions of this Distribution
Agreement are materially altered as a result of this Section, the parties shall
negotiate in good faith to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute
provision to effect the original intent of the parties.
Section 9.10 Entire Agreement. This Distribution Agreement, the Tax
Separation Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement
and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
Section 9.11 Jurisdiction. Each of Parent and Harbor Global hereby (i)
consents to be subject to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court
for the District of Delaware and the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
Delaware in any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of,
or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Distribution
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not
attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request
for leave from any such court, (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action
relating to this Distribution Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
in any court other than the Untied States District Court for the District of
Delaware or the courts of the State of Delaware, (iv) irrevocably waives (x) any
objection that it may have or hereafter have to the changing of venue of any
such suit, action or proceeding in such court and (y) any claim that any such
suit, action or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum and (v) irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any
such suit, action or proceeding by the delivery of such process to such party at
the address and in the manner provided in Section 8.4 hereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Distribution Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the
date first written above.
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
HARBOR GLOBAL COMPANY LTD.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
HARBOR GLOBAL II LTD.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE 5.2A
The following Liabilities shall remain Liabilities of Parent after the
Time of the Distribution; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Harbor Global will indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Parent Indemnitees for all Losses incurred in
connection with the Liabilities listed on this Schedule 5.2A pursuant to Article
VI hereof; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that Items 1 and 2 shall remain Liabilities of
Parent only until such Items are assigned to and assumed by Pioneer Forest:
1. All Liabilities of Parent under the Loan Agreement dated as of January
30, 1996, as amended by the First Amendment to the Loan Agreement
dated as of January 1, 1999, by and between State Street Bank and
Trust Company and Closed Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma," the
Master Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of March 19, 1996 by and
between State Street Bank and Trust Company and Closed Joint-Stock
Company "Forest-Starma" and the Loan Agreement dated as of September
18, 1997 by and between State Street Bank and Trust Company and Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma," each as assigned by State Street
Bank and Trust Company to Parent pursuant to the Assignment Agreement
dated as of January 20, 1999 by and among Parent, State Street Bank
and Trust Company and Closed Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma."
2. All Liabilities of Parent under the Agreement on Assignment of Rights
Under Promissory Note dated as of January 25, 2000, as amended as of
April 25, 2000, by and between Parent and Closed Joint-Stock Company
"Forest-Starma."
3. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 10, 2000 by and among Pioneer Forest, LLC, Parent and State Street
Bank and Trust Company under which State Street Bank and Trust Company
assigned to Parent all of its rights, title and interest in, and
Parent assigned to Pioneer Forest, LLC all of its rights, title and
interest in, the Participation Agreement dated as of March 18, 1996,
as amended by the First Amendment to the Participation Agreement dated
as of December 6, 1996, by and between Parent and State Street Bank
and Trust Company and the Participation Agreement dated as of
September 17, 1997 by and between Parent and State Street Bank and
Trust Company (relating to certain loans to Closed Joint-Stock Company
"Forest-Starma").
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4. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 10, 2000 by and among Pioneer Forest, LLC, Parent and State Street
Bank and Trust Company under which Parent assigned to Pioneer Forest,
LLC all of its rights, title and interest in the Participation
Agreement dated as of January 30, 1996 by and between Parent and State
Street Bank and Trust Company (relating to a loan to Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma").
5. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 12, 2000 by and among Pioneer Forest, LLC, Parent and State Street
Bank and Trust Company under which State Street Bank and Trust Company
assigned to Parent all of its rights, title and interest in the
Participation Agreement dated as of January 30, 1996 by and between
Parent and State Street Bank and Trust Company (relating to a loan to
Closed Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma").
6. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 2, 2000 by and among Harbor Far East Ventures, LLC, Parent and
State Street Bank and Trust Company under which Parent assigned to
Harbor Far East Ventures, LLC all of its rights, title and interest in
the Participation Agreement dated as of September 17, 1997, as amended
by the First Amendment to the Participation Agreement dated as of
March 19, 1998, by and between Parent and State Street Bank and Trust
Company (relating to a loan to Closed Joint-Stock Company
"Pioneer-Starma-Equipment").
7. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 2, 2000 by and among Harbor Far East Exploration, LLC, Parent and
State Street Bank and Trust Company under which Parent assigned to
Harbor Far East Exploration, LLC all of its rights, title and interest
in the Participation Agreement dated as of February 14, 1997, as
amended by the First Amendment to the Participation Agreement dated as
of March 19, 1998 and the Second Amendment to the Participation
Agreement dated as of June 30, 1999, by and between Parent and State
Street Bank and Trust Company (relating to a loan to Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Tas-Yurjah Mining Company").
8. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 2, 2000 by and among Pioneer Forest, LLC, Parent and State Street
Bank and Trust Company under which Parent assigned to Pioneer Forest,
LLC all of its rights, title and interest in the Participation
Agreement dated as of September
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17, 1997, as amended by the First Amendment to the Participation
Agreement dated as of March 19, 1998, by and between Parent and State
Street Bank and Trust Company (relating to a loan to Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Udinskoye").
9. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 2, 2000 by and among Pioneer Forest, LLC, Parent and State Street
Bank and Trust Company under which Parent assigned to Pioneer Forest,
LLC all of its rights, title and interest in the Participation
Agreement dated as of September 17, 1997, as amended by a First
Amendment to the Participation Agreement dated as of January 22, 1998
and a Second Amendment to the Participation Agreement dated as of July
17, 1998, by and between Parent and State Street Bank and Trust
Company (relating to a loan to Closed Joint-Stock Company
"Amgun-Forest").
10. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
May 2, 2000 by and among Harbor Far East Ventures, LLC, Parent and
State Street Bank and Trust Company under which Parent assigned to
Harbor Far East Ventures, LLC all of its rights, title and interest in
the Participation Agreement dated as of November 25, 1997 and the
Second Participation Agreement dated as of May 20, 1998, each by and
between Parent and State Street Bank and Trust Company (relating to a
loan to International Closed Joint-Stock Company "Starma-Holding").
11. All Liabilities of Parent under the Assignment Agreement dated as of
November 29, 1999 by and among Pioneer Metals and Technology, Inc.,
Parent and State Street Bank and Trust Company under which Parent
assigned to Pioneer Metals and Technology, Inc. all of its rights,
title and interest in the Second Participation Agreement dated as of
May 20, 1998, as amended by the First Amendment to the Second
Participation Agreement dated as of October 9, 1998 and the Second
Amendment to the Second Participation Agreement dated as of February
26, 1999, by and between Parent and State Street Bank and Trust
Company.
12. All Liabilities of Parent under the Letter of Agreement and Indemnity
dated as of January 12, 1995 by and between Pioneer Poland UK Limited,
Parent and Richard Phillips.
13. All Liabilities of Parent under the Letter of Agreement and Indemnity
dated as
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of January 12, 1995 by and between Pioneer Poland UK Limited, Parent
and Godfrey Whitehead.
14. All Liabilities of Parent under the Letter Agreement dated as of
January 10, 1995 by and between Parent and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development.
15. All Liabilities of Parent under the Side Letter Agreement dated as of
October 27, 1999 by and between Pioneer Real Estate Advisors Poland,
s.a., Parent and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
16. All Liabilities of Parent under the Side Letter Agreement dated as of
October 27, 1999 by and between Pioneer Real Estate Advisors Poland,
s.a., Pioneer Real Estate Advisors, Inc., Parent and Cadim Servotech
B.V.
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SCHEDULE 5.2B
1. All rights and obligations of Parent under the Settlement Agreement
dated as of March 29, 2000 by and between Caterpillar Financial
Services Corporation, Teberebie Goldfields Limited and Parent.
Note: If the Distribution Agreement is executed before Closed Joint-Stock
Company "Forest-Starma" fully performs its log delivery obligations to Rayonier,
Inc., also include all rights and obligations of Parent under the Guaranty dated
as of January 7, 2000 by and between Parent and Rayonier, Inc. with respect to
certain obligations of Closed Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma" under the Log
Sales Contract No. 00-01-07 by and between Rayonier, Inc. and Closed Joint-Stock
Company "Forest-Starma."
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SCHEDULE 5.2C
Note: If the consent of Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited to release Parent of
its obligations under the Purchase Agreement dated as of May 11, 2000 by and
among Pioneer Goldfields II Limited, Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited and
Goldfields Teberebie Limited cannot be obtained, this agreement and the related
guaranty will be included on this Schedule 5.2C.
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EXHIBIT A
TAX SEPARATION AGREEMENT
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EXHIBIT 99.3
TAX SEPARATION AGREEMENT dated as of [ ], 2000 (the "Tax Separation
Agreement") by and among The Pioneer Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), Harbor Global Company Ltd., a Bermuda limited duration company and
direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Harbor Global"), and Harbor Global II
Ltd., a Bermuda limited duration company and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Harbor Global ("Harbor Global II").
RECITALS
WHEREAS:
A. As of the date hereof, Parent is the common parent of an affiliated
group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), which together with the members
of the affiliated group files a consolidated United States federal income tax
return.
B. As of the date hereof, Parent and UniCredito Italiano S.p.A., an
Italian corporation, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as
of May 14, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"), providing for the merger of a
subsidiary of UniCredito Italiano S.p.A. with and into Parent (the "Merger"), as
described therein.
C. Immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3
of the Merger Agreement), subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VII of the Distribution Agreement dated as of [
], 2000 (the "Distribution Agreement") by and among Parent, Harbor Global and
Harbor Global II, the Board of Directors of Parent expects to distribute to
holders of Parent common stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Parent Common
Stock"), all of the outstanding shares of Harbor Global common stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Harbor Global Common Stock"), on a pro rata basis as
described in Article II of the Distribution Agreement (the "Distribution"). In
connection with the Distribution, Parent will effect the Restructuring (as
defined in Section 4.1 of the Distribution Agreement) and assume certain
liabilities as described in Article IV of the Distribution Agreement.
D. The parties hereto have determined to enter into this Tax Separation
Agreement, setting forth their agreement with respect to certain Tax matters.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Agreement,
1.1 "Code" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Tax
Separation Agreement.
1.2 "Distribution" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Tax Separation Agreement.
1.3 "Distribution Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Tax Separation Agreement.
1.4 "Distribution Date" shall mean the day on which the Distribution is
deemed effective in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Distribution Agreement.
1.5 "Effective Time" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3 of
the Merger Agreement.
1.6 "Final Determination" shall mean with respect to any issue (i) a
decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent
jurisdiction, which decision, judgment, decree or other order has become final
and is not subject to further appeal, (ii) a closing agreement entered into
under Section 7121 of the Code or any other binding settlement agreement
(whether or not with the Internal Revenue Service) entered into in connection
with or in contemplation of an administrative or judicial proceeding or (iii)
the completion of the highest level of administrative proceedings if a judicial
contest is not or is no longer available.
1.7 "Harbor Global" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
this Tax Separation Agreement.
1.8 "Harbor Global Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in
the preamble to this Tax Separation Agreement.
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1.9 "Harbor Global II" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Tax Separation Agreement.
1.10 "Harbor Global Group" shall mean, for any period, Harbor Global
and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (determined after giving effect to the
transfers and transactions contemplated by Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of the
Distribution Agreement), including any predecessor or successor entities. For
purposes of this Tax Separation Agreement, Pioneer Forest, LLC is a successor of
Pioneer Forest, Inc., Pioneer Real Estate Advisors, LLC is a successor of
Pioneer Real Estate Advisors, Inc., Pioneer Goldfields II, LLC is a successor of
Pioneer Goldfields II Limited, Pioneer Omega, LLC is a successor of Pioneer
Omega, Inc., Luscinia, LLC is a successor of Luscinia, Inc., Theta Enterprises,
LLC is a successor of Theta Enterprises, Inc. and Pioneer First Russia, LLC is a
successor of Pioneer First Russia, Inc.
1.11 "Liable Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(e).
1.12 "Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Tax Separation Agreement.
1.13 "Merger Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Tax Separation Agreement.
1.14 "Other Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(e).
1.15 "Parent" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Tax Separation Agreement.
1.16 "Parent Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble to this Tax Separation Agreement.
1.17 "Parent Group" shall mean, for any period, Parent and its direct
and indirect subsidiaries (determined after giving effect to the transfers and
transactions contemplated by Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of the Distribution
Agreement), including any predecessor or successor entities. For the purposes of
this Tax Separation Agreement, Pioneer International LLC is a successor of
Pioneer International Corporation.
1.18 "Period" shall mean any Period Before the Distribution and any
Period After the Distribution.
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1.19 "Period After the Distribution" shall mean any taxable year or
other taxable period beginning on or after the Distribution Date and, in the
case of any taxable year or other taxable period that begins before and ends
after the Distribution Date, that part of the taxable year or other taxable
period that begins after the close of the Distribution Date.
1.20 "Period Before the Distribution" shall mean any taxable year or
other taxable period that ends on or before the Distribution Date and, in the
case of any taxable year or other taxable period that begins before and ends
after the Distribution Date, that part of the taxable year or other taxable
period through the close of the Distribution Date.
1.21 "Restructuring" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Tax Separation Agreement.
1.22 "Restructuring Tax" shall mean any Tax that is imposed on any
member of the Parent Group or the Harbor Global Group resulting from, or arising
in connection with, any transaction that occurs as part of the Restructuring.
1.23 "Separate Tax Liability" shall mean, with respect to any member or
members of the Harbor Global Group, an amount equal to the Tax liability that
such member or members would have incurred if it had filed a consolidated
return, combined return or a separate return, as the case may be, separate from
the Parent Group for all Periods Before the Distribution, and such amount shall
be computed by Parent using the highest marginal corporate Tax rate (or rates,
in the case of an item that affects more than one Tax) for the relevant taxable
period (or portion thereof), without giving effect to any carryforward or
carryover of any Tax Item and in a manner consistent with (i) general Tax
accounting principles, (ii) the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated
thereunder, (iii) any similar provisions of the laws of other jurisdictions, if
applicable, and (iv) past practice, including payments between members for the
use of tax losses or credits and with respect to audit adjustments thereto.
1.24 "Tax" whether used in the form of a noun or adjective, shall mean
any tax on or measured by or with respect to income, franchise, gross receipts,
sales, use, excise, payroll, personal property, real property, ad-valorem,
value-added, leasing, leasing use or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
charges or withholdings of any nature imposed by any Taxing Authority. Whenever
the term "Tax" is used (including with respect to any duty to reimburse another
party for indemnified Taxes or refunds or credit of Taxes) it shall include
penalties, fines, additions to Tax and interest
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thereon.
1.25 "Taxing Authority" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service and any
other state, local or foreign governmental authority responsible for the
administration of any Tax.
1.26 "Tax Item" shall mean any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or
credit or other attribute that may have the effect of increasing or decreasing
any Tax.
1.27 "Tax Return" shall mean any return, report, schedule, estimate or
document, including related or supporting information, to be filed or that may
be filed for any period with any Taxing Authority in connection with any Tax.
1.28 "Disregarded Operations" shall mean, collectively, the operations
of: (i) Pioneer Forest, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; (ii) Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Forest-Starma," a Russian joint stock company; (iii) Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Udinskoye," a Russian joint stock company; (iv) Closed
Joint-Stock Company "Amgun-Forest," a Russian joint stock company; (v) Pioneer
Goldfields Limited; and (vi) Teberebie Goldfields Limited.
1.29 "U.S. Tax Return" shall mean any Tax Return that is required to be
filed with respect to any Tax imposed by the United States or any state or local
government that is part of the United States.
ARTICLE II
TAX RETURNS AND TAX PAYMENTS
2.1 Obligation to File Tax Returns.
(a) Parent shall have sole and exclusive responsibility for the
preparation and filing of all Tax Returns with respect to any member of the
Parent Group and the Harbor Global Group that (i) are filed on a consolidated,
combined or unitary basis, (ii) include any member of the Harbor Global Group
and any member of the Parent Group and (iii) are required to be filed with
respect to any Period.
(b) Parent shall have sole and exclusive responsibility for the
preparation and filing of all Tax Returns (in addition to any Tax Return
described in
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Section 2.1(a)) with respect to any member of the Parent Group for any Period.
(c) Harbor Global shall have sole and exclusive responsibility for
the preparation and filing of any Tax Return (other than a Tax Return described
in Section 2.1(a)) with respect to any member of the Harbor Global Group.
2.2 Agent. Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Tax
Separation Agreement, Harbor Global hereby irrevocably designates, and agrees to
cause each member of the Harbor Global Group to so designate, Parent as its sole
and exclusive agent and attorney-in-fact to take any action, including execution
of documents, as Parent, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate in any and
all matters (including Tax audits) relating to any Tax Return described in
Section 2.1(a).
2.3 Manner of Tax Return Preparation and Information Reporting.
(a) Unless otherwise required by a Taxing Authority, the parties
shall prepare and file all Tax Returns, and take all other action, in a manner
consistent with (i) this Tax Separation Agreement, (ii) the Merger Agreement and
(iii) the Distribution Agreement, including any action necessary to maintain
applicable elections set forth in Sections 4.1(a)(i), 4.1(f) and 4.1(g) of the
Distribution Agreement with respect to such party's United States federal income
tax classification. All Tax Returns shall be filed on a timely basis (taking
into account applicable extensions) by the party responsible for filing such Tax
Returns under this Tax Separation Agreement.
(b) Parent shall have the exclusive right, in its sole discretion,
with respect to any Tax Return described in Sections 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) to make
all decisions, including (i) the manner in which such Tax Return shall be
prepared and filed, including the elections, method of accounting, positions,
conventions and principles of taxation to be used and the manner in which any
Tax Item shall be reported, (ii) whether any extensions may be requested, (iii)
the elections that will be made by any member of the Parent Group or Harbor
Global Group on such Tax Return, (iv) whether any amended Tax Returns shall be
filed, (v) whether any claims for refund shall be made, (vi) whether any refund
shall be paid by way of refund or credited against any liability for the related
Tax and (vii) whether to retain outside firms to prepare or review such Tax
Returns.
(c) Parent shall undertake to timely provide an information
statement and other necessary reports to stockholders of Parent to assist such
stockholders in accurately reporting Tax consequences of the Distribution and
any
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related transactions.
2.4 Liability for Taxes.
(a) Harbor Global's Liability for Section 2.1(a) Taxes. With
respect to all Tax Returns described in Section 2.1(a), Harbor Global shall be
liable for the Separate Tax Liability of each member of the Harbor Global Group,
and shall be entitled to receive and retain all refunds or credits of Taxes
previously paid by Harbor Global with respect to any such Separate Tax
Liability; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Parent shall have the sole and exclusive
liability with respect to any Tax resulting from any worthless security loss or
other deduction taken directly or indirectly by Parent with respect to any of
the Disregarded Operations, including any Tax deficiency of Pioneer Forest, Inc.
and its successor Pioneer Forest, LLC, and shall be entitled to receive and
retain all refunds or credits of Taxes previously paid by Parent with respect to
such Taxes.
(b) Parent's Liability for Section 2.1 Taxes. With respect to all
Tax Returns described in Section 2.1(a), Parent shall be liable for the
difference between the Separate Tax Liability of each member of the Harbor
Global Group described in Section 2.4(a) and all Taxes shown as due on such Tax
Returns, and shall be entitled to receive and retain all refunds or credits of
Taxes attributable to such difference. With respect to all Tax Returns described
in Section 2.1(b), Parent shall be liable for all Taxes due with respect thereto
and shall be entitled to receive and retain all refunds or credits of Taxes
previously paid by Parent with respect to such Taxes.
(c) Harbor Global's Liability for Section 2.1(c) Taxes. With
respect all Tax Returns described in Section 2.1(c), Harbor Global shall be
liable for all Taxes due with respect thereto and shall be entitled to receive
and retain all refunds or credits of Taxes previously paid by Harbor Global with
respect to such Taxes.
(d) Harbor Global's Liability for Restructuring Taxes.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Tax Separation Agreement to the
contrary, Harbor Global shall be liable for any and all Restructuring Taxes.
(e) Payment of Tax Liability. If one party is liable for Taxes
under Section 2.4(a) through 2.4(d) (the "Liable Party") with respect to Tax
Returns for which another party (the "Other Party") is responsible for preparing
and filing, then the Liable Party shall pay the Taxes to the Other Party (or to
the appropriate Tax
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Authority, as directed in writing by the Other Party) pursuant to Article IV.
2.5 Tax Benefits. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Tax
Separation Agreement, to the extent that one party actually recognizes a Tax
benefit from the use of a loss or credit generated by another party to this Tax
Separation Agreement, the party receiving such benefit shall pay the amount of
such benefit to the party which generated the loss or credit.
2.6 Indemnification.
(a) Obligations of Harbor Global. Harbor Global shall indemnify and
shall hold each member of the Parent Group harmless against any Tax liability
described in Sections 2.4(a), 2.4(c) and 2.4(d), including any Tax liability
asserted against any member of the Parent Group under the provisions of Treasury
Regulation 1.1502-6(a) that impose several liability on members of any
affiliated group of corporations that files consolidated returns, or similar
provisions of any state, local or foreign law, in respect of any Separate Tax
Liability of any member of the Harbor Global Group.
(b) Obligations of Parent. Parent shall indemnify and hold each
member of the Harbor Global Group harmless against any Tax liability described
in Sections 2.4(b) and 2.4(d), including any Tax liability asserted against any
member of the Parent Group under the provisions of Treasury Regulation
1.1502-6(a) that impose several liability on members of any affiliated group of
corporations that files consolidated returns, or similar provisions of any
foreign, state or local law, in respect of Taxes of any member of the Parent
Group.
2.7 Period that Includes the Distribution Date. To the extent permitted
by law or administrative practice, the taxable year of each member of the Harbor
Global Group that is a United States person (within the meaning of Section
7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall be treated as closing on the Distribution Date,
and the parties agree to file all U.S. Tax Returns on such basis.
ARTICLE III
CARRYBACKS
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Without the prior consent of Parent, no member of the Harbor Global
Group shall carry back any net operating loss or other Tax attribute from a
Period After the Distribution to a Period Before the Distribution.
ARTICLE IV
PAYMENTS
4.1 Payments. Payments arising under Section 2.4(e) shall be due not
later than 20 business days after the receipt or crediting of a refund or the
receipt of notice of a Final Determination that the indemnified party is liable
for an indemnified cost.
4.2 Notice. Parent and Harbor Global shall give each other reasonable
notice of payment that may be due under this Tax Separation Agreement; PROVIDED,
THAT, together with such notice to Harbor Global, Parent shall provide Harbor
Global with a written calculation in reasonable detail setting forth the amount
of any Separate Tax Liability or estimated Separate Tax Liability.
4.3 Treatment of Payments. Unless otherwise required by any Final
Determination, the parties agree that any payments made by a Liable Party to the
Other Party pursuant to this Tax Separation Agreement shall be treated for all
Tax and financial accounting purposes as payments made immediately prior to the
Distribution.
ARTICLE V
TAX AUDITS
Each of Harbor Global and Parent shall have sole responsibility for all
audits or other proceedings with respect to Tax Returns that it is required to
file under Section 2.1. Harbor Global shall be entitled to participate in the
conduct of any audit or controversy proceedings relating to any Taxes for which
Harbor Global may be liable, and Parent shall not settle any such audit or
controversy with respect to such Tax without the approval and consent of Harbor
Global, which approval and consent shall not unreasonably be withheld.
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ARTICLE VI
COOPERATION
6.1 Parent and Harbor Global shall cooperate with each other in the
filing of any Tax Returns and the conduct of any audit or other proceeding, and
each shall execute and deliver such powers of attorney and make available such
other documents as are necessary to carry out the intent of this Tax Separation
Agreement. Each party shall notify the other party of any audit adjustments
which do not result in Tax liability but can be reasonably expected to affect
Tax Returns of any member of the other party for a Period After the
Distribution. Each party agrees that the Distribution is not a non-recognition
transaction satisfying the requirements of Section 355 of the Code.
6.2 Harbor Global shall be entitled to review any Tax Return pertaining
to any Taxes for which Harbor Global may either be liable directly to the
relevant Taxing Authority or for which it may be required to indemnify any
member of the Parent Group under Section 2.6(a). Parent shall have due regard
for any comments made by Harbor Global Group in respect of any such Tax Return
before it is filed.
ARTICLE VII
TAX RECORDS, TAX RECORDS RETENTION AND ACCESS
7.1 On or before the Distribution Date, Parent shall use its reasonable
best efforts to provide Harbor Global with copies of all Tax records, documents,
accounting data and other information (including computer data) in its
possession that relates to any member of the Harbor Global Group. If after the
Distribution Date Parent obtains further Tax records, documents, accounting data
and other information (including computer data), it shall use its reasonable
best efforts to provide Harbor Global with copies of such additional information
no later than 15 days after receipt of such information.
7.2 The Parent Group and the Harbor Global Group shall (a) in
accordance with the record retention policy described in Section 5.3 of the
Distribution Agreement, retain Tax records, documents, accounting data and other
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information (including computer data) necessary for the preparation and filing
of all Tax Returns in respect of Taxes of the Parent Group or the Harbor Global
Group or for the audit of such Tax Returns and (b) give the other reasonable
access to such records, documents, accounting data and other information
(including computer data) and to its personnel (ensuring their cooperation) and
premises, for the purpose of the review or audit of such returns to the extent
relevant to an obligation or liability of a party under this Tax Separation
Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
DISPUTES
If Parent and Harbor Global cannot agree on any calculation of any
liabilities under this Tax Separation Agreement, such calculation shall be made
by any nationally recognized accounting firm acceptable to both Parent and
Harbor Global. The decision of such firm shall be final and binding. The fees
and expenses incurred in connection with such calculations shall be borne
equally by Parent and Harbor Global.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION OF LIABILITIES
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Tax Separation Agreement,
any liabilities determined under this Tax Separation Agreement shall not
terminate upon the expiration of the applicable statute of limitation for such
liability. All other covenants under this Tax Separation Agreement shall survive
indefinitely.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
10.1 Notices and Governing Law. All notices required or permitted to be
given pursuant to this Tax Separation Agreement shall be given as described in
Section 8.4 of the Distribution Agreement. This Tax Separation Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware, without reference to its conflicts of laws principles.
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10.2 Binding Effect; No Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Tax
Separation Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of, the
parties and their respective successors and assigns, including Acquiror. Parent
and Harbor Global hereby guarantee the performance of all actions, agreements
and obligations provided for under this Tax Separation Agreement of each member
of the Parent Group and the Harbor Global Group, respectively. Parent and Harbor
Global shall, upon the written request of the other, cause any of their
respective subsidiaries to execute this Tax Separation Agreement. Parent or
Harbor Global shall not assign any of its rights or delegate any of its duties
under this Tax Separation Agreement without the prior written consent of the
other party. No person (including, without limitation, any employee of a party
or any stockholder of a party) shall be, or shall be deemed to be, a third party
beneficiary of this Tax Separation Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Tax
Separation Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
HARBOR GLOBAL COMPANY LTD.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
HARBOR GLOBAL II LTD.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Signature Page to Tax Separation Agreement
