<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 6, 1997
QUALITY FOOD CENTERS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
WASHINGTON 0-15590 91-1330075
(State of other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
10112 N.E. 10TH STREET
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON
(Address of principal executive offices)
(206) 455-3761
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On November 6, 1997, Quality Food Centers, Inc., a Washington
corporation ("QFC"), Fred Meyer, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Fred Meyer"),
and Q-Acquisition Corp., a Washington corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Fred Meyer ("Q-Acquisition"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
(the "Merger Agreement"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and
incorporated by reference herein. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger
Agreement, Q-Acquisition would merge with and into QFC (the "Merger"), subject
to certain conditions being satisfied or waived. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, each outstanding share of QFC Common Stock, $.001 par value, would be
converted into the right to receive the greater of either (i) 1.9 shares of Fred
Meyer common stock, $.01 par value ("Fred Meyer Common Stock"), or (ii) the
lesser of (A) 2.3 shares of Fred Meyer Common Stock or (B) a number of shares
equal to $55 divided by the average closing price of the Fred Meyer Common Stock
on the New York Stock Exchange for 15 out of the 35 trading days ending on the
second trading day preceding the effective date of the Merger, subject to
certain adjustments if any divestitures are required under the antitrust laws.
Conditions to the consummation of the Merger include the receipt of regulatory
approvals and approval by the shareholders of Fred Meyer and QFC. Certain
shareholders of QFC holding approximately 26.1% of the outstanding shares of QFC
have entered into agreements (the "Shareholder Agreements") to vote their QFC
shares in favor of the Merger and certain shareholders of Fred Meyer holding
approximately 10.5% of the outstanding shares of Fred Meyer have entered into an
agreement (the "Voting Agreement") to vote their Fred Meyer shares in favor of
the Merger. The Shareholder Agreements are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1(a)
and 99.1(b), respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein. The Voting
Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Form 13-D, dated the date
hereof, filed by QFC with respect to Fred Meyer and the Voting Agreement.
On October 8, 1997, QFC sought and received approval by its
shareholders to change its corporate structure (the "Reorganization"). Upon
consummation of the Reorganization, each of QFC, Hughes Markets, Inc. and KU
Acquisition Corporation was to become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
Quality Food, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("New Parent"), and the current
shareholders of QFC were to have thereupon generally become shareholders of New
Parent. As a result of the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, QFC
will not be consummating the Reorganization. In the event the Merger Agreement
is terminated and the Merger is not consummated, QFC may elect to consummate the
Reorganization.
On November 7, 1997, QFC, Ralphs Grocery Company and Fred Meyer
issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger
Agreements, which press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1(d) and
incorporated herein by reference.
2
<PAGE>
THE FOREGOING SUMMARIES OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT, THE SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENTS AND THE VOTING AGREEMENT ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO THE FULL AGREEMENTS WHICH ARE ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBITS.
The information set forth above shall not be deemed to constitute an
offer to sell any security. Any such offer to sell will be made only by means
of a prospectus.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) EXHIBITS
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger Among Quality Food Centers,
Inc., Fred Meyer, Inc. and Q-Acquisition Corp., dated as
of November 6, 1997.
99.1(a) Shareholder Agreement between Fred Meyer, Inc. and Stewart
Sloan, dated as of November 6, 1997.
99.1(b) Shareholder Agreement between Fred Meyer, Inc. and
Zell/Chilmark Fund, L.P., dated as of November 6, 1997.
99.1(c) Voting Agreement between Quality Food Centers, Inc. and
certain shareholders of Fred Meyer, Inc. dated as of
November 6, 1997 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 7.1
of Quality Food Center, Inc.'s Form 13-D (filed on November
14, 1997)).
99.1(d) Press release dated November 6, 1997 announcing the proposed
merger.
3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 14, 1997 QUALITY FOOD CENTERS, INC.
By /s/ MARC W. EVANGER
-----------------------------------
Marc W. Evanger
Senior Vice President
4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Sequential
Ex. No. Description Page No.
- ------- ------------ ----------
<S> <C> <C>
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger Among Quality Food Centers, Inc.,
Fred Meyer, Inc. and Q-Acquisition Corp., dated as of
November 6, 1997.
99.1(a) Shareholder Agreement between Fred Meyer, Inc. and Stewart Sloan,
dated as of November 6, 1997.
99.1(b) Shareholder Agreement between Fred Meyer, Inc. and Zell/Chilmark Fund,
L.P., dated as of November 6, 1997.
99.1(c) Voting Agreement between Quality Food Centers, Inc. and certain
shareholders of Fred Meyer, Inc. dated as of November 6, 1997
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 7.1 of Quality Food Center,
Inc.'s Form 13-D (filed on November 14, 1997)).
99.1(d) Press release dated November 6, 1997 announcing the proposed merger.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXECUTION
----------------------------------------------------------
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Among
QUALITY FOOD CENTERS, INC.,
Q-ACQUISITION CORP.
and
FRED MEYER, INC.
Dated as of November 6, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I THE MERGER............................................1
SECTION 1.1 The Merger...............................1
SECTION 1.2 Effective Time...........................2
SECTION 1.3 Effects of the Merger....................2
SECTION 1.4 Articles of Incorporation;
By-Laws..................................2
SECTION 1.5 Directors and Officers...................2
SECTION 1.6 Conversion of Securities.................2
SECTION 1.7 Treatment of Employee Options and
Other Employee Equity Rights.............5
SECTION 1.8 Fractional Interests.....................6
SECTION 1.9 Surrender of Shares of Company
Common Stock; Stock Transfer
Books....................................6
SECTION 1.10 Closing and Closing Date.................9
ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.........9
SECTION 2.1 Organization and Qualification...........9
SECTION 2.2 Authorization; Validity and Effect
of Agreement.............................9
SECTION 2.3 Capitalization..........................10
SECTION 2.4 Subsidiaries............................10
SECTION 2.5 Other Interests.........................11
SECTION 2.6 No Conflict; Required Filings
and Consents............................11
SECTION 2.7 Compliance..............................12
SECTION 2.8 SEC Documents...........................12
SECTION 2.9 Litigation..............................13
SECTION 2.10 Absence of Certain Changes..............13
SECTION 2.11 Taxes...................................14
SECTION 2.12 Employee Benefit Plans..................15
SECTION 2.13 No Other Agreements to Sell the
Company or its Assets...................16
SECTION 2.14 Assets..................................16
SECTION 2.15 Contracts and Commitments...............18
SECTION 2.16 Absence of Breaches or Defaults.........19
SECTION 2.17 Labor Matters...........................20
SECTION 2.18 Insurance...............................21
SECTION 2.19 Affiliate Transactions..................21
SECTION 2.20 Environmental Matters...................21
SECTION 2.21 Form S-4; Joint Proxy Statement.........22
SECTION 2.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor............23
SECTION 2.23 Brokers.................................23
SECTION 2.24 Vote Required...........................23
SECTION 2.25 Chapter 23B.19 of the WBCL;
State Takeover Statutes.................23
SECTION 2.26 Accounting Matters......................24
-i-
<PAGE>
Page
----
SECTION 2.27 Tax Matters.............................24
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
AND SUB..............................................24
SECTION 3.1 Organization and Qualification..........24
SECTION 3.2 Authorization; Validity and
Effect of Agreement.....................24
SECTION 3.3 Capitalization..........................25
SECTION 3.4 Subsidiaries............................26
SECTION 3.5 Other Interests.........................26
SECTION 3.6 No Conflict; Required Filings
and Consents............................26
SECTION 3.7 Compliance..............................27
SECTION 3.8 SEC Documents...........................27
SECTION 3.9 Litigation..............................28
SECTION 3.10 Absence of Certain Changes..............29
SECTION 3.11 Taxes...................................29
SECTION 3.12 Employee Benefit Plans..................30
SECTION 3.13 Assets..................................31
SECTION 3.14 Contracts and Commitments...............33
SECTION 3.15 Absence of Breaches or Defaults.........34
SECTION 3.16 Labor Matters...........................35
SECTION 3.17 Insurance...............................35
SECTION 3.18 Environmental Matters...................36
SECTION 3.19 Form S-4; Joint Proxy Statement.........37
SECTION 3.20 Brokers.................................37
SECTION 3.21 Vote Required...........................37
SECTION 3.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor............38
SECTION 3.23 Tax Matters.............................38
ARTICLE IV CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER...............38
SECTION 4.1 Conduct of Business of the Company
Pending the Merger......................38
SECTION 4.2 Conduct of Business of Parent
Pending the Merger......................41
ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS................................43
SECTION 5.1 Preparation of Form S-4 and the
Joint Proxy Statement; Shareholder
Meetings................................43
SECTION 5.2 Accountants' Letters....................44
SECTION 5.3 Access to Information;
Confidentiality.........................45
SECTION 5.4 No Solicitation of Transactions.........46
SECTION 5.5 Employee Benefits Matters...............47
SECTION 5.6 Directors' and Officers'
Indemnification; Insurance..............47
SECTION 5.7 Notification of Certain Matters.........48
SECTION 5.8 Further Action..........................49
SECTION 5.9 Public Announcements....................51
SECTION 5.10 Stock Exchange Listing..................51
ii
<PAGE>
Page
----
SECTION 5.11 Affiliates..............................52
SECTION 5.12 Directorships...........................52
SECTION 5.13 Parent Representations and
Warranties..............................52
SECTION 5.14 Real Estate Transfer Taxes..............52
SECTION 5.15 Registration Rights.....................53
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS OF MERGER.................................54
SECTION 6.1 Conditions to Obligation of Each
Party to Effect the Merger..............54
SECTION 6.2 Conditions to Obligations of the
Company to Effect the Merger............54
SECTION 6.3 Conditions to Obligations of Parent
and Sub to Effect the Merger............56
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER....................58
SECTION 7.1 Termination.............................58
SECTION 7.2 Effect of Termination...................60
SECTION 7.3 Fees and Expenses.......................60
SECTION 7.4 Amendment...............................61
SECTION 7.5 Waiver..................................61
ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................62
SECTION 8.1 Non-Survival of Representations,
Warranties and Agreements...............62
SECTION 8.2 Notices.................................62
SECTION 8.3 Certain Definitions.....................63
SECTION 8.4 Severability............................67
SECTION 8.5 Entire Agreement; Assignment............68
SECTION 8.6 Parties in Interest.....................68
SECTION 8.7 Governing Law...........................68
SECTION 8.8 Headings................................68
SECTION 8.9 Counterparts............................68
iii
<PAGE>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of November 6, 1997 (the
"AGREEMENT"), among FRED MEYER, INC., a Delaware corporation ("PARENT"), Q-
ACQUISITION CORP., a Washington corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent ("SUB"), and QUALITY FOOD CENTERS, INC., a Washington corporation (the
"COMPANY").
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company have
each approved the merger of Sub with and into the Company and the Company
becoming a wholly owned direct subsidiary of Parent (the "MERGER") in accordance
with the Washington Business Corporation Act ("WBCL") upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and as a condition and inducement to Parent's willingness to enter
into this Agreement, Parent and certain Company shareholders (the
"SHAREHOLDERS") have each entered into a shareholders agreement, dated as of the
date hereof and attached as Annex A hereto (the "SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENTS"); and
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "CODE").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, Parent, Sub and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.1 THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
of this Agreement and in accordance with the WBCL, at the Effective Time (as
defined in Section 1.2), Sub shall be merged with and into the Company. As a
result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease and
the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation of the Merger (the
"SURVIVING CORPORATION"). At Parent's election, the Merger may alternatively be
structured so that any direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent may be
substituted for Sub as a constituent corporation in the Merger. In the event of
such an election, the parties agree to execute an appropriate amendment to this
Agreement in order to reflect such election.
<PAGE>
2
SECTION 1.2 EFFECTIVE TIME. The parties hereto shall cause the
Merger to be consummated by filing articles of merger (the "ARTICLES OF MERGER")
on the Closing Date with the Secretary of State of the State of Washington, in
such form as required by and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions
of the WBCL (the date and time of the filing of the Articles of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Washington or at such later time or date
after such filing as may be specified in the Articles of Merger being the
"EFFECTIVE TIME").
SECTION 1.3 EFFECTS OF THE MERGER. The Merger shall have the effects
set forth in the applicable provisions of the WBCL. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all the
property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises of the Company
and Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and
duties of the Company and Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of
the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 1.4 ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION; BY-LAWS. (a) At the Effective
Time and without any further action on the part of the Company and Sub, the text
of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be amended, restated and integrated to read in its
entirety as set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and as so amended, restated and
integrated shall be the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter and further amended as provided therein
and under the WBCL.
(b) At the Effective Time and without any further action on the part
of the Company and Sub, the By-Laws of Sub shall be the By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation and thereafter may be amended or repealed in accordance with their
terms or the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and as
provided by law.
SECTION 1.5 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The directors of Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving
Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of
the Surviving Corporation, in each case until their respective successors are
duly elected or appointed (as the case may be) and qualified.
SECTION 1.6 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Sub, the
Company or the holders of any of the following securities:
(a) Subject to Sections 1.6(d) and 1.8, each share of Common Stock,
par value $.001 per share, of the Company
<PAGE>
3
("COMPANY COMMON STOCK") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than shares of Company Common Stock to be cancelled
in accordance with Section 1.6(b) hereof) shall be converted into and
represent the right to receive a number (rounded to the nearest ten-
thousandth of a share) (adjusted as set forth below, the "EXCHANGE RATIO")
of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share of Parent (the "PARENT COMMON STOCK"), equal to the greater of (i)
1.9 and (ii) the number equal to the lesser of (A) 2.3 and (B) the number
determined by dividing $55 by the Average Parent Price (as defined below);
PROVIDED, that the Exchange Ratio determined pursuant to this Section
1.6(a) shall be reduced by the Exchange Ratio Adjustment Amount (as defined
below), if any (the "MERGER CONSIDERATION"). The Merger Consideration
shall be payable upon the surrender of the certificate formerly
representing such share of Company Common Stock. As of the Effective Time,
all such shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and
shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and
each holder of a certificate representing any such shares of Company Common
Stock shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right
to receive (i) the Merger Consideration, (ii) any cash in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued or paid in
consideration therefor upon surrender of such certificate in accordance
with Section 1.9 and (iii) any dividends and distributions in accordance
with Section 1.9(e), in each case without interest. The "AVERAGE PARENT
PRICE" shall be equal to the average of the closing prices of the Parent
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") as reported on the
NYSE Composite Transaction Tape for the 15 trading days randomly selected
by lot out of the 35 trading days ending on the second trading day
preceding the Effective Time. The "EXCHANGE RATIO ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT" shall
be equal to (i) the Total Deduction Amount (as defined below) divided by
(ii) the product of (x) the Average Parent Price and (y) the sum of the
aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and (without duplication) the
aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock in respect of which
Company Stock Rights (as defined in Section 1.7) are outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time. The "TOTAL DEDUCTION AMOUNT"
shall be equal to (i) the product of (A) four and (B) the Lost EBITDA (as
defined below) in excess of $15 million, minus (ii) 50% of the Estimated
Gain (as defined in Section 5.8). The "LOST EBITDA" shall be equal to the
aggregate earnings before interest, taxes, corporate allocation costs for
administration (including costs for management information systems),
depreciation and amortization from the continuing operations of any
Facilities (as defined in Section 2.14) to be divested pursuant to Section
5.8 (each a "Divested Facility") and located in the State of California
during the
<PAGE>
4
twelve-month period ending on the second most recent month-end prior to the
earlier of (i) the agreement of Parent with the applicable governmental or
regulatory authority to divest such Divested Facilities pursuant to Section
5.8 and (ii) the Effective Time; PROVIDED, that, for any new Divested
Facility to be divested which has not been in operation for such twelve-
month period (each a "NEW FACILITY"), Lost EBITDA for such New Facility
shall be an amount equal to 80% of the Average Facility EBITDA. "AVERAGE
FACILITY EBITDA" is equal to the aggregate Lost EBITDA of all Facilities
(other than New Facilities) owned by the company which is divesting such
New Facility, assuming all such Facilities are to be divested pursuant to
Section 5.8, divided by the total number of such Facilities (other than New
Facilities).
(b) Each share of Company Common Stock that is (i) held in the
treasury of the Company or (ii) owned by Parent, Sub or any other direct or
indirect subsidiary of Parent or of the Company, in each case immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be cancelled and retired without any
conversion thereof and no payment or distribution shall be made with
respect thereto.
(c) Each share of common, preferred or other capital stock of Sub
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain
outstanding and shall be unchanged after the Merger and shall thereafter
constitute all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of the Merger or
consented thereto in writing and who has demanded appraisal for such Company
Common Stock in accordance with the WBCL shall not be converted into a right to
receive the Merger Consideration, unless such holder fails to perfect or
withdraws or otherwise loses its right to appraisal or it is determined that
such holder does not have appraisal rights in accordance with the WBCL. If
after the Effective Time such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or loses its
right to appraisal, or if it is determined that such holder does not have an
appraisal right, such shares of Company Common Stock shall be treated as if they
had been exchanged as of the Effective Time for a right to receive the Merger
Consideration. The Company shall give Parent and Sub prompt notice of any
demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Common Stock,
and Parent and Sub shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to such demands except as required by applicable law.
The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent and Sub,
make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such
demands.
<PAGE>
5
SECTION 1.7 TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEE OPTIONS AND OTHER EMPLOYEE EQUITY
RIGHTS. (a) Subject to Sections 1.7(b) and 1.7(c), prior to the Effective Time,
the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any Committee
thereof) and the Board of Directors of Parent shall adopt appropriate
resolutions and take all other actions necessary to provide that effective at
the Effective Time, all the outstanding stock options, stock appreciation
rights, limited stock appreciation rights, performance units and stock purchase
rights (the "COMPANY STOCK RIGHTS") heretofore granted under any stock option,
performance unit or similar plan of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined
in Section 8.3)(the "STOCK PLANS") shall be assumed by Parent and converted
automatically into options to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock
(collectively, "NEW STOCK RIGHTS") in an amount and, if applicable, at an
exercise price determined as provided below:
(i) The number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be subject to the
New Stock Right shall be equal to the product of the number of shares of
Company Common Stock remaining subject (as of immediately prior to the
Effective Time) to the original Company Stock Right and the Exchange Ratio,
provided that any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock resulting from
such multiplication shall be rounded down to the nearest share; and
(ii) The exercise price per share of Parent Common Stock under the
New Stock Right shall be equal to the exercise price per share of the
Company Common Stock under the original Company Stock Right divided by the
Exchange Ratio, provided that such exercise price shall be rounded down to
the nearest cent.
The adjustment provided herein with respect to any options which are "incentive
stock options" (as defined in Section 422 of the Code) shall be and is intended
to be effected in a manner which is consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code.
Subject to Sections 1.7(b) and 1.7(c), after the Effective Time, each New Stock
Right shall be exercisable and shall vest upon the same terms and conditions as
were applicable to the related Company Stock Right immediately prior to the
Effective Time (except that with regard to such New Stock Right, any references
to the Company shall be deemed, as appropriate, to include Parent).
(b) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, each vested Stock Unit ("Stock Unit") outstanding under the Company's
Director Stock Unit Plan shall at the Effective Time, be converted into that
number of Shares of Parent Common Stock and such other property as would have
been received by the holder if such Stock Unit had been exercised and converted
into shares of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time and
the Company Common Stock that would have been received upon such exercise had
been converted pursuant to Section 1.6(a).
<PAGE>
6
(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will take all actions
necessary (i) to shorten the offering periods under the Company's 1990 Amended
and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan") currently
scheduled to terminate on March 31, 1998, so that such offering periods
terminate on the day prior to the Effective Time if the Effective Time occurs on
or before March 31, 1998 and (ii) to terminate such plan effective as of the
earliest of the Effective Time or March 31, 1998.
(d) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts so that following
the Effective Time no holder of a Company Stock Right or any participant in any
Stock Plans shall have any right thereunder to acquire capital stock of the
Company, Sub, or the Surviving Corporation. The Company will use reasonable
best efforts so that, as of the Effective Time, none of Sub, the Company, the
Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Subsidiaries is or will be
bound by any Company Stock Rights, other options, warrants, rights or agreements
which would entitle any person, other than Sub or its affiliates, to own any
capital stock of the Company, Sub, the Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective subsidiaries or to receive any payment in respect thereof, except as
otherwise provided herein.
(e) Parent agrees that it shall take all action necessary, on or
prior to the Effective Time, to authorize and reserve a number of shares of
Parent Common Stock sufficient for issuance upon exercise of options as
contemplated by Section 1.7.
SECTION 1.8 FRACTIONAL INTERESTS. No certificates or scrip
representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued in
connection with the Merger, and such fractional interests will not entitle the
owner thereof to any rights of a shareholder of Parent. In lieu of any such
fractional interests, each holder of shares of Company Common Stock exchanged
pursuant to Section 1.6(a) who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a
fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock (after taking into account all shares
of Company Common Stock then held of record by such holder) shall receive cash
(without interest) in an amount equal to the product of such fractional part of
a share of Parent Common Stock multiplied by the Average Parent Price.
SECTION 1.9 SURRENDER OF SHARES OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK; STOCK
TRANSFER BOOKS. (a) Prior to the Closing Date, Sub shall designate a bank or
trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent for the
holders of shares of Company Common Stock in connection with the Merger (the
"EXCHANGE AGENT") to receive the shares of Parent Common Stock (and any cash
payable in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock) to which
holders of shares of Company Common Stock shall become entitled pursuant to
Sections 1.6(a) and 1.8. Immediately before the Effective Time, Parent will, or
will cause Sub to, make available to the Exchange Agent sufficient shares of
Parent
<PAGE>
7
Common Stock and cash to make all exchanges pursuant to Section 1.9(b).
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause
the Surviving Corporation to, cause to be mailed to each record holder, as of
the Effective Time, of an outstanding certificate or certificates which
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Company Common
Stock (the "CERTIFICATES"), a form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify
that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates
shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent)
and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in
exchange for certificates representing shares of Parent Common Stock therefor.
Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate, together with such letter
of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the
instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be reasonably required
pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled
to receive in exchange therefor, (i) a certificate representing that number of
whole shares of Parent Common Stock which such holder has the right to receive
pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.6(a), (ii) cash in lieu of any
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 1.8, after giving effect to any required tax withholdings,
and (iii) any dividends or distributions to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 1.9(e), and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith
be cancelled. If the exchange of certificates representing shares of Parent
Common Stock is to be made to a person other than the person in whose name the
surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition of exchange that
the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise
in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such exchange shall
have paid any transfer and other taxes required by reason of the exchange of
certificates representing shares of Parent Common Stock to a person other than
the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or shall have established
to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax either has been
paid or is not applicable.
(c) At any time following 12 months after the Effective Time, Parent
shall be entitled to require the Exchange Agent to deliver to it or the
Surviving Corporation any shares of Parent Common Stock (and any cash payable in
lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock and dividends or other
distributions in respect thereof) which had been made available to the Exchange
Agent and which have not been disbursed to holders of Certificates, and
thereafter such holders shall be entitled to look to Parent (subject to
abandoned property, escheat or other similar laws) only as general creditors
thereof with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock (and any cash payable
in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock) payable upon due
surrender of their Certificates.
<PAGE>
8
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Parent, the Surviving Corporation nor the
Exchange Agent shall be liable to any holder of a Certificate for shares of
Parent Common Stock (and any cash payable in lieu of any fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock) delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable
abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(d) At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company
shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of
transfers of shares of Company Common Stock on the records of the Company. From
and after the Effective Time, the holders of Certificates evidencing ownership
of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares of Company
Common Stock except as otherwise provided for herein or by applicable law.
(e) No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the
Effective Time with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock shall be paid to
the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Parent
Common Stock it is entitled to receive and no cash payment in lieu of fractional
interests shall be paid pursuant to Section 1.8 until the holder of such
Certificate shall surrender such Certificate in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement. Upon such surrender, Parent shall cause to be paid to the
person in whose name the certificates representing such shares of Parent Common
Stock shall be issued, any dividends or distributions with respect to such
shares of Parent Common Stock which have a record date after the Effective Time
and shall have become payable between the Effective Time and the time of such
surrender. In no event shall the person entitled to receive such dividends or
distributions be entitled to receive interest thereon.
(f) If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of sale,
assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or
desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving
Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights,
properties or assets of either Sub or the Company acquired or to be acquired by
the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger or
otherwise to carry out this Agreement, the officers of the Surviving Corporation
shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each of
Sub and the Company or otherwise, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and
assurances and to take and do, in such names and on such behalves or otherwise,
all such other actions and things as may be necessary or desirable to vest,
perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to and under such
rights, properties or assets in the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement.
<PAGE>
9
SECTION 1.10 CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE. Unless this Agreement shall
have been terminated and the transactions herein contemplated shall have been
abandoned pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.1, the closing (the "CLOSING")
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place (a) at 10:00
a.m. (Pacific time) on the second business day after all of the conditions to
the respective obligations of the parties set forth in Article VI hereof shall
have been satisfied or waived or (b) at such other time and date as Parent and
the Company shall agree (such date and time on and at which the Closing occurs
being referred to herein as the "CLOSING DATE"). The Closing shall take place
at such location as Parent and the Company shall agree.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Sub that:
SECTION 2.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. The Company and each of
its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with the corporate power and
authority to own and operate its business as presently conducted. The Company
and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other
entity to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
character of its properties owned or held under lease or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary, except for such failures of the
Company and any of its Subsidiaries to be so qualified as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in
Section 8.3). The Company has previously made available to Parent true and
correct copies of its articles of incorporation and bylaws or other
organizational documents and the charter documents and bylaws or other
organizational documents of each of its Subsidiaries, as currently in effect.
SECTION 2.2 AUTHORIZATION; VALIDITY AND EFFECT OF AGREEMENT. The
Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Company and all other necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company, other than the adoption and approval of this
Agreement by the shareholders of the Company, and no other corporate proceedings
on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby
<PAGE>
10
and the execution, delivery and performance of the Shareholders Agreements by
the parties thereto. The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted for the
purposes of Chapters 23B.11.010 and 23B.11.030 of the WBCL the plan of merger
contained in this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing.
SECTION 2.3 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 60,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 1,000,000
shares of preferred stock having a par value of $.001 per share (the "COMPANY
PREFERRED STOCK"). As of October 31, 1997, 20,996,562 shares of Company Common
Stock (none of which are held in the Company treasury), and no shares of Company
Preferred Stock, were issued and outstanding. Except pursuant to the exercise
of employee options prior to the date hereof, since October 31, 1997, no shares
of Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock have been issued. All of the
issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable. As of the date hereof, except as otherwise disclosed
in Section 2.3 of the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Parent and
Sub prior to the execution of this Agreement (the "DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE"), there
are no existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities
or other securities, agreements, commitments, or obligations which would require
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue or sell shares of Company Common
Stock, Company Preferred Stock or any other equity securities, or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Company Common
Stock, Company Preferred Stock or any other equity securities of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Section 2.3 of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has no commitments or obligations to purchase or redeem
any shares of Company Common Stock.
SECTION 2.4 SUBSIDIARIES. The only Subsidiaries of the Company are
those set forth in Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the
Company's Subsidiaries are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free
of preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. Except as set
forth in Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company owns, directly or
indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership
interests of each of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Encumbrances (as
defined in Section 8.3), and there are no existing options, warrants, calls,
subscriptions, convertible securities or other
<PAGE>
11
securities, agreements, commitments or obligations of any character relating to
the outstanding capital stock or other securities of any Subsidiary of the
Company or which would require any Subsidiary of the Company to issue or sell
any shares of its capital stock, ownership interests or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of its capital stock or ownership interests.
SECTION 2.5 OTHER INTERESTS. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.5 of
the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of the Company's
Subsidiaries owns, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment in the
equity or debt for borrowed money of any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, business, trust or other Person (other than
the Company's Subsidiaries).
SECTION 2.6 NO CONFLICT; REQUIRED FILINGS AND CONSENTS. (a) Except
as set forth in Section 2.6 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, will: (i) conflict with the Company's articles of incorporation or
bylaws; (ii) assuming satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section
2.6(b) below, violate any statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation,
applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties
or assets; or (iii) violate, breach, be in conflict with or constitute a default
(or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a
default) under, or permit the termination of any provision of, or result in the
termination of, the acceleration of the maturity of, or the acceleration of the
performance of any obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
cause an indemnity payment to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien upon any properties,
assets or business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any note,
bond, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, franchise, permit,
authorization, license, contract, instrument or other agreement or commitment or
any order, judgment or decree to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective assets or properties is bound or encumbered, or give any Person the
right to require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or
repurchase any notes, bonds or instruments of any kind except, in the case of
clauses (ii) and (iii), for such violations, breaches, conflicts, defaults or
other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the
"EXCHANGE ACT"), the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder (the "SECURITIES ACT"), and state securities or "blue
sky" laws
<PAGE>
12
("BLUE SKY LAWS"), (ii) for the pre-merger notification requirements of the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder (the "HSR ACT"), (iii) for the filing of articles of
merger pursuant to the WBCL, (iv) the filing of an affidavit relating to real
estate excise taxes in the State of Washington and (v) with respect to matters
set forth in Sections 2.6(a) or 2.6(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, no consent,
approval or authorization of, permit from, or declaration, filing or
registration with, any governmental or regulatory authority, or any other Person
(as defined in Section 8.3) or entity is required to be made or obtained by the
Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval,
authorization, permit or declaration or to make such filing or registration
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 2.7 COMPLIANCE. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is
in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
applicable to its operations or with respect to which compliance is a condition
of engaging in the business thereof (including, without limitation, all
Environmental Laws), except to the extent that failure to comply would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received any notice asserting a failure, or possible failure, to comply with any
such law or regulation, the subject of which notice has not been resolved as
required thereby or otherwise to the satisfaction of the party sending the
notice, except for such failure as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have all
permits, licenses and franchises from governmental agencies required to conduct
their respective businesses as they are now being conducted, except for such
failures to have such permits, licenses and franchises that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 2.8 SEC DOCUMENTS. (a) The Company has delivered or made
available to Parent true and complete copies of each registration statement,
proxy or information statement, form, report and other documents required to be
filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") since
January 1, 1996 (collectively, the "COMPANY SEC REPORTS"). As of their
respective dates, the Company SEC Reports and any registration statements,
reports, forms, proxy or information statements and other documents filed by the
Company with the SEC after the date of this Agreement (i) complied, or, with
respect to those not yet filed, will comply, in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and (ii) did
not, or, with respect to those not yet filed, will not, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state
<PAGE>
13
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(b) Each of the consolidated balance sheets of the Company included
in or incorporated by reference into the Company SEC Reports (including the
related notes and schedules) presents fairly, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries
as of its date, and each of the consolidated statements of income, retained
earnings and cash flows of the Company included in or incorporated by reference
into the Company SEC Reports (including any related notes and schedules)
presents fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations, retained
earnings or cash flows, as the case may be, of the Company and its Subsidiaries
for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements,
to normal year-end audit adjustments), in each case in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied during the periods involved, except as may be noted
therein.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 2.8(c) of the Disclosure Schedule
and except as set forth in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of
this Agreement (the "Recent Company SEC Reports"), neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether
accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be required to be
reflected on, or reserved against in, a balance sheet of the Company or in the
notes thereto, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, except for
(i) liabilities or obligations that were so reserved on, or reflected in
(including the notes to), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of
December 28, 1996 and (ii) liabilities or obligations arising in the ordinary
course of business (including trade indebtedness) since December 28, 1996 which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 2.9 LITIGATION. Except as set forth in Section 2.9 of the
Disclosure Schedule and except as set forth in the Recent Company SEC Reports,
there is no Action instituted, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, in each case against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which
would, individually or in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, have a Material
Adverse Effect, nor is there any outstanding judgment, decree, or injunction, in
each case against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any statute, rule
or order of any domestic or foreign court, governmental department, commission
or agency applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which has or
will have, individually or in the aggregate, any Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 2.10 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as set forth in
Section 2.10 of the Disclosure Schedule and except as set forth in the Recent
Company SEC Reports and except for the transactions expressly contemplated
hereby, since December 28,
<PAGE>
14
1996, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective
businesses only in the ordinary and usual course consistent with past practices
and there has not been any (i) change in the Company's business, operations,
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, assets or
liabilities, except for changes contemplated hereby or changes which have not,
individually or in the aggregate, had a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii)
condition, event or occurrence which, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set
forth in Section 2.10 of the Disclosure Schedule and except as set forth in the
Recent Company SEC Reports, from September 6, 1997 through the date of this
Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any of the
actions prohibited by Section 4.1 hereof.
SECTION 2.11 TAXES. Except as set forth in Section 2.11 of the
Disclosure Schedule:
(a) the Company and its Subsidiaries have (A) duly filed (or there
have been filed on their behalf) with the appropriate governmental authorities
all Tax Returns (as defined in Section 8.3) required to be filed by them and
such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all respects, except where
any such failure to file, or failure to be true, correct and complete, would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B)
duly paid in full all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns;
(b) the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material
respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the
withholding of Taxes and the payment of such withheld Taxes to the proper
governmental authorities, except where any such failure to comply, withhold or
pay over would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(c) All federal income Tax Returns of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for periods through the taxable year ended in 1993 have been
audited, and no federal or material state, local or foreign audits or other
administrative proceedings or court proceedings are presently being conducted
with regard to any Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company or its Subsidiaries and
neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received a written notice of any
pending audits with respect to material Taxes or material Tax Returns of the
Company, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived in
writing any statute of limitations with respect to material Taxes;
(d) Neither the Internal Revenue Service nor any other taxing
authority (whether domestic or foreign) has asserted in writing against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries any deficiency or claim for Taxes, except
where any such deficiency or claim for Taxes, if decided adversely to the
Company or any of
<PAGE>
15
its Subsidiaries, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(e) There are no material liens for Taxes upon any Property or Assets
of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, except for liens for Taxes not yet due
and payable and liens for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings, and no material written power of attorney that has been
granted by the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than to the Company or a
Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes;
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, with regard
to any assets or property held by any of them, agreed to have Section 341(f)(2)
of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as such term is
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; and
(g) Since January 1, 1994, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries
has been a member of an Affiliated Group filing a consolidated federal income
tax return other than a group the common parent of which is the Company.
SECTION 2.12 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) Section 2.12 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete list
of all Employee Plans which the Company and its Subsidiaries maintain,
administer or contribute to, or are required to contribute to as of the date
hereof. To the extent in the Company's or its Subsidiaries' possession, true
and complete copies or descriptions of the Employee Plans of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, trust instruments, if any, that
form a part thereof, and all amendments thereto have been furnished or made
available to Parent and its counsel.
(b) Except as described in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure Schedule,
each of the Employee Plans of the Company and of its ERISA Affiliates (other
than any Multiemployer Plan) has been administered and is in compliance with the
terms of such Employee Plan and all applicable laws, rules and regulations
except for noncompliance which could not reasonably be expected, individually or
in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) No "reportable event" (as such term is used in section 4043 of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")),
"prohibited transaction" (as such term is used in section 406 of ERISA or
section 4975 of the Code), "nondeductible contributions" (as such term is used
in Section 4972 of the Code) or "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such term
is used in section 412 or 4971 of the Code) has heretofore occurred with respect
to any Employee Plan (other than
<PAGE>
16
any Multiemployer Plan) of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, except for such
events which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(d) No litigation or administrative or other proceeding involving any
Employee Plans of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) has occurred or are threatened where an adverse
determination could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(e) Except as set forth in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure Schedule,
neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate of the Company has incurred any
withdrawal liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan under Title IV of
ERISA which remains unsatisfied, except for such liabilities as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) All of the Employee Plans of the Company or its Subsidiaries
(other than any Multiemployer Plan) can be terminated by the Company without
incurring any material liability. Subject to any collective bargaining
obligations, except as set forth in Section 2.12(f) of the Disclosure Schedule,
the Company and its Subsidiaries can withdraw from participation in any Employee
Plan that is a Multiemployer Plan. Except as set forth in Section 2.12(f) of
the Disclosure Schedule, any termination of, or withdrawal from, any Employee
Plans of the Company or its Subsidiaries, on or prior to the Closing Date, would
not subject the Company to any liability under Title IV of ERISA that would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Neither the Company nor any of its controlled or controlling
Affiliates is aware of any situation with respect to a Multiemployer Plan
described in (b), (c) or (d) above, except as described in Section 2.12 of the
Disclosure Schedule.
(h) The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not cause
the occurrence of a situation described in Section 2.12 (b), (c), (d) or (e) as
of or after the Effective Time.
SECTION 2.13 NO OTHER AGREEMENTS TO SELL THE COMPANY OR ITS ASSETS.
The Company has no legal obligation, absolute or contingent, to any other Person
to sell any material portion of the Assets of the Company, to sell any material
portion of the capital stock or other ownership interests of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or to effect any merger, consolidation or other
reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to enter into any
agreement with respect thereto.
SECTION 2.14 ASSETS. (a) Except as set forth in Section 2.14(a) of
the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and
marketable title to or a valid leasehold estate in all of the material
properties and assets, real or personal, reflected on the Company's balance
sheet at
<PAGE>
17
December 28, 1996 (except for properties or assets subsequently sold in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice). Except as set forth
in Section 2.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries
have good and marketable title or a valid right to use all of the real
properties that are necessary, and all of the personal assets and properties
that are materially necessary, for the conduct of the business of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted
Encumbrances).
(b) Section 2.14(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete
and accurate list of each improved or unimproved real property (whether owned or
leased, "PROPERTY") and/or store, office, plant or warehouse ("FACILITY") owned
or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and the current use of such
Property or Facility and indicating whether the Property or Facility is owned or
leased.
(c) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened condemnation or similar proceedings against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, otherwise relating to any of
the Properties or Facilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries except for such
proceedings which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(d) Section 2.14(d) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete
and accurate list of all Leases (including subleases and licenses) of personal
property entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and involving
any annual expense to the Company or any such Subsidiary in excess of $250,000
and/or not cancelable (without material liability) within two (2) years.
(e) Section 2.14(e) of the Disclosure Schedule indicates each Lease
entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as a tenant or
subtenant.
(f) The Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has in all
material respects performed all obligations on its part required to have been
performed with respect to (i) all Assets leased by it or to it (whether as
lessor or lessee), and (ii) all Leases and there exists no material default or
event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would become a
default on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Lease,
in each case except where the failure to perform or such default or event would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) To the knowledge of the Company, each of the Leases is valid,
binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the effects of
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
<PAGE>
18
generally, general equitable principles (whether considered on a proceeding in
equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing) and is
in full force and effect, and assuming all consents required by the terms
thereof or applicable law have been obtained, the Leases will continue to be
valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and in
full force and effect immediately following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, in each case except where the failure to be valid, binding
and enforceable and in full force and effect would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a or Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Except as shown on Section 2.14(h) of the Disclosure Schedule,
the Company has delivered to Parent, or otherwise made available, originals or
true copies of all material Leases (as the same may have been amended or
modified, in any material respect, from time to time).
SECTION 2.15 CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS. Section 2.15 of the
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all contracts
(written or oral), plans, undertakings, commitments or agreements ("CONTRACTS")
of the following categories to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any of them is bound as of the date of this Agreement:
(a) employment contracts, including, without limitation, contracts to
employ executive officers and other contracts with officers, directors or
shareholders of the Company, and all severance, change in control or
similar arrangements with any officers, employees or agents of the Company
that will result in any obligation (absolute or contingent) of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payment to any officers, employees
or agents of the Company following either the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, termination of employment, or both;
(b) Labor contracts;
(c) material distribution, franchise, license, sales, agency or
advertising contracts;
(d) Contracts for the purchase of inventory which are not cancelable
(without material penalty, cost or other liability) within one (1) year
(other than Contracts for the purchase of holiday goods in accordance with
customary industry practices) and other Contracts made in the ordinary
course of business involving annual expenditures or liabilities in excess
of $400,000 which are not cancelable (without material penalty, cost or
other liability) within ninety (90) days;
<PAGE>
19
(e) promissory notes, loans, agreements, indentures, evidences of
indebtedness or other instruments providing for the lending of money,
whether as borrower, lender or guarantor, in excess of $250,000;
(f) Contracts (other than Leases) containing covenants limiting the
freedom of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any line of
business or compete with any Person or operate at any location;
(g) joint venture or partnership agreements or joint development or
similar agreements pursuant to which any third party is entitled to develop
any Property and/or Facility on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(h) any Contract where the customer under such Contract is a federal,
state or local government;
(i) any Contract pending for the acquisition, directly or indirectly
(by merger or otherwise) of material assets (other than inventory) or
capital stock of another Person; and
(j) Contracts involving annual expenditures or liabilities in excess
of $400,000 which are not concealable (without material penalty, cost or
other liability) within ninety (90) days.
True copies of the written Contracts identified in Section 2.15 of the
Disclosure Schedule have been delivered or made available to Parent.
SECTION 2.16 ABSENCE OF BREACHES OR DEFAULTS. Except as set forth in
Section 2.16 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party is in
default under, or in breach or violation of, any Contract identified on Section
2.15 of the Disclosure Schedule and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event
has occurred which, with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would
constitute a default under any Contract identified on Section 2.15 of the
Disclosure Schedule, except for defaults, breaches, violations or events which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Other than contracts which have terminated or expired in accordance with their
terms, each of the Contracts identified on Section 2.15 of the Disclosure
Schedule is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject
to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally, general equitable principles (whether considered on a proceeding in
equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing) and is
in full force and effect, and assuming all consents required by the terms
thereof or applicable law have been obtained, such Contracts will
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20
continue to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms and in full force and effect immediately following the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case except where
the failure to be valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No event
has occurred which either entitles, or would, on notice or lapse of time or
both, entitle the holder of any indebtedness for borrowed money affecting the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except for the execution of this Agreement
and the Shareholder Agreements) to accelerate, or which does accelerate, the
maturity of any indebtedness affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
except as set forth in Section 2.16 of the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 2.17 LABOR MATTERS.
(a) Section 2.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete
list of all organizations representing the employees of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, there is no strike, work stoppage or
labor disturbance, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened,
which involves any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Section 2.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedule contains as of the
date hereof (i) a list of all material unfair employment or labor practice
charges which are presently pending which, to the knowledge of the Company, have
been filed with any governmental authority by or on behalf of any employee
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) a list of all material
employment-related litigation, including, without limitation, arbitrations or
administrative proceedings which are presently pending, filed by or on behalf of
any former, current or prospective employee against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(c) Except as described in Sections 2.17(a) and (b) of the Disclosure
Schedule, there are not presently pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any claims by any
governmental authority, labor organization, or any former, current or
prospective employee alleging that the Company or any such employer has violated
any applicable laws respecting employment practices, except where such claims
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.17(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all respects with its
obligations under all statutes, executive orders and other governmental
regulations or judicial decrees governing its employment practices, including,
without limitation, provisions relating to wages, hours, equal opportunity and
payment of social security and other taxes and has timely filed all regular
federal and state employment related reports and other documents, except
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21
for such failures to be in compliance or failure to file that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 2.18 INSURANCE. All material fire and casualty, general
liability, business interruption, product liability, and sprinkler and water
damage insurance policies maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
are with reputable insurance carriers, provide adequate coverage for normal
risks incident to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their
respective Properties and Assets, and are in character and amount substantially
equivalent to that carried by Persons engaged in similar businesses and subject
to the same or similar perils or hazards, except for any such failures to
maintain insurance policies that, individually or in the aggregate, are not
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 2.19 AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth in the
Recent Company SEC Reports and as set forth in Schedule 2.19 of the Disclosure
Schedule, from December 31, 1996 through the date of this Agreement there have
been no transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings between the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Company Affiliates
(other than wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company) or other Persons, on the
other hand, that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act.
SECTION 2.20 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as set forth in Section
2.20 of the Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company each of the
Properties and Facilities has been maintained by the Company in compliance with
all Environmental Laws, except where the failure to so comply, or any
aggregation of such failures, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed on Schedule 2.20, to the
knowledge of the Company, there are no Hazardous Materials which have been or
are being released or disposed of by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
in the case of asbestos only, is present, on any property, the cost of
remediation of which to the Company would reasonably be expected individually or
in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect. Expect as disclosed on
Schedule 2.20, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no Hazardous Materials
which have been or are being released by persons other than the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries and which have encroached through the soil or groundwater
onto or under the Properties and Facilities where the cost to Company of
remediation of such Hazardous Materials would reasonably be expected
individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
set forth in Section 2.20 of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) there are no existing
uncured written notices of noncompliance, notices of violation, administrative
actions, or lawsuits against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising
under Environmental Laws or relating to
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22
the use, handling, storage, treatment, recycling, generation, or release of
Hazardous Materials, nor has the Company received any uncured written
notification of any allegation of any responsibility for any disposal, release,
or threatened release at any location of any Hazardous Materials, except in any
such case which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) there are no consent decrees,
consent orders, judgments, judicial or administrative orders, or liens by any
governmental authority relating to any Environmental Law which have not already
been fully satisfied and which name the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
except in any such case which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) to the
knowledge of the Company, except as set forth in Section 2.20 of the Disclosure
Schedule, no Properties or Facilities of the Company or any Subsidiary are
listed on the federal National Priorities List, the federal Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation Liability Information System list, or any
similar state listing of sites known to be contaminated with Hazardous
Materials. Except as set forth in Section 2.20 of the Disclosure Schedule,
there are no budgeted expenses or capital costs that will be required in the
next two years to maintain compliance with Environmental Laws, except in any
such case which would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 2.21 FORM S-4; JOINT PROXY STATEMENT. None of the
information supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in (i) the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent
in connection with the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger,
or any of the amendments or supplements thereto (collectively, the "FORM S-4")
will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended
or supplemented and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and (ii) the joint proxy statement for use relating to the
approval by the shareholders of the Company of the Merger and the approval by
the stockholders of Parent of the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in
the Merger or any of the amendments or supplements thereto (collectively, the
"JOINT PROXY STATEMENT"), will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company's
shareholders and Parent's stockholders and at the time of the meeting of the
Company's shareholders held to vote on approval of this Agreement and at the
time of meeting of Parent's stockholders held to vote on approval of the
issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Joint Proxy
Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements
<PAGE>
23
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, except that no
representation is made by the Company with respect to statements made or
incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Parent or Sub
for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement.
SECTION 2.22 OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. The Company has received
the written opinion of Merrill Lynch & Co. (the "COMPANY FINANCIAL ADVISOR"),
dated the date hereof, to the effect that the consideration to be received in
the Merger by the Company's shareholders is fair to such shareholders from a
financial point of view. The Company has been authorized by the Company
Financial Advisor to permit, subject to prior review and consent by such Company
Financial Adviser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), the inclusion
of such fairness opinion (or a reference thereto) in the Form S-4 and the Joint
Proxy Statement.
SECTION 2.23 BROKERS. No broker, finder or investment banker (other
than the Company Financial Adviser) is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or
other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. The
Company has heretofore furnished to Parent a complete and correct copy of all
agreements between the Company and the Company Financial Adviser pursuant to
which such firm would be entitled to any payment relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION 2.24 VOTE REQUIRED. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote
thereon is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company's
capital stock necessary to approve the Merger. The Board of Directors of the
Company (the "COMPANY BOARD") (at a meeting duly called and held) has (i)
unanimously approved this Agreement and the Shareholder Agreements, (ii)
determined that the Merger is fair to and in the best interests of the holders
of Company Common Stock, (iii) resolved (subject to Section 5.1(b)) to recommend
this Agreement and the Merger to such holders for approval and adoption and (iv)
directed (subject to Section 5.1(b)) that this Agreement be submitted to the
Company's shareholders. The Company hereby agrees to the inclusion in the Form
S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement of the recommendations of the Company Board
described in this Section 2.24.
SECTION 2.25 CHAPTER 23B.19 OF THE WBCL; STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES.
Prior to the date hereof, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved
this Agreement and the Shareholder Agreements, and the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and such approval is sufficient to
render inapplicable to the Merger and any of such other transactions the
provisions of Chapter 23B.19 of the WBCL. To the Company's knowledge, no other
state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation applies or purports to
apply to the
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24
Merger, this Agreement, the Shareholder Agreements or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby and no provision of the articles of
incorporation, by-laws or other governing instruments of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries would, directly or indirectly, restrict or impair the ability
of Parent to vote, or otherwise to exercise the rights of a shareholder with
respect to, shares of the Company and its Subsidiaries that may be acquired or
controlled by Parent as contemplated by this Agreement or the Shareholders
Agreements.
SECTION 2.26 ACCOUNTING MATTERS. Neither the Company nor any of its
Affiliates, has taken or agreed to take any action that, to the Company's
knowledge (without regard to any action taken or agreed to be taken by Parent or
any of its affiliates), would prevent Parent from accounting for the business
combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling of interests.
SECTION 2.27 TAX MATTERS. Neither the Company nor any of its
Affiliates, has taken or agreed to take any action, or knows of any
circumstances, that (without regard to any action taken or agreed to be taken by
Parent or any of its Affiliates) would prevent the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(E) of
the Code.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
PARENT AND SUB
Parent and Sub hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to
the Company that:
SECTION 3.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of Parent and Sub
is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, with the corporate power and authority to own
and operate its businesses as presently conducted. Each of Parent and Sub is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity to do business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned
or held under lease or the nature of its activities makes such qualification
necessary, except for such failures of Parent and Sub to be so qualified as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Parent has previously made available to the Company true and correct copies of
the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of each of Parent and Sub.
SECTION 3.2 AUTHORIZATION; VALIDITY AND EFFECT OF AGREEMENT. Each of
Parent and Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
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25
this Agreement by Parent and Sub and the performance by them of their respective
obligations hereunder and the consummation by them of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of
Parent and Sub, and all other necessary corporate action on the part of Parent
or Sub, other than the approval of the issuance of the shares of Parent Common
Stock in the Merger by the shareholders of Parent, and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of Parent or Sub are necessary to authorize this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been
duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Sub and constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and Sub, enforceable against them
in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable
principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
SECTION 3.3 CAPITALIZATION. (a) The authorized capital stock of
Parent consists of (i) 400,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and (ii)
100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share ("PARENT
PREFERRED STOCK"). As of November 6, 1997, 91,506,211 shares of Parent Common
Stock and no shares of Parent Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding; and
no shares of Parent Common Stock are held in Parent's treasury as of the date
hereof. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock are
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Except pursuant to the exercise
of employee options prior to the date hereof, since November 7, 1977, no shares
of Parent Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock have been issued. As of the
date hereof, except as set forth on Section 3.3 of the disclosure schedule
delivered by Parent to the Company prior to the execution of this Agreement (the
"PARENT DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE"), there are no existing options, warrants, calls,
subscriptions, convertible securities or other securities, agreements (other
than this Agreement), commitments or obligations which would require Parent to
issue or sell shares of Parent Common Stock, Parent Preferred Stock or any other
equity securities, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for shares of Parent Common Stock, Parent Preferred Stock or any other equity
securities of Parent as of the date hereof. Except as set forth on Section 3.3
of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, Parent has no commitments or obligations to
purchase or redeem any shares of capital stock of any class of Parent Common
Stock.
(b) The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 100 shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share, 100 shares of which are duly authorized,
validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable and owned by Parent
free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances. Sub was formed solely for
the purpose of engaging in a business combination transaction
<PAGE>
26
with the Company and has engaged in no other business activities and has
conducted its operations only as contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.4 SUBSIDIARIES. The only Subsidiaries of Parent are those
set forth in Section 3.4 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock and other ownership interests of each of
Parent's Subsidiaries are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free of
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. Except as set
forth in Section 3.4 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, Parent owns, directly or
indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership
interests of each of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Encumbrances, and
there are no existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible
securities or other securities, agreements, commitments or obligations of any
character relating to the outstanding capital stock or other securities of any
Subsidiary of Parent or which would require any Subsidiary of Parent to issue or
sell any shares of its capital stock, ownership interests or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its capital stock or ownership
interests.
SECTION 3.5 OTHER INTERESTS. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5 of
the Parent Disclosure Schedule, neither Parent nor any of Parent's Subsidiaries
owns, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment in the equity or debt
for borrowed money of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint venture, business, trust or other Person (other than Parent's
Subsidiaries).
SECTION 3.6 NO CONFLICT; REQUIRED FILINGS AND CONSENTS. (a) Except
as set forth in Section 3.6 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the performance by Parent and Sub
of their obligations hereunder, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, will: (i) conflict with Parent's or Sub's certificate of
incorporation or bylaws; (ii) assuming satisfaction of the requirements set
forth in Section 3.6(b) below, violate any statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation, applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
properties or assets; or (iii) violate, breach, be in conflict with or
constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default) under, or permit the termination of any provision
of, or result in the termination of, the acceleration of the maturity of, or the
acceleration of the performance of any obligation of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, or cause an indemnity payment to be made by the Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries under, or result in the creation of imposition of any lien upon
any properties, assets or business of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries under,
any note, bond, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, franchise, permit,
authorization, license, contract, instrument or other agreement or commitment or
any order, judgment or decree to which
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27
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or properties is bound or
encumbered, or give any Person the right to require Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries to purchase or repurchase any notes, bonds or instruments of any
kind except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for such violations,
breaches, conflicts, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange
Act, the Securities Act and Blue Sky Laws, (ii) for the pre-merger notification
requirements of the HSR Act, (iii) for the filing of articles of merger pursuant
to the WBCL, and (iv) with respect to matters set forth in Section 3.6(a) or
3.6(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, no consent, approval or authorization
of, permit from, or declaration, filing or registration with, any governmental
or regulatory authority, or any other Person or entity is required to be made or
obtained by Parent or Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval,
authorization, permit or declaration or to make such filing or registration
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.7 COMPLIANCE. Parent and each of its Subsidiaries is in
compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
applicable to its operations or with respect to which compliance is a condition
of engaging in the business thereof (including, without limitation, all
Environmental Laws), except to the extent that failure to comply would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of Parent, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
notice asserting a failure, or possible failure, to comply with any such law or
regulation, the subject of which notice has not been resolved as required
thereby or otherwise to the satisfaction of the party sending the notice, except
for such failure as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. Parent and its Subsidiaries have all permits, licenses and
franchises from governmental agencies required to conduct their respective
businesses as they are now being conducted, except for such failures to have
such permits, licenses and franchises that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.8 SEC DOCUMENTS. (a) Parent has delivered or made
available to the Company true and complete copies of each registration
statement, proxy or information statement, form, report and other documents
required to be filed by it (or by Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. ("FMSI") or Smith's
Food & Drug Centers, Inc. ("SMITH'S") with the SEC since January 1, 1996
(collectively, the "PARENT SEC REPORTS"). As of their respective dates, the
Parent
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28
SEC Reports and any registration statements, reports, forms, proxy or
information statements and other documents filed by Parent with the SEC after
the date of this Agreement (i) complied, or, with respect to those not yet
filed, will comply, in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and (ii) did not, or, with respect to
those not yet filed, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
(b) Each of the consolidated balance sheets included in or
incorporated by reference into Parent SEC Reports (including the related notes
and schedules) presents fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of Parent (or FMSI or Smith's, as the case may be) and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of its date, and each of the consolidated
statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of Parent (or FMSI or
Smith's, as the case may be) included in or incorporated by reference into
Parent SEC Reports (including the related notes and schedules) presents fairly,
in all material respects, the results of operations, retained earnings or cash
flows, as the case may be, of Parent (or FMSI or Smith's, as the case may be)
and its Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments), in each case in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except as
may be noted therein.
(c) Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the
date of this Agreement or reports filed by Smith's with the SEC prior to the
date of this Agreement (together, the "RECENT PARENT SEC REPORTS"), neither
Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any
nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be
required to be reflected on, or reserved against in, a balance sheet of Parent
or in the notes thereto, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied,
except for (i) liabilities or obligations that were so reserved on, or reflected
in (including the notes to), the consolidated balance sheets of FMSI and Smith's
as of February 1, 1997, (ii) liabilities and obligations incurred or acquired in
connection with the transactions pursuant to the Smith's Merger Agreement and
(iii) liabilities or obligations arising in the ordinary course of business
(including trade indebtedness) since February 1, 1997 which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.9 LITIGATION. Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule or in the Recent Parent SEC Reports there is no
Action instituted, pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, in each
case against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, which would, individually or in
the
<PAGE>
29
aggregate, directly or indirectly, have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is there
any outstanding judgment, decree, or injunction, in each case against Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any statute, rule or order of any domestic or
foreign court, governmental department, commission or agency applicable to
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries which has or will have, individually or in
the aggregate, any Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.10 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as set forth in
Section 3.10 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule or the Recent Parent SEC Reports
(including, without limitation, the transactions contemplated by the proxy
statement of Parent dated August 6, 1997) and except for the transactions
expressly contemplated hereby, since February 1, 1997, Parent and its
Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary and
usual course consistent with past practices and there has not been any (i)
change in Parent's business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise),
results of operations, assets or liabilities, except for changes contemplated
hereby or changes which have not, individually or in the aggregate, had a
Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) condition, event or occurrence which,
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11 TAXES. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule:
(a) Parent and its Subsidiaries have (A) duly filed (or there have
been filed on their behalf) with the appropriate governmental authorities all
Tax Returns (as defined in Section 8.3) required to be filed by them and such
Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all respects, except where any
such failure to file, or failure to be true, correct and complete, would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and (B) duly
paid in full and all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns;
(b) Parent and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material
respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the
withholding of Taxes and the payment of such withheld Taxes to the proper
governmental authorities except where any such failure to comply, withhold or
pay over would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(c) All federal income Tax Returns of Parent and its Subsidiaries for
periods through the taxable year ended in 1993 have been audited, and no federal
or material state, local or foreign audits or other administrative proceedings
or court proceedings are presently being conducted with regard to any Taxes or
Tax Returns of Parent or its Subsidiaries and neither Parent nor its
Subsidiaries has received a written notice of any pending audits with respect to
material Taxes or material Tax
<PAGE>
30
Returns of Parent, and neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived in
writing any statute of limitations with respect to material Taxes;
(d) Neither the Internal Revenue Service nor any other taxing
authority (whether domestic or foreign) has asserted in writing against Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries any deficiency or claim for Taxes, except where any
such deficiency or claim for Taxes, if decided adversely to the Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(e) There are no material liens for Taxes upon any Property or Assets
of Parent or any Subsidiary thereof, except for liens for Taxes not yet due and
payable and liens for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings, and no material written power of attorney that has been
granted by Parent or its Subsidiaries (other than to Parent or a Subsidiary)
currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes;
(f) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has, with regard to
any assets or property held by any of them, agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of
the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as such term is
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries; and
(g) Since January 1, 1994, none of Parent or its Subsidiaries has
been a member of an Affiliated Group filing a consolidated federal income tax
return other than a group the common parent of which is Parent.
SECTION 3.12 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) Section 3.12 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a
complete list of all Employee Plans which Parent and its Subsidiaries maintain,
administer or contribute to, or are required to contribute to as of the date
hereof. To the extent in the Parent's or its Subsidiaries' possession, true and
complete copies or descriptions of the Employee Plans of Parent and its
Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, trust instruments, if any, that
form a part thereof, and all amendments thereto have been furnished or made
available to the Company and its counsel.
(b) Except as described in Section 3.12 of the Parent Disclosure
Schedule, each of the Employee Plans of Parent and of its ERISA Affiliates
(other than any Multiemployer Plan) has been administered and is in compliance
with the terms of such Employee Plan and all applicable laws, rules and
regulations except for noncompliance which could not reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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31
(c) No "reportable event" (as such term is used in section 4043 of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")),
"prohibited transaction" (as such term is used in section 406 of ERISA or
section 4975 of the Code), "nondeductible contributions" (as such term is used
in Section 4972 of the Code) or "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such term
is used in section 412 or 4971 of the Code) has heretofore occurred with respect
to any Employee Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) of Parent or any ERISA
Affiliate, except for such events which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) No litigation or administrative or other proceeding involving any
Employee Plans of Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) has occurred or are threatened where an adverse
determination could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(e) Except as set forth in Section 3.12 of the Parent Disclosure
Schedule, neither Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate of Parent has incurred any
withdrawal liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan under Title IV of
ERISA which remains unsatisfied, except for such liabilities as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) All of the Employee Plans of Parent or its Subsidiaries (other
than any Multiemployer Plan) can be terminated by Parent without incurring any
material liability. Subject to any collective bargaining obligations, Parent
and its Subsidiaries can withdraw from participation in any Employee Plan that
is a Multiemployer Plan. Any termination of, or withdrawal from, any Employee
Plans of Parent or its Subsidiaries, on or prior to the Closing Date, would not
subject Parent to any material liability under Title IV of ERISA.
(g) Neither Parent nor any of its controlled or controlling
Affiliates is aware of any situation with respect to a Multiemployer Plan
described in (b), (c) or (d) above, except as described in Section 3.12 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule.
(h) The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not cause
the occurrence of a situation described in Section 3.12 (b), (c), (d) or (e) as
of or after the Effective Time.
SECTION 3.13 ASSETS. (a) Except as set forth in Section 3.13(a) of
the Parent Disclosure Schedule, Parent and its Subsidiaries have good and
marketable title to or a valid leasehold estate in all of the material
properties and assets, real or personal, reflected on Parent's balance sheet at
February 1, 1997 (except for properties or assets subsequently sold in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice). Except as set forth
in Section 3.13(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, Parent and its
Subsidiaries have good and marketable title or a valid right to use all of the
real properties that are
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32
necessary, and all of the personal assets and properties that are materially
necessary, for the conduct of the business of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances).
(b) Section 3.13(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and accurate list of each Property and/or Facility owned or leased by
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and the current use of such Property or
Facility and indicating whether the Property or Facility is owned or leased.
(c) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened
condemnation or similar proceedings against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
or, to the knowledge of Parent, otherwise relating to any of the Properties or
Facilities of Parent and its Subsidiaries except for such proceedings which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Section 3.13(d) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and accurate list of all Leases (including subleases and licenses) of
personal property entered into by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and
involving any annual expense to Parent or any such Subsidiary in excess of
$250,000 and not cancelable (without material liability) within two (2) years.
(e) Section 3.13(e) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule indicates each
Lease entered into by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries as a tenant or
subtenant.
(f) Parent or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has in all
material respects performed all obligations on its part required to have been
performed with respect to (i) all Assets leased by it or to it (whether as
lessor or lessee), and (ii) all Leases and there exists no material default or
event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would become a
default on the part of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries under any Lease, in
each case except where the failure to perform or such default or event would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) To the knowledge of Parent, each of the Leases is valid, binding
and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the effects of
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
equitable principles (whether considered on a proceeding in equity or at law)
and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing) and is in full force and
effect, and assuming all consents required by the terms thereof or applicable
law have been obtained, the Leases will continue to be valid, binding and
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and in full force and
effect immediately following the consummation of the
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33
transactions contemplated hereby, in each case except where the failure to be
valid, binding and enforceable and to have such effect would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Except as shown on Section 3.13(h) of the Parent Disclosure
Schedule, Parent has delivered to the Company, or otherwise made available,
originals or true copies of all material Leases (as the same may have been
amended or modified, in any material respect, from time to time).
SECTION 3.14 CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS. Section 3.14 of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Contracts of
the following categories to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which any of them is bound as of the date of this Agreement:
(a) employment contracts, including, without limitation, contracts to
employ executive officers and other contracts with officers, directors or
shareholders of Parent, and any other Contracts with or for the benefits of
Parent or its affiliates, and all severance, change in control or similar
arrangements with any officers, employees or agents of Parent that will
result in any obligation (absolute or contingent) of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries to make any payment to any officers, employees or agents of
Parent following either the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, termination of employment, or both;
(b) Labor contracts;
(c) material distribution, franchise, license, sales, agency or
advertising contracts;
(d) Contracts for the purchase of inventory which are not cancelable
(without material penalty, cost or other liability) within one (1) year
(other than Contracts for the purchase of holiday goods in accordance with
customary industry practices) and other Contracts made in the ordinary
course of business involving annual expenditures or liabilities in excess
of $400,000 which are not cancelable (without material penalty, cost or
other liability) within ninety (90) days;
(e) promissory notes, loans, agreements, indentures, evidences of
indebtedness or other instruments providing for the lending of money,
whether as borrower, lender or guarantor, in excess of $250,000;
(f) Contracts (other than Leases) containing covenants limiting the
freedom of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any line of
business or compete with any Person or operate at any location;
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34
(g) joint venture or partnership agreements or joint development or
similar agreements pursuant to which any third party is entitled to develop
any Property and/or Facility on behalf of Parent or its Subsidiaries;
(h) any Contract where the customer under such Contract is a federal,
state or local government;
(i) any Contract providing for the acquisition, directly or
indirectly (by merger or otherwise) of material assets (other than
inventory) or capital stock of another Person; and
(j) Contracts involving annual expenditures or liabilities in excess
of $400,000, which are not cancelable (without material penalty, cost or
other liability) within ninety (90) days.
True copies of the written Contracts identified in Section 3.14 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule have been delivered or made available to the Company.
SECTION 3.15 ABSENCE OF BREACHES OR DEFAULTS. Neither Parent nor any
of its Subsidiaries is and, to the knowledge of Parent, no other party is in
default under, or in breach or violation of, any Contract identified on Section
3.14 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule and, to the knowledge of Parent, no event
has occurred which, with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would
constitute a default under any Contract identified on Section 3.14 of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule, except for defaults, breaches, violations or events which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Other than Contracts which have terminated as expired in accordance with their
terms each of the Contracts identified on Section 3.14 of the Parent Disclosure
Schedule is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject
to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally, general equitable principles (whether considered as a proceeding in
equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing) and is
in full force and effect, and assuming all consents required by the terms
thereof or applicable law have been obtained, such Contracts will continue to be
valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and in
full force and effect immediately following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby in each case, except where the failure to be valid, binding,
enforceable and in full force and effect would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which either
entitles, or would, on notice or lapse of time or both, entitle the holder of
any indebtedness for borrowed money affecting Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
to accelerate, or which does accelerate, the maturity of any indebtedness
affecting Parent or
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35
any of its Subsidiaries, except as set forth in Section 3.15 of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 3.16 LABOR MATTERS.
(a) Section 3.16(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a
complete list of all organizations representing the employees of Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, there is no strike, work stoppage
or labor disturbance, pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, which
involves any employees of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Section 3.16(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains as of
the date hereof (i) a list of all material unfair employment or labor practice
charges which are presently pending, which, to the knowledge of Parent, have
been filed with any governmental authority by or on behalf of any employee
against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) a list of all material
employment-related litigation, including, without limitation, arbitrations or
administrative proceedings which are presently pending filed by or on behalf of
any former, current or prospective employee against Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(c) Except as described in Sections 3.16(a) and (b) of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule, there are not presently pending or, to the knowledge of
Parent, threatened, against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries any material
claims by any governmental authority, labor organization, or any former, current
or prospective employee alleging that Parent or any such employer has violated
any applicable laws respecting employment practices, except where such claims
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Parent and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects
with its obligations under all statutes, executive orders and other governmental
regulations or judicial decrees governing its employment practices, including,
without limitation, provisions relating to wages, hours, equal opportunity and
payment of social security and other taxes and has timely filed all regular
federal and state employment related reports and other documents, except for
such failures to be in compliance or failure to file would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.17 INSURANCE. All material fire and casualty, general
liability, business interruption, product liability, and sprinkler and water
damage insurance policies maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries are
with reputable insurance carriers, provide adequate coverage for normal risks
incident to the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries and their respective
Properties and Assets, and are in character and amount substantially equivalent
to that carried by Persons engaged in similar businesses and subject to the same
or similar perils or hazards, except for any such failures to maintain insurance
policies that, individually or in
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36
the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.18 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as set forth in Section
3.18 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, each of the Properties and Facilities or
each previously owned, operated or leased property and facility of Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "PARENT HISTORIC AND CURRENT PROPERTIES")
has been and was maintained by Parent in compliance with all Environmental Laws,
except where the failure to so comply, or any aggregation of such failures,
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.18, to the knowledge of Parent, there are no
Hazardous Materials which have been or are being released or disposed of by
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or in the case of asbestos only, is present,
on any property, the cost of remediation of which to the Company would
reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.18, to the knowledge of
Parent, there are no Hazardous Materials which have been or are being released
by persons other than Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and which have
encroached through the soil or groundwater onto or under the Properties and
Facilities where the cost to Parent of remediation of such Hazardous Materials
would reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the Parent Disclosure
Schedule, (i) there are no existing uncured notices of noncompliance, notices of
violation, administrative actions, or lawsuits against Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries arising under Environmental Laws or relating to the use, handling,
storage, treatment, recycling, generation, or release of Hazardous Materials,
nor has Parent received any uncured written notification of any allegation of
any responsibility for any disposal, release, or threatened release at any
location of any Hazardous Materials, except in any such case which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; (ii) there are no consent decrees, consent orders, judgments,
judicial or administrative orders, or liens by any governmental authority
relating to any Environmental Law which have not already been fully satisfied
and which name Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except in any such case which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) to the knowledge of Parent, except as set
forth in Section 3.18 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, no Properties or
Facilities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries are listed on the federal
National Priorities List, the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response
Compensation Liability Information System list, or any similar state listing of
sites known to be contaminated with Hazardous Materials. Except as set forth in
Section 3.18 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no budgeted expenses or
capital costs that will be required in the next two years to maintain compliance
with Environmental Laws, except in any such case which would not
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37
be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.19 FORM S-4; JOINT PROXY STATEMENT. None of the
information supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in (i) the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the
SEC, at any time it is amended or supplemented and at the time it becomes
effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Joint
Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company's
shareholders and Parent's stockholders and at the time of the meeting of the
Company's shareholders held to vote on approval of this Agreement and at the
time of the meeting of Parent's stockholders held to vote on approval of the
issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy
Statement and the Form S-4 will comply as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, except that no representation is made by Parent or Sub
with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on
information supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in the Proxy Statement and the Form S-4.
SECTION 3.20 BROKERS. No broker, finder or investment banker (other
than Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Salomon Brothers Inc, the fees and expenses of
which shall be paid by Parent) is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other
fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or Sub.
SECTION 3.21 VOTE REQUIRED. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock entitled to vote
thereon is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of Parent's
capital stock necessary to approve the issuance of Parent Common Stock in the
Merger. The Board of Directors of Parent (the "PARENT BOARD") (at a meeting
duly called and held) has (i) unanimously approved this Agreement, (ii)
determined that the transactions contemplated hereby are fair to and in the best
interests of the holders of Parent Common Stock, (iii) resolved to recommend
this Agreement, the issuance of Parent Common Stock in the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby to such holders for approval and adoption and
(iv) directed that the issuance of Parent Common Stock in the Merger be
submitted to Parent's shareholders. Parent hereby agrees to the inclusion in
the Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement of the recommendations of the Parent
Board described in this Section 3.21.
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38
SECTION 3.22 OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. Parent has received the
opinions of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Salomon Brothers Inc, dated the date of
this Agreement, to the effect that the consideration to be paid by Parent in
connection with the Merger is fair to Parent from a financial point of view.
SECTION 3.23 TAX MATTERS. Neither Parent nor Sub has taken or agreed
to take any action, or knows of any circumstances, that (without regard to any
action taken or agreed to be taken by the Company or any of its Affiliates)
would prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning
of Sections 368(a)(1)(A) or 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code.
ARTICLE IV
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
SECTION 4.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY PENDING THE MERGER.
Except as set forth in Section 4.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
covenants and agrees that, during the period from the date hereof to the
Effective Time (except as otherwise contemplated by the terms of this
Agreement), unless Parent shall otherwise agree in writing in advance, the
businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted, in all
material respects, only in, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not take
any action except in, the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent
with past practice and, in all material respects, in compliance with applicable
laws; and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall each use its reasonable best
efforts consistent with the foregoing to preserve substantially intact the
business organization of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to keep available the
services of the present officers, employees and consultants of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and to preserve the present relationships of the Company and
its Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers, advertisers, distributors and other
persons with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has significant
business relations. By way of amplification and not limitation, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall (except as set forth in Section 4.1 of
the Disclosure Schedule and except as otherwise contemplated by the terms of
this Agreement), between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time,
directly or indirectly do, or propose or commit to do, any of the following
without the prior written consent of Parent:
(a) make or commit to make any capital expenditures in excess of
$500,000 in the aggregate, other than expenditures for routine maintenance
and repair or pursuant to existing contracts or commitments or expenditures
reflected in capital expenditure budgets disclosed in the Recent Company
SEC Reports or supplied to Parent prior to the date of this Agreement;
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39
(b) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee such
indebtedness of another Person (other than the Company or a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company) or enter into any "keep well" or other agreement
to maintain the financial condition of another Person (other than the
Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) or make any loans, or
advances of borrowed money or capital contributions to, or equity
investments in, any other Person (other than the Company or a wholly owned
Subsidiary of the Company) or issue or sell any debt securities, other than
borrowings under existing lines of credit in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(c)(i) amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws or the charter
or bylaws of any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) split, combine or reclassify the
outstanding shares of its capital stock or other ownership interests or
declare, set aside or pay any dividend payable in cash, stock or property
or make any other distribution with respect to such shares of capital stock
or other ownership interests; (iii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire,
directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other ownership
interests other than in connection with the Stock Purchase Plan; or (iv)
sell or pledge any stock of any of its Subsidiaries;
(d)(i) Other than upon exercise of options or stock units or pursuant
to the Stock Purchase Plan, in each case disclosed in Section 2.3 of the
Disclosure Schedule, issue or sell or agree to issue or sell any additional
shares of, or grant, confer or award any options, warrants or rights of any
kind to acquire any shares of, its capital stock of any class; (ii) enter
into any agreement, contract or commitment out of the ordinary course of
its business, to dispose of or acquire, or relating to the disposition or
acquisition of, a segment of its business; (iii) except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, sell, pledge, dispose of
or encumber any material Assets (including without limitation, any
indebtedness owed to them or any claims held by them); or (iv) acquire (by
merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) any
corporation, partnership or other business organization or division thereof
or any material Assets (other than inventory in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice) or make any material investment,
either by purchase of stock or other securities, or contribution to
capital, in any case, in any material amount of property or assets, in or
of any other Person;
(e) grant any severance or termination pay (other than pursuant to
policies or agreements in effect on the date hereof as disclosed in the
Recent Company SEC Reports or set forth in Section 4.1(e) of the Disclosure
Schedule) or increase the benefits payable under its severance or
termination pay policies or agreements in effect on the date
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hereof or enter into any employment or severance agreement with any
officer, director or employee;
(f) adopt or amend any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, stock
option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment or other
employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, fund or other arrangement for the
benefit or welfare of any director, officer or employee or increase in any
manner the compensation or fringe benefits of any director, officer or
employee or grant, confer, award or pay any forms of cash incentive,
bonuses or other benefit not required by any existing plan, arrangement or
agreement except as required by law;
(g) enter into or amend any Contract for the purchase of inventory
which is not cancelable within one (1) year without penalty, cost or
liability, or any other Contract involving annual expenditures or
liabilities in excess of $400,000 which is not cancelable within two (2)
years without penalty, cost or liability;
(h) enter into or modify any material collective bargaining
agreements;
(i) make any material change in its tax or accounting policies or any
material reclassification of assets or liabilities except as required by
law or GAAP;
(j) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations
(absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise),
except the payment, discharge or satisfaction of (i) liabilities or
obligations in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect on the date
hereof or (ii) claims settled or compromised to the extent permitted by
Section 4.1(l), or waive, release, grant or transfer any rights of material
value or modify or change in any material respect any existing Contract, in
each case other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice;
(k) settle or compromise any litigation, other than litigation not in
excess of amounts reserved for in the most recent consolidated financial
statements of the Company included in the Recent Company SEC Documents or,
if not so reserved for, in an aggregate amount not in excess of $250,000
(provided in either case such settlement documents do not involve any
material non-monetary obligations on the part of the Company and its
Subsidiaries);
(l) take any action (without regard to any action taken or agreed to
be taken by Parent or any of its affiliates) with knowledge that such
action would prevent (x) Parent from accounting for the business
combination to
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41
be effected by the Merger as a pooling of interests or (y) the Merger from
qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(A)
or 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code; and
(m) consummate any acquisition pursuant to any Contract disclosed
pursuant to Section 2.15(i) other than in accordance with the terms so
disclosed (including without waiver of any condition to the Company's
obligations to consummate such acquisition), excluding insignificant
deviations from such terms; or
(n) take, or offer or propose to take, or agree to take in writing or
otherwise, any of the actions described in Sections 4.1(a) through 4.1(m)
or any action which would result in any of the conditions set forth in
Article VI not being satisfied.
SECTION 4.2 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF PARENT PENDING THE MERGER. (a)
Parent covenants and agrees that, during the period from the date hereof to the
Effective Time (except as otherwise contemplated by the terms of this Agreement
and except that nothing in this Agreement shall restrict Parent from taking any
actions in respect of the consummation of the transactions pursuant to the F4LH
Merger Agreement), unless Company shall otherwise agree in writing in advance,
the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted, in all
material respects, only in, and Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not take any
action except in, the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent
with past practice and, in all material respects, in compliance with applicable
laws; and Parent and its Subsidiaries shall each use its reasonable best efforts
consistent with the foregoing to preserve substantially intact the business
organization of Parent and its Subsidiaries, to keep available the services of
the present officers, employees and consultants of Parent and its Subsidiaries
and to preserve the present relationships of Parent and its Subsidiaries with
customers, suppliers, advertisers, distributors and other persons with which
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has significant business relations.
(b) By way of amplification and not limitation, neither the Parent nor
any of its Subsidiaries shall (except as otherwise contemplated by the terms of
this Agreement), between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time,
directly or indirectly do, or propose or commit to do, any of the following
without the prior written consent of the Company:
(i) amend Parent's certificate of incorporation;
(ii) other than in connection with acquisitions having a value (on a
per-acquisition basis) of not more than $50 million or (on an aggregate
basis) of not more than $200 million, issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose
of or
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42
encumber, or authorize or commit to the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition
or encumbrance of, any shares of capital stock of any class, or any
options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to
acquire any shares of capital stock, or any other ownership interest
(including but not limited to stock appreciation rights or phantom stock),
of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (except for the issuance of shares of
Parent Common Stock issuable in accordance with the terms of Parent's
employee benefit plans and arrangements or other stock-based contractual
requirements existing as of the date hereof, directors deferred
compensation plan and the warrant issued to the Yucaipa Companies and
except for the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the
F4LH Merger Agreement);
(iii) (A) split, combine or reclassify or otherwise alter the Parent
Common Stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of Parent Common
Stock, or (B) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or
indirectly, any shares of Parent Common Stock;
(iv) other than pursuant to the F4LH Merger Agreement, acquire (by
merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any corporation,
partnership or other business organization or division thereof, if any such
action could reasonably be expected to (A) delay materially the date of
mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement, (B) delay materially obtaining the
antitrust clearances referenced in Section 5.8(a)(iii), (C) increase the
Exchange Ratio Adjustment Amount or (D) if it were to occur after such date
of mailing, require an amendment of the Joint Proxy Statement;
(v) consummate any acquisition pursuant to any Contract disclosed
pursuant to Section 3.14(i) other than in accordance with the terms so
disclosed (including without waiver of any condition to Parent's
obligations to consummate such acquisition), excluding insignificant
deviations from such terms; or
(vi) take, or offer or propose to take, or agree to take in writing or
otherwise, any of the actions described in Sections 4.2(b)(i) through
4.2(b)(v) or any action which would result in any of the conditions set
forth in Article VI not being satisfied.
(c) Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, take any action (without regard to any action taken or agreed to be taken by
the Company or any of its Affiliates) with knowledge that such action would
prevent (x) Parent from accounting for the business combination to be effected
by the Merger as a pooling of interests or (y) the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(A) or 368(a)(2)(E) of
the Code.
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ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 5.1 PREPARATION OF FORM S-4 AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT;
SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS. (a) Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the
Company and Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC the Joint Proxy
Statement, and Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC the Form S-4, in which
the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus. Each of the Company
and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Form S-4 declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing.
Each of the Company and Parent will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Joint Proxy Statement to be mailed to its respective shareholders as promptly as
practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act.
Parent shall also take any action (other than qualifying to do business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified) required to be taken under any
applicable state securities law in connection with the issuance of Parent Common
Stock in the Merger, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning
the Company and the holders of the Company Common Stock and rights to acquire
Company Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Plans as may be reasonably required
in connection with any such action. Each of Parent and the Company shall
furnish all information concerning itself to the other as may be reasonably
requested in connection with any such action and the preparation, filing and
distribution of the Form S-4 and the preparation, filing and distribution of the
Joint Proxy Statement. The Company, Parent and Sub each agree to correct any
information provided by it for use in the Form S-4 or the Joint Proxy Statement
which shall have become false or misleading. The Company acknowledges that
Parent will include in the Joint Proxy Statement such information concerning the
transactions pursuant to the F4LH Merger Agreement as may be required to be
included to permit Parent to seek any approvals of shareholders which may be
required to be obtained in connection with the transactions pursuant to the F4LH
Merger Agreement.
(b) The Company, acting through its Board of Directors, shall, in
accordance with its Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and subject to the
other provisions of this Section 5.1(b), promptly and duly call, give notice of,
convene and hold as soon as practicable following the date upon which the Form
S-4 becomes effective a meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock for the
purpose of voting to approve and adopt this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (the date of which meeting shall be as soon as practicable
following Parent's shareholder meeting referred to below, but shall be at least
two business days after the date of Parent's shareholder meeting referred to
below), and (i) recommend approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger
by the shareholders of the Company and include in the Joint Proxy
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Statement such recommendation and (ii) take all reasonable and lawful action to
solicit and obtain such approval. The Board of Directors of the Company shall
not withdraw, amend or modify in a manner adverse to Parent its recommendation
referred to in clause (i) of the preceding sentence (or announce publicly its
intention to do so (provided that the disclosure of the receipt of an
Alternative Transaction and the fact that the Board of Directors is considering
such Alternative Transaction or reviewing it with its advisors shall not by
itself constitute such a withdrawal, modification or amendment)), except that
such Board of Directors shall be permitted to withdraw, amend or modify its
recommendation (or publicly announce its intention to do so) if: (i) the Company
has complied with Section 5.4; (ii) a Superior Transaction (as defined below)
shall have been proposed by any Person other than Parent and such proposal is
pending at the time of such withdrawal, amendment or modification; and (iii) the
Company shall have notified Parent of such Superior Transaction proposal at
least five business days in advance of such withdrawal, amendment or
modification to the extent required by the last two sentences of Section 5.4.
"SUPERIOR TRANSACTION" means any bona fide Transaction proposal involving at
least a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock on terms that
the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment
(based on the advice of a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation,
taking into account all the terms and conditions of the Transaction proposal,
including any break-up fees, expense reimbursement provisions and conditions to
consummation) are more favorable and provide greater value to all the Company's
shareholders than this Agreement and the Merger taken as a whole. Parent,
acting through its Board of Directors, shall, in accordance with its certificate
of incorporation and by-laws, promptly and duly call, give notice of, convene
and hold as soon as practicable following the date upon which the Form S-4
becomes effective a meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock for the
purpose of voting to approve the issuance of the Parent Common Stock in the
Merger, and (i) recommend approval of the issuance of the Parent Common Stock in
the Merger by the shareholders of Parent and include in the Joint Proxy
Statement such recommendation and (ii) take all reasonable and lawful action to
solicit and obtain such approval. The Board of Directors of Parent shall not
withdraw, amend or modify in a manner adverse to the Company, its recommendation
referred to in clause (i) of the preceding sentence.
(c) The Company will cause its transfer agent to make stock transfer
records relating to the Company available to the extent reasonably necessary to
effectuate the intent of this Agreement and the Shareholder Agreements.
SECTION 5.2 ACCOUNTANTS' LETTERS. (a) The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered to Parent a "comfort" letter of
Deloitte & Touche LLP (Seattle office), the Company's independent public
accountants, dated a date within two business days before the date on which the
Form
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S-4 shall become effective and addressed to Parent, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Parent and customary in scope and substance for
letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with
registration statements similar to the Form S-4. In connection with the
Company's efforts to obtain such letter, if requested by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
Parent shall provide a representation letter to Deloitte & Touche LLP, complying
with the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 ("SAS 72"), if then required.
(b) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be
delivered to the Company a "comfort" letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP (Portland
office), Parent's independent public accountants, dated a date within two
business days before the date on which the Form S-4 shall become effective and
addressed to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Company and customary in scope and substance for letters delivered by
independent public accountants in connection with registration statements
similar to the Form S-4. In connection with the Parent's efforts to obtain such
letter, if requested by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company shall provide a
representation letter to Deloitte & Touche LLP complying with SAS 72, if then
required.
(c) The Company shall endeavor in good faith to cause to be delivered
to Parent letters from Deloitte & Touche LLP (Seattle office), addressed to
Parent and the Company, one dated the date of the Joint Proxy Statement, stating
that after appropriate review of this Agreement the Company is an entity which
would qualify as a party to a pooling of interests transaction under Opinion 16
of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and
one dated as of the Closing Date, confirming as of the Closing Date the
previously delivered letter referred to above.
(d) Parent shall endeavor in good faith to cause to be received by it
letters from Deloitte & Touche LLP (Portland office), addressed to Parent, one
dated the date of the Joint Proxy Statement, stating that the Merger will
qualify as a pooling of interests transaction under Opinion 16 of the Accounting
Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and one dated as of
the Closing Date, confirming as of the Closing Date the previously delivered
letter referred to above.
SECTION 5.3 ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) From the
date hereof to the Effective Time, each of the Company and Parent shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, auditors and other
agents to, afford the officers, employees, auditors and other agents of Parent
or the Company, respectively, who shall agree to be bound by the provisions of
this Section 5.3 as though a party hereto, complete access at all reasonable
times to its officers, employees, agents, properties, offices, plants and other
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facilities and to all books and records, and shall furnish Parent or the
Company, respectively, with all financial, operating and other data and
information as Parent or the Company, respectively, through its officers,
employees or agents may from time to time request; PROVIDED, that the Company
shall not be required to make available to Parent any books and records or other
information relating to potential Transactions (as defined in Section 5.4) to
the extent that any confidentiality agreement in existence on the date hereof
with the Company prohibits the Company from making such books, records and other
information to Parent; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Company may provide
information which is of a sensitive competitive nature in a form which minimizes
the potential detriment to the Company from such disclosure while addressing the
legitimate business objectives of Parent in seeking such information.
(b) Each of the Company and Parent will hold and will cause its
directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors (including, without limitation,
counsel and auditors) and controlling persons to hold any such information which
is nonpublic in confidence on the same terms and conditions as set forth in the
letter dated October 5, 1997, as amended from time to time, between the Company
and Parent (the "CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT").
(c) No investigation pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall affect any
representations or warranties of the parties herein or the conditions to the
obligations of the parties hereto.
SECTION 5.4 NO SOLICITATION OF TRANSACTIONS. The Company shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries and their respective officers, directors,
management employees, and representatives and agents engaged by the Company in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby to, immediately cease any
existing discussions or negotiations, if any, with any parties conducted
heretofore with respect to any direct or indirect acquisition of or exchange for
(i) all or any material portion of the assets of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, (ii) more than 15% of the outstanding material equity interest in
the Company, (iii) any material equity interest in any of the Subsidiaries of
the Company, or (iv) any merger, consolidation or other business combination
transaction with or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a
"TRANSACTION"). Neither the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of its
or their respective officers, directors, management employees or representatives
and agents engaged by the Company in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, shall, directly or indirectly, encourage, solicit,
participate in, facilitate or initiate discussions or negotiations with, or
provide any information to, any Person or group (other than Parent and Sub or
any designees of Parent or Sub) concerning any Transaction; PROVIDED, that, the
Company (and its Subsidiaries and its and their respective officers, directors,
employees, representatives
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or agents) may participate in negotiations or discussions with, and provide
information to, any Person concerning a Transaction submitted in writing by such
Person to the Board of Directors of the Company after the date of this Agreement
if (A) such Transaction was not solicited, initiated, facilitated or encouraged
in violation of this Agreement, (B) the Board of Directors of the Company, in
its good faith judgment, believes that such Transaction is reasonably likely to
result in a Superior Transaction and (C) the Company complies with the other
provisions of this Section 5.4. Nothing contained in this Section 5.4 shall
prohibit the Board of Directors of the Company from complying with Rule 14e-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a tender or exchange offer.
Unless prohibited from doing so pursuant to a confidentiality letter in effect
on the date of this Agreement, the Company shall notify Parent immediately if it
receives any unsolicited proposal concerning a Transaction, the identity of the
person making any such proposal and all the terms and conditions thereof and
shall keep Parent promptly advised of all developments relating thereto. If the
Company is so prohibited, the Company shall promptly advise the person making
the proposal that it will not participate in negotiations or discussions with or
provide information to such person unless such person authorizes the Company to
comply with the preceding sentence as if such prohibition did not exist.
SECTION 5.5 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS MATTERS. The Company shall or Parent
shall cause the Company and the Surviving Corporation to promptly pay or provide
when due all compensation and benefits earned through or prior to the Effective
Time as provided pursuant to the terms of any Employee Plans in existence as of
the date hereof and as otherwise set forth on Section 5.5 of the Disclosure
Schedule for all employees (and former employees) and directors (and former
directors) of the Company. Parent and the Company agree that the Company and
the Surviving Corporation shall pay promptly or provide when due all
compensation and benefits required to be paid pursuant to the terms of any
individual agreement with any employee, former employee, director or former
director in effect and disclosed to Parent as of the date hereof. Nothing
herein shall require the continued employment of any person or prevent the
Company and/or the Surviving Corporation from taking any action or refraining
from taking any action which the Company could take or refrain from taking prior
to or after the Effective Time, including without limitation any action the
Company or the Surviving Corporation could take to terminate any plan under its
terms as in effect as of the date hereof.
SECTION 5.6 DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INDEMNIFICATION; INSURANCE. (a)
The By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation shall contain provisions no less
favorable with respect to indemnification and exculpation from liability than
are set forth in Articles IX of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company and
Article IX of the By-Laws of the Company, which provisions shall not be amended,
repealed or otherwise modified for a period
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of six years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect
the rights thereunder of individuals who at the Effective Time were directors,
officers, employees or agents of the Company. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, in the event any person entitled to indemnification under this
Section 5.6 becomes involved in any claim, action, proceeding or investigation
after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall periodically advance
to such person his or her reasonable legal and other reasonably incurred
expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation incurred in
connection therewith), subject to such person providing an undertaking to
reimburse all amounts so advanced in the event of a final non-appealable
determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that such person is not
entitled thereto.
(b) For six years from the Effective Time, Parent shall maintain in
effect the current directors' and officers' liability insurance covering those
persons who are currently covered by the Company's directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy to the extent that it provides coverage for events
occurring on or prior to the Effective Time (a copy of which has been heretofore
delivered to Parent), so long as the annual premium therefor would not be in
excess of 150% of the last annual premium paid prior to the date of this
Agreement (the "COMPANY'S CURRENT PREMIUM"). If such premiums for such
insurance would at any time exceed 150% of the Company's Current Premium, then
Parent shall cause to be maintained policies of insurance which in Parent's good
faith determination, provide the maximum coverage available at an annual premium
equal to 150% of the Company's Current Premium. The Company represents to
Parent that the Company's Current Premium is $221,225.
(c) Parent hereby covenants not to take or permit to be taken, any
action that would limit, restrict or otherwise prevent the Surviving Corporation
from performing, or render it unable to perform, each of its obligation under
this Section 5.6.
(d) The provision of this Section 5.6 are intended for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable by, each person entitled to indemnification under
this Section 5.6, his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives.
SECTION 5.7 NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. The Company shall give
prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of
(i) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-
occurrence of which would be likely to cause any representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate and (ii) any failure of
the Company, Parent or Sub, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy any
covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it
hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this
Section 5.7 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder
to the party receiving such notice.
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SECTION 5.8 FURTHER ACTION. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable best
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable
laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) cooperating
in the preparation and filing of the Form S-4, the Joint Proxy Statement, and
required filings under the HSR Act and any amendments to any thereof, (ii) using
its reasonable best efforts to make all required regulatory filings and
applications and to obtain all licenses, permits, consents, approvals,
authorizations, qualifications and orders of governmental authorities and
parties to contracts with the Company and its Subsidiaries as are necessary for
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to
fulfill the conditions to the Merger, (iii) in the case of Parent, promptly, if
required by the FTC or its staff, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of
the Antitrust Division or her staff, any state attorney general or its staff or
any other similar governmental entity, in each case in order to consummate the
Merger, taking all steps and making all undertakings to secure antitrust
clearance (including steps to effect the sale or other disposition of particular
Facilities of Parent, its Subsidiaries, F4LH, its Subsidiaries and/or the
Company and its Subsidiaries and to hold separate such Facilities pending such
sale or other disposition), (iv) cooperating in all respects with each other in
connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding
initiated by a private party, in connection with the transactions pursuant
hereto, (v) keeping the other party informed in all material respects of any
material communication received by such party from, or given by such party to,
the FTC, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice ("DOJ") or any
other governmental authority and of any material communication received or given
in connection with any proceeding by a private party, in each case regarding any
of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (vi) permitting the other party to
review any material communication given by it to, and consult with each other in
advance of any meeting or conference with, the FTC, the DOJ or any such other
governmental authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private party,
with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by the other Person, give the
other party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and
conferences. In case at any time after the Effective Time any further action is
necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the proper
officers and directors of each party to this Agreement shall use their
reasonable best efforts to take all such necessary action. In furtherance and
not in limitation of the covenants of the parties contained in this Section 5.8,
if any administrative or judicial action or proceeding, including any proceeding
by a private party, is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging
any transaction contemplated by this Agreement as violative of any antitrust
law, each of the parties shall
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cooperate in all respects with each other and use its reasonable best efforts to
contest and resist any such action or proceeding, and to have vacated, lifted,
reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order, whether
temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits,
prevents or restricts, and to resolve any challenge or objection raised by any
governmental authority or private party. For purposes of meeting, holding
discussions and entering into any proposed settlement with any such governmental
authority, Parent shall appoint a committee consisting of Ronald Burkle (or his
designee), Roger Cooke (or his designee), a representative of F4LH and a
representative of the Company.
(b) The Company shall make, subject to the condition that the
transactions contemplated herein and therein actually occur, any undertakings
(including undertakings to make sales or other dispositions) provided that such
divestitures need not themselves be made until after the transactions
contemplated hereby actually occur) required in order to obtain the antitrust
clearances referred to in Section 5.8(a)(iii).
(c) Within five business days after such time as any agreement is
reached by Parent with the FTC or its staff, the Assistant Attorney General in
charge of the Antitrust Division or her staff, any state attorney general or its
staff or any other similar governmental entity in accordance with Section
5.8(a)(iii) to sell or dispose of any Divested Facilities, Parent shall furnish
or cause to be furnished to the Company a report (the "PRELIMINARY REPORT"),
based on such information as Parent shall determine to be relevant, stating in
reasonable detail the Parent's good faith determination of the Estimated Gain
and Lost EBITDA with respect to the real estate and other assets comprising such
Divested Facilities. Unless the Company provides specific written notice to
Parent of an objection to any aspect of the Preliminary Report before the close
of business on the 10th business day after the Company's receipt thereof, the
Preliminary Report shall then become binding upon Parent and the Company, and
shall be the "FINAL REPORT". If the Company, by delivering its own report (the
"COMPANY REPORT") stating in reasonable detail the Company's good faith
determination of the Estimated Gain and Lost EBITDA to Parent before the close
of business on such business day, makes any good faith objection to any aspect
of the Parent's proposed Estimated Gain set forth in the Preliminary Report,
then those aspects as to which the objection was made shall not become binding,
Parent and the Company shall discuss such objection in good faith and, if they
reach written agreement amending the Preliminary Report (or portions thereof),
the Preliminary Report, as amended by such written agreement, shall become
binding upon Parent and the Company, and shall be the "FINAL REPORT". If Parent
and the Company do not reach such written agreement within five days after the
Company gives such notices of objection, those aspects as to which such
objection was made (relating to Estimated Gain, and not Lost EBITDA) and as to
which written agreement has not
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been reached shall be submitted for arbitration to one or more independent
business and/or real estate appraisal firm(s) of recognized national standing
with expertise in the valuation of businesses and/or properties comparable to
the Facilities chosen by agreement of Parent and the Company (whose fees shall
be shared equally by Parent and the Company). Such firm shall prepare a
valuation report with respect to the real estate and other assets comprising the
Divested Facilities, which report, when delivered to Parent and the Company,
shall become binding upon Parent and the Company for purposes of determining the
Estimated Gain, and shall (unless a determination made in such report is higher
or lower than both the determination set forth in the Preliminary Report and the
determination set forth in the Company Report, in which case the determination
set forth in the Preliminary Report or the Company Report, whichever is closer
to such firm's determination, shall), together with those aspects of the
Preliminary Report as to which no objection was made or as to which written
agreement has been reached, be the "FINAL REPORT". The "ESTIMATED GAIN" is the
amount set forth in the Final Report and is equal to the aggregate net proceeds
estimated to be realized by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries on the sale or
other disposition of the real estate and other assets comprising the Divested
Facilities pursuant to this Section 5.8 in excess of the book value of the real
estate and other assets comprising the Divested Facilities to be so divested as
of the date of determination thereof. For purposes of this Section 5.8, the
book value of the Divested Facilities shall be based on the depreciated
historical cost of fixtures, equipment, and leasehold improvements (on land and
buildings, if owned, plus inventory at cost). The foregoing notwithstanding, if
within three (3) days of the issuance of the Final Report the Company shall
produce a signed bona-fide offer from a qualified buyer to purchase all or any
of the Facilities to be disposed of at a price higher than that contained in the
Final Report, then, in such event, the Estimated Gain shall be increased by the
amount which such offer exceeds the valuation in the Final Report for such
Facility or Facilities.
SECTION 5.9 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Parent and the Company shall
consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any
public statements with respect to the Merger and shall not issue any such press
release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as
may be required by law or any listing agreement with its securities exchange.
SECTION 5.10 STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING. Parent shall use its reasonable
best efforts to have approved for listing on the NYSE prior to the Effective
Time, subject to official notice of issuance, the Parent Common Stock to be
issued pursuant to the Merger (including Shares issuable pursuant to Section
1.7).
SECTION 5.11 AFFILIATES. (a) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company
shall deliver to Parent a letter identifying
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all persons who are, at the time this Agreement is submitted for approval to the
shareholders of the Company, "affiliates" of the Company for purposes of Rule
145 under the Securities Act or (if the Company shall have caused to be
delivered to Parent the letters referred to in Section 5.2(c)) for purposes of
qualifying the Merger for pooling of interests accounting treatment under
Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and
regulations. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each
such person to deliver to Parent on or prior to the Closing Date a written
agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.
(b) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all persons
who are "affiliates" of Parent for purposes of qualifying the Merger for pooling
of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles
Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations to comply with the fourth
paragraph of Exhibit B hereto.
SECTION 5.12 DIRECTORSHIPS. Promptly following the Effective Time of
the Merger, Parent's Board of Directors will elect Sam Zell and Stuart M. Sloan
to be directors of Parent.
SECTION 5.13 PARENT REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company
agrees and acknowledges that the representations and warranties set forth in
Article III hereof are being made without any regard to F4LH, the F4LH Merger
Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby and that no facts or
developments relating to F4LH, the F4LH Merger Agreement or the transactions
contemplated thereby shall constitute a breach of such representations and
warranties as initially made and as made on the Closing Date in accordance with
Section 6.2(a), except that upon consummation of the transaction pursuant to the
F4LH Merger Agreement, F4LH shall be treated as a Subsidiary of Parent for
purposes of Sections 3.10, 4.2 and 5.8.
SECTION 5.14 REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES. The Company or Surviving
Corporation shall pay all state or local real property transfer, real estate
excise, gains or similar Taxes, if any (collectively, the "TRANSFER TAXES"),
attributable to the transfer of a controlling interest in the Company or the
beneficial ownership of real property or interests therein and any penalties or
interest with respect thereto, payable in connection with the consummation of
the Merger. The Company shall cooperate with Parent in the filing of any
returns with respect to the Transfer Taxes, including supplying in a timely
manner a complete list of all real property or interests therein held by the
Company and its Subsidiaries and any information with respect to such properties
that is reasonably necessary to complete such returns. The shareholders of the
Company are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Section 5.14.
SECTION 5.15 REGISTRATION RIGHTS. (a) At or prior to the Effective
Time, Parent and the Shareholders shall enter into
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a registration rights agreement (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), the form
of which shall be agreed to by Parent and the Shareholders within 10 business
days of the date hereof providing for (i) "shelf" and "demand" registration
rights to the Shareholders in substantially the form of Sections 5.15(b) and
(c), respectively (which rights in the case of Zell/Chilmark Fund, L.P., shall
be assignable to the partners thereof), and (ii) other customary provisions for
agreements of this nature (but not providing for registration in addition to
those contemplated by Sections 5.15(b) and (c)) as mutually agreed between such
parties. After the date hereof, each of such parties shall endeavor in good
faith to negotiate and finalize the form of the Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) If requested by a Shareholder or Shareholders holding a majority
in interest in the Registrable Securities after the Effective Time, as soon as
practicable (but in any event not more than 10 days following such request),
Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC a shelf registration statement on an
appropriate form that shall include all shares of Parent Common Stock acquired
by the Shareholders pursuant to the Merger of otherwise ("REGISTRABLE
SECURITIES"), and may include securities of Parent for sale for Parent's own
account. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective within 5 days after the first
public release by Parent of the combined financial results of Parent and the
Company. Parent shall only be obligated to keep such Shelf Registration
Statement effective until the one year anniversary date of the date such Shelf
Registration Statement has been declared effective.
(c) In addition to the shelf registration rights described in
subsection (b) above, if requested by a Shareholder or Shareholders holding a
majority in interest in the Registrable Securities after the Effective Time (but
not later than 180 days after the Shelf Termination Date), as soon as
practicable (but in any event not more than 15 days following such request),
Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect
to a secondary underwritten offering on an appropriate form including all of the
Registrable Securities as to which such Shareholder requests registration.
Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration
statement to be declared effective within the later to occur of the first public
release of Parent of 30 days of combined financial results of Parent and the
Company and 30 days after the filing of such registration statement. Parent
management will actively participate to assist the marketing effort with respect
to the Registrable Securities included in such registration statement
(including, without limitation, having officers of Parent attend "road shows"
and analyst or investor presentations scheduled in connection therewith).
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ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS OF MERGER
SECTION 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 satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) This Agreement shall have been approved by the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock. The issuance of Parent Common Stock in the Merger shall have been
approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock.
(b) No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling,
injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent)
shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court or
governmental authority of competent jurisdiction which prohibits,
restrains, enjoins or restricts the consummation of the Merger; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause
any such decree, ruling, injunction or other order to be vacated or lifted.
(c) Any waiting period applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act
shall have terminated or expired.
(d) The Form S-4 and any required post-effective amendment thereto
shall have become effective under the Securities Act and shall not be the
subject of any stop order or proceedings seeking a stop order, and any
material "blue sky" and other state securities laws applicable to the
registration of the Parent Common Stock to be exchanged for Company Common
Stock shall have been complied with.
(e) The shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to the holders of
Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement shall have been approved
for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
SECTION 6.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE
MERGER. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger shall be subject to
the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following additional
conditions:
(a) Parent and Sub shall have performed or complied with in all
material respects their agreements and covenants contained in this
Agreement required to be performed or complied with at or prior to the
Closing Date and the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub
contained in this Agreement qualified as to materiality shall be true in
all respects, and those not so qualified shall be true in
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55
all material respects, in each case when made and on and as of the Closing
Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date,
except as expressly contemplated or otherwise expressly permitted by this
Agreement. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of Parent by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of
Parent to such effect.
(b) The Company shall have received an opinion of Sidley & Austin, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, dated the
Effective Time, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts,
representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion that are
consistent with the state of facts existing as of the Effective Time, for
federal income tax purposes:
(i) the Merger will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Company, Sub and Parent will each be
a party to such reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the
Code;
(ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by Parent, Sub or the Company
as a result of the Merger;
(iii) no gain or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of the
Company upon the exchange of their Company Common Stock solely for shares
of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, except with respect to cash,
if any, received in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock;
(iv) the aggregate tax basis of the shares of Parent Common Stock
received solely in exchange for Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger
(including fractional shares of Parent Common Stock for which cash is
received) will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Company Common
Stock exchanged therefor;
(v) the holding period for shares of Parent Common Stock received
solely in exchange for Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger will
include the holding period of the Company Common Stock exchanged therefor,
provided such Company Common Stock was held as capital assets by the
shareholder at the Effective Time; and
(vi) a shareholder of the Company who receives cash in lieu of a
fractional share of Parent Common Stock will recognize gain or loss equal
to the difference, if any, between such shareholders's tax basis in such
fractional share (as described in clause (iv) above) and the amount of cash
received.
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56
In rendering such opinion, Sidley & Austin may receive and rely upon
representations contained in a certificate of the Company substantially in
the form of the Company Tax Certificate attached to the Disclosure
Schedule, a certificate of Parent substantially in the form of the Parent
Tax Certificate attached to the Parent Disclosure Schedule and
representations contained in other appropriate certificates of the Company,
Parent, certain shareholders of the Company, and others.
(c) There shall not be pending or threatened by any governmental
entity any suit, action or proceeding, which could reasonably be expected,
if adversely determined, to result in criminal or material uninsured and
unindemnified or unindemnifiable personal liability on the part of one or
more directors of the Company, (i) challenging or seeking to restrain or
prohibit the consummation of the Merger or (ii) seeking to prohibit or
limit the ownership or operation by the Company, Parent or any of their
respective Subsidiaries of any material portion of the business or assets
of the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or to
dispose of or hold separate any material portion of the business or assets
of the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries, as a result
of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
SECTION 6.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND SUB TO EFFECT THE
MERGER. The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger shall be subject
to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following additional
conditions:
(a) The Company shall have performed or complied with in all material
respects its agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement required
to be performed or complied with at or prior to the Closing Date and the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement
qualified as to materiality shall be true in all respects, and those not so
qualified shall be true in all material respects, in each case when made
and on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made
on and as of such date, except as expressly contemplated or otherwise
expressly permitted by this Agreement. Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer
and chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.
(b) Parent shall have received an opinion of Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, dated
the Effective Time, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of
facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion that are
consistent with the state of facts existing as of the Effective Time, for
federal income tax purposes:
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57
(i) the Merger will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Company, Sub and Parent will each be
a party to such reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the
Code.
(ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by Parent, Sub or the Company
as a result of the Merger;
(iii) no gain or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of the
Company upon the exchange of their Company Common Stock solely for shares
of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, except with respect to cash,
if any, received in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock;
(iv) the aggregate tax basis of the shares of Parent Common Stock
received solely in exchange for Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger
(including fractional shares of Parent Common Stock for which cash is
received) will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Company Common
Stock exchanged therefor;
(v) the holding period for shares of Parent Common Stock received
solely in exchange for Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger will
include the holding period of the Company Common Stock exchanged therefor,
provided such Company Common Stock was held as capital assets by the
stockholder at the Effective Time; and
(vi) a shareholder of the Company who receives cash in lieu of a
fractional share of Parent Common Stock will recognize gain or loss equal
to the difference, if any, between such shareholder's tax basis in such
fractional share (as described in clause (iv) above) and the amount of cash
received.
In rendering such opinion, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett may receive and rely
upon representations contained in a certificate of Parent substantially in
the form of the Parent Tax Certificate attached to the Parent Disclosure
Schedule, a certificate of the Company substantially in the form of the
Company Tax Certificate attached to the Disclosure Schedule and
representations contained in other appropriate certificates of the Company,
Parent, certain shareholders of the Company, and others.
(c) Subject to Parent's compliance with Section 5.8, there shall not
be pending or threatened by any governmental entity any suit, action or
proceeding, (i) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the
consummation of the Merger or seeking to obtain from Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries any damages that are material in relation to Parent and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) seeking
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58
to prohibit or limit the ownership or operation by the Company, Parent or
any of their respective Subsidiaries of any material portion of the
business or assets of the Company, Parent or any of their respective
Subsidiaries, to dispose of or hold separate any material portion of the
business or assets of the Company, Parent or any of their respective
Subsidiaries, as a result of the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) seeking to prohibit Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries from effectively controlling in any material respect
the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 7.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing
Date, whether before or after approval of matters presented in connection with
the Merger by the shareholders of the Company:
(a) By mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) By either Parent or the Company, if the Merger shall not have
been consummated on or before August 31, 1998 (other than due to the
failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform its
obligations under this Agreement required to be performed at or prior to
the Effective Time);
(c) By Parent or the Company, if any required approval of the
shareholders of the Company for this Agreement or the Merger shall not have
been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote upon a
vote held at a duly held meeting of shareholders or at any adjournment
thereof;
(d) By the Company or Parent, if the required approval of the
stockholders of Parent for the issuance of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
this Agreement shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to
obtain the required vote upon a vote held at a duly held meeting of
stockholders or at any adjournment thereof;
(e) By Parent (subject to Parent's compliance with Section 5.8) or the
Company if any court or other governmental body of competent jurisdiction
shall have issued a final order, decree or ruling or taken any other final
action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such
order, decree, ruling or other action is or shall have become final and
nonappealable;
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59
(f) By the Company if prior to the Closing Date (i) there shall have
been a breach of any representation or warranty on the part of Parent
contained in this Agreement which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent or which could reasonably be
expected to materially adversely affect (or materially delay) the
consummation of the Merger or (ii) there shall have been a breach of any
covenant or agreement on the part of Parent contained in this Agreement
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to Parent or which could reasonably be expected to materially
adversely affect (or materially delay) the consummation of the Merger,
which breach shall not have been cured prior to 10 days following notice
thereof; or
(g) By Parent if prior to the Closing Date (i) there shall have been
a breach of any representation or warranty on the part of the Company
contained in this Agreement which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or which could
reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect (or materially delay)
the consummation of the Merger, (ii) there shall have been a breach of any
covenant or agreement on the part of the Company contained in this
Agreement which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect with respect to the Company or which could reasonably be expected to
materially adversely affect (or materially delay) the consummation of the
Merger, which breach shall not have been cured prior to 10 days following
notice thereof; or
(h) By Parent, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have (i)
withdrawn, modified or amended in any respect adverse to Parent or Sub its
approval or recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger or any of the
other transactions contemplated herein or resolved to do so (provided that
the disclosure of the receipt of an Alternative Transaction and the fact
that the Board of Directors is considering such Alternative Transaction or
reviewing it with its advisors shall not by itself constitute such a
withdrawal, modification or amendment), or (ii) recommended an Alternative
Transaction from a Person (other than Parent) or resolved to do so;
(i) By the Company (but only prior to approval by the shareholders of
the Company of this Agreement and the Merger), if any Person (other than
Parent) shall have proposed a Superior Transaction, such proposal is
pending and the Company shall have notified Parent of such Superior
Transaction at least 5 business days prior to such termination; PROVIDED
that such termination under this Section 7.1(i) shall not be effective
until the Company has
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made payment of the Fee and the Expenses required by Section 7.3; or
(j) by the Company, if the average of the closing prices of the
Parent Common Stock on the NYSE as reported on the NYSE Composite
Transaction Tape for the 5 trading days ending on the second trading day
preceding the Effective Time is $20.00 or less.
SECTION 7.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of the termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become
void and there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto except as
set forth in Section 7.3 and Section 8.1; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing herein
shall relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof.
SECTION 7.3 FEES AND EXPENSES.
(a) If:
(i) This Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(h) or (i);
or
(ii) (x) Parent terminates this Agreement (A) pursuant to Section
7.1(c) and prior to the Company's shareholders meeting giving rise to
Parent's right of termination, the issuance of Parent Common Stock pursuant
to the F4LH Merger Agreement shall have been approved by a vote held at a
duly held meeting of the stockholders of Parent or at any adjournment
thereof and the F4LH Merger Agreement shall be in full force and effect; or
(B) pursuant to Section 7.1(g) (as a result of a willful breach of
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company)
and, (y) in the case of (A) or (B), within 9 months thereafter, the Company
enters into an agreement with respect to an Alternative Transaction or an
Alternative Transaction contemplated by any of clauses (i), (ii), or (iii)
of the definition of such term occurs;
then the Company shall pay to Parent and Sub, (A) simultaneously with any
termination by the Company contemplated by Section 7.3(a)(i), (B) within one
business day following any termination by Parent contemplated by Section
7.3(a)(i), and (C) within one business day following the occurance of one of the
events described in clause (y) of Section 7.3(a)(ii), a fee, in cash, of $40
million (the "FEE"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall in no event be
obligated to pay more than one such fee with respect to all such occurrences and
such termination, and (B) within one business day after request by Parent or Sub
(accompanied by reasonably detailed documentation to the extent reasonably
requested by the Company) from time to time, all of Parent's and Sub's Expenses
(as defined below) up to a maximum payment pursuant to this clause (B) of $5
million. The term
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61
"EXPENSES" shall include all out-of-pocket expenses and fees (including without
limitation fees and expenses payable to all banks, investment banking firms and
other financial institutions and their respective agents and counsel for
arranging or providing financial advice with respect to the Merger and all
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, experts and consultants to
Parent and Sub) actually incurred by Parent or Sub or on their behalf in
connection with the consummation of all transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Merger.
"ALTERNATIVE TRANSACTION" means any of the following events: (i) the
acquisition of the Company by merger, tender offer or otherwise by any person
other than Parent, Sub or any affiliate thereof (a "THIRD PARTY"); (ii) the
acquisition by a Third Party of 30% or more of the assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (iii) the acquisition by a Third Party of 30% or
more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock; (iv) the adoption by the
Company of a plan of liquidation or the declaration or payment of an
extraordinary dividend; or (v) the repurchase by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.
(b) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each party shall
bear its own expenses in connection with this Agreement, the Shareholder
Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except that
each of Parent and the Company shall bear and pay one-half of the costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the filing, printing and mailing of the
Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement.
SECTION 7.4 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto by action taken by or on behalf of their respective Boards of Directors
at any time before or after any required approval of matters presented in
connection with the Merger by the shareholders of either the Company or Parent;
PROVIDED, however, that after any such approval, there shall be made no
amendment that by law requires further approval by such shareholders without the
further approval of such shareholders. This Agreement may not be amended except
by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
SECTION 7.5 WAIVER. At any time prior to the Closing Date, any party
hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set
forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound
thereby. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights
under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
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62
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 8.1 NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND
AGREEMENTS. The representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement
shall terminate at the Effective Time or upon the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.1, as the case may be, except that the agreements set
forth in Article I and Section 5.6, Section 5.14 and Section 5.15 shall survive
the Effective Time and those set forth in Section 5.3 and Section 7.3 and the
Confidentiality Agreement in accordance with its terms shall survive termination
of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.2 NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall
be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by cable,
telecopy, telegram or telex or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
if to Parent or Sub:
Fred Meyer, Inc.
3800 S.E. 22nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97202
Attention: Roger A. Cooke
Fax: (503) 797-7138
with an additional copy to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: William E. Curbow, Esq.
Fax: (212) 455-2502
if to the Company:
Quality Food Centers, Inc.
10112 N.E. 10th Street
Bellevue, Washington 98004
Attention: Stuart M. Sloan
Fax: (425) 462-2214
with a copy to:
Sidley & Austin
One First National Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60603
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63
Attention: Thomas A. Cole and
Imad I. Qasim
Fax: (312) 853-7036
and
Rosenberg & Liebentritt
2 North Riverside Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attention: Alisa Singer
Fax: (312) 454-0335
SECTION 8.3 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term:
"ACTION" shall mean any action, order, writ, injunction, judgment or
decree outstanding or claim, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration or
investigation by or before any court, governmental or other regulatory or
administrative agency or commission or any other Person.
"AFFILIATE" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
that directly, or through one or more intermediaries, controls or is
controlled by or is under common control with such Person.
"ASSETS" shall mean, with respect to any Person, all land, buildings,
improvements, leasehold improvements, Fixtures and Equipment and other
assets, real or personal, tangible or intangible, owned, leased or licensed
by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries.
"BENEFIT ARRANGEMENT" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
employment, consulting, severance, change in control or other similar
contract, arrangement or policy and each plan, arrangement (written or
oral), program, agreement or commitment providing for insurance coverage
(including without limitation any self-insured arrangements), workers'
compensation, disability benefits, life, health, disability or accident
benefits (including without limitation any "voluntary employees'
beneficiary association" as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code
providing for the same or other benefits) or for deferred compensation,
profit-sharing bonuses, stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock
purchases or other forms of incentive compensation other than Welfare Plan,
Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (A) which is entered into, maintained,
contributed to or required to be contributed to, as the case may be, by
such Person or any ERISA Affiliate or under which such Person or any ERISA
Affiliate may incur any liability, and (B) which covers any employee or
former employee of such Person or any ERISA Affiliate (with respect to
their relationship with such entities).
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64
"CONTRACT" shall mean any contract (written or oral), plan,
undertaking or other commitment or agreement.
"ENCUMBRANCES" shall mean any claim, lien, pledge, option, charge,
easement, security interest, deed of trust, mortgage, right-of-way,
covenant, condition, restriction, encumbrance or other rights of third
parties.
"EMPLOYEE PLANS" shall mean all Benefit Arrangements, Multiemployer
Plans, Pension Plans and Welfare Plans.
"ERISA AFFILIATE" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any entity
which is (or at any relevant time was) a member of a "controlled group of
corporations" with, under "common control" with, or a member of as
"affiliated service group" with, such Person as defined in Section 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean any federal, state or local law,
statute, ordinance, order, decree, rule or regulation relating to releases,
discharges, emissions or disposals to air, water, land or groundwater of
Hazardous Materials; to the use handling or disposal of polychlorinated
byphenyls, asbestos or urea formaldehyde or any other Hazardous Material;
to the treatment, storage, disposal or management of Hazardous Materials;
to exposure to toxic, hazardous or other controlled, prohibited or
regulated substances; and to the transportation, release or any other use
of Hazardous Materials, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq. ("CERCLA"), the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6901, et seq. ("RCRA"),
the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601, et seq. ("TSCA"), the
Occupational, Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. 651, et seq., the Clean Air
Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33
U.S.C. 1251, et seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f, et seq.,
the Hazardous Materials Transportation act, 49 U.S.C. 1802 et seq. ("HMTA")
and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. 11001
et seq. ("EPCRA"), and other comparable state and local laws and all rules,
regulations and guidance documents promulgated pursuant thereto or
published thereunder.
"FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT" shall mean, with respect to any Person, all
of the furniture, fixtures, furnishings, machinery and equipment owned,
leased or licensed by such Person and located in, at or upon the facilities
of such Person.
"F4LH shall mean Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc.
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65
"F4LH MERGER AGREEMENT" shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of November 6, 1997, among Parent and F4LH.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America, as in effect from time to time, consistently
applied.
"HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" shall mean each and every element, compound,
chemical mixture, contaminant, pollutant, material, waste or other
substance which is defined, determined or identified as hazardous or toxic
under Environmental Laws or the release of which is regulated under
Environmental Laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
term includes: "hazardous substances" as defined in CERCLA; "extremely
hazardous substances" as defined in EPCRA; "hazardous waste" as defined in
RCRA; "hazardous materials" as defined in HMTA; "chemical substance or
mixture" as defined in TSCA; crude oil, petroleum products or any fraction
thereof; radioactive materials including source, byproduct or special
nuclear materials; asbestos or asbestos-containing materials; chlorinated
fluorocarbons ("CFCs"); and radon.
"LEASES" shall mean, with respect to any Person, all leases (including
subleases, licenses, any occupancy agreement and any other agreement) of
real or personal property, in each case to which such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, whether as lessor, lessee, guarantor or otherwise,
or by which any of them or their respective properties or assets are bound,
or which otherwise relate to the operation of their respective businesses.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall mean, with respect to either of the
Company or Parent, as the context requires, a material adverse change in or
effect on the business, results of operations or financial condition of
such Person and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or any change which
materially impairs or materially delays the ability of such Person to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; PROVIDED, that
(i) the failure of Parent to consummate the transactions pursuant to the
F4LH Merger Agreement (ii) changes or effects as a result of any sales or
dispositions of Facilities or other actions pursuant to Section 5.8 and
(iii) the acceleration of the Santee Dairies, Inc. $80,000,000 Senior
Secured Notes due 2008 and the consequences thereof, shall not constitute
a Material Adverse Effect.
"MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
"multiemployer plan," as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, (A) which
such Person or any ERISA Affiliate contributes to or is required to
contribute to,
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66
or, since January 1, 1990, maintained, administered, contributed to or was
required to contribute to, or under which such Person or any ERISA
Affiliate may incur any liability and (B) which covers any employee or
former employee of such Person or any ERISA Affiliate (with respect to
their relationship with such entities).
"PENSION PLAN" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any "employee
pension benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) (A) which such Person or any ERISA Affiliate maintains,
administers, contributes to or is required to contribute to, or, within the
six years prior to the Closing Date, maintained, administered, contributed
to or was required to contribute to, or under which such Person or any
ERISA Affiliate may incur any liability and (B) which covers any employee
or former employee of such Person or any ERISA Affiliate (with respect to
their relationship with such entities).
"PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES" shall mean any Encumbrances resulting from
(i) all statutory or other liens for Taxes or assessments which are not yet
due or delinquent or the validity of which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves are being
maintained in other accordance with GAAP; (ii) all cashiers', landlords',
workers' and repairers' liens, and other similar liens imposed by law,
incurred in the ordinary course of business; (iii) all laws and
governmental rules, regulations, ordinances and restrictions; (iv) all
leases, subleases, licenses, concessions or service contracts to which any
Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; (v) Encumbrances identified
on title policies or preliminary title reports or other documents or
writing delivered or made available for inspection to any Person prior to
the date hereof or included in the Public Records; and (vi) all other liens
and mortgages (but solely to the extent such liens or mortgages secure
indebtedness described or referred to in the Disclosure Schedule),
covenants, imperfections in title, charges, easements, restrictions and
other Encumbrances which, in the case of any such Encumbrances pursuant to
clause (i) through (vi), do not materially detract from or materially
interfere with the present use of the asset subject thereto or affected
thereby.
"PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, governmental agency or instrumentality,
or any other entity.
"SMITH'S MERGER AGREEMENT" shall mean the Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization and Merger by and between Smith's Food & Drug Centers, Inc.
and Fred Meyer, Inc., dated as of May 11, 1997.
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67
"SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation
or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which
such Person directly or indirectly owns or controls at least a majority of
the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing
similar functions.
"TAX" or "TAXES" shall mean all federal, state, local, foreign and
other taxes, levies, imposts, assessments, impositions or other similar
government charges, including, without limitation, income, estimated
income, business, occupation, franchise, real property, payroll, personal
property, sales, transfer, stamp, use, employment, commercial rent or
withholding, occupancy, premium, gross receipts, profits, windfall profits,
deemed profits, license, lease, severance, capital, production,
corporation, ad valorem, excise, duty or other taxes, including interest,
penalties and additions (to the extent applicable) thereto whether disputed
or not.
"TAX RETURN" shall mean any report, return, document, declaration or
other information or filing required to be supplied to any taxing authority
or jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) with respect to Taxes, including,
without limitation, information returns, any documents with respect to or
accompanying payments of estimated Taxes, or with respect to or
accompanying requests for the extension of time in which to file any such
report, return, document, declaration or other information.
"WELFARE PLAN" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any "employee
welfare benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, (A) which such
Person or any ERISA Affiliate maintains, administers, contributes to or is
required to contribute to, or under which such Person or any ERISA
Affiliate may incur any liability and (B) which covers any employee or
former employee of such Person or any ERISA Affiliate (with respect to
their relationship with such entities).
SECTION 8.4 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end
that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent
possible.
<PAGE>
68
SECTION 8.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement, together
with the Shareholders Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes
the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral,
among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Any attempted assignment which does not comply with the provisions of this
Section 8.5 shall be null and void AB INITIO.
SECTION 8.6 PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and, except as
provided in the following sentence, nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any rights,
benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement. The parties hereto expressly intend the provisions of Sections 1.7,
5.6, 5.14 and 5.15 to confer a benefit upon and be enforceable by, as third
party beneficiaries of this Agreement, the third persons referred to in, or
intended to be benefitted by, such provisions.
SECTION 8.7 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.
SECTION 8.8 HEADINGS. The descriptive headings contained in this
Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in
any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.
FRED MEYER, INC.
Attest:
By:
- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Title:
Q-ACQUISITION CORP.
Attest:
By:
- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Title:
QUALITY FOOD CENTERS, INC.
Attest:
By:
- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Title:
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 6, 1997, between FRED
MEYER, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and Stuart M. Sloan
("Shareholder").
WHEREAS, Parent, Q-Acquisition Corp., a Washington corporation and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and Quality Food Centers, Inc., a
Washington corporation (the "Company"), propose to enter into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended or
supplemented, the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement) providing for
the merger of Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger"), upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, Shareholder owns 1,498,982 shares of Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share, of the Company (the "Company Common Stock") (such shares of
Company Common Stock, together with any other shares of capital stock of the
Company acquired by such Stockholder after the date hereof and during the term
of this Agreement, being collectively referred to herein as the "Subject
Shares"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger
Agreement, Parent has requested that Shareholder enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Parent to enter into, and in consideration
of its entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the premises
and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, the parties
agree as follows:
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SHAREHOLDER. Shareholder
hereby represents and warrants to Parent as of the date hereof in respect of
himself as follows:
(a) AUTHORITY. The Shareholder has all requisite power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Shareholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of the Shareholder enforceable in accordance with its terms. Except for
the Standstill Agreement, dated as of January 14, 1995 (the "Standstill
Agreement"), by and between the Company and Shareholder (the relevant
provisions of which have been waived by the Company to permit Shareholder
to enter into and perform this Agreement, as set forth in the agreement
between the Company and Shareholder dated November 6, 1997', the execution
and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will
not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or
without notice or lapse of time or both) under any provision of, any trust
agreement, loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease
or other
<PAGE>
2
agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment,
order, notice, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation
applicable to the Shareholder or to the Shareholder's property or assets.
If Shareholder is married and the Shareholder's Subject Shares constitute
community property or otherwise need spousal or other approval to be legal,
valid and binding, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, the
Shareholder's spouse, enforceable against such spouse in accordance with
its terms. No trust of which Shareholder is a trustee requires the consent
of any beneficiary to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) THE SUBJECT SHARES. The Shareholder is the record and beneficial
owner of, and has good and marketable title to, the Subject Shares, free
and clear of any Encumbrances. The Shareholder does not own, of record or
beneficially, any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the
Subject Shares. The Shareholder has the sole right to vote, and the sole
power of disposition with respect to, such Subject Shares, and none of such
Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement,
arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting or disposition of
such Subject Shares, except for the Standstill Agreement and except as
contemplated by this Agreement.
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT. Parent hereby represents
and warrants to Shareholder that Parent has all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent,
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of Parent enforceable in accordance with its terms. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will not,
conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice
or lapse of time or both) under any provision of, the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of Parent, any trust agreement, loan or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, notice,
decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or to
Parent's property or assets.
3. COVENANTS OF SHAREHOLDER. Until the termination of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 7, Shareholder agrees as follows:
<PAGE>
3
(a) At any meeting of shareholders of the Company called to vote upon
the Merger and the Merger Agreement or at any adjournment thereof or in any
other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval with
respect to the Merger and the Merger Agreement is sought, the Shareholder
shall be present (in person or by proxy) and shall vote (or cause to be
voted) the Subject Shares in favor of the Merger, the adoption by the
Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the terms thereof and
each of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
(b) At any meeting of shareholders of the Company or at any
adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which the
Shareholder's vote, consent or other approval is sought, the Shareholder
shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares against (i) any merger
agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger),
consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization,
recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of or by the
Company or any other takeover proposal (collectively, "Takeover Proposal")
or (ii) any amendment of the Company's certificate of incorporation or
by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in
any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger
Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any class of capital
stock of the Company. The Shareholder further agrees not to commit or
agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.
(c) Except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence of this
Section 3(c), the Shareholder agrees not to (i) sell, transfer, pledge,
assign or otherwise dispose of (including by gift) (collectively,
"Transfer"), or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement
(including any profit-sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of,
the Subject Shares to any person other than pursuant to the terms of the
Merger or (ii) enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting
agreement or otherwise, in connection with, directly or indirectly, any
Takeover Proposal and agrees not to commit or agree to take any of the
foregoing actions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Shareholder shall
have the right, for estate planning purposes, to Transfer Subject Shares to
a transferee only following the due execution and delivery to Parent by
each transferee of a legal, valid and binding counterpart to this
Agreement.
(d) During the term of this Agreement, the Shareholder shall not, nor
shall he permit any of his affiliates or any director, officer, employee,
investment banker, attorney or
<PAGE>
4
other adviser or representative of the Shareholder to, (i) directly or
indirectly solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of, any Takeover
Proposal or (ii) directly or indirectly participate in any discussions or
negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any information with
respect to, or take any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the
making of any proposal that constitutes or may reasonably be expected to
lead to, any Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions
of this Section 3(d), Shareholder and all other persons described in the
first sentence of this Section 3(d), shall be entitled to take all actions
and to exercise all rights with respect to any Transaction as the Company
may take or exercise pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement;
PROVIDED, that the Company, in connection with such actions and the
exercise of such rights, complies with Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement.
(e) Until after the Merger is consummated or the Merger Agreement is
terminated, the Shareholder shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to
assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary,
proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most
expeditious manner practicable, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
4. AFFILIATE LETTER; TAX CERTIFICATES. Shareholder shall execute
and deliver the agreement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 5.11(a)
of the Merger Agreement and, if requested by tax counsel of Parent or for the
Company in connection with the rendering of the tax opinions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement, a tax certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
5. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Shareholder will, from time to time, execute
and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further
consents, documents and other instruments as Parent may reasonably request for
the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
6. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
7. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (a)
the termination of the Merger Agreement, (b) the withdrawal, modification or
amendment by the Board of Directors of the Company in any respect adverse to
Parent or Sub
<PAGE>
5
of its approval or recommendation of the Merger Agreement, the Merger or any of
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or (c) the Effective Time.
8. WAIVER OF APPRAISAL AND DISSENTER'S RIGHTS. Until the termination
of this Agreement in accordance with Section 7, Shareholder hereby waives and
agrees not to exercise any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the
Merger that Shareholder may have with respect to Shareholder's Subject Shares.
9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(b) NOTICE. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or sent by
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to Parent in accordance
with Section 8.2 of the Merger Agreement and to the Shareholders at their
respective addresses set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (or at such
other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice).
(c) INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Sections, such reference shall be to a Section to this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. 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. Wherever the words "include", "includes"
or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation".
(d) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement,
and shall become effective when two or more of the counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being
understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.
(e) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement
(including the documents and instruments referred to herein) (i)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and (ii) is not intended to confer upon any
Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
<PAGE>
6
(f) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless
of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of
conflicts of law thereof.
10. SHAREHOLDER CAPACITY. No person executing this Agreement who is
or becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of the Company makes any
agreement or understanding herein in his capacity as such director or officer.
Shareholder signs solely in his capacity as the record holder and beneficial
owner of Shareholder's Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect
any actions taken by a Shareholder in his or her capacity as an officer or
director of the Company to the extent specifically permitted by the Merger
Agreement.
11. ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States
located in the State of Delaware or in a Delaware state court, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In
addition, each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit such party to the
personal jurisdiction of any Federal court located in the State of Delaware or
any Delaware state court in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement
or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that such party will
not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other
request for leave from any such court; (iii) agrees that such party will not
bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby in any court other than a Federal court sitting in the state of Delaware
or a Delaware state court and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury with
respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement
or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
<PAGE>
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent has caused this Agreement to be signed by
its officer thereunto duly authorized and the Shareholder has signed this
Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
FRED MEYER, INC.
By:
----------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SHAREHOLDER:
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Stuart M. Sloan
<PAGE>
[COMPANY SHAREHOLDER CERTIFICATE]
(STUART SLOAN)
November __, 1997
Sidley & Austin
One First National Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have been requested to render opinions regarding certain federal
income tax consequences of the merger (the "Merger") of [Q-Acquisition Corp.]
("Sub"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of [Parent], a
Delaware corporation, ("Parent") with and into [Company], a Delaware
corporation, (the "Company") upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November __, 1997 (the "Merger
Agreement") among Parent, Sub and the Company. Capitalized terms not defined
herein have the meanings specified in the Merger Agreement.
In connection with the Merger, and recognizing that each of you will
reply upon this certificate in rendering such opinions, the undersigned, a
beneficial owner of 5% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock and acting as such, hereby certifies and represents to
each of you that the facts and representations stated herein are true,
correct and complete in all respects at the date hereof and will be true,
correct and complete in all respects as of the Effective Time (as if made as
of the Effective Time):
1. The undersigned has no present plan or intention to sell,
exchange, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction
to reduce the equity risk with respect to) any shares of Parent
Common Stock to be received pursuant to the Merger.
2. The undersigned has not transferred or acquired any shares of
Company Common Stock on or prior to the date hereof in
contemplation of the Merger and has no present plan or
intention to transfer or acquire any shares of Company Common
Stock prior to
<PAGE>
the Effective Time in contemplation of the Merger (except for
acquisitions pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option
that was not granted in anticipation of the Merger).
The undersigned hereby undertakes to inform each of you, Parent and
Company immediately should any of the foregoing statements or
representations become untrue, incorrect or incomplete in any respect on or
prior to the Effective Time.
Very truly yours,
-----------------------------
Stuart Sloan
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 6, 1997, between FRED
MEYER, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), and Zell/Chilmark Fund L.P.
("Shareholder").
WHEREAS, Parent, Q-Acquisition Corp., a Washington corporation and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), and Quality Food Centers, Inc., a
Washington corporation (the "Company"), propose to enter into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended or
supplemented, the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement) providing for
the merger of Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger"), upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, Shareholder owns 3,975,000 shares of Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share, of the Company (the "Company Common Stock") (such shares of
Company Common Stock, together with any other shares of capital stock of the
Company acquired by such Stockholder after the date hereof and during the term
of this Agreement, being collectively referred to herein as the "Subject
Shares"); and
WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger
Agreement, Parent has requested that Shareholder enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Parent to enter into, and in consideration
of its entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the premises
and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, the parties
agree as follows:
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SHAREHOLDER. Shareholder
hereby represents and warrants to Parent as of the date hereof in respect of
itself as follows:
(a) AUTHORITY. The Shareholder has all requisite power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Shareholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of the Shareholder enforceable in accordance with its terms. Except for
the Standstill Agreement, dated as of January 14, 1995 (the "Standstill
Agreement"), by and between the Company and Shareholder (the relevant
provisions of which have been waived by the Company to permit Shareholder
to enter into and perform this Agreement, as set forth in the agreement
between the Company and Shareholder dated November 6, 1997', the execution
and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will
not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or
without notice or lapse of time or both)
<PAGE>
2
under any provision of, any trust agreement, loan or credit agreement,
note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument,
permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, notice, decree,
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Shareholder
or to the Shareholder's property or assets.
(b) THE SUBJECT SHARES. The Shareholder is the record and beneficial
owner of, and has good and marketable title to, the Subject Shares, free
and clear of any Encumbrances. The Shareholder does not own, of record or
beneficially, any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the
Subject Shares. The Shareholder has the sole right to vote, and the sole
power of disposition with respect to, such Subject Shares, and none of such
Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement,
arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting or disposition of
such Subject Shares, except for the Standstill Agreement and except as
contemplated by this Agreement.
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT. Parent hereby represents
and warrants to Shareholder that Parent has all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent,
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of Parent enforceable in accordance with its terms. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will not,
conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice
or lapse of time or both) under any provision of, the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of Parent, any trust agreement, loan or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, notice,
decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or to
Parent's property or assets.
3. COVENANTS OF SHAREHOLDER. Until the termination of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 7, Shareholder agrees as follows:
(a) At any meeting of shareholders of the Company called to vote upon
the Merger and the Merger Agreement or at any adjournment thereof or in any
other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval with
respect to the Merger and the Merger Agreement is sought, the Shareholder
shall be present (in person or by proxy) and shall vote (or cause to be
voted) the Subject Shares in favor of the Merger, the adoption by the
Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the terms thereof and
<PAGE>
3
each of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
(b) At any meeting of shareholders of the Company or at any
adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which the
Shareholder's vote, consent or other approval is sought, the Shareholder
shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares against (i) any merger
agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger),
consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization,
recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of or by the
Company or any other takeover proposal (collectively, "Takeover Proposal")
or (ii) any amendment of the Company's certificate of incorporation or
by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in
any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger
Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any class of capital
stock of the Company. The Shareholder further agrees not to commit or
agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.
(c) Except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence of this
Section 3(c), the Shareholder agrees not to (i) sell, transfer, pledge,
assign or otherwise dispose of (including by gift) (collectively,
"Transfer"), or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement
(including any profit-sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of,
the Subject Shares to any person other than pursuant to the terms of the
Merger or (ii) enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting
agreement or otherwise, in connection with, directly or indirectly, any
Takeover Proposal and agrees not to commit or agree to take any of the
foregoing actions.
(d) During the term of this Agreement, the Shareholder shall not, nor
shall it permit any of its affiliates or any director, officer, employee,
investment banker, attorney or other adviser or representative of the
Shareholder to, (i) directly or indirectly solicit, initiate or encourage
the submission of, any Takeover Proposal or (ii) directly or indirectly
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
person any information with respect to, or take any other action to
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or
may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3(d), Shareholder
and all other persons described in the first sentence of this
<PAGE>
4
Section 3(d), shall be entitled to take all actions and to exercise all
rights with respect to any Transaction as the Company may take or exercise
pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement; PROVIDED, that the
Company, in connection with such actions and the exercise of such rights,
complies with Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement.
(e) Until after the Merger is consummated or the Merger Agreement is
terminated, the Shareholder shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to
assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary,
proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most
expeditious manner practicable, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
4. AFFILIATE LETTER. Shareholder shall execute and deliver the
agreement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 5.11(a) of the Merger
Agreement.
5. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Shareholder will, from time to time, execute
and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further
consents, documents and other instruments as Parent may reasonably request for
the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
6. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
7. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (a)
the termination of the Merger Agreement, (b) the withdrawal, modification or
amendment by the Board of Directors of the Company in any respect adverse to
Parent or Sub of its approval or recommendation of the Merger Agreement, the
Merger or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or (c)
the Effective Time.
8. WAIVER OF APPRAISAL AND DISSENTER'S RIGHTS. Until the termination
of this Agreement in accordance with Section 7, Shareholder hereby waives and
agrees not to exercise any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the
Merger that
<PAGE>
5
Shareholder may have with respect to Shareholder's Subject Shares.
9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(b) NOTICE. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or sent by
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to Parent in accordance
with Section 8.2 of the Merger Agreement and to the Shareholders at their
respective addresses set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (or at such
other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice).
(c) INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Sections, such reference shall be to a Section to this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. 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. Wherever the words "include", "includes"
or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation".
(d) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement,
and shall become effective when two or more of the counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being
understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.
(e) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement
(including the documents and instruments referred to herein) (i)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and (ii) is not intended to confer upon any
Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
(f) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless
of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of
conflicts of law thereof.
10. SHAREHOLDER CAPACITY. No designee of Shareholder who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of the Company makes any
agreement or understanding herein in its
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6
capacity as such director or officer. Shareholder signs solely in his capacity
as the record holder and beneficial owner of Shareholder's Subject Shares and
nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by any designee of
Shareholder in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company to
the extent specifically permitted by the Merger Agreement.
11. ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States
located in the State of Delaware or in a Delaware state court, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In
addition, each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit such party to the
personal jurisdiction of any Federal court located in the State of Delaware or
any Delaware state court in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement
or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that such party will
not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other
request for leave from any such court; (iii) agrees that such party will not
bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby in any court other than a Federal court sitting in the state of Delaware
or a Delaware state court and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury with
respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement
or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent has caused this Agreement to be signed by
its officer thereunto duly authorized and the Shareholder has signed this
Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
FRED MEYER, INC.
By:
----------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SHAREHOLDER:
ZELL/CHILMARK FUND L.P.
By: ZC Limited Partnership,
general partner
By: ZC Partnership,
general partner
By: ZC Inc., general partner
By:
----------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
P. O. Box 42121 - Portland, OR 97242-0121
3800 S.E. 22nd Avenue - Portland, OR 97202-2999
FRED MEYER, INC. (503)232-8844 - http://www.fredmeyer.com
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CONTACTS:
Fred Meyer Media Rob Boley 503-797-7176
Investors Dave Jessick 503-797-7900
QFC Media Kerry Sturgill 206-689-8505
Investors Marc Evanger 425-462-2177
Ralphs Media Ari Swiller 310-884-6201
Investors Felicia Thornton 310-884-4354
The Yucaipa Media/Investors Bob Bernstein 310-789-7200
Companies Larry Kalantari 310-789-7200
FRED MEYER, QUALITY FOOD CENTERS, AND RALPHS GROCERY COMPANY COMBINE
TO CREATE ONE OF THE LARGEST MULTI-REGIONAL SUPERMARKET RETAILERS WITH $15
BILLION IN SALES
PORTLAND, OREGON (November 7, 1997) -- Fred Meyer, Inc. ("Fred Meyer") (NYSE:
FMY) today announced it has entered into agreements for strategic mergers with
Quality Food Centers, Inc. ("QFC") (NYSE:XQ) and Ralphs Grocery Company
("Ralphs") in two separate transactions that will create a $15 billion multi-
regional supermarket chain. The combined company will be one of the largest
supermarket companies in the United States with approximately 88,000 employees
and more than 800 food stores in 14 states with the number one market share in
Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque and the number
two share in Phoenix and Portland. These transactions are expected to be
accretive to Fred Meyer earnings per share in 1999, the first full year of
operation following the mergers. The company expects to achieve operating cost
savings from two in-market consolidations in Southern California and the Pacific
Northwest. In the aggregate, these benefits and efficiencies are estimated to
be at least $100 million annually when fully realized in the third full year of
operation following the mergers.
Based on Fred Meyer's closing stock price on November 6, 1997 of $30.9375 per
share, and including the assumption of debt, the enterprise value of the
combined company will be approximately $10 billion, with the QFC transaction
valued at approximately $1.7 billion and the Ralphs transaction valued at
approximately $3.1 billion. Under the terms of two separate agreements, Fred
Meyer intends to: i) merge with QFC in a tax-free stock-for-stock transaction
at an exchange ratio whereby each QFC shareholder will receive the greater of
1.9 shares of Fred Meyer common stock or $55 in value of Fred Meyer stock for
each outstanding share of QFC (subject to a maximum
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exchange ratio of 2.3 shares of Fred Meyer common stock); and (ii) exchange 22.5
million shares of Fred Meyer common stock for 100 percent of the equity of
Ralphs' parent, Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc. ("Food4Less"). In the event the
average Fred Meyer share price is less than $26.67 per share, the number of
shares issued to Food4Less shall be adjusted upward to a maximum of 24 million
shares.
Robert G. Miller, chief executive officer and president of Fred Meyer, said,
"The three-way combination of Fred Meyer, QFC, and Ralphs creates one of the
largest supermarket companies in the United States with premier operating
franchises and leading market positions in the most attractive and fastest
growing markets in the country. With two in-market consolidations, we are
confident that we will generate at least $100 million in annual cost savings.
The combined company will be one of the industry leaders in terms of sales
growth and EBITDA margins and will generate significant free cash flow to fund
capital expenditures and repay debt."
George Golleher, chief executive officer of Ralphs, who will continue to manage
the Southern California operations, said, "This is a great transaction for the
customers and employees of Ralphs. By becoming part of a $15 billion multi-
regional company, customers and investors alike will benefit substantially from
both lower operating costs and the unique growth opportunities inherent in the
combination of these companies."
Stuart Sloan, chairman of QFC, said, "This is a combination of three fine
companies and a chance for us to grow and strengthen the QFC quality brand for
our customers and employees. There are also significant opportunities for QFC
to increase shareholder value and enhance buying power, distribution, and
manufacturing."
Under the terms of the merger agreements approved by the boards of all three
companies, the two transactions are independent and not contingent upon each
other. The transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 1998.
The company expects to account for the QFC merger as a pooling of interests and
for the Ralphs merger as a purchase. The mergers are subject to regulatory
approval and shareholder votes of the respective companies. The principal
stockholders of both QFC and Food4Less have agreed to vote in favor of the
transactions. Following the merger, Ronald W. Burkle, managing partner of The
Yucaipa Companies, will remain chairman of the board of Fred Meyer, Inc. and Bob
Miller will remain chief executive officer and president.
Fred Meyer, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a major retailer of food-
related and nonfood products. The merger with Smith's Food and Drug Centers
earlier this year gave Fred Meyer an annual sales level of approximately $7
billion. It currently operates 265 large stores in 11 western states -- 112
operating under the Fred Meyer name as large one-stop-shopping stores and 153
supermarkets operating as Smith's Food and Drug Centers, Smitty's, and PriceRite
Grocery Warehouses. Fred Meyer employs approximately 50,000 people.
QFC is the second-largest supermarket chain in the Puget Sound region of
Washington state, with 90 stores and more than 6,000 employees. Hughes Family
Markets, a subsidiary of QFC based in Irwindale, California, is a 57-store
supermarket chain with more than 5,000 employees serving
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Southern California. The acquisition of Hughes earlier this year gave QFC pro
forma 1996 sales of $2.1 billion.
Ralphs Grocery Company, based in Compton, California, is the largest supermarket
operator in Southern California, with 27,000 employees and annual sales of more
than $5.5 billion. Ralphs currently operates a total of 406 stores, which are
located in Southern California (342), Northern California (27), and certain
areas of the Midwest (37).
The Yucaipa Companies is a Southern California-based private investment firm
specializing in the investment in, acquisition, and management of supermarket
companies, including Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Food4Less, and Dominicks Finer Foods,
Inc. (NYSE:DFF).
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Salomon Brothers Inc. served as financial advisors to
Fred Meyer; Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter served
as financial advisors to Ralphs; and Merrill Lynch & Co. served as financial
advisor to QFC.
Forward-looking statements anticipating benefits of the mergers in this release
are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties
regarding this transaction. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, the satisfaction of the conditions to close the transactions;
determinations by regulatory and governmental authorities; the ability to
successfully integrate the Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs businesses; the ability to
achieve synergistic and other cost reductions and efficiencies; general business
economic conditions; competitive pricing pressures for the company's products;
changes in other costs and opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by
the company. Any of these risks or uncertainties may cause actual results or
future circumstances to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in
this news release.
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