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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 14D-9
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 14(D)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION
(Name of Subject Company)
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DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION
(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE
(Title of Class of Securities)
253856 10 8
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
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NARESH KAPAHI
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION
217 HUMBOLDT COURT
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94089
(408) 745-6200
(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized
to receive notice and communications on behalf of the person(s) filing
statement)
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WITH COPIES TO:
DAVID HEALY, ESQ.
FRED M. GREGURAS, ESQ.
EILEEN DUFFY ROBINETT, ESQ.
FENWICK & WEST LLP
TWO PALO ALTO SQUARE
PALO ALTO, CA 94306
(650) 494-0600
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ITEM 1. SECURITY AND SUBJECT COMPANY.
The name of the subject company is Digital Link Corporation, a California
corporation ("Digital Link" or the "Company"). The address of the principal
executive offices of the Company is 217 Humboldt Court, Sunnyvale, California
94089. The title of the class of equity securities to which this Solicitation/
Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (this "Statement" or "Schedule
14D-9") relates is the Company's Common Stock, no par value ("Common Stock" or
the "Shares").
ITEM 2. TENDER OFFER OF THE BIDDER.
This Schedule 14D-9 relates to the tender offer by DLZ Corp., a California
corporation ("Purchaser" or "DLZ Corp."), to purchase all of the outstanding
Shares held by the Company's shareholders at $10.30 per Share (the "Offer
Price"), net to the seller in cash, without interest, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Purchaser's Offer to Purchase dated September
10, 1999 (as amended or supplemented, the "Offer to Purchase") and in the
related Letter of Transmittal (as amended or supplemented, the "Letter of
Transmittal", which together with the Offer to Purchase, constitute the
"Offer"). Copies of the Offer to Purchase and Letter of Transmittal are filed
respectively as Exhibits 1 and 2 to this Schedule 14D-9 and are incorporated in
this Schedule 14D-9 by reference. The Offer is more fully described in the Offer
to Purchase and in a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 and Statement on
Schedule 13D dated September 10, 1999 (the "Schedule 14D-1") filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the rules promulgated by the SEC
thereunder.
The Offer is being made by the Purchaser pursuant to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated as of September 3, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among
Purchaser and the Company. Purchaser is a corporation formed by Vinita Gupta, a
founder, Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and principal
shareholder of Digital Link. See "Item 3. Identity and Background--Stock and
Option Ownership of Digital Link Directors and Executive Officers" in this
Schedule for information regarding ownership of Shares and options by Vinita
Gupta and Purchaser.
The Merger Agreement provides that, among other things, as promptly as
practicable after the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer (or the
expiration of the Offer and subsequent receipt of approval by the Company's
shareholders) and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth
in the Merger Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
California General Corporation Law (the "CGCL"), Purchaser will be merged with
and into the Company (the "Merger"), the separate corporate existence of
Purchaser will cease and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation
(the "Surviving Corporation"). At the effective time of the Merger (the
"Effective Time"), each outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company, Purchaser or any subsidiary of
Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time (the "Ineligible Shares") and
Shares held by Company shareholders who properly perfect their dissenters'
rights under the CGCL (the "Dissenting Shares")) will be converted automatically
into the right to receive the Offer Price, without interest. The Merger
Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 7 hereto, is summarized under
"Item 3. Identity and Background--Merger Agreement" in this Schedule 14D-9, and
is incorporated by reference herein.
The address of the principal executive offices of Purchaser is P.O. Box
620154, Woodside, California 94062-0154.
ITEM 3. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.
(a) The name and address of Digital Link, which is the person filing this
Schedule 14D-9, is set forth in Item 1 above. Unless the context otherwise
requires, references to the Company or Digital Link in this Schedule 14D-9 are
to the Company and its subsidiaries, viewed as a single entity. The Merger
Agreement was negotiated on behalf of Digital Link by a special committee of the
Board of Directors composed of
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Richard Alberding, Louis Golm and Stephen Von Rump, all of whom are directors
not affiliated with DLZ Corp. (the "Special Committee"). All information
contained in this Schedule 14D-9 or incorporated in this Schedule 14D-9 by
reference concerning Purchaser, or actions or events with respect to Purchaser,
was provided by Purchaser, and Digital Link takes no responsibility for that
information. Information contained in this Statement with respect to Digital
Link and its advisors has been provided by Digital Link.
(b) In considering the recommendations of the Board and the Special
Committee of the Board, the shareholders of Digital Link should be aware that
certain members of the Board and certain of the Company's officers have
interests in the Merger and the Offer which are described in this Schedule
14D-9. These interests in the Merger and the Offer may present certain members
of the Board and certain of the Company's officers with certain conflicts of
interest. Each of the members of the Special Committee of the Board was aware of
these potential conflicts and considered them, along with the other factors
described in Item 4(b) below, in making their recommendations.
STOCK AND OPTION OWNERSHIP OF DIGITAL LINK DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Purchaser is a corporation formed by Vinita Gupta, a founder, Chairman of
the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and principal shareholder of
Digital Link, in connection with the acquisition of the Company. Vinita Gupta is
the sole director, executive officer and shareholder of Purchaser. Vinita Gupta
and her husband, Narendra K. Gupta, as trustees of the Narendra and Vinita Gupta
Living Trust and Vinita Gupta, Narendra Gupta and Kalyan Dutta, as trustees for
the Gupta Children's Trust for Vinita and Narendra Gupta's minor children, and
Vinita Gupta, as custodian for each of her two minor children (collectively, the
"Gupta Investors") beneficially own 4,034,687 Shares (not including Shares
issuable upon exercise of outstanding options). The Gupta Investors together
with the Narendra and Vinita Gupta Foundation (the "Gupta Foundation") are
collectively referred to as the Gupta Family and beneficially own 4,054,687
Shares, which constituted approximately 50.6% of the outstanding Shares as of
September 9, 1999. Since all the Common Stock of Purchaser is beneficially owned
by Vinita Gupta, Purchaser may be viewed as the beneficial owner of the Shares
held by the Gupta Family.
Purchaser intends to enter into a Subscription Agreement (the "Subscription
Agreements") following the expiration of the Offer with each member of the Gupta
Family other than the Gupta Foundation. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements,
such members of the Gupta Family, immediately prior to the Merger, will
contribute to Purchaser Shares owned by such members in return for the common
stock of Purchaser ("Purchaser Stock") which, when combined with the one share
of Purchaser Stock already owned by Vinita Gupta, will constitute 100% of the
outstanding common stock of Purchaser. The newly-issued shares of Purchaser
Stock will be issued to such Gupta Family members in exchange for their Shares.
See Schedule III of the Offer to Purchase with respect to the Shares owned by
Purchaser and the Gupta Family. The Subscription Agreements are more fully
described in "Special Factors--Section 3. Interests of Certain Persons in the
Offer and Merger" of the Offer to Purchase. In addition to these Shares, members
of the Gupta Family own the options described below.
As a result of their relationship to Purchaser, Vinita Gupta and Narendra
Gupta have interests in the Merger and the Offer in that they control the
Purchaser, and therefore will, through Purchaser, acquire all of the Shares of
Digital Link if the Offer and the Merger are completed.
As of September 9, 1999, Vinita Gupta held options under the 1992 Equity
Incentive Plan (the "1992 Plan") to acquire 100,000 Shares at an exercise price
of $5.50 per Share and Narendra Gupta held options under the 1994 Directors
Stock Option Plan (the "Directors Plan") in the amounts set forth in the table
below.
On September 9, 1999, Mr. Kapahi held options under the 1992 Plan to acquire
120,000 Shares at an exercise price of $7.00 per Share; Ms. Vaysburd held
options under the 1992 Plan to acquire 100,000 Shares at an exercise price of
$4.875 per Share and options under the 1992 Plan to purchase 30,000 Shares at an
exercise price of $7.063 per Share; and Mr. Silverman held 2,000 Shares and held
options under the 1992
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Plan to acquire 220,000 Shares at an exercise price of $6.313 per Share. As of
that date, none of these options were vested.
In addition, as of September 9, 1999, Richard Alberding held options under
the 1992 Plan to purchase 10,000 Shares at an exercise price of $10.125 per
Share, of which options to purchase 8,958 Shares were vested as of such date. In
addition, as of that date, the following directors held options to purchase the
number of Shares at the exercise prices listed in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXERCISE
OPTIONS OPTIONS VESTED PRICE
NAME OUTSTANDING AS OF 9/8/99 PER SHARE
- --------------------------------------------- ----------- --------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Richard Alberding............................ 15,000 15,000 $ 21.75
5,000 4,583 16.00
5,000 3,333 23.25
5,000 2,083 13.50
5,000 833 5.375
Louis Golm................................... 15,000 2,813 3.813
Narendra Gupta............................... 10,000 10,000 15.125
5,000 4,792 21.25
5,000 3,542 18.25
5,000 2,292 25.75
5,000 1,042 3.5625
Stephen Von Rump............................. 15,000 2,813 4.25
</TABLE>
Pursuant to the terms of the Directors Plan, the vesting of each option
outstanding under such plan at the Effective Time will accelerate and each
option will become fully vested.
Purchaser is not offering to acquire any options in the Offer. Pursuant to
the Merger Agreement, to the extent permitted under the Company's 1992 Plan,
each option outstanding under the 1992 Plan will at the Effective Time be
converted into the right to receive, upon surrender of each option, an amount in
cash equal to the amount by which the Merger Consideration exceeds the exercise
price for such option, such amount to be payable in accordance with the vesting
schedule of such option, less all taxes required to be withheld from such
payments (such payments with respect to an option to constitute "Option Spread
Payments"). The Purchaser intends, following termination of the Offer, to
negotiate agreements with holders of options under the Directors Plan to provide
for surrender of such options upon the Effective Time in exchange for the Option
Spread Payments. These Option Spread Payments would be due in full promptly
following the Effective Time because all outstanding options under the Directors
Plan would be fully vested at the Effective Time.
The Company's executive officers may also participate in its 1993 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, under which employees have rights to purchase Shares based
on amounts that employees have determined to withhold from their compensation
from the Company. The next date for exercise of rights under the 1993 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan is October 31, 1999.
EXECUTIVE RETENTION AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
Between December 1998 and June 1999, Vinita Gupta, Naresh Kapahi, Sherman
Silverman and Lana Vaysburd, as well as certain other employees of the Company,
entered into Executive Retention and Severance Agreements (the "Severance
Agreements") with the Company. Pursuant to the Severance Agreements, in the
event of a Termination Upon Change of Control (as defined below) of the
executive's employment with the Company, the executive is entitled to (i) a lump
sum payment in the amount of 100% of such executive's annual salary and target
bonus; (ii) a bonus payment equal to the executive's full target bonus prorated
though the date of termination; (iii) all salary and accrued vacation earned
through the date of termination; (iv) reimbursement of all expenses; (v) all
benefits to which the executive is entitled under the Company's benefits plans;
and (vi) continued medical and welfare coverage for a period of
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twelve months after the date of termination. In addition, upon a Change of
Control, the executive is entitled to acceleration of vesting of between 50% and
100% of such executive's outstanding stock options or, at the Company's
election, a cash payment equal to the difference between the aggregate exercise
price of all unexercised stock options and the value of consideration
deliverable for an equivalent number of shares as a result of the change of
control transaction. For the purposes of the Severance Agreements, "Termination
Upon Change of Control" means (a) any termination of the executive's employment
by the Company without cause during the period commencing thirty days prior to
the earlier of (1) the date that the Company first publicly announces it is
conducting negotiations leading to a Change of Control (as defined below) or (2)
the date that the Company enters into a definitive agreement what would result
in a Change of Control and ending six months after the Change of Control; or (b)
any resignation by the executive after the occurrence of any Change of Control.
The Severance Agreements define "Change of Control" to mean (a) any person,
other than employees of the Company becoming the beneficial owner of securities
of the Company representing more than 50% of (x) the outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company or (y) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding securities; (b) the Company is a party to a merger or
consolidation which results in the holders of voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto failing to continue to represent more than
50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; (c)
the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets; (d)
there occurs a change in the composition of the Board of Directors within a six
month period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are
incumbent directors; or (e) the dissolution or winding up of the Company. The
percentage of acceleration with respect to unvested options in these agreements
is 50% for Mr. Silverman and Ms. Vaysburd and 100% for Ms. Gupta and Mr. Kapahi.
The Offer and the Merger do not constitute a Change of Control under the
Severance Agreements.
INDEMNITY AGREEMENTS
Digital Link's Articles of Incorporation include a provision that eliminates
the personal liability of its directors to Digital Link and its shareholders for
monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duties in certain
circumstances. A copy of the Articles of Incorporation of Digital Link has been
filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 to this Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated by
reference to this Schedule 14D-9.
Digital Link's Articles of Incorporation also include an authorization for
Digital Link to indemnify its agents (as defined in Section 317 of the CGCL),
through bylaw provisions, by agreement or otherwise, to the fullest extent
permitted by law. Pursuant to this latter provision, Digital Link's Bylaws
provide for indemnification of Digital Link's directors, officers and employees.
A copy of the Bylaws of Digital Link has been filed as Exhibit 11 to this
Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated in reference in this Schedule 14D-9. The
Bylaws also allow Digital Link to enter into indemnity agreements with
individual directors, officers, employees and other agents. These indemnity
agreements have been entered into with all directors and executive officers and
provide the maximum indemnification permitted by law. These agreements, together
with Digital Link's Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, may require Digital
Link, among other things, to indemnify such directors and executive officers
against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service
as directors or executive officers (other than liabilities resulting from
willful misconduct of a culpable nature), to advance expenses to them as they
are incurred, provided that they undertake to repay the amount advanced if it is
ultimately determined by a court that they are not entitled to indemnification,
and to obtain directors' and officers' insurance if available on reasonable
terms. Digital Link currently carries a director and officer liability insurance
policy. A copy of the form of indemnity agreement has been filed as Exhibit 9 to
this Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated in this Schedule 14D-9 by reference.
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MERGER AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material terms of the Merger Agreement, a
copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Schedule 14D-9, which exhibit
is incorporated by reference herein.
The Merger Agreement provides that following the satisfaction of the
conditions described below under "Conditions to the Merger," at the Effective
Time and in accordance with the CGCL, Purchaser will be merged with and into the
Company. As a result of the Merger, all of the properties, rights, privileges
and franchises of the Company and Purchaser will vest in the Surviving
Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Purchaser
will become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the Company or Purchaser (i) each Share issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and owned by Purchaser shall be canceled
without payment of any consideration and shall cease to exist; (ii) each share
of Common Stock, no par value per share, of Purchaser then outstanding will be
converted into one share of Common Stock, no par value per share, of the
Surviving Corporation; and (iii) each Share outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time will, except as otherwise provided in (i) above and except for
Shares held by shareholders of the Company who shall have demanded and
perfected, and who shall not have withdrawn or otherwise lost, dissenters'
rights, if any, under the CGCL, be converted into the right to receive the
Merger Consideration, without interest.
THE OFFER. The Merger Agreement provides for the making of the Offer by
Purchaser. The obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer is subject to the satisfaction of the Minimum
Condition and certain other conditions that are described below under "Certain
Conditions of the Offer." Purchaser has agreed that, without the written consent
of the Company, it may not reduce the number of Shares subject to the Offer,
reduce the Offer Price or extend the Offer if all of the conditions described in
"Certain Conditions of the Offer" below have been satisfied or waived. Purchaser
has also agreed that it will not, without the consent of the Company, change the
form of consideration payable in the Offer, amend, modify or add to the
conditions described in "Certain Conditions of the Offer" below, amend any other
term of the Offer in a manner adverse to the holders of the Shares, or waive the
Minimum Condition. Purchaser may, without the consent of the Company: extend the
Offer if, at the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, any of the conditions
described in "Certain Conditions of the Offer" below have not been satisfied or
waived until such time as such are satisfied or waived; extend the Offer for any
period required by any statute, rule or regulation, and extend the Offer on one
or more occasions for an aggregate of not more than 20 business days beyond the
latest expiration date that would otherwise be permitted as set forth above in
order to obtain Shares which, together with Shares held by Purchaser, constitute
90% of the outstanding Shares, provided, however, that (i) Purchaser shall
extend the Offer up to 20 business days following its initial expiration upon
the prior reasonable request by the Special Committee and (ii) Purchaser shall
not extend the Offer beyond 20 business days following its initial expiration
without the prior consent of the Special Committee. The conditions described in
"Certain Conditions of the Offer" below are for the sole benefit of Purchaser
and may be asserted by Purchaser regardless of the circumstances giving rise to
any such condition or may be waived by Purchaser, in whole or in part at any
time and from time to time, in its sole discretion.
Purchaser is not offering to acquire outstanding options of Digital Link in
the Offer. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, to the extent permitted under the
Company's 1992 Plan, each option outstanding under the 1992 Plan will at the
Effective Time be converted into the right to receive, upon surrender of each
option, the Option Spread Payment. There are 1,394,694 Shares subject to options
under the 1992 Plan. The Company also has outstanding options for 6,000 Shares
under its 1986 Plan, all of which are presently exercisable and options
outstanding for 95,000 Shares under the Directors Plan, of which options with
respect to 62,084 Shares are exercisable. The Purchaser intends, following
termination of the Offer, to negotiate agreements with holders of options under
the 1986 Plan and the Directors Plan to provide for
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surrender of such options upon the Effective Time in exchange for the Option
Spread Payments. These Option Spread Payments would be due in full promptly
following the Effective Time because all outstanding options under the 1986 Plan
and the Directors Plan would be fully vested at the Effective Time. The Company
also has a 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan pursuant to which employees have
options to purchase Shares based on amounts that employees have determined to
withhold from their compensation from the Company. The next date for exercise of
options under the 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is October 31, 1999.
VOTE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE MERGER. The CGCL requires, among other things,
that the adoption of any plan of merger or consolidation of the Company must be
approved by the Board and generally by a majority of the holders of the
Company's outstanding voting securities. The Board has adopted the unanimous
recommendation of the Special Committee and has unanimously approved the Offer
and the Merger. The CGCL also provides that if a parent company owns at least
90% of each class of stock of a subsidiary, the parent company can effect a
short-term merger with that subsidiary without the action of the other
shareholders of that subsidiary. Accordingly, if, as a result of the Offer or
otherwise, Purchaser acquires or controls the voting power of at least 90% of
the outstanding Shares (which would be the case if the Minimum Condition were
satisfied and Purchaser were to accept for payment Shares tendered pursuant to
the Offer), Purchaser could, and intends to, effect the Merger without prior
notice to, or any action by, any other shareholder of the Company. If Shares are
not purchased in the Offer and the short-form merger provisions of the CGCL are
therefore not applicable, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the
outstanding Shares (including any Shares owned by Purchaser) in a long-form
merger is required to approve the Merger.
Under the CGCL, the Merger may not be accomplished for cash paid to the
Company's shareholders if Purchaser owns directly or indirectly more than 50%
but less than 90% of the then outstanding Shares unless either all the
shareholders consent or the Commissioner of Corporations of the State of
California approves the terms and conditions of the Merger and the fairness
thereof after a hearing. In the event that the Minimum Condition is not
satisfied, the Offer will be terminated without the acceptance for payment or
payment for any Shares and the tendered Shares will be returned to Shareholders
pursuant to Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act. Purchaser and the Gupta Family
will then dispose of that number of Shares necessary to reduce the aggregate of
the Purchaser's and the Gupta Family's holdings to less than 50% of the
outstanding Shares. After the disposition of such Shares, Purchaser and the
Gupta Investors will take all steps necessary to effect the Merger by means of a
long-form merger in which the Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company
and each Share (other than Dissenting Shares) and Shares beneficially owned by
Purchaser and the Gupta Investors will be converted into the right to receive
the Merger Consideration. The long-form Merger will require a proxy
solicitation, a special meeting of shareholders and the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding Shares. A significantly longer period of time will
be required to effect a long-form merger than the Offer and the short-form
merger. Purchaser and the Gupta Investors may have the ability to assure the
approval of the merger. In the Merger Agreement, in the event the Offer is
terminated and the Minimum Condition has not been satisfied, the Company has
agreed upon Purchaser's request, to take all action necessary to convene the
Company Shareholder Meeting as soon as practicable after the expiration of the
Offer for the purpose of voting on the approval of the Merger Agreement. In
light of any possible need to solicit the approval of the Merger Agreement by a
vote of the shareholders of the Company, the Company, at Purchaser's request and
in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, is preparing the Proxy
Statement pursuant to which the approval of the shareholders of the Company of
the Merger will be solicited in the event the Minimum Condition is not
satisfied. The Merger Agreement further provides that the Company will cause the
Proxy Statement to be mailed to its shareholders at the earliest practicable
time in connection with the Company Shareholder Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION. The Company represents and warrants in the Merger Agreement
that (i) the Board has authorized the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby and (ii) the
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Company has received an opinion from Sutter Securities to the effect that, as of
the date of the Merger Agreement, the Merger Consideration is fair to the
Company's shareholders from a financial point of view.
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER. The respective obligations of Purchaser and the
Company to effect the Merger under the Merger Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions,
unless waived by Purchaser and the Company: (i) unless Shares have been
purchased under the Offer if required by the CGCL, the Merger Agreement and the
Merger shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote of the
shareholders of the Company in accordance with the CGCL; (ii) no preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order shall have been issued by any court or by
any governmental or regulatory agency, body or authority which prohibits the
consummation of the Offer or the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement and which is in effect at the Effective Time; provided,
however, that, in the case of a decree, injunction or other order, each of the
parties shall have used reasonable efforts to prevent the entry of any such
injunction or other order and to appeal as promptly as possible any decree,
injunction or other order that may be entered; and (iii) no statute, rule or
regulation shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any
governmental authority that prohibits the consummation of the Offer or the
Merger or has the effect of making the purchase of the Shares illegal. The
obligations of Purchaser to effect the Merger under the Merger Agreement are
further subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the
conditions, unless waived by Purchaser, that (i) the Company's representations
and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement shall be true and correct as of
the closing unless the aggregate failure of such representations and warranties
to be true and correct does not have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined
below); (ii) the Company shall have performed and complied in all material
respects with its obligations contained in the Merger Agreement required to be
performed and complied with at or prior to the Effective Time unless the failure
of such performance or compliance does not have a Material Adverse Effect (as
defined below); (iii) there shall have been no change in the Special Committee's
recommendation that the shareholders of the Company accept the Offer and approve
the Merger; and (iv) the holders of not more than 15% of the Shares shall have
exercised, nor shall they have any continued right to exercise, appraisal,
dissenters' or similar rights under applicable law with respect to their Shares
by virtue of the Merger. The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger
under the Merger Agreement are further subject to the satisfaction at or prior
to the Effective Time of the conditions, unless waived by the Company, that (i)
Purchaser's representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement
shall be true and correct in all material respects at the closing; and (ii)
Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with its
obligations contained in the Merger Agreement that required to be performed and
complied with at or prior to the Effective Time. The Merger Agreement defines
"Material Adverse Effect" to mean a material adverse effect on the business,
assets, financial condition or results of operation of the Company or on the
ability of the Company or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement, or any event or events which, individually or in the
aggregate, constitute or, with the passage of time, would constitute a Material
Adverse Effect; provided, however, that there shall not be deemed a material
adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement if such material adverse effect is caused
by the action or inaction of Purchaser or Purchaser's affiliates and there shall
not be deemed to be a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial
condition results of operations of the Company or on the ability of the Company
to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement if such
effect is proximately caused by Purchaser or Purchaser's affiliates to comply
with the covenants set forth in the Merger Agreement.
TERMINATION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT. The Merger Agreement may be terminated
and the Offer and the Merger may be abandoned at any time (notwithstanding
approval of the Merger by the shareholders of the Company) prior to the
Effective Time: (a) by mutual written consent of Purchaser and the Company; (b)
by Purchaser or the Company if any court of competent jurisdiction in the United
States or other United States governmental body shall have issued an order,
decree or ruling or taken any other final action restraining, enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the Merger or the acceptance for payment and payment for
the Shares in the Offer and such order, decree, ruling or other action is or
shall have become
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nonappealable; (c) by either the Company or Purchaser if the Merger shall not
have been consummated by the date which is 180 days from the date of the Merger
Agreement (the "Outside Date"); provided that this right to terminate shall not
be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation or condition
under the Merger Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of
the Merger to occur on or before the Outside Date and shall not be available to
Purchaser if Purchaser has purchased Shares pursuant to the Offer; (d) by
Purchaser if, prior to the earlier of (A) acceptance for payment of Shares
pursuant to the Offer or (B) the closing, (i) there shall have been a breach of
any representation or warranty on the part of the Company having a Material
Adverse Effect, (ii) there shall have been a breach of any covenant or agreement
on the part of the Company resulting in a Material Adverse Effect; (e) by the
Company if (i) there shall have been a breach of any representation or warranty
on the part of Purchaser which has a material adverse effect on the consummation
of the Offer or the Merger or (ii) there shall have been a material breach of
any covenant or agreement on the part of Purchaser which has a material adverse
effect on the consummation of the Offer or the Merger; (f) by Purchaser, prior
to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, if (i) the Special Committee
shall have withdrawn or adversely modified its recommendation of the Offer, the
Merger or the Merger Agreement or the Special Committee, upon request of
Purchaser, shall fail to reaffirm such approval or recommendation within five
business dates after such request if an Acquisition Proposal (as defined below)
is pending, or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing; (ii) the Special
Committee shall have recommended to the shareholders of the Company that they
approve an Acquisition Proposal (as defined below) other than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer that, if
successful, would result in any Person or "group" becoming a "beneficial owner"
(such terms having the meaning in this Agreement as is ascribed under Regulation
13D under the Exchange Act) of 15% or more of the outstanding Shares is
commenced (other than by Purchaser or an affiliate of Purchaser) and the Special
Committee recommends that the shareholders of the Company tender their shares in
such tender or exchange offer; (iv) for any reason the Company fails to call and
hold the meeting of shareholders or (vi) if the Company or any of its
representatives or agents who are not affiliates of Purchaser, shall willfully
and materially breach the Company's obligations to cease pending discussions or
entertain new proposals concerning an Acquisition Transaction (as defined
below); or (g) by the Company, prior to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the
Offer, if the Special Committee determines, on behalf of the Board of Directors,
to accept a Superior Proposal (as defined below).
If the Merger Agreement is terminated by Purchaser for any reason prior to
the earlier of the purchase of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer or the
Effective Date, other than a termination pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c), (d)
or (e) set forth above in this section on "Termination of Merger Agreement," the
Company shall reimburse Purchaser for Purchaser's reasonable costs and expenses
incurred by Purchaser in connection with the Offer, the Merger and the Merger
Agreement. If the Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to clauses (f) or (g)
set forth above, the Company shall also pay to Purchaser the sum of $2,400,000.
If the Merger Agreement is terminated for any of the above reasons, the
Merger Agreement shall be of no further force or effect, except as otherwise set
forth in the Merger Agreement. Additionally, any termination of the Merger
Agreement shall not relieve any party from liability for any breach of the
Merger Agreement.
ACQUISITION TRANSACTIONS. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company has
agreed to immediately cease any existing discussions or negotiations with any
third parties conducted prior to the date of the Merger Agreement with respect
to any Acquisition Transaction (as defined below).
Unless and until the Merger Agreement has been terminated pursuant to the
terms thereof, the Company and any of the Company's officers and directors shall
not, and the Company shall direct and use its best efforts to cause its
employees, agents and representatives (including, without limitation any
investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by the Company) not to take
or cause, directly or indirectly, any of the following actions with any party
other than Purchaser or Purchaser's designees:
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(i) solicit, encourage, initiate, participate in or otherwise facilitate any
negotiations, inquiries or discussions with respect to any offer, indication or
proposal (each of the foregoing, an "Acquisition Proposal") to acquire all or
more than 15% of the Company's business, assets or capital shares whether by
merger, consolidation, or other business combination, purchase of assets,
reorganization, tender or exchange offer (each of the foregoing, an "Acquisition
Transaction") or (ii) disclose, in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, any
information or provide access to its properties, books or records, except as
required by law or pursuant to a governmental request for information.
The Merger Agreement provides that, prior to the Effective Time, the Company
may participate in discussions or negotiations with, and furnish non-public
information, and afford access to the properties, books, records, officers,
employees and representatives of the Company to any Person, entity or group if
such Person, entity or group has delivered to the Company, prior to the date of
the Company's meeting of shareholders or action pursuant to the CGCL short-form
merger provisions, as applicable, and in writing, an Acquisition Proposal which
the Special Committee in its reasonable judgment determines if consummated would
be more favorable, from a financial point of view, to the Company's shareholders
than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, which determination
shall be made only after the Special Committee (i) receives a written opinion of
its legal counsel that the Special Committee would breach its fiduciary duties
if it did not accept the Acquisition Proposal and (ii) a written opinion of the
Company's financial adviser to the effect that the Acquisition Proposal is
superior, from a financial point of view, to the Company's shareholders than the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (an Acquisition Proposal satisfying
such conditions constituting a "Superior Proposal"). In the event the company
receives a Superior Proposal, nothing contained in the Merger Agreement will
prevent the Special Committee from, on behalf of the Board of Directors,
executing or entering into an agreement relating to such Superior Proposal and
recommending such Superior Proposal to the shareholders of the Company, if the
Special Committee determines in accordance with the preceding sentence that its
fiduciary duties require it to do so; in such case, the Special Committee may
withdraw, modify, or refrain from makings its recommendation of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that the Special
Committee shall (i) promptly notify Purchaser, and in any event within 24 hours,
if any Acquisition Proposal is received by, any such information is requested
from, or any such negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated or
continued with, the Company, indicating, in connection with such notice, the
name of such person and the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal, (ii)
provide Purchaser at least 48 hours prior written notice of the Special
Committee's intention, on behalf of the Board to execute or enter into an
agreement relating to such Superior Proposal and (iii) terminate this Agreement
by written notice to Purchaser provided no sooner than 48 hours after
Purchaser's receipt of a copy of such Superior Proposal.
CONDUCT OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement,
the Company has agreed that it and its subsidiaries will use their best efforts
to preserve intact their business organizations, to keep available the services
of their operating personnel and to preserve the goodwill of those having
business relationships with them, including, without limitation, suppliers.
Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, until the Effective Time, the
Board will not permit the Company or any of its subsidiaries to conduct its
business and operations otherwise than in the ordinary and usual course of
business consistent with past practice.
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY AND PURCHASER. In the Merger Agreement,
Purchaser has agreed to cause (a) all rights to indemnification by the Company
now existing in favor of the present and former directors of the Company as
provided in the Company's articles of incorporation and bylaws, or rights of
indemnification equivalent thereto and (b) limitations of liability in the
Company's articles of incorporation, or limitations equivalent thereto, to
survive the Merger and to continue in full force and effect in accordance with
their terms.
For six years after the Effective Time, Purchaser has agreed to cause the
Surviving Corporation to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the present and
former directors of the Company and its subsidiaries
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(each an "Indemnified Party") the full extent permitted by the Company's
articles of incorporation, bylaws or indemnification agreements in effect at the
date hereof provided, that in the event any claim or claims are asserted or made
within such six year period, all rights to indemnification in respect of any
such claim or claims shall continue until disposition of any and all such
claims. The Surviving Corporation shall maintain the Company's existing
officers' and directors' liability insurance policy ("D&O Insurance") for a
period of six years after the Effective Time; provided, that the Surviving
Corporation may substitute therefor policies of substantially similar coverage
and amounts containing terms no less advantageous to such former directors or
officers.
REASONABLE EFFORTS. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the
terms of the Merger Agreement, each of the parties thereto will use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action, and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable
laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement and shall use all reasonable efforts to
satisfy the conditions to the transactions contemplated thereby and to obtain
all waivers, permits, consents and approvals and to effect all registrations,
filings and notices with or to third parties or governmental or public bodies or
authorities which are necessary or desirable in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to, filings to
the extent required under the Exchange Act. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Company and Purchaser will vigorously defend against any
lawsuit or proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this
Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The director of Purchaser at the Effective Time
shall be the director of the Surviving Corporation, to hold office subject to
the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, and until
her successor is duly elected and qualified. The officers of the Company at the
Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation until
his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Merger Agreement contains customary
representations and warranties.
ASSIGNMENT. The Merger Agreement provides that the Purchaser may assign its
rights and obligations (including the right to purchase Shares in the Offer), in
whole or in part, to any direct or indirect subsidiary of Purchaser, but no such
assignment shall relieve Purchaser of its obligations under the Merger
Agreement.
PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENT, EXTENSION OR WAIVER. The Merger Agreement may be
amended, modified or supplemented only by written agreement of Purchaser and the
Company at any time prior to the Effective Time with respect to any of the terms
contained therein executed by duly authorized officers of the respective
parties, except that (i) prior to the Effective Time, consent by the Company
shall require the approval of the Special Committee and (ii) after the Effective
Time, the price per Share to be paid pursuant to the Merger Agreement to the
holders of Shares shall in no event be decreased and the form of consideration
to be received by the holders of the Shares in the Merger shall in no event be
altered, and no other amendment which would adversely affect the holders of
Shares shall be made, without the approval of the applicable holders.
Any failure of Purchaser, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other
hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may
be waived in writing by Purchaser or the Company, respectively, but such waiver
or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant,
agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of or estoppel with respect
to any subsequent or other failure.
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CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER. Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Offer, and in addition to (and not in limitation of) Purchaser's rights to
extend and amend the Offer at any time, in its sole discretion, Purchaser shall
not be required to accept for payment, purchase or pay for any Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer, and may terminate, or, subject to the terms of the Merger
Agreement, amend the Offer and may postpone the acceptance for payment of and
payment for any Shares tendered if (i) the Minimum Condition shall not have been
satisfied or (ii) at any time on or after September 3, 1999 and before the
acceptance for payment of Shares, any of the following conditions exists:
(a) there shall have been threatened, instituted or be pending any action or
proceeding before any court or governmental, administrative or regulatory
authority or agency, domestic or foreign (each, a "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY"), or by
any other person, domestic or foreign, before any court or Governmental Entity,
(i) challenging or seeking to, or which is reasonably likely to, make illegal,
materially delay or otherwise directly or indirectly restrain or prohibit or
seeking to, or which is reasonably likely to, impose voting, procedural, price
or other requirements, including any such requirements under California law, in
addition to those required by federal securities laws, in connection with the
making of the Offer, the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, any Shares
by Purchaser or the consummation by Purchaser of the Merger or other business
combination with the Company, or seeking to obtain material damages in
connection therewith; (ii) seeking to prohibit or limit materially the ownership
or operation by the Company, Purchaser or any of their respective subsidiaries
of all or any material portion of the business or assets of the Company,
Purchaser or any of their respective subsidiaries, or to compel the Company,
Purchaser or any of their respective subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate
all or any material portion of the business or assets of the Company, Purchaser
or any of their respective subsidiaries; (iii) seeking to impose or confirm
limitations on the ability of Purchaser to exercise effectively full rights of
ownership of any Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote any
Shares acquired by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer or otherwise on all matters
properly presented to the Company's shareholders; (iv) seeking to require
divestiture by Purchaser of any Shares; (v) seeking any material diminution in
the benefits expected to be derived by Purchaser as a result of the transactions
contemplated by the Offer or the Merger or any other similar business
combination with the Company; (vi) otherwise directly or indirectly relating to
the Offer or which otherwise, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser, might
materially adversely affect the Company or Purchaser or the value of the Shares;
or (vii) which otherwise, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser, is likely to
materially adversely affect the business, operations (including, without
limitation, results of operations), properties (including, without limitation,
intangible properties), condition (financial or otherwise), assets or
liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent liabilities) or prospects
of either the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Purchaser;
(b) there shall have been any action taken, or any statute, rule,
regulation, legislation, interpretation, judgment, order or injunction enacted,
entered, enforced, promulgated, amended, issued or deemed applicable to (i)
Purchaser, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of Purchaser or the
Company or (ii) the Offer or the Merger, by any legislative body, court,
government or governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency,
domestic or foreign, other than the routine application of the waiting period
provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer or the Merger, which, in the reasonable
judgment of Purchaser, is likely to result, directly or indirectly, in any of
the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) of paragraph (a)
above;
(c) there shall have occurred any change, condition, event or development
that constitutes a Material Adverse Effect (as such term is defined in the
Merger Agreement);
(d) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of, or limitation
on prices for, trading in securities on the Nasdaq National Market, (ii) any
material adverse change in United States currency exchange rates or a suspension
of, or limitation on, currency exchange markets, (iii) a declaration of a
banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the
United States, (iv) any limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any government
or governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or
foreign, on, or other event that, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser,
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might affect the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions, or
(v) a commencement of a war or armed hostilities or other national or
international calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States;
(e) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, joint ventures or partners or
other affiliates shall have, directly or indirectly, (i) split, combined or
otherwise changed, or authorized or proposed a split, combination or other
change of, the Shares or its capitalization, (ii) acquired or otherwise caused a
reduction in the number of, or authorized or proposed the acquisition or other
reduction in the number of, outstanding Shares or other securities (other than
as aforesaid), (iii) issued or sold, or authorized or proposed the issuance,
distribution or sale of, additional Shares (other than the issuance of Shares
under Option prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, in accordance with the
terms of such Options as such terms have been publicly disclosed prior to the
date of the Merger Agreement), shares of any other class of capital stock, other
voting securities or any securities convertible into, or rights, warrants or
options, conditional or otherwise, to acquire, any of the foregoing, (iv)
declared or paid, or proposed to declare or pay, any dividend or other
distribution, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, on or with
respect to any shares of capital stock of the Company, (v) altered or proposed
to alter any material term of any outstanding security, (vi) incurred any debt
other than in the ordinary course of business or any debt containing burdensome
covenants, (vii) authorized, recommended, proposed or entered into an agreement,
agreement in principle or arrangement or understanding with respect to any
merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, business combination,
acquisition of assets, disposition of assets, release or relinquishment of any
material contractual or other right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any comparable event not in the ordinary course of business, (viii) entered into
or amended any employment, change in control, severance, executive compensation
or similar agreement, arrangement or plan with or for the benefit of any of its
employees, consultants or directors, or made grants or awards thereunder, other
than in the ordinary course of business or entered into or amended any
agreements, arrangements or plans so as to provide for increased or accelerated
benefits to any such persons, (ix) except as may be required by law, taken any
action to terminate or amend any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section
3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (x) amended or authorized or proposed any
amendment to the Company's articles of incorporation or bylaws;
(f) any required approval, permit, authorization or consent of any
governmental authority or agency shall not have been obtained on terms
reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser;
(g) any of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
the Merger Agreement that are qualified shall not be true and correct or any
such representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall not be true
and correct unless the effect of all such failures to be true or correct does
not constitute a Material Adverse Effect (as such term is defined in the Merger
Agreement);
(h) the Company shall have failed to perform any obligation or to comply
with any agreement or covenant of the Company to be performed or complied with
by it under the Merger Agreement unless the effect of all such failures does not
constitute a Material Adverse Effect (as such term is defined in the Merger
Agreement);
(i) the Board or any committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified in a
manner adverse to Purchaser its approval or recommendation of the Offer, the
Merger or the Merger Agreement or (ii) the Board or any committee thereof shall
have resolved to take the foregoing action; or
(j) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its
terms.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Purchaser and may be
asserted by Purchaser regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such
condition or may be waived by Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from
time to time in Purchaser's discretion. The failure by Purchaser at any time to
exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such
right; the waiver of any such
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right with respect to particular facts and other circumstances shall not be
deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances; and each such
right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from
time to time.
ITEM 4. THE SOLICITATION OR RECOMMENDATION
(a) RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. At a meeting on September 2, 1999, the Special
Committee of the Board reviewed the status of the acquisition discussions with
Purchaser. At that meeting, Dain Rauscher Wessels ("DRW") delivered its oral
opinion to the Special Committee of the Board that, as of the date of the
opinion and based upon and subject to various matters stated in the opinion, the
consideration to be received by holders of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the
Merger was fair to such holders of Shares from a financial point of view. DRW's
oral opinion was confirmed in a written opinion dated September 3, 1999 (the
"Fairness Opinion"), a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this Schedule
14D-9 and is incorporated by reference in this Schedule. Sutter Securities
Incorporated ("Sutter Securities"), which has been retained by Purchaser, has
rendered a written opinion to the effect that the Transaction (as defined
therein), and the consideration to be paid in the Offer and Merger, is fair,
from a financial point of view, to the Company's shareholders (other than
Purchaser and the Gupta Investors). The fairness opinion of Sutter Securities
was also furnished to the Special Committee and the Board. A copy of such
opinion is set forth in Schedule I to the Offer to Purchase. At the conclusion
of the meeting, the Special Committee, and the Board (excluding Ms. Gupta and
Mr. Gupta) acting on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, then
approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby including the Offer and the Merger, determined that the Merger Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereby including the Offer and the Merger are
fair and in the best interests of the Company and the shareholders of the
Company, and recommended acceptance of the Offer by the shareholders of the
Company.
As set forth in the Offer, the Merger Agreement and the Letter of
Transmittal, the Purchaser will purchase Shares tendered prior to the close of
the Offer if the conditions to the Offer have been satisfied (or waived).
Shareholders considering not tendering their shares in order to wait for the
Merger should note that if the Minimum Condition (as defined in the Merger
Agreement) is not satisfied or any of the other conditions to the Offer are not
satisfied, the Purchaser is not obligated to purchase any Shares and has
informed the Company that it will terminate the Offer without the purchase of
any Shares. In the event that Purchaser does not purchase Shares, it has
indicated to the Company that it will cause the Company to convene a
shareholders' meeting to approve the Merger, but if the Merger does not occur
within one hundred eighty days from September 3, 1999, Purchaser can terminate
the Merger Agreement and not proceed with the Merger.
Under the CGCL, the Merger may not be accomplished for cash paid to the
Company's shareholders if Purchaser owns directly or indirectly more than 50%
but less than 90% of the then outstanding Shares unless either all the
shareholders consent or the Commissioner of Corporations of the State of
California approves the terms and conditions of the Merger and the fairness
thereof after a hearing. In the event that the Minimum Condition is not
satisfied, the Offer will be terminated without the acceptance for payment or
payment for any Shares and the tendered Shares will be returned to shareholders
pursuant to Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act. Purchaser and the Gupta Family
will then dispose of that number of Shares necessary to reduce Purchaser's and
the Gupta Family's holdings to less than 50% of the outstanding Shares. After
the disposition of such Shares, Purchaser and the Gupta Investors will take all
steps necessary to effect the Merger by means of a long-form merger in which the
Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company and each Share (other than
Dissenting Shares) and Shares beneficially owned by Purchaser and the Gupta
Investors will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
The long-form merger will require a proxy solicitation, a special meeting of
shareholders and the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares. A
significantly longer period of time will
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be required to effect a long-form merger than the Offer and the short-form
merger. Purchaser and the Gupta Investors may have the ability to assure the
approval of the Merger. In the Merger Agreement, in the event the Offer is
terminated and the Minimum Condition has not been satisfied, the Company has
agreed to take all action necessary to convene the Company shareholder meeting
as soon as practicable after the expiration of the Offer for the purpose of
voting on the approval of the Merger Agreement. In light of any possible need to
solicit the approval of the Merger Agreement by a vote of the shareholders of
the Company, the Company, at Purchaser and the Gupta Family's request and in
accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, is preparing the Proxy
Statement pursuant to which the approval of the shareholders of the Company of
the Merger will be solicited in the event the Minimum Condition is not
satisfied.
The Offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, Eastern time, on October
15, 1999, unless the Purchaser elects to extend the period of time for which the
Offer is open. A copy of the press release issued by the Company on September 3,
1999 announcing the Merger and the Offer is filed as Exhibit 4 to this Schedule
14D-9 and is incorporated by reference in this Schedule.
(b)(1) BACKGROUND OF THE OFFER.
The Company was formed by Vinita Gupta in 1985. The Company's initial public
offering of Shares was completed in January 1994. Ms. Gupta retired as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company in September 1996, but continued as a member of
the Board of Directors.
In October 1997, the Company suffered business reversals which continued
through 1998. Competition in the market for the Company's products had
intensified, resulting in declining average selling prices for its products,
while at the same time demand from certain of the Company's large domestic
carrier customers was less than expected. As a result, the Company's revenues
declined 17% from 1997 to 1998 and its profitability declined significantly in
1998, as the Company incurred a net loss of $6.5 million.
During this period, the Board of Directors considered various ways to
increase shareholder value. In addition to internal development of its
technology, this process included efforts to identify acquisition candidates.
In February 1998, the Board accepted the resignation of its then chief
executive officer and asked Ms. Gupta to return as interim chief executive
officer while the Company undertook a search for a new chief executive officer.
Ms. Gupta served as interim chief executive officer through 1998. When the Board
determined in January 1999 that the Company had been unable to attract a
suitable candidate for chief executive officer, Ms. Gupta agreed to the Board's
request to remain the Company's president and chief executive officer on a
full-time basis.
From June 1998 through September 1998, the Company took a number of actions
to reduce costs and return to profitability including two work force reductions
and the cancellation of two major product lines. In order to allow Ms. Gupta to
focus on strategy, research and development, marketing and sales, Stanley
Kazmierczak was promoted to Vice President, Operations and assumed
responsibility for Digital Link's operations on January 21, 1999. Mr.
Kazmierczak had been Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief
Financial Officer and was an 11 year employee of Digital Link.
On April 14, 1999, the Company announced its financial results for the
quarter ended March 31, 1999, reporting net sales of $15,232,000, which
represented a 5% increase over net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 1998,
and net income of $912,000, which represented a 1,761% increase over net income
for the quarter ended March 31, 1998. These financial results exceeded the
expectations of financial analysts.
Despite the Company's efforts:
- The Company's stock price did not reflect on a sustained basis the
improved operating results in the first quarter of 1999;
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- The average daily trading volume continued to be low; and
- The Company continued to have limited institutional sponsorship and was
receiving diminishing research attention from market analysts.
Ms. Gupta, Narendra Gupta and Richard Alberding, three of the five members
of the Board, met informally on April 29, 1999 to discuss the alternatives
available to the Company. They discussed the Company's inability to hire and
retain qualified personnel in light of the market performance of the Shares,
including both the stock price and limited trading activity of the Shares. They
discussed the limited prospects for improving market performance, given the
failure of the market price of the Shares to reflect on a sustained basis the
improved operating results in the first quarter of 1999. They also discussed
whether Digital Link should consider a transaction in which shareholders other
than the Gupta Investors would receive cash for their Shares (a "going-private
transaction") and other strategies, such as the acquisition of the Company by a
larger corporation within its industry. Mr. and Ms. Gupta indicated that they
believed that a sale of the Company to a third party would be detrimental to
implementation of the Company's business plan and that in any event they would
not consider a transaction in which their Shares were effectively sold.
On May 21, 1999, Ms. Gupta, Mr. Gupta and Mr. Kazmierczak discussed the
possibility of a going-private transaction.
On May 28, 1999, Mr. Kazmierczak informed Ms. Gupta of his intention to
resign from the Company. Mr. Kazmierczak indicated that he was leaving to join a
start-up company because the languishing market price of the Shares prevented
him from achieving gains from the options he held. He emphasized his
disappointment that, despite the Company's report of results of operations for
the first quarter of 1999 significantly in excess of analyst expectations, the
market price of the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market had not responded
favorably. He also expressed frustration at the Company's inability to achieve
any significant interest in the Shares from stock analysts and institutional
investors.
At a June 7, 1999 meeting of the Board, the directors again discussed the
lack of market interest in the Shares and the Company's continued inability to
hire and retain employees because of the performance of the Shares. Mr.
Alberding indicated that a going-private transaction might be a viable
alternative.
On July 2, 1999, Ms. Gupta selected Latham & Watkins as counsel for the
Purchaser.
On July 12, 1999, Ms. Gupta and Mr. Gupta met with Mr. Alberding and Louis
Golm, two of the three independent members of the Board of Directors. Counsel
for the Purchaser also attended the meeting and described various types of
going-private transactions.
At a regularly scheduled Board meeting on August 9, 1999, Ms. Gupta
discussed the possibility of making a proposal to the Company concerning a
merger in which the holders of Shares other than the Gupta Investors would
receive $10.05 in cash. The meeting was also attended by Fenwick & West LLP,
counsel for the Company, and counsel for the Purchaser. During the discussion,
Ms. Gupta indicated that the Gupta Family was not interested in any transaction
which effectively involved the sale of Shares held by the Gupta Investors. Ms.
Gupta indicated that any agreement with the Company would be subject to the
approval of the directors of the Company other than Ms. and Mr. Gupta.
After these discussions, the Board of Directors excused Ms. Gupta, Mr. Gupta
and counsel for the Purchaser. The remaining members of the Board of
Directors--Messrs. Alberding, Golm and Von Rump--determined to form the Special
Committee to consider the Company's strategic alternatives and elected Mr.
Alberding as chairman of the Special Committee. The Special Committee, with the
advice of counsel for the Company, reviewed at length the members' fiduciary
duties regarding the evaluation of any proposal from the Gupta Investors, and
consideration of the alternatives of seeking to sell the Company to a third
party and remaining a publicly held company. The Special Committee determined
that a sale to a third party was not feasible given the Company's current
situation and Ms. and Mr. Gupta's statement that they were not interested in any
transaction which effectively involved the sale of the Shares held by the
15
<PAGE>
Gupta Investors. The Special Committee compared the feasibility of a
going-private transaction with remaining as an independent, publicly-held
entity. The Special Committee discussed possible structures for a potential
going-private transaction. A determination was made to seek the advice of an
independent financial adviser to assist the Special Committee.
On August 13, 1999, the Special Committee engaged DRW as financial adviser
to the Company. DRW was selected based upon its familiarity and expertise with
Digital Link. DRW had served as one of the managing underwriters for Digital
Link's initial public offering in early 1994.
On August 6, 1999, the Purchaser engaged Sutter Securities to render a
fairness opinion in the event that a going-private transaction was negotiated.
Sutter Securities had no previous relationship with the Gupta Family or the
Company.
On August 23, 1999, DRW and Sutter Securities met with members of the
Company's management to perform due diligence and discuss the Company's
prospects. The Company's management provided DRW and Sutter Securities access to
requested information. The same information was provided to each of DRW and
Sutter Securities.
The Special Committee held meetings with counsel for the Company and DRW on
August 25, 27 and 31, 1999. During these meetings, DRW discussed the financial
condition of the Company. On August 31, 1999, counsel for the Company reviewed
in detail the status of the negotiations of the Merger Agreement. The Special
Committee questioned counsel for the Company and DRW at length and gave
instructions as to negotiating the terms of the Merger Agreement.
Between August 30, 1999 and September 2, 1999, Ms. Gupta, counsel for the
Purchaser, DRW and counsel for the Company negotiated the terms of the Merger
Agreement. In particular, on August 31, 1999, the Special Committee discussed
with DRW the possibility of receiving a proposal of $10.05 per share from the
Gupta Investors. The Special Committee instructed counsel for the Company and
its financial adviser to negotiate a price per share of $10.30 per Share. As a
result of negotiations between counsel for the Purchaser and counsel for the
Company, the Agreement was also revised substantially to reflect the comments of
the Special Committee.
On September 2, 1999, Purchaser and the Gupta Investors delivered to the
Special Committee a proposed final form of Merger Agreement and Sutter
Securities' fairness opinion. The directors were again advised of their
fiduciary duties by counsel for the Company, and DRW made a financial
presentation concerning the terms of the Offer and Merger. DRW also delivered
its oral opinion that the $10.30 per Share cash consideration to be received in
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial
point of view, to the holders of Shares. The Special Committee reviewed the
final terms of the Merger Agreement and the reasons the Special Committee was
recommending approval of the Merger Agreement. The Special Committee, and the
Board (excluding Ms. Gupta and Mr. Gupta) acting on the unanimous recommendation
of the Special Committee, then approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby including the Offer and the Merger, determined
that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby including
the Offer and the Merger are fair and in the best interests of the Company and
the shareholders of the Company, and recommended acceptance of the Offer by the
shareholders of the Company. The Merger Agreement was executed on September 3,
1999.
On the morning of September 3, 1999, Digital Link issued a press release,
the text of which is attached as Exhibit 4 to this Schedule 14D-9.
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(b)(2) REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION.
In making the determinations and recommendations set forth in subparagraph
(a) and (b)(1) above, the Special Committee and the Board considered a number of
factors, including, without limitation, the following:
(i) Digital Link's ability to increase the market performance of its
Shares was not promising as a result of numerous factors, including the
following:
- Digital Link has failed to demonstrate the consistent
profitability, revenue growth and product development generally
expected by the public equity markets for small capitalization
companies.
- The average daily trading volume of Digital Link Shares on the
Nasdaq National Market was low. As a result, Digital Link believes
that its larger shareholders are not able to sell their holdings in
the market, other than at prices significantly below the Offer
Price. In addition, Digital Link believes that significant sales of
its Shares, if they occur, would likely decrease the trading price
of its Common Stock.
- Digital Link currently has a limited institutional following and
has received diminishing research attention from market analysts.
- Digital Link's stock price has not performed well since November
1997, including failure to reflect on a sustained basis the
improved operating results in the first quarter of 1999.
(ii) The proposed price of $10.30 per share to be received by Digital
Link's shareholders in the Offer and Merger constituted a premium over the
closing price for the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market of 26% on
September 1, 1999 (one day prior to the delivery to the Board by DRW of its
oral opinion), of 25% one week prior to that date and of 33% one month prior
to that date.
(iii) The lack of any expressed interest on the part of any third party
in acquiring the Company and the likelihood of soliciting a firm offer from
a third party to acquire the Company at a price in excess of that to be paid
in the Offer and Merger, the timing of the receipt of any such offer and the
possible consequences of unsuccessfully seeking to solicit such an offer,
and the fact that the Gupta Family is not interested in a transaction which
effectively involved the sale of the Gupta Family Shares.
(iv) The inability to attract and retain Company personnel, such as Mr.
Kazmierczak, as a result of the poor market performance of the Shares.
(v) The increasingly competitive nature of the Company's current
industry segment, including increased competition from suppliers of
internetworking equipment, as well as pressures placed on the Company's
business by technological developments. In addition, the Special Committee
considered the difficulties and risks associated with any effort by the
Company to enter into other market segments, such as network management, and
the competitive environment of these market segments.
(vi) The belief that the Offer and the Merger presents Digital Link's
shareholders with the highest potential investment return available and
provides for a prompt and orderly transfer of shares. This belief is based
on the Special Committee's:
- Consideration of the possible alternatives to the Offer and the
Merger (including the possibility of continuing to operate the
Company as an independent, publicly-held entity or merging with
another entity), the range of possible benefits to shareholders of
Digital Link of such alternatives and the timing and likelihood of
accomplishing the goal of any of such alternatives.
- Information with regard to the current financial condition, results
of operations, business and prospects of Digital Link, as discussed
in this Schedule 14D-9 and in the Offer to Purchase, including the
financial projections supplied to DRW and Sutter Securities and
17
<PAGE>
the inherent uncertainties and contingencies associated with the
financial projections. In addition, the Special Committee
considered current economic and market conditions (including
current conditions in the industry in which the Company is
engaged).
- Determination that the proposed Offer and Merger were preferable to
the alternatives, including maintaining the status quo.
(vii) The oral opinion of DRW delivered on September 2, 1999, and
subsequently confirmed in writing on September 3, 1999 as the Fairness
Opinion, to the effect that, as of such date and based upon and subject to
certain matters stated in the opinion, the $10.30 per Share cash
consideration to be received by holders of Shares pursuant to the Offer and
the Merger was fair to such holders from a financial point of view. The full
text of the Fairness Opinion, which sets forth the assumptions made, matters
considered and limitations on the review undertaken by DRW, is attached to
this Schedule 14D-9 as Annex A and is incorporated by reference in this
Schedule 14D-9. THE OPINION OF DAIN IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHETHER OR
NOT SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD TENDER THEIR SHARES IN THE OFFER OR, IF A
SHAREHOLDER VOTE IS REQUIRED, HOW THE SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD VOTE ON THE MERGER
OR ANY MATTER RELATED TO THE MERGER. HOLDERS OF SHARES ARE ENCOURAGED TO
READ THE ENTIRE FAIRNESS OPINION CAREFULLY.
(viii) Analysis of the market prices, revenues and earnings per share
data, including the ratio of enterprise value to revenue and the ratio of
stock price to earnings, of comparable companies.
(ix) Analysis of the ratios of enterprise values to revenue and premiums
paid in comparable transactions.
(x) A discounted cash flow analysis of management's financial
projections.
(xi) The high likelihood that the proposed acquisition would be
consummated, in light of the experience, reputation and financial
capabilities of Purchaser and the Gupta Family, including the financing
commitment of Purchaser from Comerica Bank--California, as described under
Item 8 "Source and Amount of Funds" in the Offer to Purchase, and the level
of ownership in the Company of the Gupta Family.
(xii) The terms of the Merger Agreement, including:
- The circumstances under which the Special Committee may evaluate
unsolicited bids from third parties to acquire the Company and may
terminate the Merger Agreement, in accordance with its fiduciary
obligations under applicable law, subject to payment of Purchaser's
expenses and a termination fee of $2.4 million.
- The parties' representations, warranties and covenants and the
conditions to their respective obligations.
(xiii) Various factors related to the negotiations with the Purchaser that
provided protection for the interests of Digital Link's public shareholders,
including:
- The negotiations were the product of arm's length discussions
between Purchaser and the Special Committee, none of whom would
have equity interests in Digital Link subsequent to the
consummation of the Offer and the Merger.
- The negotiations led to an increase in Purchaser's offer from
$10.05 to $10.30 per share to be received by the public
shareholders and gave the Special Committee an expanded ability to
exercise its fiduciary duties in the event of receipt of an
unsolicited superior third party bid to acquire the Company.
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<PAGE>
- The Special Committee was advised during the negotiations by legal
counsel and financial advisors who negotiated on behalf of the
Special Committee, assisted the Special Committee in evaluating
proposed transactions and provided the Special Committee with
financial and legal advice.
(xiv) The unwillingness of the Gupta Family, which together is the
controlling shareholder of Digital Link and of Purchaser, to sell their
shares to another bidder.
(xv) The ability of the Gupta Family to elect a new board of directors
through a proxy solicitation and effect a merger that would cash out the
remaining shareholders.
(xvi) The possibility that if the Company remained as a publicly owned
corporation, the price that might be received by the holders of the
Company's Shares in the open market or in a future transaction might be
materially less than the $10.30 per Share to be received by shareholders in
connection with the Offer and Merger, whether as a result of a decline in
the market price of the Shares due to developments in the Company's business
and operating results or due to general conditions in the stock market.
(xvii) As a privately held company, Digital Link would be able to
eliminate the time devoted by its management and certain other employees to
matters which related exclusively to Digital Link being a public company. In
addition, it would be able to eliminate certain other costs which relate to
being a public company such as certain accounting and legal fees, printing
costs, stock transfer activities and investor relations activities.
The Board did not assign relative weights to the above factors or determine
that any factor was of special importance. Rather, the Board viewed its position
and recommendations as being based on the totality of the information presented
to and considered by it. In addition, it is possible that different members of
the Board assigned different weights to the various factors described above.
ITEM 5. PERSONS RETAINED, EMPLOYED OR TO BE COMPENSATED.
Pursuant to a letter agreement (the "Engagement Letter") dated August 13,
1999, the Company engaged Dain for a minimum of twelve months as its financial
advisor with respect to a possible transaction involving the transfer of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, business or capital stock to an
acquirer for consideration. The Engagement Letter provides that Digital Link
will pay DRW a cash fee in the amount of $450,000 upon rendering an opinion as
to the fairness of any proposed transaction from a financial point of view. Such
an opinion was rendered with respect to the consideration to be received by the
Company's shareholders pursuant to the Offer and the Merger on September 3,
1999, and the fee became due to DRW at that time. Payment of this fee to DRW is
not contingent upon the closing of the Merger. If additional opinions are
requested during the term of the agreement, the Engagement Letter provides that
Digital Link will pay DRW a cash fee of $150,000 for each additional opinion. In
addition, the Company agreed to indemnify DRW against certain liabilities,
including liabilities arising under the federal securities laws. The terms of
the engagement letter, which the Special Committee believes are customary for
transactions of this nature, were negotiated at arms' length between the Special
Committee and DRW, and the Board was aware of the fee arrangements at the time
of its approval of the Merger Agreement.
DRW has provided financial advisory or financial services to the Company in
the past, and individual partners or employees may have done so in the course of
their work with prior employers. In the ordinary course of business DRW may
actively trade the equity securities of the Company for its own account and for
the accounts of customers and accordingly, may at any time have a long or short
position in such securities.
Except as set forth above, neither Digital Link nor any person acting on its
behalf has or currently intends to employ, retain or compensate any person to
make solicitations or recommendations to the stockholders of the Company on its
behalf with respect to the Offer.
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<PAGE>
ITEM 6. RECENT TRANSACTIONS AND INTENT WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES.
(a) Except pursuant to the Company's stock option plans and employee stock
purchase plan and the transactions contemplated by the Offer, the Merger and the
Merger Agreement, no transactions in the Shares have been effected during the
past 60 days by Digital Link or, to the best knowledge of Digital Link, any of
its executive officers, directors, affiliates or subsidiaries other than:
On July 14, 1999, Stan Kazmierczak, the former Chief Financial Officer of
Digital Link, exercised an option to purchase 8,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock at an exercise price of $9.25 per share and sold such shares for
$10.00 per share.
(b) To the best knowledge of Digital Link, all of its current executive
officers, directors, affiliates and subsidiaries (other than Purchaser or
members of the Gupta Investors) currently intend to tender pursuant to the Offer
all Shares held of record or beneficially owned by them (other than Shares
issuable upon exercise of stock options and Shares, if any, which if tendered
could cause such persons to incur liability under the provisions of Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act).
ITEM 7. CERTAIN NEGOTIATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS BY THE SUBJECT COMPANY.
(a) Except as described in this Schedule 14D-9, to the knowledge of Digital
Link no negotiation is being undertaken or is underway by Digital Link in
response to the Offer, the Merger or the Merger Agreement which relates to or
would result in (1) an extraordinary transaction, such as a merger or
reorganization, involving Digital Link or any subsidiary of the Company, (2) a
purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets by Digital Link or any
subsidiary of Digital Link, (3) a tender offer for or other acquisition of
securities by or of Digital Link, or (4) any material change in the present
capitalization or dividend policy of Digital Link.
(b) Except as described in this Schedule 14D-9, there are no transactions,
board resolutions, agreements in principle or signed contracts in response to
the Offer, the Merger or the Merger Agreement which relate to or would result in
one or more of the matters referred to in clauses (1) through (4) of paragraph
(a) of this Item 7.
ITEM 8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED.
OFFER TO PURCHASE
Reference is hereby made to the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of
Transmittal, which are attached as Exhibits 1 and 2 to this Schedule 14D-9,
respectively, and are incorporated by reference in this Schedule 14D-9 in their
entirety.
CERTAIN PROJECTIONS
In connection with the engagement of DRW by the Special Committee of the
Board, the Company provided DRW with certain financial projections which DRW
used in its analysis. A copy of these projections is included in the Offer to
Purchase under Item 6, "Certain Information Concerning the Company," and is
incorporated in this Schedule 14D-9 by reference.
LITIGATION RELATING TO THE OFFER
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. Since the public announcement of the Merger Agreement on
September 3, 1999, three purported class actions have been filed in the Superior
Court of Santa Clara County, California. The complaints allege that the
Company's directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to maximize the
value of the Shares, that the value of the Shares is materially greater than the
Offer Price and, in one action, that the director defendants failed to disclose
material non-public information concerning the Company's financial condition and
prospects. Each complaint seeks certification of a plaintiff class,
20
<PAGE>
declaratory and injunctive relief preventing the Offer and the Merger,
unspecified compensatory damages, and attorneys' fees and costs. Purchaser, the
defendant members of the Gupta Family, the Company and the members of the
Special Committee believe that the actions are without merit, and intend to
defend them vigorously. The three class actions are: EDWARD ABOFF ET AL. V.
RICHARD C. ALBERDING ET AL., filed on September 3, 1999; WILLIAM LEVY ET AL. V.
DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION ET AL., filed on September 7, 1999; and ANDREW CURTIS
WRIGHT ET AL. V. DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION ET AL., filed on September 7, 1999.
Except as set forth elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase, neither Purchaser
nor the Gupta Family is aware of any pending or overtly threatened legal
proceedings which would affect the Offer or the Merger. If any such matters were
to arise, Purchaser could decline to accept for payment or pay for any Shares
tendered in the Offer. See "The Tender Offer--Section 11. Certain Conditions of
the Offer" in the Offer to Purchase.
ITEM 9. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Exhibit 1 Form of Offer to Purchase dated September 10, 1999 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (a)(1) to Purchaser's Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 and
Schedule 13D dated September 10, 1999 (the "Schedule 14D-1")).*
Exhibit 2 Form of Letter of Transmittal (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) (2) to
the Schedule 14D-1).*
Exhibit 3 Letter to Shareholders of Digital Link Corporation dated September 10, 1999.*
Exhibit 4 Text of Press Release issued by Digital Link Corporation on September 3, 1999
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K of Digital Link
(File No. 0-23110) dated September 7, 1999 (the "Form 8-K").
Exhibit 5 Summary Advertisement as published in the Wall Street Journal on September 10,
1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) (7) to the Schedule 14D-1).
Exhibit 6 Opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels (included as Annex A to the Schedule 14D-9).*
Exhibit 7 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 3, 1999, among Digital Link
Corporation and DLZ Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Form
8-K).
Exhibit 8 Form of Executive Retention and Severance Agreement effective as of December
14, 1998 between Digital Link Corporation and its executive officers and
certain other employees, including Vinita Gupta, Naresh Kapahi, Lana Vaysburd
and Sherman Silverman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 of the Form
10-K of Digital Link (File No. 0-23110) for the year ended December 31, 1998
(the "1998 Form 10-K")).
Exhibit 9 Form of Indemnity Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.05 of the
Form S-1 Registration Statement of Digital Link (File No. 33-72642)).
Exhibit Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Digital Link (incorporated by
10.1 reference to Exhibit 3.01 of the Form 10-K of Digital Link for the year ended
December 31, 1994 (File No. 0-23110) (the "Form 10-K")).
Exhibit Certificate of Correction of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
10.2 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.02 of the 1994 Form 10-K).
Exhibit 11 Bylaws of Digital Link (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.03 of the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Digital Link (File No. 33-95176) filed on
July 31, 1995).
Exhibit 12 Complaint in EDWARD ABOFF, ET AL. V. RICHARD C. ALBERDING, ET AL., CASE NO.
CV784389, FILED WITH THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE
COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) to the
Schedule 14D-1).
</TABLE>
21
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Exhibit 13 Complaint in WILLIAM LEVY, ET AL. V. DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION, ET AL., CASE NO.
CV784407, FILED WITH THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE
COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) to Schedule
14D-1).
Exhibit 14 Complaint in ANDREW CURTIS WRIGHT, ET AL. V. DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION, ET AL.,
CASE NO. CV784405, FILED WITH THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR
THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(3) to
Schedule 14D-1).
Exhibit 15 Form of Subscription Agreement to be entered into by DLZ Corp. and the members
of the Gupta Family (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (c)(2) to Schedule
14D-1).
ANNEX A OPINION OF DAIN RAUSCHER WESSELS
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
*Included with Schedule 14D-9 mailed to shareholders.
22
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
DIGITAL LINK CORPORATION
By: /s/ NARESH KAPAHI
-----------------------------------------
Naresh Kapahi
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
</TABLE>
Dated: September 10, 1999
23
<PAGE>
Annex A
[Dain Rauscher Wessels letterhead]
September 3, 1999
The Special Committee of the Board of Directors
Digital Link Corporation
217 Humboldt Court
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1300
Directors:
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of
view, to the stockholders of Digital Link Corporation, a California corporation
(the "Company"), of the consideration to be received by the stockholders
pursuant to the terms of the proposed Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Agreement") dated as of September 3, 1999, by and between DLZ Corporation, a
California corporation (the "Purchaser") and the Company. Capitalized terms used
herein shall have the meanings used in the Agreement unless otherwise defined
herein.
Pursuant to the Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock, $.01 par
value per share, of the Company is proposed to be purchased at a price of $10.30
per Share, net to seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase (the "Offer to
Purchase") of Purchaser and the related Letter of Transmittal (collectively, the
"Offer"), which will be filed as exhibits to each of (a) the Tender Offer
Statement on Schedule 14D-1 (together with all supplements or amendments
thereto, the "Schedule 14D-1") and (b) the Transaction Statement on Schedule
13E-3 (together with all supplements or amendments thereto, the "Schedule
13E-3") in respect of the Offer to be filed by Purchaser with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated ("Dain
Rauscher Wessels"), as part of its investment banking services, is regularly
engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with
mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, negotiated underwritings,
secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements
and valuations for corporate and other purposes.
We are acting as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company, in connection with providing a fairness opinion (the
"Opinion") to the Board of Directors of the Company, and will receive a fee for
our services. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify us for certain
liabilities arising out of our engagement. In the ordinary course of business,
Dain Rauscher Wessels acts as a market maker and broker in the publicly traded
securities of the Company and receives customary compensation in connection
therewith, and also provides research coverage for the Company for its own
account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities.
In connection with our review of the Offer, and in arriving at our opinion,
we have: (i) reviewed and analyzed the financial terms of the Agreement; (ii)
reviewed and analyzed certain publicly available financial and other data with
respect to the Company and certain other historical relevant operating data
relating to the Company made available to us from published sources and from the
internal records of the Company; (iii) conducted discussions with members of the
senior management of the Company with respect to the business prospects and
financial outlook of the Company; (iv) reviewed the reported prices and trading
activity for the Company's Common Stock; (v) compared the financial performance
of the Company and the prices of the Company's Common Stock with that of certain
other publicly-traded companies which we have deemed comparable to the Company
and their securities; and (vi) reviewed the financial terms, to the extent
publicly available, of certain merger transactions which we have deemed
comparable to the Offer. In addition, we have conducted such other analyses and
examinations and
<PAGE>
considered such other financial, economic and market criteria as we have deemed
necessary in arriving at our opinion.
With respect to the data and discussions relating to the business prospects
and financial outlook of the Company, upon advice of the Company we have assumed
that such data has been reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best
currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company as
to the future financial performance of the Company and that the Company will
perform substantially in accordance with such financial data and estimates. We
express no opinion as to such financial data and estimates or the assumptions on
which they were based. We have assumed the Offer will be consummated upon the
terms set forth in the Agreement without material alteration thereof.
In rendering our opinion, we have assumed and relied upon the accuracy and
completeness of the financial, legal, tax, operating and other information
provided to us by the Company (including without limitation the financial
statements and related notes thereto of the Company), and have not assumed
responsibility for independently verifying and have not independently verified
such information. We have not assumed any responsibility to perform, and have
not performed, an independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the respective
assets or liabilities of the Company, and we have not been furnished with any
such valuations or appraisals. In addition, we have not assumed any obligation
to conduct, and have not conducted, any physical inspection of the books and
records or property or facilities of the Company. We have not been asked to, and
did not, solicit third-party indications of interest for the acquisition of the
Company, or evaluate the merits of any alternative transaction to the Offer.
Additionally, we have not been asked to and did not consider the possible
effects of any litigation, other legal claims or any other contingent matters.
Our opinion speaks only as of the date hereof, is necessarily based on the
conditions as they exist and information which we have been supplied as of the
date hereof, and is without regard to any market, economic, financial, legal or
other circumstances or event of any kind or nature which may exist or occur
after such date. Our advisory services and the opinion expressed herein are
provided for the information and assistance of the Special Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company in connection with its consideration of the
transaction contemplated by the Agreement and such opinion does not constitute a
recommendation to any stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote with
respect to such transaction. Further, our opinion does not address the merits of
the underlying decision by the Company to engage in such transaction.
Based on our experience as investment bankers and subject to the foregoing,
including the various assumptions and limitations set forth herein, it is our
opinion that, as of the date hereof, the consideration to be received by the
holders of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the Agreement is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of the Company's Common Stock.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Dain Rauscher Wessels
Dain Rauscher Wessels
a division of Dain Rauscher
Incorporated
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
EXHIBIT 3
September 10, 1999
To Our Shareholders:
I am pleased to inform you that on September 3, 1999, Digital Link
Corporation entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with DLZ Corp.,
pursuant to which DLZ Corp. is commencing a cash tender offer to purchase all of
the outstanding shares of Digital Link common stock for $10.30 per share, net to
the seller in cash, without interest. DLZ Corp. was formed by Vinita Gupta,
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Link, in
connection with this offer and she is its sole shareholder. Under the agreement,
the offer will be followed by a merger in which, among other things, any
remaining shares of Digital Link common stock, other than shares owned by DLZ
Corp. or held by shareholders who exercise dissenters' rights under the
California General Corporation Code, will be converted into the right to receive
$10.30 per share in cash, without interest.
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CONSISTING OF BOARD MEMBERS
WHO ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH DLZ CORP., AND UPON THEIR RECOMMENDATION, YOUR BOARD
OF DIRECTORS:
- HAS UNANIMOUSLY DETERMINED THAT THE OFFER AND THE MERGER ARE FAIR TO, AND
IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF, THE SHAREHOLDERS OF DIGITAL LINK,
- HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AND ADOPTED THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE MERGER AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE OFFER AND
THE MERGER, AND
- UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT DIGITAL LINK SHAREHOLDERS ACCEPT THE OFFER AND
TENDER THEIR SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER.
In arriving at its decision, the special committee and your Board of
Directors gave careful consideration to a number of factors, including, among
other things, the opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels, Digital Link's financial
advisor, that the consideration to be received by holders of Digital Link common
stock in the offer and the merger is fair to them from a financial point of
view. A more complete description of the factors considered by the special
committee and the Board of Directors is set forth in the attached
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9.
A more complete description of the offer and the merger are set forth in the
accompanying offer to purchase dated September 10, 1999, together with related
materials, including a letter of transmittal to be used for tendering your
shares. These documents set forth the terms and conditions of the offer and the
merger and provide instructions as to how to tender your shares. I urge you to
read the enclosed material carefully before making a decision whether to tender
your shares in the offer.
Sincerely,
Richard C. Alberding
Chairman of the Special Committee
of the Board of Directors
